Let’s creep behind enemy lines to rescue the perishing.

Friday   11-20-15    Modesto, California

Scripture reading:   Matt 5 - 7

S=Scripture O=Observation A=Application P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Matt 5:1  One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them.

Matt 7:28-29  After Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught as one who had real authority — quite unlike the teachers of religious law. NLT

O.  I have just finished reading again Jesus’ wonderful “Sermon on the Mount.”  At the beginning of these three chapters Matthew writes that... ‘as the crowds were gathering, Jesus took his disciples up the mountainside and sat down to teach them.’  Was this detailed discourse one sitting of teaching directed only to his apostles and other disciples?  Or were these life-giving axioms proclaimed to the great crowd that had gathered?  If so, was the crowd so hushed by His awesome teaching that they kept little babies from crying and the children from screaming out in their play so that Jesus’ words could reach the fringes of the crowd?  

We have 107 verses in these three chapters and practically each one of them is an axiom carefully designed to bless our Christian life style! 

A.  When Jesus went up the mountain, he took only his disciples.  Now chapter 8:1 states, “Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside.” NLT  I wish I could do that.  He started out with a handful heading up a mountainside and came back down with a huge multitude.  Jesus was a magnet to the public.  It wasn’t just His unusual teaching.  It was His kindness and concern which He displayed with little children, poverty stricken beggars and the suffering.  And, of course, it was His miracles.  With my limited faith I can’t do all that Jesus did.  But there are some of those qualities I can emulate.  And by God’s help I shall.

I recently read about a church that cancelled their evangelism plans for an area of their city that was known for its prostitution, drugs and liquor.  They felt that some of their own weaker participants in evangelism might fall into these traps of sin.

P.  Father, help me to become more like Your Son, Jesus.  He was a magnet to those that were wondering about as sheep without a shepherd.  He was holy, but dirty sinners were attracted to Him.  He sat with them at their table and shared a meal.  Their sinfulness did not rub off onto Him.  Instead His holiness rubbed off onto those sinners.  Suddenly they were ready to give up their life-style and follow His life giving axioms.  Please protect me as I reach out to sinners.  Keep me from evil thoughts and from falling into the same traps that captured them.  Come on, Jesus!  Stay by my side and hold my hand as we creep behind enemy lines to rescue the perishing.  Amen.

Ralph