How To Refresh The Master

Growing up in Florida I would mow lawns for extra money.  The deal was my brother and I could charge $2 a lawn and had to give half to my mother to pay back Sears for the purchase of the mower.  One time she got us a job for some friends who lived about a mile away.  Robert and I walked the mower to their house and our jaws dropped as we saw the lawn had not been mowed in at least three weeks.  It took us three days to complete the job in the hot Florida sun but Mom would not ask for more money from the people.  Robert and I almost cried as we looked at the single dollar bill.  I tell this story to introduce this passage of Scripture because for three days we drank and drank and drank plenty of water. 
Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master... Proverbs 25:13 (NIV)
God sent the most trustworthy messenger he knew to tell the world of himself--his Son.  His Son knew his father's words, actions, thoughts as well as the image of the Father in bodily form. He would not do anything without God's direction or speak on his own but the words of his Father.  Many of us have seen people make all kinds of statements and promises of what a particular thing can do.  I love those Christmas commercials for such things as the Clapper et al. which are cheap commercial gimmicks to get impulsive people to purchase inferior products.  Jesus as the trustworthy messenger just spoke what he knew was true. 
The word witness is the Greek has been taken today to mean someone who has died for their faith--martyr.  Jesus tell us we are to be his witnesses and all we have to do is to report to others what we have seen.  Of course I have never seen Jesus or the wind, but just as I welcomed the cool breeze cutting the lawn, I did not doubt its existence.  I can see the changes in me and can show others the existence of God, His Son and the Spirit by a sustained walk.  No hype! No false claims! Just the real truth and trying to be a trustworthy messenger and provide a refreshing to the One who sends me.   

Which Cross Will You Pick Up?

When we see the image of Calvary often times you will not only see the Cross of Christ but the crosses of the thieves who died beside Jesus.  In Luke 23 the discourse between the three records that while one thief challenged Jesus to save them the other thief rebukes him and turns to Jesus for help.  All three of them where under the same sentence of death but while Jesus died unjustly, the two thieves were being punished for their crimes.  The thieves are described as malefactors instead of just thieves.  Since Barabbas was to died for insurrection, it is possible to believe these two were part of the underground movement to rid Israel of the Romans.  These zealots would kill not only Romans, but are said to have also dealt with Jews who worked in unison with the gentile oppressors.  In Matthew 25 Jesus speaks of dividing the sheep on his right side to the goats on the left.  The goats on the left were banished into eternal fire along with Satan and his angels.  The sheep however are blessed and are invited into the kingdom planned for them since the creation.  In my mind then, I see the one thief on the left hand of Jesus spitting hatred to the crowd and rebuking Jesus to save them without thought of the accountability of his actions. I see the one on his right side, repentant and fully aware this punishement was because of their actions.  He knows there is no escape and that Jesus is dying an unjust death.  It is to this innocent man he turns and asks Jesus to remember him when he enters into the kingdom and Jesus grants his desire. 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.   Matthew 16:24-25.  (NIV)

Every person will face the death of this body but some will face what is called the second death, the banishment into eternal punishment.  God arranged for his Son to face the consequences of our sins so we can enter into the kingdom.  Each of us will pick up a cross, but the question is: "Which one will you pick up?"  If you want to save you life like the thief on the left, not fearing God by refusing to account for your sins or asking for help, then you have picked up the cross of death.  If you reject this life, accept and acknowledge your sins and the need for Jesus, you will have picked up the cross of life.  Death is the requisite for sin and all have sinned and yet God's son tells us to pick up a cross and follow him.  If the thief on the left had been saved he would probably return to the life he had chosen.  The one on the right chose Jesus instead and gained eternal life. 

Which cross will you pick up?