Probationer Shown No Mercy

Reading from Luke 10:25-37 KJV; who has mercy upon the neighbor who had fallen on the wayside? Who will have mercy on the probationer who through no fault of his own misses his court ordered appointment?

Dubious Accusations

And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.

To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

                                                                             (Acts 25:14-20 KJV)

Paul finds himself in custody; being questioned by Festus; being accused of things that are not even criminal offenses by the Jews. Paul has challenged them to send him to Caesar to be tried since it is his right as a Roman citizen. But, Festus can find no charge that he can bring to warrant sending Paul to trial.

We see it all the time. People are falsely accused publicly. Reporters seem to be  getting real good at it in recent years.  They judge situations before all of the story is actually in. The stories explode without the truth ever being uncovered. By the time the accusations get to court, everyone has their opinions about guilt or innocence based on biased reports; sometimes out right lies. Innocent men and women's reputations are dragged through the mud without any good cause.

Usually the cause has to do with things like a desire for things that don't belong to you or maybe just a desire for more power. Forget your ego; forget your desire for power. Live life and let others live their lives as well! 

There is enough real crime in the world to have to deal with. Why waste anyone's time with petty and slanderous disputes? Petty disputes can be taken care of without going to court. All it takes is a little bit of empathy and the willingness to listen to and to talk to one another without attacking them. 

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 

                                                                                          (Col 3:12-15)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Shepherds Will Be Accountable

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock.  Ezekiel 34:7-10 NIV

How many times have we heard that children have no respect for adults; that there are so few with any kind of work ethic in this country; or that we have too many "entitled" people living in this country?  We blame the high crime rates and the poverty in this country on anything and everyone else; but, ourselves. We blame it on the schools. We blame it on the government. We blame it on Madeline O'Hare or maybe even Darwin. The truth is none of these are to blame for the lack of faithfulness and consequently the lack of morals or ethics in this country. The church is. The shepherds need to stand up and take accountability for the false teachings that they have promulgated.

If this country is and was actually a Christian Nation then why have Christians stood back while all these things we claim to detest become so predominant? Who was teaching and preaching the way of the Lord and his promises to those who believe in him? Who was and is standing on the Word? I don't mean the word that's been twisted around to please the itching ears of the people for that is exactly what has led to the sheep being scattered and wandering about lost in the first place.

I remember even as a teen-ager wondering why pastors taught something contrary to the word of God. Yes, even discerning teen-agers can know when a pastor is being faithful to the Word and when he or she is telling stories to ensure his or her salary; his or her pension; his or home medical insurance; and, the list goes on. This is not a new thing. It has been going on for a very long time; even before the time of Ezekiel.

The Lord reminds us over and over again throughout scripture to beware of false shepherds who have left the sheep to become food for wild animals; to become prey to a world who would overrun and destroy them.

It is not the governments fault nor even Madeline O'Hare's fault if the shepherds stood back accepting another truth and preaching the same. It is no one's fault; but, our own if the shepherds would not stand up and on the Word of God. If you're upset because the cross or nativity scene or even the ten commandments cannot be displayed in public consider this:  As a Christian are they on display in your own yard; in your own home; even at your place of worship? Christians should not expect the world to conform to traditions, or ethics, or morals, or to walk in the way that Jesus would have us go, if we, ourselves, are not willing.

If you feel that Christians are losing ground in this country; if you feel the church is diminishing, ask yourself if you are going to be part of the problem or a part of the solution. Who do you think that the Lord is going to hold accountable for leading so many astray?

May God fill not just the shepherds; but, the sheep, as well, with the Holy Spirit so that we might be empowered to stand fast on the Word of God and proclaiming it faithfully to all of the world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Thou Shalt Not Kill!

The Fifth Commandment.

Thou shalt not kill.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need [in every need and danger of life and body].

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

 

Many years ago, while we were living in Rota, Spain, a young Marine was released from Spanish prison. His crime had been that he had witnessed a taxi cab driver being beaten and he had not gone to his aid.

 

So many times witnesses to crimes will not only not aid the victim; they do not even have the courage or integrity to come forward as witnesses so that the suspect can be duly prosecuted. We don't like to make enemies. We may fear for our own safety or we might think that the crime was justified or maybe we just don't care; so we do nothing.

 

We learn that the fifth commandment goes beyond commanding us to not personally kill anyone; but, that we are to befriend and even defend those who are in any danger.

 

May God help us to love enough to be willing to step forward and help and befriend our neighbors in every need.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J