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

John 13:18-30 - Desert Him?

John 13:18-30 NIV
It is not all that uncommon for someone who does not get his or her own way; who becomes disappointed in the direction that their leader or friend is going, and deserts them. This is exactly what Judas did. He became disenchanted with The Way that Jesus was heading. He had desired things of this world and wasn't quite so interested in serving God according to God's will. Becoming disappointed because Jesus was not going to be a great ruler and king of this world; he betrayed Jesus. He turned him over to the authorities for what was more desirous to him: money.

Judas had different goals than Jesus did. Often, we, too, put our own desires over the will of God for us and for all humankind. We desert him in order to pursue our desires, our priorities.

Judas really isn't so different from most of us. We may sit down to eat with a "friend" one day and the next we turn away from them because they don't think or act like exactly like us. May God help us to love our neighbor without prejudice so that we would not desert them in their time of need. May God grant us wisdom and courage so that we should never desert Him or turn from His good will for us to seek after things of this world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 56 - Justice of God

"This is what the Lord says:

“Maintain justice
    and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand    
and my righteousness will soon be revealed." (Isa 56:1 NIV)

God's justice is not like our justice. If we refer back to Isaiah 55 we remember that His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. We like to think or pretend they are. We like to twist scripture so that even our unfaithfulness can make us look righteous. But, God knows the truth. He sees.

His justice blesses those, no matter who they are, who are faithful, with eternal life. Isaiah 56 reminds us that He will bless even the foreigner and the eunuch who choose what pleases God. According to today's reading, God blesses the foreigner, the stranger; but, many shepherds He accuses. The very ones who are called to protect His flock are accused of being self-indulgent rather than caring for the flock that the LORD has entrusted us with.

"Israel’s watchmen are blind,
    they all lack knowledge;
they are all mute dogs,
    they cannot bark;
they lie around and dream,
    they love to sleep.
They are dogs with mighty appetites;
    they never have enough.
They are shepherds who lack understanding;
    they all turn to their own way,
    they seek their own gain.
“Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!
    Let us drink our fill of beer!
And tomorrow will be like today,    or even far better.”  (Isa 56:10-12)

I'm thinking that it will not be far better for those shepherds who desert their flock to feed their own desires.

The stranger and outcast should not think that God does not hear them. Have faith. Trust that He is with you and that He hears and He sees and He will bless all who listen to Him and follow in His Way.

God's Peace - Pr. J.