Your Faith…

At one time you were like a dead person because of the things you did wrong and your offenses against God. 2 You used to live like people of this world. You followed the rule of a destructive spiritual power. This is the spirit of disobedience to God’s will that is now at work in persons whose lives are characterized by disobedience. 3 At one time you were like those persons. All of you used to do whatever felt good and whatever you thought you wanted so that you were children headed for punishment just like everyone else. 4-5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace! 6 And God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus. 7 God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus. 8 You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith.[a] This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. 9 It’s not something you did that you can be proud of. 10 Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives. (Ephesians 2:1-10, CEB)

Every Translation falls short at some point and I believe the CEB does in this passage in verse 8.

Now some of you may say this is because this is the Lutheran verse, We are saved by grace through faith not of our own doing that no one my boast. Well no, it isn’t because of that. I also have been known to say as Lutherans we do not take our verse far enough and say only 2:8-9 and we need to include 10, because God created us to do good works.

But no, the CEB says, “you are saved by God’s grace because of your faith.” Because of my faith, it is my work and therefore I can be proud of it. It is something I do. Thankfully the committee left a footnote there that says, “Or through his faithfulness“. Which makes it all God’s work and not ours. Because that’s what grace is, an unearned, unmerited gift. Even with the second half of that verse saying it is God’s gift, the your is really out of place for me. We are saved because Jesus was faithful and trusting in the plan and did what was needed to show us how to live a life that is pleasing to God. That is grace and what saved us, to do good works so that others will know about the love of God.

So go and share the grace you’ve been given.

Love People, Love God.

happiness…

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.” 12 At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him. 14 After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, 15 saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” (Mark 1:9-15, CEB)

“in you I find happiness. At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness.”

If this is what happens when God finds happiness in you, I’m not sure I want to make God happy.

But seriously, Jesus goes and sees John and is baptized and according to Mark here, Jesus is the only one that sees the dove and hears the voice, so how does anyone else know what is happening?

And this version of the Bible, the Common English Version, takes Marks And Immediately, from the NRSV, and softens it a bit with “at once”. But there is no missing that Jesus was in the water, came out, saw the dove, heard the voice and then was taken to the wilderness to be tested and tempted for 40 days.

So are you ready for what happens when God finds happiness in us?

Love People, Love God.

who needs a doctor?

2 People brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a cot. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man who was paralyzed, “Be encouraged, my child, your sins are forgiven.” 3 Some legal experts said among themselves, “This man is insulting God.” 4 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you fill your minds with evil things? 5 Which is easier—to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But so you will know that the Human One has authority on the earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“Get up, take your cot, and go home.” 7 The man got up and went home. 8 When the crowds saw what had happened, they were afraid and praised God, who had given such authority to human beings. 9 As Jesus continued on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at a kiosk for collecting taxes. He said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. 10 As Jesus sat down to eat in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners joined Jesus and his disciples at the table. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 When Jesus heard it, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. 13 Go and learn what this means: I want mercy and not sacrifice. I didn’t come to call righteous people, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:2-13, CEB)

“Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do.”

I guess I’m sick, because I see a doctor every 6 months at least. I mean if you know me, you know I am over weight, you may not know that I have High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Type 2 Diabetes, and I am sure other health issues. But I am not sick, I’m unhealthy but on the healthy side of it, my meds help control my issues, and the doctor helps me. But Jesus isn’t speaking of preventative medicine if that was even a thing in those days, he is speaking about life or death.

Those who are in the right with God don’t need Jesus. They have already been given life and therefore do not need a savior, but those who do not know God need to know God, and if we wait for them to come to us we will be waiting a long time. Jesus is the model that shows us to go to the people.

We need to be where the people are and show them God’s love.

Love People, Love God.

not tolerate

I’m giving you this commission in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is coming to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearance and his kingdom. 2 Preach the word. Be ready to do it whether it is convenient or inconvenient. Correct, confront, and encourage with patience and instruction. 3 There will come a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. They will collect teachers who say what they want to hear because they are self-centered. 4 They will turn their back on the truth and turn to myths. 5 But you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances. Endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the good news, and carry out your service fully. (2 Timothy 4:1-5, CEB)

I wonder where the world has gone and care for the other. It seems like we are just out for ourselves.

There will come a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching, and will go after their own desires and wants. They will surround them selves with people who tell them what they want to hear and already believe. They will not want to hear anything different.

But we need to always say what is right and true and follow where God is leading us. Knowing that the truth will always prevail. Whether it is convenient or inconvenient. We need to preach the gospel at all times.

Love People, Love God.

Integrity

3 What we have seen and heard, we also announce it to you so that you can have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy can be complete. 5 This is the message that we have heard from him and announce to you: “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” 6 If we claim, “We have fellowship with him,” and live in the darkness, we are lying and do not act truthfully. 7 But if we live in the light in the same way as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin. 8 If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong. 10 If we claim, “We have never sinned,” we make him a liar and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:3-10, CEB)

Integrity. Doing the right thing even when no one is looking.

Being a person who is always the same. It is a quality not found a lot now. People will say to you what you want to hear and then turn around and say the exact opposite of what they told you to someone else, because that is what they want to hear. In some circles this is called keeping the peace, but according to John it is lying and not being truthful, walking in darkness.

As children of God we are called to have integrity. It is hard, but God will help us.

Be a person of integrity.

Love People, Love God.

be careful

“Be careful that you don’t practice your religion in front of people to draw their attention. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Whenever you give to the poor, don’t blow your trumpet as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may get praise from people. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. 3 But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing 4 so that you may give to the poor in secret. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you. 5 “When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people will see them. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. 6 But when you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you. 16 “And when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They distort their faces so people will know they are fasting. I assure you that they have their reward. 17 When you fast, brush your hair and wash your face. 18 Then you won’t look like you are fasting to people, but only to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 19 “Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. 20 Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them. 21 Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, CEB)

Where do you practice your faith?

Do you do things for all to see? So you get the thanks for a job well done?

Or do you serve secretly knowing that the reward you receive from God will be better than any accolade you could receive here and now?

We should not make our serving known, but do everything for the glory of God and not so we get recognized. So be careful in your motives, and serve the world as God serves you.

Love People, Love God.

Who is Jesus?

14 I hope to come to you quickly. But I’m writing these things to you so that 15 if I’m delayed, you’ll know how you should behave in God’s household. It is the church of the living God and the backbone and support of the truth. 16 Without question, the mystery of godliness is great: he was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:14-16, CEB)

This is a great Reader’s Digest version of who Jesus is: he was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory.

He was born as a human, made righteous by the Spirit at His baptism, revealed through declaration before us and through us and after us, and taken back into glory, to come again for all of us.

So we can all go and share His love.

Love People, Love God.

What we know

This is why it’s necessary for us to pay more attention to what we have heard, or else we may drift away from it. 2 If the message that was spoken by angels was reliable, and every offense and act of disobedience received an appropriate consequence, 3 how will we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? It was first announced through the Lord, and then it was confirmed by those who heard him. 4 God also vouched for their message with signs, amazing things, various miracles, and gifts from the Holy Spirit, which were handed out the way he wanted. (Hebrews 2:1-4, CEB)

What we have heard or been taught is important to our understanding of who we are in Christ.

Yet I also remember the my Old Testament Professor in seminary told us the very first day of class, “Everything you have learned is a lie and I’m going to teach you the truth.” Which also reminds me of the great line from the classic movie, Return of the Jedi, “What I told was the truth, from a certain point of view…”

We all come to everything from the point of view we are in, and that point of view is based on what we have learned and what we were taught as we grew. But here again we can not beat ourselves up for not knowing then what we know now, or be afraid to let go of what we learned because that was the best those who were teaching us could do for us. God helps us all to grow deeper in faith and following as we grow in age.

Always do you best to love as you go and give yourself space and others space to know that change is needed and has to happen.

Love People, Love God.

Hello my name is…

2 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain where they were alone. He was transformed in front of them, 3 and his clothes were amazingly bright, brighter than if they had been bleached white. 4 Elijah and Moses appeared and were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s make three shrines—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”6 He said this because he didn’t know how to respond, for the three of them were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice spoke from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I dearly love. Listen to him!”8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Human One had risen from the dead. (Mark 9:2-9, CEB)

I always laugh when I first read this passage because I wonder how Peter knew it was Moses and Elijah. I assume they did not have pictures of them. I mean were they wearing name tags, Hellos my name is Moses, Hello my name is Elijah?

But then there is the weird thing that Peter says, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s make three shrines—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But really what would you have said if you were on a mountain top with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah? He was dumbfounded and at a loss for words. But here we see that it is ok to be in the midst of the recreation of the world and not understand it. I mean Peter, James and John saw some pretty amazing things, and yet none of them were to be found when Jesus was crucified, and Peter denied Jesus 3 times before his trial. We are in good company when we don’t get it.

So know your name and go and tell the world about Jesus and all He has done even when you may not understand it.

Love People. Love God.

wept over it

41 As Jesus came to the city and observed it, he wept over it. 42 He said, “If only you knew on this of all days the things that lead to peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 The time will come when your enemies will build fortifications around you, encircle you, and attack you from all sides. 44 They will crush you completely, you and the people within you. They won’t leave one stone on top of another within you, because you didn’t recognize the time of your gracious visit from God.” (Luke 19:41-44, CEB)

Have we missed it? Jesus says that our enemies will encircle us and destroy us because we didn’t recognize the time of our gracious visit from God. Did we miss it?

When has God visited us and we missed it?

When have we seen Jesus in the face of a stranger or a refuge or a homeless person and ignored them rather than helped them? When have we heard the call from a friend to help them and we had something else to do that was too important to change?

Is Jesus weeping over us as we miss the opportunity to do unto the least of these and unto Jesus?

Look for when Jesus comes to visit, because He is always coming to be with you.

Love People, Love God.