Loving And Forgiving Like Jesus

Luke 6:27-38

After a baby is born, family members often spend the next few months considering who the little one looks the most like.  Is it Daddy?  Is it Grandma, or someone else?  Then as the baby grows older, the little boy or girl often strives to be like one of their parents.  They want to run as fast as they do, catch as many fish, and throw a ball as far.  As Christians, we too, should strive to be like our Heavenly Father. We should bear a resemblance to Him by our actions.  Sometimes this might be difficult to do.  Our Scripture today from the Gospel of Luke highlights one area which is especially difficult for most of us to be like the Lord God in our actions.  Let’s look into this Scripture passage.

Our Gospel Scripture for this week contains a teaching that the Lord Jesus gave about the need for His followers to love their enemies, and to show forgiveness to all those who wrong us.  It is a lesson in showing love and mercy to others.  One part of being a loving and merciful person is showing forgiveness to others.  That can often be very difficult to do, especially when Jesus speaks of loving your enemies, doing good to those who hate you, and blessing those who mistreat you (vs. 27-28).  We might be able to do that with the neighbor who is just an irritating scoundrel.  We can grit our teeth and be kind and forgiving to the person who is always cutting us off in traffic.  But how about to those who are outright enemies and deliberately hurtful to us or our loved ones?

In this segment of Scripture, Jesus is talking about loving others who are deliberately unkind to us, people we don’t feel we can be loving towards.  This kind of love transcends our feelings and requires deliberate actions of kindness and forgiveness.  This is where we need to show the family resemblance to the Lord Jesus.  He loved us, even in our sins, to die on the cross for us, and forgives all who come to Him for salvation, and He continues to forgive all of our ongoing sins.  Jesus gives us the “Golden Rule” here to be a pattern of how we are to treat others (vs. 31).  This should be a cornerstone of our Christian conduct.

Some might question just how far the “turning the other cheek” should go (vs. 29-30).  God doesn’t want us to just stand there and let someone physically beat or abuse us.  What He wants, however, is that we not repay the evil done to us with more evil actions towards our abusers.  Instead we are to repay the evil with blessings and prayers for them.

As Jesus continues His teaching, He contrasts the way the world loves others with that of what God tells us to do (vs. 32-36).  The world, the unsaved, have no problem with loving and being kind to those who act kind and loving back to them.  That’s only natural.  However, as believers we have the Holy Spirit, and can act supernaturally by loving those who are our enemies and doing good to everyone, the good and the bad alike.  He instructs us to show mercy and compassion even to the ungrateful and wicked.  This type of behavior gives evidence of our true relationship with the Lord.

For those who love their enemies, there is a reward in heaven, and we will be called sons of the Most High (vs. 35).  This should be like a family resemblance, where we look like our Heavenly Father, where we look and act like the Lord Jesus does.  To be like God means to be kind and merciful, even to the wicked and ungrateful.   If we want to receive mercy from God, and in all honesty we all surely need His mercy, then we need to show mercy to others (vs. 36).

Jesus concludes this portion of Scripture by telling us that the measure that we use to give out to others in mercy, forgiveness, or condemnation, is the same measure that will be used to give us the same (vs. 37-38).  He urges us to be generous in our forgiveness and grace.  In order to do that, we will need to rely on God’s strength to love, forgive, and show mercy to those who have treated us wrong.  We are to reflect Jesus in our relationships, even when it is difficult, and depend fully on His grace.

In conclusion, God knows our situation.  He knows everything that we have gone through and what others may have done to us.  Yet He has called us to forgive, no matter the circumstances.  No one is perfect, including each of us.  Everyone needs to be forgiven.  Knowing that, Jesus urges us to not stand in the way of our own relationship with God by denying forgiveness to someone else.

Our Resurrection Bodies

I Corinthians 15:35-50

Can you identify what type of plant will come from any specific seed, just by looking at the seed?  Not being a gardener, for the most part I wouldn’t be able to.  There are a few that I am able to identify.  I know a watermelon seed, and I know that an oak tree will grow from an acorn.  I know a small handful of others, but not many.  That is because seeds do not look at all like the plant that will grow from them.  And you cannot plant one type of seed and expect a different plant to come forth.  If I want some broccoli plants, I better make sure I have that type of seed, or I may end up with a patch of some type of flower!  The Apostle Paul uses this analogy, along with a few others to answer the somewhat sarcastic or cynical questions that the doubters of the resurrection asked him.  Let’s continue our look into the resurrection chapter of I Corinthians.

The church in Corinth was one of the major churches that the Apostle Paul had started.  Within a few years some heretical teachings had managed to creep in, along with some problems between various members.  The apostle wrote this letter to the church in Corinth to address these various issues, including doubts about the resurrection that some were having.  In this particular passage of Scripture from chapter 15, Paul responded to their questions and misunderstandings about the nature of the resurrected body.  Some of these doubters had asked, possibly in a scoffing and cynical way, what these so-called resurrected bodies would look like?  (vs. 35).

Paul first uses the analogy of planting a seed, comparing that to the resurrection.  We plant a seed into the ground, and then wait for a specific plant to grow.  Paul compares this process with the dying and burial of a physical body.  A seed is seemingly “dead”.  It lies there lifeless until it is buried in the ground, and only then will it bring forth a living plant.  Each different seed will bring forth a different plant.  Likewise God will give each person a unique resurrection body (vs. 36-38).

The apostle continues with the analogy by comparing other things in creation, how not all living creatures are the same, nor different heavenly bodies (vs. 39-41).  Paul explained that just as there are different types of living animals (fish, birds, mammals, etc.), and different types of heavenly bodies (stars, planets, moons), the resurrection body will differ from the earthly body.

Paul contrasts our natural, physical body with that of the resurrected body (vs. 42-44). Our physical body is perishable, as it will only last a certain number of years.  It becomes weaker as we get older, and for many it gains faults and disabilities over the years.  However, the resurrected body will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual, something that is suitable for eternal life.  Paul then continues by contrasting the first man created, Adam, with that of the Lord Jesus (vs. 45-49).  Our earthly, physical bodies are like that of Adam, but the resurrected body we will receive will be like that of the Lord Jesus’ heavenly body.

Our Scripture concludes by Paul stating that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (vs. 50).  Our current bodies are not fit for eternal life, but at the resurrection the Lord will transform our bodies into heavenly bodies that are made for heaven and eternal life.

As we all grow older day by day, many of us see how our bodies are slowly, or not so slowly, falling apart.  We cannot do the things that we did in our youth.  Sickness and disabilities further wear us down physically.  With all of this, we long for the new body we will have in heaven, where there will be no more sickness, weakness, or disabilities for ourselves and our loved ones.

The apostle wrote this chapter about the resurrection to encourage believers to have faith in our coming, future resurrection and the transformative power of God.  We will shed our faulty, weak, physical bodies and be given a future body like Jesus’.  Paul assures us that we can know that death is not the end, but a transition to a glorious new existence.

Do Not Fret

Psalm 37:1-10

We see them on TV and occasionally around the neighborhood.  Perhaps you know a few at your workplace, or even have some like this in your family.  I’m referring to people who are breaking the law, either openly or more likely in a quiet and unobtrusive way, day after day, yet they are not caught or punished.  On the contrary, they are prospering.  They have a big, expensive house, drive a nice, newer model car every year, and live a life of ease.  There are also plenty who may not be breaking any of man’s laws, but are certainly breaking God’s laws, and they, too, are prospering while you and others like you, who live good and godly lives, struggle to get the bills paid every month and put food on the table.  Thoughts of how unfair this seems goes through your mind, along with perhaps some envy of what they have and how easy the “good things in life” seem to come to them.  Our psalm today speaks of just such a scenario.  Let’s take a look.

Psalm 37 is a rather lengthy psalm written by David.  We will only look at the opening ten verses today.  All throughout his life David had observed how it seems that the wicked, those who break man’s law and/or God’s law, always seem to prosper, while good folks struggle to get by.  We wonder about that, too.  Doesn’t God see?  Where’s the justice?

God’s Word tells us here that we should not fret or become upset or envious of these evildoers.  God lets us know that they are not going to be around forever.  They will one day get their just punishment.  We may not see it happening when we would like it to, and it may not even happen in this lifetime, but God assures us that they will be punished.

Three times in this brief passage the Lord tells us not to fret over this (vs. 1, 7, 8).  What does the word “fret” mean?  It means to be constantly and visibly worried and anxious over something.  It is a worry that causes us distress.  It also has the meaning of wearing away at something, or gnawing on something.  Is this envying over the prosperity of the wicked making you so anxious that you are becoming distressed over it?  Is it wearing away at your spirit, maybe so much that you are becoming sick or depressed?  Do these thoughts keep gnawing away in your mind, just like a dog gnaws on a big bone from the butcher shop?  God tells us that instead of fretting, we need to trust in Him, delight in Him, and to commit our ways to Him (vs. 3-5).

God wants us to trust in Him to provide for all that we need.  How well do we trust in Him?  Many young children have total trust in their parents.  Even at a young age they will leap into a deep pool, trusting that mother or father will catch them.  God is our ever-present help in every situation.  God is a better Father than the best earthly father is.  We can trust Him, and jump into His arms, knowing He won’t miss or drop us.

Now we come upon verse 4, which some Christians think is an all-encompassing promise to get whatever we want, but that is not the case.  To understand this promise we need to look at the conditions in this Scripture passage.  First, God tells us that we’re not to be consumed with the success of the unrighteous people we see who are prospering (vs. 1).  God will deal with them.  We need to only be concerned with ourselves.  We need to be fully trusting in God (vs. 3).  We need to delight in Him and be seeking His desires (vs. 4).  This psalm tells us to commit our ways, to focus our steps in God’s path, and then we’ll head in the right direction (vs. 5).  God won’t bless sinful miss-steps.  Lastly, we need to wait for God, as His timing is perfect (vs. 7).

To delight in the Lord means to take pleasure in discovering more about Him and following His will (vs. 4).  Then the Holy Spirit will align our hearts desires with His.  When we commit our ways to God, we allow our thoughts, goals, and lifestyle to be shaped by His will and the things He loves.  Then our hearts desires will be His hearts desires, too.

Are we still fretting, anxious, and envious about the easy life of the wicked?  Distress over a situation is the opposite of trust.  The antidote is to have absolute trust in Jesus Christ.  He is there to catch us!

Bringing Good Out Of Evil

Genesis 45:3-11, 21-28

Most of us, at one time or another, have had someone do something unkind and undeserved to us. Often it might be something small or inconsequential that we can easily forgive and forget.  However, sometimes it might be a bigger offense, something more hurtful, and more difficult to forgive.  A few people go through some very horrendous treatment at the hands of someone, something that would seem impossible to forgive.  Today we’ll take a look at a young man who went through some very horrific events in his life, and how he reacted when he had the chance to exact revenge for what he went through.

The young man in our Scripture today is Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and whose life is recounted in the last thirteen chapters of the Book of Genesis.  Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, as he was the long-awaited child of his beloved favorite wife, Rachel.  However, his older ten brothers were very jealous of Joseph, and when they had the chance, they threw him into a pit, contemplated killing him, and then sold him to slave traders.  He ended up being sold as a slave in Egypt to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard.  A little later Joseph is falsely accused of rape and thrown into prison where he remains for several years.  How can one forgive the brothers that did such a terrible thing as selling their sibling as a slave?  How can one forgive the woman who lied, accusing one of something they didn’t do, which resulted in years in prison?  The hand of God, though, was working in Joseph’s life, and he eventually became Pharaoh’s right hand man, second in command of all of Egypt.

As our Scripture passage opens, we find Joseph, basically the Prime Minister of Egypt distributing grain to starving people, including people from other countries, as there is a great famine.  His eleven brothers have been brought before him, but they do not recognize him. Joseph, though, does recognize them.  Now is his chance to get revenge!  His every word is obeyed, so he could throw them in prison.  He could even have them executed, and no one would question him.  What would you do?  What would I do?  It’s hard to say, especially in light of the horror they had caused Joseph.

During those terrible years as a slave and then a prisoner, instead of becoming bitter and angry, Joseph drew closer and closer to the Lord.  That became his salvation during that time, and God honored him by raising him to his current position.  Joseph looked at all he went through with spiritual eyes, not worldly ones, and saw that God had worked everything out so that he, his family, and others would live through the famine (vs. 5-8).  Rather than being bitter, knowing that his brothers had meant to harm, even kill, him, Joseph saw that this was used by God for a greater purpose, to save the lives of the family.  Joseph saw the hand of God in all that had happened to him.  We read the words “but God” in verse 8.  Those two words changed everything.  Joseph knew it was God working through everything, and he wanted his brothers to know the same.  Rather than take revenge on them, he sent them home to fetch their father, and then return to Egypt to live in safety and comfort (vs. 21-28).

Could we respond like that?  Would we stay free from all bitterness and anger, and see how God was working His good through all we had been through?  Joseph saw that everything he had been through was part of God’s sovereign plan  Even though his brothers’ actions were evil, God used them for good.  God is omnipotent, and He can use even human sin and the evil deeds people do to accomplish His purposes.

Joseph’s relationship and walk with the Lord God was so strong that he was able to completely forgive his brothers, despite their terrible betrayal.  Because he was able to see God’s purpose in all he went through, he was able to extend grace to his family.  Joseph had deep trust in God all through those years, knowing that he could trust His plan, even when it wasn’t clear for years.

There are several lessons that we can learn from the life of Joseph.  Though most of us won’t go through the depths of pain, despair, and betrayal that he did, we may have some terrible events of our own in our life that were caused by others.  Can we forgive like Joseph did?  God’s Word encourages us to trust that His purposes are good, even when we are going through some bad times.  Jesus challenges us to forgive those who have wronged us, just as Joseph did.  God is sovereign, and His plans prevail.

In spite of the bad things that happen in our lives, we can go on as Christians, not because we understand God, but because we see His true heart in Jesus.  In spite of evil, we know that God is good because we see Jesus.  We know He loves us because Jesus died and rose for us.  We continue to walk on through life, even in darkness, because of Jesus.  Remember, God can bring good out of evil.

Blessings And Woes

Luke 6:17-26

Most of us have heard of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, but have you ever heard of His Sermon on the Plain?  We find the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel, chapters 5-7.  Luke tells of a very similar sermon that Jesus gave to a crowd in a large field.  Some might think that this is a contradiction with Matthew saying the sermon was given on a hill, and Luke saying it was in a field.  I believe that they both are correct, as it was two different occasions, even though the content of both sermons was very similar.  I am sure that many pastors, especially if they have been pastors for a long time, have reused a sermon or two over time, and their congregations may never know.  Traveling evangelists likely do the same.  In the days before recording technology, unless one traveled with Jesus from location to location, one could not hear every message He gave.  So why wouldn’t He repeat some of His sermons to different crowds?  One time the message was given while seated on a hillside, and the other time just so happened to be on a plain.  On Luke’s occasion, Jesus was healing people from sickness, and then gave His sermon (vs. 17-19).

As Jesus began His sermon, He stated some of the Beatitudes (vs. 20-23).  These each go contrary to what the world states.  Jesus said that those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and are persecuted for His sake are blessed.  The world says the opposite, as they promote financial success, being happy, and well-fed.   Instead, Jesus emphasized the blessedness of our future rewards and the reversal of our circumstances in His Kingdom.  He also particularly highlighted how blessed are those who suffer persecution for His sake, as their reward will be great.

The material wealth and worldly comforts that society runs after today are only temporary.  The wealth and financial security everyone seeks can be gone in the blink of an eye.  Depending on what we find to make us happy, that can also quickly be gone.  However, if we are putting our trust and dependence on God, He will bless us, and His blessings are for all eternity.

Jesus then proceeded to speak of some “woes” (vs. 24-26).  To be filled with woe is to have misery, sorrow, and distress.  It is the opposite of happiness and joy.  Jesus proclaimed woe to those who have spent their life seeking to be rich and comfortable, rather than seeking after God and His Word.  Again, this goes contrary to worldly wisdom and desires, which tell us to go after wealth, comfort, and popularity, and that you’re a fool if you don’t.  These verses highlight the perils of prioritizing earthly treasures over spiritual wealth, and warn us about the danger of seeking worldly success rather than seeking after God and His ways.  Those who wish to truly follow the Lord Jesus must deny themselves and their desires, and instead focus on eternal values.

These verses make us think about our life and service for the Lord.  Did we give up that lucrative job that could have afforded us a really nice house in an affluent neighborhood, and instead we give our life to spreading God’s Word and live in a tiny apartment in the poorer part of town?  God says we’ll be blessed, and He has a mansion prepared for us in heaven.  Have we given up the fancy dining, and instead eat simple fare so that we have more to give to the Lord’s Kingdom?  There will be plenty of good food in heaven.  We can wait!

Perhaps we’re afraid to say anything to our friends, family, or neighbors about Jesus, for fear that they might mock us, laugh, end the friendship, or cut us off from the family.  So instead we keep quiet.  Jesus says, though, that if these things happen because we were open about our faith in Him, we will be blessed.  There are rewards in heaven for those who are persecuted for His sake.  We can look through the pages of the Bible, and also the lives of the saints throughout the centuries to see that this has happened to many others, and they did not flinch.

Jesus challenges us to align our lives with the values of God’s Kingdom and His Word.  When we embrace spiritual poverty, endure persecution, and put eternal treasures first, we can live faithfully as followers and believers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is Our Hope In Vain?

I Corinthians 15:12-20

Today’s Scripture reading is from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer for this week, and it continues with St. Paul’s discourse in his letter to the Corinthians about the resurrection.  The whole 15th chapter, a lengthy chapter, in that epistle is about the resurrection.   Last week we looked at the opening verses of that chapter, and today we continue on with Paul’s teaching about this vitally important topic.

This section on Paul’s discourse about the resurrection discusses the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and its significance for believers, both in the early Church and today.  There have always been people who have tried to shoot down the belief in a literal resurrection.  Paul encountered them back in his day, and we certainly see many people today who scoff at Christians and the belief in a resurrection.  The Greeks, who prided themselves with their intellectualism, stated that belief in a resurrection from the dead was ridiculous.  The Jews did not want to believe in the resurrection because that was central to the faith of those who followed Jesus, whom they had put to death.  If He truly had risen from the dead, then they had put to death their Messiah.

Now there were infiltrating the local church gatherings some who were saying that there was no resurrection, and some who said that perhaps Jesus rose from the dead, but that believers wouldn’t be resurrected.  Paul knew he had to counter this attack on the faith, as the resurrection of Jesus is central to the Christian faith, and denying it undermines the entire foundation of the Gospel (vs. 12-13).  If there is no resurrection of believers, then neither could Jesus have risen from the dead.

Paul then gave arguments about how pointless, how absurd it is for Christians, those who claim faith in the Lord Jesus for salvation, to not believe in the resurrection.  He stated that if there is no resurrection from the dead as some were claiming, then everything the apostles and others have been preaching has been false, a lie, and all of their faith is in vain, useless, and worthless (vs. 14-15).  The truth of the resurrection is vitally important, as it is the cornerstone of Christian doctrine and gives authenticity to the Apostles teaching.

If there was no resurrection then Jesus would still be dead.  If that was the case, then our faith in Him would be worthless.  Everything that we preach and teach in our churches and Christian schools would be a lie.  If there is no resurrection, then Jesus would be proved to be a liar, as He claimed that He would rise from the dead.

There are some rather serious consequences to consider if there is no resurrection.  For one thing, there would be no forgiveness of our sins (vs. 16-18).  Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and by raising Him from the dead, God was saying that He accepted that payment.  So if Jesus was not risen from the dead, then God had not been satisfied with His death on behalf of our sins.  Without the resurrection there is no reconciliation with God, and no hope of heaven.  Believers throughout history who have died would all have perished.  There would be no heaven to look forward to, and everyone’s destiny would be hell.  Paul continued, that if all of that is true, then Christians are to be the most pitied of all people, because all of our hope, everything we have believed, is in vain (vs. 19).  The resurrection is the basis for all of our hope beyond this life.

The key question is, can we believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus has risen from the dead, and that we are forgiven because of His sacrifice?  The world tries to say to us that it is a hoax, a joke, and all foolishness.  The Apostle Paul concluded this portion of Scripture by affirming the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, and that this guarantees the future resurrection of all true believers (vs. 20).

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead assures us of our future resurrection, and our hope for eternal life with Him in heaven.  We can celebrate His triumph over death, and the promise that we, too, will live with Him through eternity.

Compromise Or Not?

Psalm 1

Sometimes compromise can be a good thing, and then there are times when compromise is not good at all.  It is good to make a compromise if there is a disagreement as to what movie to watch.  We’ll watch your movie tonight and next time we’ll watch my movie choice.  If you want to go to the beach for vacation, and I want to visit some historical sites, we can compromise by trying to find a location where both are nearby.  However, when it comes to our spiritual walk with the Lord, we should never compromise.  Our psalm selection for this week speaks of a person and the choices that they must make to live a godly life before the Lord, and the end results of the godly and the ungodly.

The author of Psalm 1 is not known.  It is one of 48 “orphan” psalms, psalms that we do not know the author of.  It is a short psalm of only six verses.  The first three describe the godly man, one who is living his life for the Lord, and who does not compromise with evil.  The last three verses then describe the ungodly man, and what his end will be like.

As we begin verse 1, we see that we have a decision to make as to who our companions are going to be.  This is very important if one is going to live righteously, and not compromise their godly values and standards.  This person chooses not to walk or be a companion with the ungodly, those who do wickedly, are immoral, and are hostile to God and mock His Word.  At first it might seem like an innocent, casual walk with someone whose ways are sinful, and who opposes God.  You’re just walking along and talking. You think that soon you’ll part ways, you’ll go your way and he will go his.  But then the talk, the conversation, the interest deepens, and you stand talking and associating with him further.  And then soon you are sitting down in full fellowship with the ungodly, scornful, sinner.

God warns us against keeping the wrong type of friends.  Of course we need to witness to sinners, and tell them about the Lord.  However, we are not to walk in step with the wicked, going in their direction or their way, and not God’s way.  We might think that we can compromise just a bit, but it never works out well.  When one is close companions and good friends with ungodly people, it is much easier for them to pull you down to their level than for you to pull them up to your level.

The godly person delights in the law of the Lord (vs. 2).  They desire to read the Bible, pray, and have fellowship with God.  They do not scorn or mock Him as the ungodly do.  Would you want to keep company with someone who hated, mocked, and spoke evil about someone you love dearly, such as your spouse or a dear, close friend?  Most likely not, so why would we want to be a companion or friend to someone who did so to God?

God declares that the godly person who walks in His ways is blessed. He has promised to abundantly bless the one who has uncompromising purity of a righteous walk with Him, free from the slightest flirtation with evil.  This isn’t only just material blessings, but would include the joy that comes from a consistent relationship with God.  The psalmist describes such a godly person as being like a tree that grows beside a river (vs. 3).  Just as a tree which has a good, strong, and continual water source is fruitful, so will a person be who lives a godly life and follows God’s Word.

The psalmist then concludes the psalm with a contrast of the life of the ungodly, wicked person (vs. 4-6).  Instead of being like a lush, green, and fruitful tree as God describes the godly, the ungodly are described as chaff, which are the husks of grain that are separated from the edible part.  In the winnowing process, they are tossed into the wind to be blown away.  God will judge them, and they will not be standing with the righteous.  Instead, Scripture says that they will perish.

Is it worth it to compromise with evil by seeking the counsel and fellowship with ungodly people?  The true believer would not think so.  They  consciously resist compromise, and are wary of anything that might erode commitment to a godly life.  As the psalmist urges, we need to disengage from spiritually destructive relationships and unhealthy habits, and instead delight in God’s instructions.

A Blessing Or A Curse

Jeremiah 17:5-10

We are often warned to be careful who we place our trust in, especially in today’s world.  When some problems arise, we might turn to a few choice friends, putting our trust in them to help us out in one way or another.  If we are facing financial troubles perhaps we turn to our bank for a loan, or even go to one of the lending agencies we see advertised on TV.   When we need advice about an important decision, who is the first one we turn to?  Is it another fellow human, do we think to turn to the Lord God, or might we even check the horoscopes and psychics to get so-called “good” advice?   The prophet Jeremiah brings us today’s Scripture message from the Lord, where he warns us about who we are trusting with both our important issues, and our day-to-day decisions.

Our Scripture today begins with some very strong words.  God, speaking through His prophet, tells us that whoever trusts in his fellow man, trusting him before he would think about trusting God, is cursed (vs. 5).  His heart has departed from God, and he doesn’t think about trusting Him when there is a decision to be made, or things are getting difficult.  Instead they go to the world for its reasoning, relying upon worldly guidance and answers, or they trust in their own selves, rather than God.  Jeremiah proclaimed that God would bring His curse, or His judgment, upon such a person.  They would be like a shrub that is out in the desert, withering away from lack of water and nourishment (vs. 6).  They may still survive, but they will just be hanging on.  That is the fate of those who don’t put their primary trust in Yahweh.  They may still be surviving, but they are not spiritually thriving.  They are spiritually dry and withered in their hearts and souls.

In contrast, those who trust in the Lord, not only for salvation, but also trust in Him for everything throughout their day, will be blessed by Him.  Jeremiah likens them to a tree planted by a source of water, with roots that eagerly bring in nourishment (vs. 7-8).  Such plants do not fear the hot summer, for its leaves remain full and green.  True security and prosperity comes from a deep and abiding trust in God.

Jeremiah concludes this portion of Scripture with the declaration that God has stated that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (vs. 9).  A lot of people like to say and believe that mankind is basically good.  However this verse from the Word of God states just the opposite.  Ever since the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, since the days of Adam, man has carried original sin, and our hearts are not inclined to good, but rather to wickedness.  When we are trusting in our own heart and mind, and those of others, we will be deceived.  Satan uses that to deceive us, just as he did with Eve.

We often try to keep things secret and hidden about ourselves from other people, even from those in our family.  We don’t want others to know a lot about our thoughts, or about some of the not-so-pleasant things we may have said or done in the past.  However, we can’t keep them hidden from the Lord.  He searches our heart, and tests our mind (vs. 10).   There is no one on earth that can keep anything private or hidden from the Lord (John 2:24-25).  He knows us inside and out.  He knows our thoughts, our words even before we say them, and everywhere we may ever go (Psalm 139:1-10).  We can’t hide anything from Him, and He will reward or punish us accordingly.

In closing, Jeremiah reminds us of how important it is to place our trust in Yahweh, rather than in our own or someone else’s human strength or wisdom.  The true blessings and stability of life come from being rooted in trust and dependence on Him.  Knowing that our heart and mind are deceitful we need continual self-examination, and to rely solely on God’s judgment and guidance.  Only He can heal a sick and wicked heart, and plant it by streams of living water, making our lives fruitful.

An Overwhelming Catch

Luke 5:1-11

You’ve worked hard for many hours, but you’ve had no success in what you are doing.  Now you’re tired and want to go home, forget about the day, and get some rest.  However, before you have a chance to leave, a friend comes and suggests you try it a different way.  They’ve never done what you were trying to do, and wouldn’t seem to have any special expertise.  Should you listen to your friend?  It might seem ridiculous!  This is the situation that Peter found himself in in our Scripture today from the Gospel of Luke.

Peter and his brother Andrew, along with his two good friends, James and his brother John, were all commercial fishermen, living in Capernaum, and working on the Sea of Galilee.  As our reading begins, Peter and his companions had spent the night fishing out on the large lake.  Their mode of fishing was with nets which were cast out and then hauled in, hopefully with a catch of fish.  However, that morning they came back to shore, following a night of fishing, with empty nets.  The men sat in their boats along the shore cleaning their nets and checking them for any tears.

Jesus was in town, and a crowd was gathering along the shore of the large lake where He currently was.  So He asked Peter if He could sit in his boat so He could preach and teach them without being pressed upon.  Peter agreed and rowed a few yards out (vs. 1-3).   It was important to the Lord Jesus that His message reached the crowds at every opportunity, and that He taught them the Word of God.  Though we don’t know what His specific message was that day, Jesus often used everyday situations that they would be familiar with, such as fishing, to reveal divine truths.

When Jesus finished His message, He spoke to Peter, and asked him to go back out into the lake and throw out his nets for a catch of fish (vs. 4-5).  Peter was tired.  He had worked hard all night, and had just finished cleaning up his equipment and listening to Jesus’ message.  I’m sure that Peter was only interested in going home.  He had already spent many hours and had caught nothing.  Peter and his partners were professional fishermen, and Jesus was not.  What would He know about fishing?  Should he listen to Jesus?  Peter registered his doubts about this, and the little likelihood of catching anything.  However, he decided to do as Jesus asked.

Though this was early in the days of Jesus’ ministry, Peter and his companions knew Him for being a powerful preacher with an important message.  But what would He know about fishing, and about the best conditions and time for catching fish?  Their obedience was a very important step in their newly growing faith.  By saying yes to Jesus, Peter would experience both material and spiritual blessings.  These blessings would far outweigh any effort and inconvenience he had.

Peter rowed out to deeper water and then let down his net.  Much to his surprise they immediately caught a large amount of fish, so much so that his nets were starting to break and he had to call his friends over to help bring it in (vs. 6-7).   There was so much fish that both boats were beginning to sink!   This demonstrated Jesus’ divine power, and also His provisions for Peter and his companions who earlier had nothing to show for a day’s work.

Immediately after this, Peter felt the conviction of his prior doubts about believing in what Jesus had said, and reluctance to obey (vs. 8-10).   It was important for Peter then, and for us today, to obey God’s Word, even when it seems contrary to human reasoning.  God blesses obedience and faith in remarkable ways.

One interesting thing to note is that when Peter recognized his own sinfulness and doubts, the Scripture says that he fell down at Jesus’ knees (vs. 8).  We would typically think of someone falling down at another’s feet, not knees.  The feet are the lowest point, so when we drop down in front of someone else, we fall down at their feet.  However, the boat was so filled with fish, it was up to their knees.  These commercial fishing boats that Peter would have owned would have room for about 15 or so people, and now it was filled knee deep with fish, from one end to the other.  At Jesus’ knees was the lowest point that Peter could fall down to.

When they got back, Peter, Andrew, James, and John left everything, and began following Jesus full-time (vs. 11).  Like them, we need to trust and obey God’s commands, even when they may seem illogical or difficult.  When we do, He will provide for our needs, just as He did for Peter.

The Reality Of The Risen Christ

I Corinthians 15:1-11

Is the literal resurrection of Jesus from the dead really that important to the Christian faith?  Is it really important whether one believes it literally, or whether one thinks that it is just figurative?  There are some denominations which call themselves Christian, which do not teach the resurrection of Jesus.  These liberal or progressive denominations teach that the “spirit of Jesus” lives on, but that when He died, He remained dead just like everyone.  So, is belief in the resurrection really important, or not?  As a matter of fact, belief in the literal resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead was so important to the Faith, that the Apostle Paul wrote a rather lengthy discourse about it within his first letter to the Corinthians.  Let’s take a look at what the Lord inspired Paul to say about this.

As the Apostle Paul continued on with his letter to the church in Corinth, he opened the 15th chapter, a chapter dedicated to the resurrection, with reminding the readers of the Gospel message that he had preached to them (vs 1-2).  They had received his message, and having a belief in the Gospel he preached was what saved them from their sins.  He urged them to hold fast to the Gospel he preached, and not forsake their faith by falling victim to the false teachings that some heretics were spreading.  That Gospel message is the same today as it was in the days of the Apostles - Salvation is by grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Paul continued on, and declared the core of the Gospel: Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures.  Jesus’ death was the sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins.  His resurrection from the dead showed that God was satisfied with that sacrifice, that He accepted the death as payment.  Because of that, God raised Him from the dead.  This wasn’t just a symbolic resurrection, or a resurrection of the spirit of Jesus, of His philosophies and beliefs.  We sometimes speak of carrying on the spirit of a great leader who has died.  That is not what the Bible says or implies.  That is not what the Apostles or early Church taught.  Jesus Himself said when speaking about His upcoming death, that He would rise again on the third day (Mark 8:31; John 2:19-21).  What Paul says here affirms the literal resurrection as foundational to the faith.

As we continue, Paul declares how there were many who saw the resurrected Jesus (vs. 5-8).  This wasn’t just one or two people who claimed to have seen Jesus after the crucifixion, and then claimed He rose.  If that was the case we could say that they were delusional, or that it was wishful thinking.  Paul lists that the resurrected Jesus was seen by Cephas (Peter), by the rest of the Apostles, then by over 500 people, then by His step-brother James, and then even by Paul himself.  This is the testimony of at least 513+ people.  In any court case, if the defense had over 500 sworn witnesses, there would be no doubt about the truth of this.  These eyewitness accounts provide strong evidence for the historical reality of Jesus’ resurrection, along with the reliability and authority of Scripture being underscored.

Paul then concluded this Scripture segment, this opening portion of chapter 15, with a short, personal statement.   Paul spoke of his unworthiness to be called an apostle, that he felt unworthy to be allowed to literally and actually see the resurrected Savior because of his past persecution of the Church (vs. 9-11).  However, because of the grace of God, Paul was transformed and was commissioned by God to spread the Gospel message, including the fact of the literal, bodily resurrection.

We are now encouraged to remain steadfast in our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  This is not just an event in history, but it is the cornerstone of our hope and eternal life.  There have been several people in the last several decades who have set out to try and disprove the Bible, especially the resurrection, and have ended up failing to be able to do so, and instead became believers.

Without the resurrection we have nothing on which to build our faith.  Without the resurrection we have no hope for surviving death, and if that is the case, then why bother believing in Jesus?  However, we know that the Bible is the authoritative and inspired Word of God, and it provides us with a reliable account of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

Revive Us Again

Psalm 85

Sometimes throughout our life we find that our enthusiasm for something wanes, and we don’t care nearly as much about it as we did before.  Perhaps it might be our big support of a certain sports team.  They aren’t doing as well as they were before, so our interest starts to drop.  Maybe it’s our job or life’s work which has lost a lot of its initial fervor.  We still continue with the job, but with much less enthusiasm.  Sometimes this happens with a marriage, where there is little passion or warmth anymore.  Then something happens and things change.  Perhaps us or our spouse starts to change their behavior, perhaps our once-favorite sports team starts to improve their game, and all of our enthusiasm returns.  This also often happens with a believer’s personal faith, and if left unchecked, can leave our spiritual faith withering on the vine.  We need a surge of life poured into us.  We need a revival.   The psalmist of our psalm for this week, Psalm 85, prays that the Lord will send revival to His people, as the psalmist knows that faith has been waning.  Let’s look at this psalm, and see how, if we need to, we can revive our diminishing or dwindling faith.

Psalm 85 was written by the sons of Korah.  These were descendants of Korah, who was a member of the tribe of Levi at the time of Moses.  We read in the Book of Numbers that Korah joined with Dathan and Abiram in a rebellion against Moses and his leadership.  God punished these rebels by opening the earth beneath them, swallowing them up alive (Numbers 16:1-33).  However, not everyone in Korah’s family joined with his rebellion, and they did not perish with their patriarch (Numbers 26:11).  Having seen what could happen to those who strayed from faith in the Lord, the Sons of Korah worked in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, kept their faith strong, and wrote eleven psalms.

It is uncertain exactly when Psalm 85 was written, with some people thinking it was written after the return of some of the people following the Babylonian captivity.  Others believe it was earlier, even as early as the days of King Saul.  Whenever it was written, the author had witnessed the sins of the people, their turning from God, and now composed this prayer for revival and restoration.  The writer recalled how all through the years of wandering in the wilderness, during the days of the Judges, and throughout the reign of various kings, the people had strayed from Yahweh.  When they repented, the author noted how the Lord would forgive their sins (vs. 1-3).  He recalled God’s mercy, forgiveness, and grace.  The story of his own family history was an example of that.

The people needed to repent, and for their relationship with the Lord to be restored (vs. 4-7).  They needed to have a true Holy Spirit revival in their hearts.  They needed to listen to the spiritual leaders that the Lord sent, listen to His prophets, and be sure that their repentance is real (vs. 8-9).  Listening matters, most especially listening to God!  We need attentive obedience to Him.  God warned them not to return to the folly of their wicked ways and sins again.

This is a prayer that can and should be made with believers today.  Many believers at one time or another can let their faith start to wane and wither.  If left unchecked, our faith can be almost as if it was dead.  We can never lose our salvation if truly saved, but from outward appearances and behavior, it can appear as if that believer is not truly a Christian.  They need the Holy Spirit to bring a surge of His life into them.  They need a revival.  Whole churches can fall into this condition, and even whole denominations.  When large numbers of Christians have gotten like this, it affects the society around them.

This is when Christians need to pray for a revival, a revival in themselves, in their local church, and then spread through the community.  Revival begins with the Holy Spirit working in individual hearts, bringing a refreshing return to God, with passion and zeal.  Revival is not a random burst of energy or emotion, but is based on truth found in the Bible.

Do you want to see a return to godliness in society, and within your neighborhood?  We need to pray for a strong Holy Spirit revival.  Revival starts with us.  Just like a fire starts with one little spark, and then loose kindling gets ignited, then small branches, and finally larger branches, for a revival to happen, we need to return to our enthusiasm and zeal for the Lord, then others in our church will follow, then the whole church, other churches, and a true Holy Spirit revival can happen in our neighborhood.  People will be saved and society may begin to turn away from its wickedness.  Lord, send our hearts revival, and send it today!

God Calls Gideon

Judges 6:11-24

Have you ever felt like you were no one special, that you would never amount to much?  You might feel like God would surely never pick you to accomplish anything great for Him, so you just keep a very low profile in church.  It might be the same at work with your boss.  You faithfully punch in on the timeclock, do what work is on your desk, but never volunteer for something special, not because you are lazy, but because you feel you are no one special, and could never accomplish anything important.  This is how the young man, Gideon, in our Scripture today felt.  However the Lord showed him that He had bigger and better things planned for him.  Let’s take a quick look at our Scripture passage which gives the account of the early part of his story.

As our Scripture passage begins in the Book of Judges, we are about a generation or two removed from the days of Joshua and the conquest of the Promised Land.  The neighboring nation of Midian has now overrun part of the territory of the people of Israel, and are cruelly ruling over and oppressing them.   The Midianites were descended from one of the sons of Abraham and Keturah, the wife he married after Sarah died (Genesis 25:1-2).   One thing that they did to oppress the Israelites was to continually confiscate the grain when it was harvested, leaving little for the Israelites to eat for themselves.  This is why we see Gideon threshing his family’s wheat in the winepress, hiding his activity from the Midianites (vs. 11).

This is where we find Gideon, and where an angel sent from God finds him.  The angel called out to Gideon to let him know that God had special plans for him, calling him a “mighty man of valor.” (vs. 12).   I can just see Gideon looking around to see who the angel was talking to, thinking that the angel certainly couldn’t be addressing him.  Gideon did not believe that he was a “mighty man of valor”.  God called Gideon by this description long before he saw himself capable of carrying out the tasks He had for him.

Once the angel had Gideon’s attention, Gideon responded by questioning how he could say that God was with him, or with any of His people, because he felt that the Lord had forsaken them (vs. 13).  However, like so many of us who at times criticize God, Gideon had it wrong.  God had not forsaken His people, instead they had forsaken Him!  All throughout the Book of Judges we read of a perpetual cycle the people were in.  We read how the people of Israel turned away from God, worshiping the false gods of neighboring nations, then how God sent His judgment, usually in the form of a neighboring country overtaking them.  Then the people would repent and cry out to Him, and He would raise up a deliverer.  That was what the angel came to say, that Gideon was the man God would send to deliver the people from the Midianites (vs. 14).

This message from the angel terrified Gideon.  He did not see himself as capable of doing what God wanted, of delivering the people.  He protested that he was from a small, unimportant tribe, that his family was not important in the tribe, and he was the youngest in his family (vs. 15).  Gideon was scared.  All he could see was his own weakness and limitations.  However, Gideon, and us as well, needed to remember that God doesn’t make mistakes.  We don’t need to question Him.  Instead, we should bring our fears to God in prayer, and rely on His strength to carry us through our problems.

God will not lead us to do a task without also giving us the ability to accomplish it.  As the angel told Gideon, we can go forth in the strength of His might.  The Lord wants us to go out as His messengers in His Name and strength.  We don’t have to rely on our own strength and might, but on God’s.  God is shown strong in the midst of our weaknesses (II Corinthians 12:9).  He would proceed to use Gideon to lead an army of 300 men against an army of over 100,000 men! (Judges 7:4-7).  God promised He would be with Gideon, and will be with us in whatever He calls us to do, and that is all that counts.

Gideon came to believe and have faith in the Lord, and followed what He asked Him to do.  The first thing that he did was to give a sacrifice offering to the Lord.  Gideon called Him Jehovah Shalom or the Lord God of Peace (vs 24).  The God of Peace was with Gideon.  He is with us, too!  (John 14:27).  All we need to do, like the great old-time hymn says, is to trust and obey.  Trusting the Lord makes obedience easier, and obedience produces ever-increasing trust.

The Difference Between Nazareth And Capernaum

Luke 4:21-39

Last week, in our Gospel reading from Luke, we read how very early in His ministry, the Lord Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth, the village where He was raised, and where He spent part of His adulthood before He started His ministry. The first Sabbath after Jesus had arrived, He attended Sabbath services in the local synagogue.  While at the synagogue, Jesus asked for the scroll containing the Book of Isaiah, and He proceeded to read aloud some Scripture.  When He was finished, Jesus then stated some astonishing words, saying that this Scripture was being fulfilled right then, in their hearing.  That is where we left off a week ago.  Today’s Scripture contains the rest of the story.  Let’s jump right in.

Many of us might think that we would be welcomed if we came back to the village we grew up in, and at first it seemed that Jesus’ former neighbors and villagers did welcome Him back home.  At first they thought He preached well, and was a good speaker.  However, as He proceeded to bring His message that first Sabbath day, they quickly changed their attitude.  Some of them spoke among themselves, saying “Isn’t this Joseph, the carpenter’s son?” (vs. 22).  This sort of implied the thought of “Who does this guy think He is, telling us these things? He’s just a common carpenter, the son of a carpenter, not some learned scribe in Jerusalem!  Does He think He’s better than us?”

Jesus, being divine, knew their thoughts and attitude towards Him.  With hearts that were cold and hostile against Him, Jesus would not be able to accomplish much there.  He then reminded the people of a proverb, how prophets are not usually welcomed in their hometowns (vs. 24).  Jesus proceeded to remind them of some people in the Bible, namely Elijah and Elisha, and how God sent them to “outsiders” to perform some of their great miracles (vs. 25-27).  That really angered the people of Nazareth.  They felt that they, rather than any “outsider”, certainly deserved miracles, and that Jesus, just the local carpenter’s boy, certainly wasn’t a man of God.  They were so furious, that some of them even wanted to kill Jesus by hurling Him off of a cliff outside of town (vs. 28-30).  However, since it was neither the time nor the way that Jesus should die, He walked away from the angry, murderous mob.

Jesus left the village He had grown up in and had spent so many years in.  As far as is recorded in the Gospels, that was the only time Jesus went to Nazareth during His years of ministry.  Because of the hardness of their hearts and unbelief, He did no mighty works, and only healed a few sick folks (Mark 6:5).  Jesus and His disciples then traveled about 30 miles away to the village of Capernaum, which became something like His unofficial Galilean headquarters.

As our Scripture passage continues, we read of two miracles that Jesus performed while in Capernaum this time.  Let’s take a look at both of these.  When the Sabbath came around, Jesus attended Sabbath services at Capernaum’s synagogue.  Again, He gave a message, and here the people were much more welcoming, and had open hearts and minds (vs. 31-32).  While there, a man possessed with a demon came and started shouting at Jesus.  Immediately He rebuked the demon, which obeyed and came out (vs. 33-37).

This was not a person that most people would want to associate with or be around.  The demoniac was being very disruptive, making an ugly scene.  He might have been dirty and smelly.  His words were offensive.  This was not the type of sick person who tugs at our heartstrings, like a frail, sick child.  But he did tug at Jesus’ heartstrings.  Jesus came to his rescue.  When we are not loveable, Jesus still loves us.  Jesus is Love itself, and loves the unlovable.

Later that day Jesus was at the home of Simon Peter.  In one of the bedrooms, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, which Jesus brought healing to (vs. 38-39).  In both of these healings we read that Jesus rebuked something.  He rebuked the demon to come out, and with Peter’s mother-in-law, He rebuked the fever.  The Greek word used here for “rebuke” is “epitimao”.  That is a very strong verb, meaning to reprove, censure, and admonish severely.  It was as if Jesus was shouting, “Stop it!  That’s enough!”  He was not going to let the demon destroy that man’s life any longer, nor was He going to let the high fever continue to ravage her body.

There was a difference between Nazareth and Capernaum.  Where Jesus was welcomed with open hearts He was able to minister His love, healing, and bring salvation.  That would bring others and then more others to come to Him.  However, where the hearts were hard, cold, and resentful, Jesus could not bring His message and ministry.  Which one are you?  Don’t be like Nazareth, cold and hard against the Savior.  Jesus never returned there.  Instead, be more like Capernaum, which welcomed the Savior.

Looking At Our Motives

I Corinthians 14:12-20

Today’s New Testament Scripture comes from a passage in St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthian Church which has caused some disagreements among some different denominations.  This is the practice of speaking in tongues.  There are some denominations where speaking in tongues is an important part of their worship, such as various Pentecostal churches, and it is openly done in the church service.  There are other denominations who take a more restrained approach, where it is not done openly in the church services, but some practice it privately.  Then there are others where it is taught that the gift of tongues stopped during the days of the Apostles and New Testament, and that is no longer, or should no longer, be practiced.  My message today is not to stir up any controversy as to who is right and who is wrong, whether tongues are for today or not.  Paul had an important message for the Corinthians in this passage, which is found in the opening verse.

The Christians in the Church of Corinth were a competitive group.  Many of the believers there seemed to be in some type of competition among themselves as to who had the most important gifts, and who was more important to the church.  They also seemed to greatly desire the more “showy” gifts, and the gift of tongues was certainly one of those, and so many wanted to be known as one who frequently spoke in tongues.

It seems that sometimes the church services were plagued with disorder, as a number of people would be speaking in tongues, and without someone with the gift of interpreting tongues, there was major confusion (I Corinthians 14:26-33).  The Apostle Paul taught in our Scripture passage that if one openly speaks in tongues in the church, to make sure there is someone present to interpret, otherwise what spiritual benefit is it to anyone else? (vs. 13-17).  He taught that our spiritual gifts should be used to help and edify other believers (vs. 12, 17).  This admonition holds not only for the gift of speaking in tongues, but should be applied to any other gifts of the Spirit that we have, and anything we do in our local church.

Many of the folks in Corinth were speaking openly in tongues at the church services because they felt it made them look extra spiritual to others.  They felt that other Christians would look at them as “super-Christians” because they had that spiritual gift.  But what were they doing to help others, which Paul said was most important?  We should examine our hearts, and take a look at our true motives in what we are doing for the church.

Do we have the gift of preaching or teaching?  If so, are we chiefly focused on instructing others in God’s Word or are we overly proud of our intellectual ability?   Maybe our mind is more focused on writing the next spiritual bestseller, or wanting the prestige of being asked to lead a big mega-church and possibly having a TV show.

There are others who have the gift of performing music, perhaps either playing an instrument, or maybe being a good singer.  Again, what is our motive in being part of the worship team or choir in our church?  Is it to be seen up front performing?  Are we looking for the applause and compliments about how great a musician we are?  Are we secretly hoping some music scout might be in attendance who will pick us for some Christian music contract?

The Apostle Paul said that our chief focus above anything else should be to edify and help build up our fellow believers.  This should be the case whether we teach children or adults, preach, work in the music ministry, the prayer ministry, or wherever we serve.  Are we seeking to build up our fellow believers and the Church, or to puff up ourselves?  No matter what we do, our only goal should be to lead others to the Lord Jesus Christ, and then building them up in the faith.

Our Legacy

Psalm 71

Everyone is getting older.  If you’re not getting any older then you are not alive.  For some, getting older is a pleasure, something they are eagerly looking forward to.  They are young, and have so many plans, so many ambitions.  For others, usually older folks, getting older can bring fears.  They face weakening strength and abilities, poorer health, less income, the loss of friends and fear of loneliness. The unknown author of today’s psalm was probably a senior citizen, and faced some of these fears.  However, he had trust and praise for God’s faithfulness and protection, whatever age he was.  Let’s look into this psalm.

Our psalmist had lived many years, and he knew that throughout life there were trials and troubles.  Through these times, he prayed for God’s protection and deliverance (vs. 1-4).  We all know that we face difficulties, no matter what age we are, especially after we leave our parents home.  During these times, like the psalmist, we need to seek refuge in God, and trust in His righteousness and power to save.

As the psalmist continued, we read of his view of life.  He praised the Lord for His constant salvation, and hoped with certainty that even through great and severe troubles, God would revive him once again (vs. 5-8).  He believed that the Lord had been watching over him even from before his birth, and that He provided for his safe birth as He took him from his mother’s womb.  From the psalmist’s youth up, the Lord has been his trust.  It was a lifelong trust, and shows us today the importance of a personal relationship with God that begins early in life and continues throughout one’s days.

As the psalmist wrote, he was in his senior years, and those fears that are so common to those of us in this time of life, started to creep in.  One of his concerns was about being abandoned in old age (vs. 9).  Yet he continued to call on God for ongoing support.  He prayed that the Lord not forsake him, now that he was an old man.  Rather than spending those years relaxing and taking it easy, he continued to have enemies, whether actual people after him, or other problems, such as poor health or financial woes (vs. 10-13).  He trusted in the Lord to help him in old age, as He always had before.

Continuing on, our psalmist committed to praise God and proclaim His deeds to others (vs 14-18).  He knew how very important it is that the younger generations be told all about the Lord.  If we don’t pass on the message of the Lord Jesus to the younger generation, then that message will end with us when we die.  It is so important to share our faith and testimony with others, especially with the next generation.  Rather than just criticizing and complaining about young folks, we should be sharing the message of Jesus with them, and praying for them.

As the psalmist concluded his psalm, he committed to bring praise to the Lord God for His righteousness and salvation (vs. 19-24).  Believers know that God is faithful in delivering His children, and it is important to praise Him for His mighty works.  It is vital to have a personal relationship with God that spans our entire life.  We can trust in His protection, and no matter our age, we should seek refuge in Him, and trust in his power to deliver us from all adversity.  Knowing and experiencing this, we need to remember how important it is to share our faith with the next generation, and they, in turn, pass it on to the next.  That is how we, in the 21st century, still hold the faith of the Apostles, centuries later.

In closing, let me share one of the greatest legacies a Christian can leave on earth - to be known as one who continually trusted in the Lord, both in good days and bad, at the beginning and the end of life.  Let our legacy be that we trusted God until our very last breath.

God Has A Plan For You

Jeremiah 1:4-10

The Old Testament Scripture from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer for this Fourth Sunday following the Epiphany is from the opening verses of the Book of Jeremiah.  Here we read that Yahweh knew Jeremiah long before he was ever born, and had a plan for his life set in place.  We might find that somewhat puzzling, as how can anything be known about someone who isn’t born yet, before they are even conceived?  Let’s look into our passage and see what we can learn.

The prophet Jeremiah lived from approximately 650 BC - 570 BC.  His ministry was to the southern Kingdom of Judah, and during the reign of the last five kings of Judah.  He witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and of the Temple at the hand of the Babylonians.  He was not a popular figure at that time, as he preached against the actions and teachings of the political and religious leaders, and warned that God would soon judge the nation, which came to pass in his lifetime.  Jeremiah suffered much persecution and attacks during his lifetime for the message he brought from the Lord.

At the start of the Book of Jeremiah, we read a little bit of biographical data about the prophet.  Here we read how the Lord told Jeremiah of how he had been called and selected by Him from before he was even born.   Jeremiah did not have an easy ministry by any means.  It is not an easy task to tell a nation that God’s judgment will be quickly coming because of their sins.  Jeremiah’s words got himself in a lot of trouble with both the political and religious authorities, and he needed the Lord’s encouragement, which is what He gave the prophet in these Scripture verses.

The Lord told Jeremiah that He knew the prophet long before he was born (vs. 5).  He knew him before he was even being formed in the womb, before he was even conceived.  We might wonder about that.  How can someone be known before they even exist in any form?  Here is an imperfect analogy - when an architect designs a building, the plans first come as a thought in his mind.  This is before any construction is done, and before any drawings and blueprints are made.  The architect plans every detail before he even puts anything down on paper.  Before the building is even created it is already created in the architect’s mind.  In a similar way the Lord God knows each and every one of us before our parents even met.  Yahweh is an omniscient God, knowing everything from the beginning to the end of time.  Since He is outside of time, He can know everything about someone centuries before they are ever born.

Not only did God know Jeremiah long before he was born, He had a plan for Jeremiah’s life before he was born, as well.  God also has a plan for each of our lives, too.  His plan for us is perfect.  Do you know what God’s plan for you is?  As we pray and yield ourselves to Him, He will reveal it.  That plan is not subject to the whims of man, nor the uncertainty of the world today.  Whatever our circumstances are, God wants to use us for His plan and purposes.

God brought Jeremiah continued encouragement, as the opposition he was facing was both discouraging and at times even frightening.  However the Lord encouraged Jeremiah, telling him to not be concerned about his age, as He has given him a command to speak (vs 6-7).  The Lord also spoke words to embolden Jeremiah to not be afraid of those who opposed him and even attacked him (vs. 8).  The message God gave Jeremiah was to tear down and root out the sinfulness of the people, and to build up and plant those who turned to God (vs. 9-10).

The Lord wanted Jeremiah, and us today, as well, to know that He knew him, and had a plan for him.  And if He had a plan for Jeremiah, and for us today, He will see that plan through.  God knows us more intimately than any person ever could, and He is able to give our lives purpose and meaning, unlike any other.  He formed us through His wisdom and power, and sustains every moment of our life.  God created us to live purposeful and meaningful lives.

We may encounter threats, hardships, and pain in our life, even when we are following God’s plan for us, just like Jeremiah did, but He assures us of His presence.  God calls us to stand on the solid rock of His Word, and take shelter in His promises.  Whatever struggles we face in our attempt to live for the Lord, we can trust in His presence with us.