Who are you?

8 Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Cry out in sorrow, mourn, and weep! Let your laughter become mourning and your joy become sadness. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 11 Brothers and sisters, don’t say evil things about each other. Whoever insults or criticizes a brother or sister insults and criticizes the Law. If you find fault with the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge over it. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, and he is able to save and to destroy. But you who judge your neighbor, who are you? 13 Pay attention, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a town. We will stay there a year, buying and selling, and making a profit.” 14 You don’t really know about tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for only a short while before it vanishes. 15 Here’s what you ought to say: “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast and brag, and all such boasting is evil. 17 It is a sin when someone knows the right thing to do and doesn’t do it. (James 4:8-17, CEB)

But you who judge your neighbor, who are you?

We say that tomorrow I will go to this place, and do we know what will happen and when?

Only God truly knows what will happen in the future. We need to say, if the Lord wills it I will go to this place tomorrow.

We should not judge ourselves or others. We merely need to live and trust the lord.

Let us love others as we have been loved and live our lives for the Lord.

Love People. Love God.

Welcome.

30 From there Jesus and his followers went through Galilee, but he didn’t want anyone to know it. 31 This was because he was teaching his disciples, “The Human One will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him. Three days after he is killed he will rise up.” 32 But they didn’t understand this kind of talk, and they were afraid to ask him. 33 They entered Capernaum. When they had come into a house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about during the journey?” 34 They didn’t respond, since on the way they had been debating with each other about who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be least of all and the servant of all.” 36 Jesus reached for a little child, placed him among the Twelve, and embraced him. Then he said, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me isn’t actually welcoming me but rather the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:30-37, CEB)

Why do you serve God?

Why do we do what God asks us to do of loving others?

Is it to get seen and get noticed here on Earth?

Is it to impress God?

Well if it is to be noticed here, that is your reward, and if it is to impress God, you can’t.

We need to welcome the ones that everyone else wants to push aside. Here Jesus welcomes a child into the midst of the disciples. A child who would not be welcome, and was to not be seen or heard. Children were no more than property at this time, males more valuable than females, but still just something you didn’t want around. And Jesus says we must welcome children in Jesus’ name. And when we do that is isn’t in Jesus’ name but God.

So welcome those who others say don’t belong, because that is really what God calls us to do.

Love People. Love God.

Who do you serve?

29 “How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 You say, ‘If we had lived in our ancestors’ days, we wouldn’t have joined them in killing the prophets.’ 31 You testify against yourselves that you are children of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, complete what your ancestors did. 33 You snakes! You children of snakes! How will you be able to escape the judgment of hell? 34 Therefore, look, I’m sending you prophets, wise people, and legal experts. Some of them you will kill and crucify. And some you will beat in your synagogues and chase from city to city. 35 Therefore, upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been poured out on the earth, from the blood of that righteous man Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. 36 I assure you that all these things will come upon this generation. 37 “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. 38 Look, your house is left to you deserted. 39 I tell you, you won’t see me until you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord’s name.” (Matthew 23:29-39, CEB)

God wants us to gather us together as a mother hen gathers her chicks, but are we willing?

Do we actually serve God and know God is calling us?

We say if we had been there we would not have killed Jesus, but would we have stood up for Jesus? Would we?

It seems easy to think that we would not have followed the crowd, but remember that the crowd was also the same people who shouted Hosanna as Jesus entered Jerusalem. We would have turned and followed those who were wanting him dead because they thought it was what God wanted.

Make sure you are focused on God and where God is leading. Follow and know that may lead you against the crowd.

But in everything you do:

Love People. Love God.

Disobedience

25 I don’t want you to be unaware of this secret, brothers and sisters. That way you won’t think too highly of yourselves. A part of Israel has become resistant until the full number of the Gentiles comes in. 26 In this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion. He will remove ungodly behavior from Jacob. 27 This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins. 28 According to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but according to God’s choice, they are loved for the sake of their ancestors. 29 God’s gifts and calling can’t be taken back. 30 Once you were disobedient to God, but now you have mercy because they were disobedient. 31 In the same way, they have also been disobedient because of the mercy that you received, so now they can receive mercy too. 32 God has locked up all people in disobedience, in order to have mercy on all of them. (Romans 11:25-32, CEB)

God has made sure that we all know and understand our disobedience, so that God can have mercy on all of us.

God knows we have messed up, and in spite of that still loves us and wants to show us mercy.

We need to not be held captive by our sin, but know that no matter what God always loves us and calls us home.

Love People. Love God.

Share

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. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5, CEB)

Everyone can share the message of God and the grace and mercy we all receive.

We do not have to have big words or power to help people believe, we just need to be ourselves. We need to be people of integrity and say what we mean and mean what we say.

All of us can share the good news of the grace we have received.

So share.

Love People. Love God.

What does he mean?

25 Some people from Jerusalem said, “Isn’t he the one they want to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking in public, yet they aren’t saying anything to him. Could it be that our leaders actually think he is the Christ? 27 We know where he is from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” 28 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he exclaimed, “You know me and where I am from. I haven’t come on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. 29 I know him because I am from him and he sent me.” 30 So they wanted to seize Jesus, but they couldn’t because his time hadn’t yet come. 31 Many from that crowd believed in Jesus. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man does?” 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about Jesus, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent guards to arrest him. 33 Therefore, Jesus said, “I’m still with you for a little while before I go to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you won’t find me, and where I am you can’t come.” 35 The Jewish opposition asked each other, “Where does he intend to go that we can’t find him? Surely he doesn’t intend to go where our people have been scattered and are living among the Greeks! He isn’t going to teach the Greeks, is he? 36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will look for me, but you won’t find me, and where I am you can’t come’?” (John 7:25-36, CEB)

What does he mean? The Pharisees said it in Jesus’ day and a lot of us say it now.

What does he mean?

Sometimes the Bible is weird and the words seem to make no sense. I understand the words I am reading but I do not know what they mean.

Not because it doesn’t make sense, it just has multiple meanings and we wonder which one is the right way to think about it.

The Pharisees knew where Jesus was from, on earth. They didn’t realize he was talking about going back to be with God the Father. Because then they will not find him. Jesus spoke in parables so that those who were not a part would hear and not understand, but all have the ability to be a part if we just follow and believe.

Follow where Jesus is leading you and believe that God will do all that God promises. That easy.

And when you do that you will know what Jesus means.

Love People. Love God.

Integrity

Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God’s right side. 2 Think about the things above and not things on earth. 3 You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. 5 So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 The wrath of God is coming upon disobedient people because of these things. 7 You used to live this way, when you were alive to these things. 8 But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. 9 Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices 10 and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it. 11 In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people. (Colossians 3:1-11, CEB)

Live a life that is above reproach. You say what you mean and mean what you say.

DO not live your life for you alone, or to get what you want. Live your life so that all are lifted up and shown love and mercy.

Live in a way that you are an advocate for those in need and a sojourner with the lost and lonely.

Do not lie and do not treat others as less than you.

In every and all things, live a life that shows the grace you have been given.

Love all as God loves you.

Love People. Love God.

Seek God?

9 So what are we saying? Are we better off? Not at all. We have already stated the charge: both Jews and Greeks are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written, There is no righteous person, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who looks for God. 12 They all turned away. They have become worthless together. There is no one who shows kindness. There is not even one. 13 Their throat is a grave that has been opened. They are deceitful with their tongues, and the poison of vipers is under their lips. 14 Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. 15 Their feet are quick to shed blood; 16 destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 and they don’t know the way of peace. 18 There is no fear of God in their view of the world. 19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, in order to shut every mouth and make it so the whole world has to answer to God. 20 It follows that no human being will be treated as righteous in his presence by doing what the Law says, because the knowledge of sin comes through the Law. (Romans 3:9-20, CEB)

There is no one who looks for God.

Do you look for God? Do you try and be who God has created you to be?

I want to say yes, I seek God and try to be who God created me to be.

I also know that I sometimes fall way short of being who I was created to be. I try and fail miserably. But here is the thing, I try. I know I will always come short, but I try. I try to live what I speak and walk the walk and talk the talk.

I am trying to be a person of integrity, so that what I say is what I mean and what I mean is what I say. I do not lie intentionally and I work to always be filled with Grace and peace.

Can we all do this? We could. Could you imagine what the world would be like if we did? It would be the fulfillment of the kingdom of God.

Be a person of integrity.

Love People. Love God.

Get behind me…

27 Jesus and his disciples went into the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 They told him, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” 30 Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone about him. 31 Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: “The Human One must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and the legal experts, and be killed, and then, after three days, rise from the dead.” 32 He said this plainly. But Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him. 33 Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, then sternly corrected Peter: “Get behind me, Satan. You are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.” 34 After calling the crowd together with his disciples, Jesus said to them, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. 35 All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me and because of the good news will save them. 36 Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives? 37 What will people give in exchange for their lives? 38 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Human One will be ashamed of that person when he comes in the Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:27-38, CEB)

Who do you say that I am?

You are the Christ, the one we are waiting for, the savior of the world. Peter said this because he knew it was true. And then when Jesus started talking about what was going to happen to him and it didn’t fit Peter’s thoughts, Peter said it would never happen.

And Jesus responds with the words he said to Simon and Andrew way back at the shoreline, Follow me. Is that what Jesus said to Peter here?

The translation here is get behind me. But if you look at the Greek, the same phrase is used. In Mark 1, when Jesus calls Simon and Andrew to follow him, Jesus says, “ὀπίσω μου” and here in chapter 8, Jesus says to Peter, “ὀπίσω μου,”. Looks the same to me, and it means get behind me, or follow me. We think that when Jesus calls the disciples it is a come along with me and walk beside me. And it is really a get in line behind me and do what I ask you to do. These are not suggestions and your way is not the right way. Jesus really is a my way or the highway kind of guy.

And he continues on after his reminder to Peter of what a disciple is. You have to take up your cross and follow. If you lose your life and live the one Jesus gives you you will have life, but if you fight for your life, you won’t even get that.

Give up and look for the back of Jesus’ head and know that is the best place for you.

Love People. Love God.

Tricky

23 When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came to him as he was teaching. They asked, “What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus replied, “I have a question for you. If you tell me the answer, I’ll tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things. 25 Where did John get his authority to baptize? Did he get it from heaven or from humans?” They argued among themselves, “If we say ‘from heaven,’ he’ll say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But we can’t say ‘from humans’ because we’re afraid of the crowd, since everyone thinks John was a prophet.” 27 Then they replied, “We don’t know.” Jesus also said to them, “Neither will I tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things. 28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. Now he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 “‘No, I don’t want to,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went. 30 “The father said the same thing to the other son, who replied, ‘Yes, sir.’ But he didn’t go. 31 “Which one of these two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first one.” Jesus said to them, “I assure you that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering God’s kingdom ahead of you. 32 For John came to you on the righteous road, and you didn’t believe him. But tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. Yet even after you saw this, you didn’t change your hearts and lives and you didn’t believe him. (Matthew 21:23-32, CEB)

How do you live your life?

Like the chief priests and elders? Tricking people into answering questions in ways you can use against them?

Do you try and manipulate people so that you can maintain your status quo?

Neither of the sons here did what the father asked. One told the father no and then even though he went, he still told the father he wasn’t going to, and the other just out right lied.

We need to live our lives with integrity and not trickery. We need to be above board on everything.

Live in a way that you life shows God’s grace in every and all things.

Love People. Love God.