Do Not Fear; God Is With You

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.
For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.

(Isaiah 41:10-13 NIV)

It can be quite easy to become dismayed; even very distraught, with the things that the world can throw at us. But, over the years, I have become much more patient (although not always patient enough). I can now look back at the things that caused me major distress and see how God got me through those times. He has been with me always and He will continue to be with me. Whatever happens I know that He upholds and takes care of me.

He is with you. Do not be dismayed. Do not fear. Do not fear what your enemies plot against you. Do not fear what the world can do to you for tomorrow is truly another day. We may wake up tomorrow in this world or the next. Only God can know for sure where we shall be tomorrow or even a minute from now. But, wherever the beloved children of God wake up, we can know that God is with us. We have been reconciled to God our Father through the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Do not fear. Be at peace for God is with you and nothing can separate you from His love.

God's Peace - Pr. J

No Anger And Malice!

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." (Eph 4:29-31 NIV)

As Lutherans, we learn at a young age what the eighth commandment means according to our Small Catechism:

   Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

   What does this mean?--Answer.
   We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our
   neighbor, but defend him, [think and] speak well of him, and put the best construction on
   everything.

Whether in government, business, the church or even our families it is way too common for unwholesome talk to be the way in which many choose to go. This unwholesome talk, this yelling at or about someone, this disrespecting others' way thinking or being only brings about division and harm. We witnessed a very good example of that yesterday on the ball field where Republican Congressmen were practicing for a game with the Democrats. Five people shot and wounded; with the shooter ending up dead. So much grief for so many. There are peaceful ways to discuss and settle differences. We also need to understand that we don't always get our way. Sometimes, there needs to be compromise. Sometimes, we just need to accept the fact that someone else is in charge for now. It also wouldn't hurt if we reminded ourselves that it is God who is actually in charge and He does have a good plan whether we like the plan or not.

Peaceful protests can be a good thing. But, speeches and protests that incite damage to others or their property or promote the murder of people whom we don't agree with is very wrong. This hatred toward others will only bring about more hatred. It will only bring about more division. It will only bring about more death. If, we as a country, do not change some of our ways we may find that we have steered ourselves into a civil war. Do we really want that for our children and grandchildren? This hate-filled speech that we keep hearing is not helpful nor is the drama that comes with it. It is most harmful. Gossip (and I have been the subject of that on more than one occasion) will only cause more problems for both the one who slanders and the one who is slandered as well as the many people around them.

Scripture tells us that we are to lift others up according to their needs. We are to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. I grant you that this can be tough to do at times. If you find yourself ready to participate in bringing about more division with unwholesome talk, maybe take a time out for yourself? Talk to God? You might find that distancing yourself from the situation (maybe shutting the news off) for a time will help bring you back to a place where you can focus on God's will rather than your own. His will is a good will for you and all people.

I realize that there will always be trouble in this world; but, why do we have to add to it? "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, alone with every form of malice." Do what is right! Speak the truth; but, speak it in love and not anger! Live in peace!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Woe To Those Who Think Too Highly Of The Work of Their Hands

"In that day people will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made. (Isa 17:7-8 NIV)

How bad does it have to get before people will look to their Maker, the Holy One of Israel? It just amazes me that we have to face destruction, even live through it, before we give up trusting in the work of our own hands, before we turn and trust the LORD. 

Isaiah prophesied that the people would plant and they would grow, yet the harvest would be worthless. The work of their hands would come to nothing. They would be hungry. He prophesied against those who rage like the stormy sea. "In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us." (Isa 17:7-8)

Woe to those who rage against others. Woe to those who plot secretly to destroy them. Do you not know that you will not prevail? Do you not know that you are bringing an end to yourself? Leave off trusting in your own ability to prevail. You are not a god. Leave off trusting in your false gods.

Return to the LORD, look to your Maker, and rejoice for our Father has mercy on all who hear His Word and believe. Live life justly!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Trust In The Lord And Live Life!

"In that day people will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made. (Isa 17:7-8 NIV)

Does is really have to get that bad before people will look to their Maker, the Holy One of Israel? It just amazes me that we have to face destruction, even live through it, before we give up trusting in the work of our own hands, before we turn and trust the LORD. 

Isaiah prophecies that the people will plant and they will grow, yet the harvest will be worthless. The work of their hands will come to nothing. They will be hungry. He prophecies against those who rage like the stormy sea. "In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us." (vs 14)

Woe to those who rage against others. Woe to those who plot secretly to destroy them. Do you not know that you will not prevail? Do you not know that you are bringing an end to yourself? Leave off trusting in your own ability to prevail. You are not a god. Leave off trusting in your false gods.

Return to the LORD, look to your Maker, and rejoice for our Father has mercy on all who hear His Word and believe. Live life justly!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jesus Is The Truth; Listen To Him

Jesus is the only Truth in a world led astray by the lies of the devil.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Eph 4:25-32 (NIV)

When Pilate was interrogating him, Jesus had told him that everyone who is on the side of truth listens to him. Pilate's response was: "What is truth?" (John 18:37-38) 

Indeed! What is truth? Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life." (John 14:6) Yet, if we listen to what is going on around us in the world it appears that everyone seems to have their own version of the truth. These varying versions of the truth have a tendency to cause division and many other forms of hurt. Protecting one's own version of the truth leads to bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, along with every form of malice. Vehemently promoting one's own version of the truth will not build up the church. It will not build up relationships. It will only give way for the devil to have his way with the world.

During the presidential campaigns, I would sometimes listen to the candidates speak and then I would listen to the paid pundits. It did not matter which political party they were affiliated with, for some reason what the pundits heard and what I heard from the candidates were not usually the same thing. The key, I believe, is the word "paid." The pundits are hired servants that promote the cause of the employer or master that they serve. They definitely have personal agendas and they hear what they want to hear. They say what they want to say according to how it will profit themselves.

I am not saying that they are lying; well, not exactly. They simply cannot see the truth because what they wish is the truth is so overpowering that is all they can see or know.

The truth is that if we truly want to know the truth we must listen to Jesus because he is the truth. If we truly want the world to be a better place for the following generations we must know the truth and speak it for the sake of the world and not just for ourselves. 

May God open the hearts of all people to know the truth and to speak the truth who is Jesus the Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.