have faith

The next day, after leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. From far away, he noticed a fig tree in leaf, so he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing except leaves, since it wasn’t the season for figs. So he said to it, “No one will ever again eat your fruit!” His disciples heard this.

Early in the morning, as Jesus and his disciples were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered from the root up. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look how the fig tree you cursed has dried up.” Jesus responded to them, “Have faith in God! I assure you that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea’—and doesn’t waver but believes that what is said will really happen—it will happen. Therefore I say to you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you will receive it, and it will be so for you. (Mark 11:12-14, 20-24, CEB)

So when I can not do the things I want, does that mean I do not have enough faith, or any faith?

If you do not waver and believe it will happen. I have a hard time believing in myself to get my underwear on in the morning without falling over, let alone believing God will make a mountain move simply because I want it to. What about how God wants it to happen, not if I believe enough and do not waver in my belief? If it is really about my unwavering belief, where is grace?

My faith does not save me or gain me heaven; God’s grace, through Jesus’ faithfulness, gets me that. Unwavering faith is a work and something that can not be done without God’s grace and mercy. It is all God’s doing; we are saved, and what amount of wavering faith I have is enough with God’s hand guiding me.

Stop worrying about your faith and rest in God’s love.

you have…

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God. Whoever loves someone who is a parent loves the child born to the parent. This is how we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep God’s commandments. This is the love of God: we keep God’s commandments. God’s commandments are not difficult, because everyone who is born from God defeats the world. And this is the victory that has defeated the world: our faith. Who defeats the world? Isn’t it the one who believes that Jesus is God’s Son?

I write these things to you who believe in the name of God’s Son so that you can know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence that we have in our relationship with God: If we ask for anything in agreement with his will, he listens to us. If we know that he listens to whatever we ask, we know that we have received what we asked from him. If anyone sees a brother or sister committing a sin that does not result in death, they should pray, and God will give life to them—that is, to those who commit sins that don’t result in death. There is a sin that results in death—I’m not saying that you should pray about that. Every unrighteous action is sin, but there is a sin that does not result in death. We know that everyone born from God does not sin, but the ones born from God guard themselves, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. We know that God’s Son has come and has given us understanding to know the one who is true. We are in the one who is true by being in his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols! (1 John 5:1-5, 13-21,CEB)

I write this to you who believe in Jesus, so that you can know that you have eternal life. Not so that you might some day get eternal life, or that you will one day earn it, or anything else. You have eternal life. And it is not something that is coming, but is something you live into here and now.

We should be confident in this fact and live as though we have already obtained this. Showing love in everything we do. And living God’s grace out loud.

Love like Jesus.

joy

My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing. But anyone who needs wisdom should ask God, whose very nature is to give to everyone without a second thought, without keeping score. Wisdom will certainly be given to those who ask. Whoever asks shouldn’t hesitate. They should ask in faith, without doubting. Whoever doubts is like the surf of the sea, tossed and turned by the wind. People like that should never imagine that they will receive anything from the Lord. They are double-minded, unstable in all their ways. Brothers and sisters who are poor should find satisfaction in their high status. Those who are wealthy should find satisfaction in their low status, because they will die off like wildflowers. The sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass so that its flowers fall and its beauty is lost. Just like that, in the midst of their daily lives, the wealthy will waste away. (James 1:2-11, CEB)

Tests of faith should be seen as occasions for joy.

When our faith is tested, that builds endurance. And endurance helps us to continue the journey.

And this is not a journey we go alone. God is always with us to give us strength to continue, words to speak, and always love to share.

Do not stray from being faithful to get out of a test of faith. God is always with you, and once the test is over, there will be unspeakable joy.

If

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Would any of you say to your servant, who had just come in from the field after plowing or tending sheep, ‘Come! Sit down for dinner’? Wouldn’t you say instead, ‘Fix my dinner. Put on the clothes of a table servant and wait on me while I eat and drink. After that, you can eat and drink’? You won’t thank the servant because the servant did what you asked, will you? In the same way, when you have done everything required of you, you should say, ‘We servants deserve no special praise. We have only done our duty.’” (Luke 17:5-10, CEB)

The disciples think they need more faith, so they ask Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Most of the time we read this as Jesus agreeing with them that they do not have enough faith.

Because who among us can look at a mulberry tree and tell it to uproot and move, and it does it? Well, I guess if you had a big enough shovel, you could, but I know of no person who can tell a tree to uproot and the tree pulls itself out of the ground and moves.

But read that again.

Jesus is not saying they do not have enough faith. If you had the faith the size of a mustard seed, the smallest seed in Jesus time, if you had that much you could do this, but even if you do not, what you have is enough.

I will always be with you and what faith you have is enough to do wat needs to be done. You do not need to be able to uproot trees or move mountains. You need to do what I have called and created you to do. Love.

Love the world. Your faith is enough.

compassion

As Jesus and his disciples were going out of Jericho a large crowd followed him. When two blind men sitting along the road heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Show us mercy, Lord, Son of David!” Now the crowd scolded them and told them to be quiet. But they shouted even louder, “Show us mercy, Lord, Son of David!” Jesus stopped in his tracks and called to them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord, we want to see,” they replied. Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they were able to see, and they followed him. (Matthew 20:29-34, CEB)

Jesus had compassion. Over and over again, Jesus had compassion on people.

Want to be like Jesus?

Want to do what God has made us to do?

Have compassion. Look out for the person no one else is listening to. Be the giver of hope and love.

do what?

“Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum:

These are the words of the one who has the sharp, two-edged sword: I know that you are living right where Satan’s throne is. You are holding on to my name, and you didn’t break faith with me even at the time that Antipas, my faithful witness, was killed among you, where Satan lives. But I have a few things against you, because you have some there who follow Balaam’s teaching. Balaam had taught Balak to trip up the Israelites so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. In the same way, you have some who follow the Nicolaitans’ teaching. So change your hearts and lives. If you don’t, I am coming to you soon, and I will make war on them with the sword that comes from my mouth. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. I will give those who emerge victorious some of the hidden manna to eat. I will also give to each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, which no one knows except the one who receives it.

“Write this to the angel of the church in Thyatira:

These are the words of God’s Son, whose eyes are like a fiery flame, and whose feet are like fine brass. I know your works, your love and faithfulness, your service and endurance. I also know that the works you have done most recently are even greater than those you did at first. But I have this against you: you put up with that woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. You allow her to teach and to mislead my servants into committing sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to change her heart and life, but she refuses to change her life of prostitution. Look! I’m throwing her onto a sickbed. I am casting those who have committed adultery with her into terrible hardship—if they don’t change their hearts from following her practices— and I will even put her children to death with disease. Then all the churches will know that I’m the one who examines minds and hearts, and that I will give to each of you what your actions deserve. As for the rest of you in Thyatira—those of you who don’t follow this teaching and haven’t learned the so-called “deep secrets” of Satan—I won’t burden you with anything else. Just hold on to what you have until I come. To those who emerge victorious, keeping my practices until the end, I will give authority over the nations— to rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like pottery— just as I received authority from my Father. I will also give them the morning star. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. (Revelation 2:12-29, CEB)

The common thread from these two sayings in Revelation is food to idols and sexual immorality.

Paul said not to eat food sacrificed to idols if it would lead others astray, and to do things to help others see God’s love. Sexual immorality needs further deep dives. This is not what Christian Nationalists in the USA say is sexual immorality; it is not being queer or part of the LGBTQI2S+ community. It has to do with power yielding over some of the younger age or status.

We need to show our understanding of following God in everything we do and everything we say. We can not say we are pro-life and then burn food, or not provide health care for all people.

Do not simply go along with what the world around you is doing. Stand strong in the faith and be willing to speak against powers that use scripture to maintain their power and keep people in line.

God’s love will lead us and keep us, even through Satan’s lies and wars.

be faithful

“Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna:

These are the words of the one who is the first and the last, who died and came back to life: I know your hardship and poverty (though you are actually rich). I also know the hurtful things that have been spoken about you by those who say they are Jews (though they are not, but are really Satan’s synagogue). Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison in order to test you. You will suffer hardship for ten days. Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Those who emerge victorious won’t be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:8-11, CEB)

Do not be afraid of what you are going to suffer. You will need to stand up for the faith and proclaim the truth in the midst of evil and people twisting the truth to their agenda. We all need to stand fast, knowing persecution and hardship are coming. Knowing we will be condemned and imprisoned for our words and actions by the powers of evil that twist the love of God.

Do not succumb to Satan’s synagogue, but stand fast with God.

Be faithful.

Which ones?

A man approached him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus said, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There’s only one who is good. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.” The man said, “Which ones?” Then Jesus said, “Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” The young man replied, “I’ve kept all these. What am I still missing?” Jesus said, “If you want to be complete, go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away saddened, because he had many possessions. (Matthew 19:16-22, CEB)

When told to keep the commandments, the man does not respond, “ok.” He asks which commandments he must keep. As if there are some that really do not matter.

And actually, Jesus reminds us here which ones are really important and actually sum up all of the commandments. Love God, and love neighbor. When we default to love, we uphold all the commandments.

To love is to think of others first and put their needs before ours. Not worrying about following the rules, but helping others.

riches…

Pay attention, you wealthy people! Weep and moan over the miseries coming upon you. Your riches have rotted. Moths have destroyed your clothes. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you. It will eat your flesh like fire. Consider the treasure you have hoarded in the last days. Listen! Hear the cries of the wages of your field hands. These are the wages you stole from those who harvested your fields. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of heavenly forces. You have lived a self-satisfying life on this earth, a life of luxury. You have stuffed your hearts in preparation for the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who doesn’t oppose you. (James 5:1-6, CEB)

What will riches get you beyond this life?

I know people who have wealth and wealth to spare. And they do spare it. They give graciously to things. They also spend money on things they want. This is not wrong. This is not against the bible.

We are blessed to bless ourselves, our families, and others. When we do not bless others, that is when we get the cries from the fields, and the calls to be included with those who killed God.

Do not be stingy. You were blessed to be a blessing.

So be a blessing.

luke-warm

“Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I’m about to spit you out of my mouth. After all, you say, ‘I’m rich, and I’ve grown wealthy, and I don’t need a thing.’ You don’t realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. My advice is that you buy gold from me that has been purified by fire so that you may be rich, and white clothing to wear so that your nakedness won’t be shamefully exposed, and ointment to put on your eyes so that you may see. I correct and discipline those whom I love. So be earnest and change your hearts and lives. Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me. As for those who emerge victorious, I will allow them to sit with me on my throne, just as I emerged victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” (Revelation 3:14-22, CEB)

You are so middle of the road! You need to pick a side.

Neither hot nor cold, but so so. You are ok, but not really engaged.

You are trying but only enough to not actually do something.

What my grandparents would say to this is, Pee or get off the pot. Do something to make a difference.