My Testimony

 

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

This summer, I’ve had opportunity to preach through 1 Peter at hope Lutheran Brethren Church in Appleton Wisconsin. A couple of weeks ago we arrived at that passage where Peter challenges followers of Jesus to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Pet 3:15)  I challenged the congregation (and myself) to revisit their personal testimony using Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa found in Acts 26 as a template. I challenge you to do the same, if possible, write it down and keep it in your Bible!

 

Following that template, here is what I came up with for my own personal testimony. Born and baptized in 1947, and raised a Wisconsin Synod Lutheran, attending a parochial school and confirmed and on track to be a Pastor, BUT THEN, but then I fell in with the wrong crowd and began a life of partying that continued well into my adult years. It took my second conviction for drunk driving and waking up in jail one morning to realize that “this is no way to live.”  Now, let me tell you something cool about that. This week I was reading PS 119:59 which says: “I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies.” And I thought that’s it! That’s what happened to me!” “I thought about my ways! I thought, “this is no way to live!” As I hit rock bottom, Jesus came to me through the preaching of His Word, extending His forgiveness to me through faith in Him. It was like I heard this news for the first time! It was “thinking about my ways that opened my ears to the gospel! He led me to repent of my sins, (turn away from them) and receive His promised forgiveness. Oh, He may have died on a cross outside Jerusalem, but I am here to tell you that He rose from the dead and is alive even to this day, working in His word to bring sinners like you and I to a new life. I know that my Redeemer lives and He and I and all who have placed their trust in  Him shall stand at last on earth to live with Him in eternal bliss.  He is risen! That’s my story, it’s God’s story and I’m sticking to it.

 

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

Causing One To Stumble

 

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

“Now concerning things offered to idols” with those words the Apostle Paul kicks off an entire chapter dedicated to mature believers sacrificing some of their freedom for the benefit of those who may not be as mature in their faith. In our day and age, we don’t necessarily deal with the issue of participating with feasts associated with idolatry….or do we. As I read this chapter (chapter 8) this morning, I tried to come up with similar scenarios in our world today. I came up with three, but of course there may be more.

 

The first is found in the bar scene and imbibing in alcohol. You may have been set free from all the problems associated with this environment, but that doesn’t mean your brother has. Your participation sends a green light signal to him, which may lead him to fall back into his old sinful habits. Carried to the extreme, he may even depart from the faith. Paul says in 1Co 8:10,11, “For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? To help you see how damaging this can be, just look around the next time you are in a bar and look for the most extreme behaviors brought on by alcohol abuse, and remember what this lifestyle is capable of. Don’t set your brother up for the extreme, sacrifice for his sake!

Still another area of concern is going to the movies. Movies send messages and most of the time the messages endorse ungodly behaviors, choose your movies wisely, lest your weaker brother has his new found values jeopardized. Remember Rhett Butler? “Frankly Scarlet it’s ok to swear.”

 

The third one I came up with is lodgery. Lodges look very good on the outside and they do many good things, but the deeper you get into them, the farther they can pull you from the worship of the One true God.

 

Again there may be more areas of concern, but the bottom line in all of these is discretion. Be discreet in all your activities, ask yourself if any of them (carried out to their extremes ) could damage your brothers walk with the Lord, and then be willing to give them up if necessary.

 

Paul was willing to give up a good steak, just for the sake of not damaging a brothers faith! He ended the chapter with these words: 1Co 8:13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

 

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

Tithing

 

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

My wife and I tithe. We have been tithing since the 1980’s and have enjoyed God’s promised blessings associated with tithing found in the Book of Malachi! Mal 3:8-12,  "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts; 12 "And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," Says the LORD of hosts.

 

It was belief in those promises and an obedient response to his Word that prompted us to start tithing. If you are not tithing, I encourage you to start, but if you’ve been tithing for a while, as we have been, I also want to encourage you to consider some words from Tom Hovestal in his book, “Spiritual Profiling” In the book, he warns that “contentment with tithing undermines open handed generosity.” That got my attention. I don’t want to fall into the trap of, “I’ve tithed; therefore, I’ve done enough.” Especially since the Bible has much to say about generosity.

Here’s a brief sampling: Pr 11:25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

 Heb 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

 2Co 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

 

Tithe yes! But beware of mechanical giving and look to be generous, with such sacrifices, God is well pleased.

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

A Response To "Judge Not"

 

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

I’m still here! I know it’s been a while, but this summer has been filled with opportunities to fill various pulpits in the area and sermon prep has eaten up a lot of time. I continue to do my daily devotions though, reading through the Bible a chapter a day, Today I found myself in 1 Corinthians chapter five and verses 12 and 13 struck me as being the best possible response to those who would quote Jesus from  Mt 7:1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.”

That verse has silenced many of us lambs amidst any attempt we may make to call out sin! I think 1 Cor 5:12,13 is most helpful here.

 

Paul writes: “For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

Armed with this verse, I can tell the person leveling the charge, “You are exactly right! It’s not my place to judge those outside the Body of Christ, that’s God’s job!  But it is the place of every follower of Christ to judge those “inside.”  (Those who claim to be followers of Christ!) Looking the other way in the matter of sin in the body of Christ is that little leaven that spoils the whole lump! Another way to put this is, if you don’t want the church to judge you, then you must be on the outside looking in.

 

That may sound harsh, but it’s true.

 

But a word of caution for those calling out sin in the Body of Christ. Jesus said in  Mt 7:3-5,  "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

 

In other words, do a little soul searching yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your sins, so you can confess them and receive God’s forgiveness. Then you can approach the brother or sister who needs correction in the proper spirit of humility. And pay attention to the method of approach as outlined in  Mt 18:15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  16 "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

 

Don’t be afraid to address sin in the church, just make sure you follow these procedures with “speech full of the same grace that God has shown you.

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