Service In The Lord's Army

2 Timothy 2:1-13; All who believe are called to serve in the Lord's Army.

In Word And Deed

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

                                                                        (2 Peter 3:9-12 KJV)

As I was reading Gustaf Wingren's "Gospel and Church" last night it made me consider what kind of holy conversation and godliness we actually carry with us when we leave the church building after worship. Are our hearts and minds so filled with the Good News that we cannot help but carry the message (in words and in deeds) out into the community? Or maybe we've been waiting for the service to get over so we can get on our couches and watch a football game? Maybe you were in such a hurry for worship to be over so that you go and sit alone in your hunting blind so you did not hear the message the pastor was bringing to you. Leisure time is not a bad thing and it can even be a better thing if you are enjoying them with others. But, do not let them become the most important thing. Do not let them become more important than caring for and sharing the love of God with your neighbor.

For indeed, the more important thing is sharing the love of God with those who are in need of either physical assistance or spiritual food which is the word and love of God. That can happen with something as simple as being present for them.

In St. Peter's second letter we are reminded that the Lord is long-suffering and wishes that all people should repent and be saved. He is not willing that any should perish. How will that take if we are not sharing his love by caring for our neighbors and being in community with them?  How will that happen if we don't relieve the heavy burdens that they carry within themselves by reminding them that in Christ their sins are all washed away. They (and we) are forgiven. It definitely won't happen sitting on a couch alone watching very rich false idols. (Yes, I have been warning about these false idols for a few decades and have been asked by parishioners not to do that. LOL I will keep reminding them to beware of false gods.)

In this season of Advent let us not only prepare for the coming of our Lord; but, help others to prepare for it as well and to rejoice in the promised Kingdom of God for all who believe in him. 

May God help us to reveal to others the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Love Or Lust?

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

                                                John 3:16-18 KJV)

It is not so difficult to tell someone that you love them. People do it all the time in order to get something or someone that they desire. But, desire is not love. Lust is not the same as love.

Love is expressed not just with words; but, in the way we treat one another; in what we do for one another. That is not to say that telling others that we love them is totally unnecessary. It can be a great comfort even as using our tongue to let people know that we hate them causes them great distress.

Jesus' love for all of humankind was so great that he was willing to die for us. Is there anyone that you are willing to die for?  Most parents (I believe) would die for their children. But, would you die for a neighbor or for someone that you do not even know so that they might live?

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Love In Deed And Truth

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18 KJV)

I have witnessed a lot of not so loving actions over the past year.  It amazes me that so many profess that we have to have more unity and love; that if we love we will strive for justice for all people. When in fact they speak of love; but, their actions show otherwise. 

Riots that included damage to personal property of others and attacks on others do not in anyway show love of neighbor nor does it show justice. Calls for unity while verbally attacking people who do not agree with one's principals or lack of principals. Verbal attacks can very well be deeds as they are attacks against the spirit. Physically or verbally attacking those who will not compromise their beliefs by encouraging harmful and or sinful behavior is not in any way a show of love. It does do much harm.

We can talk about unity, peace, justice, and love 'till the cows come home. Yet, if out of one side of the mouth we speak of these things and out of the other side comes hatred and false accusations we are only deceiving ourselves when we claim that we love. But, we are not and cannot deceive God regarding the state of our hearts. Until we actually start acting in love toward one another it is just fruitless talk and often harmful speech. 

Jesus showed his love and mercy for us by dying on the cross for us. May God help us to love one another not just with words but in deed and truth. And, may God help us to not compromise the truth. Only when we live in the truth will there be any real semblance of peace and love. We need to quit justifying our sinful behavior by trying to put the blame on others. 

A word of wisdom regarding mercy and truth from Proverbs: 

"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." 

                                                                                    (Prov 16:5-7)

A man's way pleases the Lord when he shows love by acting upon both mercy and truth.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Together We Celebrate The Birth

Gather to Worship
(Heb 10:24-25)

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. (Luke 2:16-20 KJV)

Unlike the shepherds we don't have to get off our couches to celebrate the birth of Christ this year. There doesn't have to be any traveling. We don't have to go to far. Thanks to COVID restrictions many will be making haste to their computer screens this evening and/or tomorrow morning to watch the celebration of the birth of Christ, the one who has made us free to live as children of God. They will be watching. But, there will be no live participation; no interaction. Maybe some will join in the hymns of praise from their living rooms; but, probably not many. 

Many, more fortunate, will also be celebrating the birth of the Son of God in the traditional manner; within congregations, as they glorify and sing praises in the company of other Christians. St. Paul encouraged us to gather together often: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb 10:24-25) 

If you can, go and gather with others to celebrate the birth of our King! But, I hope that no matter where you are observing the birth of our savior from, like the shepherds, you will go and make known to others the good news of this miracle by praising and giving glorify to God in word and deed. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Partners In The Gospel

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:3-6 NIV)

What Christian among us does not thank God often for someone who in their lives has brought the Gospel to them? Without the partnership of others how far would the Good News have reached? 

There were many in my life: grandmothers and other family members, in-laws, neighbors, co-workers. We cannot leave the sharing of the Good News of the Kingdom purchased for you by the blood of Jesus Christ to others. We must all share the loved of God in both word and deed so others might hear and receive and rejoice!

May God help us to be bold partners in the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord and or Savior.

God's Peace - Pr. J