what will stand?

Then a powerful angel picked up a stone that was like a huge millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “With such violent force the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, and it won’t be found anymore. The sound of harpists and musicians, of pipers and trumpeters, will never be heard among you again. No craftsman of any kind will ever be found among you again. The sound of the hand mill will never be heard among you again. The light of a lamp will never shine among you again. The sound of a bridegroom and bride will never be heard among you again because your merchants ran the world, because all the nations were deceived by the spell you cast, and because the blood of prophets, of saints, and of all who have been slaughtered on the earth was found among you.” (Revelation 18:21-24, CEB)

An angel threw a stone, like a huge millstone, into the sea, and this is how the greatest kingdom of the earth is destroyed to never be seen or heard again. There will not be merriment or craftsmanship or light or any sound.

Everything will be destroyed.

Everything is at God’s will. Nothing will stand if not for God.

How do we live then? Knowing it could all end in a moments notice.

Be like Luther. Luther said if he knew the world would end tomorrow he would plant a tree today. Make the world a better place by sharing love now.

Loving People. Loving God.

Extravagant

After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was filled with light because of his glory. He called out with a loud voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a home for demons and a lair for every unclean spirit. She is a lair for every unclean bird, and a lair for every unclean and disgusting beast because all the nations have fallen due to the wine of her lustful passion. The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth became rich from the power of her loose and extravagant ways.” Then I heard another voice from heaven say, “Come out of her, my people, so that you don’t take part in her sins and don’t receive any of her plagues. Her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God remembered her unjust acts. Give her what she has given to others. Give her back twice as much for what she has done. In the cup that she has poured, pour her twice as much. To the extent that she glorified herself and indulged her loose and extravagant ways, give her pain and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit like a queen! I’m not a widow. I’ll never see grief.’ This is why her plagues will come in a single day—deadly disease, grief, and hunger. She will be consumed by fire because the Lord God who judges her is powerful. “The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality with her and shared her loose and extravagant ways, will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke from her burning. They will stand a long way off because they are afraid of the pain she suffers, and they will say, ‘Oh, the horror! Babylon, you great city, you powerful city! In a single hour your judgment has come.’ They threw dust on their heads, and they cried out, weeping and mourning. They said, ‘Oh, the horror! The great city, where all who have ships at sea became so rich by her prosperity—in just one hour she was destroyed. Rejoice over her, heaven—you saints, apostles, and prophets—because God has condemned her as she condemned you.’” (Revelation 18:1-10, 19-20, CEB)

We as humans get caught up in things we shouldn’t. We allow our senses and needs and desires to control us rather than follow after God.

This passage talks of the great country the kings of the People of God lied with and fulfilled their desires with being brought down. And now those kings are mourning the loss and stepping away when they probably want to save her.

We seek to gratify our desires and our needs anyway we can even when that is not what God wants for us.

How can we support the blasphemous whore and follow God? Do not be condemned but follow God.

Loving People. Loving God.

Give

Then the Pharisees met together to find a way to trap Jesus in his words. They sent their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are genuine and that you teach God’s way as it really is. We know that you are not swayed by people’s opinions, because you don’t show favoritism. So tell us what you think: Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Knowing their evil motives, Jesus replied, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used to pay the tax.” And they brought him a denarion. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked. “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” When they heard this they were astonished, and they departed. (Matthew 22:15-22, CEB)

This is an interesting question. Why would one not render unto the government what is the governments? Because power is corrupt and Jesus spoke against the political power and religious power of the day.

Governments are not always God ordained and therefore should not be supported but Jesus knew the political and religious leaders were in cahoots and were trying to trap him.

Always give. In giving we show grace. In giving we give love. And God always replenishes our supply.

Loving People. Loving God.

Never swear…

At that time Herod the ruler heard the news about Jesus. He said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He’s been raised from the dead. This is why these miraculous powers are at work through him.” Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. That’s because John told Herod, “It’s against the law for you to marry her.” Although Herod wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd because they thought John was a prophet. But at Herod’s birthday party Herodias’ daughter danced in front of the guests and thrilled Herod. Then he swore to give her anything she asked. At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a plate.” Although the king was upset, because of his solemn pledge and his guests he commanded that they give it to her. Then he had John beheaded in prison. They brought his head on a plate and gave it to the young woman, and she brought it to her mother. But John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. (Matthew 14:1-12, CEB)

When we swear we set up the possibility that we will need to do something that goes against what we want to do. Or do something we want to that will cause issues for us.

Herrod wanted to kill John, but feared what the people would do because John was a prophet and loved by the people.

We need to be faithful to God and follow where God leads us. Our desires don’t matter. Following God and loving all is what we are called to do.

Loving People. Loving God.

Lord it over…

Therefore, I have a request for the elders among you. (I ask this as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and as one who shares in the glory that is about to be revealed.) I urge the elders: Like shepherds, tend the flock of God among you. Watch over it. Don’t shepherd because you must, but do it voluntarily for God. Don’t shepherd greedily, but do it eagerly. Don’t shepherd by ruling over those entrusted to your care, but become examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory. In the same way, I urge you who are younger: accept the authority of the elders. And everyone, clothe yourselves with humility toward each other. God stands against the proud, but he gives favor to the humble. (1 Peter 5:1-5, CEB)

Leaders should be those who are humble and not power hungry. Leaders should be those who prayerfully accept a place of leadership because it is thrust upon them and not sought out.

Leaders are examples and show how to live by doing, not commanding.

And when this happens it is easier to follow that leader.

Lead by example and help others love more.

Loving People. Loving God.

Good

I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, doesn’t welcome us. Because of this, if I come, I will bring up what he has done—making unjustified and wicked accusations against us. And as if that were not enough, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers and sisters but stops those who want to do so and even throws them out of the church! Dear friend, don’t imitate what is bad but what is good. Whoever practices what is good belongs to God. Whoever practices what is bad has not seen God. Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, even the truth itself. We also speak highly of him, and you know that what we say is true. (3 John 9-12, CEB)

Who is welcome?

One of my great friends, Drew Tucker, said, “I use “everyone is welcome but not everything” and then delineate clearly that racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and the like aren’t welcome. If you’re not willing to try and give those up, come back when you are.”

Everyone is welcome but if your beliefs cause harm to life then you need to rethink your understanding of welcome.

Evil doesn’t show love. Only good does.

Loving People. Loving God.

What will you do?

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus replied, “I assure you that you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate all the food you wanted. Don’t work for the food that doesn’t last but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Human One will give you. God the Father has confirmed him as his agent to give life.” They asked, “What must we do in order to accomplish what God requires?” Jesus replied, “This is what God requires, that you believe in him whom God sent.” They asked, “What miraculous sign will you do, that we can see and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Jesus told them, “I assure you, it wasn’t Moses who gave the bread from heaven to you, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said, “Sir, give us this bread all the time!” Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:25-35, CEB)

This song above is from many years ago, but it is what I think about when I read in the bible people asking Jesus. Jesus says the signs they are looking for are the wrong ones and sometimes we as people miss the point.

We do not need the signs we think we need. We need to have faith in Jesus and the promises God gives us. It’s not about asking for proof to make us have proof.

Proof is not faith and faith is what we need.

Loving People. Loving God.

Press on

Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus. So all of us who are spiritually mature should think this way, and if anyone thinks differently, God will reveal it to him or her. Only let’s live in a way that is consistent with whatever level we have reached. Brothers and sisters, become imitators of me and watch those who live this way—you can use us as models. As I have told you many times and now say with deep sadness, many people live as enemies of the cross. Their lives end with destruction. Their god is their stomach, and they take pride in their disgrace because their thoughts focus on earthly things. Our citizenship is in heaven. We look forward to a savior that comes from there—the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform our humble bodies so that they are like his glorious body, by the power that also makes him able to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters whom I love and miss, who are my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord. (Philippians 3:13-4:1, CEB)

I have not reached the goal, and will not if it is of my power. If you think you’ve made it and have it all together, well think again. We will not have it all together until we are transformed in the completion of God’s kindom.

Be consistent in imitating Paul and doing what God has called us to.

Loving People. Loving God.

who is worldly…

But you, dear friends, remember the words spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the end time scoffers will come living according to their own ungodly desires.” These people create divisions. Since they don’t have the Spirit, they are worldly. But you, dear friends: build each other up on the foundation of your most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep each other in the love of God, wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will give you eternal life. Have mercy on those who doubt. Save some by snatching them from the fire. Fearing God, have mercy on some, hating even the clothing contaminated by their sinful urges. To the one who is able to protect you from falling, and to present you blameless and rejoicing before his glorious presence, to the only God our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, belong glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, now and forever. Amen. (Jude 17-25, CEB)

Last week I was on the campus of Texas A&M University with Treehouse Ministries passing out popsicles and we had a nice young man come up and ask us about the Reconciled in Christ logo on our sign and we got into a discussion about how LTBTQIA+ people are living in sin, and I told the young man that this statement is not in the Bible and that the word homosexual was written into those passages and the original language does not say that. And our discussion continued and we were not changing each others minds and he said he hopes that we would find the Holy Spirit so we would know the leading of God. I tell you all of that to say as I read this part of Jude above, I wondered what it means to be worldly. Is it following after what conservative Christianity would say is preventing the gospel and saying God created LGBTQIA+ people as they are and it isn’t a choice. Or is worldly saying that God doesn’t change us and our faith needs to be the faith of those who wrote the scriptures down.

As for me and my house and the ministry I serve, I believe the Bible is clear that all people are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God as God intended them to be. LGBTQIA+ people are not making a choice, but are being who God created them to be and to say otherwise is worldly. It is not allow God’s will to be done and is against what God intended and is something we should steer clear of.

So love unconditionally and know that when the Bible says worldly it may not mean what we think it means.

Loving People. Loving God.

anxious

Therefore, my brothers and sisters whom I love and miss, who are my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord. Loved ones, I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to come to an agreement in the Lord. Yes, and I’m also asking you, loyal friend, to help these women who have struggled together with me in the ministry of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the scroll of life. Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad! Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near. Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:1-9, CEB)

Don’t be anxious about anything.

Easier said than done usually for me. If you end that statement there it is kind of harsh.

But Paul doesn’t end it there. He continues, “rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.” We should be thankful for what God has given us and then tell God what we are anxious about, or what concerns us. What could cause us to be anxious. “Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.” Then we can let go of what troubles us the live in the peace that Christ gives.

Don’t be anxious, but live in Jesus’ peace.

Loving People. Loving God.