Are You Listening?

"Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise." Deut 6:6-7

I do a lot of reciting of both the law and the gospel. But, there are times when I just have to shake my head and wonder if anyone is listening? Do they not understand the there is only one true God and that God is almighty; all powerful; all loving; all merciful? It is not wise; it is not a good thing to worship other gods; to put anyone or anything before our Creator and Redeemer. I simply have a difficult time understanding how anyone would refuse to love and serve the only God who can save them from sin, death, and the power of the devil. How could anyone not love someone who was willing to die for them?

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart." Deut 6:4-6

May our Father in heaven, forgive us for not loving Him as we ought; for not loving Him even as He loves us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Treasures

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt 6:19-21 NRSV 

Where do you invest your time; your talents; all the gifts that God has given you? Do you enjoy those gifts? There is only one place where you will find real joy. That place is in relationship with Jesus Christ and with others around you. Some things are necessary: food, shelter, heat, clothing. Others things are not. They are luxuries. They can be excess baggage that steal away our time and our opportunity to be in caring and loving relationships. 

The greatest treasure of God is being able to live in relationship with God and our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Kingdom of God. May God help us to seek His Kingdom that we might know what a treasure living in His presence really is.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

1 John 5 - Love Does God's Will

1 John 5 NIV

Wow! I find it absolutely unbelievable how some who claim to be Christian can absolutely disregard our Father's will for them and for all of humankind. St. John wrote: "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands." (vs 2) I understand that our human nature is difficult at times. There are many times that we slip and we aren't even really aware we're slipping until we are caught. But, those who love the Lord will at least attempt to not be stealing or lying about or in any way disrespecting their brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and souls and minds. We show this love by loving and respecting His children.

The world throws temptation after temptation at us. The world would tell us we have to look out for ourselves first. "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (vss 5-6)

May God bless us with faith and a desire to do His will; loving and respecting Him and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 John 4:7-21 Love

1 John 4:7-21
It can be quite frustrating to love someone and not be loved in return. You can give your life for
someone and have that love and you treated like it was nothing. But, the one who loves does not stop loving. They will continue to love even as they ache inside. Most of us probably have probably known the feeling of loving someone and not being loved in return.

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (vs 9-10)

Our Father in heaven loves us so much He was willing to have His one and only Son suffer and die for us. His Son, Jesus the Christ, loves us so much he was willing to do his Father's will for us. What will our response be? Will we love because he first loved us? Or will we turn our backs on genuine love and seek the earthly desires of our hearts?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hebrews 12:4-12 - A Father's Discipline

Hebrews 12:4-13 NIV

A father who loves his children will discipline them when needed. No matter how difficult it may seem, he will not turn his eyes the other way and ignore it when his children are on a path of self-destruction. He will also continue to support them and love them just as our heavenly Father loves all of His children.

It can be difficult for a child to receive discipline or reproof from their parents. It causes many to feel as though they are no longer loved. It can be just as painful of an experience for a parent to discipline their child. Yet, it is sometimes necessary. Loving parents will discipline their children as they think best. Sometimes the discipline of earthly parents turns out not so much for the best. But, even then, it is usually because it is the best that the parents know and can give. It is what they have been taught. Most try to discipline lovingly and justly. Human parents make mistakes and sometimes with wrong motivations. However, God does not. He disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

Life can be tough. Yet, through all the lessons we must learn, we will grow in Christ. We will grow up as children of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 13:8-10 Abide in Love

Romans 13:8-10 NIV
Love does no harm. So, then why are so many relationships in trouble?

I would submit that for the most part human beings simply have a difficult time loving others as they love themselves. The ego takes over and we put ourselves before others; before God. What we want is what we will have no matter who it hurts.

But, if we turn and abide in Christ and He in us then Christ' love; his light, will shine through us and relationships will be restored. Christ's love is love that does not harm others. It reconciles rather than divides.

May the love of Christ abide in and through us, now and forever. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Romans 12:1-2 Transformed Not Conformed

Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Do not be conformed to the world. Be transformed in Christ.

Our discipleship small group has been discussing the difference between being conformed and transformed. Many within the church appear to be conforming to certain standards that they feel appropriate for a Christian. This is adds up to nothing more than good works and we all know that works without faith is not worth a hill of beans. Conformation is only an outward action. In order for our lives to be effective witnesses to and for Christ, we must abide in Christ and Christ in us. We must be transformed. We cannot be witnesses to the world; we cannot make disciples for Christ, unless we are disciples first. And, disciples are not those who have conformed to the world's standards of Christianity or anything else. Disciples are those who have been transformed by the loving, living, abiding presence of Jesus the Christ.

Be transformed. Be a disciple. Make a disciple.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Lamentations 3 - His Compassion

"I am the man who has seen affliction
    by the rod of the Lord’s wrath.
He has driven me away and made me walk
    in darkness rather than light;
indeed, he has turned his hand against me
    again and again, all day long.
For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone." (Lam 3:1-3,31-33 NIV)

The LORD has indeed shown us compassion. Although, we have turned our backs to Him and followed in ways we should not go; He has shown us compassion in that He sent His Son to be a sacrifice for our sin. In spite of the fact that His people have turned against Him, He desired that we might be reconciled to Him in His Kingdom. His will is that all should live in His presence. May God help us to follow in His way that we might know His loving mercy, through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 95 - God Was Angry

I wonder how many "Christians" know the story of the Israelites escape from Egypt.  If they have heard it, did they really listen?  I think we like to forget the part that the Israelites wandered through the desert for forty years because God was angry with them for not trusting Him. They were not wandering around just because they were lost.  Well, I guess they were lost in a sense because they did not trust nor listen to God. 

God was angry!  How many of you, does that surprise?  Isn't God suppose to be an all loving, all giving, just an even-tempered, all gracious God.  Indeed, He is all loving.  But, scripture also tells us that God can be angry when His children refuse to listen to Him, refuse to trust Him, refuse to follow in the way He has led them.  Indeed, He is quick to forgive all who turn to Him in the name of His Son, Jesus the Christ.  But, he is not overjoyed knowing that there are those who would forsake Him or His Son who was willing to die so that all people might be reconciled to Him in the promised land, the Kingdom.  Make no mistake, when you sin and willfully follow in the ways that would lead you away from the kingdom of God, you are separating yourself from God and the promised land.  God wants you to be reconciled to Him in His Kingdom.  Why would He be happy if you chose another way and rejected the promised gift?

The Israelites feared entering into the promised land in the way that God would have them go.  They feared and chose another way.  They rejected God's full promise to them, at least in the way that He would give it to them.  And... God was angry. The consequence was to wander around outside the promised land for forty more years. For sure God was with them as they continued their journey through the wilderness.  And... God is with you.  You have no need to fear following in the way that God has prepared for you through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. If you're having problems remembering the story, read again the story of how the Israelites decided, out of fear, that they would not enter the promised land as God directed them. It can be found in Numbers 13 and 14.