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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Kevin Corbin

  • Triumphal Entry – Fickle People

    Triumphal Entry – Fickle People

    Yesterday was Palm Sunday, a remembrance of Jesus’ entry into  Jerusalem just before he was crucified. It must have been an incredible sight. It’s an event recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 11, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12)

    When you look at the four accounts, you begin to recognize how significant an event it was. We can see prophecy fulfilled, Jesus treated as king, and more.

    Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:8-11

    The crowds welcome Jesus as king, a slap in the face to their Roman conquerors. Yet, in less than a week, the crowds will turn on Him. Some of the people present for His entry will be crying out for His death by crucifixion.

    Jesus didn’t change in those few short days. The crowd grew disenchanted with Him, and His religious leader enemies wanted to be rid of Him forever.

    Even Jesus couldn’t please everyone. People are fickle. Today’s friend may be tomorrow’s enemy. The road from hero to zero can be short.

    Yet, we’ve all done it. At some point, we’ve hidden or denied our faith to please others. We kept quiet when we should have spoken up so that others wouldn’t reject us or ridicule us.

    It’s something the Bible addresses in a number of places.

    For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

    But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4

    The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Proverbs 29:25

    When confronted by those situation where we might feel like holding back, we can ask the Lord for strength. We might still be rejected or mocked, but in the eternal scheme of things pleasing God is far more important.

    The Spirit can give us courage. He can encourage us when we are feeling abandoned by friends.

    Jesus knew that pain intimately. He forgives us when we stumble but is glorified when we proclaim Him and act in His name.

    We’re unlikely to face death for our faith next week (although that is still a reality in many parts of the world and may come back in our lifetimes). 

    Let’s lift our brothers and sisters up in prayer that they may have the courage to stand for Jesus. May we all have the ability to stand when tempted to hide our faith.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Read the Word. Read the Word. Read the Word.

    Looking for a church?

    Some thoughts on finding a good church

    Find a good church

    Live in Abbotsford? There are many good churches. This is where I attend.

  • For the Birds – God’s provision

    For the Birds – God’s provision

    male white-crowned sparrow

    Our yard is aflutter with birds. The rear of the property is fenced, keeping out most predators. The seed feeders and hummingbird feeders (in season) stay busy with various birds. The trees and brush provide plenty of nesting sites.

    We see chickadees, dark-eyed juncos, nuthatches, robins, Northern Flickers,  sapsuckers, doves, half a dozen species of sparrow, varied thrushes, common redpolls, and many more species regularly. There are also many LBJ’s (little brown jobs, small birds that I don’t get a close enough look at to identify). 

    We can watch bald eagles, hawks, ravens, and crows soar above us.  Geese and ducks often fly noisily overhead. The other day a flock of sandhill cranes flew overhead whooping away as they traveled. At dawn and dusk we are serenaded by a wide range of song birds.

    We often sit in the yard and watch and listen. Many birds are so accustomed to us that they will come within a couple of feet of us. We are not seen as a threat unless we suddenly move in their direction.

    A passage of Scripture often comes to mind as I watch them. 

    “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

    Appropriate words for the times we are in. 

    Our security nets have eroded. The political world is in chaos, and our economies are in shambles. There are wars, rumors of wars, plagues, and natural disasters on what seems an unprecedented level.

    Yet the birds go about their daily lives, completely unaware of what makes us fearful. God looks after them and will watch over us as well. Things might be difficult for a season, but He has not abandoned us, nor will He.

    The LORD  is our source, our strength, our comfort, and He is our peace. We can rest in Him whether things get better or worse. No matter what the world throws at us, we can withstand it joyfully in Him.

    When it gets too much, take a minute to watch and listen to the birds and look to the Savior. If you live where birds are scarce, go online and watch some videos of them.

    Until next time, consider the birds and trust in Jesus.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Murder – death of Jesus for our sake
    General Revelation: Why No One Can Claim They Didn’t Know