Teach Me Your Way

Psalm 25:1-10 KJV; 1st Sunday in Lent; Teach me your ways according to your mercy and lovingkindness.

He Forgets Our Sins

Psalm 25:1-10 KJV

Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.

Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

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How many things have you done that you wish you could forget that you ever did? We can't go back and not do them. They cannot be undone. The world may them forever against you. But, God does not. Even as he forgives us our sins; he can use them to help us grow. He can use those things to turn around and follow in the way that He has shown us through Jesus the Christ, our Savior and Lord. Through Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit he has put within our hearts the desire to do what is good and right in His eyes.

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."  (Heb 10:16-17)

Those things that we wish we had never done will come back to haunt us now and then. We will never completely forget the wrong that we have done. But, the word of the Lord tells us that the Lord our God out of His great mercy and love for us forgets them. The slate has been wiped clean by the blood of Jesus the Christ.

Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Rainbow of Hope

And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.  

                                                                                                                  (Gen 9:8-17 KJV)

It has rained a lot here in Florida this past month. The water in my back yard is over my ankles. I do enjoy a nice rainfall but after awhile it can be a bit dreary. I can't begin to imagine what it would have been like to be stuck in a boat floating on endless water with the rain coming down for forty days knowing that the rest of humanity has been drowned. I am sure that near the end of that time I would have been thinking that I would be spending the rest of my life bobbing up and down in the stormy sea for the rest of my life. But, the rain does stop and God provides a rainbow which is a sign of the covenant he makes that he will never again destroy all of the people of the world in a flood.

Our lives can be flooded with misfortune from time to time. When we feel down the sight of a rainbow fills us with hope that the storm will subside as we are reminded of God's promise and not just the promise given in that covenant made with Noah. When I see the rainbow, I am always refreshed knowing that through Jesus we have a new covenant has been established for all people. By faith in Christ we have been reconciled to God our Father. 

"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."                                                                                                                   (Eph 2:12-13)

Thanks be to God for Jesus the Christ who is our hope and our salvation.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The New Covenant

 

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 

                                                                               (Jer 31:31-34 KJV)

The promise of a new covenant has been fulfilled. It was sealed by the blood of Jesus. The old covenant was too much for humankind. We could not keep our end of the agreement. We could not keep the law. But, this new covenant is not dependent on our promise. It is not dependent upon our good works or the keeping of the law. This new covenant is solely dependent upon our God who can and does keep His promises. It rests solely on God's grace alone through faith alone. 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Eph 2:8)

In Christ your sins are forgiven and you are reconciled to God our Father for all of eternity!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Sacrifice

 

Psalm 50:1-6 KJV

The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

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There is nothing that we can sacrifice to seal the covenant with God. There are no good works that we can accomplish that will cover our sinful ways. We have all fallen short of keeping the first covenant; the covenant of law. We have found that we are incapable of keeping the letter of the law as was given to Moses.

Our hope is found in faith alone in Christ alone who willingly became the sacrifice for us that the new covenant might be sealed with his precious blood. We are sinners; yet, we have become God's saints because of Jesus' sacrifice and not because of any good thing that we have done or sacrificed. By his blood we have been washed clean. 

John's greeting in the letter to the seven churches reveals his vision affirming that it is by the blood of Christ that has united with God and his Father.

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Rev 1:5-6)

May God help us to trust in Christ alone for our salvation.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Praise Ye The Lord

PSALM 111 KJV

Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

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The works of the Lord are glorious. When you consider all that He has done for you, you will praise Him with your whole heart!

Trust in the Lord for He has and will do marvelous things. He alone has power and wisdom and strength above all things. This God is your God. He has saved you. Give Him praise and thanks!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rainbow Of Promise And Hope

 

"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” Gen 9:16 KJV

I haven't seen a rainbow in a few months. I, like most people, get tired and weary at times. Every once in awhile, I would like to see a rainbow to remind me that God is with me; to remind me of his promises; to remind me of His glory. In Ezekiel's visions of God he saw the glory of God. "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.." Ezekiel 1:28

We have many dreary days; days when we just can't see the glory of God; days when there are no rainbows. There may be no rainbows today; but, we will always have the cross. In the cross there is always hope.

May God grant you eternal hope in the victory won for you on the cross by Jesus Christ our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Covenant of Love

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

                                                                               (Heb 8:10-12 KJV)

Thanks be to God for the new covenant in Christ!

Jesus established the new covenant making the old one obsolete. The old covenant consisted of law. It consisted of what we must do. In following the law; although, we often try, we all fail miserably. So, in His wisdom and love God, sent His Son, as high priest, to make the ultimate sacrifice for us establishing a new covenant between God and man.

This new covenant is not about what we must do; but, what God has done for us. 

Thanks be God for His love and mercy is great!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Symbol of Hope

"When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” Gen 9:16

I haven't seen a rainbow in a few months. I am human. I get tired and weary at times. Every once in awhile, I would like to see a rainbow to remind me that God is with me; to remind me of His glory.  In Ezekiel's visions of God he saw the glory of God. "Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord."  Ezekiel 1:28

We have many dreary days; days when we just can't see the glory of God; days when there are no rainbows. There may be no rainbows today; but, we will always have the cross. In the cross there is always hope.

May God grant you eternal hope in the victory won for you on the cross, by Jesus Christ our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Time For Change?

They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”

Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”

                                                                                                                Luke 5:33-39 NIV

Sometimes, change is okay. Sometimes, change is required for new or renewed life. Not everyone in Jesus' time on earth was happy about the fact that his disciples spent more time eating and drinking than fasting and praying. There are appropriate times for things and while Jesus was with them there were more important things for them to do than focus on fasting. They were busy learning and serving.  

Being open to what others are being called to sometimes means we have to change our ways of thinking and our ways of doing just a bit. Sometimes, we have to change a whole lot. I've heard all too often "this is the way we've always done it."  For some reason we like to think that the old is better. Sometimes, it may be. Sometimes, it definitely is not. Sometimes, the new is better. We must be open to change or we'll be stuck in an old testament life instead of rejoicing in the promise of the new covenant with Jesus Christ our Lord.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. (Eccl 3:1) 

God grant that hearts and minds be open to changes that may be needed according to His times and seasons.

God's Peace - Pr. J

When You Abuse Others; You Abuse Jesus

 

     “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

   “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

   “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

   “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’"

                                                                                                      Matthew 25:37-46 NIV

I have had a lot to think about over night. I spent yesterday at the Sheriff's Department in Domestic Violence Training for clergy. I've been around for awhile so I'm pretty well aware of all of the symptoms and signs of abuse as I have witnessed a lot of it. But, I needed some help in what I, as a pastor, could possible do about it. How do I confront it in a way that is helpful to the survivor (and prayerfully there is a survivor)?

Often Christian survivors of abuse will make excuses; justify the abuser's actions, by using misperceived notions about what God demands of them in a relationship. They actually use scripture to justify the abuser's actions. They assume that God would want them to keep the vows that they made to obey the other without considering that Jesus has commanded us to love one another. Abuse is not love. We are to love one another even as Jesus loves us. Jesus does not and has not ever abused us. He has only loved us so unconditionally that he was willing to be abused for us! When someone abuses the person they have promised to love for the rest of their lives they have already broken the covenant that's been made between the two of them. The survivor should not feel as though they bear the burden of guilt for the broken covenant. (Psalms 55:20-21)

Jesus told the disciples and he tells us that what we do to others, and that includes our spouses, we do to Jesus. Would you really assault Jesus? Would you make excuses for anyone abusing Jesus?

What we do to others we do to Jesus!

May God teach us to love Him and others even as He loves us all.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Covenant of Hope

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” (Genesis 9:13-16 NIV)

I have been listening to "Over the Rainbow" by Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwoʻole a lot lately. Iz was thirty-eight when he died in 1997. He had suffered many health problems during his life. In spite of his many health problems during his life, his music, especially this song, was filled with hope and with life. His music lives on.

God made a covenant with His people with the sign of the rainbow. He made a new covenant with us through the blood shed for us through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. There is always hope because we have Jesus as our Lord and our Savior.

As Hurricane Irma threatens the lives of property and many people, there is only one place that I know that I or anyone can go to in times like this to find comfort and reassurance. Only, at the feet of Jesus, can we find comfort and hope. Only at the feet of Jesus can we know a peace when danger is near.

May God grant comfort and peace to all who fear the coming days in the remembrance of the promise of life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

A Symbol Of Hope

"When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” Gen 9:16

I can't remember the last time I saw a rainbow. I am human. I get tired and weary at times. Every once in awhile, I would like to see a rainbow to remind me that God is with me; to remind of His promise; to remind me of His glory.  In Ezekiel's visions of God he saw the glory of God. "Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord."  Ezekiel 1:28

We have many dreary days; days when we just can't see the glory of God; days when there are no rainbows. There may be no rainbows today; but, we will always have the cross. In the cross there is always hope.

May God grant you eternal hope in the victory won for you on the cross, by Jesus Christ our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Lord Our God Is A Loving God

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."  (Deut 7:9 NIV)

Yes! This is the truth: The Lord our God is God! There is no other that we can so fully trust. There is no other that will love His children as He loves us.

I look back on my years and realize how much time was wasted not worshipping Him; not loving Him; not following in the Way that He would have me go. As faithful as He is to us; we find ourselves confessing that we are not faithful to Him. Not a one of us can love Him as He loves us. But, that should not stop us from trying. Our inability to love as He loves should not stop us from attempting to focus and walk in His Way more fully.

We may stray, even daily; but, God who is faithful will continue to love us. Thanks be to God that the Lord our God is God and we are not!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Our Hope

Our covenant is a covenant of hope in Christ Jesus, our Lord!

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV

I must confess that every now and then any semblance of gentleness and respect in me flies out the window. It doesn't happen often and I am usually sorry that I was not more gentle later. Yes, I am sorry when I correct people, not so gently. When it does happen, it is usually when their egos threaten to override anything that would glorify God. When the hope that we have in Christ Jesus becomes hope in the works of people, I get just a little frustrated. I get frustrated when "Christians" who have been "Christians" most of their lives put their own desires before the will of God; forgetting that Jesus is Lord of all; forgetting that our mission is to serve others as Jesus did and does rather than serve ourselves.

Our hope is not in what we or anyone else can do or will attempt to do. Our hope is in the life-giving sacrifice of Jesus for all people. Our hope is in the Kingdom to which Jesus opened the doors to all who would believe in him. Our hope is in Jesus. Our hearts shall revere him above all others, and most definitely above ourselves.

May God help us to be able to speak clearly and gently as we profess that Jesus (and no other) is Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Live By The Spirit

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Cor 3:6

Oh, yes! The letter of the law can indeed kill our spirit to move forward. It can kill our desire to do anything. But, the Spirit gives life to life here in this world. The Spirit gives us hope to continue forward. It empowers us to do what is good for others. The Spirit empowers us to love and serve our God and our neighbors wherever they may be.

Such a horrible waste of life to life imprisoned by the letter of the law. We have been freed from the letter of the law to live by the Spirit, by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God help us to not succumb to the bondage that we were once under; but, to freely live by the Spirit of the law, which is love. Therefore; in the Spirit of love that God has for us let us all love enough to show justice, have mercy, and feed His sheep!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Covenant With Hope

 

     "I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

     So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

                                                                                                                              Genesis 9:15-17

I cannot help but smile when I see a rainbow in the skies after a dark and rainy day. The darkness that often comes with rainy days brings about a gloominess all on its own. But, the rainbow brings us a brighter day. It is a source of hope. I wonder though, if the rainbow is really so beautiful in itself? Are we really so amazed at the show of colors and light or do we find it so beautiful because we know of its true source; because, we know of the covenant that is attached to its' presence?

Whatever the genuine reason is for the world to look upon the rainbow with hope and with joy, the fact is that it is a gift from God. It is a reminder that God watches over us. He is with us, even now, and desires that we should all live in hope of a blessed life in His presence.

The rainbow is God's sign of His covenant with all living creatures that life on earth would never again be so devastated by a flood. It pertains to life in this world. But, we have a new covenant sealed by the precious blood of Jesus. Whoever believes in him will be blessed with eternal life in His presence; in His Kingdom.

The sign of the rainbow may bring a smile to our faces; but, the sign of the cross brings us hope in eternal life.

God's Peace - Pr. J