hope in Jesus

13 When God gave Abraham his promise, he swore by himself since he couldn’t swear by anyone greater. 14 He said, I will certainly bless you and multiply your descendants.[a] 15 So Abraham obtained the promise by showing patience. 16 People pledge by something greater than themselves. A solemn pledge guarantees what they say and shuts down any argument. 17 When God wanted to further demonstrate to the heirs of the promise that his purpose doesn’t change, he guaranteed it with a solemn pledge. 18 So these are two things that don’t change, because it’s impossible for God to lie. He did this so that we, who have taken refuge in him, can be encouraged to grasp the hope that is lying in front of us. 19 This hope, which is a safe and secure anchor for our whole being, enters the sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 That’s where Jesus went in advance and entered for us, since he became a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:13-20. CEB)

Abraham received the promise because he believed what God was telling him and his life was proof of that.

You see as the text says it is impossible for God to lie, therefore what God has told us is true and will come to be if it already hasn’t.

In this, we can take refuge and solace. God’s promises are true.

We have a hope in Jesus that will not disappoint.

Listen

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. 5 God didn’t put the world that is coming (the world we are talking about) under the angels’ control. 6 Instead, someone declared somewhere, What is humanity that you think about them? Or what are the human beings that you care about them?  7 For a while you made them lower than angels. You crowned the human beings with glory and honor. 8 You put everything under their control. When he puts everything under their control, he doesn’t leave anything out of control. But right now, we don’t see everything under their control yet. 9 However, we do see the one who was made lower in order than the angels for a little while—it’s Jesus! He’s the one who is now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of his death. He suffered death so that he could taste death for everyone through God’s grace. (Hebrews 2:1-9, CEB)

We need to make sure that we are in tune with what God is sending us.

You see we are in control of what happens here in this world, and we need to follow after what God has advised us to do.

So we need to use the gifts we have been given and listen to the moving of the Spirit and follow where we are led, so that God’s will can be done in and through our lives so that God’s mercy and grace may be obtained by all.

We need to listen and do.

We need to listen and go.

We need to listen and love.

We need to listen.

secrets from heaven

10 Jesus’ disciples came and said to him, “Why do you use parables when you speak to the crowds?” 11 Jesus replied, “Because they haven’t received the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but you have. 12 For those who have will receive more and they will have more than enough. But as for those who don’t have, even the little they have will be taken away from them. 13 This is why I speak to the crowds in parables: although they see, they don’t really see; and although they hear, they don’t really hear or understand.14 What Isaiah prophesied has become completely true for them: You will hear, to be sure, but never understand; and you will certainly see but never recognize what you are seeing. 15 For this people’s senses have become calloused, and they’ve become hard of hearing, and they’ve shut their eyes so that they won’t see with their eyes or hear with their ears or understand with their minds, and change their hearts and lives that I may heal them. 16 “Happy are your eyes because they see. Happy are your ears because they hear. 17 I assure you that many prophets and righteous people wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but they didn’t. (Matthew 13:10-17, CEB)

I read this and think this is the time we are living in. People talk but others don’t hear what they are saying they hear what they want to hear and they see what they want to see.

Happy are we when we let ourselves be open to hear and to see what is being given to us. When we can see things as they are and not as we want them to be.

We know that God is in control so even if the times are bad, we are still in good hands.

The old and new life

17 So I’m telling you this, and I insist on it in the Lord: you shouldn’t live your life like the Gentiles anymore. They base their lives on pointless thinking, 18 and they are in the dark in their reasoning. They are disconnected from God’s life because of their ignorance and their closed hearts. 19 They are people who lack all sense of right and wrong, and who have turned themselves over to doing whatever feels good and to practicing every sort of corruption along with greed. 20 But you didn’t learn that sort of thing from Christ. 21 Since you really listened to him and you were taught how the truth is in Jesus,22 change the former way of life that was part of the person you once were, corrupted by deceitful desires. 23 Instead, renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit 24 and clothe yourself with the new person created according to God’s image in justice and true holiness. 25 Therefore, after you have gotten rid of lying, Each of you must tell the truth to your neighbor because we are parts of each other in the same body. 26 Be angry without sinning. Don’t let the sun set on your anger. 27 Don’t provide an opportunity for the devil. 28 Thieves should no longer steal. Instead, they should go to work, using their hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need. 29 Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say. 30 Don’t make the Holy Spirit of God unhappy—you were sealed by him for the day of redemption.31 Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. 32 Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ. Therefore, imitate God like dearly loved children. 2 Live your life with love, following the example of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us. He was a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God. (Ephesians 4:17-5:2, CEB)

In Christ, we are new creatures. We have our old life before we knew Jesus and our new life which is life in Christ.

We need to love all, and when we are angry we need to make amends before the day is over, to not let animosity build and evil to take a foot hold.

We need to show the love that God gave to us in Jesus by accepting us as we were and loving us into a relationship with God.

Do not let your old life keep you down, but let your new life shine as the sun and show the world the love of God.

 

Living that pleases God

So then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to keep living the way you already are and even do better in how you live and please God—just as you learned from us. 2 You know the instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 God’s will is that your lives are dedicated to him. This means that you stay away from sexual immorality 4 and learn how to control your own body in a pure and respectable way. 5 Don’t be controlled by your sexual urges like the Gentiles who don’t know God. 6 No one should mistreat or take advantage of their brother or sister in this issue. The Lord punishes people for all these things, as we told you before and sternly warned you. 7 God didn’t call us to be immoral but to be dedicated to him.8 Therefore, whoever rejects these instructions isn’t rejecting a human authority. They are rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, CEB)

What is it in your life that controls you?

Is there something that drives what you do?

Here Paul talks to the Thessalonians about not letting sexual urges control you or to take the place of God.

We need to not control others with this issue either.

We are to let God be the main driving force in our lives and nothing else.

So live for God and allow God’s love to shine in and through your life.

Parable of soil

That day Jesus went out of the house and sat down beside the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he climbed into a boat and sat down. The whole crowd was standing on the shore. 3 He said many things to them in parables: “A farmer went out to scatter seed. 4 As he was scattering seed, some fell on the path, and birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. They sprouted immediately because the soil wasn’t deep.6 But when the sun came up, it scorched the plants, and they dried up because they had no roots. 7 Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorny plants grew and choked them. 8 Other seed fell on good soil and bore fruit, in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one.9 Everyone who has ears should pay attention.” 18 “Consider then the parable of the farmer. 19 Whenever people hear the word about the kingdom and don’t understand it, the evil one comes and carries off what was planted in their hearts. This is the seed that was sown on the path. 20 As for the seed that was spread on rocky ground, this refers to people who hear the word and immediately receive it joyfully. 21 Because they have no roots, they last for only a little while. When they experience distress or abuse because of the word, they immediately fall away. 22 As for the seed that was spread among thorny plants, this refers to those who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the false appeal of wealth choke the word, and it bears no fruit. 23 As for what was planted on good soil, this refers to those who hear and understand, and bear fruit and produce—in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one.” (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, CEB)

Sometimes we are not ready to hear what God has to tell us. We are not open or cultivated to accept what we need to get from God.

Jesus talks about this in a way those around him would hear and understand. Even though it seems they don’t get it.

So my thoughts from this are how can we prepare ourselves to be ready and open to hearing what God has for us, so when the seed is sown it is accepted and the roots have a good place to take and to grow?

How can we make ourselves more open to the leading of God?

How can we be good soil?

Lord always let our hearts be good soil for the hearing of your word and the moving of your love.

keep my words

44 Jesus shouted, “Whoever believes in me doesn’t believe in me but in the one who sent me. 45 Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.46 I have come as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in me won’t live in darkness. 47 If people hear my words and don’t keep them, I don’t judge them. I didn’t come to judge the world but to save it.48 Whoever rejects me and doesn’t receive my words will be judged at the last day by the word I have spoken. 49 I don’t speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me regarding what I should speak and say. 50 I know that his commandment is eternal life. Therefore, whatever I say is just as the Father has said to me.” (John 12:44-50, CEB)

Jesus says here that he came to save the world not to judge it. He doesn’t speak his own words but the words of the Father.

If you hear Jesus’ words is better than rejecting Jesus. If you reject Jesus and don’t hear his words you will be judged.

So listen to Jesus and try to do what he asks. Allow Him to work in and through your life and to show you the love and grace that comes from the Father.

Keep his words and allow them to permeate your life.

And in that, you will be saved.

understand

14 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and are able to teach each other. 15 But I’ve written to you in a sort of daring way, partly to remind you of what you already know. I’m writing to you in this way because of the grace that was given to me by God. 16 It helps me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I’m working as a priest of God’s gospel so that the offering of the Gentiles can be acceptable and made holy by the Holy Spirit. 17 So in Christ Jesus I brag about things that have to do with God. 18 I don’t dare speak about anything except what Christ has done through me to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles. He did it by what I’ve said and what I’ve done, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. So I’ve completed the circuit of preaching Christ’s gospel from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. 20 In this way, I have a goal to preach the gospel where they haven’t heard of Christ yet, so that I won’t be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Instead, as it’s written, Those who hadn’t been told about him will see, and those who hadn’t heard will understand. (Romans 15:14-21, CEB)

You are all able to teach others about the love that God has given you.

You can share the knowledge of God and how God’s love has changed your life.

In doing this you will help those who do not understand or haven’t heard about God.

You can make a difference in the world by sharing what God has given you.

judged

12 Those who have sinned outside the Law will also die outside the Law, and those who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law.13 It isn’t the ones who hear the Law who are righteous in God’s eyes. It is the ones who do what the Law says who will be treated as righteous.14 Gentiles don’t have the Law. But when they instinctively do what the Law requires they are a Law in themselves, though they don’t have the Law. 15 They show the proof of the Law written on their hearts, and their consciences affirm it. Their conflicting thoughts will accuse them, or even make a defense for them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the hidden truth about human beings through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:12-16, CEB)

Most of us reading this are Gentiles. Meaning we are not Jewish by birth or by conversion. So we do not have the Law, but when we do what the Law says we show that the Law was written on our hearts, and it is not about being under the Law or having the Law, but by doing what the law says we show ourselves to be righteous. This does not attain us access to God, only the blood of Jesus and the relationship that brings can do that, but we show our faithfulness that even by not having the Law but still doing the Law.

We are judged righteous when we do the Law by God, not when we hear it, or read it, or know it. When we do it. It is not enough for us to know it, and we don’t even have to know it, we just have to do it.

And the big question here is what is the law? Is it all 600 some rules in Leviticus? Is it the 10 Commandments, and if the 10 Commandments is it the Hebrew Scripture version, or is it the reinterpretation of Jesus? Or is it the Laws that Jesus said where the 2 most important, on which Jesus said hang the whole of the Hebrew Scriptures, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul and your mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself.

I know which I think it is, but it doesn’t really say.

So which Law is it?

Foot Washing

Before the Festival of Passover, Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them fully. 2 Jesus and his disciples were sharing the evening meal. The devil had already provoked Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew the Father had given everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God. 4 So he got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing. 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand what I’m doing now, but you will understand later.” 8 “No!” Peter said. “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t have a place with me.” 9 Simon Peter said, “Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus responded, “Those who have bathed need only to have their feet washed, because they are completely clean. You disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 He knew who would betray him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you is clean.” 12 After he washed the disciples’ feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. He said to them, “Do you know what I’ve done for you? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am. 14 If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do. 16 I assure you, servants aren’t greater than their master, nor are those who are sent greater than the one who sent them. 17 Since you know these things, you will be happy if you do them. (John 13:1-17, CEB)

Unless I wash you you have no place with me…

What would you have done if you had walked with Jesus for 3 years and then one night at dinner he takes off his outer robe and ties a towel around his waist, and gets a bowl of water and comes and starts washing your feet? The job of a servant? The man who you have been following as teacher and master is now doing the role of a servant.

I assume I would have been much like Peter, saying something like what are you doing, you are not our servant, we should be serving you. This is not your place.

Because much like Peter, I think I have it all figured out and know what is best, and then God/Jesus steps says, “we are going to do it this way.”

We need to realize that God is in control and we don’t get to say what happens, we are along for the ride. And what a ride it will be if we can let go and let God have control.

So be the servant, and let others serve you, and follow where Jesus leads.