Walk In The Way Of The Lord

Psalm 1:1-4 KJV; Do what is right. Walk in the way that the Lord has shown you.

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.

A Way To Escape

1 Corinthians 10:13; verses from Romans 7 and 8; We are sinners; but, Paul tells us that all who are in Christ Jesus are forgiven their sins.

Create In Us Clean Hearts

Psalm 51:9-12 KJV; Blot out our sins and create in us clean hearts.

Do What Is Right And Live Life In Peace

1 Peter 3:8-12 KJV; Do what is right and live life in a more peaceful manner.

Healing On The Sabbath

Luke 14:1-6 KJV Jesus healed on the Sabbath. So should we.

We Cannot Hide From God

A reading from Jeremiah 23:23-24 KJV. God is at hand. He sees all. He knows all.

Stand On What Is Right And Good

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?." 

                                                                       Matt 6:25-27 KJV

There have been more than a few times that I have been quite confrontational when it comes to injustice. When others were shrinking back and warning me that I should too for safety's sake, I advanced. I did indeed consider the worst case scenarios before I advanced. What is the worst thing that could happen to me? What is there to fear? Nothing, not even death. There is so much more to life than what we see or hear or feel in this world. I have eternal life.

When considering a new venture; whether it be a new job or investing in a project or a person or whatever challenge the day might bring; again, the same question: "What have I to fear?" Nothing. Life in this world is temporary. It will all pass. I have eternal life.

Jesus knowingly went forward to the cross; to his death, that we might live. He could have gone in the other direction. He could have. But, he did not. He did not shrink back from saving the world; even though much of the world would reject him. He did not pretend that everything in the world was okay. He was willing to give his life because the world was not okay.

Do not fear. Our Father in heaven loves you. Believe this. Know that you too have nothing to fear. You will be much more able to attempt to make radical changes within yourself and in the world around you with the knowledge that God is with you and for you. The world may abandon you. You may even lose many things in this world that you now treasure. But, there is nothing to fear. By faith, you have received eternal life! By faith in Christ you have inherited your place in the Kingdom of God.

May God help us to always stand in His truth; in His Way, no matter what possible dangers may lay before us. Following in the "Way" means to stand on the truth; doing justice out of love for others. Micah reminds us:  "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8)

May God help us to always remember that we have nothing to fear in doing what is right for through God's own Son, Jesus the Christ, we have eternal life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Do What Is Right; Live In Peace

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

                                                                                                                  (Mark 7:14-23 KJV)

These verses seem pretty cut and dried to me. It is not what you eat that defiles you although you absolutely should make sure that you're not eating something that will make you physically ill. It is who you have chosen to be that defiles you. What is in your heart manifests into what you think and say and do and that is what causes a person to be defiled; to be sinful causing harm to themselves and others.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Phil 4:8-9)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Submit One To Another

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

                                                                                                               (Eph 5:21-28 KJV)

St. Paul admonished husbands and wives to submit to one another. What does this mean?

It means even as the Lord Jesus gave himself up for the sake of humanity we are to give our own pitiful and self-serving desires up for the sake of the person we have committed to live and love forever; for the sake of our marriages.

If we could but love as Christ loves the world would be in excellent shape. We are sinners; but, that does not mean that we should not try with all of our beings to love and support each other.  As people, born again into the Body of Christ, the Spirit of Christ dwells within us and reminds us when we are about to do something that will cause physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual damage to our spouses. It also empowers us, as hard as it may seem, to say no. I love him or her too much. I have committed myself to that person in the eyes of God and will put their needs before my own desires for the sake of out marriage; for the sake of the whole family of God. 

The love that God has imparted to us through Jesus Christ empowers us to do what is right for others, for ourselves; for our marriages. When we do what is right; when we submit to one another, as the Spirit guides us, our lives will know a much greater amount of both love and peace. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Do What Is Right

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

But ye have not so learned Christ;

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Neither give place to the devil.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." 

                                                                                                  (Eph 4:17-32 KJV)

As Christians we are given new life through the sacrifice of Jesus' blood for us. No matter how hard we try we will also continue to sin. That is our nature. But, we must at least try not give place to evil in our lives. The indwelling spirit of Christ will be there to aid us; to guide us in the way that we should be going. St. Paul admonishes in his letter to the Ephesians to do what is right.

As Christians who are sinners; but, by the grace and mercy of God we are also saints. We have been chosen by God and sanctified by the blood of Christ.  St. Peter wrote: 

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

                                                                                                            (1 Pet 2:9-10)

As Christians we have been set apart. We should be set apart from our old ways of thinking and doing and being.. Let us not live in those old ways; but, in the new life in Christ live that so that we do not dishonor our Father in heaven.

As people of God may God help us by the power of the Holy Spirit to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God has forgiven us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Children of God

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."  (1 John 3:1-2 NIV)

Are you a child of God? In the third chapter of the first epistle of St. John he reminds all of God's children to not let anyone lead us astray. We have the Spirit of Christ abiding in us. We know the difference between right and wrong by the indwelling Spirit.

It is easy to be led astray. The world does not know the love of God. The world will despise the children of God. But, we want to be accepted. We want to be loved by the people around us. This desire might even overcome us we may end up finding ourselves following in the footsteps of those who are not the children of God; of those who do not know Him.

No one wants to be an outsider. No one wants to be persecuted. But, in order to follow in the path of Jesus both will most likely occur. The world will not have it otherwise. If God's only begotten Son was persecuted; so shall be all who are adopted into His family through the blood of Jesus the Christ.

May God help us to live as children of our Most High God.

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Rejoice In Your Salvation!

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.                                                                                                     (Psalm 51:10-12 KJV)

Each and every morning we have the opportunity to start all over again. We do not have to keep living in the same old mess. We can take a look at yesterday and know what we might need to be changed so some things don't happen again today. That is called repentance. We don't have to keep doing the same old stuff that keeps dragging us down day after day. 

In repentance we turn to God and He will lift us up with His Spirit. We have a mighty God who can take hold of our hearts and make them clean. God is with us.  He will not abandon us. Trust not in yourself; but, in the one who by his blood has gifted us reconciliation with the one who has created us and makes us whole.  He has saved us! Therefore; rejoice in your salvation!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Do What Is Just

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

                                                                                   (Phil 4:4-9 KJV)

Rejoice! Do what is right. Do what is good! Do what is virtuous!

Trouble comes in larger quantities when we focus on twisting the truth; when we focus on vengeance rather than justice; whenever we put ourselves first to the detriment of others.

St. Paul encourages the Philippians and us to do what is right and rejoice. I have heard such slanderous gossip lately that it just boggles my mind. The only positive thing that comes from it, if there is one, is that the true spirit of those who do this is revealed. All we can do is pray that their eyes, ears, and hearts be opened so that they might repent and give glory to God for the good things that he has ordained for us.

Vengeance and attacks on perceived enemies will get us no where except stuck in the muck and mire. It will cause much animosity. However, when we focus on and follow in the way that Jesus, who is the truth, has set before us the peace of God will be with us.

Do what is right. Do what is just. Live in peace and rejoice!

God's peace - Pr. J.

The Light Of The World

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

                                                                               (Matt 5:14-16 KJV)

A candle lit from the candles on the altar is often given to the newly baptized with these words: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 

The light that is taken from the altar to remind us that without the light of Christ, we have no light of our own. Jesus is the light of the world. 

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Without him we live in darkness.

His light is a gift to us to be shared with others. What good is it if we do not let our light shine; if we do not profess Christ and as we at least attempt to do what is good and right? 

Again, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Losing Friends

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 

                                                                           (1 Pet 4:3-5 KJV)

Do good! Do what is right! "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry." (vs 3 NIV) No, you won't be too popular if you leave behind those things; but, you will be much more at peace with yourself as you begin to live in Christ.

As a former substance abuse counselor, I have found that one of the toughest things for someone in recovery to deal with is that when they finally decides to trust God for their recovery they lose most, if not all, of their old friends. Going in a different direction than the rest of the crowd can be a very lonely time. It does not bring much comfort to realize that the only reason they hung with us was because our substance abuse justified theirs. Once we realize that the path we've been on has caused only harm and turn around, our old friends and even family disappear. They are out of there. "They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you." (vs 4 NIV) And, they will heap abuse on you for not going along with the crowd in a life of destruction.

But, new friends will come with time. Friends that will share in the joy of living as a member of the Body of Christ with you. In Christ you are a new creation. "So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." (1 Pet 4:19 NIV)

May the peace of the Lord be with you always! Live in his peace and ignore the drama this world would throw at you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

No Evil Shall Befall Thee

Psalm 91 KJV

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

A Thousand Shall Fall

PSALM 91:1-12 KJV

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

A word of comfort and of warning can be found in Psalm 91. Comfort comes to those who trust in the Lord for protection. A great fall will come to the wicked who terrorize others. 

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. (Psalm 32:10)

Be careful that you do not fall with the wicked; but, find rest with the comforted. Trust in the Lord for He is our only true refuge and fortress.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Jealousy Kills

  "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."

                                                                                 (Gen 4:4-8 KJV)

It appears that the Lord favored Abel's offering over Cain's because his offering was raised up through hard work. The Lord told Cain that if he had worked well to present this offering it would have been accepted. Cain was not happy. He was so jealous that his brother had found favor and he had not that he killed his brother.

Jealousy destroys. It kills and there are consequences for the sin. If the jealousy over how much accomplishment or honor others receive with their hard work continues it will build up within you until the consequences of the sin become very tough. Cain was exiled to become a fugitive and a vagabond. He would indeed have to work very hard just to survive. 

It is not any different today than it was in Cain and Abel's day. Jealousy will prevail if it is not put in check quickly. It will destroy your future and the future of those around you. God has given you many gifts so that you might be fruitful. There are  consequences for not even attempting to use those gifts as well as you can. The outcome and possible consequences have nothing to do with what your neighbor does. It has everything to do with what you do or do not do with the gifts of God. In the general confession we pray that God will forgive us for sins known and unknown; for things we have done and for things that we have left undone. For the sake of love for the one who lived and died and yet lives for us, it would behoove us to leave a whole lot less undone.

May we always use the gifts that God has given us so that He might be glorified.

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." (Col 3:23)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Do What Is Right

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

                                                                                       (Titus 2:11-15 KJV)

We do indeed have freedom of will. We can choose to do whatever pleases us. We must also understand as we make those choices that there will be consequences one way or another.

I confess I get very uncomfortable when I hear people talking about breaking laws or doing something that will in the long run make their lives miserable rather than enhance their lives. I get so uncomfortable that I often let others know why I am uncomfortable. I am free in this country to speak what is on my mind. I am also commanded by God to exhort and rebuke and speak the truth.

No, this does not always endear me to others. But, it does help to keep my conscience a bit clearer.  Years ago, I worked on a military installation overseas. One of my duties was to deliver speeding tickets to people who had been caught on a camera. One morning, I delivered a speeding ticket to a Petty Officer who was caught on camera speeding on his bicycle. I joked about it. It seemed kind of petty to fine someone for speeding on a bicycle. That afternoon as he was speeding in that very same spot he was hit by a car and killed. He left behind a wife and children. The guilt I felt for making light of his speeding hit me hard and for quite some time. 

Being godly includes at least attempting to obey the laws of this world. As Christians we hope to be good examples to the world around us. None of us are perfect. We are all sinners and we will break laws now and then simply because we may view those laws as petty ordinances that get in our way. 

But, we do know the difference between right and wrong. The grace of God has been delivered to us through Jesus. The law of God has been written on our hearts. 

"Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;"

                                                                                        (Heb 10:15:17)

We know in our hearts the difference between right and wrong. Let us do what is right as much as a sinful person can do right even as we look for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.