Prayer!

For Sunday, August 25, 2024:

Matthew 6:5 NLT: “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.”

Interestingly, in the original language, hypocrite refers to an actor, someone pretending to be something they are not. In this case, that someone is pretending to be deeply religious, but it’s all just a show, an attempt to appear more pious than they actually are. Jesus teaches that there’s no reward in that.

The truth is that God knows your heart. He knows what you deep-down believe. God already knows your level of sincerity.

Your prayer should be based on your friendship, your relationship with God. He wants nothing but the best for you! Be honest; be straightforward. Keep it simple. It’s just the two of you – you and God. It shouldn’t be a show for anyone else.

By the way, we don’t get extra points for using more words!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Hypocrites!

For Wednesday, May 15, 2024:

Matthew 23:23 NLT, Jesus speaking: “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”

God has shown us his truths. They’re not going to change: justice, mercy and faith top the list. These values should lead our agenda as we live each day. Putting our “things–to–do” list in the proper order requires knowing the Son of God and using our God given brains!

In today’s scripture, Jesus is addressing people who have this principle all wrong. Unfortunately, these are the religious teachers and leaders of the day. Jesus calls them all “Hypocrites,” someone pretending to be something they are not. Greek would use this same word for “actor,” someone playing a part unrelated to their actual life. The big downfall here is insincerity, using “made-up” values in the wrong order to teach religion to others! One translation calls these false teachers, “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”

To fulfill their purpose, actors need an audience, and these hypocrite teachers of religion are no exception. They try to do good things, not for the “good” in it, but to impress others, so others can see just how good they are!

Worship the Lord because he is good, not to please others!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Traitor!

For Thursday, February 29, 2024:

Mark 14:11b NLT: “Judas Iscariot began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.”

Apparently Judas’ mind was already made up. He went to the leading priests seeking their permission to betray Jesus. They had been hoping to kill Jesus anyway, and this could expedite the event.

The priests offered Judas money in exchange for his help with this. How much is the Son of Man’s life worth, this miracle worker, this great healer? Turns out thirty pieces of silver was the price.

In the dark night, it was difficult to see, difficult to positively identify people. So Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek and called him Master, clearly pointing him out to the Sanhedrin. This betrayal happened after the Thursday night dinner where Jesus gave us Holy Communion, and before the next day, what we call Good Friday, which is to say it all went south rather quickly.

Having second thoughts, Judas tried to return the money, but the deed was already done. Eventually he hung himself, and the priests used the money to buy a field in which to bury strangers.

Our take-away from this incident is to closely examine those teaching religion, especially those who might be false prophets. That one of the twelve would betray the master is beyond belief. After living and traveling with Jesus for three years and witnessing all the miracles, you’d expect loyalty from Judas. And the priests and teachers of religion should have been supporting God’s Son, not plotting against him. And yet they’re masquerading as priests! Hypocrites!

Compare everything you’re taught with what your Bible says. The Bible is always right!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Down To Earth!

For Sunday, February 18, 2024

Mark 12:38 NLT: “Jesus also taught, ‘Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces.’”

We gather to worship God, not the priest. Now tradition on it’s own isn’t necessarily bad. If the leaders of a church want to wear long robes, fine with me. But if they think they’re special when they wear the garb, they’re off base. Wearing a costume to pray doesn’t get you any closer to Jesus. Furthermore, too much gold in a church leaves me suspect. Those resources could have been used to feed the needy and clothe babies.

As Jesus walked the earth, he wasn’t the least bit pretentious. He was a heaven-sent regular guy. He worked hard, preaching non-stop and healing all who needed healing. He had no permanent home, and no guaranteed next meal. I suspect that he dug in to the work and got his hands dirty. He led the entourage as they walked from town to town. Church was open-air!

It’s important to worship the Lord with all your heart, but it’s not important to do it in a fancy place. It’s good to help your neighbor, but you might get your hands dirty. Hands can be washed, and souls can be forgiven.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Pray to the Lord!

For Tuesday, January 23, 2023:

Matthew 6:5 NLT, Jesus speaking: “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.”

Picture this in your mind’s eye: Someone walking along, when suddenly they stop at the corner and shout out, “Praise God!” They then look around to assess the size or their audience, the more the better! Jesus’ point is that they’re not really praying or praising. It seems they’re just putting on a show for others to see!

Hypocrite is the perfect word to describe the situation. In Greek, it also describes an actor, someone pretending to be something that they are not. Jesus tells us to go to our room, our special place, shut the door and have a private conversation with our Father in heaven. Those who pray this way will be rewarded by God. Since he sees everything, he doesn’t need you to create a scene on the street!

In a private room we can impress no one except God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship