In His Name Devotionals
SAWDUST & SNAKES
In His Name Devotionals
SAWDUST & SNAKES
Though unsettling, Jesus used this rhetorical question trying to teach His disciples about trusting the goodness of the Father: “If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God Who conceived you in love will be even better?” (Matt. 7:9-11, The Message).
At first glace it’s an absurd scene, don’t you think? What father would toss a live snake to a hungry child instead of a bite of fish? What mother would putt a squirming reptile on a plate, setting it before her baby? That just doesn’t happen! No sane, loving human would offer hurt to someone seeking help if it’s within his/her power to supply, and especially within a family setting. It is simply unthinkable. Or is it?
Remember the blind man who received a snake from the Lord’s disciples? As they passed by him, they asked, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Insensitive, to say the least! Just think how the man must have felt, hearing them discuss his predicament so clinically, so abstractly, so unsympathetically. Then Jesus stepped forward and gave the man what he needed. Laying aside abstractions, He reached to the point of the man’s agony and gave him sight.
We are prone to be critical of those disciples. But are there any preachers or elders who have begun the 21st Century offering snake sandwiches and sawdust soup to hurting people? How effective have we been in ministering to those Jesus made His priority? For instance, it’s socially acceptable to befriend and serve orphans but what about divorced people? It’s fashionable to feed the hungry but what about sleeping the homeless? It’s easier to sponsor a prison ministry than for a church to gladly open up to abused spouses, lonely old people, well-heeled executives with alcohol problems, or pregnant teenagers. Jesus was secure enough in His ego to risk reputation by eating with people from life’s steamy side, bringing hope and life to people that most of us jeer at and condemn. He gave bread and fish, where others offered sawdust and snakes.
How will the hurting in this new century be spiritually reached? By baptizing them so we can grow numerically and have bigger budgets? In our consumption with numbers and money, some have overlooked Paul’s keen focus on Jesus Christ: “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” (1 Cor. 1:17 NKJV). What has happened to the simple preaching of the gospel? Do our leaders take seriously Paul’s words regarding preaching the gospel, not baptism? Why did he share that with us? Amazingly because “…Christ did not send [him] to baptize…” What has Christ sent you to do? What does it mean to “…preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words…”? What did Paul mean: “…lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect”?
A forty-two year veteran preacher recently responded to www.Study Jesus.com: “Here in this church I can report…a total of 16 souls…baptized into Christ [last year]…seven [in the first month of this year]...without me ever once telling anyone what to do. I found myself for the first time answering the question, ‘Can I be baptized?’ What a thrill! I have been overwhelmed and amazed how strong the Bible story of Jesus truly is and how beautifully God has done the work for us through His Word…My whole approach to preaching and teaching the gospel has changed, and I know it's for the best. Today I've determined to take 'me,' and 'I,’ (personal pronouns) out of my sermons and lessons and plan to stay focused on God the Father and Jesus Christ for the rest of my life. I'll plant the seed; let others water; and be patient and let God bring forth the increase…” What are you planting? The sawdust of worldly gimmicks; the snakes of clever wisdom; or Jesus Christ! It’s really that simple!
People are hurting and for many reasons. What do you offer them? Sawdust & Snakes? Or the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
