Matthew 10:4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. NKJV

1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. NKJV

Sometimes we focus on the sin of others because it takes our eyes (and the eyes of others) off of our own sin. This is why politicians dig through the murky waters of their rival's lives while accusing the other of playing "gotcha politics." This is why Apple has started posting videos of other phones with the same antenna attenuation problems as the iphone 4. Yeah, Judas betrayed Jesus ... but I doubt he thought he could do that when he first began to follow Him. Instead, he left himself open to influence of Satan through successive compromises. Judas probably thought he was above turning traitor ...

We might think that someone else could fall into a particular sin but we are "above it." That's an incredibly dangerous assumption to make. I have a favorite song called Sweet Mercy and there is a line in that song that goes, “You never turned away ... You called out my name even though I would walk away.” The potential is in each and every one of us and it’s likely that we all have at some point, probably without realizing it, walked away from following Jesus. Every one of us has been, can be or will be a prodigal. All it takes is a distraction or a compromise or a combination of both. 

Follow that with another compromise and soon, like a drumbeat, the compromises become rhythmic. Soon, we, like Lot and like the prodigal son become a functioning part of a rebellious system and what does that have us doing?

Luke 15:15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. NKJV

We find ourselves working for this evil world system doing things that violate God’s law. I’m not talking about working at the post office or in a cubicle farm for a boss that isn’t a Christian. I’m talking about Satan, the adversary. If we are not for Jesus, then who are we serving?

Luke 11:23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. NKJV

The Perushim were great religious men who could have been leading people to good things but who instead compromised their position for the pleasure of self righteousness. Instead of serving God, they were, as Jesus put it:

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. NKJV

How easy and how far did compromise take the religious leaders from their duty. And if it happened to them, it can (and does) happen to us. A couple of short cuts, and the next thing we know, we’ve spent our birthright on foolishness. The great thing is that when we realize rock bottom, God is moving toward us with open arms.

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Matthew 9:23-25 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. NKJV

Jairus' friends ridiculed Jesus. As a result of their lack of belief, they were put out of the house and they missed the resurrection. Let me repeat that ... as a result of their lack of belief, they were put out of the house and they missed the resurrection. Contrast this unbelieving group to a couple of blind men a few verses later ...

Matthew 9:27-29 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” NKJV

These two blind men followed Jesus from Jairus' house crying out for Him to heal them. Jesus kept walking and entered the house where He was staying (probably Peter's Mother-in-Law's house). Now, these two men could have assumed this meant the answer was "no," but they didn't. They followed Jesus into the house and He healed them.

Many times we hear the teaching that God always answers prayers and if you haven't received an answer, the answer must be "no." So, we should stop praying ... we wouldn't want to pester God, now would we?

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. NKJV

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing, NKJV

I think far too often we assume the answer to our prayers is "no" when God wants us to take a step of faith before He responds to our prayers. When we assume the answer is no, we then give up and cease praying. You're not pestering God. Ask. Fervently. Supplication is passionately pleading, just as these two blind men were doing. Too many of us stop at the door when God is waiting for us to demonstrate our belief by taking that extra step into the house before He rewards our faith.

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Genesis 12:6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. NKJV

The land that God gave to Abram was pre-populated. It was filled with unfamiliar people doing unfamiliar things motivated by unfamiliar ideas, unfamiliar hopes and unfamiliar expectations. Abram was a wanderer yet far from being lost. The people who occupied this land were settled, yet lost.

What is your calling? Well, a good place to start is with this ... God’s call on our lives will always have some component of reaching others for Jesus. If you feel that His calling on your life is to shut up and let your light shine, you are either mistaken or you have been tricked.

Jesus laid it out here:

Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. NKJV

Why would Jesus mention that He is with us even to the end of the world?  Could it be that we are to be teaching, baptizing, making disciples without stop - until the end of the age? I think so; enough that I'm willing to say if your call does not involve reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, your call is not Biblical.

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Matthew 9:14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” NKJV

Notice that it says “saying” and not “asking” ... statements can be made in the guise of questions. There is nothing wrong with asking questions, but we need to be wise. Sometimes people ask questions because they want to make a statement. Don’t get suckered into an argument picked for the sake of argument.

God has given us all a provision of time and resources and we need to be stewards of that time.

Ephesians 5:15-16 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. NKJV

Be wise. You can usually tell when someone is asking a question because they truly want to hear your answer in order to learn. You can also tell when someone is trying to bait you into an argument. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that God has pre-ordained for us good works to walk in, and if Satan can distract you from those works with an argument, he will. Debates can be entertaining and can promote understanding and learning. Arguments, however, distract, distort and divide. 

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