and the creek don’t rise…

Brothers and sisters, don’t say evil things about each other. Whoever insults or criticizes a brother or sister insults and criticizes the Law. If you find fault with the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge over it. There is only one lawgiver and judge, and he is able to save and to destroy. But you who judge your neighbor, who are you? Pay attention, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a town. We will stay there a year, buying and selling, and making a profit.” You don’t really know about tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for only a short while before it vanishes. Here’s what you ought to say: “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” But now you boast and brag, and all such boasting is evil. (James 4:11-16, CEB)

Basically, this passage says don’t make plans unless you say that it is the Lord’s will. Because saying you will do something is boasting in yourself.

I always heard we will be there if the lord wills it and the creek don’t rise. Sometimes things are out of our control and how we deal with that shows as much about who we are.

Know you aren’t really in control. God is.

Love and let everything else fall into place.

Loving People. Loving God.

Greatest?

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then he called a little child over to sit among the disciples, and said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (Matthew 18:1-5, CEB)

We as humans always want to be in the place of honor. We want to sit at the end of the table and be the center of attention. And yet, Jesus says to be great you have to be like a child. And why a child?

Children while they can do some things on their own still need guidance and help. They are dependent on a caregiver. So we too should be dependent on God.

We should not worry about who is the greatest, and focus on following where God is leading us. Knowing we are all equal, and none of us is greater than the other.

Loving People. Loving God.

Watch out

Brothers and sisters, I urge you to watch out for people who create divisions and problems against the teaching that you learned. Keep away from them. People like that aren’t serving the Lord. They are serving their own feelings. They deceive the hearts of innocent people with smooth talk and flattery. The news of your obedience has reached everybody, so I’m happy for you. But I want you to be wise about what’s good, and innocent about what’s evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (Romans 16:17-20, CEB)

People who create division are not doing what God has called us to do.

We are called to love and live in unity and division doesn’t show love or unity.

So follow after God and Love all.

Loving People. Loving God.

Who?

I’m introducing our sister Phoebe to you, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae. Welcome her in the Lord in a way that is worthy of God’s people, and give her whatever she needs from you, because she herself has been a sponsor of many people, myself included. Say hello to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life. I’m not the only one who thanks God for them, but all the churches of the Gentiles do the same. Also say hello to the church that meets in their house. Say hello to Epaenetus, my dear friend, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ. Say hello to Mary, who has worked very hard for you. Say hello to Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners. They are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Say hello to Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Say hello to Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. Say hello to Apelles, who is tried and true in Christ. Say hello to the members of the household of Aristobulus. Say hello to my relative Herodion. Say hello to the members of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Say hello to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who are workers for the Lord. Say hello to my dear friend Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Say hello to Rufus, who is an outstanding believer, along with his mother and mine. Say hello to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. Say hello to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Say hello to each other with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ say hello to you. (Romans 16:1-16, CEB)

Here Paul is closing the letter to Rome and is giving his hellos. There are a lot of people named here, and over half of them are women. Women who led churches, who were leaders of those gatherings.

Paul acknowledges these women and lifts them up. He did not say they needed to back away and let men do this work, because Paul knew that God calls all people and all people are equal in the body of Christ.

So let’s return to the time of Paul and lift up the women who are leaders and help the whole body of Christ become what God intends for it to be.

Loving People. Loving God.

I will stay…

Because for me, living serves Christ and dying is even better. If I continue to live in this world, I get results from my work. But I don’t know what I prefer. I’m torn between the two because I want to leave this life and be with Christ, which is far better. However, it’s more important for me to stay in this world for your sake. I’m sure of this: I will stay alive and remain with all of you to help your progress and the joy of your faith, and to increase your pride in Christ Jesus through my presence when I visit you again. Most important, live together in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel. Do this, whether I come and see you or I’m absent and hear about you. Do this so that you stand firm, united in one spirit and mind as you struggle together to remain faithful to the gospel. That way, you won’t be afraid of anything your enemies do. Your faithfulness and courage are a sign of their coming destruction and your salvation, which is from God. God has generously granted you the privilege, not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for Christ’s sake. You are having the same struggle that you saw me face and now hear that I’m still facing. (Philippians 1:21-30, CEB)

I feel like this devotion needs a CW (content warning): suicidal ideation…

Paul writes to the Philippians, “But I don’t know what I prefer. I’m torn between the two because I want to leave this life and be with Christ, which is far better. However, it’s more important for me to stay in this world for your sake.” Paul wants to leave this world to be with Christ. I honestly read that as Paul wants to die so that he can be with Jesus. Yet it is important for Paul to be here for the Philippians. And because the Philippians need him he is going to stay.

I think we gloss over this passage and do not dwell on it because no one wants to say that Paul was considering suicide, yet I can not see another way to read this passage. Paul says he wants to leave this world and be with Christ and yet he also needs to be here. He finds a valid reason to not leave. Mental anguish is real and many go through these thoughts every day. Know that you are never alone and we will get to be with Jesus soon enough.

If you are feeling this way reach out to someone. I would rather sit with you for hours through darkness than sit 15 minutes through a sermon at your funeral.

Paul had a reason to stay, and so do you.

Loving People. Loving God.

really…

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I assure you that it will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. In fact, it’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.” When his disciples heard this, they were stunned. “Then who can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them carefully and said, “It’s impossible for human beings. But all things are possible for God.” Then Peter replied, “Look, we’ve left everything and followed you. What will we have?” Jesus said to them, “I assure you who have followed me that, when everything is made new, when the Human One sits on his magnificent throne, you also will sit on twelve thrones overseeing the twelve tribes of Israel. And all who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or farms because of my name will receive one hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:23-30, CEB)

Ok as I read this passage today I was struck with a question. Peter replies to Jesus saying, “all things are possible for God.” with, “what will we have?” Now Jesus didn’t say, “are you doing this for what you get?” No Jesus says, “…you also will sit on twelve thrones overseeing the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Now my wonder is, what about Judas? You see Judas was one of the 12 here. Does Judas get to sit on a throne over one of the tribes of Israel?

And honestly, why is this here? If you are following Jesus for what you will get, I think you are doing it wrong. I follow Jesus because he gives me a model of living that makes sense and is most helpful to all people.

I try to live like Jesus because it is the best thing I can do, not for what I get.

I try to love. Because of Love.

Loving People. Loving God.

examine

Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Don’t you understand that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless, of course, you fail the test. But I hope that you will realize that we don’t fail the test. We pray to God that you don’t do anything wrong, not because we want to appear to pass the test but so that you might do the right thing, even if we appear to fail. We can’t do anything against the truth but only to help the truth. We are happy when we are weak but you are strong. We pray for this: that you will be made complete. This is why I’m writing these things while I’m away. I’m writing so that I won’t need to act harshly when I’m with you by using the authority that the Lord gave me. He gave it to me so that I could build you up, not tear you down. (2 Corinthians 13:5-10, CEB)

Make sure you are doing what you know you should.

God has called us to love ourselves and love our neighbor. God wants us to err on the side of love.

We need to build each other up and help each other see the goodness of God that lives in each of us. Build up in love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Don’t make me stop this car…

This is the third time that I’m coming to visit you. Every matter is settled on the evidence of two or three witnesses. When I was with you on my second visit, I already warned those who continued to sin. Now I’m repeating that warning to all the rest of you while I’m at a safe distance: if I come again, I won’t spare anyone. Since you are demanding proof that Christ speaks through me, Christ isn’t weak in dealing with you but shows his power among you. Certainly he was crucified because of weakness, but he lives by the power of God. Certainly we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power that is directed toward you. (2 Corinthians 13:1-4, CEB)

Paul sounds like an upset parent here. I’ve told you 2 times to stop that, and if I have to tell you again, I will stop this car and no one will be happy and I will give you something to cry about.

The Corinthians didn’t get the message Paul was sending it seems. They kept doing what they shouldn’t be doing. But aren’t all of us that way really? We get set in our ways and we want to do things our way, even when God has a better way.

Listen to God and follow where God is leading you.

Loving People. Loving God.

greater things

Early in the morning, as Jesus and his disciples were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered from the root up. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look how the fig tree you cursed has dried up.” Jesus responded to them, “Have faith in God! I assure you that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea’—and doesn’t waver but believes that what is said will really happen—it will happen. Therefore I say to you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you will receive it, and it will be so for you. And whenever you stand up to pray, if you have something against anyone, forgive so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your wrongdoings.” (Mark 11:20-25, CEB)

When you pray, believe that you will receive it and you will receive it. Well, Jesus, I did that and I didn’t receive it. Does that mean that I didn’t really believe? Or did I have something against someone else and I wasn’t forgiven, and therefore I didn’t get what I asked for? These passages in the gospels on prayer are ones that can cause issues in my opinion. If you just have enough faith and believe hard enough, God will give you what you ask. And that just won’t happen.

I have never seen a person say to a mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea’ and it happened. But that doesn’t mean that person doesn’t have profound faith. Our faith is sufficient, and what God gives us is what we need. And what we need is way different usually from what we want.

Forgive others, and always show love and know that when you don’t get what you asked for it isn’t because you don’t have faith. It is because God loves you and will supply your needs. And even as I type that I think of those who are hungry or in need of medical attention and how they are still in need. Sometimes we humans get in the way. Pope Francis said, “You pray for God to feed the hungry, then you feed the hungry. That is how prayer works.” We will do greater things when we realize that God is calling us to love and have everything we do be because of love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Sin

So stop judging each other. Instead, this is what you should decide: never put a stumbling block or obstacle in the way of your brother or sister. I know and I’m convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is wrong to eat in itself. But if someone thinks something is wrong to eat, it becomes wrong for that person. If your brother or sister is upset by your food, you are no longer walking in love. Don’t let your food destroy someone for whom Christ died. And don’t let something you consider to be good be criticized as wrong. God’s kingdom isn’t about eating food and drinking but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves Christ this way pleases God and gets human approval. So let’s strive for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up. Don’t destroy what God has done because of food. All food is acceptable, but it’s a bad thing if it trips someone else. It’s a good thing not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that trips your brother or sister. Keep the belief that you have to yourself—it’s between you and God. People are blessed who don’t convict themselves by the things they approve. But those who have doubts are convicted if they go ahead and eat, because they aren’t acting on the basis of faith. Everything that isn’t based on faith is sin. We who are powerful need to be patient with the weakness of those who don’t have power, and not please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good in order to build them up. (Romans 14:13-15:2, CEB)

Everything that isn’t based on faith is sin.

We need to not judge others and not put a stumbling block in front of someone else.

Paul talks about this here using food, saying that everything is fine to eat, but if someone else has a problem with what you are eating then you should not eat it because that is a stumbling block for them. And with food this is ok, but what about not food Paul? Now take the passage before which refers back to Romans 13:13-14 which says “Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession. Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your selfish desires.” A moral code if you will, and yet we disagree on what this says. What is obscene behavior? And if my behavior is something that someone else finds obscene then I should not do it, but what if by not doing that thing that someone finds obscene is part of who I am. So not doing that is denying myself and being something I am not so that others don’t stumble, but in doing that I stumble.

Food is easy. Life is not.

We need to build each other up and not tear others apart. This is done by accepting people where they are and allowing God to work in and through all things. We do not judge others, but love. Lifting each other up.

Your faith is yours, and not someone else’s, you can not make them live your faith as they should not want you to live their faith.

Love.

Loving People. Loving God.