He Will Save His Flock

Ezekiel 34:20-24 KJV; Christ the King Sunday; He will save His flock from those who prey upon them.

Jealousy Kills

  "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."

                                                                                 (Gen 4:4-8 KJV)

It appears that the Lord favored Abel's offering over Cain's because his offering was raised up through hard work. The Lord told Cain that if he had worked well to present this offering it would have been accepted. Cain was not happy. He was so jealous that his brother had found favor and he had not that he killed his brother.

Jealousy destroys. It kills and there are consequences for the sin. If the jealousy over how much accomplishment or honor others receive with their hard work continues it will build up within you until the consequences of the sin become very tough. Cain was exiled to become a fugitive and a vagabond. He would indeed have to work very hard just to survive. 

It is not any different today than it was in Cain and Abel's day. Jealousy will prevail if it is not put in check quickly. It will destroy your future and the future of those around you. God has given you many gifts so that you might be fruitful. There are  consequences for not even attempting to use those gifts as well as you can. The outcome and possible consequences have nothing to do with what your neighbor does. It has everything to do with what you do or do not do with the gifts of God. In the general confession we pray that God will forgive us for sins known and unknown; for things we have done and for things that we have left undone. For the sake of love for the one who lived and died and yet lives for us, it would behoove us to leave a whole lot less undone.

May we always use the gifts that God has given us so that He might be glorified.

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." (Col 3:23)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Gather Together Often

"And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Heb 10:24-25

Even as St. Paul admonished the Hebrews, we are admonished not to neglect coming together as a community of saints. We have a very busy Lenten season fast approaching. The season will present many extra opportunities to gather together in worship and in fellowship. Today, the crafting ladies from Christ Lutheran are having a "Fat Sunday" lunch following worship. I am not sure what all they have planned; but, I am looking forward to the opportunity to be able to spend time with brothers and sisters in Christ.

On Tuesday, Ngaio Carlisle, an author and two-time cancer survivor is the speaker at "Cancer Knows No Boundaries" Workshop at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.  Another opportunity to be with others and to support one another.

And.. then comes... Ash Wednesday! Beginning with Ash Wednesday and then every Wednesday throughout Lent we will meet together to worship at 5 p.m.. We will be using the Small Catechism and "what does this mean" as the format for our liturgies. After every service (except Ash Wednesday) worship will be followed by a soup supper. And, of course, we will not neglect to gather for worship at the two Senior Living Apartment Complexes each Wednesday. It is good to meet together to provoke one another to love and good deeds.

As Ash Wednesday approaches, we prepare for our journey to the cross which will culminate at an empty tomb. Who will make this journey with us? Who will gather with us to remember and thank God for all that he has done for us through Jesus Christ our Lord?

May God plant in the hearts of all who would bear the name of Christ the desire to gather more often to worship Him and glorify His Holy Name.  

God's Peace - Pr. J