Do This in Remembrance of Me

For the communion message the speaker said, “We take the elements to remember His sacrifice on the cross.” For believers today the bread, which represents His body, and the wine, which represents His blood, bring us to the foot of the cross where we remember His sacrifice. However, for the disciples participating in the Last Supper, the impending death of Jesus and the cross would not have crossed their mind. I can imagine each of the disciples brought a different remembrance to the Lord’s Table that day. “After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:17-19 NIV).

Warranty

My friend purchased a previously owned Jeep that had been modified to accommodate larger tires. The vehicle was less than two years old, had low miles and the price was right. The Jeep ran great at 65 MPH or under, but anything over 65 and it had no power. After multiple trips for service and replacing various parts one dealership finally diagnosed the problem. The previous owner had not swapped out the gears needed for the bigger tires. In the course of solving the issues the new owner learned the modifications have also negated some of the warranty. I see something similar on the religious landscape. People try to modify Scripture, revise the plan of Salvation and give Jesus a new look, but they fail to consider that their actions may in fact negate the warranty of salvation. In Revelation John cautions us about adding and subtracting to God’s Word, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book” (Rev 22:18-19 NIV).

Know the Scripture

My friend attended a Bible study where she was told by the teacher that people who go to hell don’t stay in hell, they just turn to dust and cease to exist. I was able to give her Scripture references to counter the false teaching, but once again I’m remained of the importance of having the Word firmly planted in my mind. The Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, questioned Jesus. He said, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matt 22:29 NIV).

The Gift of God

When he heard Philip preach the good news, Simon the Sorcerer believed and was baptized. However, it wasn’t until Peter and John arrived on the scene and laid their hands upon believers that they received the Holy Spirit. Simon proposed buying the same ability to lay on hands. Peter answered, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin” (Acts 8:20-23 NIV). We may not personally know someone a brazen as Simon, but there are believers who, rather than having their heart right before God, want to market and exploit the church for personal gain.

The Lord’s Favor 2019

The child in the manger came to fulfill Scripture. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19 NIV).

Not Ashamed

I go to the gym every morning and one of my gym-buddies, an older gentleman, said, “Do you think all of this is doing us any good?” His question gave me pause. At this point in my life, my physical exercise goal is not for improvement, but rather maintenance. I suppose I have a similar thought when it comes to the study of Scripture. My goal has never been to become a theologian, but rather to have an active and working grasp of Word of God. Paul said, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15 NIV).

The Letter

With less than a week before Christmas I had no time to shop for Christmas cards, or colorful holiday stationery. I simply wrote my Christmas letter, photocopied in onto generic white paper, put it in a business security envelope, and stamped it with US Forever flag postage. I trust the recipients will read the letter even though it isn’t decked out with holiday colors, style, or images. My NIV Study Bible, with all its chapters and verses, footnotes, commentary, and references may add color and explanation to the narrative, but I wonder if that might somehow detract from the Epistles. Rather than studying Paul’s letters, it might behoove us to read the letters as he intended…a personal letter. To the Corinthians Paul said, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Cor 3:2-3 NIV).

More Blessed to Give

As an adult I’ve found myself in a number of long-term care-giving situations and I’ll admit that over the years I’ve thrown a few pity parties. During a recent poor-me situation I was brought up short when the Spirit within me ask if I’d rather be a caregiver, or a care-receiver. In his farewell to the Ephesians Paul said, “ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35 NIV).

Labor Pains

Even though we moved into our new house in October, we continue to have a punch-list of things that need attention. Most recently we discovered a leak in a shower and the tile must be removed around the drain in order fix the problem. At this point I can only compare building a new house to being pregnant…nine months of anticipation, labor pains and birth. I know that when it is completely finished, I will enjoy the new house; however, getting to the end has been painful. Jesus said, “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world” (John 16:21 NIV).

Proud Parents

In the movie The Cowboys Mr. Anderson, played by John Wayne, lay dying. His last words to the school boys he hired for the cattle drive, “Everyone wants to see his children better than he was.” I thought of Paul’s words to young Timothy, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self–discipline” (2 Tim 1:5-7 NIV). I can only imagine the pride felt by grandmother Lois and mother Eunice as they read Paul’s letter.

The Lord Opens Hearts

Many believers in God hear, but yet fail to respond to the Gospel message. Paul said, “On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message” (Acts 16:13-14 NIV). It occurs to me that even today, some believers need the Lord to open their hearts.

Bethlehem’s Manger

I was taken aback when the pastor said, “I don’t know why he [God] sent his Son to be born in a manger. I don’t understand that.” The simple answer is, “…because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7b NIV). The more in-depth answer is that the situation fulfilled Scripture, as well as the requirement that Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem to be counted for the census. The prophet Micah foretold, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2 NIV).

Test Everything

 I sometimes get frustrated will all the electronic alerts on my car. For instance, when the weather turns cold the message on the speedometer display cautions me to drive carefully because the roads may be icy. Mind you, there is no rain, snow, or ice on the roads, it’s just a drop in temperature. Recently the car alerted me to low air pressure in a tire. I aired the tire, but a week later the warning came on again, so I took the car in for service where they removed a screw that I’d run over. Had I not heeded the alert I could easily have found myself stranded somewhere with a flat tire. In the spiritual realm we also have warning and alerts. Paul said, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (1 Thess 5:19-24 NIV).

Conspiracy

My NIV Study Bible noted that in the Near East the coronation of a new king was often the occasion for the revolt of people and kings who had been subject to the crown. The recently released DOJ’s Inspector General report on the FBI and FISA investigations clearly, and embarrassingly, show the conspiracy against the Trump campaign. For me, this is a modern-day example of nations and people who conspire against the Lord. The psalmist wrote, “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them” (Psalm 2:1-3 NIV).

The Work of God Displayed

Disciples questioned Jesus about the sin associated with a man who was born blind. Jesus said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life” (John 9:3 NIV). I always assumed the work of God was displayed at the moment of healing, but I’m now reconsidering that thought. The verse states that God’s work will be displayed in the man’s life, not in his healing. In other words, what the man does with the rest of his life, after he received his sight, will display the work of God.

Only What is Given from Heaven

Webster’s defines career as, “A profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling.” Jesus and John the Baptist had similar career skill-sets — preacher, baptizer, teacher, each was called Rabbi and had disciples.  Some of John’s disciples opined that people were going to Jesus, rather than John, to be baptized. To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him’ (John 3:27-28 NIV). All too often we feel that our career is by our choice and our design. However, John reminds me that in my calling I am sent and can receive only what is given me from heaven.

See for Yourself

The 2 X 3-foot window above the front door in our new house cracked and the builder ordered a replacement. When the installer got ready to replace the window, he discovered it wasn’t cracked, but there was string of glue running the full height of the window. No one had ever climbed on a ladder to inspect the window, nor had the cleaning company cleaned the window because it was going to be replaced. Everyone, including the builder, just took one another’s word for it that it was broken. I’ve always been curious as to why some of the disciples did not believe what other disciples had to say. For example, the women were not believed when they returned from the empty tomb (Luke 24:9-12) and Thomas would not believe the other disciples when the said they had seen the resurrected Jesus (John 20:24-26). Obviously, there are times when we should see something for ourselves and not rely on the testimony of others.

The Favorite Child

Real or imagined, in most families there is a perception of one child being favored over others. Jesus was God’s only son, so there is no family favoritism, and He was loved beyond measure. It gives me pause to know that Jesus loves me the same way God loves his one and only Son. Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9 NIV).

Going Out to Meet Jesus

John described The Triumphal Entry, “The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel” (John 12:12-13 NIV)! Whether it’s in Bible study, fellowship with other believers, or in prayer, I can encounter Jesus. But I’m trying to imagine picking up a palm branch every morning and going out to meet Him…rather than just running into Him throughout the day.

Camouflage

Most of us, especially during the holidays, have experienced losing our car in a packed parking lot. Yesterday at Walmart I noticed a camouflaged SUV with a woodsy paint job that covered the vehicle from the bumpers to the extra carrier on top. No doubt the outdoors man-owner could easily find the SUV in the city parking lot, but if he were hunting in the woods his vehicle would no doubt blend into the foliage. There are times when believers too put on camouflage in order to blend into the world. “Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man” (Matthew 26:69-74 NIV)!

The Carpenter

Regardless of one’s profession, career, craft, or trade, it’s natural to compare our work product with that of others in our field. I have to laugh when I think of those in the construction trade (framers, roofers, finish carpenters, etc.) arriving in heaven. On earth Jesus was a carpenter and I can just imagine construction workers scrutinizing the Lord’s carpentry skills. Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:1-4 NIV).

In the Presence of My Enemies

We had family and friends over for Thanksgiving and one of our guests asked if we could accommodate another elderly gentleman who would be alone on the holiday. Of course, the man was welcome to our home and to share in our table. However, I was taken aback when I learned the name of the additional guest. While I do not know the man socially, when I served on City Council, he was one of my political enemies. I had to laugh at God’s sense of humor. The psalmist wrote, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23 NIV).