Families Reconciled in the Lord

For Parents.

Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Eph. 6:4.

For Children.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. Eph. 6:1-3.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 



It is said that blood is thicker than water. What exactly does that mean, anyway? For many it means that we are to stand by and support the lifestyles and actions of family no matter how dysfunctional it gets. For some it might even mean lying for a family member in order to keep them from being incarcerated. Key words in Martin Luther's admonition to obey your parents are the words "in the Lord." God always is the highest authority in our lives. He is our heavenly Father. If He says not to do something, don't do it. If He calls you to do something then just do it. Parents should never provoke or encourage their children to do something that is wrong in the eyes of our Father in heaven.

 

Family is an awesome gift from God. Families make mistakes. They hurt one another. If the family would turn to the Lord they could and would find a way out of the messes that they have wandered into. In turning to the way of the Lord we can find forgiveness and reconciliation. Family is a very good thing. However, we also know that there are times when parents can become so dysfunctional; provoking their children to wrath, encouraging them to do hurtful things to themselves and others; encouraging them to not follow in the ways of the Lord. What is a child to do?

 

Sometimes, even though the parents have done all they could to bring up their children in the way of the Lord, children will turn against their parents, as well. What is a parent to do?

 

For the parents and children who find themselves in these situations and alone without family, don't stop praying for each other that you might all be reconciled in the Lord. Remember, too, that you are a child of God. There is a blood that is thicker than blood and that is the blood of Christ that was shed for you. Our heavenly Father is always with you to support and encourage you in the way that you should go.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rev 18 Adultery and Idolatry

Rev 18 NIV
It is finished! The time of judgment upon Babylon the great harlot and upon those who committed adultery with her has come. 

So what's the difference between adultery and idolatry? Not much. Whenever we make a commitment to someone to put them first in our lives and then place other things before that commitment, that is adultery. It does not have to be a sexual liaison for it to be adultery. Football or fishing or gold or alcohol or drugs or money or  multitude of other things sometimes edge their way into our lives causing us to be unfaithful to those whom we have committed ourselves to love and care for.

If we say we worship the one true God and we put any of those same things that cause us to commitment adultery with our spouses before God and His perfect will for us, we commit idolatry.

Being reconciled, through the blood of Jesus to our Father, is about being in a committed relationship. God our Father committed His only begotten Son so that we might live in and with Him. God, the Son, committed His life to death, that we might live in and with Him. God, the Holy Spirit, commits us to be our help and our strength so that we might live in the presence of this perfect Triune God for all eternity. It's a pretty one sided commitment though. God desires that we should worship Him. He is faithful to us. Yet, we are not faithful to Him. We promise to be faithful and then we go off and serve other false gods committing adultery and idolatry as lovers of Babylon the great harlot.

The angel in John's vision warns us to come out of her while there is yet time; for when that final day comes neither the voice of the bride or the bridegroom will be heard in her again.

There are those who would judge that there are many and various levels of adultery and idolatry. That may be. But, I am not sure that God sees these many levels that humankind has concocted. If you dip just your foot into a cesspool you will still get dirty.

I am not sure if I know anyone who does not put themselves or others or things of this world before God from time to time. We are all idolaters and adulterers; forsaking the beautiful gift of reconciliation, life with our God, for reconciliation with the pleasures of this world.

Thanks be to God, that Jesus was willing to commit his whole life that even though we have turned our back on him; he did not turn his back on us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Corinthians 5 Earthly Tent or Father's House?

2 Corinthians 5 NIV
There is a longing deep within the soul for something more. That something more that we long for is God. We cannot know him fully while in these mortal bodies. It is by faith, not by sight that we have the reassurance that He is with us. It is by faith that we are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

We remain in these bodies; in these earthly tents, so that we might proclaim this message of reconciliation to God our Father through faith in Jesus Christ that all people might enter into God's Kingdom. Yet, it is, as Paul says, that we "would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

One day knowing the full glory of God; one day seeing Him with mine own eyes (Job 19:26-27), is my hope.

Let us rejoice for the gift and sacrifice of His Son that has made this reconciliation in our Father's house possible.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 13:1-7 Do Not Resist Arrest

Romans 13:1-7 NIV
Ok.. I've been waiting for this lesson.

Message for the day: If you are asked by an officer of the law to stop; STOP. Do not attempt to flee. Do not resist arrest. Do not assault the officer in any manner; physically or verbally. Just, don't do it. It's not the way to go. It will not turn out well for you or anyone else.

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience." (vs 1-5)

There are ways to peacefully protest. Harming or attempting to harm police officers or civilians who might get in the way is definitely not the way to go. Looting or damaging the property others have worked hard to obtain or maintain is definitely not the way in which a Christian would go.

May God grant us peaceful resolutions and reconciliation. May He help us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Remember that Jesus did not raise a hand to defend himself nor would he allow his disciples to fight when he was arrested.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 30 - Good News

So far, Jeremiah has been preaching a lot of warnings, very dire warnings. Today, we have a break and hear a message of good news; good news to bring comfort to the exiled children of God. It is not necessarily good news, though, for the enemies of God's people.

"The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.” (Jer 30:3 NIV)

It is such good news that the LORD instructs Jeremiah to write it down so that the children of those who are exiled will have hope in the promised day of their reconciliation with their home land. The book that we know to contain the word of God and His will for us does have its share of warnings and prophecies for those who would follow their own way. But, it is full of good news for those who would take the time to hear.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  (Rom 8:27-29)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 15 - The LORD Says No

The LORD's response to Jeremiah's continued prayers and excuses for the people is not so good. He tells Jeremiah, “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go!" (Jer 15:1 NIV)

They are a hard hearted people who continue to backslide. They refuse to change their ways. They refuse to repent. And... repenting, that is turning away from their sins and toward the LORD, is the only thing that can help them. When they have dug themselves a hold so deep they can barely see out they might even go to someone for help. The problem is they usually want a "fix." Whatever has been broken, they want someone else to fix and ease the pain so they can continue in the way they've been following. But, there is no fix, except reconciliation with God. The only help or comfort comes through faith in the reconciling power of the Spirit of Christ. Sadly, many are so permanently oppositionally defiant, that He is the last one they will go to or listen to.

I am with Jeremiah. It is hard to see the people suffer even if it is from their own actions or inactions. It is so difficult that I had a hard time reading the entirety of chapter 15. But, I am not God. It is not up to me. I can pray and know that God will answer according to His will. But, sometimes, my prayers are answered with a no, simply because it is not His will, but mine that I ask for.

Read Jeremiah 15. It does not appear so good for those who turn their back on the LORD. They will go into captivity for deserting the LORD and walking in a way they think is more desirable to  them. As for those who say, I can't believe in a God like that; I am sorry, but, there is only one God. If we pick and choose or remake another to fit our image of who we want God to be, it is only a worthless, false god, like the ones Jeremiah has been warning us about, in the first place.

There is only one God. Worship and serve only Him. That is the only winning deal around.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 19 - Brother Betray Brother or Peace?

Assyria had been warned and so today it is time to read the warning the LORD gave to Egypt, as well. The LORD is coming to Egypt. "See, the Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear. 'I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian— brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.'" (Isa 19:1-2 NIV)

The Egyptians have turned their backs on God and against God's people. He, apparently, has determined to save some of them. Trouble is coming. Ultimately, five cities come to swear their allegiance to God, while others continue in their descent as they consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.

It is not uncommon that people who serve different gods come to have differences, even disputes. They will, even within families, betray one another in order to hide their own guilt, to justify worshipping their false gods. When Jesus entered the scene, was he not hated by the "religious" people of the day - the people who lifted the law and their own righteousness before God? Jesus' own people turned against him.

And... so it will be with those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus.  “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death." (Matt 10:21) We will not be loved by all. We will, in fact, be hated by many. Our presence is a reminder that Jesus is LORD and not everyone is willing to accept that. They prefer to be their own gods, masters of their own destinies. There are many, even within our own families, who would betray us in order to try to hide or destroy the truth that Jesus Christ is our LORD and Saviour. He is the LORD of all the earth.

There is good news to be heard regarding the prophecy against Egypt. Egypt, Assyria and Judah, together will be blessesd.

"In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.'" (Isa 19:23-25)

May the LORD bless and keep you all in the unity found in Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

P.S. Yes,things like unity and reconciliation with one another is a gift from God. It is not something that can be conjured up by man. That kind of peace will not last. No matter how hard we try our own attempts at peace seem to only bring more division and dissenion. We are only truly united through the blood of Christ, an everlasting covenant.

Psalm 66 - Shout Joyfully to the Lord!

Oh, how I wish! Oh, how I pray!  Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!  All the earth shall Worship Him!  I wake up in the mornings and wish this were so - not in ten years, not in ten thousand years, but for today.  I wish it were true for today.  Oh, but, if the whole earth would only recognize the awesomeness of God, what He has done and will do for those who turn to Him and worship and praise His glorious name. 

There are days that proclaiming the Good News of His Kingdom seems futile.  No one seems to hear.  Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! 

One of my frequent prayers of years past was that the LORD, our God, would allow us (the whole world - every living being) would be one - that we would be completely united with Him for just a few minutes.  What kind of changes would happen if everyone could experience that oneness just for a few minutes?  Then, I thought, that might be too much for most to be able to experience and a second would be enough.  One second of experiencing complete reconciliation with God our Father, with one another, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Can you imagine that coming together.  It would be just amazing beyond words.  How would that affect the way we lived, if every person could experience that for just one second - one micro-second - all at the same time. 

Hope, love, joy, peace beyond measure, would abound for all people, just by experiencing the awesomeness of God as one. 

Let the whole earth, shout to the Lord, sing the honor of His name, praising all the awesome works that He has done.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

P.S.  For those of you who keep wondering what they could give me for Christmas.  How about this:  "Worship the Lord, your (our) God with all your heart, your mind, and your soul."  That would cause me to really rejoice!
 

Psalm 38 - You Are Forgiven!

David is a sinner.  His guilt lays heavy on his heart. He confesses his iniquity.  He is genuinely sorry for his sins against God.

We, too, are sinners. When the guilt lays heavy upon our hearts it behooves us to turn to the LORD, confess our sins, and receive the forgiveness that God has so freely bestowed upon us through our Saviour, Jesus the Christ.

As Lutherans, we are taught that we should daily confess our sins before God.  Sometimes, the guilt lays so heavy that it is difficult for us to forgive ourselves.  We know that we are not worthy of forgiveness.  We don't want to be the one's responsible for the spilling of the blood of Jesus.  No one, we think, should die for our sins.  But, he did.  It is done.  It is finished.  He loves you that much.  You are forgiven.

I have often been asked if I hear confessions.  Of course I do!  There are some who think that their confessions should be private and only between them and God.  Confession, with your Pastor remains private, always.  (If it is not - find a new confessor) Sometimes, it is necessary, when our guilt seems to overwhelm us and we are unable to forgive ourselves, that we are able to speak aloud our sins and hear the declaration that God forgives you.  For the sake of His Son, you are forgiven. 

There is no shame in confessing our sins.  There is only freedom and peace received in the reconciling Word of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 20 - Relief From Distress

"May the LORD answer you when you are in distress." (vs 1 NIV)  So often we wonder, what can I do to be relieved of this distress I'm in?  There is no formula that works all the time, for everyone.  There is no formula to be found in this world that will endure. 

There is only one place that we can go to; there is only one to whom we can turn so that our distress is relieved.  It doesn't do us any good to trust in the strength of this world or ourselves to relieve us of our suffering.  As verse 7 tells us:  "Some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."  God is the only one who can truly deliver us from our suffering.  He is the only one who can grant us true peace. 

The bottom line is that for those who follow in the way of the LORD, this peace, this reconciliation with God our Father, through our Saviour, Jesus Christ, is the desire of our hearts and it is the answer to our distress.  No matter what is going on around us in this world, as long as we are reconciled to God, through the blood of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will know His peace and we will shout for joy over the victory won for us through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

May the LORD fill the desire of your heart and grant you His peace.  Pr. J

Job 10 - Dark Night

Job continues with his lament.  But, he is now confronting God.  Why?  Who can save me?

We ask these questions a lot through our lives.  At least I have.  In fact, these questions and the circumstances leading to them are, at least, in part what has lead me to follow (as well as I can with the help of God) in the way of the LORD.  It's not an easy journey.  I know that, as to the answer to the whys, I will never know.  But, I do know who can save me.  My life, your life, is in God's hands.  We may suffer in this world, but there is hope.  There is always hope in the ultimate - the reconciliation with God our Father and Creator - in His eternal Kingdom - through Jesus Christ our Lord - by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As long as we have breath, we will journey, at times, through the "Dark Night of the Soul."  But, when the night is darkest, that is when the light is most bright, that is when the Son shines the brightest.  That is when you will feel His presence most securely holding you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

 

Ezra 3 - As One Man

 "...the people gathered together as one man (3:1);" and "...Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah, arose as one to oversee those working on the house of God" (3:9)

Worship and sacrifice begins once again as the people return from exile.  Joined together, as one, they duly honor and give thanks to God for freeing them from bondage to another people.  They are so united it is as if they are "one man" - united in heart and mind.

And... with one heart and mind the priests rise up to lead the people in the remaking of the temple. 

It often seems that when we pass through a major crisis or a major event, participation in worship jumps up a bit.  Immediately following the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York City, the attendance in churches across the country surged.  People got together as one to worship God.  The surge did not last for too long, though.  Once everyone became a bit more confident that the "government" could protect us with additional security measures (whether it's true or not), attendance went back to normal.  Everyone went their own separate way.

Years ago, not many years after I began serving at Zion, we had a major building project.  The addition included an office, library, Sunday School rooms, and an elevator.  It was major for this small community.  It brought the people together as one.  They rose up as one to complete that project to the glory of God. I believe that during the time of the building project; because of the enthusiasm the project generated, our attendance at Worship rose higher, more quickly, than at any other time in many decades.  It was a great time for evangelism!  Thankfully, attendance has not fallen off since then.  The congregation has grown a bit since then, but, not in any way like it did at that time. 

It is a little sad that we need crisis or trials or major challenges in order for us to turn and worship the one true God as one people.  But, it seems that is the way it has always been.  It took being sent into captivity in order for them to gather as one and serve the LORD, our God.  May God send His reconciling Spirit that we might rise up as one to Worship and glorify Him. 

By the way... that is a work of God, not man.  All the good intentions of man will not convince the rest of humankind that we should, as one, love the LORD our God and our neighbor as ourselves.  Only the love of God through Christ Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can convince us.  It would be good though, if our stubborn hearts would not require exile in order for that to happen.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Chronicles 5 - Reuben: The First Who is Last

The genealogy of the tribes east of the Jordan: Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh is the subject for today's chapter. 

Of course, there is that nice little note that begins the chapter reminding us that Reuben who was the firstborn, became the last.  He lost his birthright to Joseph, who was the 11th out of 12 sons.  Still, Joseph was the firstborn of Rachel, the wife whom Israel (Jacob) loved foremost. 

"Reuben lost his birthright because he defiled his father's couch..." (5:1)  That is... he committed incent by sleeping with his father, Jacob's, concubine, Bilhah.  (Gen 35:22, 49:4) Bilhah was the mother of Reuben's half-brother's Dan and Naphtali. 

Relationships seem to have been pretty messy back then.  But, probably no more messy than they are today.  Jealousy, greed, control issues, lust; we continue to run the whole gamut and let the whole gamut of vices run our lives and mess up our relationships. 

It is not God's will that we should live in broken relationships.  He sent His Son that through Him, we should be reconciled to God and one another eternally.  May God help us to live reconciled in peace to Him and one another.

1 Samuel 24 - Momentary Peace

Saul still pursuing David to destroy him... But, David shows mercy to God's annointed. He does not kill him. As Saul enters alone into the cave to relieve himself, David who has hidden himself with his men in the cave, sneaks up on him and cuts off part of Saul's cloak. David will not kill him. Rather than kill him, he pays homage to Saul. Saul goes home. They depart in peace.

I'm thinking this is what Jesus meant when he said we are to love even our enemies. (Matt 5:43-45) I am quite sure that the very positive action of David not killing Saul has not brought an undying love to either of their hearts for the others. But, it has brought them peace, reconciliation, at least for the time being. At least for now, there will be no killing.

And... may the peace of the LORD be with you all.