Reformation Day

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)

The Law can not save us.

Our good works can not save us.

We all fall short of the mark God has set for us to hit. We all seek our own lifting up and forget about others.

Jesus stood in the gap and taught us how to live

Do we live that way?

How can you love like Jesus and make the world a better place?

Loving People. Loving God.

Why?

As Jesus and his disciples were going out of Jericho a large crowd followed him. When two blind men sitting along the road heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Show us mercy, Lord, Son of David!” Now the crowd scolded them and told them to be quiet. But they shouted even louder, “Show us mercy, Lord, Son of David!” Jesus stopped in his tracks and called to them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord, we want to see,” they replied. Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they were able to see, and they followed him. (Matthew 20:29-34, CEB)

I have always wondered why people or the disciples would stop people who wanted to be healed from crying out to Jesus.

Now I assume it is because they were outside the city because they were diseased and if someone came close to them they could get the disease and people or the disciples didn’t want Jesus to get the disease. But the disciples saw all the healings Jesus did and the people if they didn’t see them had heard about them, so this excuse only works so far.

Why didn’t they want others to be healed?

Do we not want some to be healed, or a part of the community?

Who would we stop from calling out to Jesus?

Don’t stop anyone.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Miracle

As Peter toured the whole region, he went to visit God’s holy people in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed.” At once he got up. Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. (Acts 9:32-35, CEB)

I would say that the miracle was probably more that he made the bed, but we don’t get confirmation that he did! Just kidding.

Why don’t we see miracles like this anymore?

I would actually argue we do, we call it medicine. Or you hear the story of the person who has some disease and they go to the doctor for an update and the disease is gone.

Miracles happen all around us, we just choose not to see them.

Help people see the love of God.

Loving People. Loving God.

desire

Therefore, get rid of all ill will and all deceit, pretense, envy, and slander. Instead, like a newborn baby, desire the pure milk of the word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good. 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. 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. 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. So God honors you who believe. For those who refuse to believe, though, the stone the builders tossed aside has become the capstone. 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. 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. 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 2:1-10, CEB)

What do you desire?

The author of this passage tells us to desire the pure milk of the word. To live our lives based on the word we get from God.

We should put aside all deceit, pretense, envy, and slander, and seek only what God has for us. We should not focus on our wants and what would fulfil us and us any means necessary to get that, but we should focus on what God is leading us to be and do and do that.

We will be building the kingdom of God when we desire to follow God.

We will build the kingdom of God, when we see like God, love like Jesus, and desire the pure milk of the word from God.

Loving People. Loving God.

cry out to Jesus

Jesus and his followers came into Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho, together with his disciples and a sizable crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, Timaeus’ son, was sitting beside the road. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was there, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy!” Many scolded him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, show me mercy!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him forward.” They called the blind man, “Be encouraged! Get up! He’s calling you.” Throwing his coat to the side, he jumped up and came to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Teacher, I want to see.” Jesus said, “Go, your faith has healed you.” At once he was able to see, and he began to follow Jesus on the way. (Mark 10:46-52, CEB)

Blind man sat by the road and he cried
Blind man sat by the road and he cried
Blind man sat by the road and he cried
Show me the way…

We all need Jesus to help us see. Do we ask Jesus, “Teacher, I want to see!”

Do not fear what you will see, for Jesus will still be with you.

When we see the world as Jesus does, we will live as he taught us to.

Love like Jesus. See like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

walking trees…

Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch and heal him. Taking the blind man’s hand, Jesus led him out of the village. After spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on the man, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” The man looked up and said, “I see people. They look like trees, only they are walking around.” Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again. He looked with his eyes wide open, his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly. Then Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t go into the village!” (Mark 8:22-26, CEB)

This is always an interesting passage.

Jesus didn’t get it right the first time and the blind man saw walking trees. It took a second touch for him to see.

I wonder how many times Jesus would need to touch me in order for me to see?

And not see, but see like Jesus sees, or God sees.

What would the world be like if we saw people as God sees them?

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

a better covenant

So if perfection came through the levitical office of priest (for the people received the Law under the priests), why was there still a need to speak about raising up another priest according to the order of Melchizedek rather than one according to the order of Aaron? When the order of the priest changes, there has to be a change in the Law as well. The person we are talking about belongs to another tribe, and no one ever served at the altar from that tribe. It’s clear that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, but Moses never said anything about priests from that tribe. And it’s even clearer if another priest appears who is like Melchizedek. He has become a priest by the power of a life that can’t be destroyed, rather than a legal requirement about physical descent. This is confirmed:

You are a priest forever,
        according to the order of Melchizedek.

On the one hand, an earlier command is set aside because it was weak and useless (because the Law made nothing perfect). On the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And this was not done without a solemn pledge! The others have become priests without a solemn pledge, but this priest was affirmed with a solemn pledge by the one who said,

The Lord has made a solemn pledge
        and will not change his mind:
You are a priest forever.

As a result, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. (Hebrews 7:11-22, CEB)

Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

The covenant where all are part.

Jesus is a priest forever, and God will not change their mind.

This covenant will not be broken or changed.

Know you are loved and a part of the covenant.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Without

This Melchizedek, who was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the defeat of the kings, and Melchizedek blessed him. Abraham gave a tenth of everything to him. His name means first “king of righteousness,” and then “king of Salem,” that is, “king of peace.” He is without father or mother or any family. He has no beginning or end of life, but he’s like God’s Son and remains a priest for all time. See how great Melchizedek was! Abraham, the father of the people, gave him a tenth of everything he captured. The descendants of Levi who receive the office of priest have a commandment under the Law to collect a tenth of everything from the people who are their brothers and sisters, though they also are descended from Abraham. But Melchizedek, who isn’t related to them, received a tenth of everything from Abraham and blessed the one who had received the promises. Without question, the less important person is blessed by the more important person. In addition, in one case a tenth is received by people who die, and in the other case, the tenth is received by someone who continues to live, according to the record. It could be said that Levi, who received a tenth, paid a tenth through Abraham because he was still in his ancestor’s body when Abraham paid the tenth to Melchizedek. (Hebrews 7:1-10, CEB)

Melchizedek is without mother or father. He has no beginning or ending. He is like God’s son and remains a priest for all time.

He has no family.

I think about those who have been disowned by their blood family for being who God made them to be. Those who wander and feel like they have nowhere to be, nowhere they are loved.

How do we tell them, so they hear, God loves them and has never forsaken them?

How do we show them, they are not without?

Share love. Helping those who wander and feel alone to know they are not without.

Loving People. Loving God.

Serve

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. Jesus and his disciples were sharing the evening meal. The devil had already provoked Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew the Father had given everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God. So he got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand what I’m doing now, but you will understand later.” “No!” Peter said. “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t have a place with me.” Simon Peter said, “Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head!” 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.” He knew who would betray him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you is clean.” 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? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am. If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do. I assure you, servants aren’t greater than their master, nor are those who are sent greater than the one who sent them. Since you know these things, you will be happy if you do them. (John 13:1-17, CEB)

Jesus said to them, “Do you know what I’ve done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am. If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do. I assure you, servants aren’t greater than their master, nor are those who are sent greater than the one who sent them. Since you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.

Jesus was their teacher and yet he washed their feet, the job of a servant. And after doing this he told them that he had given them an example of how they are to live. They are to be servants of all, as we are to be servants of all.

No one is greater than anyone else, we are all children of God and heirs of the kingdom.

So live like Jesus and serve.

Loving People. Loving God.

Promise

When God gave Abraham his promise, he swore by himself since he couldn’t swear by anyone greater. He said, I will certainly bless you and multiply your descendants. So Abraham obtained the promise by showing patience. People pledge by something greater than themselves. A solemn pledge guarantees what they say and shuts down any argument. 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. 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. This hope, which is a safe and secure anchor for our whole being, enters the sanctuary behind the curtain. 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)

God gave a promise to Abraham.

God gave a promise to us.

God will not back out of the promise.

No matter what anyone else says or does, God’s promises hold true.

Trust in God.

Loving People. Loving God.