plant

7 Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant. 8 Those who plant only for their own benefit will harvest devastation from their selfishness, but those who plant for the benefit of the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit. 9 Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. 10 So then, let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity, and especially for those in the household of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10, CEB)

What are you planting?

We should be planting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Because God has filled us with good things and we should overflow with that in the world.

Even when people are mean-spirited and evil towards us we must show them we are followers of Christ and we do that by love.

Love in all things and plant love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Led by the Spirit

16 I say be guided by the Spirit and you won’t carry out your selfish desires. 17 A person’s selfish desires are set against the Spirit, and the Spirit is set against one’s selfish desires. They are opposed to each other, so you shouldn’t do whatever you want to do. 18 But if you are being led by the Spirit, you aren’t under the Law. 19 The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, since they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good, 20 idolatry, drug use and casting spells, hate, fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, conflict, selfishness, group rivalry, 21 jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that. I warn you as I have already warned you, that those who do these kinds of things won’t inherit God’s kingdom. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-25, CEB)

Be led by the Spirit and you will not carry out selfish desires.

When you are following where God is leading you you will not be tempted to do what you want but will be sharing the love that God has given you.

You will live in the fruit of the spirit. And the fruit of the spirit is love. Or is it love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?

I have always wondered about that. It doesn’t say the fruits of the spirit are. It says the fruit of the spirit is. Is it possible for a single thing to be 9 things? Or is it the fruit of the spirit is love, and the other eight describe what love is? Does it ultimately matter when we follow the spirit?

Follow the leading of the spirit and love as you go.

Loving People. Loving God.

what are you saving for?

18 Once when Jesus was praying by himself, the disciples joined him, and he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They answered, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others that one of the ancient prophets has come back to life.” 20 He asked them, “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ sent from God.” 21 Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, “The Human One must suffer many things and be rejected—by the elders, chief priests, and the legal experts—and be killed and be raised on the third day.” 23 Jesus said to everyone, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me. 24 All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me will save them. 25 What advantage do people have if they gain the whole world for themselves yet perish or lose their lives? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Human One will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 I assure you that some standing here won’t die before they see God’s kingdom.” (Luke 9:18-27, CEB)

All who want to follow me must take up their cross daily and follow. Deny yourself and follow.

I wonder what we save for ourselves that we do not give over to others? What should we be denying ourselves that we don’t?

We can take nothing with us when we leave this world. We came into it naked and crying and we will all go out in a box 6 feet underground. (Ok you might not be in a box underground but you get the point.) Everything we have will either go to family or the state, so why do we save it?

Do we trust that God will provide our daily bread?

If we do what are we saving for?

Love with what you got and deny yourself.

Loving People. Loving God.

Be like Paul

19 “So, King Agrippa, I wasn’t disobedient to that heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I proclaimed first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to the whole region of Judea and to the Gentiles. My message was that they should change their hearts and lives and turn to God, and that they should demonstrate this change in their behavior. 21 Because of this, some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to murder me. 22 God has helped me up to this very day. Therefore, I stand here and bear witness to the lowly and the great. I’m saying nothing more than what the Prophets and Moses declared would happen: 23 that the Christ would suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to my people and to the Gentiles.” 24 At this point in Paul’s defense, Festus declared with a loud voice, “You’ve lost your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you mad!” 25 But Paul replied, “I’m not mad, most honorable Festus! I’m speaking what is sound and true. 26 King Agrippa knows about these things, and I have been speaking openly to him. I’m certain that none of these things have escaped his attention. This didn’t happen secretly or in some out-of-the-way place. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you trying to convince me that, in such a short time, you’ve made me a Christian?” 29 Paul responded, “Whether it is a short or a long time, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today will become like me, except for these chains.” (Acts 26:19-29, CEB)

Paul says at the end, “Whether it is a short or a long time, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today will become like me, except for these chains.”

Paul wants all of us to be like him. A believer that spread the good news of the love of God for all.

Are you like Paul?

Do you believe?

Do you spread the good news?

Loving People. Loving God.

not guilty

35 The next morning the legal authorities sent the police to the jailer with the order “Release those people.” 36 So the jailer reported this to Paul, informing him, “The authorities sent word that you both are to be released. You can leave now. Go in peace.” 37 Paul told the police, “Even though we are Roman citizens, they beat us publicly without first finding us guilty of a crime, and they threw us into prison. And now they want to send us away secretly? No way! They themselves will have to come and escort us out.” 38 The police reported this to the legal authorities, who were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 They came and consoled Paul and Silas, escorting them out of prison and begging them to leave the city. 40 Paul and Silas left the prison and made their way to Lydia’s house where they encouraged the brothers and sisters. Then they left Philippi. (Acts 16:35-40, CEB)

Paul was a Roman citizen and that gave him rights, to not be beaten for not being guilty. Which of course didn’t happen here.

The authorities wanted to make an example of Paul and Silas that if you spread things they do not agree with you will be beaten and put in prison. Then they tried to let Paul and Silas go quietly to not cause a scene, which backfired.

Paul and Silas did leave, but not right away, and the authorities that tried to stop the message probably only fueled the fire.

Never stop sharing the love God has shared with you for God is always with you.

Loving People. Loving God.

Jesus prays

20 “I’m not praying only for them but also for those who believe in me because of their word. 21 I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I pray that they also will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I’ve given them the glory that you gave me so that they can be one just as we are one. 23 I’m in them and you are in me so that they will be made perfectly one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you have loved them just as you loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you gave me to be with me where I am. Then they can see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, even the world didn’t know you, but I’ve known you, and these believers know that you sent me. 26 I’ve made your name known to them and will continue to make it known so that your love for me will be in them, and I myself will be in them.” (John 17:20-26, CEB)

This is always the reading on the last Sunday of Easter, or at least one of the sections from this prayer. You see John 17 is the high priestly prayer of Jesus split up in three sections, one where he prays about himself, then about the disciples, and then this section where he prays for all who will come to believe because of the disciples. Which is you.

Jesus prayed for you the night before his death in the garden. Jesus prayed for everyone.

We need to help others know they are loved by helping them know that before they were here God prayed for them.

Love always and pray without ceasing.

Loving People. Loving God.

after before

14 The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’” 16 From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace; 17 as the Law was given through Moses, so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made God known. (John 1:14-18, CEB)

He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.

Jesus comes after John in birth order, but Jesus was here and existed before John as one who created everything.

Jesus has always been here, he just stepped down from being God to take on the form of a human to show us how to love.

Jesus has always been here and will always be here.

Love the creation made by Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Favored

6 Then he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. 7 “Look! I’m coming soon. Favored is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy contained in this scroll.” 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I’m a servant just like you and your brothers and sisters, the prophets, and those who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!” (Revelation 22:6-9, CEB)

Favored is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy contained in this scroll.

Is that Revelation?

Is that the New Testament?

Is that the Bible, Hebrew Scripture and New Testament?

You see when this was written, the Bible was not a thing. It was not formed until hundreds of years later. So what prophecy are we needing to keep?

Favored is the one who keeps the prophecy in this scroll, so that may not even be Revelation, it could be a scroll the angel had.

When it comes down to it, I will error on the side of doing the greatest commandment according to Jesus, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might and love your neighbor as yourself.

Love. It covers a multitude of sins.

Be favored and love!

Loving People. Loving God.

Fulfilled

44 Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 46 He said to them, “This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 Look, I’m sending to you what my Father promised, but you are to stay in the city until you have been furnished with heavenly power.” 50 He led them out as far as Bethany, where he lifted his hands and blessed them. 51 As he blessed them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52 They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem overwhelmed with joy. 53 And they were continuously in the temple praising God. (Luke 24:44-53, CEB)

Jesus here is appearing to the disciples after the 2 from the road to Emmaus have run back to Jerusalem.

He comes and explains to all of them that this is what was supposed to happen and what he had been telling them all along. And then he ascends into heaven. But even though Jesus is ascended, he is still with us.

Jesus is always with us.

God is always with us.

Even when we go through trials and tribulations and trouble is all around, God is always with us.

God’s will will be done. We can count on that.

Loving People. Loving God.

a sword will pierce

25 A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Jesus’ parents brought the child to the temple so that they could do what was customary under the Law. 28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,29 “Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, 30 because my eyes have seen your salvation. 31 You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. 32 It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel.” 33 His father and mother were amazed by what was said about him. 34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “This boy is assigned to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that generates opposition 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your innermost being too.” 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years. 37 She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:25-38, CEB)

I always loved this passage where Joseph and Mary tale Jesus to the temple to do what needed to be done under the law and they are met with Simeon and Anna and are told things about Jesus they probably didn’t want to hear.

How would you have taken hearing your very soul would be pierced by a sword because your son was to be a sign to many generations about the love of God?

Most of us wouldn’t know what to say or do about this. We would probably take our child and run screaming from the place. Yet Mary and Joseph just listen and do not react.

We react to the littlest things and turn away and hide when things don’t go our way, yet Mary and Joseph seem to take all of this in stride, maybe because the angels visited them and they knew that Jesus was different and from God. Maybe they already knew everything they were hearing so it wasn’t as scary the second, or third, or how many ever times it was.

How can we be like Mary and Joseph and take what comes in stride? Know that we are always in God’s hand?

Loving People. Loving God.