Christ the King

When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” They drew lots as a way of dividing up his clothing. The people were standing around watching, but the leaders sneered at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he really is the Christ sent from God, the chosen one.” The soldiers also mocked him. They came up to him, offering him sour wine and saying, “If you really are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Above his head was a notice of the formal charge against him. It read “This is the king of the Jews.” One of the criminals hanging next to Jesus insulted him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” Responding, the other criminal spoke harshly to him, “Don’t you fear God, seeing that you’ve also been sentenced to die? We are rightly condemned, for we are receiving the appropriate sentence for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “I assure you that today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:33-43, CEB)

I assure you that today you will be with me in paradise. Interesting.

This statement in the CEB has no punctuation. Normally there is a comma around today, either before or after, placed there by the translators because there is no punctuation in the original text. But this implies that that day when Jesus said this to the thief both of them would be in paradise. And yet we confess in the creeds that Jesus died, was buried, and then descended into the dead. So was he in paradise that day? Or did the thief go with him to the dead and then into paradise?

But this is a weird way to see a king, isn’t it? Jesus hanging on a cross with a sign that says “This is the king of the Jews.”

And we still believe that Jesus is king. And he will watch over us. And I always will because I have received the promises and seen the proof that I need to know that Jesus is king and will come back again to fulfill the kingdom of God.

We shouldn’t worry about the comma or when the thief was with Jesus in paradise. the important thing is not when but that he was. And so we all will be.

Loving People. Loving God.

Never

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)

Whoever doesn’t come to God’s kingdom like a child will not enter it.

How do we come like children?

We need to believe and trust and not let our unknowing get in our way.

Just believe the promises we are given.

Loving People. Loving God.

faithfulness

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! On account of his vast mercy, he has given us new birth. You have been born anew into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. You have a pure and enduring inheritance that cannot perish—an inheritance that is presently kept safe in heaven for you. Through his faithfulness, you are guarded by God’s power so that you can receive the salvation he is ready to reveal in the last time. You now rejoice in this hope, even if it’s necessary for you to be distressed for a short time by various trials. This is necessary so that your faith may be found genuine. (Your faith is more valuable than gold, which will be destroyed even though it is itself tested by fire.) Your genuine faith will result in praise, glory, and honor for you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you’ve never seen him, you love him. Even though you don’t see him now, you trust him and so rejoice with a glorious joy that is too much for words. You are receiving the goal of your faith: your salvation. (1 Peter 1:3-9, CEB)

Through his faithfulness, you are guarded by God’s power so that you can receive the salvation he is ready to reveal in the last time.

Jesus made a way for us to be set free. Liberated.

Jesus was faithful and because of that, we are all set free.

Know that even though we do not see him he has done this for us and we will be made one with him in the fulfillment of the kingdom.

Loving People. Loving God.

once

So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be cleansed with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things had to be cleansed with better sacrifices than these. Christ didn’t enter the holy place (which is a copy of the true holy place) made by human hands, but into heaven itself, so that he now appears in God’s presence for us. He didn’t enter to offer himself over and over again, like the high priest enters the earthly holy place every year with blood that isn’t his. If that were so, then Jesus would have to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. Instead, he has now appeared once at the end of the ages to get rid of sin by sacrificing himself. People are destined to die once and then face judgment. In the same way, Christ was also offered once to take on himself the sins of many people. He will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:23-28, CEB)

Christ died once to take away all of our sins, it is not a sacrifice that is done over and over but was done once when God showed God’s love for the world and Jesus died for us all.

Share the love that God gave us, and is still giving us through that sacrifice.

Loving People. Loving God.

what sign?

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you. How often I wanted to gather your people together, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that. Look, your house is left to you deserted. I tell you, you won’t see me until you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord’s name.” Now Jesus left the temple and was going away. His disciples came to point out to him the temple buildings. He responded, “Do you see all these things? I assure that no stone will be left on another. Everything will be demolished.” Now while Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” Jesus replied, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the Christ.’ They will deceive many people. You will hear about wars and reports of wars. Don’t be alarmed. These things must happen, but this isn’t the end yet. Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in all sorts of places. But all these things are just the beginning of the sufferings associated with the end. They will arrest you, abuse you, and they will kill you. All nations will hate you on account of my name. At that time many will fall away. They will betray each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because disobedience will expand, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all the nations. Then the end will come. (Matthew 23:37—24:14, CEB)

So what is the sign of the end of the age?

There isn’t one really.

Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other

there will be famines and earthquakes in all sorts of places.

But these are only the beginning of the suffering that comes with the end.

People will betray followers of the way, and many will fall away from following, and many false prophets will appear deceiving people.

Do not be pulled away but hold fast to God.

Loving People. Loving God.

Everything

Everything is permitted, but everything isn’t beneficial. Everything is permitted, but everything doesn’t build others up. No one should look out for their own advantage, but they should look out for each other. Eat everything that is sold in the marketplace, without asking questions about it because of your conscience. The earth and all that is in it belong to the Lord. If an unbeliever invites you to eat with them and you want to go, eat whatever is served, without asking questions because of your conscience. But if someone says to you, “This meat was sacrificed in a temple,” then don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. Now when I say “conscience” I don’t mean yours but the other person’s. Why should my freedom be judged by someone else’s conscience? If I participate with gratitude, why should I be blamed for food I thank God for? So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you should do it all for God’s glory. Don’t offend either Jews or Greeks, or God’s church. This is the same thing that I do. I please everyone in everything I do. I don’t look out for my own advantage, but I look out for many people so that they can be saved. Follow my example, just like I follow Christ’s. (1 Corinthians 10:23—11:1, CEB)

We are free to do whatever we want. But everything doesn’t ad to society,

You see the things we do not only have an impact on our lives, but they also impact the communities in which we live. So the things we do must have a good and proper impact on society. I can not just take whatever I want because then that is stealing from the community and hurting it. I must do what is best for the whole of society in everything I do.

Ask yourself, does this build up relationships in the world? and if the answer is no, maybe find something different to do.

Do everything in love for the other, not yourself.

Loving People. Loving God.

Technology and Spirituality

There are many ways that technology can hinder our spirituality.

  1. By distracting us from God. We can be on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, _________ (Insert social media sight here) and scrolling and scrolling and not thinking about God.
  2. By going down rabbit holes and not remembering how we are connected to God.
  3. By disconnecting us from our real relationships and focusing on something that is real but is not like the person sitting next to us on the couch.
  4. By fixing us on things we already believe and not being pushed to grow and see things in new and different ways.

We can get sucked into social media and allow it to consume us so we do not look at spiritual insights or think about God. We find ways to distract ourselves from where we should be and how we should be connected to the world around us.

But technology can also connect us to people who need to see things from our perspective, or we can see things from a perspective that is not our own. I have friends on social media that are devoted Catholics, which is a perspective I do not always agree with and I need to have to see things from a different perspective. We are always not right and while the discussion on social media can be toxic, sometimes we see things and allow ideas that are not ours to help us see things from a wider perspective.

The chapter we got to read for class this week was from the book The Digital Cathedral by Keith Anderson. The chapter is A DiGiTAL Rule of Life. In this chapter, Keith Anderson gives a digital rule for life and this is what he wrote:

1. Be Present
2. Listen
3. Welcome the Stranger
4. Pray Without Ceasing
5. Be Helpful
6. Be Humble
7. Get Rhythm
8. Curate Good Information
9. Convene Conversations
10. Participate in Meaning Making
11. Tell Good Stories
12. Disagree Amicably
13. Take Digital Sabbath
14. Meet in Person Whenever Possible
15. Commit All You Do to God

These are all things I try to do in things I do online and in person. Some people think they can be one person online and another in person. I feel this is not being a person of integrity and is fake. We are called as disciples to love out loud and be authentic. I try to do everything I do for the glory of God.

I do a lot of content sharing on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and I have had a lot of people say thank you for sharing what I share because it has helped them through a hard time. I also have done a devotional blog since I resigned from my call in 2012. I started this to keep myself connected, and it evolved into others reading this and using it for their devotional time. A few years ago, during COVID I was having a hard time keeping up with the blog and all the stuff I needed to do for ministry at Treehouse and I put a poll out on the blog about how many people read this and use this devotional daily. I was surprised at the number of people who responded that they have found comfort and growth through my devotional and that they wanted me to keep doing the devotional but all of them said that they understood if I needed to step away, they would miss it but would find other outlets. I share what I share and continue to do the devotional because I feel that it is a mission field.

We need to be where the people are, even when we aren’t accepted. Technical is a mission field.

integrity

Therefore, after you have gotten rid of lying, Each of you must tell the truth to your neighbor because we are parts of each other in the same body. Be angry without sinning. Don’t let the sun set on your anger. Don’t provide an opportunity for the devil. Thieves should no longer steal. Instead, they should go to work, using their hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need. Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say. Don’t make the Holy Spirit of God unhappy—you were sealed by him for the day of redemption. Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ. Therefore, imitate God like dearly loved children. Live your life with love, following the example of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us. He was a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God. (Ephesians 4:25—5:2, CEB)

Integrity is a great word. It is a word that means you do not lie, you do not steal, and you treat others the way you want to be treated. There are no underhanded deals or things that you can not say in polite company.

It is a way many people seem not to live today. But when we are truly followers of Christ, we are people of integrity.

We say what we mean and mean what we say and what we say doesn’t depend on who is around and what we do doesn’t mean someone is watching. We are the same person all the time and say and do the same things regardless of who is or isn’t in the room.

Be a person of integrity. It is honestly the easiest way to live.

Loving People. Loving God.

hold fast

Some people were talking about the temple, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and ornaments dedicated to God. Jesus said, “As for the things you are admiring, the time is coming when not even one stone will be left upon another. All will be demolished.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? What sign will show that these things are about to happen?” Jesus said, “Watch out that you aren’t deceived. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the one!’ and ‘It’s time!’ Don’t follow them. When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end won’t happen immediately.” Then Jesus said to them, “Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other. There will be great earthquakes and wide-scale food shortages and epidemics. There will also be terrifying sights and great signs in the sky. But before all this occurs, they will take you into custody and harass you because of your faith. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will provide you with an opportunity to testify. Make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance. I’ll give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to counter or contradict. You will be betrayed by your parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, and friends. They will execute some of you. Everyone will hate you because of my name. Still, not a hair on your heads will be lost. By holding fast, you will gain your lives. (Luke 21:5-19, CEB)

Everything will be undone and everyone will be against you but do not lose heart and hold fast to God and you will gain life.

We do not need to worry about how we will respond to attackers either, because God will give us the words and a defense that none of our opponents will be able to counter.

Live your life rested in God and know that God is always there for you.

Loving People. Loving God.

lose or preserve

Pharisees asked Jesus when God’s kingdom was coming. He replied, “God’s kingdom isn’t coming with signs that are easily noticed. Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ Don’t you see? God’s kingdom is already among you.” Then Jesus said to the disciples, “The time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Human One, and you won’t see it. People will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Don’t leave or go chasing after them. The Human One will appear on his day in the same way that a flash of lightning lights up the sky from one end to the other. However, first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be during the days of the Human One. People were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage until the day Noah entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise in the days of Lot, people were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building. But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. That’s the way it will be on the day the Human One is revealed. On that day, those on the roof, whose possessions are in the house, shouldn’t come down to grab them. Likewise, those in the field shouldn’t turn back. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to preserve their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in the same bed: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together: one will be taken and the other left.” The disciples asked, “Where, Lord?” Jesus said, “The vultures gather wherever there’s a dead body.” (Luke 17:20-37, CEB)

Whoever tries to preserve their life will lose it and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

When we give up control over our lives and allow God to be in charge we will be blessed beyond imagination and have a life we could never dreamed of.

Do not be fooled by people saying they are following God when really they are following a hoax or rules that will not get you to God.

Knowing God is loving God and loving neighbor.

So love out loud and share the mercy and grace you have been given.

Loving People. Loving God