Who Shall Serve?

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave... (Matt 20:25-27)

We are preparing to elect the next president of the United States. As Christians, what kind of president do we want?

I watched part of the Republican Presidential Debate last night. Only part because I slept through most of it. Not because it was boring, I was tired. There are many good candidates; lots of good ideas and dreams; but, there are some pretty bad ideas, as well. History should remind us that some of those promises will not be fulfilled. They can promise all they want; but, we have a checks and balance system in our government. Just because someone who is running for president promises you something doesn't mean that it's going to happen. We need to ask ourselves, given that we have three branches to our government, not to mention a binding constitution, how realistic these promises really are. Which candidate can actually work with others best for the good of all people?

To tell you the truth, the egos of some of the Republican as well as the Democrat candidates put me off. Do we really want a narcissist as our next president? There has been at least one really good candidate who has stayed in the top of the polls; always near center stage during the debates. But, I don't hear much about him. He seems to get asked less questions during the debates and he gets a whole lot less press coverage. His name is not even usually mentioned as a front-runner by the press. The candidates in front of him and even behind him are mentioned quite often. I cannot help but wonder: what is up with that? I'm thinking it may be because he appears too gentle. He is not a bully. He actually appears, do I dare say it, "humble."

Humility in the Kingdom of God is a virtue. Narcissism is not. Pushing people around is not. Slander is not. Lying is not. Minimizing the harm done to others is not. Idolatry is not. I personally pray that God would call a humble man to this position. One who will serve, not according to his personal ambitions; but, for the sake of the country; even of the world. None are perfect. No one is. But, there are a few candidates who might fit this bill better than others. May God reveal the true natures and ideologies of all of these men and women so that voters might discern for the good of all people.

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Happy Anniversary

Today is my husband's and my 43rd wedding anniversary. We are, again, many miles apart. We have spent much time apart from each other over the years. I can't really remember too many anniversaries that we have celebrated together on the actual date.

Although we are united in holy matrimony, we are still separate people with individual gifts and individual callings. Sometimes, those callings have overlapped and we have served side by side. Sometimes, they didn't. However, we have always been able to serve according to our individual gifts even when we were miles apart. Whatever God calls each of us to do; we have vowed to support each other until death parts us and that is what we strive to do. One call that we both have (as well as all of you reading this) is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and souls and minds; with all that we say and think and do.

When two people are united by God in marriage; they are not united for their own glory. When the commitment is made, it is not just to each other; but, to God. They are united so that the individual gifts of each partner may be joined together to bring glory to God.

So even we are apart physically we are always united in the love that God has given us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Our son, John, messaged me after he read this post to let me know that his father and I have been married for 44 years not 43. When you've been married this long you kind of lose track of time!

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Promiscuity

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 NIV
Well, today we get to talk about promiscuity... Just cut it out, hey!

Just because you think you can do what you want doesn't mean that everything or everyone you want is good for you. Get this: promiscuity leads to many problems; some of which can be deadly to both body and soul.

When we get to "Thou shall not commit adultery" in confirmation classes, we discuss this concept (reality) of two becoming one. When we are joined with anyone, we are united with them forever. No matter if the relationship lasts one night or one decade we will always be connected to that person spiritually and emotionally. Choose well with whom you sleep (or choose none), not everything and not everyone is beneficial to your life in Christ.

May the relationship that is of prime importance in your life be your union with God the Father, through Jesus the Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Follow Jesus

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 NIV
Good reminder this morning:

1. Only one church. We are all united by Christ, in Christ. We are all baptized into the Body of Christ.

2. We don't need to and should not be worried about who in this world we follow. We shouldn't be following anyone here on earth. We don't need false gods. We don't have time to be arguing about which denomination we belong to. There are differences and that is why there are many denominations. Yet, there is only one Body of Christ. Quit worrying so much about the differences and use the time you would have spent trying to divide to get down to the business at hand and that is proclaiming the gospel.

3. Follow Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Luke 20:27-40 The God Of The Living; My God

Luke 20:27-40 NIV
He is the God of the living; "the god of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the god of Jacob;" my God.

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection so they tried to trick Jesus into backing them up with the question about who would be married to whom in the resurrection. They failed in their pursuit in trying to get him to deny the resurrection. The resurrection is not about temporal things. It is not about being united or reunited with our spouses. It is about brothers and sisters in Christ being reconciled to God our Father. Being united with God is what life in the Kingdom is all about. Could there possibly be any greater joy than attending the marriage feast of the Lamb?

Even as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob live, so shall all who believe in Him. We shall live in the Kingdom, even as we die to this world. He is the God of the living. Because He lives so shall we.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 12:49-53 Not Peace; But, Division

Luke 12:49-53 NRSV
We often pray for peace on earth. But, Jesus says it was not peace that he was bringing to humankind. Rather, his coming brought division. Sounds a little contradictory when we remember that he also prays for unity and says on more than one occasion: "Peace, be with you."

His coming brought division between those who would follow Him and those who would not follow. I would say the division is between those who believe and those who do not; but, there are an awful lot of people who say they believe; yet, do not follow.

"And he said to them, 'Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.'”  (Luke 18:29-30)

And.... so, the two edged sword, who is the Word of God, who is Jesus the Christ, divides even earthly families. The family of God is not divided. We are united. We are reconciled to God and one another by the blood of Jesus Christ. Peace within the family of God; even when we are walking through fiery trials here on earth.

God' Peace - Pr. J

Luke 7:36-50 Forgiven and Loved

Luke 36-50 NIV
We all have problems with people we love. (At least I'm pretty sure we all do) It can tear a person apart not being united with the one(s) they love. But, when we forgive and are forgiven; peace reigns both in the world and within our hearts. When we are forgiven by the one whom we have offended; it is a though we have been anointed with oil; love has been poured over us.


And, so it was with the woman who anointed Jesus feet with her tears and perfume. Her sins were forgiven - her love for Jesus was great evidenced by her bold and loving actions. The one who has been forgiven much cannot help but show their relief and appreciation. The one who has not repented has a hard time understanding how anyone could love so much.


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