His Thoughts; His Ways

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NRSV


It would be easy to give up and let the world have it's worldly way with you. But, the Word of the LORD reminds us to seek Him and His Way. God's ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. Following in the way our ego would have us go will only prove to be devastating to our lives and the world around us.  And... it may also be a good thing to remember that no matter how bad things get, God is still in charge. He can turn the greatest tragedy into the most marvelous triumph. From the most troubled time, He will lead us out in joy and lead us forth in peace; the peace that only He can give.

 

Seek the LORD and come to the One who knows the way; who is The Way. 

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

A New Year; A New Path?

"Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

Today is the eve of the new year. It is a time when we typically take stock of the previous year and plan for a new and better year ahead. It can be a good thing to remember where we have been and what we have done. We can give thanks for the good things and resolve not to repeat the bad things. Remembering the past can help us with the future. But, it is not always such a wise thing to cling to the past. Forget it. Forgive yourself and others. It is time to move forward. The Lord has a new life in store for all who may have lost their way this past year.

May God help us to follow in His way in this new year that we might celebrate life in Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Merry Christmas!

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV
 

from all of us at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Skanee, MI

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Every Knee Shall Bow

 

 

Turn to me and be saved,
    all the ends of the earth!
    For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn,
    from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness
    a word that shall not return:
“To me every knee shall bow,
    every tongue shall swear.”

Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,
    are righteousness and strength;
all who were incensed against him
    shall come to him and be ashamed.

Isaiah 45:22-24

 

In the end, every knee shall bow before the Lord God. Let us trust in the Lord, the King of Kings, for our salvation.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Lord Renews Our Strength



On Eagle's Wings

Life brings us a lot of challenges. There are days when I wonder how I will manage to be in so many places at one time. There are so many people in need; so many who suffer; so many who are alone and lonely. How can we help them all? I make a lot of lists. If I don't, by the time I get home, I realize that I have not gotten to someone I had intended to get to.

It can seem overwhelming at times. Lists help to keep me on focus. But, more importantly rising early to study God's word and to spend time in prayer is essential if I want to be prepared to meet the day and any challenges the day might bring. I find strength in God's word and in his presence. I need to be able to talk to him and listen to Him and trust Him.

Isaiah reminds us that we are to wait and to trust in the Lord. He will give us the strength to meet the challenges.

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
    and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,    they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31 NRS 

We all grow weary at times. Trust in and lean on the One who does not for His strength never fails Him or us.

God's Peace - Judy 

Who Will Help?

"Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty?" Isaiah 50:9


The Lord helps you. Almighty God, creator of heaven and of earth is with you and for you. So who in the world would dare to attack you? The answer to that is a lot of people; a lot of people who live in the darkness; who do not know the Lord or to what length He will go and has gone to save those whom He loves.

The Lord vindicates all who walk in His light. There is no need to fear as the enemy closes in on you. Trust Him for He is stronger than any adversary. God is your helper. He will save you from your enemy.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 15:14-21 NIV Make It Your Ambition To Proclaim the Good News

Romans 15:14-21 NIV
I woke up this morning, mistakenly, thinking that it was Christmas morning. You see, I have a few services to attend today and for me, Christmas day is the day to celebrate Christ's birth. It just seems natural to me to celebrate his birth on Christmas Day. I've never quite adjusted to these early Christmas Eve Services. Something about them just doesn't seem quite right. For one; those who are traveling on Christmas Eve often don't get the opportunity to worship if there are no Christmas Day services. Being the wife of a retired Marine, I, remember many Christmas Eve's traveling and missing out on many Christmas Worship Services because there were none on Christmas Day. Secondly, I've always had the fear that Christmas has become so secularized that people would rather not spend the actual holiday as a Holy Day; but, more in line with the expectations of the world. I've kind of thought that maybe Jesus was taking a backseat on Christmas day.

I, personally, feel like I'm slacking by not sharing the Good News on Christmas Day. For years, I insisted on both an eve and a day service. However, due to lack of attendance; (the organist, usher, and me showed up), I finally acquiesced. Now, I go out and try to visit all of our shut-ins on Christmas Day, so that I am still able to proclaim:

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 9:6,7

 

I also insisted that we put in a midnight service to replace the service that had been deleted the following morning. We celebrate Christ's birth at Zion, not only at 6 pm on Christmas Eve; but, also at 11 pm. I have a notion that 11 pm might be closer to the time of Christ's actual birth and the service tends to last into the first minutes of Christmas morning.

Despite my personal preferences, it most probably does not really matter when we actually gather to commemorate Christ's birth. We should all be gathering often not only to commemorate his birth, but his life, his death, his resurrection, and his ascension into the Kingdom that he has prepared for us. In every season and in every place, we should, as St. Paul did, make it our ambition to proclaim the Good News so that those who have never heard will hear and understand. Jesus the Christ was born and lived and died and lives again for you! Enter into his peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. As for me, I will celebrate Christ's birth in community today and tomorrow with those who cannot be with us in community this evening. I hope those of you who will gather as community to worship today, will consider doing the same. Merry Christmas!

Mark 1:1-8 John The Baptist

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”—
 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,    make straight paths for him.’” (Mark 1:1-8 NIV)

We begin the Gospel according to St. Mark with "The beginning of the good news about Jesus..." The messenger is Jesus' cousin John. John the Baptist is one of my favorite characters. I often wonder what would happen; how everyone would react, to a character like him in their community today. A man wandering around in the wilderness; dressed in camel's hair; eating locusts and wild honey; ever reminding people to repent. I'm pretty sure he'd be avoided in most communities. But, in that time, he; apparently, had crowds coming to be cleansed of their sins through repentance and water baptism.

I often wonder how people would react to me, if my approach to the good news were more like that of John the Baptist. Would anyone listen? But, on the other hand, do they now? There are times when I feel quite sure that eyes do not see nor do ears hear. But, then I also know the word of the LORD and am confident that "...faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." (Rom 10:17) As long as we keep preaching the good news about Jesus;  people will hear and they will receive faith in the Messiah, the Son of God. It may not be as quickly as we (I) would like. It will be in God's time. Faith will come.

God calls us all to be messengers of His love through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 1 - He Has Come!

     "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)." (Matt 1:22-23 NIV)
     Finally... out of the prophets and into the fulfillment of them. We begin the New Testament today with the fulfillment of the promise that a Savior would come. God, Himself, would come to us, of the lineage of Abraham and David; He would come to us as any man comes into the world, born of a woman, through a natural childbirth.
     "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isa 7:14)
      But, I repeat myself... Of course to make a point. In spite of all the warnings to those who break God's law in the preceding books, that are found in the Old Testament, there was grace. The promise was there that a Savior would come for God's people. As witnessed by those who walked the earth when Jesus walked the earth; He has come!
     My granddaughter is home schooled. A few years ago, I sat listening in on one of her online (public school) history classes, in spite of her objections to me being there. The instructor was giving the class definitions for C.E. (common era); B.C.E. (before common era); A.D. (Anno Domini - The year of our Lord) and B.C. (before Christ); She looked at me and said "you mean Jesus is real?" I replied, "Are you serious? All this time, did you think I was just telling you fairy tales? Yes, he really was real."
     This history class was a very good thing. Without purposing to do it; this class verified, for my granddaughter, the reality of Jesus' life and death. We hear Matthew doing the same thing today in our reading; he begins his writings using a bit of the history of Jesus' ancestors to verify that Jesus is not just the Son of God; but, the Son of Man, as well. He really is real! Matthew uses history to remind us that a Savior, from the lineage of Abraham and David, would come. He has come!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Zechariah 4 - Lampstand, Lamps, and Two Witnesses

What are all these symbols from Zechariah's vision?  Some of the visions given by the LORD can be a little difficult (if not impossible) to understand.

What, then shall we make of the solid gold lampstand with seven lamps? As today is Christmas Eve and our old testament reading is from Isaiah, I am proposing that the lampstand symbolizes the light of God that is to give light to the world. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." (Isaiah 9:2 NIV) Israel had lived in very dark times, indeed. They are rebuilding the temple of God that had been destroyed as they were taken into captivity.

And... at the right and left of the lampstand are two witnesses. These witnesses, for that time, are both political and religious. It is possible that Joshua, the High Priest and religious leader, and Zerubbabel, the political leader, were the two witnesses of this vision. Zerubbabel will see the completion of the temple in his day. Yet, it is not by any power or authority or might of these two witnesses or anyone else that the rebuilding of the temple will be accomplished. It will be done solely by the Spirit of God.

In light of the fact, that these two witnesses in Zechariah's vision are probably Joshua and Zerubbabel, it causes me to wonder about the similar vision in St. John's Revelation. "And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” (Rev 11:3-4)

I have a lot yet to learn and understand. But, on this Eve of Christmas it is enough to know that the light has come into the world and that the rebuilding of God's temple, that is the Church of God, is being accomplish by the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Amos 1 - Three Sins and Four

Amos, the shepherd was not a timid man. He warned people vehemently of the coming disaster. He prophesied about the same time as Hosea and Isaiah did. If those two were disliked, Amos was most hated. You will hear very little good news from Amos. He just declares what is going to happen and it's not good. For three sins and for four sins... there will be consequences. He's not talking about different sins. He's talking about the fact that after one sins once; rather than repent, they continue sinning.

How often do we sin and not only not repent; but, make excuses for ourselves as though the sin was not a sin; rather it was something good? I'm thinking probably all too often. Just as no one wanted to hear Amos in his day, no one would probably listen to him today, either. We just don't want to be reminded that we could possibly do anything wrong

Turn to the LORD for He is God and there is only one God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 47 - As Relentless As A Tsunami

"The word of the Lord that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:

Thus says the Lord:
See, waters are rising out of the north
    and shall become an overflowing torrent;
they shall overflow the land and all that fills it,
    the city and those who live in it.
People shall cry out,
    and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.
At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions,
    at the clatter of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels,
parents do not turn back for children,    so feeble are their hands." (Jer 47:1-3 NIV)

The word of the LORD is promising destruction to the Philistines. He will send an army like an overflowing torrent of water. They shall overflow the land; all that fills it, the city, and those who live in it. People shall cry out, and all inhabitants of the land shall wail.

We have seen the destruction of tsunamis. There is nothing that can stop or even slow down the wall of water as it destroys everything in its place. The LORD has promised to destroy the enemy of His children and nothing can save them. He will send an army from the north to put an end to their attacks on others.

What the LORD sends out, nothing can stop, nothing can slow it down, except that the LORD, Himself, will change His mind. There are no magical incantations, no offerings, no false gods, no works of man's hands that can change the flow of the tide once the LORD has ordained it.

This last week we had confirmation classes at Zion for our Junior High Youth. We talked about God calling and ordaining His people. I reminded them. with a smile on my face and a shocked look on most of theirs, that when God calls you to service, He will keep calling no matter how long it takes for you to say, yes. May as well stop saying no to God now; because, sooner or later you will listen and follow. It is much easier to say yes to God when you are young than fighting against it 'till you are old when you will turn and say yes, anyway. God calls whom He will call. He will ordain whom He will ordain. What He promises will come to pass.

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
    and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,    and succeed in the thing for which I sent it."  (Isaiah 55:10-11)

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Jeremiah 10 - Can A Dirty Dish Be Used To Serve?

Reminiscent of the Prophet Isaiah, Jeremiah compares the worthless gods we make with our own hand to God who created us. What a description, "Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” (Jer 10:5 NIV)

 

 Everyone strays, even the shepherds. "The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered." (Jer 10:21)

 

And, it appears that even Jeremiah realizes that he must acknowledges his sinful nature. He realizes it and asks for mercy. "Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure—not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing." (Jer 10:24)

 

It is not always easy to confess our sin. But St. John warns us "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9) We are reminded of this every Sunday morning during our general confession. Hopefully, we remember it every day and ask the LORD for forgiveness. We all, like sheep, go astray, "but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." (1 Pet 2:25) Now that we have returned, let us not go back to the desolate places we've inhabited alongside our false gods.

 

When we confess our sins (daily), God who is merciful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. To those who believe in Jesus Christ, He gives the power to become His children and bestows upon us the Holy Spirit. 

 

Think about confession like washing the dishes. Would you eat off of the same dish over and over again without washing it after it's been used? We, too, need to be cleansed before we can be of any use to ourselves or anyone else. We needed to be washed by the hand of God, before we can be of service to Him. It is by the blood of Christ, God's own Son, that we are washed clean.

 

Jeremiah is a prophet and (like Isaiah and other prophets) he is called and sent to warn the people that their idolatry is separating them from God and will bring dire consequences. He often begs God to have mercy on them, even as he remembers that even he needs the mercy of Almighty God to be able to live and serve. Repent, is a major theme of the early prophets. Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand is the proclamation of both St. John the Baptist and Jesus and those he sent out in the wilderness to proclaim the word of God. Acknowledge, confess your sins, turn your back on your false idols and be made whole...

 

Worship the one true God and live life!

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 3 - Will The LORD Divorce Us?

^"From our youth shameful gods have consumed
    the fruits of our ancestors’ labor—
their flocks and herds, 
   their sons and daughters." (Jer 3:24 NIV)

Now, if this isn't the truth! Our shameful gods consume the fruits of our labor. How much have you lost in pursuit of false gods? False gods take; while, our Maker, who is our husband (Isa 54:4), gives.

We have turned our backs on God and sought other gods. In this chapter we are compared to unfaithful wives and prostitutes. We have committed adultery and idolatry. As children of our heavenly Father, we have run away from home!

Yet, what do we hear from Him! What good news is this? The LORD will still take us back! He forgives us!

“‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord,
    ‘I will frown on you no longer,
for I am faithful,’ declares the Lord,
    ‘I will not be angry forever. 
“'Return, faithless people;    I will cure you of backsliding.'” (Jer 3:12, 22)

Even while we are unfaithful, the LORD is faithful. The LORD forgives all who repent and believe in (and even desire) His promise of reconciliation with Himself in His Kingdom through Jesus Christ our LORD. Our Maker, our Husband, does not want a divorce from us. He doesn't want a divorce from we who have committed adultery and idolatry against Him. He wants us reconciled to Himself; therefore, He sent His only begotten Son, to be our Savior, to be our peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 65 - God Calls Even The Lion And Wolf

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
    I was found by those who did not seek me.
To a nation that did not call on my name,
    I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’" (Isa 65:1 NIV))

The LORD chose us. He chose to reveal Himself to those who did not know Him, even those who did not seek Him. God does what He does simply because He is God.

Verse 24 tells us "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." Often as I finish a prayer rather than say something like: Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer; I thank God for in His mercy, He has heard my prayer and answered. That is, I use the past tense, knowing that God has already accomplished it. God knows what we need. He knows what we want. He knows way in advance of us even knowing it. Therefore, we confirm that He has heard our prayers and answered even before we asked. We may not be able to comprehend that answer at the time we ask it, but we are confident that He has heard and answered. That's just God. He can do that. We cannot.

He can even cause the wolf and the lamb to feed together, the lion to quit preying on others. Imagine that! Nothing is impossible with God! After all, look what He was able to accomplish through Saul, that is St. Paul! He makes peace within His kingdom. He reconciles even the most unlikely characters simply because He is God and that is what He chooses to do.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 64 - Potter and Clay

"Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!" (Isa 64:1 NIV)
     I know this prayer from Isaiah. No, I haven't memorized it. But, I know it. I've prayed it at least a few time: "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence!" And, I have a feeling that I'm probably not alone in having prayed a prayer similar to that one from time to time - when things get tough - when you feel persecuted or all alone. Haven't you ever thought or prayed: "This is enough. Please, make your presence known o all people so they'd straighten out and we cold live in peace already!"?
     Yet, Isaiah reminds us, that it’s not everyone else, but me, too. Isaiah reminds us that we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. It’s not just everyone else. We are all guilty and our iniquities – our sins – just as the wind - have taken us away – out of God’s presence. 
     But, we’re not out of God’s presence. He is with us. In spite of the fact that we often do not hear nor do we see the answer, the prayer has been answered. For God did indeed come down to us. The great God Almighty came down to earth to meet humankind right where we are. As we drifted further and further away from God’s good will for us, He, Himself, broke open the heavens and came down, as a little child, to be one of us. 
     The one who formed us with his own hands, who breathed His breath of life into us, took on the form of man in order that he might live with us and that we might have whole and abundant life in Him.
     This potter, (potter and clay; vs. 8) who as the water receded to form dry land, took the wet sticky clay from beside the sea and formed humankind with His hands continues to mold us. The one who formed us out of clay and breathed His life into us, came among us when His clay vessels were cracked and broken. He came to repair what we had damaged. The great sculptor came down to earth so that he could continue the work of his hand - molding all His people into what he intended us to be.
     There may be and probably will be days when we will think: "Oh, Lord God, break down the heavens already and come down - show us your majesty - show your greatness - make the mountains quake - so that all the nations will tremble and fall down to honor you." Then may God help you to remember that He, the Potter, the Great Creator, in fact has already broken through and come down to earth. He assumed the nature of His created humankind and came down, not to destroy His or our enemies, but to save, to renew His work - His creation. As Jesus the Christ, He picked up all the broken potsherds and continues His marvelous work of creating in you and throughout the world.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Not getting why I can't fix background colors.... I appear to lack the gifts of a good sculptor as I cannot even sculpt a simple blog post in the way I would like it to look :) 

Isaiah 54 - Your Maker Is Your Husband

Now, here is one for those who find themselves alone a lot. At least I relied on it, a lot, in my younger years, when my husband spent more time away from home than he spent at home. We figured it out once. In 21 years, he was gone at least 3/4's of the time. That is, he was either in the field, on a ship, in training in some other country, or on an 18 month (or longer) deployment somewhere. We didn't even begin to count the overnight duties he pulled. The life of a military spouse (and their children) can get pretty lonely. Fortunately, I had two sons with me. Any other relatives were about a thousand miles away. I turned to the church so that our sons and I would have family. It was by wading (or waddling) through those years, that I have come to believe and know that there is a blood that is thicker than blood. It is the blood of Christ that is shed for you. I believe that it was this alone time that opened up the door to my seeking the LORD on a closer and more personal basis (or maybe it was finally opening the door and letting Him in). It was during one of the loneliest times that I finally came to know Jesus as my Redeemer. It was in preparation for an even lonelier and most desolate time that I finally met the Holy Spirit (face to face, so to speak). I spent a lot of time over the years affirming Isaiah 54:5-8 (NIV) for myself. It brought much comfort and ultimately, it helped me to learn to love and trust in the LORD more fully. Maybe it will help at least one of you, so I share it.

For your Maker is your husband—
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
    he is called the God of all the earth.
The Lord will call you back
    as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—
a wife who married young,
    only to be rejected,” says your God.
“For a brief moment I abandoned you,
    but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
In a surge of anger
    I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
    I will have compassion on you,”
    says the Lord your Redeemer.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

 

Isaiah 42 - The Light Is With You, Even Now

"I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison   
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." (Isa 42:6-7 NIV)

Isaiah prophesied the release of God's people from captivity. This prophecy relates not just to release of the Israelites, but all whom He loves. For generations, God's faithful people waited for this coming Messiah. According to the New Testament, the prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus the Christ.

^"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”  (Luke 2:25-29)

 

A light for the Gentiles has come. Jesus Christ is that light. He is our way. He is our truth. He is our life. (John 24:6) He was, He is, and He is to come. He is with us now. He is with us always. Follow in the way that the light reveals to you so that you might live life and live it abundantly.

 

I find it most uncomfortable when I hear people talking about the light which we are to follow to the Kingdom of God after we die physical deaths. I am uncomfortable with unbelievers who come back from near death experiences, having seen a light, proclaiming that there are many paths to the Kingdom. As I remember the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians in his second letter to them (vs 14) "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."  We must ask ourselves, was this a trick of evil one? Will the light really be revealed to us only after we die physical deaths?

 

St. Paul died a spiritual death in his encounter with Jesus. He died to self on the road that day so that Christ might live in him. He became blind so that His eyes could be opened to see the true light. Once having seen the light, St. Paul was no longer concerned with his death. He was willing to sacrifice his whole life so that he could proclaim the light that reveals the path to the Kingdom of God. That light is Jesus the Christ.

 

The light has come into the world. You do not have to wait until you die physical deaths to see the light and to to follow in His way. In fact, it would be foolhardy to think that you can wait until after death to know the light that has come into this world. I think there is something key to remember in those words: "Light has come into the world." St. John wrote (John 3:19) "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." The light has come into the world. Is there something better in this world that we would seek first something other than the light in the here and now?

 

Simeon saw the light, who is Jesus the Christ, before he died. Once seeing it, Simeon was ready to die. He was prepared to die in peace.

 

May God open our eyes to see the light of Jesus who has come into the world to shine upon and for and within us.

 

God's Peace - Pr.

Isaiah 41 - False Gods Cannot Even Stand Alone

The metalworker encourages the goldsmith,
and the one who smooths with the hammer
spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.
One says of the welding, “It is good.”
The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.

I was the first to tell Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’
I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.
I look but there is no one—
no one among the gods to give counsel,
no one to give answer when I ask them.
See, they are all false!
Their deeds amount to nothing;
their images are but wind and confusion.
(Isa 41:7, 27-29 NIV)

The word of the LORD through the prophet Isaiah warns the people that their false gods are useless even while comforting those who trust in the LORD.

I love it! One man stands back and looks at the god false made of gold and admires it; even as someone else nails it down so that it will not fall over. That's about par for the course. False gods cannot even stand under their own power or strength, let alone help anyone. While false gods cannot do a thing for you, whether good or bad, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob can and does. He brings comfort to those who are afflicted and yes, He afflicts the too comfortable (those who worship false gods that cannot even stand without being nailed to the floor) that they might turn to Him. He sends the good news! Listen to Him and live! Live in His presence, in His kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 37 - The Kingdom Thrives

Hezekiah finally figures out that he needs to turn to the LORD. He humbles himself and prays for help. The LORD answers. He will deliver Israel from the hands of Sennacherib and within three years their land will once again be fruitful. 

The LORD blesses the people. He blesses the land. The promise of the LORD through the prophet Isaiah is this:

"“This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah:

“This year you will eat what grows by itself,
and the second year what springs from that.
But in the third year sow and reap,
plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah
will take root below and bear fruit above.
For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant,
and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this."  (Isa 37:30-32 NIV)

 

Have you ever had to learn the same lessons twice or thrice or even more times? Over and over again, God's people turn to other gods; things start going really bad and a portion will have enough sense to humble themselves and repent. They are blessed. And, then... they start worshipping themselves or the work of their hands, again. Since, they are doing so well they leave off from trusting in God for all things, above all things. And, once again they are brought to their knees in humility and repentance.

 

It is awful that we should desert our God who loves us so quickly. But, He does not desert us. Over and over again, He provides a way back on the Way for each and all of us. 

 

I think of it this way: Adam walked with God in the garden. How awesome is that! But, Adam chose another way. He chose to do what God asked him not to do. He lost the opportunity and privilege of walking with God. We often do what we ought not. But, through Jesus Christ, we are delivered from sin. All of humankind is invited to walk with with God, to talk with (not just to, but with) God. That is the greatest blessing of all. In fact, it is the good news. You are invited to live in His presence, to walk in His way, in His Kingdom for all eternity (beginning even now). We have been reconciled to God and with one another, in His Kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our LORD. 

 

God's Peace - Pr. J.