Orphaned

18 “I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” 22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot) asked, “Lord, why are you about to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered, “Whoever loves me will keep my word. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word that you hear isn’t mine. It is the word of the Father who sent me. 25 “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. 26 The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you. 27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 You have heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away and returning to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than me. 29 I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe. 30 I won’t say much more to you because this world’s ruler is coming. He has nothing on me. 31 Rather, he comes so that the world will know that I love the Father and do just as the Father has commanded me. Get up. We’re leaving this place. (John 14:18-31, CEB)

Jesus is telling the disciples that they will soon be the only ones who can see him. Because the world isn’t ready to see his revelation. And he wanted them, and us, to know that even though the world would say he is not here, he is still here. God is always with us and we are never alone. Even when the world will leave us behind, God will always be with us.

And when the anxiety of the world boils up and seems to make the world around us black, God is always with us to give a peace that the world doesn’t understand.

I remember that I started doing these daily devotionals in early 2012. It was when I had resigned my call and was looking for the next call. Little did I know then that it would take me almost 2 years to find that next call. But I was focused and knew that God was with me. I wrote these devotionals for the world, but also to remind myself that God is always with us. even in what seems the darkest times, God will never leave us orphaned.

God is always with us. Love the world like God loves you.

Love People. Love God.

pure

17 What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. 18 Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts (James 3:17-18, CEB)

It is pure.

Is anything pure anymore?

It seems like everything has some kind of filler or preservative in it.

But wisdom from above is pure, and peaceful, fair and genuine. It is easy to spot this, because there is a lot of selfish motivation in things we do. When someone is peaceful, gentle, merciful, fair and genuine it shines through.

Let this be your life, that it is purely led by the motivation of Christ to be made known in the world.

That will change the world!

Love People. Love God.

Fruit

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. 26 Let’s not become arrogant, make each other angry, or be jealous of each other. (Galatians 5:16-26, CEB)

The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, because 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.

What is sexual immorality? In a society where men could have multiple wives and concubines? Is this obviously clear what is sexually immoral?

Doing whatever feels good? It feels good to work at the soup kitchen and to serve those who are being held down by circumstances outside of their control, so according to this I shouldn’t do that.

Losing your temper, not sure but I do not think that Jesus was calm when he flipped tables in the temple. He burned with a holy anger, but we can’t lose our temper because that is selfish.

Following after your own desires is not clear cut as this passage wants to make it, but if we can be fruity and live in the fruit of the spirit, which is love. Love all, and spread the love that God has given you.

some say there are 9 fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But I read this as the fruit of the spirit is love. Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are elements of love. If we love, we will be focused outside of ourselves and the things we do will be for others, not ourselves.

Love People. Love God

trimmed

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. 6 If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples. (John 15:1-8, CEB)

Are you fruity?

Do you produce fruit?

Jesus is the vine and the father if the vineyard keeper. The keeper trims back and removes branches that do not produce fruit. And the branches that do produce fruit, are pruned so they produce more fruit. SO if you don’t produce you are removed, and if you produce you are cut back to produce more. You do not miss the cutting.

We must be connected to Jesus, but the Father will be trimming us to help us be more fruity in the world!

So go and love as God loves you and share your fruit with the world!

Love People. Love God.

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.