Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. When the Pharisees sought
to entangle the Lord over the matter of paying taxes to earthly
governments, he confounded them all as he said, Show me the tribute
money. And they brought unto him a penny.
And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
They answered that it was that of Caesar. Therefore he told
them that such currency is rightfully given to the one whose image
is upon that money. Christ's image alone is upon
the money of the kingdom of God. He will share His glory with
none, and no name but His is recognized in that kingdom. Neither
is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name
under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. By
himself he has procured the redemption of all of those for whom he shed
his precious blood. No one can add to or take from
that which he has purchased. I have trodden the winepress
alone, and of the people there was none with me. For I will
tread them in mine anger and trample them in my fury, and
their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will
stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in
mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked,
and there was none to help, and I wondered that there was none
to uphold. Therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me,
and my fury it upheld me. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out. For I came down from heaven not
to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And
this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which
he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it
up again at the last day. The economics of his kingdom
are quite at odds with worldly economics. In this world, men
succeed by being strong, becoming rich, and leaving a legacy. He
was rich, yet he became poor for our sakes, so that in his
poverty we are made rich. His disciples argued about who
would be greatest in the kingdom, and he confounded their minds
when he said, Whosoever will be great among you, let him be
your minister, and whosoever will be chief among you, let
him be your servant, even as the Son of Man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom
for many. Not only did he gird himself
and serve them by washing their feet at the last supper, but
he made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of
a servant and was made in the likeness of men. And being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. Great religious instructors
tell us in one fashion or another that what Christ has done is
not completely sufficient. Some tell us we must apply ourselves
in the great endeavor of making ourselves clean. Yet the only
cleanliness which is accepted in the kingdom over which Christ
rules is that which he has provided, making his bride to be without
spot or blemish. Now you are clean through the
word which I have spoken unto you. What manner of cleanness
can be added to this by the endeavors of our flesh? When Paul says,
Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, he does so not
with an eye to stirring the people of God up to some activity of
the flesh, such as touch not, taste not, or handle not. Rather,
he says that the cleanness which they have is based upon the promises
of God. The economics of his kingdom
is based solely on the righteousness of Christ. The strength of the
Lord's people is seen not as they triumph over this or that
enemy, or walk in obedience to various precepts which they are
exhorted to follow. Rather, their strength is in
their reliance upon Christ, even as Paul recounts. And he said
unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is
made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will
I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may
rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches,
in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake.
For when I am weak, then am I strong. What shall we say then? Shall
we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall
we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? Likewise,
reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. For sin shall
not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, but
under grace. The image and superscription
of Christ is on all the money of this kingdom. He will have
all of the glory and all of the praise, and we receive the benefits
which he purchased for us, wrought in us, and will give us as joint
heirs of his wealth. Can any man add one cubit to
his stature? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.