Month: October 2024

The Invitation  To Follow

The Invitation  To Follow

“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office.  And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’  So he arose and followed Him.”

Matthew 9:9 NKJV

Matthew was a tax collector.  Tax collectors were viewed by the Jews as traitors because they worked for the Romans. Most tax collectors gouged the people.  The Romans had a set amount for the taxes that were required.  Goods were taxed and individuals were taxed.  The tax collectors were appointed by the local governor in the region. Those positions were often bought and sold because they were so lucrative.  It was not unusual for the governor or local magistrate to get a small percentage (under the table) over and above what was required. This actually amounted to a fee (or bribe) for being appointed to the position.   The tax collector would then add his own percentage to the tax amount raising the taxes even higher.  It is easy to see how greed and corruption flourished.  Consequently, the tax collectors became quite wealthy. They were shunned by most of the Jewish population. 

Jesus encountered Matthew sitting at his tax collecting booth.  Jesus looked at him and said, “Follow Me.” No doubt, Matthew had already heard of Jesus. It is possible that he had also witnessed some of His miracles.  When Jesus looked at him and spoke to him personally, everything changed. The eyes of Jesus pierced his soul. His words gripped his heart!  Matthew saw himself in the light of His holiness! And yet at the same time, he experienced His overwhelming love! 

In a moment of time, Matthew went from being despised, hated, and rejected to being unconditionally loved!   As a result, he left everything and followed Jesus!   

That is what happens when we truly see Jesus for who He really is!  His love touches us at the very core of our being.  It transforms us and motivates us to leave everything in our past and follow Him!   In reality, there is no other way to follow Him! 

James W. Black

The Greatness of God

The Greatness of God

“For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; he is to be  feared above all gods.”
Psalm 96:4 KJV

There have been times in our history when we have honored and praised great men and women who accomplished great things.  Books have been written about them and monuments have been erected in their honor so that future generations might remember them.  That is a good, right, and noble thing to do.   Those who have accomplished great things should be remembered so that we can appreciate what they have done and learn from them. Most of us have benefited in some way from their accomplishments.   They should be remembered. 

But if we can honor the great accomplishments of men and women,  how much more should we honor the greatness of God?!  No one can compare to the greatness of God!  The monuments to His greatness are displayed everywhere! 

We witness His greatness in the wonder and majesty of His creation; from the vast expanse of the universe (Psalm 19:1) to the smallest flower growing in the field (Math. 6:28-29).  The multitude of life forms staggers the mind.   Each form is unique in design.  Everything God has created is detailed, intricate, precise, and amazingly complex. 

The expression of His greatness is demonstrated in the complexity of the human body.
The Psalmist recognized this when he said that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14).

But His greatness is revealed not only in His physical creation but also by His personal involvement in each of our lives. He provides for us things that are far beyond that which is tangible.  In the midst of our great lostness, He provides us with great salvation!  In the face of great tragedy,  He gives us great hope!  In the face of great loss, He provides us with great sufficiency.  In the face of great darkness, He provides us great light.  In the face of great sorrow, He provides us with great comfort.  In the face of opposition, He provides us with great strength and victory.   In essence,  the greatness of God surpasses all that we can possibly imagine (Eph. 3:20).  Why would we not want to praise Him?   There is no one greater than Him! 

Rev. James W. Black

The Faithfulness of God

The Faithfulness of God

“Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.”  Deut. 7:9 KJV

One of the great blessings of being a part of God’s family and Kingdom is the faithfulness of God.  Faithfulness is a part of the character and nature of God.  In this passage, the Lord was reminding His people that they could rely upon Him!  They could trust Him. He would watch over them and take care of them!  They were His people!

However, the key to receiving those blessings was obedience. Not obedience born out of coercion or obligation, but obedience born out of love and gratitude.  The Lord desired for  His people to love Him because  He had already demonstrated His love and faithfulness to them in amazing and remarkable ways.  The Lord is always the first to express His love toward us (1 John 4:19).

The promises of God are rock solid. They are unchanging (Malachi 3:6).  But they are also conditional. It means that if we do what He has asked us to do, as revealed in His Word, then He will be faithful in keeping His promises; especially when that obedience is born out of love and gratitude toward Him! 

In the dark world in which we live (and it seems to be getting darker), it is comforting to know that we can rely complexly upon Him because  He is faithful from generation to generation!   His love and faithfulness toward us is constant!  It is unchanging.  It is unwavering!  It will never end!  It is eternal!  What an awesome God we serve!  Blessed be His Holy Name! 

Rev. James Black