A Lamb Sacrificed For Redemption

Exodus 13:1-3a, 11-15; 1st Sunday after Christmas; A lamb sacrificed for the redemption of God's children.

A Once And For All Sacrifice

Hebrews 10:1-10 KJV; 4th Sunday of Advent; In times of old animals were sacrificed yearly for the cleansing of sins. But, when Jesus came, he made the ultimate sacrifice once and for all.

This Is My Body And Blood

Mark 14:12-26 KJV; Maundy Thursday. Jesus the unblemished lamb sacrificed for you.

Jesus Preached

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.

And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. 

                                                                            (Luke 4:42-44 KJV)

We have received so many gifts from God that we cannot even begin to count them. We give thanks to God for all of these gifts; known and unknown.

We, who were separated by our sins from God, are now reconciled to God in His Kingdom through the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for us. 

Jesus said that he was sent to preach the Kingdom of God. That is the Good News that he was sent to deliver to us. The Good News is that he not only preached it; he made it a reality for all who believe. 

Do not be deceived. This Kingdom is not just for after we die physical deaths. Life in this Kingdom, reconciled to God, is for today as well. That is the Good News! That is the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus the Christ!

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.

Let us live life reconciled to God and in communion with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ now and for all of eternity! Let us share this Good News so that all might live in his presence and peace!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

For The Sake Of Others

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:12-13 KJV)

Jesus gave us the commandment to love one another. Then he showed us how much we should be willing to love by dying on the cross for us. 

Today is Memorial Day; the day we remember the many that died so that others might live in freedom; freedom to worship; freedom to speak the truth; freedom to live without persecution. They died to preserve freedoms here at home and around the world. They died not just for their friends; but, for people they did not even know. 

Today is a day not just to remember what they have sacrificed for us; but, maybe it should be a day to ask ourselves what we would be willing to give for love and for the sake of others. Would we give up our own safety for the sake of the well-being of others? Sadly, from what I am seeing in this country today; many would not. Safety, it seems, too often comes before serving those in need. 

As we remember the fallen today, let us thank God for the men and women who have loved humanity so much that they were willing to give their lives for us. 

Today as we thank God for the sacrifice that the many made so that we could enjoy our freedoms; let us not neglect to thank God for the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for us. Let us thank God, for Jesus who showed us what it means to truly love one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Faithful In The Face Of Persecution

Valaam Monastery

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

                                                                                                (John 15:19-21 KJV)

I have worn a small wooden cross for almost twenty years. I wear it to remind myself of the suffering that Jesus endured for the sake of the world. I wear it to remind myself of the suffering that faithful Christians have and continue to endure for the sake of Jesus' name. I purchased this necklace from a peasant woman at the monastery at Valaam, Russia while on a mission trip. It reminds me of the persecution that Christians endured for so many years when to be a Christian meant that you would be sent to work camps in Siberia or possibly killed.

There was no public worship allowed at times in their history. Churches in Russia for a very long time were repurposed. Some became Communist meeting halls. The beautiful Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood was used over the years as a morgue, a warehouse for vegetables, and later a museum. People met in homes, when it was possible, to worship and to teach one another. One elderly lady in a nursing home told me how her husband a pastor had been sent to a work camp. But, in spite of all of the persecution, the faithful continued to meet. She told me of a time when grandmothers would baptize the children at the cemetery. To keep from being reported for having an assembly in their homes, they would gather around the grave of a loved one so that it would appear that they were grieving for that loved one and not having the religious service that they were actually having. They gathered to worship and celebrate the Sacraments at the risk of their very lives. Today, churches have been rebuilt and new ones are growing in Russia.

But, that is not the end of the persecution of Christians. Today, people around the world are being imprisoned and killed for their faith in Christ. Many gather secretly to worship just as the women in Karelia gathered around graves and just as many of the first followers of Jesus gathered together in the catacombs. They gather(ed) in secret to worship together and so that the word of God could be shared with others and others would come to know him. But, they do know that by doing so their lives in this world are in jeopardy.

I believe that we, in the United States, all too often take our freedom to worship God a bit for granted. Maybe, a whole lot for granted. Are we not willing to suffer any hardship; any persecution, for the sake of Jesus' name?

May God grant us both faith and faithfulness even in the face of adversity.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

So Very Young To Die!

Display at Marine Corps National Museum - Vietnam

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 KJV)

I am attempting to enjoy life in retirement. Yesterday, my husband and I spent over four hours looking at displays at the National Marine Corps Museum in Quanitco. The history displayed begins in 1775. There were displays that I had to walk by real quick lest I start crying. 

Although; Howard was very young when he joined the Marine Corps, as a retired person it is difficult when I see these young Marines walking around knowing the training they have to go through is so they can put their lives on the line for us and for people all around the world. They look so young! They are very young! Yet, they look so strong and determined. 

The history of this country and the whole world has been so violent. Unfortunately because of the violence and injustice inflicted upon people, armed forces are necessary to protect those who cannot protect themselves. But, how sad it is to know that so many young men and women will not be able to live life because they have to give their lives so other may live. How sad it is that so many have no clue what is being sacrificed so that they can live life.

One day, may we all live in peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J