God Loves You

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." John 3:16

God loves you. No matter how alone you feel in the world, there is One who will always love you. Such good news for a sin sick world!

Depression runs rampant in this world. It is a sadness to witness those who already suffer from depression often made even more depressed by the bullying and self-serving tactics of others. The sadness overwhelms so many people that I know and care about. They feel alone and unloved. If only their ears and eyes and hearts could be opened to understand how much God loves them and how much the people in whom Christ abides loves them. They are not alone; but, they do not comprehend that.

Sadly, even as Christ is at work in and through his followers so the devil is at work in and through his followers spreading lies and hatred and anger and gossip and greed. All these things lead to death. It is so disheartening to hear a young one explain why they don't believe in God. Some adult taught them this lie. Some adult allowed the devil to work through them so that these children would live without love and without hope.

Little children, do not despair. Hear the Word of the Lord. God loves you. You are not alone. Those in whom He abides love you. You do not have to be alone or lonely. Seek out the brothers and sisters of Christ that you might hear and know this great love that God, with all of the saints, has for you. (God help anyone who professes to be a follower of Christ and would not welcome one of these little children!)

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Peter 3 Scoffers Abound

2 Peter 3 NIV
Scoffers abound! Peter wrote: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." (vs 10) The disciples expected an almost immediate return of the Lord. 2000 years later, we are still waiting and watching for the final judgment on the world. It's a fairy-tale, a fable, a myth, I am told. Just because you do not believe; that does not make it an untruth. "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (vss 8-9)

Scoffers abound! I'm not sure if people have forgotten that the Lord will come again or maybe they just don't believe. The world lives as though they have eternity to live for their own pleasure. Some might even live under the delusion that they can repent on their death beds and they will be saved. That is true, if one truly turns to the Lord. But, one never knows when our final moments will come. It would be wise to be prepared before that day comes. He will come like a thief, without warning, except for the word which we already have.

Be prepared and be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of the lawless. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the glory of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 13:1-9 Repent; Bear Good Fruit

Luke 13:1-9 NIV
In the parable of the fig tree that refused to produce fruit, Jesus sounds a bit harsh. He says, "Cut it down!" (vs 7) But the man's whose vineyard the fig tree was living in intercedes with Jesus for the life of the fig tree. Give it another chance. Give it one more year.

It may well be time to consider and give thanks for all those people who have interceded for us throughout our lives. There have been times when we have been totally unfruitful, deserving of no more chances. Yet, we have been given what seems to be unlimited opportunities to bear fruit for the Kingdom. But, the opportunities are not quite unlimited. I officiated at another funeral yesterday. The death of a loved one is a reminder that our days are indeed numbered; a reminder that our opportunities on earth to bear fruit are indeed limited.

Repent and bear good fruit for the Kingdom of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 18 - Visiting Sheep

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18:10-14 NIV)

On a pretty regular basis, I am out and about checking in on sheep who may or may not have wandered or maybe have never been shown the gate into the sheepfold. Shepherds do that. They seek the lost sheep. I am pretty fortunate in serving a congregation, who for the most part, understands this. They don't question who I've been visiting because over the years they've seen the sheep enter into the fold. In fact, they may have been one of them that was welcomed with open arms, like a long-lost friend, or as a prodigal son, as one of the members (who is much older than I) calls me, "mother." He knows that like a shepherd or a mother, even when I am not visiting him, I am always on the alert that nothing should happen to him. That's just the way it is with shepherds and parents. We are concerned that none should be harmed - none should be lost.

I have been in this community for a little over 15 years. I know just about everyone in the county. Every now and then God will put it in my heart to visit someone who is an acquaintance - someone I know through others - but, don't really know them. I have never regretted making those visits. I don't usually call ahead. I just stop and knock. Doors have been opened and I have always found them anxious for the company. Sometimes, they have been waiting for a word of hope. Other times they needed comfort or encouragement. Sometimes, they just needed someone to listen. Visiting others can be an amazing adventure. One never knows what one will encounter when you knock on someone's door. I have shoveled sidewalks, made coffee, washed dishes, cooked for them in their homes. I have found them on the floor. I have stayed beside them and held them for hours as they suffered through symptoms of withdrawal. I have found them abused and neglected. One just never knows what one will encounter when you knock on a door. Once you step outside those church doors, you can never know what doors will be opened to you or how many lost sheep you will encounter. (Course there are also a few lost sheep within the "church" as well - not to be neglected)

I would ask those of you who would have their pastors in their offices daily and serving only the "members" of that particular congregation rather than out seeking the lost sheep to please reconsider. The "church" that exists only for themselves and is not out seeking and serving the sheep outside the fold is really not a church. It is a social club.

Our Father is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

God's Peace - Pr. J
P.S. I call this evangelism and it is not my "job." It is what the abiding Christ does through all of us. It is a way of life. It is who we are.

Ezekiel 22 - Judah's Sins; Our Sins

Ezekiel outlines the sins of Judah. They are quite lengthy! The LORD promises that He will refine the people, as fire refines metal. They will be refined with fire, so that they might turn to glorify the LORD.

As I look at the list of Judah's sins, they don't look all that unfamiliar. Maybe, we fail to learn from history. Maybe, we're just hard-hearted and need a bit of refining ourselves. As I look at this list of sins, I am thankful that Jesus was willing to take our sins upon himself; that all who believe in Him might not perish; but, receive eternal life reconciled to God our Father through the blood of Jesus the Christ.

Thanks be to God for His mercy, for His grace, through Jesus Christ, our LORD. Amen!

God's Peace - Pr. J