January 27
Ex 4:1-5:21 | PS 22:19-31 | Prov 5:15-21 | Matt 18:1-20
Our world has become increasingly isolated. Many, if not most now work remotely. Many attend college on-line. Rather than establishing in-person relationships, people prefer to spend exorbitant amounts of time on social media. Highlighting this shift, the U.S. Surgeon General on August 28, 2024 sent out a statement essentially warning that parenting is harmful for one's mental health, calling for more governmental assistance (or interference depending on how you see it). Yes, parenting is stressful, but, we are called to be others-centered, not self-centered. God established us as social creations. Our actions are intended to affect others. We need to be able to see ourselves rightly both in comparison to God Himself, and at the same time, not intended to be living in a bubble, we are to weigh our words and actions as to how they might bless or harm others.
Consider the strength behind Jesus' warning in Matthew 18:6-7, "“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" When we sin, we don't simply reap the consequences of our own actions. It has a ripple effect. Spouses, children, friends, family, other christians are all affected and oftentimes hurt in the process. To illustrate how we can become so self-absorbed, we read the account in Mark 9:30-37 and Luke 9:43-48, immediately after Jesus discussing His upcoming death, the disciples were arguing amongst themselves who would be the greatest.
We owe God everything. Our debt is beyond what we could ever pay back, that is why Jesus did what He did for us on the cross. In comparison, what we owe one another in our multitude of minor and major infractions is nothing compared to what we owe to God. But in our little isolated, self-centered lives we all too often fail to see this. To illustrate this point, immediately following His command to Peter to forgive others up to seventy times seven times, He gives the amazing Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35. Realize ten thousand talents that the servant owed his master amounts to over 3 billion dollars, while the 100 denarii that the one servant owed the other servant amounts to a little more than ten thousand dollars. Each soul is of immense value to the Father, and what we do, and how we act has tremendous effects on each soul. May we think long and hard before we act.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: