Last week I passed a milestone in my writing, publishing number 1800 on
this blog. In just a bit under ten years, who would ever have guessed where God
would take me when he gave me this vision. But here I am and here we are, and I
hope that the spirit has made you think and consider the claims of Jesus as you
read. And gone out and shared Jesus with others, equipping them to equip
others, that’s discipleship. But it would surprise many to know I haven’t been
to church but once in the last six years, yet grow in the Lord. Like the little
piggie who went to market, I have gone out and lived a Christian life outside of
the church, much to the chagrin of many church folks,and their regulations,
living under the guise of being a Christian. When Jesus gave me Matthew 25, he
wanted me, us to be different from those mentioned whom he never knew, the same
ones who made him sick in Revelation 3, he wants us to get out and live and
serve among the masses. Yet I was taught in church that evangelism was inviting
a lost friend to church, missions was giving more, tithing was required, even if
it made me bitter, and the safety I need was found within the church body, if
only I went with them. But where was Jesus and his love? Like minded Christians
they are called, who never see how they are like the Pharisees that hated Jesus,
yet were so religious and pious no one liked them. A rigorous exterior of God,
but rotting inside from the lack of the spirit. Saved but not cashing in on the
blessings, on earth as it is in heaven, as Jesus put it. Whose claim of
godliness is no problems, yet crater at the first sign of distress. They’re in
the word, sadly the word never appears in them. And Jesus told about them in
the parable of the prodigal son. You may know the story....
Jesus taught in parables so we would relate to them and see our weakness,
and repent and turn to him. So much time is spent condemning the younger
brother who wanted his inheritance and then wasted it foolishly and on sin. A
great evangelistic message of turning to Christ, but few neglect to see the
older brother, the little piggie who stayed home was really the wasteful,
useless, and prodigal son. His true colors being revealed when his younger
brother returns and is celebrated. A bitterness within him overflowing,
bragging how he never left, he always took care of his father’s business, but
failed to see how much of a Pharisee he was. Do you rejoice when someone is
saved? When someone is healed? When one who has gone astray returns? The
older brother didn’t. But his father did. Jesus was showing here how the Jews
thought they had heaven based on Abraham being their father, nothing else was
necessary, but nothing else was farther from the truth. They needed to be
forgiven and saved also, he was just like those who are self righteous, bragging
on what they have done for God, seeking reward in it. But God sees their
hearts, and their likemindedness doesn’t include Jesus. Like the Pharisees, and
many churches today, they don’t want to deal with sinners in the body, it
offends their reputation to find sinners in their church, and forget the joy of
rejoicing when one comes to Christ. No wonder Jesus got sick from them, and
hung with the sinners, they knew they needed him, and acknowledged it. While
the church was too self righteous.
So the father comforts him with three things, “son you are always with me,”
the word son meaning child. You never lost your place in the family, I know you
and what you are doing, don’t let sin get between us. Second he says “all that
I have is yours.” The younger son spent his third, you have 2/3’s as your
inheritance. More. The division, the will has already been signed into
action. And thirdly, “it is fitting to celebrate your brother’s return, for he
was lost and now is found. He was dead and now lives.” Jesus is reminding us
that we should not find fault when others are saved, but rejoice as the angels
in heaven do when one is. And that his place was secure no matter what the
younger one did, he loved both of them equally. It is God’s grace, the holy
spirit that saves and changes things, not going to church, having family who are
saved, or kids on the worship team. Gee, if only they could be like us, is the
message they send. It is not good works you boast in, but Jesus who saves. If
only the older brother had gotten it, he would be at the party instead of
outside whining and complaining.
One little piggie went to market, and came to Christ. He knew his father’s
love. One little piggie stayed home and was miserable. Both had the same
father, only one repented. One worshipped his father for accepting him back,
the other miserable because he never left, but had checked out years ago. From
a father he never really knew. He was so selfish and worrying about himself he
missed the blessings. Blinded by bitterness he is like the Pharisees, and many
in churches today, sharing the same father with the little piggies who went to
market, but never enjoying the fruits of the spirit. He tried to please his
father by his works, the younger one by his changed heart. Which piggie are
you....
The church has left the building, it is active on the street, among hookers
and bikers, in prisons, and even in churches. Spirit driven, and joyful, the
true test is how we react, not how we act. The Pharisees were all about the
external, Jesus is all about the internal. The piggie that went to market was
glad he didn’t get what he deserved, the one who stayed home was upset he didn’t
get what he thought he deserved. Same father, different brothers. And after
the younger had squandered all he had been given, his father still had more to
give. Just like the Jesus I know.....do you?
The law kills, the spirit gives life. So get out and live. Give and don’t
tithe under compulsion becoming bitter. Don’t waste an hour on Sunday and go
home and back to who you really are. Don’t be bitter that no one matches up to
you, but realize you never can match up to Jesus. One little piggie went to
market, one stayed home. Which piggie was the prodigal? One little piggie was
a whiner, going wee, wee, wee, wee all the way home. Remember one little piggie
ate roast beef, the fatted calf. While one little piggie had none. How fitting
that piggies are pork, and the Jews were forbidden to eat them....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com