Be prepared

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten young bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.2 Now five of them were wise, and the other five were foolish. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but didn’t bring oil for them. 4 But the wise ones took their lamps and also brought containers of oil. 5 “When the groom was late in coming, they all became drowsy and went to sleep. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look, the groom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 “Then all those bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 But the foolish bridesmaids said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps have gone out.’ 9 “But the wise bridesmaids replied, ‘No, because if we share with you, there won’t be enough for our lamps and yours. We have a better idea. You go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But while they were gone to buy oil, the groom came. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding. Then the door was shut. 11 “Later the other bridesmaids came and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us.’ 12 “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore, keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13, CEB)

Every time I read this passage I think of the Boy Scout motto, Be Prepared. You never know what is going to happen so be prepared for anything.

Or MacGyver. With a roll of duct tape, a package of gum, and a Swiss army knife he can take on the world!

But there is a also an aspect of helping out others. Why would the 5 who had oil not share some? Yes they thought they would run out, but did they?

We need to be aware of what is happening in the world and aware of what God has called us to be and do. We need to give freely as God gave to us, but also know when is the time to not give. How do we know this?

Are you connected with God and know how you are being led?

What the people want…

16 Standing up, Paul gestured with his hand and said, “Fellow Israelites and Gentile God-worshippers, please listen to me. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors. God made them a great people while they lived as strangers in the land of Egypt. With his great power, he led them out of that country. 18 For about forty years, God put up with them in the wilderness. 19 God conquered seven nations in the land of Canaan and gave the Israelites their land as an inheritance. 20 This happened over a period of about four hundred fifty years. “After this, he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. 21 The Israelites requested a king, so God gave them Saul, Kish’s son, from the tribe of Benjamin, and he served as their king for forty years. 22 After God removed him, he raised up David to be their king. God testified concerning him, ‘I have found David, Jesse’s son, a man who shares my desires. Whatever my will is, he will do.’ 23 From this man’s descendants, God brought to Israel a savior, Jesus, just as he promised. 24 Before Jesus’ appearance, John proclaimed to all the Israelites a baptism to show they were changing their hearts and lives. 25 As John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I’m not the one you think I am, but he is coming after me. I’m not worthy to loosen his sandals.’ (Acts 13:16-25, CEB)

Did you see in this reading that God was very open to the leading of the people?

God led the Israelites out of Egypt and to the promise land when they grumbled in their slavery, and then when they settled in the promised land God provided Judges to help the people. When the people wanted kings rather than judges, kings were provided.

Then God found one who was a man who shares God’s own heart, who also went after his own desires from time to time. But through this man, God brought us the messiah. Jesus came through the lineage of David to show us how to live and be the children that God created us to be.

Let us be like Jesus, and love all and speak for those who can not speak for themselves.

Always the same

10 I know what some people are saying: “His letters are severe and powerful, but in person he is weak and his speech is worth nothing.”11 These people need to think about this—that when we are with you, our actions will show that we are the same as the words we wrote when we were away from you. (2 Corinthians 10:10-11, CEB)

Have you ever met a person through writing, either letters or online and then met them and they were different people?

We should be the same, in print, online, or in person. The same always. Never compromise yourself or your beliefs or understanding to make someone else happy. It isn’t worth it. The best thing you can do for the world is to be authentic all the time.

John

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is really greater than me because he existed before me.’ 31 Even I didn’t recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be made known to Israel.” 32 John testified, “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it rested on him. 33 Even I didn’t recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit coming down and resting is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and testified that this one is God’s Son.” (John 1:29-34, CEB)

John witnessed to who Jesus was not because he completely knew Jesus and everything he could/would do but because John trusted God and knew God’s promises were true. So when God said when you see the spirit descend on this one, that is the Christ. John believed it.

Do you believe it?

Does your life show you believe it?

Blinded to see

2 When they heard him address them in Aramaic, they became even more quiet. 3 Paul continued, “I’m a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia but raised in this city. Under Gamaliel’s instruction, I was trained in the strict interpretation of our ancestral Law. I am passionately loyal to God, just like you who are gathered here today. 4 I harassed those who followed this Way to their death, arresting and delivering both men and women into prison. 5 The high priest and the whole Jerusalem Council can testify about me. I received letters from them, addressed to our associates in Damascus, then went there to bring those who were arrested to Jerusalem so they could be punished. 6 “During that journey, about noon, as I approached Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven encircled me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice asking me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are harassing,’ he replied. 9 My traveling companions saw the light, but they didn’t hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. 10 I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up,’ the Lord replied, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told everything you have been appointed to do.’ 11 I couldn’t see because of the brightness of that light, so my companions led me by the hand into Damascus. 12 “There was a certain man named Ananias. According to the standards of the Law, he was a pious man who enjoyed the respect of all the Jews living there. 13 He came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ he said. Instantly, I regained my sight and I could see him. 14 He said, ‘The God of our ancestors has selected you to know his will, to see the righteous one, and to hear his voice. 15 You will be his witness to everyone concerning what you have seen and heard. 16 What are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins as you call on his name.’ (Acts 22:2-16, CEB)

Saul was persecuting the followers of Jesus. He was having them arrested, out in jail and possibly killed. He didn’t know the work he was doing against God until he was blinded and had to wait for a disciple to help him gain his sight back. Then he knew what God needed him to do and he followed after God.

Has God made it clear to you your path? Are you following Jesus or your own God?

Let God blind you and then help you to see.

Faith

So what are we going to say? Are we going to find that Abraham is our ancestor on the basis of genealogy? 2 Because if Abraham was made righteous because of his actions, he would have had a reason to brag, but not in front of God. 3 What does the scripture say? Abraham had faith in God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. 4 Workers’ salaries aren’t credited to them on the basis of an employer’s grace but rather on the basis of what they deserve. 5 But faith is credited as righteousness to those who don’t work, because they have faith in God who makes the ungodly righteous. 6 In the same way, David also pronounces a blessing on the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from actions: 7 Happy are those whose actions outside the Law are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Happy are those whose sin isn’t counted against them by the Lord. 9 Is this state of happiness only for the circumcised or is it also for those who aren’t circumcised? We say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” 10 So how was it credited? When he was circumcised, or when he wasn’t circumcised? In fact, it was credited while he still wasn’t circumcised, not after he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that comes from the faith he had while he still wasn’t circumcised. It happened this way so that Abraham could be the ancestor of all those people who aren’t circumcised, who have faith in God, and so are counted as righteous. 12 He could also be the ancestor of those circumcised people, who aren’t only circumcised but who also walk in the path of faith, like our ancestor Abraham did while he wasn’t circumcised. (Romans 4:1-12, CEB)

If you have faith it will be credited to you as righteousness.

But what if you faulter in your faith, is righteousness lost? Is it possible to lose grace? This reading sounds like it is dependent on us and yes it also sounds like it is not, so which is it?

Grace is an unmerited gift. We can’t earn it, it is freely given without sign or action. Abraham was not circumcised when he was made righteous by faith. And we do not need the sign of baptism to receive grace.

We are made right by the faithfulness of Christ to follow the plan for us. Your salvation, your righteousness is based on God alone, creating and loving you.

Yout trust is good but doesn’t do anything that God has not already done for you.

Share the grace you were freely given.

Dove?

4 John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 5 Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins. 6 John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He announced, “One stronger than I am is coming after me. I’m not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. 11 And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” (Mark 1:4-11, CEB)

I remember about 10 years ago I heard a sermon by Leonard Sweet entitled trash cans to treasure chests. In the sermon Leonard Sweet talked about how a dove isn’t an actual scientific classification for a type of bird, it it a pretty word we gave to a white pigeon. And pigeons are trash birds. They dig through the garbage to get their next meal. Isn’t it interesting that we say the Holy Spirit is a Dove and a Dove is a trash bird.

You see God cam take that which the world thinks should be discarded or is dirty or unworthy and make is beautiful. God turns a trash bird into the symbol of God’s Spirit and takes us and makes us God’s children. God takes trash cans and makes them treasure chests!

Know you are a treasure chest of God’s most precious creation. And share the love you have with the world.

What do you fish for?

One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. 2 Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. 3 Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.4 When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.” 6 So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. 7 They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” 9 Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught. 10 James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” 11 As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus. (Luke 5:1-11, CEB)

What kind of bait do you use when you fish for people? Bacon or coffee would work well for me. But Peter, James and John didn’t use bait, they used nets. Which means we are dragging people in?

Well no. We are following Jesus direction and casting the news even when we’ve tried it already and are tired from trying. We are casting Jesus love and grace through our lives and showing the world the love we have been given and is available for them.

So cast a net and fish for people. Live a life that shows Jesus to the world

Be Jesus

11 Command these things. Teach them. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, set an example for the believers through your speech, behavior, love, faith, and by being sexually pure. 13 Until I arrive, pay attention to public reading, preaching, and teaching. 14 Don’t neglect the spiritual gift in you that was given through prophecy when the elders laid hands on you.15 Practice these things, and live by them so that your progress will be visible to all. 16 Focus on working on your own development and on what you teach. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:11-16, CEB)

Back in March I started a new call as the campus pastor at Texas A&M for the ELCA. The young adults I work with live these verses. They preach the gospek with their lives and actions in the world. They are an example for the disciples we all should be.

Live your life to share the good news of Christ always!

Go!

10 In Damascus there was a certain disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He answered, “Yes, Lord.” 11 The Lord instructed him, “Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias enter and put his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 Ananias countered, “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man. People say he has done horrible things to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 He’s here with authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on your name.” 15 The Lord replied, “Go! This man is the agent I have chosen to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 Ananias went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you were coming here. He sent me so that you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly, flakes fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.19 After eating, he regained his strength. (Acts 9:10-19a, CEB)

Sometimes God calls us to do things we don’t want to.

God told Ananias to go and see Saul who Ananias knew was persecuting the followers of the way. So why would Ananias go to someone who could have him imprisoned or put to death?

Sometimes God calls us to go and do things we don’t want to. But doing it will be the best thing we can do. Sometimes God calls us to do things that will help us grow and move forward God’s love in the world.

We may not understand, but God’s plan is always the best plan.

What has God called you to do that you didn’t want to do?