Love Fulfills The Law

Romans 13:8-10 KJV; Love is the fulfillment of the law.

Sermon on the Hillside

Matthew 5:21-37 KJV; We are sinners that's for sure! None of us can keep the spirit of the law. Thanks be to God for the sacrifice our Lord Jesus made for us. 

The Lord Knows The Heart Of The One He Elects

Reading from 1 Samuel 16:1-7; Consider talking to God and then listening before you vote.

No One Is Good

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

                                                                        ( Mark 10:17-22 KJV)

No one is good. No, not one. We cannot do enough good things to save ourselves. If we do any good things is because of the Spirit of Christ that abides in us and guides us. His love inspires us to follow him reaching out and helping others.

What then is required to inherit eternal life? To give everything for the sake of others?  To put others before yourself? That's what Jesus himself did. He was willing to give even his last breath on earth that we might be reconciled to our Father in heaven for all of eternity.

There will come a day when we will realize that the possessions we have on earth count for nothing as we stand before the King of Creation. There will come a day when in humility we understand the lust for power was misplaced.  

It is in the giving of ourselves and all that we are to others that we are lifted up even as Christ was lifted up on the cross that all who would believe in him would inherit eternal life.

We are saved by faith alone in Christ alone.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Gospel Of The Kingdom

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

                                                                             (Matt 24:3-13 KJV)

I have been hearing doomsday warning since I was a very little girl clinging to my grandmother's skirts. All of the travesties have been occurring my entire life. One think has not. The gospel of the kingdom has not been preached in all the world. Many have not heard the good news that all who believe Jesus' message of the kingdom for all who believe. It has not been heard because even within many churches the good news has been relegated to things of the kingdom like love or peace. I do not mean to downplay the attributes of love and peace. Love and peace surely belong to the kingdom. However, the kingdom must come in its fullness for love and peace to be fully realized.

There are many sorrows in the world today. There have always been and they will continue until the gospel, the good news of the kingdom is actually preached in all of the world. 

May God empower everyone of His children with the courage and wisdom to proclaim this good news!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Time To Live In Love

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 KJV

Each new day brings us something different. There is a time for everything. Some of us may think that we're stuck in a rut. If we are it may just be because we have not opened our eyes to see the opportunities nor the challenges that each day presents to us. We have not asked God to empower us with the Holy Spirit to help us to overcome those challenges.

None of the milestones or challenges or knowledge or even wisdom is new to the world. What we know and experience today has been experienced by others before. The world around us might feel like it's falling apart. But, others have survived. They have gotten through the rough times and have experienced some of the most precious gifts that God has given us.

Consider well if today is to be the time for love; for peace; for healing, for  embracing; for laughing and dancing. Is it the time to plant and to not only keep but use the time God has given us to do good and to not harm? 

Not sure about you; but, in this time of self-fulfillment and personal agendas, I am ready to see some reconciliation in this world. It is about time. May God help us to love even as He loves and to live in peace with one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

A Time To Refrain From Embracing

A Time and Season for Everything

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Eccl 3:1-8 KJV

There is a time and a season for everything. Covid-19 has pretty much dictated to the world that it is a time to refrain from embracing depending upon who it is that you plan on embracing. If it's your children or spouse and you have been practicing safe distancing in public, embracing may be crucial to the mental health of your loved one and yourself. As hard as it might be for "huggers", if it's someone outside of your own household then it is not a very good idea at this time.

The world is going through a tough time right now. But, do not worry. This too shall pass for we know that there is a time and a season for everything and there will once again be a time for embracing. In the meantime, we can embrace one another with the words of our lips as we encourage one another. We can embrace one another by helping to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless by whatever means that are available to us. We can embrace one another with words of comfort and with prayer.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we ask you to comfort all in any sorrow or need. Embrace them with your loving arms; embrace them by the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus's name. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Fear Nothing

Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. With the Lord on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me? (Psalm 118:5-6 NRSV)

Fear is a horrible thing. Fear of failure is one of the most horrible of all. It will stop us in our tracks. It will keep us from trusting our own abilities. It will keep us from reaching out to others for help, for love, for anything. Fear will destroy any chances of happiness; any chances of joy or peace. Fear will keep us from glorifying God.

What can man do to us? Humankind can do nothing to us without the Lord knowing. Often when I faced things that might make me a few powerful enemies, I considered what Jesus told his followers: "Do not fear, those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt 10:28) We are to fear no one.  After all, what can humankind do to us that would be worse than being separated from God forever? Throw us in jail? Kill us? There is nothing worse than not knowing the love of God. There is nothing worse than not abiding in Christ and in the Kingdom of God. There is nothing anyone can do because they do not have the authority to take away the inheritance that was purchased for us by the blood of Jesus.

All who love the Lord and abide in Him do not have a thing to fear for God is with them. Things may get rough (they often do); things may cause distress. Call upon Him in your time of trouble and He will be there. Do not fear; but, live the life that God has given to you. Be all that He created you to be and that, my friends, is not someone who is afraid to live or to die in Christ.

Have courage and be who God created you to be for His glory.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Do Not Fear; The Lord Saves Us

 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us. (Isaiah 33:22 NIV)

We do not have to fear the false judgments of others. There is only one judge. That judge knows the truth of all things.

We do not have to fear this world at all for we are not of this world. Jesus told his followers: "As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:19) The world may be able to kill our bodies; but, it cannot destroy our souls. “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt 10:26-28)

Thanks be to God for He is the only one who can save us. He is the only one who can grant eternal life in His Kingdom and He has indeed granted all who believe that precious life in His presence forever.

Trust Him for He is our king and our deliverer. He will save us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Gain World or Forfeit Your Soul?

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 8:36 NIV) 

 

What good is it, indeed! 

 

What good is it to have riches of this world, yet lose your soul. I am very rich even though my husband and I have no large sums of money. We do have enough though because God has always provided us with those things that we need and even with a few luxuries. I have been busy focusing on liquidating and simplifying our lives as much as I can. The more "stuff" one has; the more there is to care for and there can be no comparison between caring for stuff and caring for God's children. 

 

What good is it to become one of the celebrities in the world and have no time or energy left to love and serve the Lord our God? Life in this world is very short. Eternal life in the presence of Almighty God, promised through faith in Jesus Christ, is just that: eternal life.

 

What good is it to indulge in the momentary pleasures of this world and sacrifice your  soul? Why seek the momentary pleasures that comes with the use of drugs or alcohol or any other such vice that steals away your life. They will not only steal you life away here on earth; but, threaten to do steal away your soul. Let the presence of God in Christ Jesus bring you peace and joy beyond measure. Nothing else can compare to His loving presence.

 

It is not for us to love or fear the things of this world. We should not fear anything of this world; but, strive in all things to serve the Lord above all things. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt 10:28)

 

We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things. (Martin Luther; Small Catechism) Place your hope and your whole life in the One who loves you so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for you. Fear, love, and trust Him more than anything or anyone in this world. In this your soul will know peace here in the world and for all eternity in the Kingdom of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Celebrate Life!

   "Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
   But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
   “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
                                                                                                                             John 12:2-8 NIV

You are celebrating with friends. You are having a very pleasant time and suddenly someone begins to complain about something - maybe it's because you are having too much fun - maybe they are a bit jealous. Who knows? There seems to always be someone who wants to insert a bit of drama into the party so that it is not so enjoyable for others. 

Judas was the kill joy at the party that was held in Jesus' honor. Can you imagine! Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead and Judas finds something to grumble about! Lazarus' sister, Mary, celebrated with a gift of expensive perfume poured on Jesus' feet and then she let her hair down and wiped Jesus' feet with her hair. Judas was not happy and let his opinion be known. What a extravagant and wasteful gesture on the part of this woman! Jesus tells Judas to “Leave her alone, it was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

As the writer from Ecclesiastes wrote:
    "There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace." (Eccl 3:1-8)

There is a time to weep and a time to laugh. There is a time to rejoice and to dance. There is a time to tear down and a time to build things up. Just because we may feel like it's time to tear things apart, doesn't necessarily make it so. Put a clamp on the desire to destroy the joy of LORD that others experience. Let those who rejoice in the LORD, continue rejoicing. Do not let jealousy or greed get in the way of others rejoicing in the gifts of God; namely, the gift of life. We who were once dead in our sins, now live!

Let us worship that Lord with joy and thanksgiving for the opportunity; the privilege, to live life in His presence. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Threats? So What Of It?

     At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
     He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! (Luke 13:31-35 NIV)

Run! Herod wants to kill you, some Pharisees had warned Jesus. Oh well! Whatever! Jesus had a mission and he was not going to run from Herod. He would continue driving out demons and healing people until he reached his goal. His goal was the cross. He was going to die, so what difference did it make whether Herod was looking to kill him or not. He wasn't about to let a few threats dissuade him from continuing the work he was called to do.

Personally, I get a bit weary of the threats. I am not Jesus. But, he is with me and gives me the strength to continue onward wherever he will call or send me. I will continue to proclaim the Good news. I will continue to pray in the spirit. I will continue. He has led me this far. He is with me always. He will lead me home. I know that even though Jesus' journey took him to death on the cross; it also took him through death to the Kingdom of God where he reigns. So, threats may wear me down a bit, but they will not strike me down completely. I will continue with faith and hope toward the goal, by the power of the Holy Spirit, even if it includes a journey to the cross.

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

The Gate To The Kingdom

Jesus is the only way through the gate into the Kingdom of God.

He is the gate.

Live life in the Kingdom. Live life in Christ.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 7:9-10

So who are you going to listen to? Whom will you follow? The thief or the one and only one who can give you abundant and eternal life. Jesus is that only one.

I find it very wearisome to have to keep explaining to the same lost sheep over and over again that they have been and are following a thief; a false shepherd, rather than the one who will lead them to our Father's home. These thieves; these false shepherds, that scatter the flock are nothing more than false gods. False gods cannot help you. There is only one God who can lead you into the Kingdom where you will know true peace and joy. You will know it in His presence.

I may find proclaiming the same message; the same warnings, to the same people, for decades wearisome. Yet, I will not let up for I know that the only way for them to truly experience life to it's fullest is to experience it in Christ. They must enter the Kingdom through the gate, who is Jesus the Christ, in order to truly live life.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deut 6:4-7 NIV

Do not let the thief come in to steal you away from your place in God's Kingdom. May God grant you the discernment to know who would lead you astray and ultimately destroy your life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Thieves Cannot Sneak Into The Kingdom Of God; There Is Only One Way In

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:9-10

There is a reason for walls. It is to keep one safe from many things that would harm us. Walls protect us from most storms; from beasts of prey; and from those who would steal from us or do us other injuries. We need walls; but, we also need gates or doors to enter in and depart when the time is appropriate. It would be very nice if we did not need them. If we could all live in peace with one another. But, that is not the reality. Thieves will find a way to go over the walls and through locked doors.

But, there is a door that is always open for anyone who desires to enter. For anyone who would knock the door will be opened. Jesus is that door. He is the gate to eternal life where there is peace and safety for all.

Even the thief can enter through this gate; if only he would. The problem is that the thief would prefer to enter in a way other than the way that he or she has been invited. However, those who would attempt to find another entry into the Kingdom, they will not be successful. There is only one way into the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the way. He is the gate through which we must enter the Kingdom of God. He is the way, and the truth, and the life. No one enters except through him. Anyone who desires is welcome to enter into the Kingdom where there will be safety and peace for all.

Thank you Lord, for opening the gate to eternal life. Help us to enter and live life in your Kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J

God Has A Plan For Every Season

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV

What time is it? What season are we in? Even in the darkest of times, God has a plan and it's a good plan. He will bring His people through it.

God's Peace - Pr. J