05 The Fall - Basic Doctrine Series

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The Commands of Jesus: Make Disciples

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The Commands of Jesus: Preach The Kingdom

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The Commands of Jesus: Do Not Judge

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Happy Birthday Baby Jesus - sort of

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The Commands of Jesus: Bless Those Who Cannot Repay

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In 1922, American author Emily Post wrote her best selling book “Etiquette” and in so doing became the definitive voice in American manners.

What should you do when invited to a party? Emily writes,

“Your most important obligation as a guest is to respond to the invitation immediately, especially if you are unable to attend. At the very least, it allows your host and hostess enough time to give an accurate count to the caterer.”

             Good advice!

How should you behave at a wedding?
             “Be on time, wear appropriate clothing and be respectful during the marriage ceremony. Pay your respects to the hosts, the wedding party and other guests at the reception.”

Hey, this Emily knows her stuff! I guess they didn’t call her the “Mistress of Manners” for nothing.

But Mrs. Post is not the only one with excellent advice on proper party etiquette.

In Luke chapter 14, Jesus said this,

“When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” (Luke 14:12-14)

Having a party? Better check you guest list.
Make sure that you are not inviting the “who’s who” but the “who’s that?”

Going out to lunch, heading out to the big game, catching the latest movie?
Invite those who cannot pay you back because when you do… God has got your back.

As followers of Christ we must resist our natural tendency to socialize only with those who are socially accepted, and instead we must deliberately fraternize with the socially rejected.

I’m not sure what Emily Post would think of such etiquette and advice.

But Jesus demands it.

The Commands of Jesus: Beware of False Prophets

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Interstate 29 runs through the town I live in.

Now I-29 can take me to Omaha (if I drive north) or to Kansas City (if I drive south) but it will not take me to Miami. All roads do not lead to Miami.

And I’ll tell you another destination to which all roads do not lead – Heaven.
That’s right. Contrary to popular belief – all roads do not lead to God any more than all roads lead to Los Angeles, or Paris, or … you get the picture.

And that is exactly why Jesus warned us about the falseness of false teachers.
Here is an excerpt from His Sermon on the Mount.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matt 7:15-17 and 20)

Jesus confirms it.

There is such a thing as “the wrong way.” We can be deceived. We can be misled.

Sometimes wolves clothe themselves in wool and make sheep-like sounds.
And because we can know a tree by its fruit, we must therefore keep an eye on what sprouts from the lives of those who claim to know the way. Not everyone is legit.

All roads do not lead to heaven; and many of those who are standing behind pulpits selling “maps” and giving “directions” are willfully ignorant, and others are just flat out liars.

So beware my friend. Drive carefully. And keep your eyes on the road - the right road that is.