God is a God of Peace

We are not to judge one another’s salvation; however, the actions of rioters and looters make it clear they are not Christian. It’s not unusual to run into one, two, or a handful of unbelievers in one place and at any one time, but it’s startling to see a mob of people with no belief in Jesus Christ. Paul said “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col 3:12-17 NIV).

News of the Day

I commented on recent news events to some family members and they said, “We turned the news off, we don’t watch it anymore. It’s all too negative.” As a news junkie I was taken aback. I put myself on the road to Emmaus where two disciples encountered the resurrected Jesus, but they did not recognize him. “He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see” (Luke 24:17-24 NIV). The news of the day is always, “He is alive!”  

For Everyone

Jesus taught on watchfulness using parables, “Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone” (Luke 12:41 NIV)? I can understand Peter’s dilemma. Many of us mentally skip over portions of Scripture for a variety of reasons, i.e. it doesn’t feel applicable, we don’t want to obey it, or we think we’ve already mastered the teaching. However, we need to be reminded that even a confusing parable is meant for all of us. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV).

Sons of Thunder

Jesus re-named three of the Apostles. To James son of Zebedee and his brother John he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder. According to the NIV Study Bible foot note the name is, “Probably descriptive of their dispositions.” I can’t help but think that these two nuts didn’t fall far from maternal tree. The brashness of their mother and her sons to ask Jesus for positions of authority and respect cannot be understated. “Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father” (Matt 20:20-23 NIV).

Temporal

The feeling of sadness I have as I watch rebellious Americans destroy statues and monuments (Columbus, Washington, Confederate leaders, etc.) is similar to what I felt as I watched the Taliban destroy ancient artifacts which were no longer revered, but part of history. However, my eyes are opened to another perspective when I read about the signs of the End of the Age. “Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down” (Matt 24:2 NIV).

Lead a Quiet Life

Most mature believers have spent a lifetime serving and working for the Lord and working in the church. The locked down is especially hard on us because our areas of service have been, at least temporarily, taken from us. We miss the spiritual busyness in our lives and I suspect that none of us thought Paul was talking directly to us when he said, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody” (1 Thess 4:11-12 NIV).

Our Father’s Day

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt 6:9-14 NIV).

Woe on Unrepentant Cities

It is disturbing to see riots and looting in New York City and the anti-government takeover of six city blocks in Seattle. Many believers are praying Jesus will intervene and save these cities. However, we have to understand and accept that fact that some cities, even though Jesus has been preached in their streets, remain unrepentant. “Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” (Matt 11:20-24 NIV).

The Yoke of Slavery

I do not pretend to understand slavery and all the ramifications. However, in light of recent racial tensions in America, I wonder if those who were set free physically remain a slave in their minds and if they have passed that victimization on to future generations. In the early church believers obtained freedom in Christ, but they had to consciously resist their previous life of being under the law. Paul said, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1 NIV).

Little Faith

In the midst of the media fanning the flames of COVID, the lock down and riots I feel like we are in the same boat as the disciples. The disciples followed Jesus and got into the boat, “Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him” (Matt 8:24-27 NIV)!

Call on His Name

It is reported that some of George Floyd’s last words were to call out for his mama. From a mother’s perspective it pulls at my heartstrings. However, from the spiritual perspective my heart would have been more comforted had he called out for Jesus. When Jesus was informed that his mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to see him, he said, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:33-34 NIV).

Lasting Possessions

Recently many businesses have suffered loss of property, inventory and possessions because of looters and rioters. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to see not only your life’s work destroyed, but also your means of making a living go up in flames. However, the writer of Hebrews does not want us to focus on what is lost, “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions” (Hebrews 10:32-35 NIV).

Pre-Forgivingness

The racial divide in America caused a former missionary to lose her internal battle to be silent. An excerpt from her lengthy Facebook post said, “Several years ago my father-in-law spoke with Elijah, a black man from South Africa. He asked Elijah how he kept himself from hating white people for the crimes committed during apartheid. Elijah said, “I forgive in advance. Whatever is done against me, I have already forgiven the wrong before it was ever done to me.”” Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:24-25 NIV).

The Will of Your Father

Hearing a thump, ninety-six-year-old Betty discovered a hummingbird lying on the sidewalk below her living room window. The bird’s beak twitched, but the body lay lifeless. Betty’s heart ached for the small creature and she spent the next 15 minutes praying and walking back and forth to the window to check on him. She said, “I didn’t pray about the virus, the lock down, or all the rioting, I just wept for the hummingbird.” The stunned bird finally took flight and Betty rejoiced. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father” (Matt 10:29 NIV).

For Men to See

On Facebook people have started posting screen shots of pages of their Bibles and passage of texts they are studying, or have studied in the past. One post showed a Bible opened in Proverbs where the owner added underlines, parentheses, exclamation points, and side notes. For me, the Scripture itself was lost and the emphasis was placed on the religious person. Warning us against being like the Pharisees, Jesus said, “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi’” (Matt 23:5-7 NIV).

I Am the Vine

Since the lock-down many people of faith are distraught because they can’t go to church. Certainly, we need to worship together and have fellowship when we can, but it’s almost like people feel totally disconnected if they can’t go to church. We need to be reminded that as important as the church is, she is not the Vine.  Believers can bear fruit apart from the church, we cannot bear fruit apart from the Vine. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:5-8 NIV).

Groups of Fifty Each

With attendance for church worship limited to 50 people at a time, our leadership decided we would have to make reservations. I have to tell you; I have reservations about reservations. If you don’t have a reservation you are sent away. Better accommodations for members would be to have the church open all day on Sunday with various worship times listed, i.e. services at 9:30, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00, 2:30 p.m. I understand the pastor’s reluctance to have four worship services and preach four times, but we have an associate pastor, elders and teachers who are qualified to preach. The needs of congregational worship should come before the desires of leadership to have only one service. I see something similar with the feeding of the Five Thousand. The Twelve wanted to send the crowd away so they could buy their own food, but Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.” The disciples focused on the available food, five loaves of bread and two fish, rather than the needs of the crowd. Jesus said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” The disciples did so, and everybody sat down. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over” (Luke 9:14b-17 NIV).

Wake Up O Sleeper

I understand those who want to protest the death of George Floyd, but I find it suspicious that their protests are scheduled to take place in darkness. Unlike Dr. Martin Luther King, who protested unmasked and in broad daylight, today’s purported protesters are cloaked in darkness. Paul said, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Eph 5:8-14 NIV).

The Lamb Heals

In light of the protests and riots surrounding George Floyd’s death, prominent pastors across the nation are calling for racial equality, reconciliation, and prayers for healing the nation. Unfortunately, these pastors are relying on their own wisdom, their own words and their own human understanding. I have yet to hear one of them tell people they need to come to Jesus Christ. John shared a glimpse of heaven, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Rev 22:1-2 NIV).

God’s Mercy

Fox News interviewed a black couple whose soon-to-open Sports Bar was ransacked and destroyed by looters. The owner, a former firefighter, had invested everything he had in his new business. As the interview began, he acknowledged that earlier in the evening he had taken his children out so they could see and be a part of the “peaceful protest”. However, the protest turned into mob violence and his business was destroyed even as he stood in the building asking looters to stop. I’m having a hard time mustering up any compassion since the previous night the city protests were also violent. I can’t understand why, even for the sake of giving his children an experience, he would take them to the next potentially violent protest. Paul said, “What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy” (Ro 9:14-16 NIV).

Bringing Good News

Because of social distancing many preachers continue to struggle with the loss of their church platform. It’s as though they don’t know how to preach without having the trappings of the organized religion. Much of their dilemma comes from the fact that they have taken it upon themselves to orchestrate and direct every aspect of the worship service, which means they wear multiple hats. It’s unfortunate that men who are sent to preach let themselves become distracted by becoming the administrator, music coordinator, sound-man, table server, etc. Paul knew the importance of doing what you are called to do, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Ro 10:14-15 NIV)!

Unsolicited Advice

A post on Facebook from a pastor said, “May I have a moment of your time to talk about when and how your church resumes gathering? This is not advice to pastors. (I’m sure they’re getting plenty of unsolicited advice.) I want to share my perspective for those of you who are waiting for information from your pastors.” The pastor went on to offer a few do’s and don’ts for the coming months and first on the list was, “Give your advice and opinion only when it is requested…” I’m now trying to imagine the look on a pastor’s face if we in the congregation told him, “Give your advice and opinion only when it is requested.” Pastors and leaders sometimes fail to recognize that what they deem as “unsolicited advice”, may in fact may be a message from the Lord. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch, “During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:27-30 NIV). Thank goodness the message from Agabus, a fore-teller, was not perceived as unsolicited advice.