harmony

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. For “Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:8-12, NRSV)

We need to live in harmony.

Harmony is not something we find after we have all become exactly like each other and believe the same things, and all think and act alike.

Harmony is how we live with those we do not agree with. Showing them love even when we can not stand the way they act, or handle situations.

Harmony is a state of mind and being. A way we show love to those we do not want to give love.

Harmony is repaying evil with blessing and showing the love that you received when God loved you…

maintain…

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6, NRSV)

The writer of Ephesians tells us that he is a prisoner in the Lord. Paul was held in prison and still maintained his relationships with the congregations he helped to start.

He maintained contact with those who he helped to understand the love of Christ and the life they could have in Jesus.

He called those who he knew to a higher place in the relationships they were in . Even when they disagreed, they still were united in the Spirit, in the one body of Christ.

We need to live our life worthy of being called brothers and sisters with Christ, living to a higher standard, and bearing one another in love.

Do not let the world have any hold or anything against us for not being like Christ, but maintain the unity of the Spirit…

I AM

Again he said to them, “I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” Then the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” They said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him. (John 8:21-30, NRSV)

“for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” This is an interesting statement which we read and understand one way thanks to the translators…

And the response is equally interesting, “Who are you?” Now why would the Jews ask this question when Jesus said, “for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he?”

They were asking “Who are you?” Because Jesus said “for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am.” You see in the Greek there is nothing that says he after Jesus says ἐγώ εἰμι (I am). And ἐγώ εἰμι is what God says to Moses when Moses asks Him what he should tell people when they ask who sent him. ἐγώ εἰμι is I am and that is the name of God.

Jesus said “You will die in your sins if you do not believe I am God!”

So do you?

And if you do what are you doing about it?

Eternal life…

The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath. (John 3:31-36, NRSV)

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life…

But whoever disobeys the Son will not see life…

I read these statements as being contradictory…

You see I believe in the Son. So according to the first part of the statement, I have eternal life. However I have disobeyed the Son. So according tot he second hafl of the statement I will not see life…

So which is it?

Then I did a search on eternal life and I found this picture…

In my understanding I see a man who is looking towards the cross and therefore going after Jesus. He is leaving the world behind to go to God. But the bible and Jesus never said to remove yourself from the world. We are to be in the world but not of the world. We are to know that Son and the truth that He gives us and use what He has given us in the world.

We are His witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the entire world! We are not called to turn away from the world, but to live in and show forth the light of Christ that shines in us.

So maybe us thinking we need to remove ourselves from the world is not doing what God has put us here to do and is removing us from life…

We need to boldly go into the world and hear His words and hold tight to His promises and show the world how much God loves them!

Grow as you go

Gather ~ Grow ~ Go
Now is the time to GROW!
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)
According to Charis’ teacher it is past time to be planting here, “if this was a usual May.” We all know this was not a usual May…
So maybe we are behind doing what we need to be doing…
But my thoughts are to warmer days ahead and a wonderful time of vacation from school and a summer full of fun and time in the sun!
This is not a bad thing to have on the radar screen as we head into the months ahead. But it could be bad if we forget what we are about, people of St. John’s…
You see I have our mission statement at the top of this, Gather ~ Grow ~ Go. This summer we might miss some gathering, and that is ok. We all need time away and I will be away some times during our gatherings. That is life and we need that time with our families.
We will be going this summer to many places, and hopefully being true witnesses to the love we have received.
But in the midst of all this going, we can still be growing! Now is the time to set our sights upon God and to discover how we will stay connected as we work towards being disconnected!
We need to always be seeking how we will be growing in the grace and knowledge of God. If you need some help see me before you go this summer! But I pray you will be connected to God as you disconnect to recharge in these months ahead!

Overheard

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. (John 17:1-11, NRSV)

“Lord teach us to pray…” Is a line we do not see in the Gospel of John.

Could this be the Lord’s Prayer in John?

But think about it for a moment…

Jesus is with His disciples teaching them… Then there is the washing of the feet (chapter 13) and the new commandment…

And the teaching continues…

And then Jesus is praying!

He did not go any where, the disciples are still with Him! They are hearing everything He is saying in this prayer.

In John chapter 17, we hear Jesus’ prayer before His arrest, and the disciples are right there with him, all of them! They are not away on a rock sleeping while He is off alone praying, they are hearing His conversation with the Father!

So Jesus shows us that prayer is nothing more than a conversation, and in that not a private one, but one made known to all. It is a way to show others the love He has for them and the love God has for them, and who they are. Jesus shows us that prayer isn’t always about us, but it is always about God and who we are and who those around us are in Him.

So listen and speak, and talk to God and don’t worry about who is or is not listening. But know when you do speak to Him that He is always listening and eager to hear you!

 

Sing!

But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy. Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds his name is the LORD be exultant before him. Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. (Psalm 68:3-5, NRSV)

Be joyful and give praise to God.

Be over flowing with joy and have that come bubbling out of your life as singing!

Sing praises to His name, and lift up a song to God who is your shelter and protection. Who looks over us and watches our moves, and takes care of those who have no one to care for them from His dwelling place.

Allow your joy and praise of Him who loves you be known! Sing praises to Him and let all peoples hear your exuberance for Him!

Sing to the Lord!

boldness

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16, NRSV)

Jesus has been here and been through the struggles that we go through.

He has seen you at your worst and still loves you and still calls you His. He is your way to approach the throne of God’s grace with boldness!

Through Him we can receive mercy and love in our times of need. Because He has been where you are and He has dealt with what you are dealing with.

He will give you the care and mercy you need, if you will only but approach and ask…

So be bold and be strong, for He is always with you!

you will be

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:1-11, NRSV)

When the Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power, and you will be my witnesses…

We have received power from in high to go to the ends of the earth and to tell others about the life giving love of Jesus!

It is not a request to go and tell those you love, and will listen…

It is not a hope that you will pick up the charge and go and tell others, even those who may not want to listen…

Jesus told the disciples, and us, that when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be empowered by God to go to all the world. And when this happens you will be. Not might be. Not could be. Not should be.

You will be my witnesses. And you will be my witnesses where?

Not just in your house. Or you neighborhood. Or with your friends. Or with those who will listen.

You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth! We have to go everywhere!

Jesus is calling us to go to the ends of the world to tell others about His love.

It is not enough to share it in our congregations.

It is not enough to share it in our homes.

It is not enough to share it in our workplaces. (Oh that is a scary thought for some of us, isn’t it?)

We need to tell everyone every where how much God loves them through Jesus.

So filled with the power of God to go and do. Go and do. Knowing that He is always with you, to guide you and direct your steps, giving you the words to say!