Shepherd of our souls

1 Peter 9-25 KJV; 4th Sunday of Easter; The Shepherd and Bishop of our souls is our righteousness.

Remember Your First Love

   To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who hold the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I known your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
   Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and removed your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
   Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
                                                                                                                   Revelation 2:1-7 NIV

Bishop Frederic Baraga, missionary to the Ojibwa during the 1800's, often reminded the people to "remember their first love." In his vision, St. John was instructed to warn the church at Ephesus about their falling away from their first love, who is Jesus the Christ.

Whenever we put anything or anyone before our God, we are committing idolatry. God must always come first and everything else will fall into it's proper place. How often we neglect to put God first in our lives! It is so very disheartening to see those who profess to be Christians putting so many other things of this world before worship and service to God.

The message to the people of Ephesus there is both a warning (law) and a promise (good news). Jesus, in John's vision, commends the church for their hard work and perseverance; for the fact that they cannot tolerate wicked people; and have confronted those who claim to be apostles and are not. Even as they are being commended for their faithfulness in these areas; they and we are being warned against idolatry.

"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (vs 7)

May God help us to be victorious in keeping the Lord as our first love.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Protect The Sheep Or Shake The Dust Off Your Feet?

"But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. The believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible."  Acts 17:13-15

It appears that no matter where Paul went the agitators, against him and more importantly against the Word, showed up. He spent a bit of time in prison because of them. At other times, he simply left the area.

In the U.S., we can't be thrown into prison or beaten or flogged for sharing the truth about the Kingdom through Jesus Christ. Yet, we see many pastors who flee communities that they have been called to serve because of the agitators. Sometimes, it may be necessary because the agitators (antagonists) have managed to switch the focus from Jesus to things of much less importance; in fact, to things that cause division and not unity.

Sometimes, pastors simply find it almost impossible to preach the Gospel due to this conflict and leave to go to a community that is willing to hear and willing to serve the living God rather then their own egos. It was actually one of Jesus' directives to leave if the people are unwilling to hear the word of God; the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus.  In Matthew we read: "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet." (Matt 10:14)

So, please consider this: if your congregation is one that is having to look for a new pastor every two or three years; maybe, it is time to find out if there is someone(s) running these pastors out of the area and if the congregation somehow is supporting this person or persons by ignoring the agitation that they are causing; allowing them to switch the focus away from the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ. It may not always be the best choice to flee an area; but, on the other hand as we are called to proclaim the Gospel; sometimes, we need to go where the people will hear it.

Unfortunately, whether they realize it or not the question and the dilemma for many pastors today is as it was in Paul's day:

     Shall I stay and protect the sheep? or, Shall I shake the dust off my feet?

God's Peace - Pr. J.

P.S. Today's blog is edited from one that I previously wrote for "In The Wilderness"

The Bread Of Life

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 NIV

There are an awful lot of people in this world who are hungry and thirsty. It is not just for food or water that sustains the body that they are in need of; but, for the bread of life, who is Jesus the Christ. They are spiritually hungry and thirsty. Yet, they are not sure what it is that will satisfy this hunger or thirst.

It is up to those who believe to bring to them not only bread and water that will sustain their bodies; but, that which will satisfy their hungry hearts and souls. It is up to us to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ that their spirits might be refreshed for all eternity. 

The Kingdom of God is not just for those who believe today; but, for all who would believe.  And, how shall they believe if they have not heard this Good News? According to St. Paul, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." (Rom 8:17)

May God help us to feed all who are hungry, whether it be for physical or spiritual food, that they might turn and believe and live life most fully in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J