Romans 12:9-21 Live In Peace and Harmony

Romans 12:9-21 NIV
Just, be nice and do what is right, already! That's it! Quit playing games! Quit doing what is unlawful! Do what is good for all people and think a whole lot less about what it is that you want.

Paul admonishes the Romans to love one and another and treat one another with respect so that we might live in harmony with one another and in peace. Stealing from your neighbor, selling drugs to their children kind of breaks the harmony. It pretty much upsets the balance of peace in any community.

We are to hate what is evil and cling to those things that are good. But, that does not mean that we are to hate and take personal vengeance on those whom we have deemed to have done evil. That only creates more disharmony; disunity. Leave the vengeance to God. Pray for your enemy, that they will repent and turn to the way of the LORD; then and only then will we live in peace and harmony.

May God open the eyes and hearts of those who would divide our communities by doing what is harmful evil. May all of our children and their children live in health, wholeness and prosperity. May we all live in peace and harmony.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Jeremiah 33 - Good and Bad

The word that comes to Jeremiah in today's reading reminds me of a word that came to Isaiah (45:7 NIV)  "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things."

It is difficult for many people to understand that sometimes those bad things that happen to us, happen with God's knowledge and even approval. Sometimes, they have to happen for our good.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:28)

“Give thanks to the Lord Almighty,
    for the Lord is good;    his love endures forever.” (Jer 33:11)

On a more personal note... I apologize for not being able to keep up with this daily study while on vacation. Vacations are very tiring for me... The traffic wears me down and it wears Howard out, as well. He is on his way back to work this morning; rather, than seeing a Dr. as he should. Before we left, he was not real excited about the fact that I insisted on pulling the bike trailer to camp in on our vacation, just in case one of the Harleys broke down. He had wanted to purchase or lease a motor home. It was fortunate that we pulled the toy hauler, as he got very sick on the way home and could not drive the bike any further. He did better once he got out of the sun and was able to drive the truck for me. God has a plan for everything. We would do well to listen to His urgings. I am hoping that God's plan includes selling the Adult Foster Care that Howard manages so when he does get sick, he has the time to take care of himself. We will see what it is that God purposes.

In the meantime, we give thanks to God that the trip was enjoyable (other than Howard not feeling up to par) and we all made it back safely.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 47 - Mercy

God had delivered his children into bondage in Babylon so that they might repent. However, Babylon showed no mercy to His children that He had delivered to their hands. Rather, Babylon became even more secure in her own power forgetting that it was God who had done this thing. And... Babylon will pay for her ego. There will be consequences for not doing God's will even to those who are not God's chosen ones - consequences for those who have shown known mercy and persecuted His children.

Actually, what first came to my mind this morning as I was reading chapter 47 was the egotistical and self-righteous false proclamations of the prosperity gospel. Do not be deceived. It is a false gospel. When multitudes of God's children are in need (hungry, homeless, dying) for a preacher to be holding himself up as an example of how good works will make you millions or billions is pretty much what that Virgin Daughter Babylon did. They used others to ensure their own riches and security. Just because God sent His children into their hands does not mean that they are allowed persecute them. Rather, they (and we) should show mercy as God has shown us mercy.

Those who preach another gospel - a gospel that promotes their own prosperity, from their own good works (in this world), rather than God's good work in Christ Jesus - will fall as assuredly as Babylon fell. Those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus in His Kingdom know that Jesus did not live so that we might wealthy in worldly goods, but rather we will be rich in things that are eternal - things like: inner joy, love, and peace of heart and mind. We are rich simply because we live in God's presence, in His Kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 45 - A Grandfather Creates Woe

"I form the light and create darkness,
    I bring prosperity and create disaster;
    I, the Lord, do all these things." (Isa 45:7 NIV)

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things." (Isa 45:7 KJV)

"I form light and create darkness,
I make weal and create woe, I am the Lord, who do all these things." (Isa 45:7 RSV)

I'm pulling out one lonely verse from this chapter of many verses this morning. I do it because it reminds me of a ecumenical Bible Study I attended in 1996. This verse was topic of a very heated discussion. Among us were Methodists, Roman Catholics, Baptists, and Lutherans of the LCMS, ELCA, and the Apostolic brands and all using various English translations of the Holy Bible. There were some who thought that someone, somewhere, some how in the transcribing of scripture years ago a mistake had been made. God could not, would not. create disaster, evil or woe! After all, God is good all the time!  But, then again... what is good? Do we decide what is good or do we let God decide that?

According to some, it is the devil who creates all evil. It is the evil one who creates disasters and woes. It was/is unimaginable to some that this friendly, loving, grandfatherly figure sitting in a rocking chair on high would ever do anything that would cause us stress. But, what if it were for our own good - for the good of all people that there is a bit of stress in our lives? Would He do it then? What do you think? What does Holy Scripture say?

Today is Father's Day in the United States. Do not earthly father's sometimes make decisions that seem to affect the lives of their children in a negative manner? Sometimes things, that may not be so comfortable for us, have to happen for our own good, for the good of all creation. In many circles it is called "tough love."

And while I'm thinking about it.... I can not begin to count the times that I have been told by someone I was sharing the Good News with, that they simply can't buy into the whole bearded grandfather figure sitting on his throne in the sky type of god. I usually smile and tell them that neither can I. God is more than that. My God creates light and darkness. He makes peace and creates woe. God is a whole lot more than a detached, old (decrepit) bearded man, sitting on a throne or in a rocking chair, as he watches from a distance cloud, the antics of His children and their children. God is active in our lives whether we want Him to be or not. He is not out there in another universe. He is with you, even now, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Proverbs 3 - Wisdom To Live By

Words of wisdom... words to live by.  I am not writing anything this morning. So often, when I'm writing sermons, I think: "Why should I preach on this? The scripture speaks for itself. My words cannot make it any clearer. Let it stand as is." So, this morning especially since I'm thinking that not all of you are reading the scripture that goes with the blog daily, I am going to do just that and may God open our eyes, our hearts and our minds to a greater understanding of His word, His will for us.  God's Peace - Pr. J   P.S. On Palm/Passion Sunday there will be no sermon - only the word heard from scripture.

Psalm 3 (NIV)
¹My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
² for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.

³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.^[b]

¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.

¹⁹ By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
²⁰ by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹ My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²² they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
²³ Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶ for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
²⁹ Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
³⁰ Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.

³¹ Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.

³² For the Lord detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
³³ The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
³⁴ He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
³⁵ The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.

Psalm 128 - Blessings of Work and Family

The blessings of the LORD.... In Psalm 128 the blessings relate to working hard and being prosperous; having a good wife (spouse) and having children.  Good things, all of them. But, they are things we often take for granted.

Today, it seems, a lot of people want to be prosperous without the work that is required to get there. Well, maybe not just today. I'm thinking it's probably part of our human condition. Scripture reminds us that those who don't work won't eat. Paul wrote, "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies." (2 Thess 3:10,11 NIV) Apparently, wanting something for nothing (without working) has been around for a long time.

And, family....  Family is a blessing that sometimes we ignore. In the end what do we have except the love of those around us. Is there anything on this earth that is really more precious than that? Everything else will pass away, but love endures. Genuine love does not pass away. It does not fade into the sunset. It continues on. But, love only received and not returned is a very sad thing. When one person receives and cannot return the love of spouse or children it is a very sad thing for all. How sad it is when love is taken for granted.

How sad it is that our Father, in heaven, would love us so much to give His only begotten Son to die so that we might be reconciled in His love, and not be willing to receive and live in that love. How can one not love one who has died for them? Such a very sad thing... to live without the blessing of the love God has given us through His Son and through the people around us.

May God bless you with fruitful labor and a family and friends that love you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 73 - Evil Is Not To Be Envied! Live In The Light Of Christ!

Merry Christmas!  What a relief!  The light has come into the world. Somehow, every Advent, as well as Lent, the Holy Spirit wants to take me on a journey.  They are usually pretty tough journeys. This Advent has been quite a sorrowful journey as I have encountered people who are suffering as well as those who are busy inflicting suffering.

The Psalmist writes that he saw the prosperity of the wicked, that they have no struggles.  I assure you that struggles come to us all, rich or poor or in-between.  Evil has no preference. Evil does not discriminate. I definitely would advise against emulating the wicked so that you might be prosperous. Not, a good idea!

Yesterday, as I prepared for Worship, I noticed that my shoulders were hunched forward, as though they were trying to bear a heavy weight upon them.  I was tired. As the evening drew nearer, I thought of all the people I had spoken to, all that I had encountered this past four weeks and a heavy sadness came over me. I realized that I had taken in so much negativity; I had been in contact with so much evil, so much pain and suffering, some self-inflicted, some not, that I was, in part, feeling the weight of their burdens. It was exhausting. I certainly was not envying those who are arrogant or evil.  I was not thinking about how blessed others are.  I was thinking about how much sorrow and pain and suffering I have witnessed in the last month in both those who suffered as well as those who might cause others to suffer.  I was, also, thinking how blessed are those who know the LORD.  I assure you, the spirits of those who do not know the LORD and cause others to suffer, do not prosper.  They might look like it on the outside.  The world might see prosperity, but on the inside they are alone and afraid.  The darkness overwhelms them.

Do not envy those who appear to prosper and do not know the LORD.  Look, listen, open your hearts to a greater understanding of what it must be like to attempt to live in their world, without knowledge of the LORD.  Can you imagine living in darkness every minute, every day of your life?  When we do that, when we can begin to feel, just a little, of the pain that even our persecutor's might feel, we will then realize how blessed we truly are in the knowledge of God.  And... we might even learn to have a bit more empathy for those who are stuck in the darkness of their own sins. We might even learn to pray for our enemy!

Can you imagine living in darkness for perpetuity? That is the inheritance of those who would serve themselves rather than God. 

The good news is that the light has come into this world.  It is Christmas morning and we celebrate a little baby born in a manger in Bethlehem to be our Savior. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:1-3 NIV)

And...

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." (John 3:19-21)

Let us pray that those who walk in the darkness will come into the light.

Merry Christmas!  Pr. J

Psalm 4 - Who Will Bring Us Prosperity

Last night, I flipped back and forth between the second "Presidential Debate" and "Law and Order."  I do this when I watch movies with a lot of killing in it, too.  Don't they realize how frustrating and scary it is watching grown men, leaders of this country, be so manipulative and disrespectful of each other?  Do they not know that these shananigans are killing the spirit of this county? It is especially scary to watch men who are planning to hold the highest office in this country do this.  Why can't politicians just answer the questions without justifying themselves by lieing about the other? Politics, over all, just seems to bring out the worst in people. 

As the questions are avoided or talked around, they not only disrespect each other by not answering the questions straight forward, they also disrespect the American people.  Most of us, I think, would really like to know:  “Who will bring us prosperity?” (Ps 4:6) We have been in major economic hard times for awhile now. Multitudes are hungry and homeless.  Multitudes without jobs so that they can feed their families and provide adequate shelter.  Which candidate will best guide this country out of these hard times?  Which candidate will best give the people the confidence in the economy to begin rebuilding this country?

Of course you probably know that I believe that, without the help of God, neither candidate can do this.  May God help us to discern the better candidate.  May God bless this country by shining His face shine upon us; filling our hearts with joy as grain and new wine abound.  May we lie down and sleep each night in safety and in peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Chronicles 18 - Itching Ears

Ahab, the king of Israel, has itching ears...  He wants to hear only what will benefit him.  He's heard from 400 prophets and likes what he hears.  Israel and Judah will be successful in their attack on Ramoth Gilead.  Still, they are not sure.  Jehoshaphat wants to hear from a prophet of the LORD, not any old prophet.  Well, yes there is one. But, Micaiah isn't one of Ahab's favorites.  The word he brings is usually not favorable to Ahab and Ahab really doesn't want to hear it.  He knows it's probably a word of disaster for him.  And, it is.

I can't help but wonder how often we (preachers) preach to please the people, to soothe their itching ears rather than tell the truth and this done in order that they will continue to like us.  Ahab did not like Micaiah one bit.  But, Micaiah still told the truth.  That is what we are suppose to be doing:  preaching the truth.

We are not called to please people, but to proclaim the good news of the kingdom through Jesus the Christ.  I can think of innumerable voices in recent times that have proclaimed another gospel, a prosperity gospel or a social gospel, and all this done to please itching ears, to make members of a church, rather than the Church, which is the Body of Christ.