Father, Son, Holy Spirit

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 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 28:16-20 KJV)

Today is Trinity Sunday. Usually, on Trinity Sunday, I focus a bit on the essence of the triune God. But, with the state of the Union as it is today I am reminded greatly of what or rather who it is that can save us. Who it is that forgives us all of our sins, reconciling us to God and to one another. God through Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit is our only real help in times like these.

We, too often, get caught up in the physical world, we forget that our battle is with spiritual forces. St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph 6:12)

Yes, we must stand up for what is right in this world. We must protect our neighbors. But, we cannot forget that what is behind the chaos are spiritual forces that aim to destroy us. We must engage in battle with these spiritual forces. We do that by doing exactly what Jesus commanded: teaching all people, baptizing in name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them everything that Jesus commanded to be taught. And, what he taught is good news for all people. We are to proclaim that Good News! We are to let people know that all power and authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth. That will bring to us adversity. But, we must trust him to help us as we proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom for all who believe in him. We must rely on his (not ours, not any government's) authority and power to overcome the chaos. 

We thank God our Father this and every day that through the Son and by the power of the Holy Ghost we can stand firmly, facing all adversity, so that all people might know that freedom and the peace that God would give to us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Serve The One True God

Deuteronomy 6:4

 Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”  (Joshua 24:15 NRSV)

There are many gods. We will all serve someone or something. Some serve money; others serve heroes of this world; some serve their own ego. But, there is only one who is the creator of heaven and earth. There is only one God that can save us from the rest of these false gods. There is only one God who can save us from ourselves. Who or what is it that we serve?

In Jesus' sermon on the mountain he said: “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." (Matt 6:24)

It is much easier for me to understand someone telling me that they serve a god other than the Triune God; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit than if they tell me that they are Christians and serve the one true God and do not. The way one lives; the way one gives; the way one worships can be very good indicators of who or what each of us serves. if while one serves in the name of Jesus; but, it is their own ego that is in the limelight then I have to wonder what or who it is that they are really serving. Who or what is going to profit by their actions? Will it be the Kingdom or the person's ego or pocketbook? I am human and so I wonder about these things.

Jesus also said in his sermon on the mountain: 

"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. 

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’ 

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”  (Matthew 7:20-27)

God's Peace - Pr. J