1 Thess 4 - Believe and Live!

1 Thessalonians 4 NIV

 

Do you live in order to please God or your or maybe someone else? Those who live in Christ have no fear of death for we know that all who fall asleep in him will rise from the dead even as he rose from the dead. Abide in him as he abides in you for all eternity. Eternity includes today. God is with you and for you. Trust Him and not the work of your own hands or the work of another.

Because he lives, so shall all who believe in him - so shall all who put their trust in him!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 53 - Jesus Died For The Sheep Who Had Gone Astray

We typically hear the reading of Isaiah 53 every year during Lent, on Good Friday, along with verses beginning at verse 13 of the 52nd chapter of Isaiah.

It is a reminder of why Jesus had to die. That is, for us, because of our own sinful ways... "We all, like sheep, have Gone astray, each of us has turn to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isa 53:6 NIV)

Jesus took upon himself our pain and he bore our sufferings. He was crucified for our transgression and for our iniquities. It is by his wounds that we are healed. It is by his sacrifice for us that we are made whole!

We may hear this lesson on Good Friday, but I am reminded of it often. For, I, like all of you, often act like a sheep that has gone astray. Whenever I mess up big time (that is sin), God's gentle Spirit reminds me why Jesus had to suffer persecution and such a cruel death. He died bearing our sins, those sins we commit today and will commit tomorrow. Through faith in him, our sins (of even today and tomorrow) were crucified with him.

May God help us to more faithful to the one who was and is faithful to us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Don't forget to read Isaiah 53 - you will recognize it immediately if you've ever attended at Good Friday Service at Zion or most congregations anywhere.

Psalm 106 - Remember, But Don't Live In the Past

Over and over again, the people rebelled against God.  Over and over again, they suffered because of their rebellion.  Over and over again, the LORD saved them from their own iniquity.

It's the same old story.  It's not just Israel's story.  It is ours.  All of us have gone astray.  All of us have experienced the consequences of our sins. Yet, God, whom we have offended most, continues to forgive. He continues to give to us salvation through Jesus Christ.

As often as we turn and call out to Him, He hears. We remember our past sins and God forgives.  Remembering where we have been is a good thing.  It reminds us who we are not.  We are not God. It reminds us who it is that saves. It is not us.  Only Jesus can save.

But, sometimes we have a different motivation for remembering - especially remembering the sins of others. That motivation is sin itself. It is sin when we remember the past sins of others to make ourselves feel better about our own sins. "I'm not as bad as so and so...."  It is sin when we remember the sins of others, but cannot acknowledge the sin within ourselves.  It is sin when we live in the past and refuse to live in the day that God has given us to live in today, when we do not receive the gift of light and life today; rather choose to live in the darkness of yesterday. They seek to destroy the lives of others, but only end up destroying their own.

Remembering the past can be a good thing.  Remembering can help us live fuller lives in Christ today as we remember not to turn our backs on the One who has had mercy on us. But, if you choose to live in the dark past, stop trying to drag others back there with you. There are those who prefer to follow Jesus and now live in the light of God's grace.

"Praise the Lord!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever."  (Psalm 105:1 NIV)

 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 106:3 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read those who do.
2. Psalm 106:32 Or Meribah