Come to me…

Jesus responded to the Jewish leaders, “I assure you that the Son can’t do anything by himself except what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he does. He will show him greater works than these so that you will marvel. As the Father raises the dead and gives life, so too does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. The Father doesn’t judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son so that everyone will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him. “I assure you that whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and won’t come under judgment but has passed from death into life. “I assure you that the time is coming—and is here!—when the dead will hear the voice of God’s Son, and those who hear it will live. Just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. He gives the Son authority to judge, because he is the Human One. Don’t be surprised by this, because the time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice. Those who did good things will come out into the resurrection of life, and those who did wicked things into the resurrection of judgment. I can’t do anything by myself. Whatever I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just. I don’t seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me. “If I testify about myself, my testimony isn’t true. There is someone else who testifies about me, and I know his testimony about me is true. You sent a delegation to John, and he testified to the truth. Although I don’t accept human testimony, I say these things so that you can be saved. John was a burning and shining lamp, and, at least for a while, you were willing to celebrate in his light. “I have a witness greater than John’s testimony. The Father has given me works to do so that I might complete them. These works I do testify about me that the Father sent me. And the Father who sent me testifies about me. You have never even heard his voice or seen his form, and you don’t have his word dwelling with you because you don’t believe the one whom he has sent. Examine the scriptures, since you think that in them you have eternal life. They also testify about me, yet you don’t want to come to me so that you can have life. (John 5:19-40, CEB)

Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees here when he says, “Examine the scriptures, since you think that in them you have eternal life. They also testify about me, yet you don’t want to come to me so that you can have life.”

The scriptures point to Jesus.

They tell us the story of who God is in the world and how Jesus is the one to show us what it means to love.

If you want eternal life, come to Jesus.

Do what Jesus says.

Which is, “Love God and love others.” Pretty simple. Don’t judge unless you are ready to be judged by the same standard and love. Love everyone regardless of what they can do for you.

Loving People. Loving God.

Hallelujah!

After this I heard what sounded like a huge crowd in heaven. They said,

“Hallelujah! The salvation and glory and power of our God!
His judgments are true and just,
    because he judged the great prostitute,
        who ruined the earth by her whoring,
    and he exacted the penalty for the blood of his servants
        from her hand.”

Then they said a second time,

“Hallelujah! Smoke goes up from her forever and always.”

The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who is seated on the throne, and they said, “Amen. Hallelujah!”

Then a voice went out from the throne and said,

“Praise our God, all you his servants,
        and you who fear him, both small and great.”

And I heard something that sounded like a huge crowd, like rushing water and powerful thunder. They said,

“Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty,
        exercised his royal power!
Let us rejoice and celebrate, and give him the glory,
    for the wedding day of the Lamb has come,
        and his bride has made herself ready.
She was given fine, pure white linen to wear,
    for the fine linen is the saints’ acts of justice.”

Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Favored are those who have been invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb.” He said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:1-9, CEB)

When the kindom comes we will all shout Hallelujah and praise God endlessly.

The banquet will be the finest feast we have ever been a part of, and it will last for ever.

Are you ready?

We can see glimpses of that here and now when we love like God does.

So love, and see the kindom.

Loving People. Loving God.

what he is…

Remember Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead and descended from David. This is my good news. This is the reason I’m suffering to the point that I’m in prison like a common criminal. But God’s word cannot be imprisoned. This is why I endure everything for the sake of those who are chosen by God so that they too may experience salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This saying is reliable:

“If we have died together, we will also live together.
        If we endure, we will also rule together.
        If we deny him, he will also deny us.
If we are disloyal, he stays faithful”
    because he can’t be anything else than what he is. (2 Timothy 2:8-13, CEB)

“because he can’t be anything else than what he is.”

Jesus will never be like us. We need to be like him.

When we turn away, Jesus never will.

When we do wrong, Jesus is there to pick us up.

Jesus is always what he says he is.

If only we could be like that.

Loving People. Loving God.

Reign of Christ

“Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left. “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you who will receive terrible things. Go into the unending fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels. I was hungry and you didn’t give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didn’t give me anything to drink. I was a stranger and you didn’t welcome me. I was naked and you didn’t give me clothes to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn’t do anything to help you?’ Then he will answer, ‘I assure you that when you haven’t done it for one of the least of these, you haven’t done it for me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46, CEB)

Surprise, surprise, surprise…

The thing about this text and both groups of people is they are surprised. Both the sheep and the goats. It’s as if they were looking for Jesus. The goats to make sure they treated him better than everyone else for sure.

But isn’t that really what we should learn all along, it isn’t about us loving everyone and looking out for everyone regardless of who they are or what they can do for us?

The point of this is to say, love God, and love others. Period. Don’t look for who to treat differently, treat everyone the same.

Loving People. Loving God.

Who is family?

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers stood outside trying to speak with him. Someone said to him, “Look, your mother and brothers are outside wanting to speak with you.” Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” He stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50, CEB)

A couple days ago was Thanksgiving, and you may have spent that with family.

Family that can be challenging sometimes.

Family that doesn’t accept you as you are.

But who is our family?

Family is blood related. Those you do not choose as your relatives. These people might not be what you would consider family.

Family is also chosen. I have family in Grand Rapids, Coleman, Victoria, Bismark, and many other places I will forget to name. These are the people who have come into my life and made a difference and no matter where I go will always be a part.

And that is what Jesus says here. Family is not related. Family is blood. Jesus’ blood and those who follow the way of Christ. Those who are doing and loving as Jesus did are family. People who will always be there.

Loving People. Loving God.

Kindom

Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, shining like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb through the middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river is the tree of life, which produces twelve crops of fruit, bearing its fruit each month. The tree’s leaves are for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more. They won’t need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shine on them, and they will rule forever and always. Then he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. “Look! I’m coming soon. Favored is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy contained in this scroll.” I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I’m a servant just like you and your brothers and sisters, the prophets, and those who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!” (Revelation 22:1-9, CEB)

The world is a mess.

Violence every where and people looking out for only themselves. We are hyper focused on us getting what we deserve even at the cost of someone else’s life.

When the kindom is fulfilled and we are all together worshiping God, love will reign.

Maybe Jesus is waiting for us to get it and love each other before he comes back.

Maybe we should love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Whose mark?

Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion. With him were one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven that was like the sound of rushing water and loud thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. They sing a new song in front of the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders. And no one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. They weren’t defiled with women, for these people who follow the Lamb wherever he goes are virgins. They were purchased from among humankind as early produce for God and the Lamb. No lie came from their mouths; they are blameless. Then I saw another angel flying high overhead with eternal good news to proclaim to those who live on earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” Another angel, a second one, followed and said, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She made all the nations drink the wine of her lustful passion.” Then another angel, a third one, followed them and said in a loud voice, “If any worship the beast and its image, and receive a mark on their foreheads or their hands, they themselves will also drink the wine of God’s passionate anger, poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will suffer the pain of fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their painful suffering goes up forever and always. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, and those who receive the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:1-11, CEB)

Are you one of the 144,000? Or do you bear the mark of the beast?

I have always wondered, marveled, and questioned the 144,000. If it is a literal number, that number was filled up a long time ago, or does God replace people when better people come along? Can I lose my spot if someone who lives after me is better than me and follows more closely? And what if I’m not a virgin, and what if I am a woman? This says they were virgins, who “weren’t defiled with women.”

So how does that work really? And the number 144,000 is 12 times 12 times 1000. It is a lot of the number 12. 12 tribes, 12 disciples. 12 is an important number in the bible. When I taught Confirmation and asked a number question I told the confirmands that good possible answers to number questions from the bible are 3, 7, 12. Maybe 6 if we are talking bad things. So is it a literal number or a really big one we aren’t supposed to count?

And whose in and whose out? I mean as Lutherans we kind of say we are part of the 144,000 while we bear the mark of the beast. Now according to Revelation that is not possible, but as we are simultaneously saint and sinner, we are both in and out.

Know you are in, and don’t question that.

Love as you are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

integrity

“Who then are the faithful and wise servants whom their master puts in charge of giving food at the right time to those who live in his house? Happy are those servants whom the master finds fulfilling their responsibilities when he comes. I assure you that he will put them in charge of all his possessions. But suppose those bad servants should say to themselves, My master won’t come until later. And suppose they began to beat their fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunks? The master of those servants will come on a day when they are not expecting him, at a time they couldn’t predict. He will cut them in pieces and put them in a place with the hypocrites. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth. (Matthew 24:45-51, CEB)

My biggest complaint and worry is people are different depending on who is around or if it is real life or online. I strive to be a person who says what I believe online and in person and to not have two personas.

We need to love unconditionally, not because God is watching, or anyone else for that matter, but because it is the right thing to do.

If you are like the bad servants and treat people one way because you know you can get away with it, then that is the true feelings and the underlying person you are. Jesus said it is not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what comes out. And that is the real you, defiling you.

Integrity is what this world needs. People who actually love all the time no matter who is looking or who can see.

Loving People. Loving God.

everyone

Brothers and sisters, we ask you to respect those who are working with you, leading you, and instructing you. Think of them highly with love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are disorderly. Comfort the discouraged. Help the weak. Be patient with everyone. Make sure no one repays a wrong with a wrong, but always pursue the good for each other and everyone else. Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-18, CEB)

Be patient with everyone.

Comfort the discouraged.

Help the weak.

Repay no one a wrong for a wrong (that means don’t get revenge…)

Pursue good for everyone!

Love unconditionally.

Loving People. Loving God.

God does not have favorites.

So every single one of you who judge others is without any excuse. You condemn yourself when you judge another person because the one who is judging is doing the same things. We know that God’s judgment agrees with the truth, and his judgment is against those who do these kinds of things. If you judge those who do these kinds of things while you do the same things yourself, think about this: Do you believe that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you have contempt for the riches of God’s generosity, tolerance, and patience? Don’t you realize that God’s kindness is supposed to lead you to change your heart and life? You are storing up wrath for yourself because of your stubbornness and your heart that refuses to change. God’s just judgment will be revealed on the day of wrath. God will repay everyone based on their works. On the one hand, he will give eternal life to those who look for glory, honor, and immortality based on their patient good work. But on the other hand, there will be wrath and anger for those who obey wickedness instead of the truth because they are acting out of selfishness and disobedience. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. God does not have favorites. (Romans 2:1-11, CEB)

God does not have favorites.

Everyone has their picture and their drawings on God’s refrigerator. There was a time our youngest said there was not a picture of her on our fridge and it was true. There was a picture of the oldest and the middle child, but there was not one of the youngest. Now we joke about that but to some that is wrong. And on God’s refrigerator everyone has a picture and a place, even those you think don’t belong, because guess what, there is someone (probably many someones) who think you don’t belong there.

It is not about if we think someone is worthy, God has already said they are.

So love without condition.

Loving People. Loving God.