Bad Company

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead. He’s the first crop of the harvest of those who have died. Since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came through one too. In the same way that everyone dies in Adam, so also everyone will be given life in Christ. Each event will happen in the right order: Christ, the first crop of the harvest, then those who belong to Christ at his coming, and then the end, when Christ hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he brings every form of rule, every authority and power to an end. It is necessary for him to rule until he puts all enemies under his feet. Death is the last enemy to be brought to an end, since he has brought everything under control under his feet. When it says that everything has been brought under his control, this clearly means everything except for the one who placed everything under his control. But when all things have been brought under his control, then the Son himself will also be under the control of the one who gave him control over everything so that God may be all in all. Otherwise, what are those who are getting baptized for the dead doing? If the dead aren’t raised, then why are they being baptized for them? And what about us? Why are we in danger all day every day? Brothers and sisters, I swear by the pride I have in you in Christ Jesus our Lord, I’m facing death every day. From a human point of view, what good does it do me if I fought wild animals in Ephesus? If the dead aren’t raised, let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we’ll die. Don’t be deceived, bad company corrupts good character. Sober up by acting like you should and don’t sin. Some of you are ignorant about God—I say this because you should be ashamed of yourselves! (1 Corinthians 15:20-34, CEB)

Don’t be deceived, bad company corrupts good character, Paul wrote to the Corinthians.

The people we hang around can change us if we let them. We can not let the world influence us. We need to stand strong in the understanding that we are raised with Christ and a new creation and a light in the darkness.

Do not let those who claim to be followers of Jesus lead you down a path you should not go. Do not let others tell you you are not loved by God when you are.

Those who lead us astray should be ashamed of themselves for preaching a gospel of their own creating or following a person who is not proclaiming God’s love for all. There are no conditions on God’s love and if someone tells you there is, they are not preaching God’s gospel.

Live as the light of God and show the love God gives for everyone.

Do not be Bad Company!

Loving People. Loving God.

Happy…

Jesus came down from the mountain with them and stood on a large area of level ground. A great company of his disciples and a huge crowd of people from all around Judea and Jerusalem and the area around Tyre and Sidon joined him there. They came to hear him and to be healed from their diseases, and those bothered by unclean spirits were healed. The whole crowd wanted to touch him, because power was going out from him and he was healing everyone.

Jesus raised his eyes to his disciples and said:

“Happy are you who are poor,
    because God’s kingdom is yours.
Happy are you who hunger now,
    because you will be satisfied.
Happy are you who weep now,
    because you will laugh.

Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you, and condemn your name as evil because of the Human One. Rejoice when that happens! Leap for joy because you have a great reward in heaven. Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.

But how terrible for you who are rich,
    because you have already received your comfort.
How terrible for you who have plenty now,
    because you will be hungry.
How terrible for you who laugh now,
    because you will mourn and weep.
How terrible for you when all speak well of you.
    Their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets. (Luke 6:17-26, CEB)

What makes you happy?

I know being poor, hungry, or weeping really doesn’t make me happy.

Those things make me wonder how I have messed up and don’t have the resources to get food or help. But is it always my fault?

If you are blessed with resources to get your needs covered and then have a surplus, what should you do?

If you have plenty, invite others or give the plenty away. If you laugh at those who are struggling, you are not loving others.

We need to be a blessing as we have been blessed.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

practice

When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house cleaned up and decorated. 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.” While Jesus was saying these things, a certain woman in the crowd spoke up: “Happy is the mother who gave birth to you and who nursed you.” But he said, “Happy rather are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” (Luke 11:24-28, CEB)

Have you heard about the love of God?

Have you heard the word of God?

Do you put it into practice?

Or do you do what is best for you rather than loving your neighbor and lifting the lowly? Standing for the orphan and the widow, and welcoming the stranger into your midst?

Do we seek to make everyone around us like us or do we live in the diversity of God’s creation?

Put God’s word and the love Jesus showed us into practice.

Loving People. Loving God.

the Lord’s word endures forever

Since you call upon a Father who judges all people according to their actions without favoritism, you should conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your dwelling in a strange land. Live in this way, knowing that you were not liberated by perishable things like silver or gold from the empty lifestyle you inherited from your ancestors. Instead, you were liberated by the precious blood of Christ, like that of a flawless, spotless lamb. Christ was chosen before the creation of the world, but was only revealed at the end of time. This was done for you, who through Christ are faithful to the God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory. So now, your faith and hope should rest in God. As you set yourselves apart by your obedience to the truth so that you might have genuine affection for your fellow believers, love each other deeply and earnestly. Do this because you have been given new birth—not from the type of seed that decays but from seed that doesn’t. This seed is God’s life-giving and enduring word. Thus, All human life on the earth is like grass, and all human glory is like a flower in a field. The grass dries up and its flower falls off, but the Lord’s word endures forever. This is the word that was proclaimed to you as good news. Therefore, get rid of all ill will and all deceit, pretense, envy, and slander. (1 Peter 1:17—2:1, CEB)

We are all merely travelers on the road and none of us belong here. We are all strangers in a strange land and we should conduct ourselves as though that is the truth.

All human life on the earth is like grass, and all human glory is like a flower in a field. The grass dries up and its flower falls off, but the Lord’s word endures forever.

No one will maintain the glory they create for themselves, and it is all fruitless.

We should work for the kingdom of God and love like Jesus loves us, unconditionally.

Loving People. Loving God.

God will win…

“Brothers, children of Abraham’s family, and you Gentile God-worshippers, the message about this salvation has been sent to us. The people in Jerusalem and their leaders didn’t recognize Jesus. By condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Even though they didn’t find a single legal basis for the death penalty, they asked Pilate to have him executed. When they finished doing everything that had been written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead! He appeared over many days to those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people. “We proclaim to you the good news. What God promised to our ancestors, he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it was written in the second psalm, You are my son; today I have become your father. “God raised Jesus from the dead, never again to be subjected to death’s decay. Therefore, God said, I will give to you the holy and firm promises I made to David. (Acts 13:26-34, CEB)

No matter the human plans that go against the will of God, God will win.

Love will win.

We must not lose hope, and focus our lives on Jesus and what he has told us to do.

Love God. Love People. Love neighbor. Do justice, walk humbly, seek to lift the lowly, and be God’s light in the world.

Loving People. Loving God.

Who needs Jesus?

Afterward, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at a kiosk for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Levi got up, left everything behind, and followed him. Then Levi threw a great banquet for Jesus in his home. A large number of tax collectors and others sat down to eat with them. The Pharisees and their legal experts grumbled against his disciples. They said, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn’t come to call righteous people but sinners to change their hearts and lives.” (Luke 5:27-32, CEB)

Those who think they have their lives together need Jesus. Because they judge others and say they are not good enough for Jesus.

None of us are good enough for Jesus. We all fall short and do not deserve to have him in our lives.

When we judge others rather than looking at ourselves, we miss the mark and really need Jesus.

Jesus came to show us how to live and maybe he realized the people that felt the most unloved would actually pick up on the understanding of loving all more than those who really loved themselves.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

who?

This saying is reliable: if anyone has a goal to be a supervisor in the church, they want a good thing. So the church’s supervisor must be without fault. They should be faithful to their spouse, sober, modest, and honest. They should show hospitality and be skilled at teaching. They shouldn’t be addicted to alcohol or be a bully. Instead, they should be gentle, peaceable, and not greedy. They should manage their own household well—they should see that their children are obedient with complete respect, because if they don’t know how to manage their own household, how can they take care of God’s church? They shouldn’t be new believers so that they won’t become proud and fall under the devil’s spell. They should also have a good reputation with those outside the church so that they won’t be embarrassed and fall into the devil’s trap. In the same way, servants in the church should be dignified, not two-faced, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money. They should hold on to the faith that has been revealed with a clear conscience. (1 Timothy 3:1-9, CEB)

According to this, no one can be a supervisor or bishop in the church. No one is without fault.

We are all sinners, and we all seek our own way before God’s way. We all fall short and are not always sober or honest, gentle, and peaceable.

So who can be a bishop? No one according to this, but when we honestly try to follow Jesus and love. Then, maybe we will follow Jesus and love like him.

Loving People. Loving God.

Uhm…

What is the outcome of this, brothers and sisters? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All these things must be done to build up the church. If some speak in a tongue, then let two or at most three speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. However, if there is no interpreter, then they should keep quiet in the meeting. They should speak privately to themselves and to God. In the case of prophets, let two or three speak and have the rest evaluate what is said. And if some revelation comes to someone else who is sitting down, the first one should be quiet. You can all prophesy one at a time so that everyone can learn and be encouraged. The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets. God isn’t a God of disorder but of peace. Like in all the churches of God’s people, the women should be quiet during the meeting. They are not allowed to talk. Instead, they need to get under control, just as the Law says. If they want to learn something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is disgraceful for a woman to talk during the meeting. Did the word of God originate with you? Has it come only to you? If anyone thinks that they are prophets or “spiritual people,” then let them recognize that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command. If someone doesn’t recognize this, they aren’t recognized. So then, brothers and sisters, use your ambition to try to get the gift of prophecy, but don’t prevent speaking in tongues. Everything should be done with dignity and in proper order. (1 Corinthians 14:26-40, CEB)

This reading goes along about prophecy and speaking for God when we get “the women should be quiet during the meeting. They are not allowed to talk. Instead, they need to get under control, just as the Law says. If they want to learn something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is disgraceful for a woman to talk during the meeting.” Out of nowhere! Honestly, why is this here?

If you read this without those verses, and possibly 33b you get:

What is the outcome of this, brothers and sisters? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All these things must be done to build up the church. If some speak in a tongue, then let two or at most three speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. However, if there is no interpreter, then they should keep quiet in the meeting. They should speak privately to themselves and to God. In the case of prophets, let two or three speak and have the rest evaluate what is said. And if some revelation comes to someone else who is sitting down, the first one should be quiet. You can all prophesy one at a time so that everyone can learn and be encouraged. The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets. God isn’t a God of disorder but of peace. Did the word of God originate with you? Has it come only to you? If anyone thinks that they are prophets or “spiritual people,” then let them recognize that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command. If someone doesn’t recognize this, they aren’t recognized. So then, brothers and sisters, use your ambition to try to get the gift of prophecy, but don’t prevent speaking in tongues. Everything should be done with dignity and in proper order.

A section about prophecy without an interjection of hatred on women in the middle. God’s word did not come from us, so we do not get to decide what is in and what is out, or who is in or show is out. It is clear from the whole of scripture that women were leaders in the church. Paul lifts up many women in the final chapters of his letters, so why would he say here that women must be quiet in church and learn from their husbands at home?

We know God created all of us to be his people, and gender, or nationality, or social status does not change that.

Read all of scripture and see what it says, and ask others. And when you read scripture, read it through the lense of love, love of God, and love of neighbor and see how that reads.

Loving People. Loving God.

I’m a sinner

One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.” So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink. When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught. James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus. (Luke 5:1-11, CEB)

After the catch Peter was overwhelmed and did not feel as if he could be in the presence of Jesus.

None of us are worthy of being in Jesus’ presence, we are all sinners and all fall short of what he called us to do.

But always remember, Satan knows you name and calls you by your sins, and God knows your sins and calls you by your name.

Never fail to try and love as Jesus does.

Loving People. Loving God.

Keep going…

When daybreak arrived, Jesus went to a deserted place. The crowds were looking for him. When they found him, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of God’s kingdom in other cities too, for this is why I was sent.” So he continued preaching in the Judean synagogues. (Luke 4:42-44, CEB)

Do not let others keep you from doing what God has sent you to do.

We can not let others get in the way of the message of God.

Jesus gave you a message. Do not let anyone keep you from giving that message.

Loving People. Loving God.