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The Kingdom Of God; Our Ultimate Concern

We should have no other gods!

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

                                                                  (Matt 6:20-21 KJV)

Money is a necessity. We need it in this world today to eat; to have shelter; to have medical care. We even need it to find a job in order to have enough money to take care of these necessities as we may need gas for a vehicle or enough cash for Uber, appropriate clothes for the position, water for bathing before the interview, and the list goes on.

But, in Matthew we hear Jesus tell us not to set our hearts on these things. He is not telling us that we do not need them or should not have them. We do need them and we should trust God to provide these things. Of course, we don't get to sit at home doing nothing but watching television or playing video games in order to have these necessities. They are not going to drop from the sky like the manna fell for Moses' clan. St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:  

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. (2 Thess 3:10-12)

Yes, there is a need to focus on taking care of those things to sustain physical life while we live and breathe here on earth. But, money and things cannot be our  only focus or our ultimate concern. We are not only physical beings with expiration dates; we are also spiritual beings and all who believe in Jesus belong to that eternal Kingdom of God.

What Jesus is reminding us in the verses from Matthew is that we must be careful. As we amass earthly treasures, things like greed can sink into our hearts and the treasures we seek can easily become false gods taking over our whole lives. It is a reminder that the one true God and His Kingdom should be our ultimate concern. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Choose Justice; Choose Peace

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

                      (Prov 13:20-21 KJV)

I have been accused of being legalistic on more than one occasion. I am not (at least not usually). I have been accused of it because I truly prefer to attempt to obey the law and not offend God or harm any other persons.  I would genuinely love to live in peace. I consider obeying the law, no matter how trivial the law may seem, as a small way to keep peace around me and in the world. I am not saying that I never break the law. We all sin in some ways and breaking the law is sin because it causes a break in community. Sometimes, we do this with intent. At other times, it just happens. It may possibly "just happen" because we haven't bothered to think about the consequences of our words or actions. Often, our desire to break with the law, causes damage to ourselves or others. There are  consequences to our words and actions whether good or bad.

However, there are times, that we might (must) act in peaceful civil disobedience for the good of others; for the sake of justice. When we do this we also acknowledge that there still may be consequences. This is also not to say that there are not any times when we  might actually have to defend ourselves or others for the sake of justice and hopefully peace. Conflicts and wars are, at times, necessary to protect ourselves or others.

But, to follow in the ways of anyone whose purpose is solely to profit themselves without considering others is not the wise path to follow. There will be consequences. Hanging out with those who would consistently do what might harm others; that might harm society as a whole, is not wise. It will lead you on a path that is not according to the will of God. That also is not to say that you should never minister to them. We definitely should. But, do so with the integrity and with the strength to say no when you are invited to join in the sinful; the unlawful, way.  

Choose justice. Choose to live in peace and do what is right in the eyes of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

A Time To Refrain From Embracing

A Time and Season for Everything

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Eccl 3:1-8 KJV

There is a time and a season for everything. Covid-19 has pretty much dictated to the world that it is a time to refrain from embracing depending upon who it is that you plan on embracing. If it's your children or spouse and you have been practicing safe distancing in public, embracing may be crucial to the mental health of your loved one and yourself. As hard as it might be for "huggers", if it's someone outside of your own household then it is not a very good idea at this time.

The world is going through a tough time right now. But, do not worry. This too shall pass for we know that there is a time and a season for everything and there will once again be a time for embracing. In the meantime, we can embrace one another with the words of our lips as we encourage one another. We can embrace one another by helping to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless by whatever means that are available to us. We can embrace one another with words of comfort and with prayer.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we ask you to comfort all in any sorrow or need. Embrace them with your loving arms; embrace them by the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus's name. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Treasures

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 

                                                  (Matt 6:19-21 KJV)

Where do you invest your time; your talents; all the gifts that God has given you? Do you enjoy those gifts? There is only one place where you will find real joy. That place is in relationship with Jesus Christ and with others around you. Some things are necessary: food, shelter, heat, clothing. Other things are not. They are luxuries. They can be excess baggage that steal away our time and our opportunity to be in caring and loving relationships. 

The greatest treasure of God is being able to live in relationship with God and our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Kingdom of God. May God help us to seek His Kingdom that we might know what a treasure living in His presence really is.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Celebrations Within The Body Of Christ

First Communion

Sean and Paige with Council President, Pat Ganster

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. (1 Cor 10:16-17 NRSV)

I see many daily posts on Facebook from friends who post what they are thankful for. Yesterday, was one of those days that was just full of reasons for thanksgiving for the members of my local church family; all members of the one body.

First, Sean and Paige, two of our young people, who were baptized this past year received their first Communion yesterday. Celebrations of youth who are actively involved in getting to know Jesus truly are joyous celebrations. Everyone loves a celebration. Everyone loves a Baptism. It brings joy to the hearts of the members of the Body of Christ to see young people who desire to share in the body and blood of our Savior; who desire to become members of his body. We are thankful that generations after us have been filled with the desire to know Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God! 

Secondly; we have waited for a long time to hear that Sunnie, a faithful young woman from our church family, would receive her heart transplant. She has struggled with machines and hospital visits with a hope that seemed to have been dashed to the ground an awful lot for about ten years. None of us expected that she would suddenly receive a heart. She had been taken off of the transplant list because her health was failing. But, this past week she was put back on and miraculously received the gift of a new heart yesterday. The surgery was a success. We are so thankful that she will be able to live her life more fully thanks to the gift of a heart by her donor and their family. But, we are also aware that post-surgery recovery for a heart transplant is not easy and ask that you pray for Sunnie's complete recovery. 

As member's of the one body, we thank God for the gift of life here in this world and in the eternal Kingdom given to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Real Treaures

This cross was a gift from the Sunday School at my last

congregation. Real treasures are not things. The real treasure 

is living in relationship with God and with one another.

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt 6:19-21 NRSV)

Where is your treasure? Where is your heart? In this world? In this physical world or in the Kingdom that Jesus has prepared for you? What treasure could be greater than being reconciled to God our Father? Expensive cars? Huge homes? A closet full of designer clothes? Expensive jewelry? What? Fame? Fortune? What treasures in this world demand your attention at the expense of a relationship with God our Father, God our Savior, God our Comforter? 

Do you love God? Do you truly love Him? Where your treasure is, there your heart is! Get real! 

God grant that all eyes would be opened so that the real treasure given to us through Jesus Christ our Lord might be revealed. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

No Gossiping

The Eighth Commandment.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, [think and] speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

 

"Sticks and stones can break your bones; but, words can never hurt you." Wrong, words can kill! They can destroy life. They can kill a spirit and; yes, they can even lead to death of the body in a whole variety of ways. Think about the one who is on trial and someone would bear false witness against him or her sending them to prison for life or aid in that person receiving a death sentence. Think about the young woman or man who is trying to overcome obstacles and bullies continue to beat them down with words. Not only can this lead to a loss of an abundant and joyful life; it can lead to serious depression and in some cases suicide. Consider the married person falsely accused of adultery, what will their partner, who in their pain and anger, do to the ones he or she feels has betrayed him?

 

Do not deceive yourselves. There are no little white lies when it comes to bearing false witness against your neighbor. Lies will destroy your neighbor. Lies will destroy your family. Lies can divide and destroy whole communities and countries. Lies will destroy you.

 

God does not desire that anyone be harmed in any way. May He help us all to speak with integrity and to help our neighbors when they are down.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J