I read just now the verses 15-22 in the 22nd chapter of  Matthew. In the NIV (New International Version) Bible the verses have the caption “Paying Taxes to Caesar.”  Matthew 22:15-22

I was struck by the four things the Pharisees and the Herodians said about the Lord Jesus Christ. They called him Teacher of course. They called the Lord first of all “a man of integrity.” In fact they knew that he was a man of integrity. Secondly they said  “you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” The Lord was not only teaching the way of God, but he was teaching the way of God according to the truth. Thirdly the Lord Jesus Christ was not  swayed by men. And lastly they said about the Lord you pay no attention to who the people are.

There are three chief Jewish parties: Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes. The Pharisees sent their disciples to the Lord.

We really want to learn from these verses, all of us. But these verses are especially for men who are occupying the pulpits in our churches.

1. Are they men of integrity?

The dictionary defines integrity like this: “adherence to moral principles; honesty. the quality of being unimpaired; soundness.”

2. Are they teaching the way of God?  And are they teaching the way of God according with the truth?

Acts 17:11

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character………..they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Sriptures every day to see  if what Paul said was true.”

3. Are they swayed by men?

The dictionary again: “to be influenced or swerve or influence or cause to swerve to or from a purpose or opinion.”

4. Are they paying attention to who the people are?

James 2:1-4

Favoritism is forbidden!

by Phyllis of Tauranga

________________________

I had a friendly smile,

I gave that smile away,

The milkman and the postman

Seemed glad of it each day;

I took it to the shop,

I had it on the street,

I gave it without thinking

To all I chanced to meet;

I gave my smile away

As thoughtless as could be,

And every time I gave it,

My smile came back to me.

“It is a good way to start the examination of anybody.”

Vance Havner says,

“The old country doctor of my boyhood days always began his examination by saying, ‘Let me see your tongue.’ It is a good way to start the examination of anybody.”

The Bible has a lot to say about the tongue. James 3:1-12 has the caption “Taming the Tongue.”

James 1:26 –  Are we keeping a tight rein on our tongue?

James 3:5,6 – The tongue is a fire.

James 3:8 – No man can tame the tongue.

Do you understand Psalm 139:4

“Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely , O Lord.”

Philippians 2:10,11

“… every knee should bow,..”

“…. every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,…..”

“Faith goes up the stairs that love has made and looks out of the windows which hope has opened.”

Charles Spurgeon

First Corinthians 13:13 (easy to remember!)

“And now these three remain: FAITH, HOPE and LOVE. But the greatest of these is LOVE.”

There are a number of regular features in the local newspaper. (The Northland Age) Today I came across them again while looking through the paper in a restaurant. I find the headlines of the features very interesting and inspiring.

One is called “Throw Us a Line.” On the way home I was thinking a lot about “Throw us a line” and a hymn, a christian song from way back, came to my mind. Unfortunately I remembered only a few lines from the hymn – and that in  the German language. So far as I remember, I used to hear the song many years ago in  Germany at an Evangelistic Campaign. (Janz Team)

When I arrived home, I related the few words  – lines – to my wife and believe it or not, but she knew the song.

Eventually we found it in the song book of the Salvation Army. The chorus goes like this:

Throw out the life – line, throw out the life – line,

Someone is drifting away.

Throw out the life – line, throw out the life – line,

Someone is sinking today!”

The hymn is by Edwsard S. Ufford and has three verses. Here is verse three:

“Soon will the season of rescue be o’er,

Soon they will drift to eternity’s shore;

Haste then, my brother, no time for delay,

But throw out the life – line, and safe them today.”

There are many people today who are calling: “Throw us a line.” We are holding the life – line in  our hands. Are we throwing the life – line out TODAY?

Read posts on Personal Evangelism on this blog!

It was only yesterday that I came across the Chinese proverb:

“The one who asks a question is a fool for five minutes, the one who does not ask a question is a fool forever.”

Have you ever asked the question:

WHAT IS THE TRUE MEANING OF LIFE?

Ecclesiastes 12:13

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:

FEAR GOD and

KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS,

for this is the whole duty of man.”