2 Timothy 3:1 – 5 (The Message translation)
3 1-5 Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.
Be careful of who you follow. There are always powers at work that are working against God’s love. This has been true from the start of time and will continue to be so until Christ comes again. So, the question becomes, who do you follow? When all are claiming that they are the true believers while those that oppose them are the heretics, who is right? I think this version of the scripture gives us a good place to start.
Let us think in terms of how Paul taught. Do they produce the fruit of the spirit or the opposite?
Love Indifference
Joy Despair
Peace Chaos
Patience Anger
Kindness Cruelty
Goodness Evil
Faithfulness Idolatry
Gentleness Harshness
Self-Control Self-Indulgence
Do they have empathy or are they narcissistic? Do they show grace or are they unforgiving? In conclusion do they Love God and neighbor (everyone is our neighbor) fulfilling the two greatest commandments taught by Jesus.
This is the test that should be used when deciding who will lead you on a path towards righteousness.
3 1-5 Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.
Be careful of who you follow. There are always powers at work that are working against God’s love. This has been true from the start of time and will continue to be so until Christ comes again. So, the question becomes, who do you follow? When all are claiming that they are the true believers while those that oppose them are the heretics, who is right? I think this version of the scripture gives us a good place to start.
Let us think in terms of how Paul taught. Do they produce the fruit of the spirit or the opposite?
Love Indifference
Joy Despair
Peace Chaos
Patience Anger
Kindness Cruelty
Goodness Evil
Faithfulness Idolatry
Gentleness Harshness
Self-Control Self-Indulgence
Do they have empathy or are they narcissistic? Do they show grace or are they unforgiving? In conclusion do they Love God and neighbor (everyone is our neighbor) fulfilling the two greatest commandments taught by Jesus.
This is the test that should be used when deciding who will lead you on a path towards righteousness.
Matthew 4:18 – 20
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
Since we missed this week’s worship due to bad weather, I have decided to share some of my thoughts from this week’s sermon about the calling of the disciples. There are two points that I want to make from this piece of scripture.
The first is that we need to rethink how this call was answered. Jesus had been teaching for a while when the call was made to Peter and Andrew. It is quite likely that they had heard and seen Jesus many times before this moment of decision. In fact, if you read further, you see where James and John are called shortly after. In the Luke version they are referred to as Simon’s partners. So, I think it is safe to say that there had been prior discussions about Jesus as to who he was. Yes, there was a spontaneous response to Jesus’s call, but it was preceded by previous discussions and contemplations.
The second part then is for each of us to consider. We have all spent much time reading, studying and discussing the word of God. But most of us are still sitting in the boat. What has God laid on your heart that you should do and for whatever reason you have not answered that call. The reasons for each person are different and change over time. But the result is the same. We stay in our boat because it is where we are comfortable. We do not want to make waves; we do not want to make people uncomfortable. We are happy where we are. But Jesus is calling all of us to serve God not ourselves.
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
Since we missed this week’s worship due to bad weather, I have decided to share some of my thoughts from this week’s sermon about the calling of the disciples. There are two points that I want to make from this piece of scripture.
The first is that we need to rethink how this call was answered. Jesus had been teaching for a while when the call was made to Peter and Andrew. It is quite likely that they had heard and seen Jesus many times before this moment of decision. In fact, if you read further, you see where James and John are called shortly after. In the Luke version they are referred to as Simon’s partners. So, I think it is safe to say that there had been prior discussions about Jesus as to who he was. Yes, there was a spontaneous response to Jesus’s call, but it was preceded by previous discussions and contemplations.
The second part then is for each of us to consider. We have all spent much time reading, studying and discussing the word of God. But most of us are still sitting in the boat. What has God laid on your heart that you should do and for whatever reason you have not answered that call. The reasons for each person are different and change over time. But the result is the same. We stay in our boat because it is where we are comfortable. We do not want to make waves; we do not want to make people uncomfortable. We are happy where we are. But Jesus is calling all of us to serve God not ourselves.
𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟕:𝟏𝟓 – 𝟐𝟎 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)
“𝐁𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭, 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐚; 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐲. 𝐀 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝.
We hear much about the antichrist and the end times. But if you read scripture there are warnings of many antichrists. This is any person or group that perverts the Gospels of God for their own benefit. These have been in existence from the beginning of the church and will continue until Christ’s second coming. Just as is said in 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟕:𝟐𝟏.
𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞, ‘𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝,’ 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧.
How do we know who to follow and who to believe? We look at their character. Do they live as they preach? Do they have the heart of a servant putting the needs of others before their own? Do they teach love of all neighbors while working for the salvation of all? Are they humble in applying grace to others while acknowledging their own failures? Are their action to the glory of God or themselves? For each of us to accomplish this we must remain both in the word and the Spirit of God. Networking with other Christians to keep us centered in the word. Testing that which is told to us against scripture, with help from the Holy Spirit.
Knowing and serving God is to changes us, make us more loving and working towards our personal holiness. We are to be living into the teachings of Jesus.
“𝐁𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭, 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐚; 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐲. 𝐀 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝.
We hear much about the antichrist and the end times. But if you read scripture there are warnings of many antichrists. This is any person or group that perverts the Gospels of God for their own benefit. These have been in existence from the beginning of the church and will continue until Christ’s second coming. Just as is said in 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟕:𝟐𝟏.
𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞, ‘𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝,’ 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧.
How do we know who to follow and who to believe? We look at their character. Do they live as they preach? Do they have the heart of a servant putting the needs of others before their own? Do they teach love of all neighbors while working for the salvation of all? Are they humble in applying grace to others while acknowledging their own failures? Are their action to the glory of God or themselves? For each of us to accomplish this we must remain both in the word and the Spirit of God. Networking with other Christians to keep us centered in the word. Testing that which is told to us against scripture, with help from the Holy Spirit.
Knowing and serving God is to changes us, make us more loving and working towards our personal holiness. We are to be living into the teachings of Jesus.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟑𝟏:𝟖 – 𝟗 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)
“𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞,
𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬.
𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞!
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞!”
I find this particular scripture very relative to how I am feeling right now. We as followers of the word of God have been called to be the defenders of the marginalized within society. I have over the years found great wisdom and relevance in the book of Proverbs.
If you take the time to understand the period leading up to the exile of Israel to Babylon this occurred because of their perverting of justice toward the marginalized within their community. This was advanced by their choosing to worship other gods for which these practices were acceptable. Throughout history this has been repeated. Most times ignored by Christians but in some cases even condoned.
I do not see myself as a prophet like Isiah or Jerimiah. I am just a humble local preacher. But I fear for those that have fallen for these false gods. That has let “the others” be demonized in the name of some mythical solution to a man-made problem. I pray every day that we who believe in Jesus, those that claim the mantle of Christianity will return to the teachings of Jesus and God in both word and deed. Jesus is the way the truth and the light. Only through God and our willingness to follow God’s command of unconditional love can we even hope to truly improve this fallen world.
“𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞,
𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬.
𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞!
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞!”
I find this particular scripture very relative to how I am feeling right now. We as followers of the word of God have been called to be the defenders of the marginalized within society. I have over the years found great wisdom and relevance in the book of Proverbs.
If you take the time to understand the period leading up to the exile of Israel to Babylon this occurred because of their perverting of justice toward the marginalized within their community. This was advanced by their choosing to worship other gods for which these practices were acceptable. Throughout history this has been repeated. Most times ignored by Christians but in some cases even condoned.
I do not see myself as a prophet like Isiah or Jerimiah. I am just a humble local preacher. But I fear for those that have fallen for these false gods. That has let “the others” be demonized in the name of some mythical solution to a man-made problem. I pray every day that we who believe in Jesus, those that claim the mantle of Christianity will return to the teachings of Jesus and God in both word and deed. Jesus is the way the truth and the light. Only through God and our willingness to follow God’s command of unconditional love can we even hope to truly improve this fallen world.
𝟏 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝟔:𝟔 – 𝟏𝟎 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)
𝐀 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝. 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡.𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. 𝐋𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫.
How much do you need to be happy? When reading this scripture, we see a different view of what makes us wealthy. True wealth is the contentment that comes from counting one’s blessings. Once our basic needs are met, we should be satisfied. Accumulating wealth serves no purpose because in the end we cannot not take it with us.
When we strive for more, we find ourselves in a selfish loop. That no matter how much we have it is never enough. And once we start down that path of material gain, we lose sight of what should be our life’s goal. To live as God created us to live. Loving neighbor as oneself. Being a servant first just as Jesus was for us. Following the John Wesley idea, to earn all you can, save all you can so you can give all that you can. In this way using God’s gifts to bring you the true wealth promised from God.
𝐀 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝. 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡.𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. 𝐋𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫.
How much do you need to be happy? When reading this scripture, we see a different view of what makes us wealthy. True wealth is the contentment that comes from counting one’s blessings. Once our basic needs are met, we should be satisfied. Accumulating wealth serves no purpose because in the end we cannot not take it with us.
When we strive for more, we find ourselves in a selfish loop. That no matter how much we have it is never enough. And once we start down that path of material gain, we lose sight of what should be our life’s goal. To live as God created us to live. Loving neighbor as oneself. Being a servant first just as Jesus was for us. Following the John Wesley idea, to earn all you can, save all you can so you can give all that you can. In this way using God’s gifts to bring you the true wealth promised from God.
𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝟒:𝟏 – 𝟒 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦? 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧? 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭.
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭? 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲.
𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐝. 𝐈𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐲.
As I read this modern version of scripture it really illustrates the world that we currently inhabit. One where it is more important to win an argument than it is to be right. That no matter what my way is the right and only way. And it is not only acceptable but celebrated when we can hurt our opponents in the process of winning.
Too often we exchange God’s will with our own. And even using selected scripture to justify our chosen position. With this thinking would (Jesus) have been the earthly king the people of Israel were looking for. But Jesus, on the contrary, was a suffering servant to all. Teaching how we should live and love each other by example while giving each the free will to choose.
When we pray, are we asking that God’s will be done or are we asking God to make us right. Maybe sometimes God’s choice to tell us no is a better answer. Those of us that are parents know that at times we need to tell our children no for their own good. Even when in doing so we cause them heartache. We must remember that God knows what is best and when we pray accept God’s answer in faith and love.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦? 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧? 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭.
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭? 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲.
𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐝. 𝐈𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐲.
As I read this modern version of scripture it really illustrates the world that we currently inhabit. One where it is more important to win an argument than it is to be right. That no matter what my way is the right and only way. And it is not only acceptable but celebrated when we can hurt our opponents in the process of winning.
Too often we exchange God’s will with our own. And even using selected scripture to justify our chosen position. With this thinking would (Jesus) have been the earthly king the people of Israel were looking for. But Jesus, on the contrary, was a suffering servant to all. Teaching how we should live and love each other by example while giving each the free will to choose.
When we pray, are we asking that God’s will be done or are we asking God to make us right. Maybe sometimes God’s choice to tell us no is a better answer. Those of us that are parents know that at times we need to tell our children no for their own good. Even when in doing so we cause them heartache. We must remember that God knows what is best and when we pray accept God’s answer in faith and love.
1/8/2026
Matthew 3:7 – 10
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
How many today would fall into the category of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Those people that profess their faith in public while worshipping at the altar of money and power. They are under the false belief that going to church and serving on the right committees will be their salvation. Just as John the Baptist said to the Pharisees not to rely on their heritage as a Jew to save them, we must not feel that saying we are followers of Christ is sufficient as well.
If we are to be Christians then it needs to be in heart and deed not in words alone. When we choose to follow Jesus then we are to repent, change our ways, and follow him. Loving neighbors as ourselves. Knowing that it is God's grace that has saved but showing that faith in that grace through action as is said in James 2:18.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
Matthew 3:7 – 10
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
How many today would fall into the category of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Those people that profess their faith in public while worshipping at the altar of money and power. They are under the false belief that going to church and serving on the right committees will be their salvation. Just as John the Baptist said to the Pharisees not to rely on their heritage as a Jew to save them, we must not feel that saying we are followers of Christ is sufficient as well.
If we are to be Christians then it needs to be in heart and deed not in words alone. When we choose to follow Jesus then we are to repent, change our ways, and follow him. Loving neighbors as ourselves. Knowing that it is God's grace that has saved but showing that faith in that grace through action as is said in James 2:18.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟑:𝟏 – 𝟔
𝟑 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝟐 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, “𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫.” 𝟑 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐡:
“𝐀 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬,
‘𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝,
𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦.’”
𝟒 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧’𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐭. 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲. 𝟓 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧. 𝟔 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫,
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬. 𝐒𝐨, 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭.
John the Baptist is quite a character. To many of his time it was thought that possibly he was the messiah but as we know he was just announcing the Messiah’s coming. But one thing is for sure, the people knew that there was something different about John. The people went to him and after hearing him they knew that they had not been living in a way that would be pleasing to God. And that through John’s message they were committed to live better.
I want us all today to consider in what ways you are falling short in your service to your loving God. Meditate on them and then in prayer ask God through the Holy Spirit to guide you on a path towards righteousness. We all need to be honest with ourselves. Celebrating those times when we get it right. But just as important, recognizing when we fall short. Only by acknowledging both can we work our way towards our personal sanctification by God’s grace and love. Remembering all along that God’s grace is all we need to be carried through.
𝟑 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝟐 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, “𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫.” 𝟑 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐡:
“𝐀 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬,
‘𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝,
𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦.’”
𝟒 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧’𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐭. 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲. 𝟓 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧. 𝟔 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫,
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬. 𝐒𝐨, 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭.
John the Baptist is quite a character. To many of his time it was thought that possibly he was the messiah but as we know he was just announcing the Messiah’s coming. But one thing is for sure, the people knew that there was something different about John. The people went to him and after hearing him they knew that they had not been living in a way that would be pleasing to God. And that through John’s message they were committed to live better.
I want us all today to consider in what ways you are falling short in your service to your loving God. Meditate on them and then in prayer ask God through the Holy Spirit to guide you on a path towards righteousness. We all need to be honest with ourselves. Celebrating those times when we get it right. But just as important, recognizing when we fall short. Only by acknowledging both can we work our way towards our personal sanctification by God’s grace and love. Remembering all along that God’s grace is all we need to be carried through.
𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟏𝟗:𝟐𝟔
𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, “𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞.”
Happy New year to you all. I want to start this new year off by reminding myself and others of what and who we should put our faith in. Too often in today’s world we rely on ourselves or man-made gods like money, power, and government. But all of these will fail us. If we put our faith in things made of man, then we will always be disappointed.
But when you put your faith in God all things are possible. But in this we must trust that our loving God has our best in mind. We then will be happy with the yes, content with the no and patient with the not yet answers to those prayers. Knowing that God's love for us will never fail. Keeping us centered in that place of peace, joy and hope that only comes from God.
𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, “𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞.”
Happy New year to you all. I want to start this new year off by reminding myself and others of what and who we should put our faith in. Too often in today’s world we rely on ourselves or man-made gods like money, power, and government. But all of these will fail us. If we put our faith in things made of man, then we will always be disappointed.
But when you put your faith in God all things are possible. But in this we must trust that our loving God has our best in mind. We then will be happy with the yes, content with the no and patient with the not yet answers to those prayers. Knowing that God's love for us will never fail. Keeping us centered in that place of peace, joy and hope that only comes from God.
