Render To God and Caesar?

Matthew 22:15-22 KJV; 21st Sunday after Pentecost; Matthew 22:35-40; Should Christians serve in public office? Should they be allowed to speak what is on their mind and in their hearts? Just because there are those in the world who would refuse us, we ought to speak out for what is just; what is right.

Refrain From Slander!

Philippians 4:4-8 KJV; Refrain from speaking evil and focus on good reports so that you might rejoice as you live in peace.

Looking Down On Others

Luke 14:7-14 KJV Not a good idea to think more highly of yourself than others.

The Gospel Is The Power Of God Unto Salvation

Reading from Roman 1:15-17 KJV The Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation. St. Paul was not afraid to preach the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ. He was not afraid to die for preaching the truth.

Rejoice And Focus On Good Things

The Just For The Unjust

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

                                                                (1 Pet 3:18-22 KJV)

The just one, Jesus the Christ, died for us the unjust. He sacrificed his body for our sakes. 

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom while he walked upon the earth as true man. Then he sacrificed himself for all of the unjust; for each and every sinner that we might live in that Kingdom in the presence of God. St. Peter tells us that even in death he went and preached the spirits who were in prison; those who had been disobedient in the days of Noah.

The Word of the Lord is meant to be preached to every nation; to every man, woman, and child that they too might hear the Good News and believe.

It is by hearing the Word that we come to faith and by faith alone in the Word alone who is Jesus the Christ we are saved.

Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Instruct Those Who Would Hear

He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

                                                                                                     (Prov 9:7-10 KJV)

There is only one God. As our Small Catechism teaches we: "We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things."

This one God loves us and was and is willing to give all to us. Not everyone understands this nor does everyone want to. There are times, after a person attempts to share the Good News that our God would have everyone receive, that one must shake the dust off of their feet and walk away. There are plenty of others yearning to hear the Good News of the kingdom through Jesus the Christ. They yearn for it so it would behoove us to ensure that they get to hear it. 

"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." (Matt 10:14)

God grant that the ears of all people be opened to hear this Good News and to receive it as a blessed promise to them through Jesus Christ our Lord and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Do Not Fear The Dead

And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 

                                                                                                          (Mark 6:14-20 KJV)

John the Baptist had made Herod just a bit anxious.  Herod had married his brother's wife and John had called him out for it. His wife, Herodias, wanted John killed. But, Herod would not kill. He did; however, through him into prison. Eventually Herodias tricked Herod into beheading John.  So when King Herod heard about Jesus he got nervous as he thought it was possible that John that Baptist may have risen from the dead. He know that John had been a just and holy man and was most probably anxious that this holy man had come back to trouble him some more about his illegitimate wife.

John did not come back from the dead to torment anyone. But, Jesus who was crucified for our sakes did. He did not come back to torture us but to save us. By his death and resurrection it has been confirmed that all who believe in him will not perish but have everlasting life. 

No one who believes that Jesus died and lives again should ever fear the dead. Jesus came to save you. He has risen from the dead! 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Woe To The Oppressor

"Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!" (Zeph 3:1 KJV)

Woe to those who oppress others. Woe to those who neglect and abuse others, whether it is by word or deed that is either done or left undone! Woe to those who continue in their unrighteous ways and know no shame. What is with that, anyway? What good is in it for anyone who persecutes others unjustly?

God dispenses justice. He so wants to dispense mercy and grace to all of His children. He so desires that His children would turn to Him and love Him even as He loves them. But, anger abounds; jealousy lives, and greed survives.

But, the story does not have an unhappy ending for those who love Him. He will save! He does save! He is with the oppressed. He is with the abused and neglected. He is, even now, gathering those who love Him, into the Kingdom that is prepared for us by Jesus Christ, our LORD.

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matt 5:8)

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Just Shall Live By Faith

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

                                                                                  (Rom 1:15-17 KJV)

Paul was eventually taken to Rome where he would be executed. He was fully prepared to go to his death if it afforded him the opportunity to share the Good News of Christ. This man who once put fear in the hearts of men was not afraid to die in order that by faith all who believe in the life giving death of Jesus the Christ would be found righteous in the eyes of God. All who believe; no matter who they are or what they had done, who receive life in the eternal presence of God.

It is not because he proclaimed the Good News that Paul is considered righteous before God. He proclaimed the Good News because he knew that he was considered righteous by faith in the One who loved him so much that he was willing to die for him.

Paul took Jesus' words literally. "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23) By faith alone in Christ alone, Paul gave up his old life to follow Jesus even to his own execution.

Let us not be ashamed or afraid to share the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God unto salvation for all who believes!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Confess The Truth?

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9 NRSV)

Let us not miss the word confess in the verses from 1 John. All too often, I have heard apologies without the person who is apologizing even being able to recognize what they are apologizing for. They might apologize for hurting you or someone else; for disappointing you. They might apologize for not doing what they were responsible for doing. But, do they really acknowledge that they did something they ought not have done or neglected to do something that they promised to do? 

Is just saying "I'm sorry" enough to be reconciled to others if we cannot acknowledge the sin that we have been committing and change? Sooner or later others will recognize that we have not been speaking the truth when we apologized. Failure to recognize the sin in us is a failure to recognize Jesus the Christ who is the truth. Do we think that he is so limited in nature that he cannot see beyond the walls we, ourselves, have attempted to hide behind?

Jesus tells us: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) There is no sense in trying to hide the truth of our sins from ourselves or anyone else. The truth is that Jesus knows what goes on in our lives that others may not be able to see. He knows the real motivation for what we do or do not do. He knows our inmost thoughts. We cannot hide our sins from God; so may as well get it over with; confess our sins; and live life reconciled to God and one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Do What Is Right

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 NRSV)

Sometimes, a whole lot of things going on in the world around us do not seem the least bit honorable or just. It can be difficult to switch our focus to good things; to things worthy of praise when children are being attacked for political purposes; and, when elected representatives smile as they sign the bill to kill babies. And... there is much worse going on in the world. It seems the devil has taken way more than a foothold in this world. 

There is much good in the world. God has made it that way. But, the devil is working pretty hard at making it not so. Think on and focus on the good things and fight the good fight for the good of all people.  

Yes, it is most necessary for Christians to engage in the battle against evil speaking the truth for the good of all people. But, we must also always remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood. It is against the devil and his minions. The battle can be horrific. But, it must be fought. It will be fought with words and hopefully those words are based on the Word of God. If not, we will lose our part of the battle. We must trust Him to be with us throughout the battle. He will arm us so that we might do His will, doing what is honorable and just in the face of much adversity.   

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

                                                                                   (Eph 6:10-18)

The battle cannot be won without much prayer. Think and pray and act on those good things that please the Lord. Ask and we shall receive the wisdom, the strength, and the courage to proclaim the truth, act justly, to do what is pleasing in His sight so that He will be glorified and praised in all the world. It is not easy. But, it is right. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Resist and Repent

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 NIV

Are things going badly for you? Does it seem like you're being attacked because you're not getting your way? Maybe, it is time to consider that you've managed to become partner with the devil. Maybe, your focus has been solely on things of this world rather than seeking the kingdom of God. Maybe, just maybe, it is time to repent.

John wrote, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9)

Acknowledging that we have sinned against God; that we have put ourselves before God and before our neighbors is necessary for us to be able to turn our lives around. If we cannot acknowledge that we have been following the devil and seeking riches, power, glory for ourselves than there is no understanding that we might even need to repent; to turn away from the devil, and we will continue to be pulled into his ways to the detriment of ourselves and the people around us; even to the detriment of the church on earth. But, if we repent, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins.

The devil has no power over us except for the power that we give to him. Resist the devil in the mighty name of Jesus and he will flee from you. Resist the temptations to lift yourself above God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and you will know and live an abundant life beyond what you can possibly imagine. It is not a life of wealth and power and glory for yourself; but, of living in the presence of the glory of God.

Submit to God and know the peace that only He can give.

God's Peace - Pr. J