Words Of Our Lips

Our faith, what we believe, is evidenced in what we say and do. Do we promote God's will even as we pray that His will be done on earth as it is done in heaven? Or, do we promote false gods of this world by what we say and do? 

Those things that we profess that we believe should agree with the things that we say and do in all aspects of our lives. When we say that we believe one way and purposely do something else; we not only become traitors to God; but, to the words of our own lips. We cannot teach others to live in God's way that He might be glorified while we live in a way that contradicts what we say.

May God help us to live with integrity; that the words of our lips and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in His sight and glorify He who is our Lord, our rock and our redeemer.

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Thess 3 - Disruptive Believers

2 Thessalonians 3 NIV
When was the last time you told anyone about the blessings that God has given you? I find that very few people talk about Jesus (not even at church). When I am out and about, I sometimes hear about people's church affiliation and what people's churches have or have not done for them. But, I rarely hear anyone talk about what God has done for them. I try not to think about this disconnect between believers and their witness to what they believe too often. Professing to be a Christian; yet, not professing Christ gives me heartache.

But; apparently, idle and disruptive believers are not exclusive to our day and time. St. Paul warned the Thessalonians to stay away from those who are not busy; but, are busybodies. There are very good reasons for this warning. First of all, we must be careful not to endorse these unfruitful lifestyles by our silence and cooperation in their unfaithfulness. Secondly, we put ourselves in danger of becoming idle ourselves.

St. Paul reminds us that we are not to regard them as enemies. We are to warn them because they are our brothers or sisters in Christ and we do not want them falling of the path. We ought to be good examples of children following in the way our Father would have us go so that others might be encouraged to get back on track, as well.

As always, I remind you that good works will not save you. But, good works naturally follow faith because the Spirit of Christ abides in you. If you are one who is idle, get back on track and live as an example of one who follows Christ. May the Lord direct our hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance so that we might live life in a manner that God is glorified in all that we say and think and do.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 12:3-8 Many Members; One Body

Romans 12:3-8 NIV
Many members; one Body... When I speak to stewardship, I often refer to this concept of Paul's regarding there being many members of the Body in Christ. Each member has gifts given to them by God to serve God and to edify the whole Body. As Christ served humbly, so we are to use our gifts to serve humbly; acknowledging that without the combined gifts of others, our gifts would come to naught. When one member considers their gifts to be greater than another's (due to inflated ego; rather, than service in humility) and starts micro-managing, controlling the gifts of others, lording over others; then I usually get to see division among the members. The Body must serve in unison so that God might be glorified.

May God grant help us to serve with humility, even as Jesus humbled himself in order to save humanity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 17:1-5 Glory through Sacrifice and Death

John 17:1-5 NIV
Children love to look good in their parents' eyes. In fact, probably a more than a few are willing "exaggerate" about the good they do and the evil their brothers and sisters do in order to be "glorified" in their earthly father's eyes.

But, when Jesus prayed to be glorified he also knew that:
     1. as he is glorified; the Father is glorified. It was not for selfish reasons that he prayed to be glorified. It was to do the will of His Father and that His Father in heaven be glorified.
     2. That in order to be glorified he would be lifted up on the cross and put to death. Glory doesn't come by deception that makes others look bad or us look better than we are. Glory has nothing to do with deceit. It has everything to do with being lifted up as a sacrifice to death for others. God was glorified in the suffering and death and subsequent resurrection of His Son, Jesus the Christ.

If one feels the desire to pray for God's glory to come upon them, it is the same as praying: I am willing to die; I will give up everything, even my life, so that you, Father, may be glorified.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 15:9-17 Love Each Other

John 15:9-17 NIV
"Love each other." It is as simple as that. Love fulfills the law. If we have love; then we will do all that we can not to do anything to hurt the people around us. If we have love; we don't need to know and memorize every minute detail of every law; because the law is written upon our hearts. (Psalm 37:31, Jer 31:33, Heb 8:10, Heb 10:15)

In giving his life for us, Jesus showed us how much he truly loves each of us. If we remain in his love we will love even as he loves. Love isn't going to worry about who is going to make it in first at anything. Love tells us it is not only good to be the last in line; the last to receive; sometimes, it is way more preferable for all of our sakes.

Be a friend. Be a good neighbor. Do nothing that might cause any harm or danger to come to others. Do all things for their good that God might be glorified. Love each other. This is the command of Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Today is the first day of the school year; may God help our children to love one another and to leave the bullying behind them.

John 14:8-14 Ask In His Name To Glorify God

John 14:8-14 NIV
Be careful what you ask for in Jesus' name. You may not appreciate the answer to your prayers when it comes as much as you thought it might. God's will; after all, does not necessarily agree with our will. A friend of mine once told me that she was very sorry that she asked God for patience. He had answered her prayer and she was receiving this gift in a very hard way. She was learning it.

Jesus tells us that whatever we ask in his name, it will be given to us. We ask for all kinds of things and the reality it that the answer to some of those prayers is "no." Jesus did not say we could have anything our hearts desire. He said, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (vs 13)

Note: our prayers are not answered so that we can be glorified; rather, that our Father be glorified. Whatever we ask in Jesus' name that will glorify God will be answered and remember that His will; His ways are not necessarily our will; our ways.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 11:1-44 Jesus Wept

John 11:1-44 NIV
There is just so much in the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus that I could take it a couple of verses at a time and stretch it out for a week, at least. But, I prefer that you all read it as a whole.

Jesus is not running to keep Lazarus from dying. He takes his time so that God might be glorified. One of the most interesting parts of the story for me is found in the two words of verse 35: "Jesus wept." Jesus surely wept not for Lazarus as he knew Lazarus would be rising from the dead when he called to him in the grave. Jesus was weeping for those who grieved; whose hearts were breaking over the loss of their loved one. They were the ones suffering. They were the ones living in the shadow of the valley of death (Psalm 23:4 NKJV). Jesus cares for them. He loves them and He loves you. He does not wish to see in you in sorrow or pain. But, when you are, He is with you. He will raise you up, again, for the glory of God, our Father.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 9 - Sees

John 9 NIV
Jesus heals a blind man and controversy ensues. You would think that everyone would rejoice over the fact that this man who was born blind now can see. But; no, he was healed on the Sabbath which amounts to work in the eyes of the Pharisees. He is questioned. His parents are interrogated, as well. ut, the blind man will not deny it. The man they call Jesus put some mud on his eyes and healed him, he tells them. This man who was healed testifies to what Jesus has done for him?

He was blind but now he sees. What about you? Can you see what has Jesus done for you? Will you deny it or will you share that good news with other in order that God might be glorified.

Let us rejoice in God who opens our eyes that we might see all that He has done for us through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 3 - Judah, Jerusalem, & We Are Warned

Prior to being taken into captivity by the Babylonians, Isaiah warns the people of Jerusalem and Judah of their impending judgement. God will take away their supply and support. They will be hungry. They will be without home. Neighbor will rise up against neighbor. The haughty women who parade about flirting, as they flaunt their beads and bangles will lose it all. Their fine jewelry, their fancy clothes will be no more. There will be no honor anywhere.

"Jerusalem staggers,
Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the Lord,
defying his glorious presence.
The look on their faces testifies against them;
they parade their sin like Sodom;
they do not hide it.
Woe to them!They have brought disaster upon themselves."  (Isaiah 3:8-9 NIV)

 

My son, John, is working on a set of photographs depicting the 7-deadly sins. He has completed wrath. ( http://johnarthurphoto.com/blog/ )  Yesterday, I was trying to imagine what he will come up with for gluttony. Someone stuffing their face? Then I read an interesting article this morning about gluttony being the desire for anything in excess. http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/socially-acceptable-sin Gluttony could, in effect, pertain to over-indulging in anything: money, fine jewelry, even cheap jewelry. It could pertain to the many compulsive behaviors and addictions that afflict the world. It appears to me that Jerusalem and Judah had become a bit gluttonous - OK - maybe a lot gluttonous. They were the favored people of God. They had it made and so they indulged in a lot of worldly things and began to forget who it was that had blessed them. If they were going to be over-indulgent, it probably would have been a good thing to indulge in loving and worshipping the God who had blessed them so and maybe they would have avoided captivity in Babylon. 

 

But, they did not. They became haughty, self-centered, helping no one but themselves. Each to their own, as they say. And, they suffered because of it. The children of God (including us today) have a really bad habit of forgetting God, of turning our backs on the one who has blessed us and then out in the wilderness, back into slavery, back aimlessly wandering through the wilderness (from whence the name of this blog comes). Sure enough, there is usually repentance for many of God's children once we've been cast out into the wilderness. We realize our sin and turn back to God receiving the blessings of His presence.  You see, that is a huge part of why we end up in trouble. We fail to recognize our sin when we're so busy enjoying it. Everyone does it so, it can't be a sin. Woe to the people when sin is no longer sin!

 

The circle doesn't seem to end, though. Once we repent and have received forgiveness and multitudes of blessings by this generous God of ours; we begin to overindulge, again, worshipping the gifts rather than the Giver, and then back out in the wilderness we go so that we can remember again who God is.

 

Isaiah's prophetic warning was for Judah and Jerusalem. It was fulfilled with the Babylonian captivity. It was again fulfilled when the Romans toppled Jerusalem. Isaiah's warning is for all God's children, even today. Do not allow your gluttonous desire for things of this world kill your desire to worship and serve the LORD your God, by doing His will among you.

 

What did Jesus ask Peter to do?  "Feed my sheep." It's not about you. It's not about me. It's about us being in relationship with one another, serving one another, so that God might be glorified.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J