What matters is…

Nevertheless, each person should live the kind of life that the Lord assigned when he called each one. This is what I teach in all the churches. If someone was circumcised when called, he shouldn’t try to reverse it. If someone wasn’t circumcised when he was called, he shouldn’t be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing; not being circumcised is nothing. What matters is keeping God’s commandments. Each person should stay in the situation they were in when they were called. If you were a slave when you were called, don’t let it bother you. But if you are actually able to be free, take advantage of the opportunity. Anyone who was a slave when they were called by the Lord has the status of being the Lord’s free person. In the same way, anyone who was a free person when they were called is Christ’s slave. You were bought and paid for. Don’t become slaves of people. So then, brothers and sisters, each of you should stay with God in the situation you were in when you were called. (1 Corinthians 7:17-24, CEB)

What matters is…

following God. This means worrying about how you are doing what God called you to do and not what everyone else around you is doing.

What matters is…

being who God created you to be. This means not being who others or society want you to be but being authentic to who God created you to be.

What matters is…

Loving like Jesus. This means not judging, but loving all unconditionally as we are loved.

So love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

ὀπίσω μου

After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” As Jesus passed alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” Right away, they left their nets and followed him. After going a little farther, he saw James and John, Zebedee’s sons, in their boat repairing the fishing nets. At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers. (Mark 1:14-20, CEB)

I love the calling of the disciples in Mark, Matthew, and I think Luke. I like John as well, but it uses a different word for follow. There are a couple of words in Greek that mean follow and the one that Mark and Matthew use for certain is the most interesting to me.

ὀπίσω μου. Opiso Mou. This is what is used here when Jesus says, “Come, follow me.”

Follow me. We think of this and I have heard it portrayed as a nice let’s go for a walk and hang out, be buddies, and do stuff together. But that is not the connotation of the word.

ὀπίσω μου is used in another part of the gospels where Jesus confronts Peter and says to him, “Get behind me, Satan.” ὀπίσω μου is literally get behind me.

Jesus is calling the disciples to know their place. If you don’t see the back of Jesus’ head, you are not following.

We are not the leaders. We are but followers of Jesus.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

caught up…

“How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin. How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida. If the miracles done among you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed their hearts and lives long ago. They would have sat around in funeral clothes and ashes. But Tyre and Sidon will be better off at the judgment than you. And you, Capernaum, will you be honored by being raised up to heaven? No, you will be cast down to the place of the dead. Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (Luke 10:13-16, CEB)

We get caught up in seeming to be right for those around us we do not actually do what God has called us to do.

Listen to God and go and love like Jesus.

Do not worry about keeping up your appearances, or doing what makes others happy. Do what makes God happy. Love everyone.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

When?!?

My dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both letters to stir up your sincere understanding with a reminder. I want you to recall what the holy prophets foretold as well as what the Lord and savior commanded through your apostles. Most important, know this: in the last days scoffers will come, jeering, living by their own cravings, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? After all, nothing has changed—not since the beginning of creation, nor even since the ancestors died.” But they fail to notice that, by God’s word, heaven and earth were formed long ago out of water and by means of water. And it was through these that the world of that time was flooded and destroyed. But by the same word, heaven and earth are now held in reserve for fire, kept for the Judgment Day and destruction of ungodly people. (2 Peter 3:1-7, CEB)

When is Jesus coming?

Sometime. But we do not need to worry about that. The thing we need to focus on is loving like Jesus.

Do not be concerned about when God will come back, trust in the promises and live love out loud.

Love Like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God

All your glitter and glamour are lost

“The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their cargoes anymore— cargoes of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; all those things made of scented wood, ivory, fine wood, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon, incense, fragrant ointment, and frankincense; wine, oil, fine flour, and wheat; cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; and slaves, even human lives. ‘The fruit your whole being craved has gone from you. All your glitter and glamour are lost to you, never ever to be found again.’ “The merchants who sold these things, and got so rich by her, will stand a long way off because they fear the pain she suffers. They will weep and mourn, and say, ‘Oh, the horror! The great city that wore fine linen, purple, and scarlet, who glittered with gold, jewels, and pearls— in just one hour such great wealth was destroyed.’ “Every sea captain, every seafarer, sailors, and all who make their living on the sea stood a long way off. They cried out as they saw the smoke from her burning and said, ‘What city was ever like the great city?’ They threw dust on their heads, and they cried out, weeping and mourning. They said, ‘Oh, the horror! The great city, where all who have ships at sea became so rich by her prosperity—in just one hour she was destroyed. Rejoice over her, heaven—you saints, apostles, and prophets—because God has condemned her as she condemned you.’” (Revelation 18:11-20, CEB)

All your glitter and glamour are lost…

Never to be found again…

The things of this world do not matter.

What matters is love. Love and Following after God’s way.

So love like Jesus and do not worry about all your glitter and glamour…

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

welcome the children

People were bringing babies to Jesus so that he would bless them. When the disciples saw this, they scolded them. Then Jesus called them to him and said, “Allow the children to come to me. Don’t forbid them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people like these children. I assure you that whoever doesn’t welcome God’s kingdom like a child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:15-17, CEB)

Do not keep people from coming to Jesus.

Really why would we think that we should keep people from Jesus?

Children in Jesus’ time were to not be heard or seen. They were property and not good things to have around. That is why the disciples were trying to keep them away. A man in Jesus’ time would not want to see the children.

But Jesus isn’t like other humans.

We need to be like Jesus.

We need to love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

What?!?

However, a man named Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. With his wife’s knowledge, he withheld some of the proceeds from the sale. He brought the rest and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles. Peter asked, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has influenced you to lie to the Holy Spirit by withholding some of the proceeds from the sale of your land? Wasn’t that property yours to keep? After you sold it, wasn’t the money yours to do with whatever you wanted? What made you think of such a thing? You haven’t lied to other people but to God!” When Ananias heard these words, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard this conversation was terrified. Some young men stood up, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him. About three hours later, his wife entered, but she didn’t know what had happened to her husband. Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you and your husband receive this price for the field?” She responded, “Yes, that’s the amount.” He replied, “How could you scheme with each other to challenge the Lord’s Spirit? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too.” At that very moment, she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men entered and found her dead, they carried her out and buried her with her husband. Trepidation and dread seized the whole church and all who heard what had happened. (Acts 5:1-11, CEB)

So here is a story of a couple who sold their land and agreed to tell everyone they sold it for a price less than they sold it for and gave that amount to the shared holdings of the group. And the disciples found out, and God struck the couple dead.

Now, we should not be dishonest. We should not say we do not have something we have or in any way portray what/who we are as different than what/who we are, but should these two be struck dead because of this?

This story makes a point of always being honest. I say you be honest because then you don’t have to remember what you said because it is always the truth. Liars have to have good memories, but those who always tell the truth don’t need to worry about remembering.

Love like Jesus and be honest.

Loving People. Loving God.

tied up…

Don’t be tied up as equal partners with people who don’t believe. What does righteousness share with that which is outside the Law? What relationship does light have with darkness? What harmony does Christ have with Satan? What does a believer have in common with someone who doesn’t believe? What agreement can there be between God’s temple and idols? Because we are the temple of the living God. Just as God said, I live with them, and I will move among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord. Don’t touch what is unclean. Then I will welcome you. I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. My dear friends, since we have these promises, let’s cleanse ourselves from anything that contaminates our body or spirit so that we make our holiness complete in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, CEB)

We should not be equal partners with people who don’t believe but that doesn’t mean we do not still live with them and interact with them.

We should separate ourselves from things that keep us form God and live our lives as an example for all to see God’s love in the world.

Do not be tied up to evil, but be tied to love.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Come and see

The next day Jesus wanted to go into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, Joseph’s son, from Nazareth.” Nathanael responded, “Can anything from Nazareth be good?” Philip said, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here is a genuine Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are God’s Son. You are the king of Israel.” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these! I assure you that you will see heaven open and God’s angels going up to heaven and down to earth on the Human One.” (John 1:43-51, CEB)

How easy is that? Come and see…

Did you know that most people visit a place of worship because a friend invited them?

It isn’t because they saw/heard an ad. It isn’t because the pastor asked them.

Usually, it is because a friend invited them to come and see.

And it is easy for us to say come and see a sporting event, or a movie, or an amusement park, so why not worship?

Invite a friend to worship and see what happens.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Be prepared…

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten young bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Now five of them were wise, and the other five were foolish. The foolish ones took their lamps but didn’t bring oil for them. But the wise ones took their lamps and also brought containers of oil. “When the groom was late in coming, they all became drowsy and went to sleep. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look, the groom! Come out to meet him.’ “Then all those bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. But the foolish bridesmaids said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps have gone out.’ “But the wise bridesmaids replied, ‘No, because if we share with you, there won’t be enough for our lamps and yours. We have a better idea. You go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were gone to buy oil, the groom came. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding. Then the door was shut. “Later the other bridesmaids came and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us.’ “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore, keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13, CEB)

Every time I read this passage I think about the Boy Scout motto be prepared.

Keep alert is kind of the same thing right? If you are prepared for what may come you can be alert to what is happening around you and be ready to act in a way that is needed.

However, as a follower of Christ, I also know that there are times I may not be prepared, even if I am alert, and at those points, I need to rely on Christ and the Spirit to lead me and guide me to do what needs to be done. But if we can be prepared we should be.

God calls us and equips us to be in the world and we should be ready to follow where God is leading us.

Be prepared, and love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.