Revelation 2:12-17 Letter to Pergamum and You

Revelation 2:12-17 NIV
The letter to the church in Pergamum promises that to the one who is victorious, God will give some of the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it. What this means, I, honestly, cannot tell you for sure.

What I know is that God gave the Israelites manna to eat when they were wandering in the wilderness hungry. The manna would be found and gathered in the morning and then was made into a cake-like bread for the nourishment of their bodies.

Jesus is the bread of life. He is our spiritual nourishment. As, we wander through the wilderness, God has given us this spiritual nourishment that we might not only survive through the world's trials and temptations; but, thrive in His Holy Kingdom for all eternity.

This white stone with a new name that is promised is a puzzle. I can tell you that Jesus is the stone which the builders rejected. (Acts 4:10-12) is the "rock of our salvation" (Psalm 18:2) and "that at the name of  Jesus every knee will bow." (Philippians 2:10-11)

Do not seek to please the world; rather, seek to do what will please God. Balaam was willing to give in to the enticements of Balak to curse Israel. But, God intervened for His people. He will intervene. He will feed all of His children with the bread of life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jude 1 - Warning! Danger!

Jude 1 NIV

As I read the one and only chapter of Jude this morning I was reminded of the television show "Lost In Space," from the mid-1960's. About the only thing that I can truly recall from the series is the robot's warning: "Warning, warning! Danger, Will Robinson!"

Jude's letter is a warning to those who are lost and to those who are in danger of become lost. Make no mistake, Jude warns, ungodly people have slipped in among us. They are those pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality. They will use the grace of God to do whatever it is they choose and then say things like: "But, Jesus died for me. I can do anything I want. I am forgiven." But, even as the Israelites were saved from Egypt, many were unable to see the promised land because of their unbelief so shall those who do not believe be destroyed. They will not enter into the Kingdom of God.

We must heed the warning and be careful not to follow in the ways of the scoffers. There many attempts to divide us are a diversion to turn our focus to anything and everything other than worshipping and serving the Lord, our God, who gave Himself for us. We must cling tightly to the faith that was taught to us.

"But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." (vs 20-21)

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 47-48 - Now God's People

“You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel." (Ezekiel 47:21-22 NIV)

We have come to the final vision in Ezekiel. He is given a vision of the restored Jerusalem. In that restored Jerusalem, the land is allotted not only to the Israelites, but to all the foreigners who reside among them who have children. They are to be considered Israelites.

The Book of Ezekiel ends in much the same was as the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. John, too, had a revelation of a new Jerusalem. In both, there is a tree-lined river. In Revelation it is for the healing of the nations. That is, for many people of different nations. In both Ezekiel and Revelation, those people who were not God's people, are welcomed among God's people.

As God desires that we live in harmony with one another, may His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 95 - God Was Angry

I wonder how many "Christians" know the story of the Israelites escape from Egypt.  If they have heard it, did they really listen?  I think we like to forget the part that the Israelites wandered through the desert for forty years because God was angry with them for not trusting Him. They were not wandering around just because they were lost.  Well, I guess they were lost in a sense because they did not trust nor listen to God. 

God was angry!  How many of you, does that surprise?  Isn't God suppose to be an all loving, all giving, just an even-tempered, all gracious God.  Indeed, He is all loving.  But, scripture also tells us that God can be angry when His children refuse to listen to Him, refuse to trust Him, refuse to follow in the way He has led them.  Indeed, He is quick to forgive all who turn to Him in the name of His Son, Jesus the Christ.  But, he is not overjoyed knowing that there are those who would forsake Him or His Son who was willing to die so that all people might be reconciled to Him in the promised land, the Kingdom.  Make no mistake, when you sin and willfully follow in the ways that would lead you away from the kingdom of God, you are separating yourself from God and the promised land.  God wants you to be reconciled to Him in His Kingdom.  Why would He be happy if you chose another way and rejected the promised gift?

The Israelites feared entering into the promised land in the way that God would have them go.  They feared and chose another way.  They rejected God's full promise to them, at least in the way that He would give it to them.  And... God was angry. The consequence was to wander around outside the promised land for forty more years. For sure God was with them as they continued their journey through the wilderness.  And... God is with you.  You have no need to fear following in the way that God has prepared for you through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. If you're having problems remembering the story, read again the story of how the Israelites decided, out of fear, that they would not enter the promised land as God directed them. It can be found in Numbers 13 and 14.

Psalm 93 - The Seas Lift their Voice

I live on a bay off of Lake Superior.  I have never lived more than an hour away from either Lake Superior or the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean.  Most of my adulthood has been spent living within fifteen or so minutes from a great body of water.  But, even an hour away, I always had at least a creek running some place near the house where I could go and sit and pray. 

The water, for me, is a huge reminder of creation and re-creation.

Of creation:
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." (Genesis 1:1,2 NIV)

"And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so.  God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:9,10)

And... of re-creation:
^"Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”" (John 3:3-8)

Water is a reminder of God's power.  Never underestimate the power of the Great Lakes. Never undestimate the power of the ocean.  Yet, the power of these waters can't even begin to compare with the power of God.  Remember how God delivered Israel from bondage to Egypt.  The waters of the Red Sea swallowed up Pharoah's Army, even as the waters separated so that the Israelites could walk on dry land to their freedom and to the promised land.  There is only One who can perform a feat like this.  There is only One who can subude the waters in this manner.  That One is God, the LORD God who, robed in majesty and armed with strength, established the world and reigns over it. 

Even the seas listen to God and they lift up their voice to the One who is mightier than they.

God's Peace - Pr. J