Prayer and Proclamation; Don't Forget Praise!

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
                          Col 4:2-6 NRSV

Prayer, praise, and proclamation; that is my evangelism strategy. As Paul closes his letter to the Colossians he reminds us to be diligent in prayer and proclamation. Devote yourself to prayer. Pray that God will open doors for the message so that mystery of Christ may be proclaimed. We don't need a program. We just need the grace of God in order to do His will.

Years ago, my congregation was involved in a multi-congregation effort to do more evangelism. We met quite a few times to talk about evangelism among ourselves. As I drove home with two of the congregation's "delegates" to this consortium, we discussed the fact that we were driving quite a distance and spending an awful lot of time talking about evangelism and not actually doing any evangelism.

The truth be told we had these many meetings and had come to the conclusion that we were not of like minds. Leaders from various congregations did not trust one another; everyone seemed to have different and personal agendas, and we were not working well together. We talked a lot at every meeting; but, we never actually got to the point of proclaiming the mystery of Christ. We never got around to doing any evangelism. We had been too busy trying to figure what kinds of evangelism programs would work best. On that drive home we agreed that we already knew in our hearts what we needed to do.  That we would quit wasting time, energy and financial resources talking about evangelism. We were determined to get back on track and put our time and energy into doing the ministry we had received from the Lord. Rather than just talk about it, we would get on with the business of evangelists: praying, praising God, and proclaiming the Good News through both word and deed. We presented this to the council. The motion was approved. By the grace of God, we continued to grow both in Christ and in numbers.

The growth that happened though, did not happen because of one or two or even three people. In this closing section of Paul's letter; he reminds us that he had many co-workers in the gospel. They proclaimed the Good News with one heart and mind. Those who heard the Gospel were encouraged to share it with others. There were no special programs. They did not discuss strategies. By God's grace, they prayed that God would open doors and proclaimed the mystery of Christ clearly to the glory of God. And... the church continued to grow both in Christ and in numbers.

God's Peace - Pr. J

No Fear Of Death

Old Sheldon Church, Beaufort, SC

At a pastor's conference, years ago, the speaker informed us that everyone is afraid to die, including Christians. I was offended by this revelation. I know many Christians who are not afraid of death. St. Paul certainly was not. He wrote: 

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this    will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am   hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you." (Phil 1:21-24 NKJV)

As a pastor and former hospice chaplain I have sat beside more than a few who have been breathing their last breaths in this world. I have indeed witnessed the fear of death in the faces of some. But, I have also witnessed the peace and the joy of those who know that their hope to depart and to be with Christ is about to be fulfilled. In those latter times, I was reminded of St. Stephen's martyrdom.

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

                                                                           (Acts 7:55-60)

Stephen saw the glory of God. He saw Jesus. Up until his very last breath, Stephen followed in the footsteps of Jesus to further the gospel as he prayed, even as Jesus had prayed with his last breath, for the forgiveness of those who were putting him to death. 

Not long after Stephen's stoning, St. Paul, who is this same Saul who stood and watched the murder of Stephen, met the ascended Jesus on the road to Damascus. His whole life changed. He became a willing and ardent follower of Jesus; living his life as a testimony for Christ. He was not afraid of prison. He was not afraid of death. He longed to be with Jesus; yet, he was willing to do whatever God's will was for him. He was willing to be attacked and persecuted in this world if it would advance the gospel.

No, we are not all afraid of death. Those who believe that Jesus lived and died; rose from the dead; and now reigns in the Heavenly Kingdom look forward to the day when we will see the full glory of God even while we understand that it might be necessary for others that we stay here in this world a while longer. 

While we live we will give testimony of all that God has done for us, to His glory.

God's Peace - Pr. J

False Witnesses

“One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established." (Deut 19:15 NKJV)

"Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses." (1 Tim 5:19)

In spite of the many false witnesses who testified against Jesus, Herod found him to be innocent. But; because Herod worried about his own future, Jesus was crucified anyway.

Lives can be and often are destroyed by slander; by false witnesses. It has most likely been so since the beginning of time; otherwise, why would the law of Moses have insisted upon at least two witnesses? Why would Paul recommend that an accusation not be heard if there are not at least two witnesses? 

Evil abounds. Let us not contribute to evil by repaying evil with evil. May God help us to discern what is good; do what is right; do what is just; and not what is profitable for ourselves. If others act unjustly, we must remain just. 

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

                                                            (Romans 12:19-21)

May the Lord protect us and keep us. (Num 6:24) May the Lord deliver His servants from the evil one. (Matt 6:13)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Don't Worry

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matt 6:33-34 NKJV)

Is that not the truth? Do we not usually have enough trouble to worry about each day without considering what trouble might come our way tomorrow?

Actually, I tend to look ahead a lot! However, I do not look ahead with worry. I look ahead because I strongly believe that things go much better with preventive measures taken prior to the anticipated problem becoming a real problem.

For example: I pay my bills on time so that I do not have to throw more of my income on late fees or added interest in the future. I try to take care of the necessities of today, today. Tomorrow there will be enough for me to do without adding the things I was supposed to take care of today. Not being responsible for taking care of things that should be taken care of today just adds to the worry and stress of tomorrow. In the end, it is best to just worry about today and take cares of the tasks at hand and you will have very little time to worry about tomorrow.

In about eight months, my intention is to retire from Parish ministry. No, I'm not giving up on serving the Lord, just retiring from Parish ministry so that I am not tied down to serving in one place. My husband has been retired twice already. It is our intention to down-size as much as possible and pretty much live off the grid. We will be selling our home in Florida. Am I worried about not having a home in a state we plan to spend a lot of time in? No! God has been with us our entire lives. We have had some really tough financial times through the years. There were times when we were first married forty-some years ago that we were so broke that all we had for supper before payday was pancakes made with flour and water or navy bean soup with no meat whatsoever. Between my husband's and my careers, we've moved more times than I can even count any more. We have owned a lot of homes with those moves and lived in just about the same amount of rentals. Buying homes is costly and selling them can be even more costly. But, no matter what has gone on in our lives, God was with us through each and every day and has blessed us richly.

One of the things that I have realized over the years is that it can be quite difficult to seek first the kingdom of God or to follow wherever he would lead us when we're tied to a piece of property or any kind of contract with someone in this world. Those obligations often end up taking precedence over serving the Lord. It is time for me to be beholding to no one but the Lord.  

Whatever tomorrow brings, there is not much sense in worrying about it. Take care of today and trust that God is with you and will see you through both today and tomorrow. He will guide you. He will guide us wherever He would have us go and ultimately it will be to the Kingdom that Jesus has prepared for all who believe.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Who Is The Antichrist?

Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 

                                                                           1 John 2:22-23 NKJV

So, exactly who is the antichrist? According to St. John the antichrist is anyone who would deny that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Son also denies the Father. Whoever denies either is a liar and the antichrist.

Next question: How does one deny that Jesus is the Christ? Response: By trusting in our own good works for our salvation. When we trust the world, ourselves, anything or anyone before Jesus the Christ we are denying him; we are denying his power and authority to save us.

The antichrist is not some mythical being. Generations have looked for the antichrist and pointed their fingers at various political or religious leaders saying, "he is the antichrist; these are the last days." Pointing the finger at one person only distracts us from looking within ourselves to see who it is that actually abides in us. Is it Jesus the Christ or the antichrist?

May the Word of God abide in us and we in him. May God help us to trust him above all others.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ultimate Concern: Last Day?

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. (1 John 2:18-19 NKJV)

Was it the last hour? I guess that depends on what John meant by last hour. Most people today appear to believe the last hour is when the world will come to an end and Christ will come again; not necessarily in that order. How long did John figure the last hour was going to last, anyway? I do not know the answers. I do know that unless the world ends before then, my last hour on earth will be when I breath my last breath. The world did not end in St. John's day or any where near it. Many people today also believe that the world is about to come to an end and that we are indeed in the last hour. Way too many preachers focus their whole ministry on it. Maybe we are in the last day. Maybe we aren't. In the whole scheme of things, does it matter? Is our ultimate concern really the end of the world? 

Yes, we know that many antichrists have come. There are many who dwell so much on the "last day" that they forget that Christ is with us even now. They forget to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God; the Kingdom for you through Jesus Christ. They dwell so much on the signs of the times that the Good News of salvation through Jesus is often neglected. This causes me to wonder if these fearmongers are some of the many antichrists that were predicted to come. If not, why then are they not preaching that Jesus was crucified, died, and yet lives again? They preach as though he were still dead and will rise again or that maybe he's in hiding someplace. Do they not believe that he truly lives and reigns today? Do they not believe that he lives in and through all who believe in him? Why are they not preaching that the Kingdom of God has indeed come to all who believe instead of worrying about the end of this world? 

Yes, this world is a mess! There are days I would like to see the last day. But, it will come when God decides it will come. In the meantime; let us rejoice that we have been reconciled to God our Father, in His Kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Let us rejoice and share the Good News. God is with you!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Desiring To Do Right; Yet, Doing Wrong

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
“This is the covenant I will make with them
   after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
   and I will write them on their minds.”

Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
   I will remember no more.”

And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
                                                                   (Hebrews 10:15-18 NIV)

We know the difference between right and wrong for the Holy Spirit has written the laws in our hearts and on our minds. We know what is right; we desire to do what is right; but, often we do not do it. We are not alone in this.

St. Paul wrote to the Romans:
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" 

                                                                          (Romans 7:14-25)

Thanks be to God, indeed! There is nothing that you can or need do. There is no need for further sacrifices for your sins. You have been delivered from your sins by the blood of Christ that was shed for you. Through Christ, your sins are forgiven! Our Father in heaven has put them out of His mind for the sake of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Suffering a Good Thing?

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

                                                                                (Rom 5:3-4 NIV)

It would be good if we could all be like Paul and glory in our sufferings; but, most of us cannot. Most of us feel defensive when we suffer and sometimes we get offensive. We feel sorry for ourselves. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? Most of us do not care to suffer for any reason.

It is only by reminding ourselves that God is with us and He has a good plan that we can relax a bit. It is often, after the fact, that we can look back and thank God for the trouble and suffering endured. It may be years later before we can see how the suffering was either for our good or for the good of others. It is often, only then, that we can thank God for those troubling things that we have endured.

May God help us to always acknowledge that whatever happens God is with us and He has a good plan. (Rom 8:28)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Angels

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 

                                                                                  (Col 2:18-19 NIV)

So what about angels? Every now and then I am jolted by the reality that someone I know depends on angels more than they depend on Jesus. They pray to the angels to protect them. Why ask the angels? Why not ask the Lord to send his angels to protect you. God is in charge of angels. He directs them. He sends them out.

Just because something or someone exists in the spiritual realms does not mean that we should worship them or put our trust in them. Angels are created beings. We do not worship the creature. Rather, we worship and put our trust in the one who has charge over the spiritual realms; the one who created the spiritual realms; the one who created all things.

Angels have many purposes. Some are messengers. Some have been deliverers of God judgment. Some are ministering spirits. Angels ministered to Jesus after his temptations by the devil in the wilderness. Angels are beings created by God to serve according to God's will not our will.

Do I believe that angels exist? Of course, I believe that. But, I do not put my faith in them. We cannot serve two gods. Angels are not creators. They are created beings. Angels did not die for you. Jesus did. By worshipping and honoring angels; by lifting them up and trusting in them more than we do Christ, we lose the connection we have with the head, from whom the whole body grows, who is Jesus the Christ. We are to worship the one who has charge over angels and not the angels.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Liturgical Blessing?

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Cor 13:13 NIV)

What a blessing to receive God's grace, love, and fellowship! This greeting is to be heard at most "traditional" (if I can use that word) Lutheran Worship Services. It is not used at the congregation I am currently serving. I am serving a congregation that has, over the years, removed most of the typical Lutheran liturgy from the worship service. I have been able to bring many parts of it back into the service. It is a slow process; though, as most of you are probably aware that mainline denominations are not too big into change. It took about ten years to get rid of the liturgy and it may take that long to get it back without ruffling too many feathers.

I have heard criticisms against using the various parts of the service that include things like the Kyrie, the hymn of praise, and the greeting. So rote, I am told. I have listened to the accusations that the liturgy is man-made. Yes, the order of service is man-made; but, so are the services without a liturgy. There is an order to even those services that claim they have no liturgy or order of service. Those services also follow a pattern at every worship service.

I have also heard that these formal liturgies make us sound pretentious. What I find pretentious is deciding that our words are more edifying than the word of God. Personally, I find ridding the service of things like the Lord's prayer to replace it with long winded prayers of our own to be very pretentious.

What many, including many Lutherans, fail to understand is that faith comes by hearing God's word (Rom 10:17) and the liturgical service; although it has been ordered by human beings is full of God breathed words. These liturgies that we use are not things people made up. They come from the Holy Scriptures. The Lutheran Worship Service is ordered (or has been in the past) in such a way that you will hear the word in the liturgies, in the prayers, in the readings, in the sermon, and in the hymns or songs that we sing. I thank God for this. According to Scripture "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." (Rom 10:17) Everything in worship is or should be focused on the word and the Word is Christ. It is not about us. It is about what God the Father has done for us through Jesus Christ, his dear Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Live In Peace And Rejoice

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

                                                                               (Phil 4:4-9 NIV)

When it gets really hard at times to rejoice and to gentle in my interaction with others, I find that it is best if I just find a place to be alone with God. It helps me to read or listen to his word. My attitude gets an adjustment when I speak with him and listen to him. 

Any anxieties or frustrations I may have been harboring slip away when I purposefully enter into God's presence and I can then reenter the world and interact with others in a much more gentle and pleasant manner. Yes, I can be pretty ugly when I find myself in a place where there is a lot of inappropriate language or activities going on. When I find myself getting frustrated it is time to step back before I react inappropriately. 

Sometimes, we need to step back and think on all that God has done for us and all that he is for us so that we can serve him and others with joyful spirits. Remembering that Jesus died for us helps set the matter in a better perspective. Rejoice in the Lord always for he has done marvelous things!

May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Job's Sacrifice; Our Prayers

His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom. (Job 1:4-5 NIV)

Yesterday morning, as I was praying for a few generations of my family, it suddenly occurred to me that Job had done pretty much the same thing for his children. Of course, my prayers only included thanksgivings and petitions; whereas, Job's included sacrifices of burnt offerings.

It was Job's custom as is the custom of many parents and grandparents to worry about what kind of relationship their offspring have with God. Are they sinning against God? Are they cursing him in their hearts? And; if so, have they the wisdom to repent; to ask for forgiveness? Do they even recognize when they have sinned against God?

Considering that I might sound like Job praying for his offspring; it brought just a bit of fear into my heart, as for all of Job's praying his story was not a happy one. For all of his sacrificing, he lost everything that he owned. His children were all killed when a windstorm destroyed the house that they were partying in. 

We hear, in Job's story, only the outcome of his children's lives here on earth. We hear nothing about the fate of their immortal souls. Who can tell about that, other than God?

Job had worried about the relationship his children had with God. He had made sacrifices for them; just in case! The truth is that no matter how much we worry about our offspring we cannot do a thing to save them. Assuredly, we can pray  But, there is no offering; no sacrifice that we can make that will save them. The Good News is that God is concerned about the eternal fate of our children. He is so concerned that he sent his only begotten son to be the sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of our offspring.

May God bless our children and all the generations to come with the wisdom to seek him before all things so that they might live in peacefully in his presence for all of eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

We Go By Faith

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

Lead Us Wherever You Would Have Us Go

“I will make you into a great nation,
   and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
   and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
   and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
   will be blessed through you.”
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.
                             (Genesis 12:1-3 NIV)

The Lord tells Abram "pack up your stuff and go. I am going to bless you and bless everyone else who blesses you, as well." Abram doesn't question if God will keep his promise. He doesn't not trust God to be with him. Abram hears the word of the Lord, believes him, and goes. He packs up everything and everyone and takes off into the wilderness to follow wherever God will lead him. He's not concerned where. He just goes.

I've often thought about this story when I've heard Pastor's say they can only answer a call to serve somewhere if it is near a good school; if there will be jobs available that will enhance their spouses careers; if it's not too hot; or too cold. We can find so many reasons not to go where God would have us go. I've also known Pastors who have packed up everything or sold it all and with their families went off to live and serve in mission fields in areas that many others would never even consider worth visiting. 

God told Abram to move and he did. He simply trusted God. 

If God l is calling you to reach out and go somewhere or do something; won't you listen, trust him, and follow wherever he would lead? Our Lord, Jesus did; after all, promise you a marvelous thing: that he would be with you even to the end of the age. What greater blessing can there be than that?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jesus, Remember Me!

   

   Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 

   One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

   But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
   Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

   Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 

                                                                                                (Luke 23:32-33, 39-43 NIV)

Whenever I hear or read this promise of paradise to the criminal, I cannot help but smile. It is such good news! The criminal hanging on a cross next to Jesus asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into His Kingdom. The criminal knows that Jesus is about to die. They are both being executed. The criminal knows and acknowledges that he is a sinful man and deserves the punishment that he is receiving in this world. He will die to this world for his sins. Yet, his request of Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom testifies to his faith in the Kingdom of God where Jesus will reign is met with good news. Jesus comforts the criminal by assuring him that he will enter into paradise. What good news! He is forgiven his sins. Although; he is about to die, the criminal will live in the paradise of God for all eternity.

Thanks be to God! All who believe, who trust in him, will enter into paradise; into His Kingdom. It does not matter what you have done or what you have left undone. By faith, your sins are forgiven. The promised paradise is received and entered into by faith that we are forgiven our sins and welcomed in the home of our Father, through the sacrifice of Jesus for us, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Eph 2:8)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Be Careful What You Teach

 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1 NIV)

I listen to a lot of other preachers; mostly on the internet before I go to sleep at night. Some of them have been serious reminders that we need to make sure that what we are teaching and preaching can be supported by scripture and I don't mean by cherry-picking which verses we will use because and which ones we're going to ignore.

It is way too easy to wrap our own agendas up with our favorite scriptures that support our own agendas. For instance, love your neighbor as yourself does not mean that we should ignore sin and thereby promote it. Love for your neighbor will call you to share the truth, with gentleness and patience, so that they might repent; turn to God, and be saved. 

There are also those preachers and teachers who are not unlike many of our politicians. They say whatever it is that will profit themselves the most. Begone with the truth if it will make you a buck or buy you a mansion or a new airplane! 

The truth is that we will be held accountable for what we teach and preach. Be careful to diligently study the word so that you might know the truth and not be swayed by the falsehoods of those who pretend to know the word; of those who pretend to love you as their neighbor; but, look only after themselves. 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17) 

Scripture is God-breathed. Listen to it! Teach it!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Love Never Fails

One of the most often requested readings for weddings is from 1 Corinthians. 

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails." 

                                                       (1 Cor 13:4-8a NIV)

This is good advice for two people who are about to commit their whole earthly lives to one another. Love does not fail. However, due to our sinful natures we often fail to love. Marriages fall apart because we love ourselves or someone or something else more than the one we have committed to spend the rest of our lives with. Other relationships fail; as well, because of a lack of love.

The greatest gifts, says St. Paul, is love. God has given us love in His Son, Jesus Christ. There is no greater love than a love that is willing die for others, as Jesus died for us. (John 15:13) We respond to His love by sharing his love with others. The love that is rooted in the loved of God does not fail. It can move mountains and crush molehills. The love of God inspires us to inspire others with His love.

As a friend of mine often says: "Share the love!"

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Christ Died For You

You see at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:6-8 NIV)

"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" He died for us so that we might live in him. He died for us that we might be reconciled to God and live in his Kingdom for all eternity with him.

It is not about what we can or have to do for God because in reality we can do nothing for Him. It is about what God has done for us. It is not about us climbing any ladder or staircase to heaven. It is about God coming down to us. Telling people how they should or must live is the law. The law does not save us. Only Jesus saves! The love of God in Christ Jesus for us is so great that he was willing to come down to earth to suffer and sacrifice his own life so that all who believe in him might live. What greater gift can there be than for someone to love us so much that he would die in our place?

How many ways can I say it so that ears might actually hear that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us? It is all about what he has done for us and that is why we love him. "We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19) That is why we follow him. We do not follow him in order to get him to love us. We do not have to earn his love. We cannot earn his love. He simply loves us and so he died for us. 

May God open the ears of those who do not hear that all might hear the good news that he loves us so much that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Through his great act of love, you are forgiven your sins.

God's Peace - Pr. J

By Faith; Not By Good Works

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. 

                                                                                     (Eph 2:8-9 NIV)

John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address said: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” Indeed, we should be wondering what we can do for others and not be asking what others can do for us. That is basic to Christian ethics. However; that being said, when we are sharing the Good News with others, what they can do for others has nothing to do with their salvation. What we do for others is important; but, it is not the Good News! The Good News is what Jesus has done for us so that we might inherit eternal life in our Father's presence; in the Kingdom of God.

Nobody is going to be saved by their good works. It is only by faith in the life-giving sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus the Christ, that we are saved. To be sure, good works will follow that faith. But, those good works are the fruit of our faith. It is not by our works that we are saved. 

If someone has fallen out of a boat into the great stormy sea will it do them any good for you to tell them to swim harder? Or, would it bring them more relief to throw out, on a rope, a life preserver so that they will not drown? 

Jesus is our life preserver. He and only he can save us from drowning in our sinful ways. The Good News is not about how much we do. The good news is what Jesus has done and continues to do for us. Jesus saves us from the stormy seas; stormy seas often of our own making.

May God grant you faith in Jesus Christ our Lord who has done all for you; even giving his life for you on the cross at Calvary. 

God's Peace - Pr. J