Christ In You

Reading from Colossians 1:21-29 KJV; Christ In You.

Joined As One

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. 

                                                       (Eph 5:31-33 KJV)

This year will mark my husband's and my 50th wedding anniversary. To tell you the truth it sometimes amazes me that we have made it together for that long. It doesn't seem real that either of us could be that old! But, then again, we are not really old for we have eternal life!

Yesterday, we were cleaning boxes of files and photos and other memorabilia from our years together as we prepared for a rummage sale. Although, we have had some pretty rough times in our lives together there were many more really good times. The memorabilia reminded me of how we supported each other through individual trials and in that support of one another; although, we became united as one by God when we were first married, that oneness has become even more apparent after all of this time together. Oh, yes, there are days for both of us when we need a bit of distance from each other; but, with faith in God who has joined us together any distances or disturbances in the household cannot tear us apart.

I past years, when teaching confirmation youth, I reminded them that when God joins two people together they will always be a part of each other. Even if they end up separated, they will still be connected. They may be physically separated; but, spiritually and emotionally, for good or for bad, they will always be connected to each other. If they remarry they will bring a part of that first person along with them into that marriage. So be very careful to make sure that you want to be connected to that person for the rest of your days because you will be. This also applies to those pre-marital and live-in relationships that exist without the benefit of any kind of real commitment.

Just as God joins a man and woman together in a bond that cannot be broken; he has joined all who believe in Jesus with him. We are one in the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12-13) and nothing in this world can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:38-39)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

P.S.  BTW - love and reverence for one another does happen when both husband and wife are united together in Christ for the indwelling Spirit of Christ is one of love as well as self-sacrifice as he gave himself for us because of his love for us.

Victorious Over Death

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:55-57 KJV)

I have attended many church conferences, retreats, and convocations over the last decades. Some were helpful. Some were not. At one such retreat that I found to be totally unhelpful; the speaker, a pastor and an author, insisted emphatically that we need to remember that the "dead are dead." She was confident that scripture; that the Word of God, would not bring anyone comfort. I beg to differ with her and was amazed that she would profess to be a Christian and a pastor considering her lack of faith in the resurrection of Jesus our Savior. I am not sure what she was suggesting we should do or say to comfort others in their times of grief.

The Word of God is our only real comfort in times like that.. Scripture would remind us that even though we die we shall live. It is a great mystery. We cannot totally understand it; but, those who believe that Jesus died and was risen from the grave are confident that they and all who believe will follow in his footsteps though the gate of death into eternal life. Death does not have the victory over us. Jesus has victory over death. We have been given victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

He is risen and ascended! He lives! So shall we!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Prayer and Proclamation; Don't Forget Praise!

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
                          Col 4:2-6 NRSV

Prayer, praise, and proclamation; that is my evangelism strategy. As Paul closes his letter to the Colossians he reminds us to be diligent in prayer and proclamation. Devote yourself to prayer. Pray that God will open doors for the message so that mystery of Christ may be proclaimed. We don't need a program. We just need the grace of God in order to do His will.

Years ago, my congregation was involved in a multi-congregation effort to do more evangelism. We met quite a few times to talk about evangelism among ourselves. As I drove home with two of the congregation's "delegates" to this consortium, we discussed the fact that we were driving quite a distance and spending an awful lot of time talking about evangelism and not actually doing any evangelism.

The truth be told we had these many meetings and had come to the conclusion that we were not of like minds. Leaders from various congregations did not trust one another; everyone seemed to have different and personal agendas, and we were not working well together. We talked a lot at every meeting; but, we never actually got to the point of proclaiming the mystery of Christ. We never got around to doing any evangelism. We had been too busy trying to figure what kinds of evangelism programs would work best. On that drive home we agreed that we already knew in our hearts what we needed to do.  That we would quit wasting time, energy and financial resources talking about evangelism. We were determined to get back on track and put our time and energy into doing the ministry we had received from the Lord. Rather than just talk about it, we would get on with the business of evangelists: praying, praising God, and proclaiming the Good News through both word and deed. We presented this to the council. The motion was approved. By the grace of God, we continued to grow both in Christ and in numbers.

The growth that happened though, did not happen because of one or two or even three people. In this closing section of Paul's letter; he reminds us that he had many co-workers in the gospel. They proclaimed the Good News with one heart and mind. Those who heard the Gospel were encouraged to share it with others. There were no special programs. They did not discuss strategies. By God's grace, they prayed that God would open doors and proclaimed the mystery of Christ clearly to the glory of God. And... the church continued to grow both in Christ and in numbers.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Babylon The Great

  Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

    babylon the great
    the mother of prostitutes
    and of the abominations of the earth.

  I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

                                                           Rev 17:3-5

Who is Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth? I have heard many theories. Some say that it is Iraq; others have said Rome; and others I've heard say that it is either New York or Washington D.C.. There are many theories. The angel; though, does make it clear that kings and indeed people from all over the world will follow Babylon, the great harlot. They will not worship the Lord. The followers of this harlot will join her in persecuting those who worship the one true God.

All the surmising over who or what Babylon the Great is will not bring anyone closer to God. It will only detract us from what we are called to do. We are called; not to debate the days or the times. We are not called to debate where or when the Lord will return; but, to proclaim the Kingdom of God through the shedding of his blood for all who would believe in him. We are called to give testimony to Jesus and to his Kingdom.

Worship the Lord your God and do not bow your knee to any false god, no matter what kind of riches or pleasures they might promise you.

God's Peace - Pr. J