Your Sins Are Forgiven

"For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’?"
Matt 9:5

I spent about an hour last night practicing mental math. I often see, posted on facebook, comments about how someone did not have to use Algebra at all that day, insinuating that it is a wasted study on our young people. It apparently was for those people who have to ask me to do some mental math for them. After all, there's no need to learn something if someone else will do it for you. Actually, math problems run through my head sporadically throughout the day, especially when I am sitting around waiting for something. It can be something as simple as counting the tiles on a ceiling or floor and figuring the area of a room. I don't do too many complicated equations; just what I can do in my head. I just like numbers! I enjoy the challenge of solving problems in my head instead of on paper or on a calculator. I taught myself mental math when I was very young and to tell you the truth I sometimes wonder why others have not shown an interest in learning it when it can be so much easier to do than the traditional ways we've been taught. But, there are those who always like to do things the hard way.

The scribes were a bit upset when Jesus forgave a paralytic man his sins. They judged that he was blaspheming. His response was "which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven; or 'Stand up and walk?'" Indeed, which is easier? Four simple words and they are not as difficult to say as one would expect and when said they heal a multitude of wounds. "Your sins are forgiven!" Practice saying them. It is easier to forgive than to be angry or to hold a grudge the rest of your life. Forgive those whom you are angry with; whether, you feel justified in your anger or not. Forgive others. Forgive yourself. Jesus died so that this might happen. He worked out the problem of sin. He did all of the work. Don't be trying to work things out according to your sense of justice. That is the hard way and the wrong way. Step out in faith and receive your forgiveness. Step out in faith and forgive others their trespasses against you. Step out in faith and receive wholeness! It is easier than staying angry your whole life. With Christ, it is easier than one might expect.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Trees Of The Forest Rejoice!

Say among the nations, “The Lord is king!
    The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
    He will judge the peoples with equity.”
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth
    rejoice;
    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
    before the Lord; for he is coming,
    for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with his truth.
                                       Psalm 96:10-13 NRSV

The Lord is King! Like a strong tree firmly rooted in the ground are the children of God. There is not a thing that can cut us down. There may be attempts; but, we will not be moved. We shall stand firmly on the Word of God who is Jesus the Christ.

Many shall try! But, no axe can harm us. There is no wind or storm that can take us down for we have been rooted in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Col 2:6-7) What a relief that day will bring to God's children; no more unjust persecution, no more tears or sorrow, just joy in God's presence.

So, even as the fields exult; let all God's children sing for joy with the trees of the forest as we wait for his coming to judge the earth with his righteousness and truth.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Philippians 4 Stand Fast and Rejoice

Philippians 4 NIV


Standing Fast.
He (she) was not moved by my presence.
 

There are many times in this world that we become disheartened. Depression may even get the best of us for a time. St. Paul reminds us today as he did the Philippians to stand fast in the Lord and rejoice! St. Paul endured trial after trial; yet, he continued to stand fast and rejoice in the Lord.

Think for just a moment about the problems you have encountered through life. Did God not see you through them all? Was He not with you? Those problems are now nothing more than a memory. Rejoice then that any trials and tribulations you may be encountering today will also pass. Continue on in the way of the Lord. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (vss 6, 7)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 14:8-20 Do Not Be Swayed

Acts 14:8-20 NIV
Human beings can be swayed so easily. Paul and Barnabas enter Lystra proclaiming the Good News and performing miracles. The pagans are so impressed they want to worship Paul and Barnabas; which, of course, Paul and Barnabas object to vehemently. But, the next thing you know some Jews enter the picture and sway the people to reject what Paul and Barnabas have to say about Jesus. The people drag Paul out of the city and stone him. Paul lives to go and proclaim the Good News to other people. God is with him. God has a purpose and a plan for him.

May God be with each of us so that we might not be swayed by human opinions or any false gods. May we stand firmly on the Word of God so that even if we face death for the name of Jesus, we will face it with faith and hope in the eternal Kingdom promised through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 4:43-54 Signs and Wonders/Healing and Wholenss

John 4:43-54 NIV
"Unless you people see signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." (vs 48)

How many signs and wonders have we seen and yet our faith is less than a mustard seed. It kind of amazes me that our services for healing at Zion are the least attended of all. Does no on want to be healed? Does no one believe that God will answer our prayers for health and wholeness?

Actually, I believe that maybe many of us are afraid to see the signs and wonders of God. That might mean our lives will change forever and we kind of like living in our sickness. We sort of like sin. We don't want to be made whole because if we're made whole we might stand up, walk, and follow Jesus.

In reality, we have all seen signs and wonders. We just fail to acknowledge them. We have seen the lame walk; the cancer victim live years after doctors predicted they would live. As we got to know Jesus more intimately, we have already seen radical changes in our lives and our lifestyles. But, does God the Father, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit get any credit or glory for this new life; for the healing of our spirits? In some case, yes. In other cases, I am afraid that our egos step in and claim credit for our own goodness.

Miracles abound. They are all around us. Healing and wholeness occur. May the Holy Spirit open our ears and our eyes and our hearts to a greater understanding of all that God has done for us. He has granted us wholeness in Jesus Christ our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 6:43 - 49 Stand Firm; Bear Fruit

Luke 6:43-49 NIV
There's a familiar children's song about the wise man who built his house upon a rock and a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. The house built upon the sand will fall in stormy weather. The house that is built upon the rock, who is Jesus the Christ, will stand no matter what attempts to destroy it. In fact, the home of the wise man, like the good tree, will bear much fruit for our Lord.

Be wise and live life bearing good fruit.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Daniel 10 - Princes in Heavenly Realms

Who are these princes that this scripture speaks of? It appears that they are angels and the trouble that is occurring is occurring or at least instigated in the heavenly realms. Daniel has been fasting for three weeks (21 days) and on the twenty-fourth day he receives a vision of a really awesome looking man, dressed in linen. This man tells him, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia." (Dan 10:12-13 NIV)

Michael, it would seem, is the archangel, Michael. He is the angel who is reputed to lead God's armies against the forces of evil. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph 6:12)

There are times, when we just really need to back up and understand that it is not our neighbor who is the enemy, but that it is the great adversary who is attacking. And... understand, too, that the adversary is not just attacking you, but attacking your neighbor as well, through you. Stand your ground, stand on the Word of God, that the schemes of the princes who do not find favor in God's sight may be thwarted. Pray unceasingly for help, for yourself as well as for your neighbor, that the enemy will have no hold over us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 23 - Stand for Something or Fall for Anything

Here's an interesting prophecy. Tyre, a most prosperous country, is about to fall at the hands of the enemy. The LORD will cause her to fall. But, according to Isaiah:  "At the end of seventy years, the Lord will deal with Tyre. She will return to her lucrative prostitution and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord, for abundant food and fine clothes." (Isa 23:17-18 NIV)

Tyre was (still is) an island off of the coast of Lebanon. It was a major seaport. In fact, according to some historians, the first major seaport and; therefore, had become very wealthy. They had become sort of a collection place for much of the world's riches.

In being a trader, though, we often make compromises. How often do we hear about agreements our own countries have made that have gone awry and wonder if anyone thought about the long-term ethical consequences of the agreements before they made them? Tyre made trade agreements, regardless of ethics, with anyone and everyone that they could profit from. Their god became wealth and prosperity and they would do anything or anyone to serve their god, neglecting to honor the one true God.

The quote from either Peter Marshall or Alexander Hamilton comes to mind: "If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything." Tyre was prophesied to fall. Indeed, she did.

But, Isaiah also prophesies that at the end of the seventy years, she will turn to her lucrative prostitution (that is her lucrative commercial enterprises); but this time Tyre will set apart her tithe for the LORD.

Many good lessons in this lesson. For one, let us watch who we do business with that we are not compromising our own values or ethics. Second, let us remember to set apart a tithe in thanksgiving for the LORD who has and continues to bless us with so much.

God's Peace - Pr. J