Humbled To Be His Chosen Children

Luke 1:46-49 KJV; Mary was humbled to be the bearer of God's only begotten Son. We are humbled to be God's children adopted through the blood of that Son, Jesus the Christ.

The Father Reveals His Son

Reading from Matthew 16:13-17 KJV Faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is a gift from God.

Come Down, Lord!

Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,

As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! 

                              (Isa 64:1-2 KJV)

This week marks the end of yet another church year. I have this notion that there have been many days this past year when many would have liked for God to come down and fix the mess; fix the divisions; fix everything; and make us to live in his peace. 

The truth is he has come down. Sunday marks the first day of another church year with the first Sunday in Advent. Advent is a time of waiting and watching for the Lord. The people waited and watched for the Messiah. When he came into this world as a mere child some people noticed and were aware. Many did not notice at all. They did not and could not believe. This has not changed in two thousand years. 

The Lord has indeed come down to the earth. He came down to save us from ourselves; our own sinful ways. His name has been made known to us! We continue to proclaim the name of Jesus the Messiah to all people so that all people might hear and tremble in his mighty presence. All honor and glory belongs to our Almighty God! 

The Lord has come down to the earth. He was here as true man. He is here even today. And... he will come again in full glory.  Do not fear. Do not fret. God is with you even now. When Jesus gave the disciples their commission he told them that he would be with them even to the end of the world. 

"And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt 28:17-20)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Messiah; The Christ; Follow Him

And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. 

                              (Luke 9:18-20 KJV)

Who is this Jesus? Jesus wanted to know who his disciples thought he was. Peter confessed that Jesus was and is the Christ; the Savior sent by God. Do you also believe this? If you do, what are you going to do about it? Will you share that Good News? Will you follow Him? Will you be His disciple?

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26)

Following Jesus is not an easy road. But, Christ went before us and is still with us on the journey so I'm thinking following Him is the best journey to undertake. He is after all, the Messiah; the Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Weary Wait Upon The Lord

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

                                                                                     (Isa 40:28-31 KJV)

I am waiting. I am waiting for the Lord to renew my strength. I can walk. I can still kayak. But, running is pretty limited! Recently retired; having grown faint and weary of having to spend so much time and effort with so many issues  that had nothing to do with proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus the Christ.

The church on earth must return to the main thing: proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To do otherwise only makes for faint and weary children of God. To do otherwise will cause the various congregations and denominations to fall. And, rightfully so if they will not trust the Lord.

After the Christ's crucifixion, the disciples hid out in an upper room. They waited in fear for the authorities to come after them. They continued to wait even after they saw the resurrected Lord. They waited to be endued with the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would come. The Holy Spirit came and they were lifted up. Their strength was renewed and they were dispersed to spread the news that Jesus is truly the Messiah, the Savior of the world. They were empowered, even in the face of death, to spread the news that Jesus lives.

Most of us do not face death for sharing that Good News. I often wonder if  the reason that we are not more energetic in sharing that Good News might be  because we aren't really persecuted. After all, here in the United States, we are not in danger of dying for sharing the love of God in Christ Jesus. 

Consider the Christians around the world who are persecuted; who are imprisoned; who are put to death for their faith. Have they not been strengthened to confess Jesus as Lord in the face of their oppressors? 

What will it take for those who claim to be Christians to stand up with their brothers and sisters around the world and without fear enthusiastically tell others that Jesus died so that they might live; that they might be reconciled to our Father; our Creator, in heaven? 

I confess, I have grown weary. I long to see the day when Christians are empowered in this country to not just worship out of obligation on Sunday mornings; but, let the world around them know that Jesus is Lord every day of the week.

We live in a beautiful world. God has created it most magnificently. But; I confess, that on too many days I feel very weary of this world and particularly the lack of faith in the one true God that I witness around me. But, I also trust that "...they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Servants Of All

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. 

                                                                                (1 Cor 9:19-23 KJV)

As servants of Christ we become servants to all. Servants of God do not lift themselves up above others. The only one they lift up is God. When we lift ourselves up over others, we make ourselves into a god; a false. Christians do not idolize or worship any man or woman. 

Paul did not consider himself to be above others; although he could have as he had stature in the world of that time both as a Jew and as a Roman citizen. He considered himself a servant of God; a servant sent to deliver the message of Jesus Christ who died and rose from the dead for all who would believe in him.  He delivered the message of forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah.

We are created equal, each with his own gifts. None is greater than another. We do simply what we are called to do, use those gifts for the gospel's sake. In order to share the Gospel it is most helpful not to be lording our lifestyles over another's. It is most helpful to humble ourselves and meet people where they are.

There is only one God. He is the only one that we lift up. We do not idolize politicians, media celebrities, sports figures, religious personalities, or anyone else. That would be idolatry. And, we definitely need to ensure that no one is making a false idol out of us!

So save the applause and say Hallelujah, all praise to the living God, Amen!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Speaking the Truth in Christ

"I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost," (Rom 9:1 KJV)

This verse never fails to bring a smile to my face. I find it a bit bewildering and amusing that a man of St. Paul's faithfulness would have to defend his integrity. 

Yes, before he knew Jesus, he hunted down Christians to put them to death. Even in that, as horrific as it was, he was ferociously dedicated to what he believed was God's will for the good of the people. But, once he met Jesus his life changed. He was convinced that Jesus was the promised Messiah and was totally dedicated to proclaiming the truth in Christ.

It is good when we one say with Paul that I am speaking the truth, my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit. But, sadly that is not always the case. The truth of Christ Jesus is often tainted with personal desires. It is difficult to know when someone is truly speaking the truth and so we must depend upon the Holy Spirit within us to help us discern the truth.

Paul's truth in Christ, sometimes hurt people. The truth is not always pleasing to hear. May we always speak with integrity for the good of those whom God loves.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Do Not Fear; The Lord Is With You

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11 NRSV)

Do not afraid; do not fear! We hear this words not just from the angel speaking to the shepherds; but, from Jesus on more than a couple of occasions in the Gospels. Who are they kidding? We would be very afraid, indeed, to have an angel appear before us with the glory of the Lord shining all around us.

Do not fear. The Lord is with you always. (Isa 41:10) The Lord who loves you and gave himself for you is always with you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Less Is Often Best

...and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matt 2:4-6 NRSV)

I come from the country and I love the country. I enjoy small towns where everyone knows everyone and where just about everyone cares for their neighbors.  There are also those who love the hubbub of busy city life. They enjoy the seemingly unending activities that can be found in the city. One is not better than the other. For me less is usually better. Less crowds, less noise, less traffic; less is better. 

Jesus came from what many would consider less.  He was born to a very young woman (a teen-ager) with no real social standing. He was born in a barn. He was born in Bethlehem, which at the time was nothing more than a small village. Out of the least of these places came the shepherd who would rule God's people. 

The least is often times the best of things to be. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

The One Who Believes Will Never Die

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”                                                                                                    (John 11:25-27 NRSV)

It is with a heavy heart that we say good-by to a dear sweet lady. Bea Wolf said good-bye to this world yesterday morning. But; there is also peace and joy within the hearts of many who love her because we know that she knew her Savior lived. With Martha, she could say, "Yes, Lord, you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who came into this world." Her faith professed that even though we die; all who believe that Jesus lived and died and lives again for them will never die. She trusted in the promise of eternal life even as we trust in the promise of eternal life in the most precious Kingdom of God for all who believe. 

Thanks be to God for promises fulfilled through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

Living God

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matt 16:15-16 NIV)

Today is the day to rejoice for our God is a living God. He is not a god made with human hands or imaginations. He lives and he loves us. He loves us enough to send His only begotten Son to die that we might be saved from our sins. 

Believe Him. Believe in Him. Trust Him. Rejoice, for the living God loves us enough to send His only begotten Son to live and die for that we who were not His sons and daughters might be his sons and daughters. 

With Peter and all of the saints let us all confess, "Jesus is our Savior, the Son of the living God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Becoming Less

They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

                                                                                 (John 3:26-30 NIV)

John and Jesus are cousins; most probably friends, as well. They both are called for specific purposes to serve God and humankind. There is no jealousy between the two. There is no competition. John in no way tries to usurp Jesus' authority. When John is about to leave the service of God on earth, by nothing less than death, he is more than willing to become less so that Christ may become not just greater; but, the greatest that has ever walked and served upon the earth.

It would be so awesome if the servants of God on earth today would be so willing to step aside when their time is done so that others that God has called can do the ministry to which they also have been called. But, often they don't. Their egos get in the way.

It should be a joyful thing to see others step up to serve the Lord in faith.

God's Peace - Pr. J

He Will Come Again

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." Matt 24:29-31 NIV

It is Advent. No, it is not Christmas. It is the time before Christmas; the time that we prepare to celebrate that Jesus, our Savior, came to us as little child born in a barn. During the season of Advent we remember how Israel waited and watched and prepared themselves for the Messiah. He came humbly to us and he died a horrible death on the cross at the hands of the very people who had waited so long for him to come. In these weeks before Christmas we hear John the Baptist call us to repentance; to turn around and worship the one true God; to recognize that Jesus is the only one who can save us. 

Jesus came to us as a little child. During the Advent season we focus not just on his coming as that little child; but, the promise that he will come again in great glory. Hopefully, we are preparing for that day. Scripture would remind us that it will be a joyous day for his elect and definitely not so joyous for those who have rejected him; turning their backs to him, to worship other gods. I know... I have heard it before. "But, I don't have any other gods!" The truth is we all worship something. We all have something that is our ultimate concern. Each Advent season I look around and I grieve as I recognize that most often that ultimate concern is ourselves. We want our backs patted and our bank accounts padded. The Advent season for many is more about making themselves the center rather than making Jesus the center; the reason for the season. We can fake it all we want. We might be able to deceive some of the people all of the time. But, God know our motivations. He knows whom we love. He knows whom we worship. He knows what our ultimate concern is.

I pray that you are preparing your heart for the day when he will return to gather his elect. Please remember that Jesus is the reason. It's not about me. It's not about you. It is about the greatest gift that was ever given to humankind, Jesus the Christ, our Saviour and our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

I AM

"...Again the high priest asked him, 'Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?' 'I am,' said Jesus." (Mark 14:61b-62a)

I am! Two of my favorite words. When confronted about whether He was the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One, Jesus responded simply, "I am." In those two words I am reminded that He is not only the Son of God; He is God. When Moses was busy trembling in his bare feet at the burning bush and trying to figure out how he was going to get out of delivering God's people from Egypt, he asked God who should I say sent me. "God said to Moses, 'I am who I am.' This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:14) So, whenever, I hear or read these two words, "I am," I am reminded that Jesus is not only the Son of God, He is God.

I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit - three persons - one God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

He Is Coming!

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thess 4:16-17 NIV)

What more could one ask for than to spend our whole lives; even eternity, in His presence? That is where the hope of the Christian lies. It lies in the promise of being reconciled to God our Father after having turned our backs on Him over and over again.

The one who died for us died so that we could be reconciled to him in life. This is life: abiding in the presence of God's love; knowing that he was forsaken even by us will not forsake us.

Rejoice for this is the promise to all who believe that the Messiah has come and lived and died and lives again for you!

God's Peace - Pr. J

My Eyes See Salvation

Mine Eyes Have Salvation In The Coming Of The Lord

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”  Luke 2:28-32 NIV

The struggle is over. Simeon's hopeful wait to see the promised Messiah was over when he held the baby Jesus in his arms. With his own eyes, he beheld the Lord. With his own arms, he held Jesus the Christ. His wait was over. Salvation had come. He was ready to depart this world in God's peace.

With the entrance of God incarnate into this world as a mere baby, salvation has indeed come to the world. I wait, many of us wait, for the day when all eyes will be opened to see the promised light that has already come into this dark world. He has come. Yet, many refuse to open their eyes, or their ears, or their hearts to the greater understanding that there is more. There is peace to those who see him. There is peace for those who hear him. There is peace for those who receive him into their lives.

For many faithful Christians, our struggles will be over, when all whom we care about can see with their own eyes the great love that God has for them and enter into his peace.

May God open the eyes of all who find themselves in darkness this day, that they might see and take hold of the salvation that has come to them in our Lord, Jesus the Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jesus Is The One We Proclaim

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. Col 1:28 NIV

Is he? Is Jesus the one we proclaim as the Christ? We cannot have any other gods. We cannot lift up anyone or anything else above him. As a church; as members of the Body of Christ, we can proclaim only Jesus as our savior. No one and nothing else can save us from ourselves or from any other power that comes to deceive and destroy us. Without the Messiah, we are lost.

It is only in Christ that we have real life. May God help us to teach and to learn with all due diligence and wisdom so that together we may fully mature in Christ.

Put away your teachings of false gods so that everyone may grow into the fullness of Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J