Luke 22:47-53 Betrayed By A Friend

Luke 22:47-53 NIV
Jesus was betrayed when a disciple, a friend, kissed him. It is sad to think about; but, how often do friends betray friends? Under the cover of darkness, a friend is betrayed. Under the cover of darkness, darkness reigns.  It is difficult to know who will betray you. It is difficult when you are betrayed by someone who has at least pretended to be your friend or maybe they are even a member of your own family. It is most difficult when you realize that the relationship has not been about concern for you or your relationship with them; but, about concern to protect or prosper themselves. Whatever the reason; it is difficult when one finds out that the love and concern you perceived has been a lie all along.

Jesus knew all along that Judas would betray him. Yet, he did nothing about it. He knew that his betrayal had a good purpose in the end. The good purpose was worked through a trial, suffering and death. But, in the end, we can see that the betrayal played a huge part in God's blessing of all people.

When betrayed or persecuted, be not afraid. God is with you. He can turn the worst circumstances into a blessing for you and for others.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 20 - Last, First; First, Last

“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last.'” (Matt 20:13-16 NIV)

In the parable of the workers of the vineyard, it appears that the wages are not given out fairly. Those who work for one hour receive the same payment as those who labor all day. In the end, Jesus' response is: “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matt 20:16)

We sometimes complain that life is not fair. "I work so hard and receive so much less than those who don't appear to work as hard. Life is not fair." Well, ask yourself this: Was it fair that Jesus died for my sins? He did nothing wrong. He was without sin. Yet, he took our places and our punishment so that we might be reconciled to our Father in heaven. Was it fair for one man to receive the penalty for the sins of the whole world?  He put himself last, humbled himself for us, and now is first in the Kingdom of God. He reigns!

God does not think or act like we do. That's probably a really good thing for us. What seems right or just in our eyes, doesn't necessarily make it just in God's eyes. Jesus says the last shall be first and the first will be last. Something about that just doesn't seem right to us. But, it is God's word. It is his plan.

Thanks be to God, it is He who is in charge and not we.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 45 - Give Your Life To The LORD For Your Own Sake!

"And you, do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, says the Lord; but I will give you your life as a prize of war in every place to which you may go.” (Jer 45:5 NIV)

Most often, the prophets warn us about seeking false gods, of worshipping ourselves; but, at the same time we are reminded that if we follow in His way, we will be blessed. We will be given our lives! We will live and live abundantly for all eternity, in His presence, in His Kingdom! Thanks be to God!

I cannot even count the times I have warned others that they were falling off the path and heading for disaster. A majority of the time, I am not listened to. Once more my plea is that you would give your life to the LORD that it might go well with you in the land that He has given you, in the Kingdom, where His Son, our LORD and Savior, reigns.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 52

Israel will be brought out of bondage by the hand of God. They will not have to hurry. They will not have to sneak away. God will prepare their way. He will prepare their safe passage. Even as He has prepared our way to the promised land, the Kingdom of God. There is no sneaking away in the middle of the night. There is no rush. There may be a few bumps in the road, but we complete the journey, because God is with us.

Returning to the promised land was good news for the people of Israel. There is no better news, today, than the news that all who believe will be delivered from bondage to the promised land, that is the Kingdom of God, through Jesus Christ, our LORD. 

"How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”"   (Isa 52:7 NIV)

Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom, through Jesus the Christ. Nothing could be more beautiful to the ears than that! Nothing could be more beautiful! Do not doubt, but trust that your God reigns! He has delivered you to His Kingdom!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 16 - Refuge For All Who Believe

"Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you; be their shelter from the destroyer. The oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land. In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it— one from the house of David—one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness."  (Isaiah 16:4-5 NIV)

The LORD desires harm to no one. He offers refuge to all, even to the Moabites, who will turn from the wicked and ways and toward Him. In love, He has established a throne, upon which, our LORD Jesus the Christ sits and reigns with justice and righteousness.

The Moabites are offered an opportunity to avoid the prophesied destruction. We are all offered this opportunity to avoid destruction. In receiving that opportunity, we may find ourselves as homeless refugees in a world where we are not particularly desired. But, we will find refuge in the house of the LORD and with His people. The LORD will and has prevailed!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 93 - The Seas Lift their Voice

I live on a bay off of Lake Superior.  I have never lived more than an hour away from either Lake Superior or the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean.  Most of my adulthood has been spent living within fifteen or so minutes from a great body of water.  But, even an hour away, I always had at least a creek running some place near the house where I could go and sit and pray. 

The water, for me, is a huge reminder of creation and re-creation.

Of creation:
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." (Genesis 1:1,2 NIV)

"And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so.  God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:9,10)

And... of re-creation:
^"Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”" (John 3:3-8)

Water is a reminder of God's power.  Never underestimate the power of the Great Lakes. Never undestimate the power of the ocean.  Yet, the power of these waters can't even begin to compare with the power of God.  Remember how God delivered Israel from bondage to Egypt.  The waters of the Red Sea swallowed up Pharoah's Army, even as the waters separated so that the Israelites could walk on dry land to their freedom and to the promised land.  There is only One who can perform a feat like this.  There is only One who can subude the waters in this manner.  That One is God, the LORD God who, robed in majesty and armed with strength, established the world and reigns over it. 

Even the seas listen to God and they lift up their voice to the One who is mightier than they.

God's Peace - Pr. J