We need rest

Therefore, since the promise that we can enter into rest is still open, let’s be careful so that none of you will appear to miss it. 2 We also had the good news preached to us, just as the Israelites did. However, the message they heard didn’t help them because they weren’t united in faith with the ones who listened to it. 3 We who have faith are entering the rest. As God said, And because of my anger I swore: “They will never enter into my rest!” And yet God’s works were completed at the foundation of the world. 4 Then somewhere he said this about the seventh day of creation: God rested on the seventh day from all his works. 5 But again, in the passage above, God said, They will never enter my rest! 6 Therefore, it’s left open for some to enter it, and the ones who had the good news preached to them before didn’t enter because of disobedience. 7 Just as it says in the passage above, God designates a certain day as “today,” when he says through David much later, Today, if you hear his voice, don’t have stubborn hearts. 8 If Joshua gave the Israelites rest, God wouldn’t have spoken about another day later on. 9 So you see that a sabbath rest is left open for God’s people. 10 The one who entered God’s rest also rested from his works, just as God rested from his own. 11 Therefore, let’s make every effort to enter that rest so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience, 12 because God’s word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates to the point that it separates the soul from the spirit and the joints from the marrow. It’s able to judge the heart’s thoughts and intentions. 13 No creature is hidden from it, but rather everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we have to give an answer. (Hebrews 4:1-13, CEB)

Have you ever heard someone say they can’t take a day off because there is too much to do?

Some pastors are known to have said and say that they can’t take a day off because the devil doesn’t take a day off. Well if Satan is your role model, maybe you should rethink your role model!

God took a day off in creation. The being who created everything, took a day to rest.

If God can rest, then we have to rest. Rest is necessary for us to get to our fullest potential. And God will only let us in God’s rest when we show the faith of resting in God.

So let go of getting it all done and rest in the loving embrace of the creator of the universe and know you are loved.

Love People, Love God.

Valid

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.” 20 He spoke these words while he was teaching in the temple area known as the treasury. No one arrested him, because his time hadn’t yet come. (John 8:12-20, CEB)

It is interesting to think about what makes something valid.

How is a fact valid or not?

The past couple of days I participated in an online gathering to discuss Bonhoeffer and some of his writings. The last session included an excerpt from “After Ten Years” from Letters from Prison. Below is a quote on stupidity.

Stupidity[16] is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One
may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented
by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own
subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of
unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless. Neither protests nor the
use of force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; facts
that contradict one’s prejudgment simply need not be believed—in
such moments the stupid person even becomes critical—and when
facts are irrefutable they are just pushed aside as inconsequential, as
incidental. In all this the stupid person, in contrast to the malicious one,
is utterly self-satisfied and, being easily irritated, becomes dangerous
by going on the attack. For that reason, greater caution is called for
when dealing with a stupid person than with a malicious one. Never
again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is
senseless and dangerous.

After Ten Years, Letters from Prison. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich

This quote just rang true for all of us. How when someone hears something and it resonates with them, if they are not willing to hear anything else, then they are more of an issue than evil itself. People who will not hear reason and have already made up their minds can not be persuaded to hear or understand the truth. They are more dangerous than one who is evil but will hear good reason.

So what makes something valid? If it is true according to the truth, that we are all created in the image of God and are loved by God. Anything that goes against this is not true and is not valid.

Go and share the truth.

Love People, Love God.

tempt or help?

6 These things were examples for us, so we won’t crave evil things like they did. 7 Don’t worship false gods like some of them did, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and they got up to play. 8 Let’s not practice sexual immorality, like some of them did, and twenty-three thousand died in one day. 9 Let’s not test Christ, like some of them did, and were killed by the snakes. 10 Let’s not grumble, like some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them as an example and were written as a warning for us to whom the end of time has come. 12 So those who think they are standing need to watch out or else they may fall. 13 No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:6-13, CEB)

I always struggle with passages like this, because we all want to say that God doesn’t test us, or tempt us.

But look at Jesus being led into the wilderness, each gospel says it was the Spirit that led Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Not the Spirit didn’t tempt Jesus, but the Spirit took Jesus there.

And we pray in the Lord’s prayer, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Don’t tempt us but if we get there deliver us from evil or the evil one. Which is really what this passages says. Do not rely on your own understanding but put you trust in God because when you stumble God will be there with a way out.

God is always with us, to guide and help us.

Trust that.

Believe that.

Love People, Love God.

Are we?

Therefore, brothers and sisters who are partners in the heavenly calling, think about Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. 2 Jesus was faithful to the one who appointed him just like Moses was faithful in God’s house. 3 But he deserves greater glory than Moses in the same way that the builder of the house deserves more honor than the house itself. 4 Every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant in order to affirm the things that would be spoken later. 6 But Jesus was faithful over God’s house as a Son. We are his house if we hold on to the confidence and the pride that our hope gives us. (Hebrews 3:1-6, CEB)

Jesus was faithful to the one who appointed Him.

Are we faithful?

Look at Moses. A man who had a speech impediment, and yet spoke before one of the greatest rulers of the world. Moses did things he never knew or thought he could do, not because he himself did them, but because he was faithful.

If we are faithful what will God do through us?

God has and will always love you, so how do we show our love for God?

Love People, Love God.

might

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so must the Human One be lifted up 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. 16 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. 17 God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged, because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only Son. 19 “This is the basis for judgment: The light came into the world, and people loved darkness more than the light, for their actions are evil. 20 All who do wicked things hate the light and don’t come to the light for fear that their actions will be exposed to the light. 21 Whoever does the truth comes to the light so that it can be seen that their actions were done in God.” (John 3:14-21, CEB)

Everyone knows John 3:16. Even if you have never darkened the door of a church building, or been in a worship service, or cracked open a Bible.

It is seen on billboards and posters at games and places where mass attend. We know, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life.” It is almost like something we learned in school. Like if you know a pastor in the Lutheran church ask them the conjugation of the Greek verb λυω. It was ingained in our minds.

But to me the most important verse in this passage is the one after 16, 3:17. “God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Jesus didn’t come to judge us but that we might be saved through Him. That we might learn how to live through Him.

God knew we were far off the wayside, so we don’t need to be judged, we need an example, we need a savior. Jesus came not to condemn, but to save us.

Believe that you are a child of God and that God loves you and chose you.

Then go into the world and love as you have been loved.

Love People, Love God.

Above or again?

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could do these miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to see God’s kingdom.” 4 Nicodemus asked, “How is it possible for an adult to be born? It’s impossible to enter the mother’s womb for a second time and be born, isn’t it?” 5 Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don’t be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said, “How are these things possible?” 10 “Jesus answered, “You are a teacher of Israel and you don’t know these things? 11 I assure you that we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you don’t receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Human One. (John 3:1-13, CEB)

Good ol’ Nicodemus. How can a person be born again, can they enter the mother’s womb a second time and be born again? Well is that really what Jesus said?

The version above shows us in a different way, Jesus said, “born anew.” Literally the word Jesus uses here can be translated again, and it can be translated as from above. After Nic asks if one can be born again, Jesus says, “you have to be born of water and of Spirit.”

Now most people will say that means you have to be baptized. But does born of water mean baptism? I have witnessed 3 C-sections, as all of my daughters were born through C-sections, and I have to say there was water involved. And in natural child birth there is a lot of water involved. We are all born of water. Every last one of us, and that is not baptism. That is natural.

And so the only thing missing then is the above, the birth of the Spirit, and does this happen at Baptism? Well in the ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we say that the baptized is marked with the cross of Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit forever. But I have always had issue with this because it is like saying the only way the Spirit works is through this ceremony. And that is just wrong. The Spirit comes to a person when the Spirit wants to come, it doesn’t happen just because some pastor says those words.

So how are you born again? It is done by God, when God feels like it.

Just believe it.

Love People, Love God

Can you get it?

7 We have been ransomed through his Son’s blood, and we have forgiveness for our failures based on his overflowing grace, 8 which he poured over us with wisdom and understanding. 9 God revealed his hidden design to us, which is according to his goodwill and the plan that he intended to accomplish through his Son. 10 This is what God planned for the climax of all times: to bring all things together in Christ, the things in heaven along with the things on earth. 11 We have also received an inheritance in Christ. We were destined by the plan of God, who accomplishes everything according to his design. 12 We are called to be an honor to God’s glory because we were the first to hope in Christ. 13 You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, which is applied toward our redemption as God’s own people, resulting in the honor of God’s glory. (Ephesians 1:7-14, CEB)

Is there anything you can do to get an inheritance?

I mean there are definitely things you can do to not get an inheritance. People are written out of wills every day for the things they do that upsets the one whose will it is and they remove them. But can you do anything to get an inheritance?

You have no choice who your parents are or what their situation is, so that is not in your control.

You could marry into money but even that could not guarantee an inheritance.

There is really no way you can get an inheritance.

Only the one giving can decide who gets it.

God decided that you would get an inheritance.

God loves you no matter what and chose you.

Go and share what God has given you.

Love People, Love God.

Adopted

3 Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that comes from heaven. 4 God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world. 5 God destined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ because of his love. This was according to his goodwill and plan 6 and to honor his glorious grace that he has given to us freely through the Son whom he loves. (Ephesians 1:3-6, CEB)

God destined us to be adopted as children.

When one is adopted you usually don’t have a say in what happens, those saying they want you to be a part of their family decide. Now an adopted child could have influence, but ultimately the decision to adopt or not resides with the one(s) doing the the adopting.

God decided we were to be God’s children and adopted us.

You are loved by God so much that God will do whatever it takes to make you a part of God’s family.

Love People, Love God.

WWJD

15 They came into Jerusalem. After entering the temple, he threw out those who were selling and buying there. He pushed over the tables used for currency exchange and the chairs of those who sold doves. 16 He didn’t allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 He taught them, “Hasn’t it been written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you’ve turned it into a hideout for crooks.” 18 The chief priests and legal experts heard this and tried to find a way to destroy him. They regarded him as dangerous because the whole crowd was enthralled at his teaching. 19 When it was evening, Jesus and his disciples went outside the city. (Mark 11:15-19, CEB)

I have mixed feelings about the four letters WWJD.

What Would Judas Do? I have toyed with this change to the letters meaning. Because Judas I think gets a bad rap, but that is a post for another time.

What Would Jesus Do? The phrase makes us think that our actions are too rough, that we are acting with anger more than we should. But we have to remember that WWJD could be turning the tables and driving the money changers out of the place they are.

We need to do what God has called us to do and if that means we whip the money changers and turn some tables, then that is what we do.

Love People, Love God.

What more?

23 So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be cleansed with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things had to be cleansed with better sacrifices than these. 24 Christ didn’t enter the holy place (which is a copy of the true holy place) made by human hands, but into heaven itself, so that he now appears in God’s presence for us. 25 He didn’t enter to offer himself over and over again, like the high priest enters the earthly holy place every year with blood that isn’t his. 26 If that were so, then Jesus would have to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. Instead, he has now appeared once at the end of the ages to get rid of sin by sacrificing himself. 27 People are destined to die once and then face judgment. 28 In the same way, Christ was also offered once to take on himself the sins of many people. He will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:23-28, CEB)

We will all die once and face judgment, just as Christ was offered once to take on all the sins of all people. And yet, Christ will come again, not to take away more sin, as if something more needed to be done than Christ already did, but to take those of us who await Christ back with Him.

This is what really gets me about indulgences. If you have to pay the church in order to get a soul out of purgatory then what did Jesus do?

If we have to do more than what Christ already did, how does what Christ did matter?

You see there is nothing beyond the sacrifice that God has made for you that has to be done. Christ died for you.

Now know you are loved and go and love as you are loved.

Love People, Love God.