1 Thess 3 - Stepping Back and Letting God

1 Thessalonians 3 NIV 


Faithful teacher receiving Communion with his students. He no
longer teaches; but, continues to pray that they will remember
what he  has taught them and continue in faith even in his absence.

We pray for good things for our children and for all whom we love. But, more than that we pray that they will know the joy that comes in following Jesus. We pray that they might know and share God's love. We pray that their faith may increase.

When Paul could not be with the people of Thessalonica, he was just a little worried that they might be backsliding without him there to encourage and teach them so he sent Timothy to check it out. The people were fine. They continued in faith to love the Lord and one another. They continued in His way. The Spirit of Christ continued to work in and through them.

I have found that, sometimes, distance from people we care about might be a good thing. Sometimes, once we have taught someone (especially our own children) all that they can learn from us, that it might be best to put a little distance between us so that we are not meddling in or trying to micro-manage their lives. Sometimes, the best think we can do is step back and pray for them, giving thanks to God for His work in and through them. Stepping back and trusting the Spirit of Christ to continue working in our loved ones is not always the easiest thing to do. But, sometimes it is the best thing. It is always a good thing to entrust their lives to God. He does a much better job at guiding them than we can.

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Corinthians 9 Sow Many Seed

2 Corinthians 9 NIV
For the last few years, I've attempted to plant a garden. I sow very few seeds as my garden is very small. Someone in my household does not want a garden infringing on the space that belongs to the driveway. In the fall, I reap almost nothing. In order to reap a harvest we must sow generously.

Likewise the church on earth is like a garden. In order to reap a good harvest. In order for the church to grow, we must plant many seeds. We must scatter the seeds everywhere we go. We are to scatter our gifts to the poor and he who supplies the seed will increase our store of seed and enlarge the harvest so that we can be even more generous.

So that we can be even more generous.... Get that? The harvest is not for ourselves, no matter what the prosperity preachers preach. It's not about new cars and fancy homes. The harvest is so that we can be generous in assisting those in need. The harvest is so to help us plant even more seeds so that the church might continue to grow.

St. Paul encourages the people to give generously to the offering with cheerful hearts. In this way we supply the needs of the Lord's people as well as bring about many expressions of thanks to God.

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." (vs 12-13)

Sow many seeds, that the harvest might be abundant and glory given to God. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 17:5-10 Increase Our Faith

Luke 17:5-10 NIV
If we had the faith as small as a mustard seed, we could do anything!

So here is how it seems to go... We don't accomplish much for the Kingdom because we simply don't have enough faith. Since we lack faith; we don't even try. Yes, we do our duties. We show up in church on Sunday (sometimes). We make some offerings (sometimes). We try to feed the hungry - that is if we have enough left over after we've taken care of all of our wants as well as our needs.

We are like the unworthy servants who have only done only what is required of us as servants (sometimes). But, Christ came that we might be His brothers and sisters, that we might be reconciled to Him and to one another, in the Father's glorious Kingdom. We are heirs of that Kingdom! So, do we want to live like servants or heirs. Heirs will take care of the Kingdom. They will go the extra mile to grow that Kingdom. Do you believe that you are an heir of that eternal Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ? Do you have faith that the Kingdom is yours - to live in it, now?

Lord, increase our faith!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 24 - St. Valentine

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matt 24:9-13 NIV)

Today is St. Valentine's Day. I am not exactly sure how we came to be buying gifts for those whom we love on St. Valentine's Day; after all, according to tradition, February 14th is actually the day we commemorate St. Valentine's martyrdom. He refused to deny Christ and was beheaded for his ardent love of God.

So, maybe, love is the perfect theme for the day. St. Valentine's love for God did not grow cold; not even in the face of death. 

How about ours? Has our love for God grown cold? Do you love Him so much that you cannot wait to hear His Word on Sunday mornings or whenever it is your community gathers together as one body to worship Him? Do you love Him so much that you want others to know about the love of your life? One of my pet peeves for years has been to attend a meeting or dinner with other Christians and the name of Jesus never even comes up. (Really irritating when the group are all ordained!) There is talk about baseball, football, fishing, hunting, the weather, propane prices; there may even be a few very bad jokes; but, no Jesus. How does that relay our love of God; our gratefulness that Jesus loved us so much He was willing to die for us?

When people genuinely love someone it is a natural outflow to talk about the person they love. A loving parent or grandparent talk about their little ones (no matter how old they get) because they love them. They are a central part of their lives. So, it seems to me, if God is our ultimate concern; if we truly love Him; then we will talk about Him. We will share the stories of our love with others.

The stories of St. Valentine tell us of a man who was so willing to confess His love for Jesus, that he was willing to die for the love of His life. He is not alone. There are many in our history. Even today, many are persecuted for daring to profess their love for the God who loves so much that He who was willing to die for them.

Has our love for God grown cold? Do we truly love our neighbors, as God loves us?

Have a blessed St. Valentine's Day.

God's Peace - Pr. J