Kingdom

30 He continued, “What’s a good image for God’s kingdom? What parable can I use to explain it? 31 Consider a mustard seed. When scattered on the ground, it’s the smallest of all the seeds on the earth; 32 but when it’s planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all vegetable plants. It produces such large branches that the birds in the sky are able to nest in its shade.” (Mark 4:30-32, CEB)

The smallest seed isn’t a mustard seed, yet this still makes sense, because the mustard seed is a very small seed and when planted mustard is invasive and takes over.

And that is how the kingdom of God comes in. Once it takes a place it doesn’t go away easily. It takes over the space it occupies and becomes the prominent feature there.

Let God’s kingdom over take your life and fill your space with God’s love.

Love People. Love God.

not for sale

9 Before Philip’s arrival, a certain man named Simon had practiced sorcery in that city and baffled the people of Samaria. He claimed to be a great person. 10 Everyone, from the least to the greatest, gave him their undivided attention and referred to him as “the power of God called Great.” 11 He had their attention because he had baffled them with sorcery for a long time. 12 After they came to believe Philip, who preached the good news about God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Even Simon himself came to believe and was baptized. Afterward, he became one of Philip’s supporters. As he saw firsthand the signs and great miracles that were happening, he was astonished. 14 When word reached the apostles in Jerusalem that Samaria had accepted God’s word, they commissioned Peter and John to go to Samaria. 15 Peter and John went down to Samaria where they prayed that the new believers would receive the Holy Spirit. (16 This was because the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 So Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon perceived that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. 19 He said, “Give me this authority too so that anyone on whom I lay my hands will receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 Peter responded, “May your money be condemned to hell along with you because you believed you could buy God’s gift with money! 21 You can have no part or share in God’s word because your heart isn’t right with God. 22 Therefore, change your heart and life! Turn from your wickedness! Plead with the Lord in the hope that your wicked intent can be forgiven, 23 for I see that your bitterness has poisoned you and evil has you in chains.” 24 Simon replied, “All of you, please, plead to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said will happen to me!” 25 After the apostles had testified and proclaimed the Lord’s word, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the good news to many Samaritan villages along the way. (Acts 8:9-25, CEB)

We can not buy the gift of God. Grace is not for sale.

No amount of money will gain you entrance into heaven.

Simon believed and was baptized, but then it appears he was over come with greed and offered money to get the spirit. Doesn’t work that way Simon.

We all need to know that God’s gifts come when God is ready for them to come. We can not rush the timeline no matter what we do or offer to pay.

God’s will will be done in this world in and through us often times in-spite of us.

God’s grace isn’t for sale but is freely available to all. Just ask.

Love People. Love God.

way they believe

At that time, the church in Jerusalem began to be subjected to vicious harassment. Everyone except the apostles was scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 Some pious men buried Stephen and deeply grieved over him. 3 Saul began to wreak havoc against the church. Entering one house after another, he would drag off both men and women and throw them into prison. 4 Those who had been scattered moved on, preaching the good news along the way. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and began to preach Christ to them. 6 The crowds were united by what they heard Philip say and the signs they saw him perform, and they gave him their undivided attention. 7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many people, and many who were paralyzed or crippled were healed. 8 There was great rejoicing in that city. (Acts 8:1b-8, CEB)

Saul was wreaking havoc. Saul. The person who is also known as Paul, the greatest evangelist the church has seen, was arresting people for being followers of the way. For following Jesus and preaching the good news Paul would soon be preaching, he was dragging people out of their homes and hauling them off to jail for not believing the same way he did.

We are lucky in the United States to live in a place where it is free to follow whatever religion you choose, without worrying about going to jail or being killed for having that faith. But around the world, and even here, people are called out for their faith. Some places make part of your religion illegal. Just recently Sweden made it illegal for women to cover their heads, which is a necessary part of the Muslim faith. Now they didn’t outlaw all forms of head coverings but did say certain types of religious head coverings were not allowed. This is the same thing we see above.

Who are we to judge and persecute someone for the way they believe, or what they believe? We are to love and do as Philip did, share the good news of Christ and the love of God. And that love will change hearts and minds. We are not supposed to change people, we are supposed to love people.

Love People. Love God.

Britches

26 After singing songs of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 Jesus said to them, “You will all falter in your faithfulness to me. It is written, I will hit the shepherd, and the sheep will go off in all directions. 28 But after I’m raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else stumbles, I won’t.” 30 But Jesus said to him, “I assure you that on this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted, “If I must die alongside you, I won’t deny you.” And they all said the same thing. (Mark 14:26-31, CEB)

I will never falter or deny you. Even if all the rest do, I never will.

How many of us have ever said this? We get on fire for following Jesus and we say we will never fall away. We forget that the 12 disciples walked with Jesus for three years and saw the miracles, witnessed first hand what happened, and everyone of them faltered. How do we think we will do any better?

We are made to go after self preservation. But that doesn’t mean we can not follow Christ when we lean in Christ for power and strength and the fortitude to make it through.

Even Peter was restored. That is why Peter is called out by the angel at the tomb, “Go, tell his disciples, especially Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.” (Mark 16:7) Not because Peter isn’t a disciple, but because in spite of what Peter did, Jesus still loves him and wants to work through him.

So don’t be to big for your britches and follow where Christ is leading.

Love People. Love God.

Who are these…

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 7:13-17, CEB)

These are the people who have come out of the great hardship, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

This is a vision of Heaven, why are there tears?

When we have come through something that has tested our faith so we will be moved to emotion. Tears are not always sad remember.

Maybe these are tears of joy for surviving the ordeal and being in the presence of our creator.

We have many things to be joyful for when the fulfillment of God’s kingdom is finally here.

So help others now know that God loves them.

Love People. Love God.

Lead…

Therefore, I have a request for the elders among you. (I ask this as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and as one who shares in the glory that is about to be revealed.) I urge the elders: 2 Like shepherds, tend the flock of God among you. Watch over it. Don’t shepherd because you must, but do it voluntarily for God. Don’t shepherd greedily, but do it eagerly. 3 Don’t shepherd by ruling over those entrusted to your care, but become examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory. 5 In the same way, I urge you who are younger: accept the authority of the elders. And everyone, clothe yourselves with humility toward each other. God stands against the proud, but he gives favor to the humble. (1 Peter 5:1-5, CEB)

Be a leader because God has gifted you. Do not do it for selfish gain or to get your way.

Lead to help others know and understand the love of God.

And when someone is leading you, follow with a grateful heart to learn and grow into the person God has created you to be.

Care for others as God has cared for you. And then pass it on.

Love People. Love God.

Other sheep

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 When the hired hand sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. That’s because he isn’t the shepherd; the sheep aren’t really his. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 13 He’s only a hired hand and the sheep don’t matter to him. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I give up my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that don’t belong to this sheep pen. I must lead them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock, with one shepherd. 17 “This is why the Father loves me: I give up my life so that I can take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I give it up because I want to. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it up again. I received this commandment from my Father.” (John 10:11-18, CEB)

There are other sheep that don’t belong to this sheep pen that belong to the whole of my sheep, Jesus said here. What does that mean?

Well if you see the sheep pen as your local congregation, then other congregations are also a part. Or if you see the sheep pen as your denomination then other denominations are a part. If you see the sheep pen as the protestant denominations, then the Catholic and Eastern churches are a part too. If you see the sheep pen as all of those who are Christian regardless of denomination, then there are sheep outside the Christian church that belong too.

The thing I see in this is we shouldn’t judge someone because they have a “different” faith than ours. We are all created by God and therefore loved by God. So we need to love all people because we don’t really know who the other sheep are.

Love People. Love God.

Self Care

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. 31 Many people were coming and going, so there was no time to eat. He said to the apostles, “Come by yourselves to a secluded place and rest for a while.” 32 They departed in a boat by themselves for a deserted place. 33 Many people saw them leaving and recognized them, so they ran ahead from all the cities and arrived before them. 34 When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:30-34,CEB)

Jesus sent the disciples out and they returned and was telling him about their journeys and he noticed they were being surrounded and had no time to themselves. So Jesus said, “let’s get away and rest.”

Rest is important. It is important to tell people you can’t do things because you need time to yourself.

We need to make time for ourselves and take that time to be alone with God.

Selfcare is important. So rest and be alone with God.

Love People. Love God.

heard…

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them. 2 They were incensed that the apostles were teaching the people and announcing that the resurrection of the dead was happening because of Jesus. 3 They seized Peter and John and put them in prison until the next day. (It was already evening.) 4 Many who heard the word became believers, and their number grew to about five thousand. (Acts 4:1-4, CEB)

Many who heard became believers.

Peter and John were talking to those who would listen. The spoke of the Love of God through Jesus Christ.

And when people heard, they believed.

People hear the story of God’s love for them and believe it.

Have you told the story of God’s love today?

Go tell the story.

Love People. Love God.

Follow

17 “Brothers and sisters, I know you acted in ignorance. So did your rulers. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he foretold through all the prophets: that his Christ would suffer. 19 Change your hearts and lives! Turn back to God so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then the Lord will provide a season of relief from the distress of this age and he will send Jesus, whom he handpicked to be your Christ. 21 Jesus must remain in heaven until the restoration of all things, about which God spoke long ago through his holy prophets. 22 Moses said, The Lord your God will raise up from your own people a prophet like me. Listen to whatever he tells you. 23 Whoever doesn’t listen to that prophet will be totally cut off from the people. 24 All the prophets who spoke—from Samuel forward—announced these days. 25 You are the heirs of the prophets and the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he told Abraham, Through your descendants, all the families on earth will be blessed. 26 After God raised his servant, he sent him to you first—to bless you by enabling each of you to turn from your evil ways.” (Acts 3:17-26, CEB)

We need to listen to God and follow after Christ.

God sent us Christ and enables us to follow after him and to turn from evil. Christ gives us the ability to live in love and love as God loves us.

So follow after God and live in love and love others as God loves you.

Love People. Love God.