Come To Jesus Part 1

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

One of my favorite things to do is include classic devotional literature in my time of morning devotion. I typically cycle through these classics and find myself blessed by their timeless wisdom and encouragement.

 

One of my favorites is a 36 page booklet written by Neuman Hall entitled “Come To Jesus.”

 

The Booklet was first published in 1848 and by the end of the century, it had been published in 40 different languages and sold 4 million copies worldwide. I invite you to journey with me through this booklet, asking you to bear with the King James English and at the same time allowing these inspirational words to encourage you in your walk with Jesus.

 

Neuman begins with thoughts concerning an incident with the blind beggar Bartimaeus found in Mr 10:46-52, “ Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.

 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you."

 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight."

 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

 

Neuman writes: A blind beggar by the wayside, hearing He was passing cried out for mercy. The people told him to be quiet, but he shouted the louder. Then some said, “be of good cheer, He calleth thee!” Sinner, be of good cheer! The same Jesus calleth thee!

 

As the blind man threw off his cloak lest it should hinder him, do you cast off every sin that would stop you? Rush through every crowd of difficulties and falling at the feet of Jesus, say, “Have mercy on me! I am blind! I am lost! Save, or I perish!”

 

Have you a guilty conscience? Come! A wicked heart? Come! Have nothing with which to purchase His favor? Without money? Come!

Rich and poor, masters and servants, old and young, white man and black, sinners of every class come!

 

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Do Not Kill the Innocent

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Ex 23:7 "Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.

 

“Do not kill the innocent.” Can it be any plainer than that? This command from God is at the heart of the right to life issue. Do you want to win me over to the pro choice camp? Then name the crime of the unborn child!

 

Did the unborn child rape? Did the unborn child commit incest? Was a crime committed in the first six weeks of the unborn’s life, but after 6 weeks he or she is deemed innocent and suddenly worthy of protection? Is being inconvenient a crime worthy of capital punishment?

 

Make no mistake about it, this matter will be the number one issue in this year’s election. One party unashamedly in favor of making the killing of an innocent unborn child legal, the other clamoring to soften up abortion restrictions by making all kinds of exceptions.

 

Both parties missing the point for the sake of political expediency, and forgetting what God plainly says about life. “Do not kill the innocent.”

 

Personally, I’m tired of voting for political expediency or the lesser of two evils. This year, I’m looking for candidates who really understand the innocence of the unborn child from conception on.

 

They may not be electable considering the current public opinion, but at least I can leave the voting booth with a clear conscience.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Brace Yourself

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Brace yourself. The political ads are about to heat up and once again turn ugly. Featuring the most unflattering pictures the ad executives can come up with, coupled with out of context quotes and positions that make Hitler look like a saint! Brace yourself and don’t join in the fray.

 

Like it or not this years presidential election will likely be a contest between an incumbent president (Biden) and a former president (Trump) Before you are tempted to belittle either candidate, keep this verse in mind from Ex 22:28 "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

In  the same breath, in one short sentence reviling God and cursing a ruler are tied together and rightly so.  That ruler that you are cursing has been allowed to rule by the sovereignty of God!

 

Da 4:17b reminds us: “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'

 

Da 2:21b, “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.”

 

Let the reviling of God and the cursing of His appointed rulers be left for the ungodly, rather let us as followers of Christ pray for our rulers, for this is the will of God. Instead of getting upset over these hateful ads, use them as a catalyst to remind you to pray for our leaders!

 

1Ti 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Rightly Placed Fear

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

I want to continue talking about the Ten Commandments today. You’ll find them in Exodus 20. With the exception of “Remember the Sabbath Day,”  they all begin with this phrase: “Thou shall not.” And even on the Sabbath day we are told, “you shall do no work,” (read that, thou shall not do any work.”

 

To do any of these things that God forbids stirs up His wrath. Note well the setting of His deliverance of these commands on Mt Sinai.  It was not chirping birds and harps, gentle brooks and flowery meadows!

 

Ex 19:16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

 

This setting should strike fear in all of us! In the matter of these “thou shalt nots,” God means terrifying business.  And if we were honest with ourselves and took the time to let each one of these commands break through our denials, we would have to admit we deserve His wrath!

 

 

What a despairing situation for sinners like you and I, and those just delivered from Egypt, Israelites. And right on the heels of the “thou shalt nots,” Moses says this: Ex 20:20  "Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin."

 

The test is simple. Do you fear the wrath of God? Do you desire to not sin? That’s called repentance, and repentance is a necessary forerunner of the gospel, And the gospel when rightly received, removes all fear.

 

Why? Because one understands that the wrath of God against your sins was poured out on Jesus Christ on the cross. All your dark and forboding “thou shalt nots” have been paid for!

 

Proper fear of God ushers in proper reception of the Gospel. Let the Law of God do it’s preparatory work for the Gospel. 

 

Tremble before the Law but fear not from the Gospel. Jesus has paid for your sins.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Get Down and Then Come Up

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

The Apostle John, writing in the Book of Revelation describes Jesus (the Son of Man) as having “eyes like a flame of fire.” Let that word picture sink in for a minute. We are talking about the holy gaze of Christ! Do you, do I dare to meet that gaze!

 

That gaze that penetrates the shadows, where we are prone to hang out, in order to avoid facing our sin. It’s that same gaze that found Peter in the shadows of the courtyard as he denied Jesus for the third time!  

 

Lu 22:61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."

 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

 

Broken by his sin, Peter sobbed uncontrollably.

 

May I ask a very personal question? When’s the last time you were broken by your sin? When’s the last time you allowed Jesus to fix His holy gaze on you through the Ten Commandments?

 

Not just  sin spoken of in generalities, but ten specific things that displease God!

 

  I urge you to slow down and take the time to let each commandment speak to you, but before you start, listen to the word of the Lord given to Moses before he came up the mountain to receive the commandments!

 

It’s from Ex 19: 24, “Then the LORD said to him, "Away! Get down and then come up”

 

The way up the mountain and toward the revelation of God is humility!

 

Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-These, O God, You will not despise.

 

Admit you are a sinner, then open your heart up to the holy gaze of Jesus and let Him show you the errors of your ways!

 

 Confess your sins and then believing, receive His forgiveness

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

The Blood of Jesus Speaks Louder

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

It’s been a while since the last posting of Today’s Living Word, but I want to continue looking at Psalm 94 and its clear message regarding the culture of life vs the culture of death.

 

Ps 94:1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs-O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!

 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud.

 3 LORD, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph?

 4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things; All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.

 5 They break in pieces Your people, O LORD, And afflict Your heritage.

 6 They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless.

 7 Yet they say, "The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand."

 

I just received the latest copy of the Lutherans For Life publication, “Lifedate,” and on the back page in bold letters was this sobering statistic: 63,443,118 babies have been killed in abortions since Roe V Wade in 1973. That’s 1.2 million a year, 3400 a day, 142 an hour, 2.36 every minute.

With the overturning of Roe v Wade in the Dobbs decision of 2022 one would think the abortion numbers would go down. They didn’t.

 

According to the Planned Parenthood research arm, (The Guttmacher Institute) abortions last year increased by 10% to the tune of 1,926,690 pre-born lives snuffed out in one calendar year.

 

Recently, Walgreens and CVS pharmacies announced that they will begin providing the abortion pill mifepristone (miff eh priss’ stone) in a few select states via a doctors prescription beginning this month.

What a deal, stop by the drugstore for a little cough syrup to end a cold, an while you’re at it, something to end an innocent unborn baby’s life.

 

Sadly there is no shortage of doctors willing to write such a deadly prescription.

 

The Psalm that I have quoted above sounds prideful and self-righteous if it comes from my mouth , but not so much if it comes from the mouths of unborn babes. It is the plea from the blood of unborn children to God! This blood is no different than the blood of innocent Abel crying out to God!

 

Ge 4:10 “The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.”

 

 

Abels blood speaks loud from the ground to be sure, but there is a blood that speaks even louder, and if you have participated in the act of abortion in some way or another, please remember this verse from Hebrews: Heb 12:24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

 

The blood of Abel calls out for vengeance, but the blood of Jesus calls out for forgiveness, know this! Believe this! There is no sin (yes even the sin of abortion, that the blood of Jesus did not pay for on the cross.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

 

Hope For A Lost Loved One

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

Joh 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

 

A word of hope today for those of you who have loved ones caught up in sin and rejection of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  How bad can they be? Can they be as bad as Jacob when He outright lied to his dying father as he sought to steal the family blessing from his brother Esau?

 

If you recall, Isaac had asked Esau to hunt some wild game and prepare it for him as a savory meal, but Jacob brought a savory meal to him instead in a successful attempt to fool his dad.

 

Isaac smelled a rat and asked Jacob how he managed to catch and cook this game so quickly and can you believe Jacob’s reply?  Ge 27:20b, “Because the LORD your God brought it to me."

He lied about God! He brought God into his diabolical fabrication! Apparently Jacob didn’t give a rip about breaking one of God’s commands!  You  know, the one that says, Ex 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

 

In spite of the seriousness of this sin, God did not give up on Jacob, and later on in his life, he got tangled up with an all night wrestling match with God

and everything changed! Jacob, in effect was born again and he no longer served the father of all lies, the devil

 

If God could save a diabolical liar like Jacob, if God could save me, if God could save you, He can save that lost loved one as well. Pray for that wrestling match to come to pass in their lives as God sends the hounds of heaven after your loved ones soul. Dear Jesus hear the bleat of that one lost sheep, leave the 99 and find them and save them.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word