Jesus

This is why it’s necessary for us to pay more attention to what we have heard, or else we may drift away from it. If the message that was spoken by angels was reliable, and every offense and act of disobedience received an appropriate consequence, how will we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? It was first announced through the Lord, and then it was confirmed by those who heard him. God also vouched for their message with signs, amazing things, various miracles, and gifts from the Holy Spirit, which were handed out the way he wanted. God didn’t put the world that is coming (the world we are talking about) under the angels’ control. Instead, someone declared somewhere, What is humanity that you think about them? Or what are the human beings that you care about them? For a while you made them lower than angels. You crowned the human beings with glory and honor. You put everything under their control. When he puts everything under their control, he doesn’t leave anything out of control. But right now, we don’t see everything under their control yet. However, we do see the one who was made lower in order than the angels for a little while—it’s Jesus! He’s the one who is now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of his death. He suffered death so that he could taste death for everyone through God’s grace. (Hebrews 2:1-9, CEB)

Who is in control?

The angels?

No not the angels.

You?

Ha, that is a good one. Are any of us really in control of our lives?

Jesus is crowned with honor and glory because he was faithful to do what God sent him here to do. Show us how to live and love.

Jesus is in control. Follow him and know that is the best life ever.

Loving People. Loving God.

Parables

Jesus’ disciples came and said to him, “Why do you use parables when you speak to the crowds?” Jesus replied, “Because they haven’t received the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but you have. For those who have will receive more and they will have more than enough. But as for those who don’t have, even the little they have will be taken away from them. This is why I speak to the crowds in parables: although they see, they don’t really see; and although they hear, they don’t really hear or understand. What Isaiah prophesied has become completely true for them: You will hear, to be sure, but never understand; and you will certainly see but never recognize what you are seeing. For this people’s senses have become calloused, and they’ve become hard of hearing, and they’ve shut their eyes so that they won’t see with their eyes or hear with their ears or understand with their minds, and change their hearts and lives that I may heal them. “Happy are your eyes because they see. Happy are your ears because they hear. I assure you that many prophets and righteous people wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but they didn’t. (Matthew 13:10-17, CEB)

Parables are devices that Jesus used to allow those who know to really know and those who didn’t know to never get a clue.

So you see but don’t actually perceive and hear but don’t really understand.

Sometimes, God’s word is confusing. We do not need to be discouraged when we are slow to grasp, just know that others don’t get it at all. And those are the people we need to live out loud for. So they might come to know that God loves them and wants them to be a part of the family.

Love out Loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

selfish

So I’m telling you this, and I insist on it in the Lord: you shouldn’t live your life like the Gentiles anymore. They base their lives on pointless thinking, and they are in the dark in their reasoning. They are disconnected from God’s life because of their ignorance and their closed hearts. They are people who lack all sense of right and wrong, and who have turned themselves over to doing whatever feels good and to practicing every sort of corruption along with greed. But you didn’t learn that sort of thing from Christ. Since you really listened to him and you were taught how the truth is in Jesus, change the former way of life that was part of the person you once were, corrupted by deceitful desires. Instead, renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit and clothe yourself with the new person created according to God’s image in justice and true holiness. Therefore, after you have gotten rid of lying, Each of you must tell the truth to your neighbor because we are parts of each other in the same body. Be angry without sinning. Don’t let the sun set on your anger. Don’t provide an opportunity for the devil. Thieves should no longer steal. Instead, they should go to work, using their hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need. Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say. Don’t make the Holy Spirit of God unhappy—you were sealed by him for the day of redemption. Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ. Therefore, imitate God like dearly loved children. Live your life with love, following the example of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us. He was a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God. (Ephesians 4:17-5:2, CEB)

Who is the focus of your life?

Is God the entity you focus on?

Is it yourself?

Here the author of Ephesians says Gentiles “are people who lack all sense of right and wrong, and who have turned themselves over to doing whatever feels good and to practicing every sort of corruption along with greed.” They do not look at the needs of others, but only at satisfying their own desires and wants.

So do you seek self-gratification or to love as God loves?

Love as God loves, and do not focus on yourself.

Loving People. Loving God.

Please God

So then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to keep living the way you already are and even do better in how you live and please God—just as you learned from us. You know the instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. God’s will is that your lives are dedicated to him. This means that you stay away from sexual immorality and learn how to control your own body in a pure and respectable way. Don’t be controlled by your sexual urges like the Gentiles who don’t know God. No one should mistreat or take advantage of their brother or sister in this issue. The Lord punishes people for all these things, as we told you before and sternly warned you. God didn’t call us to be immoral but to be dedicated to him. Therefore, whoever rejects these instructions isn’t rejecting a human authority. They are rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, CEB)

Live a life that is pleasing to God.

Love others, as God loves you.

Do not judge others, and help them to know that God loves them.

Do not be controlled by your own desires, but follow God and do as God directs you to.

Loving People. Loving God.

yield

That day Jesus went out of the house and sat down beside the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he climbed into a boat and sat down. The whole crowd was standing on the shore. He said many things to them in parables: “A farmer went out to scatter seed. As he was scattering seed, some fell on the path, and birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. They sprouted immediately because the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it scorched the plants, and they dried up because they had no roots. Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorny plants grew and choked them. Other seed fell on good soil and bore fruit, in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one. Everyone who has ears should pay attention.” “Consider then the parable of the farmer. Whenever people hear the word about the kingdom and don’t understand it, the evil one comes and carries off what was planted in their hearts. This is the seed that was sown on the path. As for the seed that was spread on rocky ground, this refers to people who hear the word and immediately receive it joyfully. Because they have no roots, they last for only a little while. When they experience distress or abuse because of the word, they immediately fall away. As for the seed that was spread among thorny plants, this refers to those who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the false appeal of wealth choke the word, and it bears no fruit. As for what was planted on good soil, this refers to those who hear and understand, and bear fruit and produce—in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one.” (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, CEB)

What does the word yield in your life?

It is interesting that Jesus tells the parable to a crowd and then something else happens, and then the disciples ask him, what did the parable mean?

We hear and don’t understand, that is the devil. Rocky ground is the word having no root in our lives and they fall away when everything isn’t always great. Thorny plants are the worries of life that keep people from believing the promises and having faith, and good soil produces a bumper crop. For those who know that life will be hard and Jesus never said that life would be easy or without pain, but his burden was light and his yoke would help. When we know that God is always with us we can produce love and mercy to share in a world that needs love and mercy.

Let us all be beacons of grace, mercy, and love. Knowing that God is always with us.

Loving People. Loving God.

judge

Jesus shouted, “Whoever believes in me doesn’t believe in me but in the one who sent me. Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I have come as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in me won’t live in darkness. If people hear my words and don’t keep them, I don’t judge them. I didn’t come to judge the world but to save it. Whoever rejects me and doesn’t receive my words will be judged at the last day by the word I have spoken. I don’t speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me regarding what I should speak and say. I know that his commandment is eternal life. Therefore, whatever I say is just as the Father has said to me.” (John 12:44-50, CEB)

It seems that a lot of people are set on judging people who sin differently than them. Like saying those who live a lifestyle of homosexuality are not following after God, and yet here in John, Jesus says, “If people hear my words and don’t keep them, I don’t judge them.” Jesus doesn’t judge them because they don’t follow what he said, which is actually good for those judging as I said above, because Jesus never said anything about homosexuality. Jesus continues, “I didn’t come to judge the world but to save it.” Jesus didn’t come to judge the world. And if Jesus didn’t come to judge, I am pretty sure God didn’t send you to judge either.

Judging only makes you look self-righteous because all of us fall short of God’s glory. So do not point out the ways you think people are not living up to God’s standards, just love.

We are called to love. We all will stand in judgment on the last day by the words Jesus spoke.

You nor I will be the judge. But we will both be judged, and I would rather be excluded here for who I include instead of excluded than for not loving as God loves me.

It really is that easy. Don’t judge. Love!

Loving People. Loving God.

Share Christ

My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and are able to teach each other. But I’ve written to you in a sort of daring way, partly to remind you of what you already know. I’m writing to you in this way because of the grace that was given to me by God. It helps me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I’m working as a priest of God’s gospel so that the offering of the Gentiles can be acceptable and made holy by the Holy Spirit. So in Christ Jesus I brag about things that have to do with God. I don’t dare speak about anything except what Christ has done through me to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles. He did it by what I’ve said and what I’ve done, by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. So I’ve completed the circuit of preaching Christ’s gospel from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. In this way, I have a goal to preach the gospel where they haven’t heard of Christ yet, so that I won’t be building on someone else’s foundation. Instead, as it’s written, Those who hadn’t been told about him will see, and those who hadn’t heard will understand. (Romans 15:14-21, CEB)

Paul here is trying to convince the Romans to let him use their congregation as a jumping-off point for a mission into Spain and parts of the world that have not heard the news of Jesus. He writes them, “I have a goal to preach the gospel where they haven’t heard of Christ yet.” And shouldn’t that be all of our goals?

To share Christ through our lives?

To have every word we speak and every action we do to proclaim the love of God?

St. Francis of Assisi is often attributed with the quote, “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.” It is a great thought, but it really can not be traced to St. Francis. And yet, it is a way we should all choose to live.

That every action we do points to God. Our lives will just ooze God’s love and show that mercy and grace abound.

Live a life that can not be doubted and shows God’s love. It is a life of integrity. Say what you mean and mean what you say and show God’s love in everything you do.

Loving People. Loving God.

heart

Those who have sinned outside the Law will also die outside the Law, and those who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law. It isn’t the ones who hear the Law who are righteous in God’s eyes. It is the ones who do what the Law says who will be treated as righteous. Gentiles don’t have the Law. But when they instinctively do what the Law requires they are a Law in themselves, though they don’t have the Law. They show the proof of the Law written on their hearts, and their consciences affirm it. Their conflicting thoughts will accuse them, or even make a defense for them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the hidden truth about human beings through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:12-16, CEB)

You don’t need to know the law to live by the law. We can be morally correct and follow God’s law and still not have heard it.

God said in Isaiah that the law would be written on the hearts of all people and we would not teach about God anymore. We will all know what we need to do and follow where God is leading. Not because we are following rules, but because we know it is the way to live and treat others.

Love everyone unconditionally.

Loving People. Loving God.

power…

Before the Festival of Passover, Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them fully. Jesus and his disciples were sharing the evening meal. The devil had already provoked Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew the Father had given everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God. So he got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand what I’m doing now, but you will understand later.” “No!” Peter said. “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t have a place with me.” Simon Peter said, “Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head!” Jesus responded, “Those who have bathed need only to have their feet washed, because they are completely clean. You disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” He knew who would betray him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you is clean.” After he washed the disciples’ feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. He said to them, “Do you know what I’ve done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am. If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do. I assure you, servants aren’t greater than their master, nor are those who are sent greater than the one who sent them. Since you know these things, you will be happy if you do them. (John 13:1-17, CEB)

Power is a thing that people crave and is yielded in ways that keep people oppressed and systems in place.

But in this passage, where Jesus, the master, washes the feet of his disciples, the power structure is turned over.

Jesus should be the one who gets his feet washed by the disciples, not Jesus washing their feet. And yet, Jesus explains that the servant is equal to the master and the master is equal to the servant. All of us are on the same level, no exception. We all must be ready to serve each other.

Do not yield power to keep people in line, but use power to show love and service to all.

Loving People. Loving God.

promise

So what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Or what’s the benefit of circumcision? Plenty in every way. First of all, the Jews were trusted with God’s revelations. What does it matter, then, if some weren’t faithful? Their lack of faith won’t cancel God’s faithfulness, will it? Absolutely not! God must be true, even if every human being is a liar, as it is written: So that it can show that you are right in your words; and you will triumph when you are judged. But if our lack of righteousness confirms God’s justice, what will we say? That God, who brings wrath upon us, isn’t just (I’m speaking rhetorically)? Absolutely not! If God weren’t just, how could he judge the world? But if God’s truth is demonstrated by my lie and it increases his glory, why am I still judged as a sinner? Why not say, “Let’s do evil things so that good things will come out of it”? (Some people who slander us accuse us of saying that, but these people deserve criticism.) (Romans 3:1-8, CEB)

Have you ever gotten a promise from someone? And then they didn’t follow through on it?

I am sorry to say I have promised things and failed. I told my children I would build them a treehouse and I never have, and yes they remind me of this. And I say I am sorry. I am a failed human. I do not always keep my promises even though I try to keep them all. I am sinful and fail to do what I should.

And yet God never does. The promise to the Jewish nation is that they are God’s chosen people and always will be. The fact they do not follow God doesn’t take away God’s promise.

God’s promise to us will never fail.

Loving People. Loving God.