no excuse

So every single one of you who judge others is without any excuse. You condemn yourself when you judge another person because the one who is judging is doing the same things. 2 We know that God’s judgment agrees with the truth, and his judgment is against those who do these kinds of things. 3 If you judge those who do these kinds of things while you do the same things yourself, think about this: Do you believe that you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you have contempt for the riches of God’s generosity, tolerance, and patience? Don’t you realize that God’s kindness is supposed to lead you to change your heart and life? 5 You are storing up wrath for yourself because of your stubbornness and your heart that refuses to change. God’s just judgment will be revealed on the day of wrath. 6 God will repay everyone based on their works. 7 On the one hand, he will give eternal life to those who look for glory, honor, and immortality based on their patient good work. 8 But on the other hand, there will be wrath and anger for those who obey wickedness instead of the truth because they are acting out of selfishness and disobedience. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 10 But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 11 God does not have favorites. (Romans 2:1-11, CEB)

God does not have favorites. And when you judge you are guilty of what you judge in others.

How many of us look at other people and judge them? We all do if we are honest. That is human nature. So how do we look on others and love them?

We love others because the one that can look on us with judgment looks on us with love. God loves us in-spite of what we do, have done, will do. And that is why we look on others in love.

We love to help others know that God loves them.

So love the world and know that God loves you!

Parable of coins…

14 “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them. 15 To one he gave five valuable coins, and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability. Then he left on his journey. 16 “After the man left, the servant who had five valuable coins took them and went to work doing business with them. He gained five more. 17 In the same way, the one who had two valuable coins gained two more. 18 But the servant who had received the one valuable coin dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. 19 “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received five valuable coins came forward with five additional coins. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’ 22 “The second servant also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’ 24 “Now the one who had received one valuable coin came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest grain where you haven’t sown. You gather crops where you haven’t spread seed. 25 So I was afraid. And I hid my valuable coin in the ground. Here, you have what’s yours.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest grain where I haven’t sown and that I gather crops where I haven’t spread seed? 27 In that case, you should have turned my money over to the bankers so that when I returned, you could give me what belonged to me with interest. 28 Therefore, take from him the valuable coin and give it to the one who has ten coins. 29 Those who have much will receive more, and they will have more than they need. But as for those who don’t have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them. 30 Now take the worthless servant and throw him out into the farthest darkness.’ “People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth. (Matthew 25:14-30, CEB)

If you served someone you knew was stealing and they gave you money to take care of while they were gone, what would you do with it?

And then there is the understanding of the parable, what does this mean, and where is God in all of this?

Is God the man who gave the money to the servants? If so how do we then account for the harvesting where they haven’t sown?

Is God one of the first two servants?

Is God the last servant? Who knows that others are doing wrong and keeps what is theirs hidden only to return it later?

Or is God in the weeping and grinding of teeth?

And what really does this tell us about Heaven? That those who have will have more than they need and those that do not have even what they have will be taken away? I’m not sure I follow Jesus. How does this help us show God’s love here in this place?

Jesus is always with us, and helps us through every situation and while we may not understand this parable, we can trust that God never forsakes us. So God is with the land owner and the servants, even the one cast into outer darkness. God is always with us.

Unclean spirit seeks home

43 “When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. 44 Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the place vacant, cleaned up, and decorated. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and make their home there. That person is worse off at the end than at the beginning. This is the way it will be also for this evil generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45, CEB)

Wow. So if an unclean spirit leaves you it will be back with a vengeance!

Because we as a generation are more consumed with ourselves than with others we will be worse off in the end then now.

What if we loved as God commanded us to love? Would the spirits come back? Because when they leave the place would be cleaned up but it wouldn’t be vacant so they wouldn’t return…

Love as you were loved.

7 bowls

8 The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to burn people with fire.9 The people were burned by intense heat, and they cursed the name of the God who had power over these plagues. But they didn’t change their hearts and lives and give him glory.10 The fifth angel poured his bowl over the beast’s throne, and darkness covered its kingdom. People bit their tongues because of their pain, 11 and they cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores; but they didn’t turn away from what they had done. 12 Then the sixth angel poured his bowl on the great river Euphrates. Its water was dried up so that the way was ready for the kings from the east. 13 Then I saw three unclean spirits, like frogs, come from the dragon’s mouth, the beast’s mouth, and the mouth of the false prophet.14 These are demonic spirits that do signs. They go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (15 Look! I’m coming like a thief! Favored are those who stay awake and clothed so that they don’t go around naked and exposed to shame.) 16 The spirits gathered them at the place that is called in Hebrew, Harmagedon. 17 Then the seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out from the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 There were lightning strikes, voices, and thunder, and a great earthquake occurred. The earthquake was greater than any that have occurred since there have been people on earth. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. God remembered Babylon the great so that he gave her the wine cup of his furious anger. 20 Every island fled, and the mountains disappeared. 21 Huge hailstones weighing about one hundred pounds came down from heaven on the people. They cursed God for the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible. (Revelation 16:8-21, CEB)

They saw all of this happening and they cursed God and yet they did not change their lives to follow God, they just blamed God for their troubles.

Ok in some sense I guess it is God’s fault, but as I said yesterday if we were loving and taking care of each other following what God has commanded would there be wrath from God? All of the bad things happening in the vision are on those without the mark of God, those whose lives do not show love of God and neighbor. So who really is to blame?

What would the world be like if we actually loved each other and creation cared for creation?

7 bowls

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple say to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of God’s anger on the earth.” 2 So the first angel poured his bowl on the earth, and a nasty and terrible sore appeared on the people who had the beast’s mark and worshipped its image. 3 The second angel poured his bowl into the sea, and the sea turned into blood, like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing in the sea died. 4 The third angel poured his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned into blood. 5 Then I heard the angel of the waters say, “You are just, holy one, who is and was, because you have given these judgments. 6 They poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve it!” 7 And I heard the altar say, “Yes, Lord God Almighty, your judgments are true and just.” (Revelation 16:1-7, CEB)

Revelation is a vision but it includes God’s anger being poured on the earth. God is a loving God who will wait and work to help all people see God’s love for them, yet we see in the scriptures a God who also is angry and vengeful on those who do not follow.

How long will the Lord wait and when is the acceptable time? And really what does God ask of us, that we love God and love everyone else, and isn’t that really what we all need, love?

What would the world be like if everyone was able to be who they are and still be accepted by all. If we looked out for the other more than we look out for self?

What would the wrath be of a God who sees creation caring for creation?

A lesson from the fig tree

29 “Now immediately after the suffering of that time the sun will become dark, and the moon won’t give its light. The stars will fall from the sky and the planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Human One will appear in the sky. At that time all the tribes of the earth will be full of sadness, and they will see the Human One coming in the heavenly clouds with power and great splendor. 31 He will send his angels with the sound of a great trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from the four corners of the earth, from one end of the sky to the other. 32 “Learn this parable from the fig tree. After its branch becomes tender and it sprouts new leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you know that the Human One is near, at the door. 34 I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until all these things happen. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away. (Matthew 24:29-35, CEB)

When you see these things you will know it is about time. And I assure you this generation won’t pass away until all these things happen…

What generation? And have they happened yet?

I will say this again I think Jesus was trying to tell us not to worry about when the end is coming. We need not worry about it because no matter what happens His word will not pass away. God will always be with us.

Paul prays

6 Now Timothy has returned to us from you and has given us good news about your faithfulness and love! He says that you always have good memories about us and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. 7 Because of this, brothers and sisters, we were encouraged in all our distress and trouble through your faithfulness. 8 For now we are alive if you are standing your ground in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you, given all the joy we have because of you before our God? 10 Night and day, we pray more than ever to see all of you in person and to complete whatever you still need for your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus guide us on our way back to you. 12 May the Lord cause you to increase and enrich your love for each other and for everyone in the same way as we also love you. 13 May the love cause your hearts to be strengthened, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his people. Amen. (1 Thessalonians 3:6-13, CEB)

Paul is praying night and day for the Thessalonians. Just as we should be praying night and day for all of the people we have come in contact with through God.

Pray changes circumstances. Pray helps us be closer to God and intone with what God’s plans are.

Pray helps us be connected to God’s love. Pray without ceasing. Pray all the time and allow that connect to God strengthen you and all those connected to you to God.

Be baby adults

20 Brothers and sisters, don’t be like children in the way you think. Well, be babies when it comes to evil, but be adults in your thinking. 21 In the Law it is written: I will speak to this people with foreign languages and foreigners’ lips, but they will not even listen to me this way, says the Lord. 22 So then, tongues are a sign for those who don’t believe, not for those who believe. But prophecy is a sign for believers, not for those who don’t believe. 23 So suppose that the whole church is meeting and everyone is speaking in tongues. If people come in who are outsiders or unbelievers, won’t they say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if everyone is prophesying when an unbeliever or outsider comes in, they are tested by all and called to account by all. 25 The secrets of their hearts are brought to light. When that happens, they will fall on their faces and worship God, proclaiming out loud that truly God is among you! (1 Corinthians 14:20-25, CEB)

Be adults in your thinking but swear clear of evil.

We need to be a witness in the world to the love God has for all of us.

Live your life in God and allow others to see God’s love.

10 young bridesmaids

“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)

This reminds me of the scout motto, Be Prepared. We never know what will happen so we need to be ready at all times for all things. Now it isn’t always possible to have everything we need. But what can we do to be ready for anything that might come?

The interesting parts of this text are that the wise one have oil, but now enough to share, and when the foolish ones get back, the doors are shut and the groom doesn’t know them, but wouldn’t the groom have known there were 10 bridesmaids and not just 5? Were the wise bridesmaids trying to get a bigger share by not sharing and then telling the groom there are no more bridesmaids? So many things about this text are just interesting and unknown.

What we can for sure say is, we do not know when the groom/Jesus is coming, so we need to be aware of our conditions and be prepared.

Beginning of troubles

Now Jesus left the temple and was going away. His disciples came to point out to him the temple buildings. 2 He responded, “Do you see all these things? I assure that no stone will be left on another. Everything will be demolished.” 3 Now while Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” 4 Jesus replied, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the Christ.’ They will deceive many people. 6 You will hear about wars and reports of wars. Don’t be alarmed. These things must happen, but this isn’t the end yet. 7 Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in all sorts of places. 8 But all these things are just the beginning of the sufferings associated with the end. 9 They will arrest you, abuse you, and they will kill you. All nations will hate you on account of my name. 10 At that time many will fall away. They will betray each other and hate each other.11 Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because disobedience will expand, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. 14 This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all the nations. Then the end will come. (Matthew 24:1-14, CEB)

When will the end of the world come? We were obsessed with this about 200 years ago. Many were trying to figure it out and according to the Mayan Calendar the world would end in 2012, or now some are saying 2020. We get obsessed with wanting to know when the end is going to get here. But why?

Jesus tells the disciples here, a lot of bad stuff is going to happen, and that is merely the beginning. Well Jesus a lot of bad stuff is already happening!

I think Jesus is telling them and us, “Don’t worry about it.” Martin Luther said, “If I knew I was going to die tomorrow, I would plant an apple tree today.” He will never see it, but the good it will bring will help someone else.

Let us live our lives in such a way that we show God’s love to the world.