Humble yourself

4 You unfaithful people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy. 5 Or do you suppose that scripture is meaningless? Doesn’t God long for our faithfulness in the life he has given to us? 6 But he gives us more grace. This is why it says, God stands against the proud, but favors the humble. 7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. 8 Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Cry out in sorrow, mourn, and weep! Let your laughter become mourning and your joy become sadness. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:4-10, CEB)

This passage always reminds me of the song Humble thy self…

Humble thy self in the sight of the Lord,
Humble thy self in the sight of the Lord,
And God will lift you up, higher and higher,
And God shall lift you up.

if we are humble and not proud about what we have done, then God will lift us up. We will be noticed by God for the things we do, and God will be pleased. Not that we have to do works or things to get God’s favor, we already have that, but God created us to do good works here and now so that all will come to know God’s love.

So stand against the proud and be humble.

Tend the flock

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, 12-14, CEB)

Have you ever been a leader in an organization?

Were you asked?

Did you run? And if you ran did you campaign?

And if you ran for a leadership position, why did you do this?

Was it for the power?

Here the author tells us to lead because we can and to look out for others as it is our duty. We don’t do it for honor or prestige. We do it because we have been gifted and have the ability to be a positive impact on the lives of others.

Be humble and allow God to lead through you.

One Man vs. the Nation

45 Therefore, many of the Jews who came with Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him.46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and Pharisees called together the council and said, “What are we going to do? This man is doing many miraculous signs! 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our people.” 49 One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, told them, “You don’t know anything!50 You don’t see that it is better for you that one man die for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed.” 51 He didn’t say this on his own. As high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would soon die for the nation— 52 and not only for the nation. Jesus would also die so that God’s children scattered everywhere would be gathered together as one. 53 From that day on they plotted to kill him. 54 Therefore, Jesus was no longer active in public ministry among the Jewish leaders. Instead, he left Jerusalem and went to a place near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. 55 It was almost time for the Jewish Passover, and many people went from the countryside up to Jerusalem to purify themselves through ritual washing before the Passover. 56 They were looking for Jesus. As they spoke to each other in the temple, they said, “What do you think? He won’t come to the festival, will he?” 57 The chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where he was should report it, so they could arrest him. (John 11:45-57, CEB)

The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the one… Spock when he sacrifices himself to save the ship and the crew. Kind of the same theory here, only the chief priest was not sacrificing himself, but the one who was causing the religious leaders problems. And even in his saying this, he didn’t get it.

Jesus did need to die for the nation of Israel and for all of the lost children of God everywhere. But not for the reasons it seems the high council wanted Jesus dead.

How often do things go the way we want them to? Usually never, because we come up with the outcome in our minds and work towards that, but that is probably not God’s plan, even when what we want to happen happens, it is probably because it is something that God wanted to happen for a different reason.

So know that Jesus died for you, and all the children of God. And go into the world to share God’s love.

New

17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived! 18 All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 In other words, God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ, by not counting people’s sins against them. He has trusted us with this message of reconciliation. 20 So we are ambassadors who represent Christ. God is negotiating with you through us. We beg you as Christ’s representatives, “Be reconciled to God!” 21 God caused the one who didn’t know sin to be sin for our sake so that through him we could become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, CEB)

Christ reconciled people to himself by not counting their sins against them, and here we are, most of us who proclaim to be ambassadors for Christ telling people all of the things they are doing wrong and all of the things that will keep them from God. Yet Jesus said go and sin no more and then let it go.

How can we be the ambassadors for Christ if we hold people’s sins against them? We need to let it go and know that we are not God and will not judge anyone, only God will do that. We need to love and allow God to work in and through everyone.

Allow God to love through you, and don’t try to sit in God’s judgement seat…

Living stone

4 Now you are coming to him as to a living stone. Even though this stone was rejected by humans, from God’s perspective it is chosen, valuable. 5 You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple. You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Thus it is written in scripture, Look! I am laying a cornerstone in Zion, chosen, valuable. The person who believes in him will never be shamed. 7 So God honors you who believe. For those who refuse to believe, though, the stone the builders tossed aside has become the capstone. 8 This is a stone that makes people stumble and a rock that makes them fall. Because they refuse to believe in the word, they stumble. Indeed, this is the end to which they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. 10 Once you weren’t a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you hadn’t received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:4-10, CEB)

You are a living temple and chosen by God.

Look! I am laying a cornerstone in Zion, chosen, valuable. The person who believes in him will never be shamed. Whoever believes in the cornerstone will never be shamed! If you believe in Jesus and know that Jesus has chosen you, you will never be shamed!

And I truly love the opening verses here, “Even though this stone was rejected by humans, from God’s perspective it is chosen, valuable.” Even when the world rejects you, you are from God’s perspective chosen and valuable. You are chosen and valuable.

Always know that God sees you and has chosen you as God’s own. You are valuable regardless of what anyone else says!

Parable of the tenant farmers

33 “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it to tenant farmers and took a trip. 34 When it was time for harvest, he sent his servants to the tenant farmers to collect his fruit. 35 But the tenant farmers grabbed his servants. They beat some of them, and some of them they killed. Some of them they stoned to death. 36 “Again he sent other servants, more than the first group. They treated them in the same way.37 Finally he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 “But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come on, let’s kill him and we’ll have his inheritance.’ 39 They grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 “When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenant farmers?” 41 They said, “He will totally destroy those wicked farmers and rent the vineyard to other tenant farmers who will give him the fruit when it’s ready.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the scriptures, The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The Lord has done this, and it’s amazing in our eyes? 43 Therefore, I tell you that God’s kingdom will be taken away from you and will be given to a people who produce its fruit. 44 Whoever falls on this stone will be crushed. And the stone will crush the person it falls on.” 45 Now when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard the parable, they knew Jesus was talking about them. 46 They were trying to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, who thought he was a prophet. (Matthew 21:33-46, CEB)

Who in their right mind would think if we kill the heir then we will get that inheritance? Seriously?

But this parable is more about the church in Jesus’ time and our current time than is actually possible. There are so many in the church who would kill the son to get the inheritance to keep things the way that they want them, rather than follow after God. It seems so many are bound to the rules that humans created and set up as a system they have forgotten their first love and are following after the way that makes them happy.

Following Jesus is not an easy task and what the people around us will always see as the right way. Jesus threw the religious order of the time on it’s head, so why do we think that that stopped then? Complacencies are always coming in and Jesus and God are not complacent, and move to have their love know in the world.

So follow the Father, not your religion.

deceived…

40 When some in the crowd heard these words, they said, “This man is truly the prophet.”41 Others said, “He’s the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ can’t come from Galilee, can he? 42 Didn’t the scripture say that the Christ comes from David’s family and from Bethlehem, David’s village?” 43 So the crowd was divided over Jesus. 44 Some wanted to arrest him, but no one grabbed him. 45 The guards returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked, “Why didn’t you bring him?” 46 The guards answered, “No one has ever spoken the way he does.” 47 The Pharisees replied, “Have you too been deceived? 48 Have any of the leaders believed in him? Has any Pharisee? 49 No, only this crowd, which doesn’t know the Law. And they are under God’s curse!” 50 Nicodemus, who was one of them and had come to Jesus earlier, said, 51 “Our Law doesn’t judge someone without first hearing him and learning what he is doing, does it?” 52 They answered him, “You are not from Galilee too, are you? Look it up and you will see that the prophet doesn’t come from Galilee.” (John 7:40-52, CEB)

No one speaks the way He does…

Have you been deceived?

And then Nicodemus shows up again, the one who had come to Jesus under the cloak of night to not be seen, now openly speaks in defense of Jesus in the high council.

The question from this text is where is Jesus from? We the readers know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but only because we have all of the stories. The birth of Jesus is not laid out in where and when in John. So the powers that be think Jesus is from Galilee because that is all they know, and seem to be unwilling to allow Jesus to answer questions before passing judgment.

How many of us are like that? We make up our minds based on the things we think we know and do not care to discover the real meaning behind something? How often do we deceive ourselves?

Be like Nicodemus and look for the truth…

everything

14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world 16 because you hold on to the word of life. This will allow me to say on the day of Christ that I haven’t run for nothing or worked for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith, I am glad. I’m glad with all of you. 18 You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me! (Philippians 2:14-18, CEB)

Be glad in any and all circumstances!

Seriously Paul? How are we supposed to do that?

Two weeks ago, my daughter was in an accident and our van was totaled, and I’m supposed to be glad about that?

Last week we got a letter from the IRS saying we were randomly chosen for a 3 year audit, and I’m supposed to be glad about that?

Well actually even in the midst of trials and tribulations, of not knowing how we will afford another car payment and where we will find a good used vehicle, and worrying about producing everything the IRS wants to see, I am glad.

I’m glad we have insurance and a vehicle that allowed my daughter to walk away from the accident. I am glad that no one was seriously injured and property damage will be fixed. I am glad for a CPA that will help with an inquiry into taxes and know we have records for everything we said.

Even in the midst of worries, pain, and trials, Jesus is there, and there is always reason to be glad.

Be glad always, that you are a chosen child of God, and God is always with you!

Human Commandments

16 So don’t let anyone judge you about eating or drinking or about a festival, a new moon observance, or sabbaths. 17 These religious practices are only a shadow of what was coming—the body that cast the shadow is Christ. 18 Don’t let anyone who wants to practice harsh self-denial and worship angels rob you of the prize. They go into detail about what they have seen in visions and have become unjustifiably arrogant by their selfish way of thinking. 19 They don’t stay connected to the head. The head nourishes and supports the whole body through the joints and ligaments, so the body grows with a growth that is from God. 20 If you died with Christ to the way the world thinks and acts, why do you submit to rules and regulations as though you were living in the world? 21 “Don’t handle!” “Don’t taste!” “Don’t touch!” 22 All these things cease to exist when they are used. Such rules are human commandments and teachings. 23 They look like they are wise with this self-made religion and their self-denial by the harsh treatment of the body, but they are no help against indulging in selfish immoral behavior. (Colossians 2:16-23, CEB)

Human rules do not help you over come your selfish immoral behavior.

Only God and being who God created you to be can help you live the life that God intended for you. You can not let others tell you how to live or what to do, only God can do that. Human rules only get in the way of our loving God and God’s creation.

So know that you have died with Christ and the world no longer controls your life, but your life is in the hands of Christ. Live as Christ intended for you to live and share the love that Christ has given to you.

easier

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. (Matthew 9:2-8, CEB)

The interesting thing about this story is that the person healed is no the one who wants or asks to be healed. People brought to Jesus a man lying on a cot. And because of the will of those people to bring this man to Jesus, Jesus heals the man.

You see it is not about our individual faith, but about the faith of the community. We can have faith for the one who can’t.

So when you don’t have the faith, lean on your siblings, and when you see someone struggling, be the faith they need.