Wipe The Dismal Look Off Of Your Face, Please!

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."                                                                             (Matthew 6:1, 16-18 NRSV)

The look of the dismally pious has a tendency to make me wonder who they think they are fooling. Do they not understand that when many of us see pious, dismal looking Christians we do wonder whom they are truly serving? Are they serving God or themselves? Witnessing people serving the Lord, with love, usually brings a smile to my face and joy in my heart because those who are truly serving the Lord and not doing works to get the approval of humankind or trying to win their way in to heaven are very grateful to have the opportunity to serve Him. Whether we are serving the Lord out of love for him or out of self-righteousness is usually visible on our faces; in our very demeanor.

I am not saying that you should be walking around happy, happy, happy all of the time. I am simply saying that if you never find joy in your Sunday routine of worshipping the Lord simply because it is nothing more than a routine for you; if you never find joy in helping your neighbor or visiting a sick friend in the hospital; if you never find joy in serving the Lord by serving others then there is a problem. 

Worshipping and serving the Lord is not a mere ritual that will keep you from the fires of hell. Worshipping and serving the Lord is an act of love. Because he first loved us, we love him. And, as the song goes, "They will know we are Christians by our love." (John 13:34-35)

As you follow in the footsteps of Jesus, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites; but, rejoice for in him for you have been reconciled to God our Father. Rejoice, for you who were not his children are now his children! The gates to paradise have been opened for you. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Take Up Your Cross

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  (Mark 8:34)

Ash Wednesday is less than a week away followed by the season that we call Lent. During Lent it is traditional to give up something that we enjoy. We will fast. We will not, with the help of God, break that fast until Easter Sunday.

In these days before Lent begins I would ask you to consider what indulgence you might give up. Many give up certain foods. Others attempt to give up bad habits. How about giving up some of you personal time to serve others; maybe to spend more time at worship or in Bible study with others. Or, how about taking an extra hour or two each day to spend that time in prayer for the church and for all of God's creation?

But, no matter what it is that we give up for Lent, we ought not think of it as a sacrifice. There is nothing that can compare to the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for us.

But; after all our plans are made, if we are honest with ourselves, we will say, "I cannot even pick up my own cross and follow Jesus to his cross." May God help me! And, he will. And, he has. He will be with you no matter how large or small your cross is.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30_

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Run The Race!

"Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.  Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one."  1 Cor 9:23-25

Before the sun comes up, I sometimes find myself thinking about running for exercise. Actually; lately, the thoughts tend more toward a real fast walk. This thinking about it doesn't burn me any calories though. It doesn't lose me any weight. It doesn't do my body any good. When I rise, I go about morning devotions and then to work. I can usually find a few minutes to exercise in the living room a couple of times a week. But, I always put off the running 'till another day. I do not exercise a lot of self-control or discipline when it comes to physical exercise.

St. Paul compared the discipline runners employ to the discipline that we need to exercise in order to be spiritually healthy so that when we finish the race here on earth we will receive the imperishable prize that has been prepared for us. We do not want any one to procrastinate and say "I'll get to know this Jesus you talk about, later. I'll have more time to follow him after I retire. I'll have more time to serve, tomorrow." For procrastinators, tomorrow rarely comes. Tomorrow may be too late. Today is the day to get to know Jesus and to live in his presence; in his Kingdom.

Jesus died for you. He died so that all people might live in the presence of God our Father for all eternity. What are you waiting for? The time is now. The Kingdom of God is at hand.

God's Peace - Pr. J  

God Is With You Everywhere You Are

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:7-10

I often hear things coming out of the lips of Christians that make me wonder if they truly realize that there is nothing we can do or say that God is not aware of. If Jesus were standing right in front or beside you, would you do what you are doing; say what you are saying?

The reality is that he is right beside you. There is no place in the world that you can go to hide from the Spirit of God. He is with you always to guide you. Listen to him. Follow in his footsteps; wherever they will lead you.

May the Lord, our God, make known his presence to you.

God's Peace - Pr. J