Our Father's Children

What does it take to be a child of God?

Usually, I take people at their word. I have a habit of believing people when they tell me that they are members of another denomination or congregation. I have a habit of believing people when they tell me that they are Christians. So often, I neglect to witness to them, because I believe them. The question, I ponder this morning, is if they know what it means to be a member of the family of God.

We do not enter into this family just because our parents or their parents belonged to the Body of Christ or any particular congregation. We are not born in the natural way into the family of God. We are adopted into God's family. In order for us to be adopted into God's family there was a price; a much greater price than we have to pay to adopt a child in today's society. The purchase price for our adoption was not silver or gold. The blood of God's only begotten Son paid the ultimate price for our adoption into His family.

Our DNA; our bloodlines, connects and confirms our earthly families; but, the blood of Christ makes us children of the most High God. We do not enter God's family by any goodness of our own. We do not enter God's family because of any earthly connections we might have. We enter by the virtue of the one who gave himself for us; that we might be reconciled to our Father in heaven for all of eternity. There is only way to become a child of God. There is only one way to the Father. That way is through Jesus the Christ.

There is more to being a Christian than just saying that you are one. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may God grant you faith in the one who died that all might live as children of the most High God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Children of God

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children."Gal 4:4-5

Children are an awesome blessing. They can be a lot of work, though. In our attempts to bring them up in the way they should be going doesn't always work the way that we planned.

We have a Father in heaven. We have been adopted as His own children; redeemed by His only begotten Son to be His children. I have often wondered what God, my Father, thought when I really did stuff that were not in His plans. Does he get as frustrated as I do when the children I care for are straying? I am sure that He is not all that pleased when we do things to our and our neighbors detriment; when we do not love as He loves us. As children of God we try to please Him even as our own children try to please us. We all fall short. We don't always do what we ought to be doing. We don't and our children don't. But, we keep on loving even as our heavenly Father loves us.

All who believe are the children of God. May He help us to follow in His Way.

God's Peace - Pr. J

You Are God's Beloved

"But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matt 12:48-50 NRSV

We had an awesome dinner last night! Brothers and sisters in Christ gathered together to enjoy a simple; but, delicious meal in the church dining area at Zion. After dinner, we, the children of God, gathered in the sanctuary to worship our Lord.

 

I realize that in today's world "family" is not what it use to be. Many rarely sit down for a meal together. So many families never take the time to talk to one another; to listen to their loved ones. These are people we love. Why don't we take the time to fellowship with our families?

 

When you were baptized into Christ; you became a child of God. All who were baptized into the Body of Christ are members of God's family; brothers and sisters; children of our heavenly Father. Let us not neglect to actually be family, in more than name only. 

 

"And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Heb 10:24-25

God's Peace - Pr. J

Eph 6:10-24 News or Slander?

Ephesians 6:10-24 NIV
I tried to watch the news last night. I don't do that very often. I find that it is much easier for me to read the headlines online without all the editorials than to watch it on television. Broadcast news is now something different than what it was even a couple of decades ago. It appears to be more opinion than truth - a lot of negative opinion - even slander! It is bad enough that so much sin is committed; but, to hear people demonized to such an extent gets more than a bit tiring. There is enough trouble in the world without the news media attacking individuals so judgmentally and aggressively and usually it is to suit their own political purposes or egos.

St. Paul wrote "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (vs 12)

Rather than constantly attack others, I would find it a bit refreshing if we spent a little time praying for them. It might be a bit more fruitful to pray that the evil one have no power over them. St. Paul reminds us that in order fight this battle we are to put on the full armor of God. God's armor does not include ego or slander. When injustice is done we must certainly speak the truth in love. But, we ought not respond to injustice with more injustice. Slander is a grave injustice. It would be good if news reporters would just report the truth and then the world would know exactly what we are really battling.

We are not fighting mere humans. We stand against the powers of a very dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. We cannot win the battle by our own strength. Without the full of armor of God; without God, we can do nothing. Therefore; pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Keep alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray that whenever we speak, words may be given us so that we will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Pray that we will all speak the truth in love. Pray also for the world's news reporters that they might also speak only the truth!

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Through The Wilderness

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 NIV
The Israelites wandered through the wilderness for many years. God led them in a pillar of fire. According to St. Paul, the rock who is Jesus the Christ was with them. But, not all of them made it through to the promised land. There were those who were idolaters; those who indulged in revelry. Some testes Christ and were killed by snakes. Others grumbled and were killed by the destroying angel. Not all of them made it through. Although, they followed that pillar of fire through the wilderness; there were those who turned their back on Christ and lived according to their own desires.

St. Paul tells us this to remind us that these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as we journey through our own wilderness. There will be temptations; but, God does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.

The wilderness can be a rough place; but, Christ is with us. May God grant us the wisdom, the strength, and the courage to follow in His Way to the promised land, the Heavenly Kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 2:1-20 - The One Who Brings Peace

Luke 2:1-20 NIV
Fear not! Don't be afraid! We read an awful lot in scripture that we are not to fear. We are not to be anxious about anything. Angels showing up and bringing you a message of peace actually would probably cause a little anxiety just in the fact that angels have shown themselves to you.

Yet, in the midst of anxious times, we can have peace. The angels proclaimed to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2: 14) This peace that God brings is kind of amazing. As we grow in the LORD, we will find that we do know a sense of peace no matter what kind of chaos is around us. It may still be troubling, but we can be at peace knowing that God has a good plan for it all.

A few years ago, I was in the pulpit preaching as usual on a Sunday morning. All of a sudden, I could no longer read my notes. All that I could see was a white light and light shadows of people sitting in the pews. It was a bit disconcerting. But, I did not panic. I kept on preaching, even as St. Paul's vision that brought him to repentance and to follow Jesus came to my mind. I wondered if maybe there was something I needed to repent of even as I kept on preaching; everyone around me unaware of what I was seeing. I was a little anxious about the situation; but, at the same time at peace knowing that God was with me and there was a good purpose for it all. I just didn't know what. I went to the eye specialist that week and was told that I had eye strokes due to the steroid that was in the medication (Advair) for my COPD. I got off the prescription medication and am taking only an herbal, all natural medication. Lo and behold, there was a good purpose. My breathing has improved greatly.

The point is sometimes things happen in our lives that might cause a little anxiety; but, we should know that God is with us and in that knowledge we can know peace no matter what is going on in our lives. Can you imagine a pregnant young woman and the man she was engaged to traveling cross country to sign up to pay taxes? When they get to their destination there is no place for them to stay so they stay in a barn where the baby is born. Can you imagine sitting in a field with the guys watching the sheep settle in for the night and you have this heavenly host singing in the heavens? I'm thinking it was probably, at least, a little unsettling. Yet, the shepherds listen to the angel and go and see this baby that is to bring peace to the world.

Anxiety and peace - sometimes you can have them almost simultaneously. Being anxious about something is human nature; yet, in the midst of anxiety, we can know that God is with us and we can know His peace. Thanks be to God!
God's Peace - Pr. J

Amos 6 - Complacent?

"Woe to you who are complacent in Zion,
    and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria..." (Amos 6:1 NIV)

We probably all get a little complacent from time to time. Complacency is when we get too satisfied with the way things are and don't care for or want anything to change. But, is that a good thing? Is it good to go through life without making any changes; with ourselves or the things around us?

We all need change. When I was young, I use to hear this quite often: "When you quit learning, you die." Everyone of us needs to keep learning and growing. St. Paul wrote: "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Cor 13:11-12 NIV)

We cannot remain babies forever; not, in this world and not in the Kingdom of God. One day, we will all know the truth fully. That day has not yet come. But, it does not mean that we should be complacent and not strive to seek the truth or seek His face.

You think you know Jesus? How well do you know Him? Have you become complacent with a Sunday morning (or less) relationship?

 "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Eph 1:17-21)  Amen!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Daniel 10 - Princes in Heavenly Realms

Who are these princes that this scripture speaks of? It appears that they are angels and the trouble that is occurring is occurring or at least instigated in the heavenly realms. Daniel has been fasting for three weeks (21 days) and on the twenty-fourth day he receives a vision of a really awesome looking man, dressed in linen. This man tells him, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia." (Dan 10:12-13 NIV)

Michael, it would seem, is the archangel, Michael. He is the angel who is reputed to lead God's armies against the forces of evil. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph 6:12)

There are times, when we just really need to back up and understand that it is not our neighbor who is the enemy, but that it is the great adversary who is attacking. And... understand, too, that the adversary is not just attacking you, but attacking your neighbor as well, through you. Stand your ground, stand on the Word of God, that the schemes of the princes who do not find favor in God's sight may be thwarted. Pray unceasingly for help, for yourself as well as for your neighbor, that the enemy will have no hold over us.

God's Peace - Pr. J