THE Q&A

Posted on May 8, 2018 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” – Luke 6:46 (NASB) 
Jesus was a master of the Q&A session. When He was questioned by His audience, the answers He gave were like the questions He asked. They were meant to point something out that needed to be dealt with.
 
Today’s passage from Luke is a very direct question, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’  and do not do what I say?” It can leave you to scratch your head and wonder what you aren’t doing. Now to be clear this question isn’t meant to those who are out-n-out enemies of the Cross of Christ. It isn’t meant for those who are attempting to be neutral but fit into this verse, “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters” (Matt 12:30). This is a question for those who are for Jesus but against Jesus at the same time. Go ahead…keep scratching.
 
I recently came across a phrase on the inter-webs that pretty much sums up what this question is meant to convey. “The question condemns religion without the Lord and lip-service without the heart.” Now the prime example of this will always be the scribes and those wacky Pharisees. In Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 23 to be exact, Jesus just tears into them but wants the audience to understand one main point, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them.” (Matt 23:2-3) I take this as Jesus saying to us, tend to your own vertical connection and be observant in the horizontal.
 
The question also rebukes lukewarmness. In his book “Crazy Love,” Francis Chan has a whole chapter dedicated to this spiritual condition and if you chose to run yourself through the list ya might get depressed. My own stumbling block in this found on page 73 of the paperback version and it has to do with loving others and is rooted in the following passage of Scripture…
 
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matt 5:43-47)
 
When I am receiving love from those people who I know and connect with, I am in a good spot. But those folks who can’t or won’t love me back and those folks who intentionally slight me, either publicly or privately, I got issues with. That would mean my love for others is selective, conditional and comes with strings attached. Ce n’est pas bon (that’s not good.)
 
You can come across as pretty pompous when it’s all lip service and no-heart relation (and yes, I’ve had the pleasure of being called pompous from time to time). We are given a plain warning to such a position, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 6:1). This is why we shouldn’t be raising our holy hands and shouting out, “Thank God I’m not like those filthy sinners.” This is clear violation of what we find the Beloved Disciple write in 1 John 4, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
 
A few weeks back, a very well-respected brother-in-Christ of mine gave me a gentle nudge and let me know that it came from a “relationship and building bridges” position. Since then I’ve taken a longer view of the question, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” It can be really hard to do things from a “no strings attached” point of view but then on the other hand, if you’re really “in Christ” it should be reflex. When we look at this through these kinda lenses we can truly understand what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two grown children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 25, 29, 33, 36, 39 | You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

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Daily Quote: “The goals of American Christianity are often a nice marriage, children who don’t swear, and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered. That’s for the radicals who are unbalanced and who go overboard. Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not involve suffering.” — Francis Chan

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“Oh, satisfy early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days!” Psalm 90:14

  
 

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