Who knows?

11 Who knows a person’s depths except their own spirit that lives in them? In the same way, no one has known the depths of God except God’s Spirit. 12 We haven’t received the world’s spirit but God’s Spirit so that we can know the things given to us by God. 13 These are the things we are talking about—not with words taught by human wisdom but with words taught by the Spirit—we are interpreting spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 But people who are unspiritual don’t accept the things from God’s Spirit. They are foolishness to them and can’t be understood, because they can only be comprehended in a spiritual way. 15 Spiritual people comprehend everything, but they themselves aren’t understood by anyone. 16 Who has known the mind of the Lord, who will advise him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:11-16, CEB)

Who knows the depths of a person’s spirit except them, or even them? Sometimes I wonder if I really know myself. But do we really know what a person is dealing with or going through? Only God really knows the depths of each of our souls.

So love everyone, because you don’t know the darkness they are in.

Loving People. Loving God.

Preach the Gospel

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I didn’t come preaching God’s secrets to you like I was an expert in speech or wisdom. 2 I had made up my mind not to think about anything while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and to preach him as crucified. 3 I stood in front of you with weakness, fear, and a lot of shaking. 4 My message and my preaching weren’t presented with convincing wise words but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power. 5 I did this so that your faith might not depend on the wisdom of people but on the power of God. 6 What we say is wisdom to people who are mature. It isn’t a wisdom that comes from the present day or from today’s leaders who are being reduced to nothing. 7 We talk about God’s wisdom, which has been hidden as a secret. God determined this wisdom in advance, before time began, for our glory. 8 It is a wisdom that none of the present-day rulers have understood, because if they did understand it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory! 9 But this is precisely what is written: God has prepared things for those who love him that no eye has seen, or ear has heard, or that haven’t crossed the mind of any human being. 10 God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, including the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-10, CEB)

Recently I have been talking to some pastor friends of mine about calls and we were telling some of our call stories. I was up for a call in the midwest as an associate pastor. I had gone to visit the congregation with my wife and did a meet and greet and an open mic question/answer session and preached at all of the services for the congregation. The vote would be the next week, but it seemed like a done deal. I got a call the next week, which was Reformation Sunday and the council president said it was a majority but not a supermajority, meaning the yes votes were over 50% but not over 66% which is what is needed for a call, so they congregation voted to not call me. Then the council president said something to me which made me realize that this was actually a good thing. The council president said, “Maybe if you would have preached more about yourself, than preaching the gospel, it would have gone differently.” I pray that I always get accused of preaching the gospel!

If we talk about our selves we are short changing those around us. We have the best story known to all and we need to share it.

Let your life be an open book and live the gospel out loud. And let you light shine so you love out loud!

Loving People. Loving God.

1/6/22

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. 2 They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. 4 He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 You, Bethlehem, land of Judah, by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah, because from you will come one who governs, who will shepherd my people Israel.” 7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” 9 When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. 11 They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route. (Matthew 2:1-12, CEB)

Herod asked the Magi when they first saw the star because he knew they had traveled a far distance and it was probably a while ago the star had risen. He told them to go to Bethlehem and find the king and come and tell him because he wanted to honor the king too. Really Herod wanted to kill the king so he could remain in power.

The Magi found Jesus and honored him and went home another way because they were warned not to go back to Herod. But Herod didn’t stop because of this.

What would we do to keep our power? What would we do to keep the status quo?

We do things all the time to keep our power or things the same. We need to live and love as God did. Choosing to love because God loved first.

God loves us as we are, so we should love all of creation and help everyone see that God loves them.

Loving People. Loving God.

flourish

1 God, give your judgments to the king.
    Give your righteousness to the king’s son.
2 Let him judge your people with righteousness
    and your poor ones with justice.
3 Let the mountains bring peace to the people;
    let the hills bring righteousness.
4 Let the king bring justice to people who are poor;
    let him save the children of those who are needy,
    but let him crush oppressors!
5 Let the king live as long as the sun,
    as long as the moon,
    generation to generation.
6 Let him fall like rain upon fresh-cut grass,
    like showers that water the earth.
7 Let the righteous flourish throughout their lives,
    and let peace prosper until the moon is no more.
8 Let the king rule from sea to sea,
    from the river to the ends of the earth.
9 Let the desert dwellers bow low before him;
    let his enemies lick the dust.
10 Let the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute;
    let the kings of Sheba and Seba present gifts.
11 Let all the kings bow down before him;
    let all the nations serve him.
12 Let it be so, because he delivers the needy who cry out,
    the poor, and those who have no helper.
13 He has compassion on the weak and the needy;
    he saves the lives of those who are in need.
14 He redeems their lives from oppression and violence;
    their blood is precious in his eyes.
15 Let the king live long!
Let Sheba’s gold be given to him!
    Let him be prayed for always!
    Let him be blessed all day long!
16 Let there be abundant grain in the land.
    Let it wave on the mountaintops.
    Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon.
    Let it thrive like grass on the land.
17 Let the king’s name last forever.
    Let his name endure as long as the sun.
    Let all the nations be blessed through him and call him happy.
18 Bless the Lord God, the God of Israel—
    the only one who does wondrous things!
19 Bless God’s glorious name forever;
    let his glory fill all the earth!
    Amen and Amen!
20 The prayers of David, Jesse’s son, are ended. (Psalm 72, CEB)

When we follow where God is leading us, our lives will flourish.

God will bless us, not because we are actually doing what God tells us to, but we will be blessed by being in the life that God has called us to. We do not get it because we do what God tells us to, but we obtain it by living on the path that God leads us to.

God blesses all people, we see it clearly when we are following that path.

Live your life and love those around you.

Loving People. Loving God.

House of God

44 “The tent of testimony was with our ancestors in the wilderness. Moses built it just as he had been instructed by the one who spoke to him and according to the pattern he had seen. 45 In time, when they had received the tent, our ancestors carried it with them when, under Joshua’s leadership, they took possession of the land from the nations whom God expelled. This tent remained in the land until the time of David. 46 God approved of David, who asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who actually built a house for God. 48 However, the Most High doesn’t live in houses built by human hands. As the prophet says, 49 Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. ‘What kind of house will you build for me,’ says the Lord,‘or where is my resting place? 50 Didn’t I make all these things with my own hand?’ 51 “You stubborn people! In your thoughts and hearing, you are like those who have had no part in God’s covenant! You continuously set yourself against the Holy Spirit, just like your ancestors did. 52 Was there a single prophet your ancestors didn’t harass? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the righteous one, and you’ve betrayed and murdered him! 53 You received the Law given by angels, but you haven’t kept it.” (Acts 7:44-53, CEB)

God first traveled with the Israelites and was in a cloud and a pillar of fire and there was a tent for the Ark. And when the Israelites under Joshua came into the land God had for them, the tent remained there until David asked to build a temple, but he didn’t get to, but Solomon completed the temple for God per the instructions. But God doesn’t dwell there.

God’s throne is in Heaven and God’s footstool is the earth.

God lives everywhere and is not contained by a building.

So be the temple of God you are in the world and share God’s love in everything you do.

Loving People. Loving God.

Are you…

16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand so that those who enter can see the light. 17 Nothing is hidden that won’t be exposed. Nor is anything concealed that won’t be made known and brought to the light. 18 Therefore, listen carefully. Those who have will receive more, but as for those who don’t have, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them.” 19 Jesus’ mother and brothers came to him but were unable to reach him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who listen to God’s word and do it.” (Luke 8:16-21, CEB)

Whoever listens to God’s word and does it, they are my mother and brother, father and sister.

Do you listen to God’s word? Not just the written word but the word of God spoken in and through your life every day. We need to listen to God and follow where God leads us. This is what being a child of God, someone named and claimed by God does. Not because of what they gain from it, but because they are already saved and moved because of that love to do good for others.

So are you a brother/sister/mother/father/sibling of Christ? Do you listen to God?

Go into the world loving as God loves you.

Loving People. Loving God.

dwelt

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being 4 through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light. 6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. 8 He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light. 9 The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light. 11 The light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him. 12 But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God’s children, 13 born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God. 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 1:1-18, CEB)

Verse 14 here says the Word became flesh and made his home among us. I remember this verse being The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. I thought that was from the NRSV, but it wasn’t. Dwelt is a fun word to say. The word in Greek means to come to dwell in a place defined psychologically or spiritually — ‘to take up residence, to come to reside, to come to dwell.’ Jesus set up a tent and lived where we were/are. Jesus left the kingdom and came to be where we are. Jesus took up residence where we live.

It means something when a person moves to be where you are. Usually, when we move to a place it is for work, or it could be because someone we love lives there. Jesus didn’t come for work. He came because he loves you and wants you to know that.

So go reminding people that they are loved by God and always remember you are too.

Loving People. Loving God.

considered

15 When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. 18 Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. 20 The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. 21 When eight days had passed, Jesus’ parents circumcised him and gave him the name Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he was conceived. (Luke 2:15-21, CEB)

Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. When she heard the story of the shepherds she committed them to memory and thought about them carefully. She already heard the angel tell her the child she carried was of God, and now there is more to the story. Shepherds met by angels and told about Jesus.

Do we consider what God has shown us?

What has God revealed to you?

Know that God loves you and the world and wants us to all go and share the love we are daily given.

Loving People. Loving God.

Light

12 Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 13 Then the Pharisees said to him, “Because you are testifying about yourself, your testimony isn’t valid.” 14 Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, since I know where I came from and where I’m going. You don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. 15 You judge according to human standards, but I judge no one. 16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is truthful, because I’m not alone. My judgments come from me and from the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the witness of two people is true. 18 I am one witness concerning myself, and the Father who sent me is the other.” 19 They asked him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You don’t know me and you don’t know my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” (John 8:12-19, CEB)

When you have light the darkness backs away. A single candle will expel darkness.

The darkness can not stay in the light and when the light comes toward the darkness it is confused and fights to keep the light away.

Allow Jesus to shine in and through your life.

Loving People. Loving God.

Stay Alert

32 “But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows. 33 Watch out! Stay alert! You don’t know when the time is coming. 34 It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert. 35 Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know when the head of the household will come, whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak. 36 Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!” (Mark 13:32-37, CEB)

No one knows except the Father. Jesus doesn’t know when he is coming back.

We need to be aware and watching ready at a moment’s notice.

We do not know what will happen, all we need to be sure of is that God is always with us. So while it might seems fearful to not know, we can rest in the promise of God always being with us.

Loving People. Loving God.