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Author: Jim Cantelon

Read Luke 6

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Devotionals.

Key Verse: Luke 6:47 “Whoever comes to Me…hears My sayings and does them…”

Verbal Christianity can be quite enjoyable. You talk about love, discuss theology, give to the poor at Christmas, get lots of “amens!” when speaking about faith to the converted–in fact, it beats most other service clubs all hollow. Mainly because a “Christian” club brings an abundance of self-satisfying righteousness as part of the territory. Your club dues are paid in right talking.

Right walking, rather than talking, is, of course, what Christianity is about. Especially in the 90’s. There are enough talking heads out there; it’s time for walking feet. Jesus thought so, then. No doubt, He still thinks so today.

He said there was a distinct relationship between hearing (and “parroting”, I’d expect) His sayings, and doing them. In fact, He used a powerful simile to make the point. The person who is a hearer and a talker without being a doer, is like someone building a house on an unstable foundation. Regardless of the dedication, the diligence and the time spent in construction, the house will collapse. It doesn’t even matter if they house was dedicated to the Lord’s work. If the foundation is shaky, the house will be shaky, and ultimately will be no more.

Conversely, the person who not only hears, but also puts Jesus’ words into practise, builds an indestructible house. Regardless of the forces that come against it the house will stand. Why? Because “doing” the word makes for an unshakable foundation. Perhaps no more or less effort will be put into the construction than the house built on sand, but the house on the Rock will stand forever.

In the final analysis, our talk doesn’t impress God. He can make the rocks cry out if Her wants to–so spare yourself and Him all the talk; rather give Him your will. Get out of that pew, and do!

Read Luke 5

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Devotionals.

Key Verse: Luke 5:38 “…new wine must be put into new wineskins…”

Let’s follow Jesus’ thinking here. New wine needs new wineskins–that makes sense. Old wineskins have already been stretched by the fermentation process. Stretch them any more and they’ll burst. So the old wineskins are useless now; they’ve served their purpose. But does that mean the old wine is useless? By no means. In Jesus’ own words, “the old is better”. Let’s pursue this a bit.

You’ve heard the term, “the old boys network”. I remember as a young pastor, attending church conferences and seeing the old pastor–in my mind, it needed a young, fresh, new approach: someone  in tune with the time. But what would the district officials do? They’d appoint one of the “old boys”, a friend of long acquaintance, to go in and continue the old traditions, stultifying the church even more. My disdain. The status quo seemed to be preferred to creatively pursuing the far horizon. The district officials chose men from the ark, while we younger pastors wanted someone from the cradle. We wanted style, they wanted character.

I see things more clearly, now that I’ve reached the hoary-headed age of 42. The brand new church needs a young pastor–while the young leader “ferments”, the church expands, relatively painlessly. On the other hand, if the young pastor is catapulted into an established situation, chances are there’ll be an explosion (not of growth, but of disintegration). The seasoned pastor, on the other hand, is the man to cultivate, prime, nourish, discipline, and guide the seasoned church in producing ongoing fruit. Of course, there are exceptions, but generally speaking, whereas character always has style, style doesn’t always have character.

Jesus’ teaching was new. The established religious system couldn’t bear the pressure of His expansive view of the kingdom of heaven; something had to give. But even while the establishment crushed Jesus’ life, His shed blood, like the released juice of the grape, created a whole new wine. And ultimately, it was the old wineskin that burst–and a new world, which will culminate in Jesus’ return, was begun.

But there’s something unique about Jesus’ new wine. It’s rooted in the old. It has the style of a new day dawning, and the character of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It’s the best of new and old.

Read Luke 4

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Devotionals.

Key Verse: Luke 4:24 “…no prophet is accepted in his own country”.

You’ve heard the old adage, “familiarity breeds contempt”. And if not contempt, familiarity breeds at least neglect. This was the case with Jesus. Interestingly, it was also the case with the nation of Israel. And, if we’re honest, it’s the case with you and me too.

In Luke’s account, the temptation in the wilderness is followed by Jesus’ return to Nazareth, His home town. There He attends the synagogue on the Sabbath, and when it’s His turn to read, He find Isaiah 61. After reading verses 1 and 2, He looks at the assembled men of Nazareth, all friends and acquaintances, and says, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” This obviously met with resistance, for Jesus goes on to say, “no prophet is accepted in his home town” (NIV). Then, as the anger of the home town men mounts, Jesus does nothing to diffuse it, rather He adds fuel to the fire.

He goes on to refer to Elijah and Elisha’s time. Prophets then were no more listened to by their own people than now, Jesus says in effect. During the three-and-a-half year drought, there were probably thousands of Israelite widows in need. But what does God do? He sends Elijah to a Canaanite woman, a heathen. During Elisha’s day, there were many sick with leprosy. But whom does God heal? Not an Israelite, but a Syrian. The implication was clear, and not lost on Jesus’ audience. So much so that they tried to throw Him over a cliff.

The people of God are often those least accessible to Him. We’re often in church, often praying, often talking about God. We’re very religious. In fact, religion is old hat. And that familiarity produces carelessness, boredom and neglect.

It needn’t do so. Not if we thank God every day of our lives for His wonderful gift of life in Jesus Christ. Not if we renew our love every morning, live it all day, and rest in it at night. You might call it “familiar freshness”.

Read Luke 3

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Devotionals.

Key Verse: Luke 3:8 “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…”

John the Baptist must have seemed a rather arrogant fellow to some–how may preachers do you know who address candidates for baptism as a “brood of vipers”? He was so opposite the typical evangelist/prophet with their promotional schemes and follow-up plans. In fact, when people (multitudes of them) showed up for his baptismal ministry, he seemed surprised that they’d come at all–“who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” Nor was he above knocking religious and national heritage, “Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father’. For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.” Imagine some preacher assessing your worth as roughly equivalent to a stone! He seemed to many to be an obnoxious man with an offensive message.

The whole point of John’s baptism was, “repentance for the forgiveness of sins”.  Notice it wasn’t “confession” for the forgiveness of sins. Without question, confession is vital to the redemptive process, but confession is relatively passive; once you’ve confessed, then what? Confess again? And again? Repentance, on the other hand, is active. What’s more, it’s creative.

For example, how’s this for active and creative: “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same…” To tax collectors, he says, “Don’t collect any more than you are required to.” To occupying soldiers, he says, “Don’t extort money…don’t accuse people falsely…be content with your pay.” This is the fruit worthy of repentance.

Repentance means turning away from a sinful choice and choosing or walking in the opposite direction. Yes, we must confess our sin–that’s step number one. But then comes the arduous and sometimes life-long challenge of choosing the new direction and the new values–every day until the day we enter His presence.

Read Luke 1 & 2

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Devotionals.

Key Verse: Luke 2:30,32 “My eyes have seen Your salvation…a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the story of  Your people Israel.”

I’m a Gentile; a Gentile who, with his family lived among Jewish friends and neighbours for seven years in Jerusalem. We speak Hebrew (Kathy and the children, fluently–I, not so fluently), and we have an intimate knowledge of, and great respect for, Jewish culture and religion. In fact, even after being back in Canada this past year and a half, our kids still feel more Israeli than Canadian.

Friends and acquaintances here have often remarked, “It must have been wonderful to live in the Holy Land! Especially at Christmas and Easter!” Well, yes it was–but not for the reasons you’d expect. Christmas is basically a non-event, at least in terms of the Israeli calendar. There are special events in “Manger Square” on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, but in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and all places in between, Christmas day is just like any other day. At Easter you’ll see groups of Roman Catholic or Orthodox pilgrims carrying life-like crosses along the Via Dolorosa in the Old City, and Protestant groups holding a sunrise service at the Garden Tomb, but again, for Israelis, generally, it’s just another day. That’s the irony of Christian celebrations in Israel–her most famous son is remembered not by His own but by the “Goyim”, the Gentiles from the “outside”. Right now, Jesus is anything but “the glory of Your people Israel”.

But He is “revelation to the Gentiles”. Which suggests that Simeon, as he held the eight-day-old infant Jesus, spoke prophetically. The notion that Jesus would be a revelation to the Gentiles was definitely novel, and undoubtedly future. That future, however, is now–we Gentiles have received the message. And Israel has yet to embrace the baby. So, even as I write these words and you read them, we’re living in an historically dynamic tension between the “time of the Gentiles” and the day when Israel will recognize her Messiah. What a day that will be! And it may be soon. Simeon’s words will be fulfilled.

October 28,2020

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Casual Commentary.

Matthew 5
Divorce vv.31 & 32 – Part 3

In Mt. 19:3-9 Jesus was “tested” by the Pharisees with the question, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” King Herod, who ruled during Jesus’ life, had divorced his wife Herodias, and, as I’ve already pointed out, there was a great polarity of thought within Judaism itself. The Essenes were celibates, the Hillelites were liberals — a man could divorce his wife for burning his dinner! And the Shamai-ites were ultra-conservative — no divorce except for adultery. If Jesus was rigid he would offend Herod and the school of Hillel. If he was lenient he would fall out with the school of Shamai. So it was a “test” indeed.

His answer took the wind out of everyone’s sails. In essence he says, “Marriage was/is God’s creation.” The two sexes are complementary. The intent of marriage is to leave the family in which one was raised (“leave his father and mother”) and establish one’s own. The unit is not the individual, but the family. God is not only creator of the institution, but he is part of it. You must not break it up.

“OK! OK!,” said his interlocutors, but Moses allowed divorce. Why else would he command that a certificate of divorce be given to the woman?

Jesus responded by saying that Moses did not “command” it. He “permitted” or “suffered” (Greek) it. Why? Because the culture was “hard”.

Read Mark 16

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Devotionals.

Key Verse: Mark 16:6 “…He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.”

One of the important ingredients in the resurrection of Jesus is the fact of His death. Jesus really died. Just like our ancestors have done. Just like you and I will do. Why is this so important? Here’s why.

Please indulge me as I quote from my book, “Theology for non-Theologians”: “…there have been two classic mistakes throughout history whenever Christians have attempted to explain the person of Jesus Christ. One is very practical–‘Jesus simply couldn’t have been God.’ And the other is very mystical–‘Jesus wasn’t really human at all’. Yet the Bible presents Jesus as fully God and fully man. He has two natures united in one person. Most believers have little sympathy for mistake number one, but they do have an affinity with mistake number two. This shouldn’t surprise us, for, historically, this dehumanizing of Jesus has always been a major problem for the church.” (P.253, Macmillan, N.Y.; Collier Macmillan, London).

Look at the key verse, “He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.” Notice the words, “here”, and “place”. These are spatial words. Spirits are both “here” and “there”, and no one has ever thought to attempt the burial of a spirit in a “place”. Only physical bodies are buried in a place. Usually we mark the place with some kind of memorial. In fact, it is possible to visit the grave sites of some great religious leaders to this day. The point is this: Jesus didn’t just vanish, as if He were merely spirit or some kind of super-angel, He died. He had a body–a flesh and blood body, just like you and me. He was all man.

And He was all God. In fact, He was fully man and fully God. At the same time! God/man–the only one of his kind. The grave tells us He was man. The resurrection tells us He was God. And the post-resurrection appearances and final ascension tell us He is “the same, yesterday, today and forever.”

So, while He remains the same, we put our trust in Him–and are never the same again.

Read Mark 15

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Devotionals.

Key Verse: Mark 15:39 “…Truly this man was the Son of God.”

So why are you a Christian? Because  you were raised that way? Perhaps it’s because of Sunday School, or the witness of a friend. Maybe reading the Bible did it. Whatever. But why a Christian, rather than a Buddhist or Muslim? Why not an atheist? There’s only one answer to that: “Jesus”. Never in the history of this planet has there ever been such a man. For those who’ve been confronted by His presence, or who’ve taken the time to study His ministry and personal claims, there’s no neutral ground. You either embrace Him or displace Him. There are no maybe’s.

In this chapter we read about the trial, judgment, crucifixion and burial of Jesus. There are several personalities surrounding the central figure–teacher of the law, the Shanhedrin, chief priests, Pilate, the crowd, soldiers, Barabbas, two thieves, Simon the Cyrene, Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ own mother Mary, and one Roman centurion. This man wasn’t a Christian, yet, but in the maelstrom of Jesus’ crucifixion He says something that suggests he may have become a believer later.

Jesus died with the heart-rending cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Unlike the Jews, some of whom would recognize these words as a direct quote from the messianic Psalm 22, and, unlike the theologians who would debate the issue of God forsaking Himself, the centurion is completely gripped by the divinity of this last gasp, and declares, “Surely the man was the Son of God!” The pathos of the cry, and the way in which Jesus died, caused this Gentile soldier to unequivocally accept the claims of the “king of the Jews”.

If he were asked alter to defend his faith, the centurion may have had no foot to stand on other than his experience of Christ. Years later, he may have had access to some of the early Christian writings. Maybe he even attended one of the churches Paul established in Asia Minor. Who knows?

But one thing we do know. Whether you’re a soldier, sailor, tinker or tailor, you can know Jesus and even love Him–mainly because He knew and loved you first. His word undergirds and nourishes faith. But in the final analysis, it’s your experience of Christ that sustains you. Call it a lasting relationship.

Read Mark 14

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Devotionals.

Key Verse: Mark 14:31 & 50 “…’If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’ And they all said likewise…then they all forsook Him and fled.”

I can identify with the disciples. they were keen, energetic fellows, with more than their fair share of courage–it takes a brave man to parry the ardent questions and objections of friends, relatives, and a wife concerning a three year  stint of irresponsible wandering with a zealot from Galilee. I can just hear Peter’s wife asking, “But how do you expect to pay this year’s taxes if you don’t get back to fishing?” Yes, they were strong on resolve, but were also weak on follow-through. Like me, (and you, perhaps), they were never at a loss for good intentions. Take a look at this chapter.

Here the narrative presents the first events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus. We read of Jesus’ dinner with Simon the leper just two days before Passover. It was this meal which was highlighted by the extravagant act of the unnamed woman, pouring expensive perfume on Jesus’ head. Then, two days later, Jesus has His last Passover meals with His disciples. As they eat the traditional meal, with its unleavened bread and mandatory four cups of wine. Jesus uses these common elements to symbolize forever His broken body and shed blood. then comes the noble resolve, and ignoble follow-through, of both Peter and the rest of the crew.

You see it in the key verses (31 and 50). Peter was the spokesman, but they all shared in the disgrace. After pledging undying loyalty, they all “forsook Him and fled”. Sounds like something I’d do. Threaten me with the electric chair and I’ll back-pedal quickly, especially in the heat of the moment, when the first reflex is self-justification and self-preservation! Like Peter, I might weep bitterly…after. But for now, “I’m out of here!”

Mind you, the speed of the events left the disciples quite breathless (and spineless)–why, even Jesus’ enemies couldn’t get their act and their stories together (vs.56 & 59). Nevertheless, we have here a tried and true reality in which we all share: the gap between what we say and what we do.

Thank God, even the apostle Paul needed to hear what we need to hear, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Take it easy on the sinner. There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Read Mark 13

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Devotionals.

Key Verse: Mark 13:10 “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”

Prophecy is a hot subject these days. Especially as we’ve just entered the 1990”s, the last decade of this millenium. There are all kinds of self-made prophets out there, ready and more than willing to predict the future. Then there are the Bible prophecy experts, all preaching their interpretations, so various that the sum total is decidedly uncertain at best and confusing at least. What really complicates the picture, though, is that these prophets and their followers tend to take it personally whenever an unbeliever, or proponent of a competing prophetic scheme, questions the validity of their teaching. Some of the most dogmatic opinions extant in Christendom today are those of end-times specialists. For these people, the expression “knowing everything for sure” seems to be axiomatic.

That’s why Jesus’ words in verse 32 of this chapter are so very vital, “But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” When God became the man Jesus, He emptied Himself of the independent exercise of His divine attributes–and one of those attributes is omniscience. Jesus, the God/Man, was self-limited. So much so that even He didn’t know when the end of the age and the Day of the Lord would be. So if He didn’t know, how can we, mere mortals, expect to know? If you want to speculate, do so as an exercise, not as a dogma.

There is, however, one thing Jesus says that tends to be measurable rather than speculative, as we attempt to interpret this chapter. It’s the statement in verse 10, “the gospel must first be preached to all the nations”. This is something that has never been possible except in the last half of this century. The preaching of the gospel by way of radio and television is reaching more of the world than ever in history. Nevertheless, according to the Luausanne Committee on World Evangelism, there are still thousands of people groups in the world who have never heard the message.

So if you want to expend some energy and embrace a preoccupation that is not counter-productive in this area of prophetic interpretation, try evangelism. The very best thing you can do is speak of Jesus to your neighbour. Jesus, after all, is the Spirit of true prophecy (Rev.19:10b)

Read Mark 12

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Devotionals.

Key Verse: Mark 12:30 “…Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength…”

I think we need to establish something right off the top–it’s possible to love someone you don’t like. Why? Because love is an act of the will, whereas “like” is the product of the emotions. To like someone means to feel good about him, to love someone means to seek his highest good. And you can seek the highest good of the most dislikeable person on earth, if you choose to.

In this chapter, Jesus responds to one of the teachers of the law who, impressed with Jesus’ debating skills, asks Him which commandment is of most importance. Rather than quoting on of the ten commandments, Jesus refers to Deuteronomy 6:4,5. The greatest commandment, He says, is to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, strength. And, in this context, one should love one’s neighbour and one’s self the same way.

So what do “heart, soul, mind, and strength” refer to? “Heart” obviously refers to the emotions. “Strength” refers to the will. And, “soul and mind”, interestingly, are summed up by the scribe in verse 33 (NIV) as “understanding” or intelligence. To summarize, Jesus says we’re to love God with all our emotion, intelligence, and will–our feeling, thinking, and doing.

Try to think of your love for God graphically, in terms of three concentric circles (like an archery target). On the outside, the largest and most visible circle is how you feel about God. A little closer to centre is your thinking about Him, and the bull’s-eye is what you’re doing about that feeling and thinking. Indeed, the core of your love for God is your action. In Jesus’ terms, love for God isn’t something you say or sing, it’s something you do.

October 21, 2020

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Casual Commentary.

Matthew 5
Divorce vv.31 & 32 – Part 2

Remember that it was a man’s world. The liberal view of Hillel, the convenience divorce of Greece and Rome, and the syntheses of these cultural norms all led to a man-sided approach. Shamai, although accused of legalism, sided with the woman. He did not want to see women with no rights, especially when it came to the protection and nurture she deserved as a mother and homemaker. Her rights must be recognized and defended. Moses and Jesus agreed.  A woman was not a “throw-away”.

Indeed, the whole point of Moses providing a “certificate of divorce” to the woman (Dt. 24:1) was to protect her from the former husband returning and forcing her back into marriage. The divorce certificate was her defence against being treated like property. It meant she had the legal right to say “no”.

She had other rights as well. In Exodus 22:10 Moses delineates the basic rights she had as either concubine or wife. The man was required to provide there with “food… clothing… marital rights.” If these were not provided she had the right to divorce him, although, as history proved, it would be a difficult road.