Let them be one…

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,  that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,  I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.  Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.  O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.  I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:20-26 ESV)

That they may all be one…

What does that mean? That we may all be one, united in what God has called us to.

As I think about us all being one I ponder over the number of Lutheran denominations there are. Now I ponder on Lutheran denominations because I am Lutheran. But there are many different denominations for each denomination. Even Catholics have more then just the Roman Catholic…

So I googled Lutheran Denominations and got a long list and on the page was a link to Lutheran denominations in North America so I clicked the link. This link showed 37 different Lutheran denominations in North America. I had heard at one point there were 95 in North America. But still 37 different kinds of Lutherans is a lot. How can we all be one?

And that is the thing of Jesus’ prayer for all of us. He is asking that we be united as He and the Father are united. They are not the same, but they are one. We are not the same but we are one.

There is a story about a man named Danny who comes across a man with a well used floppy bible. Danny asks him if he is a believer and the man replies yes. Danny then asks a number of questions to make sure he is actually a believer. You can guess how this ends. If someone disagrees with one part of my faith then they are a heretic and are not a true believer.

In the garden, as the Jewish authorities were on their way to arrest Jesus and have Him put to death Be prayed that we may be one. United in Him and the Father. He did not ask that we would agree on which hymns are good or what kind of bread we should use for communion or what age should people be allowed to take communion or that we would agree when a person should be baptized. He asked the Father that we could be one, united as He and the Father are united.

Our unity is in Jesus’ death on the cross for us all.

So live in the tension of not agreeing with all of your brothers and sisters but united in the mission we all share: to tell the world they are lived by God!

Was before me…

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ( John bore witness about him, and cried out, This was he of whom I said, ” He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me. “) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:14-18 ESV)

Have you ever wondered how God is ever present and knows everything that is going on?

When Jesus came to be here with us He took on our nature and our life. He became us. But before He became like us, He created us. He was there from the beginning and played a part in all of creation. That is comforting and gives us a peace, because He knows all about us the things that we don’t even know about ourselves.

So live in the knowledge that Jesus knows all about you and loves you still!

Keeps you from browning…

20130510-065113.jpgThe Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods! Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O Lord. For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name! (Psalms 97:1-12 ESV)

Have you ever read the ingredients of any of the processed foods we eat? If so you have probably read the words “as a preservative” usually they follow something I can’t pronounce.

And if you are old enough you might remember your grandmother or someone in your family making preservatives or jelly. I know some people still do this but it is becoming a lost art. Also I remember my uncle would can pork sausage after we had just made it.

We do we preserve things? We even do it at death. The women went to the tomb with spice that were meant to mask odor but also to preserve, and embalming is a kind of preservative. Why do we do this?

Preservation helps keep things fresh long. They keep them from spoiling. It is like dipping your sliced apple in lemon juice it will keep them from browning…

That is what this psalm says God does for you! God keeps you from browning, He keeps you fresher longer. He preserves the lives of His saints. He keeps you fresh and ready even when the world attacks. It doesn’t promise that the forces that would spoil you are going away, but it promises that God will preserve you!

Open minded…

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24:44-53, NRSV)

Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures…

Have you ever had your mind opened to understanding of the scripture?

When I have read something in the bible or been told something by someone in the context of a biblical story, and my eyes were opened to see things in a way I have never before, I will be honest it scares me sometimes. My world is rocked in a way I did not think possible. But is this not what happened to the Pharisees and the Jews of Jesus’ day? They thought they had the whole religious system worked out and knew what they had to do to make it to heaven, and then Jesus comes along and turns all of that on it’s head…

We think we have it all figured out, but all we really know is what we want to know. Our eyes can deceive us and we should not trust them. If our mind is not willing to see what is actually there our eyes will only see what we want to see. We can blind our selves to reality, because it can’t be possible. If only we would allow our minds o be open and accepting of what we are being given, then we can truly see.

And I wonder from the ending of this snippet of scripture if the disciples minds were really opened. They spent all of their time in the temple. Yes they were blessing God, but they were continually in the temple. If they really got what Jesus told them, why weren’t they out telling everybody? Well this is not where the story ends, and it continues in Acts and that is what happens.

And remember that just because you are opened minded it does not mean you believe every perspective you are hearing, it merely means you can hear where another human being is at and accept them where they are, like Christ did for you. Having an open mind means you are willing to accept others as they are where they are and hear them, again just as Christ did for you.

So open your mind and cling to your faith and allow God to work through you.

 

Speak Boldly!

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:25-38, NRSV)

Have you ever felt like you had something to say but were afraid to say it?

Were you afraid because of how you thought people would hear what you had to say? Or maybe because of how they would judge you by what you said?

Simeon had the words to speak of a servant being allowed to now pass away from this life to the continuation with God, and announce the coming savior whose life “is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed”, and he also announced to His parents “and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” What if he had never spoken these words?

We all have a direct line to the Father of all creation and prophecy has not stopped just because Jesus has “fulfilled” God’s plan… Jesus is still fulfilling God’s plan through you, so it is not finished yet. Part of it was finished when He died for all creation, but we still have to go out into all the world and tell everyone of the great love that God has for them. We must go and boldly speak! It is the only way all will hear and know the love that God has for them.

So don’t worry about how you will be judged when you know that God has given you a word to speak. That word will bear fruit if it truly comes from God and the people who hear it will see Jesus… They may not give you the reaction you are looking for, but that is for God to work out. You are to go and speak His truth boldly, knowing that He has given you the words to speak and the life to go nd share the love He has given you!

Seeking Confidence

Wonderful words to start my day today! I pray they give you the hope and grace that they imparted to me!

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Can I do this? Can we do this? Is it even possible?

My colleague, friend and mentor – Pastor Bill Carter, used to say, “Most of ministry is pushing a big rock up a hill.” We can infer that faith is also like that. Even life can be like that too. What he meant was that to stick with it; to push forward; to look to the future with confidence; is hard work, just like pushing a big rock up a hill is hard work. One slip, and the rock rolls back down the other direction. Vigilance, control, skill and strength are required to keep the rock not only in place, but moving against the very nature of gravity. As Bishop Jim Hazelwood reminded us on Sunday, “When Jesus said, ‘Go make disciples,’ he didn’t say it was going to be easy.” If life, faith, and ministry can be compared…

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Worship where?

And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass. And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. (Revelation 21:15-22 ESV)

What a beautiful city! This sounds like a place that would be great to visit and see because the beauty of it would always be shining forth!

Rare jewels all over the place, being used as the foundations of the walls of the city. And pearls as the gates! This is one beautiful place and the best part is we get to spend eternity there!

No the best part is what comes after this verse and is set up with the last verse…

There is no temple! There is no proper place to worship God, because everywhere is the right place to worship God! God is so ever present that we are always with Him, that is the best part! He is right there for us to be with. And we don’t have to go anywhere special to worship Him, we can worship Him in the bedazzled streets!

So take it to the streets that God is everywhere and wants to be with all of creation!