Acts 10:1-29 Peter and Cornelius Visit

Acts 1-29 NIV
I have never quite figured out why Jews were not permitted to hang out with God fearing Gentiles. I guess it was just one of those rules that were set up to remind the Jewish people that they had been called out of the general population to be God's people. But, God had other plans. He gave to both Peter and the God fearing Cornelius (a gentile) different visions that brought them together. Simon's vision instructed him to call Peter to his home. In Peter's vision he was instructed not to consider anything or anyone impure that God has made clean. Peter follow the direction he receives in the vision and goes to Cornelius' home.

But, on the other hand even as the Jews were not permitted to hang out with God fearing Gentiles, how often do we stay away from other Christians whom we consider "unclean" because their theology doesn't "jive" with ours? Or maybe, they practice rituals that we consider totally unnecessary? Do we intentionally stay away or shut the door on them when they knock. Maybe, the story of Peter and Cornelius might be worth considering as we welcome or don't welcome them into our homes as God's children.  Maybe, the story might be useful to us in directing us to visit others. whom we would not necessarily visit. with the Good News of the Kingdom. Sharing the truth of God's love with others really might be helpful to others as well as ourselves and for the sake of the Kingdom whether it is with someone who shows up on our doorstep or we on theirs.

May you go wherever and to whomever the Lord leads you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 8:26-39 Swine or Demons

Luke 8:26-39 NIV
Yup, that's how one should react when their neighbor who has been suffering for years has been healed - ask the healer to leave. Jesus kicked the legion of demons, that had been torturing the man for years, out. Rather than destroy them, he allowed them to enter into a herd of unclean animals, which subsequently drowned themselves. Obviously, (I hope it's obvious) the owners of the swine were not Jews; but, gentiles or they would not have been raising unclean animals. They were attached to their livelihood and were understandably upset. But, what would we give to have our neighbors healed - to be made whole?

Jesus ultimately gave His life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 6:1-13 Pigs or Jesus?

 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”  And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. (Mark 5:6-10 NIV)

It seems to be that in the Gospel of Mark, it is the demons who recognize Jesus. They recognize that he is the Son of God and has power over them. They beg him to allow them to enter into a herd of about 2000 pigs. This herd of about 2000 then rush over a steep bank and drown themselves in a lake.

You would think, the people would be happy that these 2000 demons were no longer in their presence. They were no longer torturing the man that they had come out of. But, no! They are not happy. They want Jesus to go away. The man who was healed of the demons is pretty happy though. He recognizes who this Jesus is and he wants to follow him. Jesus said no. "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:19)

The demons recognize the power of God in Jesus and are afraid. The man who was healed recognized his power and honored him, wanting to follow him. But, the people who were afraid because personal property, pigs, were lost wanted nothing to do with him.  

When was the last time we chose unclean personal property over Jesus?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 34 - Day Of The LORD's Vengeance

The day of the LORD's vengeance, prophesied by Isaiah. Total annihilation of the LORD's enemies is promised and the land is promised to the unclean animals. I remember reading Mark Twain's "Letters from the Earth" many years ago. I can't find my copy today; but, if I remember correctly, his view included that the animal kingdom, not including humankind, did only what it was created to do. They killed one another in order to eat as that is how God created them. Humankind on the other hand often kills for reasons other than because that is how God created us. So, in today's lesson we hear that following the day of the LORD's vengeance, those animals will be left to live in the land.

I normally feed the animals in my backyard. We are quite a ways from the highway so I don't worry about them getting run over on a road to get here. My husband does not always appreciate the feeding of the animals. Among other things, it is my way of recycling. Any thing that is left over and edible is put out the door. Clean and unclean birds and animals come to eat. My husband is not real thrilled that some of these leftovers might attract bears, coyotes, or raccoon to our back door. In fact, when I woke up the other morning it appeared a porcupine had been in competition with someone for the scraps. There were quills left at the stoop or maybe it was a thank you gift for me. Probably not... He really does not like all the blue-jays that feed from the feeders and yesterday the crow standing on the bird bath was really an unpleasant sight for him. My response was only: "Even the crows have to eat. Let them eat." So far none of these other animals have kept the deer or the song birds from coming. There are multitudes that come. Now, I know that God has provided an abundance of food for them in the woods and the water, but I like to see them, so I feed them that they might come closer in and so the leftovers don't get wasted in some landfill.

A little off topic today, again. But, I cannot help think that the animals that God has created are true to who God made them to be. Are we? Were we not given dominion (care takers) of creation? How do we care for it? How do we care for one another? In the day of the LORD's vengeance, what will be our response when we stand before Him?

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Isaiah 6 - Will You Really Go?

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isa 6:5 NIV)

 

Can you imagine having a vision of the LORD, seated exalted on his throne, surrounded by six-winged seraphim, shaking the temple, with their singing "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."?  

 

I think we'd all be crying "Woe is me!" We will all be crying "Woe is me!"

 

One of the seraphim takes a live coal from the altar and touches Isaiah's lips and says, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (Isa 6:6)

 

Now that Isaiah has been made clean, he hears the voice of the LORD saying "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"  And I said, “Here am I. Send me!" (vs 8)

 

And.... God sends him. He sends him to the people.

 

"He said, “Go and tell this people:

“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,and turn and be healed.”" (Isa 6:9-10)

This prophecy is to be fulfilled when the cities lie in ruins, the people have been dispersed from the land, and the land is utterly forsaken, when; hopefully, the ears, eyes, and hearts of the people will be opened and they will turn and once again worship and serve the LORD.

 

Isaiah's response to the LORD reminds me of the song, "Here, I am, LORD." It is a favorite among many people. Whenever, we sing it, I wonder if they actually know what they are committing to when they sing with such gusto: "Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart."

 

When God asks you to go, when He calls you to do something, to be a messenger for His Word, an appropriate response would be to say yes. That yes, if we have any sense, would drop us on our faces to the ground in humility and trepidation of the awesomeness of God and the . What is more God is sending us out to share His Word. He is not saying that we get to sit at home in front of our television sets and just think about it. He is saying go - go to a people who have ears, but cannot hear; eyes, but cannot see; hearts, but cannot understand. Go to them with my Word, that they might hear and turn and be healed.  Now, if you have any delusion that bringing the Word of the LORD to others is going to be easy, think again! 

 

According to the Book of Hebrews 4:12. "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

 

In my mind, I often picture the Word of God as a two-edged sword. One edge is used to put to death. That side is the law. The other side of the sword, when heated, has been used on battle fields to cicatrize wounds, bringing healing and wholeness, even new life to those who have been wounded. This side of the sword represents, of course, the gospel. This two-edged sword, that is the Word of God, will not be welcomed by everyone. And, if you plan on actually answering the call to follow Jesus, and to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom to all people, please know, that this is Almighty God sending you out. I'd be taking this call a little more seriously than just thinking about it and putting it off for another day. Might not hurt to consider falling on our faces in humility, as Isaiah did. God is not just giving you a catchy song to sing His praises and definitely not our praises! This is Almighty God who is sending you to bear His Word to the nations, to our neighbors, that they who have been wounded, might be healed. If someone were dying along side the road, would you leave them there to die or would you help them? Would you try to save their life? No mistaking it, you cannot save one soul. But, the Word, who is Jesus the Christ can and does and has. As Christians, you are merely the vessels which brings Christ, who is the Word of God, to the world. But, the vessel does have a purpose which encompasses more than just sitting there. It holds something. It carries something.

 

Take the commission that the Word of God gave to us seriously, please.... It may not be easy. It might even be downright frightening at times, but go. ".... go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:19-20)

 

God's Peace - Pr. J