I Prefer To Seek The Lord's Presence

"One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple." Psalm 27:4

I love professional football. Not! I understand that professional football is a national obsession. I do appreciate the opportunity a few young men find in being selected to play professional ball. How exciting for them and their families. But, I personally find professional football just a bit too materialistic. I have never really been able to figure out why people who are struggling to feed their families or make their mortgages would support an organization that charges so much to see a game. I am also a little nauseated by the news that all that patriotic support for  military members that they so often display is actually paid for by taxpayers. Yes, according to a PBS News Report, the government pays for these shows of patriotism. I am not against football; just the glorification of it and all the idolatry that goes with professional football. I do attend High School football games now and then in support of the youth who play. Instead of sitting on the couch and watching football; why not take your children or grandchildren outside and teach them the game?

But, the truth is that there is something that I really do appreciate about televised football. As my husband is intent on sitting in front of the television for hours watching a game, it affords me the opportunity to retreat to a quiet place and pray. Televised football games on Sunday afternoons gives me the opportunity to intentionally come into the Lord's presence, to seek His beauty, and to inquire of Him what He would have me to; in which direction I should go.

After all; does not desiring to live in the house of the Lord mean that we desire to live in His presence for all eternity; even today?

Let us seek to live always in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Thy Kingdom Come!

The Second Petition.

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean?--Answer.
The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.
How is this done?--Answer.
When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life here in time and yonder in eternity.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

By faith alone! The kingdom of God has come and we, by faith, in our Lord, Jesus the Christ, are residents of that kingdom.

Yes, we live in this world; but, all who believe also live in the kingdom and under the gracious rule of God our Father, the Lord Jesus the Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The heavenly kingdom is not just for a time after physical death. When that temple curtain was ripped in half at the time of Jesus' death; the doors to the kingdom were flung wide open. The kingdom comes by the work of our Lord. May God help us to receive live in His kingdom; life in His presence; beginning today and for all time.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rev 11:15-19 Seventh Trumpet Sounds

Rev 11:15-19 NIV

The second woe is passed and as the seventh trumpet is sounded.

Unknown voices from heaven and the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God are ecstatic as they proclaim the Kingdom of God. The time for judgment has come and all God's people will revere His name.

Let us fall down and worship the Lord our God before the day comes when the Lord call each of us to His judgment seat.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 3:1-10 Reaching Out So Others May Praise The LORD

Acts 3:1-10 NIV
We may not be wealthy, but we all have something to give. We can give generously of the gifts that God has given us; helping our neighbor up when they cannot get up on their own. Although, it often appears to be difficult for those who do not believe; for Christians extending our hand to actually help lift and support in their time of need is indeed possible. All things are possible through Jesus Christ, our LORD, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray when they ran across a lame man who was going to the temple gate to sit and beg. Peter reached out to him and gave him something more precious than money. In the name of Jesus Christ, he reached out to the man and the lame man was healed. The lame man was made whole. The man believed that it was by the power of God, Himself, that he now had the ability to walk. He jumped to his feet and went with Peter and John into the temple courts walking and jumping and praising God.

What a difference reaching out to someone can make; from sitting at the temple gate as a beggar to praising God within the temple. What a difference faith in the name of Jesus Christ can make; from not being able to walk to being able to run with the testimony of what the LORD has done for us.

Reach out your hand to your neighbor so that all may rejoice in the temple of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 2:13-23 Zeal For Our Father's House

John 2:13-23 NIV
Zeal for our Father's house should help us to refrain from allowing it to become a place for personal gain. Today, that goes not only for the sanctuary made of brick and mortar or wood and steel. On the third day, the temple, which is His Body, was raised from the dead. You and I, all who believe are members of His Body, a Holy Temple. May God help us to not use that temple for our own personal gain; but, grant that all that we say and do should glorify Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 23:44-49 The Torn Curtain

Luke 23:44-49 NIV


Rip! The sound of the temple curtain being torn in two. Do you recall how St. Mark described what happened after Jesus' baptism? "Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove." (Mark 1:9) So what exactly is the significance of the temple curtain being torn in two at Jesus' death?

I was taught, as a child, that it meant that we now all have direct access to God. We are free to directly communicate and relate with and to God. The High Priests are no longer needed to stand between us and God. As Jesus died on the cross for us, he freed us from our sins so that we are worthy to come before God. That is good news.

But, I believe there is more to it than that. When a door is open it is open to everything and everyone on both sides of the door. We are free to enter and that which was closed in on the other side is also now able to leave.

Behind the temple curtain was the Holy of Holies; God's earthy dwelling place. The tearing of the temple curtain signifies that with Christ's death God's dwelling place on earth was no longer contained to a specific place. His dwelling place; his Kingdom, rushed out into the world as Jesus breathed his last breath.

The Kingdom of God is truly at hand. Live in it!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 21:5-38 - Temple of God

Luke 21:5-38 NIV
Jesus predicted the fall of the temple in Jerusalem. It happened even during the life of many of those whom he was speaking to. The end had come for the great and beautiful temple.

But, we have a more beautiful temple. It is not made with beautiful stones and other various gifts dedicated to God. It is made by God, Himself. St. Paul wrote that we are the temple of God: "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple." (1 Cor 3:16-17)

Together, we are the temple of God with Christ as our cornerstone; with Christ as the one who has built us up. What can be more beautiful than the one who has built this temple; the one who fills this temple? The things that are beautiful to the eyes of the world are nothing in comparison to the relationship we have with our Father, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. True beauty lies in that relationship. True beauty lies in the love and gifts of God. For those who live in that love, there is nothing to fear. No matter what happens, we have no need to fear an end time for we have been promised an eternity in the presence of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 15:33-41 - Kingdom Rushes Forth

Mark 15:33-41 NIV
"With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." (vs 37-38)

Today we have one of the most beautiful pictures in words that I can think of. It is finished. Jesus breathes his last breath as true man and the temple curtain is torn in two. I see not just a curtain ripped, but the wall being torn down. The gate has been opened between us and the Kingdom of God; between Paradise and us. It is not just that we now have access into the Kingdom, but the door has been opened and the Kingdom rushes forth.

Receive that Kingdom. Live in it, for it is yours through the sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 27:27-56 The Crucifixion/The Kingdom/The Rapture

Tortured and beaten, mocked and crucified, the King of the Jews is put to death. But, something amazingly awesome (or awful) happens as he breathed his last breath.

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matt 27:50-54 NIV)

The curtain of the temple, the dividing wall between man and God, was torn in two. We no longer need the high priest to enter that sacred space to mediate between God and us. The door has been opened to all who would enter. But, even more; as the earthquake shook the city; as the dead rose; as that curtain was ripped in two; the power of God; the Kingdom of God; came rushing out to be with God's people.  Not so unlike the visual we get when the heavens are ripped open and the Holy Spirit descends at Jesus baptism; the tearing of the temple curtain is a reminder that God truly has come down to earth to be with humankind. He is not stuck far away above the clouds. He is not hidden in a room behind a curtain. He is with you. His Kingdom has come and continues to come for you through the death of Jesus the Christ.

As to the dead being raised; what can I say? I do not fully comprehend this. Some will say that this raising from the dead was merely a spiritual reawakening. When I read verses 52 and 53 it sounds like a whole lot more than a spiritual reawakening; although it may certainly have caused that as well. I think I'd be awakened more fully if I saw the graves open and the dead, now alive, walking around. I have to admit that I do not fully understand these verses. I also have to admit that I do refer to them now and then; especially when I dialogue with somehow who wants to focus on a coming rapture more than the kingdom of God present with us even now. I simply refer them to these two verses and ask them if they are so sure that maybe they didn't miss the rapture and that we're all stuck; all "left behind." After all, according to some rapture proponents, the dead will be raised from the grave either during, before or right after the rapture. As for me, I consider myself already "raptured" as Christ; the power of God; His Kingdom; broke through that wall that separates us and lives with and all around us. His glory is all around us and in us and through us. God is with us, even now! His Kingdom is at hand!

When it comes to things like the dead coming out of their graves; I think it is enough to say "I don't know exactly what this means." There is no other historical evidence (that I've seen) to verify this; but, scripture does say it happened and that is enough for me to say it was so. Just because I can't rationalize it in my mind; doesn't mean it didn't happen.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mattew 22:15-22 - In Whom Do You Trust?

The Pharisees tried to trip up Jesus by getting him to either deny the law of the land (Caesar) or the temple law. "Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?" they asked. Upon inspection of the coin that would be used for this tax, they found Caesar's image and inscription on. At the time there were two (at least) types of currency being used. One was Roman and the other Jewish. The reason for the moneychangers to have been in the court yard, from Matthew 21:12-17, was so the people could exchange their Roman money for Jewish currency as they could not use Roman currency to purchase the animals they needed to make their required offerings at the temple.

So when his would be accusers are asked to show him a coin; they empty their pockets (bags?) and come up with, not a Jewish coin, but a Roman one. So then, who is the author of this coin? To whom does it belong? Who is it that they put their trust in (a bit of a stretch, but I'm going there, anyway); God or Caesar? So here's a little food for thought... Empty out your purse, or wallet, or maybe that drawer or closet. What have you got hidden where no one can see it? Does it belong to God or man? Where is your allegiance? Whom or what have you put your faith in? In whom do you trust?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Zechariah 4 - Lampstand, Lamps, and Two Witnesses

What are all these symbols from Zechariah's vision?  Some of the visions given by the LORD can be a little difficult (if not impossible) to understand.

What, then shall we make of the solid gold lampstand with seven lamps? As today is Christmas Eve and our old testament reading is from Isaiah, I am proposing that the lampstand symbolizes the light of God that is to give light to the world. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." (Isaiah 9:2 NIV) Israel had lived in very dark times, indeed. They are rebuilding the temple of God that had been destroyed as they were taken into captivity.

And... at the right and left of the lampstand are two witnesses. These witnesses, for that time, are both political and religious. It is possible that Joshua, the High Priest and religious leader, and Zerubbabel, the political leader, were the two witnesses of this vision. Zerubbabel will see the completion of the temple in his day. Yet, it is not by any power or authority or might of these two witnesses or anyone else that the rebuilding of the temple will be accomplished. It will be done solely by the Spirit of God.

In light of the fact, that these two witnesses in Zechariah's vision are probably Joshua and Zerubbabel, it causes me to wonder about the similar vision in St. John's Revelation. "And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” (Rev 11:3-4)

I have a lot yet to learn and understand. But, on this Eve of Christmas it is enough to know that the light has come into the world and that the rebuilding of God's temple, that is the Church of God, is being accomplish by the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Haggai 1 - Build Up The Temple Of God

A message from the LORD of Hosts through the prophet Haggai: 

“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands." (Haggai 1:4-11 NIV)

The people had become complacent; spending all their time caring for their own homes; their own needs rather than trusting God to care for them. Because they worried so much about themselves, they were neglecting the rebuilding of God's Temple.

The message today is simply this: build up the LORD's house - His Holy Temple. Now, I am not speaking of a building of wood or brick or mortar, but the Body of Christ, wherein dwells the Spirit of God. That Body is the Church. We (those who follow Jesus) are the Church. We are to be about building up this Spiritual Temple and we do this by hearing and proclaiming God's word, by receiving and sharing the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. Yes, the church building is an important factor in the life of a Christian. It is where we gather to be nourished by God as a family.  A loving family gathers as often as they can at their home and cares for that home and others in it. We, who are members of the family of God; likewise, gather often to be nourished as brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow members of the Body of Christ, for the mutual edification (building up) of the Body of Christ, which is the Church, the Temple of God.

Build up the Temple of God - hear His Word, receive the Sacraments which He has freely given you by the very death of His Son, Jesus Christ our LORD. And... do not neglect to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Micah 4 - Mountain of God

 "In the last days

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and peoples will stream to it.

Many nations will come and say,

'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.'
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Micah 4:1-2 NIV)

Now, this sounds really good to me! If we are in the last days, as many say we are, I'm  wondering why so many are not streaming to the mountain of the LORD. Yes, of course, there are many. But, there are also many being left behind. It is a very sad thing to know that so many do not know the peace that only God can bring.

The LORD has promised that even though many will walk in the name of their gods, we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever. (vs 5) And...

“'In that day,' declares the Lord,

'I will gather the lame;
    I will assemble the exiles
    and those I have brought to grief.

 I will make the lame my remnant,    those driven away a strong nation.
The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion
    from that day and forever.'" (Mic 4:6-7)

 

Since God, our Father, has promised us so much, through our LORD, Jesus the Christ, why would we not desire to go to the mountain of the LORD?  Why would we not desire to be taught His ways and walk in His paths, that we might live in His presence for all eternity?

 

Come let us go to the mountain of the LORD so that we might learn to follow in His Way and live in His Peace.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 40 - 42 - Visions of New Temples

We're covering three chapters today simply because I really cannot get into trying to comprehend all the measurements!

In this vision Ezekiel is given a vision of a new temple. Ezekiel is instructed to make sure he relays every detail of the vision including every dimension of everything he is shown. Lot's of measurements to remember, way too many for me!  In any case, God delivers a detailed blueprint of the new temple to the people through Ezekiel's vision.

So we too have been given a blueprint, of sorts, through the vision of St. John: "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." (Rev 21:22 NIV)

The temple of God is no longer just a building made of bricks and mortar by human hands. According to St. Paul: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Eph 2:19-22)

The Lamb, who is Jesus the Christ, is the temple and as we are members of the living Body of the Christ; we are the temple of God.  As St. Paul wrote: "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?" (1 Corinth 3:16)

How awesome is that!? God is with you now and always as "there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Eph 4:4)

Now, is that not Good News!?

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Ezekiel 12 - Ezekiel's Exile

"The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. 'Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people.'" (Ezekiel 12:1-2 NIV)

"Son, of man, you are living among a rebellious people." Now, if that isn't the truth! It is truth not just for the days of Ezekiel, but for today, as well. With eyes that do not see and ears that refuse to hear, we continue on our own path, refusing to follow in the Way that has been set before us, frustrating more than one pastor, more than one shepherd.

The LORD tells Ezekiel to dig a hole in the wall and act like he's going into exile. Did it work? Did it change the people's minds about whom they should worship? Would it work today? Perhaps, but probably not. I've seen more than one Pastor go into exile (leave) and the people cheer. They celebrate because the one who left had been so adamant about proclaiming the Word of the LORD and would not please their itching ears is gone. He/she had not been interested in the people's agenda, only God's. The people lament that they cannot keep a pastor; that they go through pastor after pastor, one every two or three years; yet, they cannot begin to imagine that maybe they had something to do with it. It must be the Bishop's fault for sending them pastors who just don't have a heart for the congregation.

Well, Ezekiel doesn't really leave. He pretends to as a sign, as a warning, that the people will go into exile. They will lose God's temple because of their closed eyes and ears. May God open our eyes and our hearts and our minds, that we might see and hear His truth that His people might desire to worship only Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Ezekiel 10 - In God's Glory

"Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim." (Ezekiel 10:18 NIV)

Ezekiel describes the movement of God's glory to the outside of the temple. This movement occurs in concert with the cherubim, the four living creatures, of Ezekiel's visions. These cherubim were amazing creatures. "Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle." (Ezekiel 10:15) Four faces, wheels whirring in multitudes of directions beneath the; yet, amazingly, they all move in one direction. They all move in the same direction at the same time. They do not deviate from the course. They leave the temple with the glory of God in unison - together.

They leave the temple in order for the man clothed in linen that sits above them can scatter burning coals over the city. "The Lord said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in." (Ezekiel 10:2)

He went in among the wheels and one of the cherubim handed him the fire. They worked in unison, they went straight ahead, all with one mission, according to God's will, in the glory of God.

May it be so for the church on earth, that whatever God wills for His people, it is done, for His glory.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 44 - Denying/Rejecting God's Mercy

Do not mistake God's mercy for blessings of false idols. He endured the sins of the remnant for long enough as they worshipped their false idols. And, now they are willfully turning their backs on Him saying: "We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord! We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm. But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine." (Jer 44:16-18 NIV)

God's own people, the little remnant that God allowed to remain in Jerusalem and care for the temple; care for the land, have decided instead that they will give up their inheritance. They will go to Egypt; and they will worship this false goddess. They have chosen to ignore God's blessings. Rather than give Him the glory; they will give thanks to and glorify this "queen of heaven."

And... they will be lost.... The LORD will not stand for His people turning away from Him in this manner. He will send Nebuchadnezzar to Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar will overthrow them. The people who were once God's people, who worshipped in His temple, will not be able to return to the home they turned their backs on.

Do not, I pray, turn your backs on the LORD, our Maker and Redeemer. Return to Him, giving Him (and no other) glory for all that He has done.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 43 - Trust The LORD - Call On His Name

OK! So, the remnant still refuses to hear the words the LORD their God had given to them through Jeremiah! Humankind is a pretty hard-headed lot. God's own people hadn't been able to keep themselves from evil or harm so far; so, they're pretty convinced Egypt is going to be able to save them.

What about the remnant today? Are we listening any better? In whom do we really put our trust? Is it God? Or, are we just like everyone else thinking that our governments will keep us safe? Do we put our faith in governments who are actually made up of people who, no matter how good their intentions, end up putting their own bias', their own welfare, before the welfare of the people, as a whole (even if they are elected by the people)?

God's not happy about the decision of the remnant to move to Egypt so that they might be safe from the Babylonians. He warns them: "In Tahpanhes the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “While the Jews are watching, take some large stones with you and bury them in clay in the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes. Then say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones I have buried here; he will spread his royal canopy above them. He will come and attack Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death, captivity to those destined for captivity, and the sword to those destined for the sword. He will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt; he will burn their temples and take their gods captive. As a shepherd picks his garment clean of lice, so he will pick Egypt clean and depart. There in the temple of the sun in Egypt he will demolish the sacred pillars and will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.’” (Jer 43:8-13 NIV)

The remnant will not escape. They cannot run to Egypt to be saved. We will not be saved by trusting in Pharaoh's and Kings to save us. There is only one God. "And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls." (Joel 2:32)

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Act 2:21)

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

It has always amazed me; but, I have been amazed all over again this past week as I have read stories of the faith of those who are being persecuted in eastern countries, particularly this week the Coptic Christians in Egypt. They continue to call on the name of the LORD, trusting in Him to be with them always, no matter what the circumstances of the world around them may be. They do not run. They stand on His promises even as their places of worship are burned. They call upon His name, even as their lives are threatened.

Let us give thanks to God for the remnant who listens and follows in the way of the LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

Jeremiah 7 - Den Of Thieves

"Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the Lord." (Jer 7:11 NKJV)

Jeremiah 7:11 is the scripture Jesus is referring to when he says: “...It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”  (Matthew 21:13, see also Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46) Jesus is at the temple overturning the tables of the money changers and those who are selling small birds so that the people can make appropriate offerings when he refers to Jeremiah. 

I have struggled with this selling "stuff" in the church for as long as I can remember. The sales of anything within the church really makes me uncomfortable. I always recommend that there be no price set for fundraising meals or for rummage sales or anything that has to do with selling things in the church. Sometimes my recommendations are heeded. Sometimes they are not. Usually, when they are and we simply take a free-will offering the fund-raiser is much more successful. Even this makes me uncomfortable as the church should not have to do fund-raisers to support the work of the ministry. The ministry should be supported freely with free-will offerings. However, I will concede that due to the hardness of heart and lack of stewardship education sometimes fund-raising is necessary and I will also concede that there is (possibly) a distinction between fundraising for the church and individuals making profit by exchanging money in the courts of the LORD's house. Catch that? There is a difference between raising funds to support the ministry of the whole church (that is the proclamation of the Gospel) and individual selling "stuff" for personal gain.

Both Jeremiah and Jesus are reminding us that we are to act justly - to care for our neighbors. As Jeremiah puts it: "... do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt." (Jer 7:6) Feeding God's less fortunate children and caring for them does sometimes take a special effort or event. In October, again this year, we will hold a concert for Toys for Tots at Zion. It is a time to gather together to bring our gifts so that all the children of this county will have gifts on Christmas morning. The musicians all donate their time and there is no charge for this concert. A free-will offering of a gift for a child is suggested and if brought, is placed on the altar.

The temple is a place of worship. It is a place of prayer and of communing with God and with other children of God. It is not for personal gain of any sort. Personally, I am thinking that if we spent more time worshipping God and communing with Him through prayer, the church on earth wouldn't have to be quite so worried about fund-raising. If we would just listen to Him as He speaks to us through the scriptures; as He speaks to us through prophets like Jeremiah; as He speaks to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Just a reminder, don't read this blog without reading the scripture that goes with it. These blogs are only my first impressions as I read the scripture daily. There is way more to understand in everyone of these chapters than I can begin to address in a blog.

 

Isaiah 28 - Jesus As The Cornerstone

"So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic.
I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,and water will overflow your hiding place." (Isa 28:16-17 NIV)

 

There is so much in today's reading, it is hard to decide where to go. The people are being rebuked. The leadership has made some bad alliances, even deadly alliances, for the people. Alliances that only drunkards could celebrate. This lesson reveals both law and gospel. It reveals the law for those who would make such deadly choices making alliances that will surely lead to death out of their arrogance and drunkenness. Hail will sweep away their refuge and the hiding place will be flooded with water. It also reveals the gospel. It reveals life for those who would rely on the cornerstone rather than trusting in their enemy who promises much and delivers nothing, but death.

 

Verses 16-17 are probably familiar to many of you. It points to Jesus the Christ. He is the "...stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame." (Rom 9:33)

 

The good news is that those who believe in Him will not fall. In fact, through faith, "...you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Eph 2:19-22) 

 

And...

"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:

"See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

 and,

"A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for." (1 Pet 2:4-8)

(Maybe you've figured out by now that I am trying to send a reminder that scripture supports scripture... Read it! Hear it!)  Jesus is the living cornerstone by which we either fall due to our own arrogance or are raised to be living stones within the house of God. We, along with all who believe, are the temple, within whom (or which) our LORD abides.

God's Peace - Pr. J