Hebrews 10 - Gather Together

Hebrews 10 NIV


Photo of a Maundy Thursday Service. Although, some may
consider too much joy at Worship inappropriate; at Zion, we
encourage God's children of all ages to gather together to
worship and serve the Lord that they might know the
peace and joy that only He can give.

During Holy Week this year I was told by a couple of people that people today just don't care to go to church anymore and that it doesn't mean that they are not Christians. You can be a Christian and not gather together with other Christians. Oh, yeah? How is that really working for you? Do you actually know the peace and joy that comes from a relationship with God and with our brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you live in the reassurance that God is with you or do you live in turmoil, chaos, drama? The author of Hebrews writes: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (vs 24-25) Why not give yourself the opportunity to be encouraged by other Christians in your journey of faith?
.
Decades ago, I figured out that if I did not attend public worship at least once a week to worship God and to receive Him in the Word and Sacraments I would become a very ugly person by the end of the week. So ugly, in fact, that I could barely stand myself. I am a sinner. I need to hear what the Lord has done for me and for all people. Without Him I can do nothing good. If I avoided corporate worship; gathering with other Christians to hear God's Word and being reassured that I have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, the world would see how sinful I can really be. I don't think anyone really wants that.

The gathering together of Christians encourages each of us present to continue in "The Way." Christians are not islands unto themselves. We are joined together by the blood of Christ. We are one in Christ. So what would make anyone think that a Christian can live and continue in "The Way" without the rest of the Body?

I pray that you will consider gathering with the Christians at your local place of worship the next time they meet so that you can be reassured that you are a beloved child of God; a child born, by the blood of Christ who loves you and gave himself for you. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 1:18-32 You Know the Truth; Quit Ignoring It!

Romans 1:18-32 NIV
Those who know the truth and ignore it tend to make be just a bit crazy. They get into trouble because they have ignored the truth of God. They get into trouble for following after and spending their time and money worshipping false gods. They not only do this themselves; but they also approve and teach others to reject and/or ignore God to everyone's detriment. They get into trouble and they wonder why.

The why is because they follow trouble. They worship it. Chaos and drama are a way of life. For those who want peace; there is a way. God has given us a way. Quit ignoring Him. Stop rejecting the Prince of Peace, for peace can be found only in living in relationship with Jesus the Christ, who is our peace. You want trouble to go away; then depart from doing what is evil and glorify God. Evil begets evil. Steer clear!

You know the truth. You know the way. You know how to live life. Willful sin is not the way. Willfully ignoring and rejecting the truth of God is not the way. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. Quit suppressing the truth and embrace it; that you, too, might have abundant life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 32 - Fruit Of Christ's Righteousness Is Peace

Our Worship and Music Committee spent a little bit of time after Worship yesterday selecting hymns for the months of July through September. "When Peace Like A River" was selected as a favorite hymn for most of the month of September.  A few of those lessons during September are pictures of anything but peace. Even as we thought about changing the hymn, we remembered that the peace that Christ brings is not the same peace that the world strives for. The peace of God is more like a calmness of heart or spirit in the midst of a storm. There may be trouble in the world, but there is peace within the one who knows Jesus.

It doesn't sound so good for Israel. Isaiah prophecies a storm. There is trouble brewing. The Assyrians will definitely bring chaos to the complacent people of the land who have felt secure in themselves. They may as well get rid of their fancy clothes now and beat their breasts for a storm is about to rage in on them.

But, there is hope. A king is coming (in our case has come and will come again). He will reign with righteousness and justice. He is our refuge in all storms. And... as the LORD promised through Isaiah:

"The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert,
his righteousness live in the fertile field.
The fruit of that righteousness will be peace;
its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,
in secure homes,
in undisturbed places of rest.
Though hail flattens the forest
and the city is leveled completely,
how blessed you will be,
sowing your seed by every stream,and letting your cattle and donkeys range free." (Isa 32:16-20 NIV)

Peace is the fruit of the righteousness of Christ. We know peace within when we know Christ, even if and while the world is in a raging war.  

God is our refuge and strength. He is the peace that has reconciled us to Him and the whole Body of Christ. The world cannot do this. Only the righteousness of Christ can.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Proverbs 5 - Adultery

Adultery appears to be the main topic of Proverbs 5. Pay attention! It is not just the woman whose lips drip like honey. Stay away from those who would entice you away from what you have committed yourself to.

I am just amazed at the young people of today. OK. It's not just the young people. Some of them can jump from relationship to relationship in a matter of days. In some cases, a matter of hours. The lack of commitment, the lack of self-discipline is just amazing. And... where does this all lead. TROUBLE! Major problems! Chaos! Hate! Anger! Even death!

Just because you think you'll never be caught, don't be deceived. God sees you. He knows everything that you say and do and think.  By the way... adultery is more than just sleeping around. Adultery happens whenever you put anyone or anything before the one you've made a commitment to be faithful to. Are you going bowling or skiing or golfing this weekend, again, while your family stays at home waiting for you? That would be adultery as you have put your love of something before the love of family.

Relationships are a good thing. They are a blessed thing. Healthy relationships will build you up. Unhealthy will tear you down. For some reason, yesterday, 1 John 4:18 kept popping up in my mind. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

If there is fear in a relationship that you will lose the one you love; if there is fear in the relationship for any reason, then that love is not perfect. Perfect love is unconditional. Love puts your family before your own desires, before your own needs, even as Christ was willing to give His life for those whom He loves. He was willing to give it for you. Love, then, as Christ loves. He is faithful in that love. Be faithful in your love.

Do not break the covenant you have with others by seeking after momentary pleasures. Seek to stay in relationship with God your Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Seek to stay in relationship with you family; your wife and your children. Stray not on the path that would separate you from the love of any of these. Stray not from the path that the one who loves you has set before that leads you to be fully reconciled with Him in the Kingdom of God

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 32 - Blessed is the Confessee

"Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." (Psalm 32:1 NIV)

Confession, today, is quite a different animal than it was years ago.  I probably only hear, at the most, a dozen direct confessions a year.  I hear many more than that indirectly, though.  They start out with a simple conversation and all of a sudden I realize that I am hearing someone's confession.  This is a good thing!  When I hear them, whether they were intentional confessions in a more traditional fashion (that is, someone asking me to hear their confession) or whether the confession just happens during conversation, they receive prayer and absolution. They are reminded that their transgressions are forgiven.  They are reminded that their sins are covered by the blood of Christ.

Sadly, I don't hear as many confessions today as could or should be heard.  Recently, I have had a couple of people tell me that they have forgiven me.  We were, in a loose sense, reconciled. But, sadly, these people never confessed their own sins.  They continue to live in turmoil.  The world is out to get them. They are right. Everyone else is wrong. They will most likely continue in the chaos they have created for themselves for a very long time; at least until they can recognize the sin that has come to inhabit their lives.  Sadly, no repentence. No confession. No absolution.

You see, if we cannot confess our sins, then we have a bit of trouble accepting the forgiveness that God so freely has given us through the death of His Son.  It's not that God will not forgive you. It's more a matter of you wanting to be forgiven.  After all, if one is perfect, than you have no need of forgiveness.  Jesus told the Pharisees:  “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matt 9:12-13 NIV)

We are all sinners.  "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8) But, the good news is that Jesus came that our transgressions might be forgiven.  Jesus came that we might be sanctified and reconciled to God our Father and to one another in the Kingdom of God.  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matt 4:17)

Dear one, confess your sins, receive the forgiveness that is given to you through Body and Blood of our LORD, Jesus Christ. "Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered."

God's Peace - Pr. J