aSacredRebel

All Saints Day

We have also received an inheritance in Christ. We were destined by the plan of God, who accomplishes everything according to his design. We are called to be an honor to God’s glory because we were the first to hope in Christ. You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ. The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, which is applied toward our redemption as God’s own people, resulting in the honor of God’s glory. Since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, this is the reason that I don’t stop giving thanks to God for you when I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you. I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers. This power is conferred by the energy of God’s powerful strength. God’s power was at work in Christ when God raised him from the dead and sat him at God’s right side in the heavens, far above every ruler and authority and power and angelic power, any power that might be named not only now but in the future. God put everything under Christ’s feet and made him head of everything in the church, which is his body. His body, the church, is the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:11-23, CEB)

The body of Christ is the fullness of Christ and God’s hands and feet in this world.

We have heard the truth and are the ones to be grace, mercy, and love to the world. We are God’s children and made saints through Their grace.

Saints are not super followers, but all of us. We are all made saints and sent to give grace, mercy, and love to the world.

So go, you saint of God and love like Jesus.

Reformation

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, in order to shut every mouth and make it so the whole world has to answer to God. It follows that no human being will be treated as righteous in his presence by doing what the Law says, because the knowledge of sin comes through the Law. But now God’s righteousness has been revealed apart from the Law, which is confirmed by the Law and the Prophets. God’s righteousness comes through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who have faith in him. There’s no distinction. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, but all are treated as righteous freely by his grace because of a ransom that was paid by Christ Jesus. Through his faithfulness, God displayed Jesus as the place of sacrifice where mercy is found by means of his blood. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness in passing over sins that happened before, during the time of God’s patient tolerance. He also did this to demonstrate that he is righteous in the present time, and to treat the one who has faith in Jesus as righteous. What happens to our bragging? It’s thrown out. With which law? With what we have accomplished under the Law? No, not at all, but through the law of faith. We consider that a person is treated as righteous by faith, apart from what is accomplished under the Law. (Romans 3:19-28, CEB)

Martin Luther posted 95 Theses against indulgences on the Wittenberg Church door on the night before All Saints Day in 1517. Now, some historians say that Martin actually sent them in a letter and did not post them, but there is a handwritten note by Luther’s secretary, Georg Rörer, which was found later, that states that Luther “nailed theses about letters of indulgence to the doors of the Wittenberg churches on the evening before All Saints’ Day in 1517”. He may not have nailed them to the door but he posted them all the same.

Luther had been reading and discovered the bible said we did not achieve heaven through our works, or by paying the church to build a beautiful building. It was based upon the grace that came through the faithfulness of Christ. This is what saved us, and not completing works of the law.

We are made righteous by God and not by anything we do.

This does not mean we should do nothing. We must love as we are loved, for that is what God’s love leads us to.

Do not have faith in the law, but live in grace and love as you are loved.

comfort

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother. To God’s church that is in Corinth, along with all of God’s people throughout Achaia. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! He is the compassionate Father and God of all comfort. He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God. That is because we receive so much comfort through Christ in the same way that we share so many of Christ’s sufferings. So if we have trouble, it is to bring you comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is to bring you comfort from the experience of endurance while you go through the same sufferings that we also suffer. Our hope for you is certain, because we know that as you are partners in suffering, so also you are partners in comfort. Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be unaware of the troubles that we went through in Asia. We were weighed down with a load of suffering that was so far beyond our strength that we were afraid we might not survive. It certainly seemed to us as if we had gotten the death penalty. This was so that we would have confidence in God, who raises the dead, instead of ourselves. God rescued us from a terrible death, and he will rescue us. We have set our hope on him that he will rescue us again, since you are helping with your prayer for us. Then many people can thank God on our behalf for the gift that was given to us through the prayers of many people. (2 Corinthians 1:1-11, CEB)

God, who has comforted us in our troubles, wants us to be comfort for others in their troubles.

We can be a comfort to others by loving them. By not trying to fix their issues, but walking with them, and letting them know they are not alone. By loving them as they are and not judging them for bad choices or decisions, because we have all made bad choices or decisions.

We need to love as we are loved and comfort as we have been comforted.

Comfort all, as you have been comforted.

which one?

“What do you think? A man had two sons. Now he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ “‘No, I don’t want to,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went. “The father said the same thing to the other son, who replied, ‘Yes, sir.’ But he didn’t go. “Which one of these two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first one.” Jesus said to them, “I assure you that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering God’s kingdom ahead of you. For John came to you on the righteous road, and you didn’t believe him. But tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. Yet even after you saw this, you didn’t change your hearts and lives and you didn’t believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32, CEB)

“Which one of these two did his father’s will?”

Well, I guess technically the first one did because he did go and work in the vineyard, but I actually say he did not do it, because he told the father no. He did not do what the father wanted him to when the father asked.

That is why tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom sooner. Because they heard what needed to be done and did it. While we hear what needs to be done and complain about it because it doesn’t fit our scenario.

So which one will you be? A son that doesn’t listen and complains about what needs to be done, or a tax collector/prostitute that follows Jesus?

examples

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: 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. Don’t shepherd by ruling over those entrusted to your care, but become examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory. 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. Therefore, humble yourselves under God’s power so that he may raise you up in the last day. Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you. Be clearheaded. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. Do so in the knowledge that your fellow believers are enduring the same suffering throughout the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, the one who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you. To him be power forever and always. Amen. (1 Peter 5:1-11, CEB)

I urge the elders: Like shepherds, tend the flock among you. Watch over it and do so eagerly. You are entrusted leaders, and lead by example. Show love in all you do and do not hoard power or yield power to make people do your will, but lead them to show forth the love of God in every and all actions.

Humble yourselves and submit to God, and lead the people by showing them how God loves.

Love like Jesus. And lead with integrity, by being an example of what God is to you.

suffering

Dear friends, don’t be surprised about the fiery trials that have come among you to test you. These are not strange happenings. Instead, rejoice as you share Christ’s suffering. You share his suffering now so that you may also have overwhelming joy when his glory is revealed. If you are mocked because of Christ’s name, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory—indeed, the Spirit of God—rests on you. Now none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or evildoer or rebel. But don’t be ashamed if you suffer as one who belongs to Christ. Rather, honor God as you bear Christ’s name. Give honor to God, because it’s time for judgment to begin with God’s own household. But if judgment starts with us, what will happen to those who refuse to believe God’s good news? If the righteous are barely rescued, what will happen to the godless and sinful? So then, those who suffer because they follow God’s will should commit their lives to a trustworthy creator by doing what is right. (1 Peter 4:12-19, CEB)

We all as Christians have thought about how we suffer for our faith. Some of us say we suffer when actually we are just having to deal with the fact that people will not ned over and give us what we want because we say we are Christians.

And saying one is Christian does not actually mean one is a follower of Jesus. Going into a sanctuary and staying for a worship service or returning weekly for worship does not make one a Christian, any more than standing in a garage makes one a car. And suffering in the sense of the reading is not because we do not get our way.

Suffering, according to the reading, is actually loving as Jesus does and welcoming all, and getting hit by the stones being thrown by those claiming to follow God.

Love like Jesus and follow the path of inclusion and be prepared to get hit by a stone.

Reformation Sunday

Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They responded, “We are Abraham’s children; we’ve never been anyone’s slaves. How can you say that we will be set free?” Jesus answered, “I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. A slave isn’t a permanent member of the household, but a son is. Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you really will be free. (John 8:31-36, CEB)

We have never been anyone’s slaves…

While this is probably true for those speaking this day to Jesus, their ancestors were slaves in Egypt. We remember the things we want to remember and forget those that make us look bad. But here is the thing: God loves us and knows everything about us, even those things we forgot or want to forget.

And here is the other thing, actually, all of us are slaves to something. Money, wealth, our houses, our cars, our need for more. We are all held in bondage to something we need to release, let go of and give ourselves completely to God.

Something in our life is a hold back that keeps us from following God completely and that is our sin, our thing that enslaves us.

What enslaves you?

What do you need to release, to follow God completely?

who I am

Mary said,
“With all my heart I glorify the Lord!
    In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.
He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.
    Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored
        because the mighty one has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.
    He shows mercy to everyone,
        from one generation to the next,
        who honors him as God.
He has shown strength with his arm.
    He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.
    He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones
        and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away empty-handed.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
        remembering his mercy,
    just as he promised to our ancestors,
        to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”
(Luke 1:46-55, CEB)

Mary sang how the glory of God was what made her be who she was.

That God was her savior and that she was lifted by God.

God shows this same mercy to everyone. God gives strength to those who need it. God helps those who need it and fills the hungry with good things.

God is always there for you. And we, like Mary, need to hold in the depths of our hearts a rejoicing in God. For God made us who we are, and that is a beautiful thing.

Be proud of who I am. God made you, and God is proud of you.

deceive

But you have paid attention to my teaching, conduct, purpose, faithfulness, patience, love, and endurance. You have seen me experience physical abuse and ordeals in places such as Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I put up with all sorts of abuse, and the Lord rescued me from it all! In fact, anyone who wants to live a holy life in Christ Jesus will be harassed. But evil people and swindlers will grow even worse, as they deceive others while being deceived themselves. But you must continue with the things you have learned and found convincing. You know who taught you. Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures that help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:10-15, CEB)

Who is deceiving us today?

Or who deceives you?

Deceive means “to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid.” Many are saying, “You can’t make this up,” while making things up and passing them off as facts. The current leader of the United States said they were going to lower drug prices by over 100%. This means we would be paid to take those drugs, but this has not happened and drug prices along with many other items costs are going up. We are being deceived to believe that we are doing great when we are not.

Lies do not make a person great. Being a person of integrity is what makes one great. Do not be deceived.

Live a life that honors God by being a person of integrity and do not deceive others.

obvious…

Understand that the last days will be dangerous times. People will be selfish and love money. They will be the kind of people who brag and who are proud. They will slander others, and they will be disobedient to their parents. They will be ungrateful, unholy, unloving, contrary, and critical. They will be without self-control and brutal, and they won’t love what is good. They will be people who are disloyal, reckless, and conceited. They will love pleasure instead of loving God. They will look like they are religious but deny God’s power. Avoid people like this. Some will slither into households and control immature women who are burdened with sins and driven by all kinds of desires. These women are always learning, but they can never arrive at an understanding of the truth. These people oppose the truth in the same way that Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. Their minds are corrupt and their faith is counterfeit. But they won’t get very far. Their foolishness will become obvious to everyone like those others. (2 Timothy 3:1-9, CEB)

What is obvious?

Merriam-Webster defines obvious as “easily discovered, seen, or understood.” But this is still vague. There are people who say something is obvious when others do not see it or understand it. For instance, a lot of people are saying you can’t make this stuff up on the internet while saying things that are completely made up. It is obvious to them what is correct, but to me, it is obvious that they are not seeing things clearly, so which of us do not get it?

People need to do research and be open to learning things that are different from what they think is right to expand their understanding and grow into a better human for all of society, rather than just cling to what they were taught and not let go regardless of facts or new ideas.

Do not be stuck in what you were taught; be open to learning and growing.