Speaking Against God

Numbers 21:4-9 KJV; 4th Sun of Lent; Repent for things can get even worse than they were. 

Brood Of Vipers; God's Children

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance.                          (Matt 3:7-8 NRSV)

John the Baptist is one of my favorite biblical characters. Can you imagine if I went around saying to people, "...You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Well, actually I do say things similar to this at times, I just don't recall actually calling anyone a viper. Oops, I take that back, too. I do recall an occasion or two when I've let someone know that they were acting like a snake.

Here is John, baptizing with water for repentance and along comes Jesus, the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, requesting to be baptized by John.

John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matt 3:14-17)

Anointed by the Spirit of God at baptism, we hear from that same Spirit, that same God, welcome us into His family with these reconciling words, "You are my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased."

A brood of vipers, we are. Yet, by His grace, we are His children.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Tongue

"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." (James 3:7-8 NIV)

I visited the Jacksonville Zoo this week. The variety of animals that God has created is just mind-boggling. Some of them I had never heard of before seeing them.

The giraffe is such a graceful animal and apparently gentle as well. There was a long line of children waiting patiently to feed the giraffes. The giraffes would quickly and gently stick out their tongues and take the leafy food that the children were offering them. 

Human tongues are not also as graceful (grace-filled) or gentle. The human tongue can be as deadly as a poisonous snake as it can strike without warning to take anyone or anything that gets in its way down.

The human tongue is often used to lie, deceive, coerce, steal, and a multitude of other sins to get what the owner of that tongue wants. It is a very sad thing when we use what God has given us to destroy rather than to build up others. 

May God help us to use our tongues; the lips that He has given us to proclaim Good News to all people and to glorify His Holy Name.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Appearances can be deceiving. In my Florida room lives my one and only pet. Izzy is a bearded dragon. He is so easy to care for; much easier than any furry pet we've ever had. You do not have to worry about leaving bearded dragons alone in the house. They do not make a mess. When Izzy sheds his skin I can pick it up in one piece and I don't have to get the vacuum out. He also enjoy being held (sometimes). Izzy opens his eyes and lifts his head whenever he hears me talking. But, bearded dragons are not for everyone. Some people simply do not like them because they crawl on their bellies like snakes. And... anything snake or serpent-like really doesn't have too good of a reputation.

We often jump to unfair judgments based on appearances. It is not just lizards we jump to conclusions about; but, people, as well, by their outward appearances. But, when Jesus came, he turned all that around. It was the widow who put but two copper pennies into the offering that Jesus said had given more than the rest. (Mark 12:41-43) Tax collectors and other various sinners were chosen by Jesus as his dinner companions. (Matthew 9:10-12) He healed gentiles and even lepers; physically touching, at times, those who were thought by others too unclean to be touched. (Mark 7:24-30; Luke 7:21-23) And... who were the first to be called by Jesus? Fishermen! (Luke 5:1-11) He called mere fishermen; or at least they were mere in the eyes of many of the day. Have you any clue what a man or woman who makes their living fishing looks and smells like after a long day or night out on the boat? Jesus does not call anyone because they look good on the outside or even because they act so good. He calls whom he will call to follow him.

Appearances can be deceiving. There are those who smile on the outside and are happy, happy, happy whenever you are around. But, on the inside are like empty tombs. There are others who may appear to be most ferocious; but, within them a great concern for the well-being of humankind.

Appearances can be deceiving. Do not judge one another by appearances. Take the time to look more deeply into the person or the matter.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Do Not Reject The Gift Of The Holy Spirit

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"                                                                                                                      (Luke 11:9-13 NIV)

I grant you that sadly there are parents in this world today who would give their children a snake instead of a fish or a scorpion instead of an egg. But, our Father in heaven, is not one of those parents. He desires good things for all of His children. He gives Holy Spirit to all who ask.

Sadly, there are also many children in this world today who ask for gifts from their parents and once they have received whatever it is they wanted; they put it on a shelf never to be used again or they throw it or give it away. They ask just for the sake of asking; then take the gift and the giver for granted.

So, it seems to go with many within the church, as well. We know that if we ask for the Holy Spirit, our Father will surely give us the Holy Spirit. We are also aware that we were anointed with the Holy Spirit at our baptisms into the Body of Christ. But, what is done with the gift of the Holy Spirit once the Spirit is given? I believe that way too often the gift of the Holy Spirit and the giver are taken for granted. Many might ask for the Holy Spirit; but, then they don't know what to do with this gift. They have their own lives and really don't have time to be following the lead of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is put on the proverbial shelf; hidden away and given no opportunity to work through the one who has received this great gift.

The Holy Spirit is a person; the third person of the Trinity. Will you hide this person in the closet like a child would throw a gift that they don't want to the closet floor?

Ask and you shall receive and after you have received do not disrespect the Holy Spirit. Do not disrespect the One who sends you the Spirit. Do not despise nor reject this great gift from our Father in heaven; but, get to know the Spirit. Get to know the Holy Spirit personally so that you might be guided and comforted and sanctified and so much more in all that you say and think and do.

Ask and you shall receive and then allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through you. Do not reject the gift of the Holy Spirit.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Do Not Fear That Old Snake

Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. Acts 28:1-5 NIV

The other evening, I was walking around the yard barefoot, as is a habit of mine. People keep warning me about it. But, I don't pay much attention to them. As I walked under the tree in the front yard I heard something drop to the ground in front of me. As I put my foot down to take the next step I felt it slither out from under my foot quickly . It was one of those snakes that the neighbors and my husband had been warning me about. No, it did not strike me nor did I crush it's head. But, that old snake took no time in disappearing.

The snake has become symbolic of temptation as well as the evil one. Unfortunately, we all succumb to temptation from time to time. We get just a little too close to temptations. Often, we don't even see him coming before that old serpent is upon us. Sometimes he's come and gone before we realize that we've accepted his invitation to stray from The Way.

There was no avoiding that viper by St. Paul. He had no way of knowing that it was in the fire. But, it doesn't sound like he panicked; doesn't sound like he screamed. He just shook it off and continued as if it was nothing. Because it was nothing worth getting excited about.

It is sometimes difficult to see temptation as it advances. There are things we can do to avoid confrontation with the old snake. But; sometimes, it cannot be helped and when temptations do come it is best to send them quickly on their way. Don't play with them. But; neither, let them cause you to tremble in fear.

There is no need to fear. By his death, Jesus overcame the power of sin, death, and of the devil. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit that the serpent had convinced them they should eat they were kicked out of paradise. But, paradise was opened for all who would believe when Jesus died on the cross, in our place, for our sins.

The serpent did not escape consequences for his part in this turning their backs on God.

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock
    and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
    and you will eat dust
    all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
    between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”

                                  Genesis 3:14-15

Jesus crushed the head of the serpent when he died on the cross, descended into hell, and rose again; taking away the power the evil one had over us. Do not give that power back to the serpent by yielding to his whims. Neither should you fear that old snake. Jesus has crushed his power over you.

May the Lord, keep us from straying; delivering us from all temptations and all evil.

God's Peace - Pr. J