A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:6-8, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
Sin is the act of willfully separating from God, putting something between God and ourselves, weakening ourselves from the inside out as we cut ourselves off from the source of life.
And God will let us have what we want. (Romans 1:20-32)
Therefore, we internally die continually, and the only hope is a long life to stave off the eternal death and suffering.
All because we choose our sin over God and His Word.
Yet, God came to us, breathing out His Word and His Spirit to give us new life through His death and resurrection.
We therefore prepare ourselves by investigating His eternal Word through reading the Scriptures and trusting in the Son.
We may still suffer in this world, but we have the hope of eternal life in New bodies with our Lord forever.
May we seek the Lord who gives us life, preparing ourselves by seeking His Word.
I have started a small group series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I am sharing my notes in case anyone else wants to use them with their group. [Reminder that these are only notes!]
Sermon on the Mount – Part 11
Matthew 5:1-2: Jesus wants to teach the crowds: Who are they? Jewish disciples: People who understand the Scriptures (at least to a point). Notice from 7:28 the crowds still came along, but this teaching is for His disciples.
What does “blessed” mean? Based on the first twelve verses, blessed means realizing our own wretchedness and need for a Savior. In other words, it is becoming/being a Christian.
What was discussed last time?
Where we store our riches
Inner darkness vs. light
Is our focus on the Kingdom or ourselves?
Are we listening to/teaching selfish, worldly teachings?
We can’t serve two masters.
Matthew 6:25: “Therefore …”: Jesus has been leading to a point in this chapter:
We give to those in need
We fast and pray
We do it all to focus on God and His Kingdom
Since we are focusing on God:
Why should we worry?
Food
Water
Clothes
Matthew 6:26-32: We get a mini-lesson on why not to worry:
Birds of the air
Psalm 147:9 (see vv. 7-11)
Job 38:41
Solomon and flowers
If these can be clothed so beautifully, yet …
Isaiah 40:8, 61:10-11
We are reminded that nothing in this world lasts, so we should trust what God says.
2 Peter 3:9-13
This all reminds us that such as the Prosperity Gospel is false
Matthew 6: 33-34: We get the reminder that we trust God alone. And what does that look like?
for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:24-25, ESV
The Word (Bible) tells us we are all destined for destruction, unless we follow and believe the Eternal Word (Christ) has shed His blood on our behalf and rose to life again to give us hope of eternal life.
See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
Matthew 6:28-30, NIV
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Romans 5:8-10, NIV
If we were to compare ourselves to plants, it is as though we are flowers. Not just any flowers, but weeds. Due to our sin, we are out of place and only take away from our environment. A weed is a plant out of context. Our sin puts us out of context with God, and all we are able to do ultimately is cause harm.
Something that is quite amazing, though, is that in the hands of an innocent child weeds can become beautiful flowers.
What is more amazing is that, though we are not worth much on our own and out of context, when we turn to God and trust Him, we look like beautiful flowers being presented to Him by His Son who has redeemed us. For at the end of the age, Jesus Christ will return to take His redeemed weeds to the Father:
I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
Revelation 14:14-16, NIV
This is what Five Iron Frenzy is singing about in this song “Dandelions”.
Dandelions
In a field of yellow flowers
underneath the sun
bluest eyes that spark with lightning
boy with shoes undone.
He is young
so full of hope
reveling in tiny dreams
filling up his arms with flowers
right for giving any queen.
Running to her beaming bright
while cradling his prize.
A flickering of yellow light
within his mother’s eyes.
She holds them to her heart
keeping them where they’ll be safe
clasped within her very marrow
dandelions in a vase.
{chorus 1}
She sees love where
anyone else would see weeds.
all hope is found.
Here is everything he needs.
Fathomless your endless mercy
weight I could not lift.
Where do I fit in this puzzle
what good are these gifts?
Not a martyr, or a saint
scarcely can I struggle through.
All that I have ever wanted
was to give my best to you.
{chorus 2}
Lord, search my heart
create in me something clean.
Dandelions
you see flowers in these weeds.
Gently lifting hands to heaven
softened by the sweetest hush
a Father sings over His children
loving them so very much.
More than words could warrant
deeper than the darkest blue
more than sacrifice could merit
Lord, I give my heart to You.
{chorus 2}
Lord, search my heart,
Create in me something clean.
Dandelions
You see flowers in these weeds.
Gently lifting hands to heaven,
Softened by the sweetest hush,
A Father sings over his children,
Loving them so very much.
More than words could warrant,
Deeper than the darkest blue,
More than sacrifice could merit,
Lord, I give my heart to you.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
a simple man of God 