Learning to Say No

A man told Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me” (Luke 12:13). He was trying to give Jesus a job that His Father hadn’t called to do.

Jesus could have told him, “Okay, I’ll be glad to add another item to my plate. I’m already a counselor, teacher, physician, and miracle worker. I’ll just add lawyer to my list of duties because I don’t have the courage to tell you No.”

Instead of saying that He replied, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbiter over you?” (Luke 12:14)  Sounds a little bit rude, doesn’t it? But Jesus refused to take on a responsibility that His Father hadn’t given Him. And this is a teachable moment for us. If we are busy doing things that God HASN’T called us to do, then we won’t have time to do what He DOES want us to do.

Many people take on responsibilities at church—not because God wants them to do it, but because someone pressured them into doing it and they didn’t have the courage to say no.

Whenever someone tries to give you a task, ask the Lord if it is something He wants you to do. If He says yes, then do it joyfully. If He says no, then learn to say no. And don’t feel guilty either.

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He Came to Feel Your Pain

A farmer made a sign advertising puppies for sale. A little boy read it and said, "Mister, I want to buy one of your puppies." The farmer said, "These puppies cost a lot of money, probably more than you can afford." The little boy said, "I've got 39 cents. Is that enough?"  "Sure," the farmer said. He whistled and called, "Come here, Dolly."

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp came Dolly, followed by four little puppies.  A few seconds later, a fifth dog came out, slipping down the ramp and lagging behind because it had two badly deformed legs. The little boy pointed to the frail dog and said, "I'll take that one!" The farmer knelt down and explained, "Son, you don't want that one. He'll never be able to run and play like the other dogs."

The boy reached down and rolled up his pants leg, revealing his artificial leg. He said, "Mister, I'll never be able to run and play like the other boys either, so that little puppy is going to need someone who understands."

Jesus left heaven and came to earth to experience everything we go through as humans. He felt the sting of rejection, the pull of temptation, the pressure of stress, and the ache of loneliness. "He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest." (Heb. 2:17-18). Hebrews 4:15 adds, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses." Jesus came to die for our sins, but He also came to feel your pain so He can sympathize with you. 

Are you going through a difficult time? He purchased you with His blood because He knew you would need someone who understands. Everything that you're going through, He's already been through in some way. He really does care about you!  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

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Thank you to all who support this discipleship ministry. 

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When did the Wise Men go to Bethlehem?

Contrary to popular belief, the wise men (magi) didn't go to the manger in Bethlehem to worship Jesus. The Scriptures don’t tell us the exact time of their visit but it was sometime after the shepherds found Him in a manger. By the time the wise men arrived, Joseph and Mary had moved into a house (Matt. 2:11). 

We know that Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the Temple on the 8^th day after birth to be dedicated. The Law told them to sacrifice a lamb as an offering for the first-born, but if they could not afford a lamb they could offer two turtledoves (Lev. 12:6-8). Because Joseph and Mary offered two turtledoves (Luke 2:24), we know they were poor at this time—which means that the magi had not yet come and given them the gift of gold. If they had received the gold by this time they would have been rich enough to buy a lamb.

After they made the sacrifice, they returned to Bethlehem. Luke says they went to Nazareth after this but he does not mean immediately. Luke’s account omits the visit of the magi and the fact that Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt because Herod ordered the male babies in Bethlehem to be killed (Matt. 2:13-14). It’s likely that the gift of gold funded their stay in Egypt which could have been two or more years.

Joseph kept his family in Egypt until the death of Herod, which was in the 37th year of his reign, when Jesus was between two and four years old. The exact date cannot be determined.

The Bible does not tell us how many wise men came to worship Jesus. Tradition says there were three magi because three gifts were presented but this is only an assumption. So now you know that the Bible does not say there were three Wise Men and they didn’t visit Him at the manger. However, don’t get upset when you see them depicted in a manger scene display. It’s not a theological problem and the manger scene reminds us that Jesus is the reason for the season. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net 

Thank you to all who support this discipleship ministry. 

Contributions to Making Life Count Ministries are tax-deductible.

Hiding the Light

Jesus said, “Men do not light a candle and put it under a bushel” (Matt. 5:15). Then He said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). He tells us four things:

1. WHAT to do—“Let your light shine”  Letting your light shine is something we choose to do. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), so shining the light means to share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to people living in darkness. You can’t shine your light until you first lighten up.

2. WHERE to shine the light—“before men” That means to shine the light wherever you go. Some people say, “My faith is a private thing. It’s just between me and God.” But Jesus never said faith is a private thing. Neither did Paul or Peter. So who said, “Faith is a private thing”? Satan said it. He wants you to hide it under a bushel so that no one can see it.  

3. HOW to shine the light —“in such a way that they may see your good works” There is a right way and a wrong way, and “in such a way” means to do it the right way. The way we communicate the gospel to others can make a difference in whether they accept it or reject it.

A woman was trying to give medicine to her dog. Every day she tried to force a tablespoon of medicine into the dog’s mouth but the dog would always resist and pull away. One day she knocked over the bottle of medicine and it spilled all over the floor. The dog went over to the puddle and lapped it up! The dog wasn’t resisting the medicine but was resisting the method its owner used—trying to force it down its throat. 

Don’t try to force the gospel down people’s throats. Communicate it in such a way that people will be drawn to God. More flies are caught with honey than vinegar. God loves them and can change their lives, so share it with joy.

4. WHY to shine the light—so they “will glorify your Father in heaven.” When people respond to the message and receive Christ, they end up glorifying God. But if we communicate the message in the wrong way, they may turn away from God.

The weirdest Christian I’ve ever met had a long white beard, wore an unusual looking hat and a coat covered with Jesus buttons. He peddled a bicycle that looked like a small car with signs all over it saying, “Turn or Burn” and “Jesus is Coming Soon.” He would ride it down the street, honk his horn and beat a drum, trying to get everyone to read his signs. Instead of people glorifying God, they thought he was crazy. I’m sure they were thinking, “If I become a Christian, I will have dress up like that, ride a bicycle with signs and beat a drum.” Of course, that’s not true, but that was the message he was sending.

Make a decision to shine your light today--and be sure to do it in the right way. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net

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