Keep growing

So let’s press on to maturity, by moving on from the basics about Christ’s word. Let’s not lay a foundation of turning away from dead works, of faith in God, 2 of teaching about ritual ways to wash with water, laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment—all over again. 3 We’re going to press on, if God allows it. 4 Because it’s impossible to restore people to changed hearts and lives who turn away once they have seen the light, tasted the heavenly gift, become partners with the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age. 6 They are crucifying God’s Son all over again and exposing him to public shame. 7 The ground receives a blessing from God when it drinks up the rain that regularly comes and falls on it and yields a useful crop for those people for whom it is being farmed. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it’s useless and close to being cursed. It ends up being burned. 9 But we are convinced of better things in your case, brothers and sisters, even though we are talking this way—things that go together with salvation. 10 God isn’t unjust so that he forgets your efforts and the love you have shown for his name’s sake when you served and continue to serve God’s holy people. 11 But we desperately want each of you to show the same effort to make your hope sure until the end. 12 This is so you won’t be lazy but follow the example of the ones who inherit the promises through faith and patience. (Hebrews 6:1-12, CEB)

Just keep moving forward in all things. Even when it seems others around you are moving away or falling back, we need to keep growing in faith and working towards sharing grace and mercy in every and all things.

When the rain comes, the ground is blessed and through our giving love and mercy to all we are also blessing those around us by shining God’s light into a world that is dark.

Let us always seek to be the light and to show love so others see the mercy that is available for them.

Loving People. Loving God.

asking

35 James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They said, “Allow one of us to sit on your right and the other on your left when you enter your glory.” 38 Jesus replied, “You don’t know what you’re asking! Can you drink the cup I drink or receive the baptism I receive?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said, “You will drink the cup I drink and receive the baptism I receive, 40 but to sit at my right or left hand isn’t mine to give. It belongs to those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 Now when the other ten disciples heard about this, they became angry with James and John. 42 Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the ones who are considered the rulers by the Gentiles show off their authority over them and their high-ranking officials order them around. 43 But that’s not the way it will be with you. Whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant. 44 Whoever wants to be first among you will be the slave of all, 45 for the Human One didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to liberate many people.” (Mark 10:35-45, CEB)

Why were the other disciples angry? Because James and John did what they were thinking?

And do James and John actually know what they are saying when they say they are able to drink the cup that Jesus will drink? Or are they ready for the baptism Jesus will get?

And honestly if we think about what we profess in our faith, through the Apostles’ Creed what John and James are asking for really takes a twist. Right? We confess that Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father. So if Jesus is sitting at the Father’s right hand, who is at Jesus’ left hand? The Father. So either James or John are taking the Father’s seat…

Yeah, ain’t none of us good enough to sit in that seat!

But Jesus says to the disciples as he says to us. None of you will get any where by wanting to have the honor seat. You get there by following me and serving every one.

Jesus came to serve and to model for us the life we are to live.

Loving People. Loving God.

Servant

24 An argument broke out among the disciples over which one of them should be regarded as the greatest. 25 But Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles rule over their subjects, and those in authority over them are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But that’s not the way it will be with you. Instead, the greatest among you must become like a person of lower status and the leader like a servant. 27 So which one is greater, the one who is seated at the table or the one who serves at the table? Isn’t it the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 “You are the ones who have continued with me in my trials. 29 And I confer royal power on you just as my Father granted royal power to me. 30 Thus you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones overseeing the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:24-30, CEB)

If you want to be the greatest in the kingdom of God you will be a servant to all.

We need to give up the seat of honor and lower ourselves to the place of helping those in need, because that is what Jesus did and calls each of us to do.

Be a servant and don’t look for honor. But in everything you do share love.

Loving People. Loving God.

What?!?!?

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls spoke with me. “Come,” he said, “I will show you the judgment upon the great prostitute, who is seated on deep waters. 2 The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on earth have become drunk with the wine of her whoring.” 3 Then he brought me in a Spirit-inspired trance to a desert. There I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names. It had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing, and she glittered with gold and jewels and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup full of the vile and impure things that came from her activity as a prostitute. 5 A name—a mystery—was written on her forehead: “Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and the vile things of the earth.” 6 I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and the blood of Jesus’ witnesses. I was completely stunned when I saw her. 7 Then the angel said to me, “Why are you amazed? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and the seven-headed, ten-horned beast that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on earth, whose names haven’t been written in the scroll of life from the time the earth was made, will be amazed when they see the beast, because it was and is not and will again be present. 9 This calls for an understanding mind. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. They are also seven kings. 10 Five kings have fallen, the one is, and the other hasn’t yet come. When that king comes, he must remain for only a short time. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is itself an eighth king that belongs to the seven, and it is going to destruction. 12 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who haven’t yet received royal power. But they will receive royal authority for an hour, along with the beast. 13 These kings will be of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, but the Lamb will emerge victorious, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.” 15 Then he said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples, crowds, nations, and languages. 16 As for the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will destroy her and strip her bare. They will devour her flesh and burn her with fire 17 because God moved them to carry out his purposes. That is why they will be of one mind and give their royal power to the beast, until God’s words have been accomplished. 18 The woman whom you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:1-18. CEB)

What does all of this mean?

A great prostitute with seven heads and 10 horns.

The heads are the mountains she sits upon and the horns are the kings that defile themselves with the prostitute…

Why is this verse out of the context of everything around it and what are we supposed to get from it? Sometimes when a Bible text is taken out of context it doesn’t have meaning, or can be read to mean something it doesn’t mean in context, in the context of the historical narrative where it sits. Actually all of the time a biblical passage is taken out of context, it is read wrong and used for the wrong reasons.

The Bible is a collection of books that tell us the story of human interaction with a God that created and loves them.

Don’t read more into than it means.

Loving People. Loving God.

welcome

7 So welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed you, for God’s glory. 8 I’m saying that Christ became a servant of those who are circumcised for the sake of God’s truth, in order to confirm the promises given to the ancestors, 9 and so that the Gentiles could glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praises to your name. 10 And again, it says, Rejoice, Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and all the people should sing his praises. 12 And again, Isaiah says, There will be a root of Jesse, who will also rise to rule the Gentiles. The Gentiles will place their hope in him. 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:7-13, CEB)

Welcome others as Christ welcomed you.

Broken. Not good enough. Fallen short.

God in Christ accepted us as we were, and welcomed us to be a part. That is how we welcome others.

We accept them as they are and don’t try and change them.

Welcome as Christ welcomed you.

Loving People. Loving God.

neither

19 “There was a certain rich man who clothed himself in purple and fine linen, and who feasted luxuriously every day. 20 At his gate lay a certain poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 Lazarus longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Instead, dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 “The poor man died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side. 24 He shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I’m suffering in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received good things, whereas Lazarus received terrible things. Now Lazarus is being comforted and you are in great pain. 26 Moreover, a great crevasse has been fixed between us and you. Those who wish to cross over from here to you cannot. Neither can anyone cross from there to us.’ 27 “The rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my father’s house. 28 I have five brothers. He needs to warn them so that they don’t come to this place of agony.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. They must listen to them.’ 30 The rich man said, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will change their hearts and lives.’ 31 Abraham said, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, then neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31, CEB)

I am always taken aback by this story.

The rich man has no name and the poor man is named Lazarus. Usually it is the other way around, those with money are given names and the rest of us are out of luck. Here the lowly is lifted up and those who treat others as low are not lifted.

Also the rich man tries to get Lazarus, whose name the rich man knows, to help him and do things for him in the afterlife.

And then the rich man tries to persuade Abraham to send Lazarus to inform his brothers. And Abraham says if they don’t listen to what Moses and the prophets told them they won’t believe if someone rises from the dead! Is this not the foreshadows of foreshadows!

There are people who still don’t believe with Jesus rising from the dead. Sometimes we see it right in front of us and don’t believe! What does it take for us to believe?

Loving People. Loving God.

What?!?!

Then, when the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 Another angel came and stood at the altar, and he held a gold bowl for burning incense. He was given a large amount of incense, in order to offer it on behalf of the prayers of all the saints on the gold altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense offered for the prayers of the saints rose up before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the incense container and filled it with fire from the altar. He threw it down to the earth, and there were thunder, voices, lightning, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:1-5, CEB)

The last seal on the scroll was opened and there was nothing. Silence for half an hour…

Then seven angels stood before God and the seven trumpets were distributed.

And an angel stood before the altar and took fire from the altar and filled an incense container and threw it down on the earth and there was thunder, voices, lightning, and an earthquake.

What does this mean?

It is a vision we try to make sense of to help us understand what is coming.

But really that is it, it is a vision. It could happen like this, and it might not. It might help us know what is coming and it might not.

Let us focus on what we know. The promises of God are always true and God is always with us.

So be about sharing God’s grace.

Loving People. Loving God.

washed and made white

9 After this I looked, and there was a great crowd that no one could number. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out with a loud voice: “Victory belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels stood in a circle around the throne, and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell facedown before the throne and worshipped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and always. Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders said to me, “Who are these people wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” Then he said to me, “These people have come out of great hardship. They have washed their robes and made them white in the Lamb’s blood. 15 This is the reason they are before God’s throne. They worship him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them. 16 They won’t hunger or thirst anymore. No sun or scorching heat will beat down on them, 17 because the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:9-17, CEB)

I have always been intrigued by the statement, “They have washed their robes and made them white in the Lamb’s blood.” If you have ever gotten anything stained by blood, it is not easy to get clean, let alone white again. And as I type that I think, wow I sound like I have had a lot of blood on white clothes, and I haven’t but the few times I have, it has not been easy to get clean. But here they wash their clothes in The Lamb’s blood and they are made white.

That is because the Lamb here is the messiah, the one who makes all things new.

We are made new in the Lamb.

Trust in the promise and know that no matter what you are going through here, in the fulfillment of the kingdom all will be made right.

Loving People. Loving God.

Good

17 As Jesus continued down the road, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?” 18 Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except the one God. 19 You know the commandments: Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Don’t cheat. Honor your father and mother.” 20 “Teacher,” he responded, “I’ve kept all of these things since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him carefully and loved him. He said, “You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” 22 But the man was dismayed at this statement and went away saddened, because he had many possessions. 23 Looking around, Jesus said to his disciples, “It will be very hard for the wealthy to enter God’s kingdom!” 24 His words startled the disciples, so Jesus told them again, “Children, it’s difficult to enter God’s kingdom! 25 It’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.” 26 They were shocked even more and said to each other, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them carefully and said, “It’s impossible with human beings, but not with God. All things are possible for God.” 28 Peter said to him, “Look, we’ve left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “I assure you that anyone who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farms because of me and because of the good news 30 will receive one hundred times as much now in this life—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and farms (with harassment)—and in the coming age, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first.” (Mark 10:17-31, CEB)

What is good?

Who is good?

Are any of us good all the time?

A person asked Jesus what they must do to obtain eternal life, and Jesus gave the person a run down of the commandments. Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Don’t cheat. Honor your father and mother. Notice the quote here is from the text above and all of the don’t are in italics except Don’t cheat. Because it is not one of the commandments from the tablets. But still have we all not done these? Even if we don’t take them as far as Jesus told us to. We can usually then if it isn’t to the Jesus level say we haven’t murdered, committed adultery, stolen, but then we might get hung up. False testimony, cheating, and honoring are really subjective. And would others say you haven’t done those. But this person says I’ve done all these. So Jesus says, sell all you have and give the money to the poor and follow me. And the person had many possessions so they were sad about this.

We want to be good as long as we don’t have to be uncomfortable. Which really means serving is about having things our way. We can’t follow God and have it our way.

Let go and follow where God is leading, and then you will be good.

Loving People. Loving God.

doctrine

Then Pharisees and legal experts came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why are your disciples breaking the elders’ rules handed down to us? They don’t ritually purify their hands by washing before they eat.” 3 Jesus replied, “Why do you break the command of God by keeping the rules handed down to you? 4 For God said, Honor your father and your mother, and The person who speaks against father or mother will certainly be put to death. 5 But you say, ‘If you tell your father or mother, “Everything I’m expected to contribute to you I’m giving to God as a gift,” then you don’t have to honor your father.’ 6 So you do away with God’s Law for the sake of the rules that have been handed down to you. 7 Hypocrites! Isaiah really knew what he was talking about when he prophesied about you, 8 This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. 9 Their worship of me is empty since they teach instructions that are human rules.” (Matthew 15:1-9, CEB)

This is a slippery slope, but doctrines are not God’s law.

When we focus on what we are told to do by the institution and not actually do what God has told us to do, we are not serving God but serving man and institution. We are supposed to follow God’s law and shine the light of God’s love in the world.

Do not let doctrine get in the way of your following God.

Loving People. Loving God.