Choose Wisely Whom You Will Follow

For Young Persons in General.

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time. 1 Pet. 5:5-6.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 

The Small Catechism refers to 1 Peter 5:5-6 in order to remind young people of their duties.

 

"In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."

 

I would add verses 8 and 9 of 1 Peter 5 as part of that warning.  "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

 

Yes, by all means, in humility, listen and follow in the way your elders would teach you to go. But, when you are getting conflicting directions from elders; when one tells you to go this way and another tells you to go that way; take a good look at the fruits of the one who is trying to direct you. If their actions have led them to lives dodging the law or if they have spent time in prison or even in multiple civil suits. If in order to survive they have to con other people or steal from them, if their pride filled lives are being spent on making trouble for others and ultimately themselves, maybe it would be a good thing to listen to and follow the elder who has learned to live in peace with others and to produce fruits worthy of the family of believers and the Kingdom which has been promised you through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

Choose wisely whom you will serve: one who is guided by the devil who wishes only to devour you or one who serves the living Lord who was willing to die so that you might live.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Peter 5 Resist the Devil

1 Peter 5

It is not easy being a Christian. The Way in which we are to follow is not the way of the world and the world will neither understand or appreciate you. You will be subjected to all sorts of attempts to humiliate you. But, you must be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Do not let him devour you. Resist him. Stand firm in the faith knowing that the family of believers throughout the whole world is undergoing similar sufferings.

 

Elders in the church are to support and be shepherds to the flock under their care. Those who are younger are to submit themselves to their elders. Everyone is to clothe themselves with humility for God opposes the proud and shows favor to the humble.

 

Therefore, put aside the pride of the world and in humility serve the Lord with gladness in all things. Resist the devil and follow in the Way of the Lord.

 

God's peace to all of you who are in Christ. - Pr. J

Micah 7 - Blood Thicker Than Blood

Micah warns that no shall be trusted - all will conspire against the followers of God - even one's family. Throughout my life, I have gone through many changes. At first, I naively trusted everyone. Then, I trusted no one. Finally, as I came to have a closer relationship with God, I was able, once again, to have trust in others. Not that I placed my trust in others, but that I placed my trust in God so that I was once again able to help others. I knew and know that no matter what others might do against me, God is with me for the good.

Sadly, I witness over and over again how true Micah's reminder and warning is.
"For a son dishonors his father,
    a daughter rises up against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
    a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
    I wait for God my Savior;
    my God will hear me." (Micah 7:6-7 NIV)

Greed, envy, jealousy; these all affect family relationships. Pride in self is a killer of families. Even among family members, one will put their own desires before another; before the good of family. When I worked at the youth correctional facility, I would warn the young men to please not move home when they were released. Many of their problems came from parents who put their own lives (often addictions) before the children. To move back home because of family blood ties would spell "prison sentence" for them in the end, as I knew that many of their family members would continue to lead them in lives of crime for the sake of their own desires. As the spiritual counselor, as well as the substance abuse counselor, I would remind them: "There is a blood that is thicker than blood and that is the blood of Christ shed for you."  

In Him we can trust.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Micah 6 - Walk Humbly

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8 NIV)

It would be very good indeed in this world, if we all just did the good that the LORD has shown us. Can you imagine what the world would be like if every professing Christian actually made it a priority to act justly and love mercy as we walk humbly with our God?

One of my favorite descriptions of humility was written by Washington Allston. He wrote: "Humility is also a healing virtue; it will cicatrize a thousand wounds, which pride would keep for ever open."

Let us then set aside our pride as we walk humbly with our God, so that justice and mercy might prevail.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 28 - Pride Goes Before A Fall

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘In the pride of your heart
    you say, “I am a god;
I sit on the throne of a god
    in the heart of the seas.”
But you are a mere mortal and not a god,
    though you think you are as wise as a god.
Are you wiser than Daniel?
    Is no secret hidden from you?
By your wisdom and understanding
    you have gained wealth for yourself
and amassed gold and silver
    in your treasuries.
By your great skill in trading
    you have increased your wealth,
and because of your wealth
    your heart has grown proud. (Ezekiel 28:1-5 NIV)

And... because of this the LORD promises that the ruler of Tyre will fall. Ezekiel gives us another reminder, this morning, that "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." (Prov 16:18)

As St. Paul wrote to the Galatians: "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Gal 6:14)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 27 - Mourning Tyre

A lament for Tyre. Tyre who was so prideful is fallen. As it is said, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." (Prov 16:18 NIV) Tyre did well for itself, but it was "full of itself."

We see it all the time: pride and arrogance. As they grow in a person, others around them tend to want to stay away from them and then the fall. It is not good in a business, no matter what kind of business it is. Pride and arrogance don't do much for relationships, either. They particularly aren't very conducive to a genuine relationship with God. After all, it is He who gives us all good things and when things "go south" it probably has something to do with the fact that we have started thinking that we can manage things better than God, all by ourselves.

Trust in the LORD and give Him thanks for all that He has given.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 48 - Moab To Fall and Rise Again

Moab is under fire... The cause of their impending destruction:

“We have heard of Moab’s pride—
    how great is her arrogance!—
of her insolence, her pride, her conceit
    and the haughtiness of her heart.
I know her insolence but it is futile,”declares the Lord." (Jer 48:29-30 NIV)

Moab, like so many others, had turned their backs on God, worship false idols, worshipping themselves, and they were proud of it. They could do it without God.

Real stinking thinking going on there. And, they will suffer the consequences. They will be punished; yet, the LORD has good news for them, as well. After all this, He says:

“Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab
    in days to come,”
declares the Lord.

Here ends the judgment on Moab." (Jer 48:47)

The LORD works in such mysterious way. Sometimes those ways seem harsh; but, in the end it is for the good of His people. After we have trod through the refining fires, we will know God and we will desire to worship and serve Him.

May God grant each of us the desire to love and serve Him with our whole hearts and minds and souls.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Isaiah 4 - Chapters and Verses

Today's reading from chapter four of Isaiah reminds me that the Holy Bible did not always have chapters and verses. The breakdown we have today makes for an easier way to reference scripture and was actually instituted in the 13th century A.D.. Verse 1, "In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!”" seems to fit much better with the woes of chapter three than the promises found in the rest of chapter four. It is a good reminder, while we're reading the Bible, one chapter at a time, that we have to remember the whole context of what we are reading. Yes, it can be fun to "proof-text" and "dig" into one verse. But, we should remember that "scripture validates scripture." If our interpretation of scripture (one of two verses) cannot be validated by the rest of scripture, then we are probably interpreting it from our own bias.

In chapter four, we begin with what appears to be the end of the woes to Judah, Jerusalem, and ourselves if we do not turn to the LORD and trust Him; if we put material things and even ourselves before God. But, we also have the promise of the Branch of the LORD, who will be the pride and the glory of those who survive the woes and continue to live in Zion. God will be their glory. This is amazing and wonderful Good News as Jesus is the branch that is beautiful and glorious and with and in Christ, we live and dwell in the Kingdom of God, even now.

He is our shelter and refuge! (vs 6)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 2 - Walk in the Light of the LORD

 "Let us walk in the light of the LORD." (Isaiah 2:5b NIV)

We await the day when the LORD will come in the splendor of His majesty. "There will be no more war. The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.. (vs 11) What a day that will be! The earth will tremble. The people will tremble. We will finally realize the fruitlessness of worshipping silver and gold, the work of our own hands, and every knee will bow in recognition of the LORD, God, Almighty.

Isaiah's sermon is a hard one for many to hear. All is not right in the world. There is much trouble on every side; mostly caused by greed or jealousy, caused by desiring what we cannot have. Scripture tells us that Satan, the oppressor, was cast down to the earth. Do you remember why? Isaiah 14:12-14 says: "How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.""  Satan wanted not just to be like God. He wanted to be God. He wanted to be worshipped. There is a little of the devil in all of us, it seems. He sneaks out (or in), when we're not looking, trying to convince us that we are worthy of honor and glory. Sometimes, we believe him. Well, not sometimes, often. We often put ourselves before the LORD, our Creator and Redeemer. And, when we recognize the sin that dwells within us, it should be enough of a reason to go before the LORD, seeking His mercy and grace often, like daily, like a few times a day?

There is only one God and the day will come when all people will have no choice, but to recognize Him as the one true God. Those who desire and/or think that they are gods and above God, will be humbled and their pride brought low as He shows Himself to all people in the full splendor of His majesty. I'm just thinking it would be a whole lot easier on everyone if we could all bow before Him now and "walk in the light of the LORD." 

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. A warning... do not fall prey to the temptation to glorify the works of your own hands; but give all to the glory of God.