Pastor's Devotion
Bacon Wrapped Dog: Devotional Insight from Matthew 7:1-12
By: Pastor Felix Ballon
I had my first taste of bacon wrapped dog in Tijuana over 20 years ago. I love to eat one right now but I wouldn't want to be one. After warning the disciples not to judge hypocritically, Jesus said, "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet and turn and turn you to pieces" (Matthew 7:6). Jesus was referring to religious people who use the Word of God to judge others' sin not realizing that the same Scripture has judged them first. In the following section, in teaching them the principle of sure answer to prayer (7-11), Jesus is basically saying that instead of judging hypocritically they are to pray for them and God will answer that prayer. Why? Because the golden rule says, "In everything treat people the same way you want them to treat you" (v. 12). The point Jesus Christ is making is that when you are in sin, instead of being judged you would want others to pray for you to be delivered from your sin and error. Now, if that's what you would want others to do to and for you when you are in sin then you would want to do that for them also. Beloved, my prayer for us today is that we would not be the dogs and swine who take the Truth of Scripture, trample it and attack others with it but rather receive the Truth, repent of our sins that it points out and help others to be delivered from the same through prayer and gentle rebuke (2 Tim 3:16-17).
Passionate Pursuit of Perfection
BY: Pastor Felix Ballon
The title is taken from Lexus's current promotional drive for their new line of cars. The catchy phrase depicts the company's passion and active pursuit in developing, designing and manufacturing the perfect automobile. No expense is spared, the best minds have been gathered to design it, the materials inspected to perfection to build it with, and the assembly-line immaculate to complete it. For the car enthusiasts, they see Lexus no longer as an upcoming luxury automobile manufacturer but one that leads even many German and American companies. But such a perfect automobile, for most of us will be out of reach, how much more to sit in and enjoy.
But this is not the case for the Christian life of personal and practical holiness. Spiritual perfection or holiness is not for the elite nor is it for the privileged but for all believers. The believer's holiness or perfection is a passionate pursuit of God and as such must be the believer's passionate pursuit for himself or herself as well. Consider the following passages and answer the question:
"For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:20). What will enable anyone to enter the kingdom of heaven?
"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48). What is the command given here by Jesus Christ?
"just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him." (Ephesians 1:4). What was the purpose of God choosing the Elect?
"but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16). What is the command given to believers to become and maintain in their Christian walk?
"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." (1 John 3:2-3). What do the children of God do as they wait for the return of Jesus Christ?
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy," (Jude 24). Who will ultimately keep us clean, pure and holy?
In the preceding passages and probing questions we can see that apart from a perfect and holy righteousness we cannot enter the kingdom of God. Thus, God chose His elect people to clean and purify by the shed blood of Christ for the purpose of making them holy. As God's elect we are to passionately pursue perfection and holiness until Christ returns. This implies an ongoing activity and progressive movement to spiritual maturity. Ultimately our confidence is in Christ's ability to keep us holy unto the end.
Recognize where you are in this pursuit of holiness and pray that the Lord will increase your passion in this pursuit of perfection. Praise the Lord because in spite of your failure and short-coming, it is Christ who will preserve you.