Live Life In The Light Of Christ!

Eph 5:14-21; Be wise and live life in the light; discerning what is good and evil according to the will of God.

Wait, Watch, and Pray

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. 

                                                                     (Mark 13:33-37 KJV)

Today is the observance of Christ the King. The gospel according to Mark is a reminder that he will come again. This time not as a humble man; a man without even a home of his own, who is willing to sacrifice his all for us.  This time he will come as King of Kings will all authority and power. 

Next Sunday is the beginning of Advent. It is a season that we are also encouraged to watch and wait. It is reminisce of the years that God's people waited for their savior. We wait not only for the day of the celebration of his birth; but, are encouraged to pray, to wait, to watch for the day when he will come again in full glory.  We are encouraged to be prepared for that day.

Christ has come. Christ is here. Christ will come again. Pray that he not find us sleeping. 

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (Eph 5:14)

  

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Do Not Be Deceived

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

                                                                                 (Eph 5:6-14 KJV)

These are troubling times. It can be difficult to discern the truth. So much of what we hear is coming from political or personal agendas and bias'. It is true in the world at large; but, it is also true in way too much of the church. People promote themselves. They make money from distorting or exaggerating the truth; sometimes from outright lies. Those who live as though these lies are truth find themselves confused as they live in the darkness.  It is difficult to find your way when the darkness surrounds you. 

But, a light has come into the world. The light who is Jesus the Christ sheds light onto a dark world. His light shines into our lives. If you really want to be "woke" you will need to step into the marvelous light of Christ.  Wake up and live life in Christ! 

The light of Christ; the truth in Christ unite us. It will bring us together in loving fellowship. Leave off; stay away from those who would deceive others to their own advantage with their vain words. Step out of the darkness of deceit and walk in the light of Christ that you might know the truth and live an abundant life.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Fallen Asleep

On the night he was betrayed the disciples slept.

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

                                                                                 (Matt 26:36-56 KJV)

The disciples slept while tragedy was about to strike their beloved teacher. While Jesus was preparing for his earthly demise by praying the disciples were totally oblivious. It was not as though Jesus had not told them. He had warned them his life would be taken. But, for some reason they were oblivious. 

Nuorena Nukkunut or Fallen Asleep While Young written by Frans E. Sillanpaa is the story of The Maid Silja. Silja was, as were so many people of her time and place, oblivious to the tragedy that was stalking the Finnish people and lands. She had a pretty hard life and consequently focused on her own life and the very small circle of people around her. She was asleep as were so many others to what was going on in the larger world until it affected her. She had no clue that there was a movement afoot that would threaten to take their freedoms away.

Years ago, my congregation held an overnight prayer vigil. We were to pray for the church, the community, and the world at large. I was to pray during three very early morning hours as no one else would sign up for them. I knelt next to the baptismal font in front of the altar. My three hours were completed when I woke up to see the husband and wife who were after me kneeling at the altar praying. I had fallen asleep while praying. Falling asleep while praying is not all that an uncommon a thing. Knowing that did not make me feel less guilty for sleeping when I had committed myself to praying. 

Even if the disciples had stayed awake they would not have been able to prevent Jesus' persecution and death. There are many things that happen that we cannot control. But, God can and we can stay awake enough to know what is truly going on in the world around us. We can stay awake and we can pray. 

The disciples slept as tragedy was about to strike. Even though they could not have stopped it if they had stayed awake. They could have been there for their friend. 

Jesus died to make us free; free to love and serve our God and one another. I wonder how many sleep today while many plot to take our freedoms away. They might try. But, God has a plan just as he had a plan for his Son, Jesus. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Live In The Light And Love

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

                                                                       (Rom 13:10-14 KJV)

I do not recall Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. protesting in the dark of night. I do not recall him marching after midnight. He marched peacefully during the light of the day. 

Peaceful protests occur during the day. Peaceful protests can encourage change. Those who protest in the dark of night may be seeking change; but, what change is that? Is destruction to private and public property; attacking law enforcement and others who are there to serve society; doing harm to people that one does not even know, going to bring about positive change?

Much of the world is in lock down due to the Corona Virus. We are told it is for our health and safety. Yet, in cities around the country and even the world people are not safe from those who choose to continue to riot and destroy that which is not theirs to destroy. 

St. Paul wrote to the Romans and ultimately to us. "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor." To live in the light is to love your neighbor and do him or her no harm or to their property. 

May God help us help us all to learn to live in His love, to live in the light, who is Jesus the Christ. Amen

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Dry Bones Wake Up!

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

                                                                                       (Ezek 37:1-10 KJV)

Live life! 

Are you going through life like you have no life? Are you walking around like the walking dead; putting one foot in front of the other simply because you must?

Christ came that we might have life and have it abundantly. God's will is not for us to go around walking as though we are dead. We are to live in the light of Christ so that we might have life. By the very breath of God we have been given life. 

Hear the word of the Lord. Listen to him! 

"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (Eph 5:14)

It is time to wake up and rise from the dead! Be filled with the Spirit of Christ! Rise up and live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Keep Awake - Be Prepared!

"Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”  (Mark 13:35-37 NRSV)

Keep awake! No matter what day or hour it is, be prepared. When I was a child, I remember, certain people I knew use to make fun of people of a certain denomination because they would go out drinking and carousing on one evening and then go to confession the next day. They thought it quite strange that people should think that they can go and do things they knew full well they'd be repenting of the next day. The weird thing about it was that the same people who pointed fingers at those making confession actually were out carousing with them; but, they didn't go to confession. 

Doing things that we know we are going to repenting of probably is not a very good idea. It's just not a good idea to be thinking we can manipulate God. Jesus certainly died for our sins; but, does that make it right that we should continue to do those things we know we should not do with the understanding that we can be forgiven? Was Christ's sacrifice worth so little? 

Besides, how do you know that the hour will not come for you to stand before the throne of God while you are in the midst of purposely doing what you know you ought not be doing? 

Keep awake - be prepared! Do not let our Lord return and find you on a path that you should not be following.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Stay Awake

Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;

      stay awake and you will have food to              spare.

                                    (Prov 20:13 NIV)

I slept for about ten hours last night. But, that does not mean I slept in. I was still at my desk before 7 a.m.. I am one of those people who tend to live to work rather than work to live so it is easy to get up; get a cup of coffee and begin the work day. Pull me away from work and I end up feeling very lost. That is probably not the best thing; but, that is who I am. 

I grew up in a family; in a community, with a very strong work ethic. No one ever questioned if one would put their everything into the work they had to do or just do enough to ensure they kept getting a paycheck and not get fired. If there was work before you; you just did it. You went to sleep early enough so that you could get up and get done what needed to get done. My parents often reminded us when my sisters and I were young that "the early bird catches the worm."

When my granddaughter was still in school, she liked to sleep in. Getting up at 9 a.m. on days off was early for her. She missed out on a lot of things that she may have enjoyed by sleeping her days away. She is now almost twenty years of age. She works an early morning shift and has to be up no later than 4:45. She has learned that if she wants to eat and do what she likes; work comes first. It pleases me that she is able to get moving so early and enjoy the work that she does. 

Jesus too had a habit of waking very early. Scripture tells us of times that he would rise early and go off to pray. The quiet early morning hours bring opportunity to be refreshed by God's word and by His presence. Wake up and spend intentional time with the Lord so that you may be strengthened to go about the day doing His will.

“Wake up, sleeper,

     rise from the dead,
     and Christ will shine on you.” 

                                           (Eph 5:14)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Stay Awake and Pray

  Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

  When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” 

                                                                                                              (Luke 22:39-46 NIV)

I remember a prayer vigil years ago that began following Worship on Maundy Thursday and ended on Good Friday at Worship. At least one person was signed up to be in the sanctuary every hour praying. No one signed up for the hours from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. so I took those hours. I probably didn't last an hour. I woke up a little after 6 a.m., on my knees, leaning against the baptismal font. The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes were Ken and Anita L., on their knees, praying, at the altar rail. They had not disturbed me. When they saw me sleeping, they just walked around me to pray. Now, Jesus, on the other hand had something to say to his disciples about sleeping while they should have been praying. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” 

What a lesson for me! I could not stay awake for those three hours. Sleep was too great of a temptation. Pray that we may not fall into temptation and may God help us sleepers to rise and wake up from the dead. (Eph 5:14).

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Gift Of Life

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thess 5:9-11

We have received an amazing gift of life from God, in Him. He breathed the breath of life into humankind and we live in this world. It is a wonderful world. Life in this world is a marvelous gift from God, stained only by our sinful natures. But, God in His mercy sent His only begotten Son to die for us that we might be redeemed from the power of sin and live in His presence, in His Kingdom for all eternity.

In Christ, sin has no power over us. Death has no power over us. All who believe in Jesus' life giving sacrifice shall live in him whether these mortal bodies continue to breath or not; whether we are awake or asleep.

Let us live an abundant life! May God help us to always abide in Christ as we encourage one another to do the same.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Gift Of Life

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thess 5:9-11

We have received an amazing gift of life from God, in Him. He breathed the breath of life into humankind and we live in this world. It is a wonderful world. Life in this world is a marvelous gift from God, stained only by our sinful natures. But, God in His mercy sent His only begotten Son to die for us that we might be redeemed from the power of sin and live in His presence, in His Kingdom for all eternity.

In Christ, sin has no power over us. Death has no power over us. All who believe in Jesus' life giving sacrifice shall live in him whether these mortal bodies continue to breath or not; whether we are awake or asleep.

Let us live an abundant life! May God help us to always abide in Christ as we encourage one another to do the same.

God's Peace - Pr. J