There are hundreds, if not, thousands of video clips that circulate on social media on a daily basis. Some have an agenda while others are manipulated to force a narrative upon us. I have also found that some just speak for themselves. I came across one of those video clips.
I’ll keep it “anonymous” as to who this was because my point is context. I would normally just brush off such a video clip as this, but I couldn’t. The person involved took the Bible out of context and was “forcing a square peg into a round hole” to make it justify his lifestyle. He was expressing his displeasure with people criticizing him for being very rich. He did not appreciate that people were voicing their displeasure at his owning a mansion and having a private jet to fly him around the world. This television preacher made no apologies for living an “above and beyond” lavish lifestyle. In fact, he claimed them as a blessing from God. I would have just brushed it off at that point and moved on with my day. However, he took out his Bible and read from the Psalms to prove his point that he was “blessed” to have the mansion and jet aircraft. It was Psalm 49:16, “Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased.” He went on and on about how this Scripture says that we shouldn’t be afraid to be rich or to have extravagant real estate. He went on to claim that he was being blessed by God spiritually, physically and financially. He was using this Scripture out of context to justify his elite-level of earthly possessions. Let’s put Psalm 49, that he was reading, back into context. The Scripture is actually warning this preacher about the very thing he is boasting about: possessions and being rich. This is the same fatal mistake that the “rich fool” made in Luke 12:16-21. The rich man supposed that his “much goods laid up for many years” could satisfy his soul. He thought that he could simply tear down everything and build bigger and better. Our trust, faith and allegiance is to God and God alone. We live our lives not in the pursuit of great wealth and earthly possessions, but in the reliance and confidence in the power and trustworthiness of God. He is our source of Life and our Provider. One of the lessons behind Psalm 49:16, is that the worldly pursuit of wealth, possessions, and vast real estate holdings, will all be in vain in the end. In other words, no amount of money or degree of wealth can save you from death. The Psalmist is warning us not to fall into the trap of thinking wealth will be a safeguard against death. One may amass an enormous financial portfolio on this earth, but it will never be enough to “buy your way” into Heaven. Your privileges in this life will not translate into eternity. How do we know this? We just need to read the next verse! Psalm 49:17, “For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.” The Psalmist is telling us what we already know which is “you can’t take it with you.” The rich and wealthy have no advantage over those who are poor or who are financially struggling. We all die and take nothing with us into eternity. Our true fear is a holy and reverent awe of God, our loving Father, who lavishes His love upon us and bestows the priceless gift of our inheritance when we cross the threshold of eternity into His Kingdom. Yes, it was very disappointing to hear this television preacher use Scripture out of context to justify his indulgence in wealth and splendor of earthly possessions. I pray we will stay focused on the reality of the coming Kingdom of God and being faithful stewards of what God does allow us to have, own and possess here on earth. I pray we will recall the words of Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Now that is something I can keep in context!
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I think we could spend hours, if not days, in just the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. If there is one thing that is made clear in this writing is that God is passionately pursuing us and bidding us to have a relationship with Him that is restored by His Son, Jesus.
There is one verse, in particular, that stands out to me. John 6:37, “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” Those that come to Jesus will never be rejected. If you come to Jesus, just as you are now, he will not turn you away. He gladly welcomes you to come to him. It is not God’s design or plan that we live separated from Him. He makes the way for that relationship to happen. He initiated the plan. He paid the price. He gives freely. He gives us free-will to choose or reject that offer of reconciliation through Jesus, His Son. God makes His intent clear: Ezekiel 33:11, “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?” 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” This is what makes the stories of Zacchaeus, the prodigal son, the vineyard workers (Matthew 20:1-16), and many other parables an overwhelming message to us that God does not want us to live without him now or in eternity. It is overwhelming to think of the extent God will go in order to reach you, to grab your attention, and reveal himself. He wants you to know how much he loves you. There’s nothing preventing you from reconciling your life back to God through Jesus. There is nothing we have done in our lives that could prevent that from happening. I do find it comforting to know that when God sent his Son, Jesus, to save the world from sin (John 3:16), that he already factored in all my sins, mistakes, disasters, back-sliding, and every dark thing my heart could muster. The blood of Jesus shed on the cross covers it all. Romans 5:8, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” God initiated his plan first. He doesn’t wait for us to get our “act together” before he’ll accept us. He won’t put us on a 30-day trial period to see if we can handle being a Christian. He takes us the moment we come to him. God has made it possible for you to come to him. The question is, then, will you go? We need to understand that God is not going to force us to come to him. He wants us to make that decision and to come to him willingly. We must make that decision to believe by faith. John 6:47, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.” We must realize our sinfulness has broken our relationship with God and that Jesus, his Son, is the only one who can repair that relationship for us. We all fall short (Romans 3:23), so we all face this decision in life. We are all born into sin and all need the redeeming work of Jesus Christ in our life. Sometimes, we have a tendency to complicate things that are simple. We question how such a priceless gift as eternal life is already paid for and is “free” to us just by asking. It is pretty clear that Romans 10:9, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” If you choose Jesus, he will not reject you (John 6:37). He will not reject you, but help you. He will send the Holy Spirit into your life to help you become stronger in faith and more like him. If you have truly believed in Jesus Christ and put your faith in Him, you can expect God to start transforming you. The old ways of sin that you used to relish are going to fade, and the new life you live in Christ will dominate your passions. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Remember, every sinful thing you have done in life was already factored into the equation when God sent Jesus to die for the sins of the world. Nothing is preventing you from coming to back to God through Jesus Christ. He will not reject you. In fact, he will gladly welcome you back! Luke 15:20, “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” No rejection there! No rejection for you, either! Wherever you are right now, may you truly understand how desperately God, the Father, wants a relationship with you. He does not reject you. So, go! Just before Jesus gives up His spirit on the cross, He utters a very powerful word. The word that He cries out is “tetelestai” (tih-tellis-tie). When literally translated, this word means, “It is finished.” It can also refer to something completed or accomplished. The word occurs in John 19:28 and 19:30 and these are the only two places in all of the New Testament where it is found.
In the John19:28 passage, it is translated, “After this, when Jesus knew that all things were now completed, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I thirst.’” Two verses later, he utters the word himself: “Then when he received the sour wine Jesus said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Did you know that the word tetelestai was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full? The Greek-English lexicon (by Moulton and Milligan) says this: “Receipts are often introduced by the phrase tetelestai, usually written in an abbreviated manner....” The connection between receipts and what Christ accomplished would have been quite clear to John’s Greek-speaking readership; it would be unmistakable that Jesus Christ had died and paid off the debts for their sins in full. We all know how it feels to get an invoice that shows a “$0.00” balance because the cost has been “paid in full.” Jesus is the propitiation. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus pays the price that we could not pay ourselves. Jesus completed the Passover upon the cross as full, perfect, and atoning sacrifice. The Old Covenant is now complete and the New Covenant, in Christ’s blood, is established and is what has been instituted within the life of the Church and for Believers. That is why Jesus said “it” is finished. Jesus is the New Covenant and makes it possible for us to be reconciled back to God in an intimate, loving, and eternal relationship. Tetelestai! Yes, it is finished. It is completed. It is accomplished. Hallelujah! As we near the Thanksgiving holiday, I can’t help but think of David’s prayer of praise. We find that in the Old Testament.
1 Chronicles 29:10-19, “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” As we gather with friends and family around the table for our Thanksgiving meal, I pray that we will be reminded of the greatest Thanksgiving of all. However, I am not speaking of the holiday in November! The greatest thanksgiving, for most Christians, is celebrated during the Sunday worship services at various times. For some, it is once a month and for others it is once a quarter or even every single Sunday and special occasions. What am I talking about? Holy Communion. The Lord’s Supper. Some just call it simply, “Communion.” There is yet, another word, for this sacred meal. That word is “Eucharist.” I actually prefer this word over all the other names. The word “Eucharist” is a transliteration of the Greek word “Eucharistia.” The translation literally means “thanksgiving” or “the giving of thanks.” It also notes gratefulness. So, the interesting thing is that it implies that “thanksgiving” is shown to God, and God alone, with a reverent heart in the act of worship. There is a phrase that is similar to the meaning of “Eucharist” that usually begins most Hebrew prayers. It is “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu…” which means “Blessed are you, Lord our God.” May we never forget those words that remind us of the greatest Thanksgiving of all: The Lord our God who lavished His redemptive love upon fallen humanity to offer salvation from our sins through the atoning sacrifice and blood of His only Son Jesus Christ, and to adopt us back into a loving, intimate relationship where we are His children and He is our Father and our God. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Let us always be thankful and live our lives in vibrant faith and gratefulness for the body and blood of Jesus. That, indeed, is our “Eucharist” as well as our thanksgiving. I was reading through one of my daily devotionals and, like always, there are those that strike me in a stronger way. This particular day highlighted Luke 15:2, which makes one profound statement: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
There’s nothing complicated about what Jesus is doing! I believe it is our approach to ministry that complicates the steps we take to introduce Jesus to others. Jesus had no boundaries. He was willing to engage Samaritans as much as the Jews and Gentiles. There are times we get so focused on “getting them saved” or “getting them to Church” that we forget the most important “first step” of establishing a relationship. Befriending and showing the love of God by being a neighbor and friend. This devotion went on to say, “God rejects sin but not sinners. He seeks them out to free them from the misery. All love should work thus: not condemning but helping even if it is only with a silent prayer. Do I pray for the conversion of souls?” My concept of this approach is what I call the “Zacchaeus Principle” (Luke 19:1-10). Jesus didn’t pester Zacchaeus with going to the Temple or challenging him with whether or not he prayed, obeyed the commandments, or observed the Jewish festivals. How did salvation come to the house of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:9)? Not through a fantastic teaching in the Temple or because he gave an amazing monetary gift to support Jesus’ ministry. It all started when Jesus engaged Zacchaeus personally and invited him to dinner. Jesus invested personal and focused time to meet Zacchaeus right where he was in life. The first thing Jesus did was to get Zacchaeus to come down out of the tree. I think it is time to stop stressing over creating award-winning services, outings, retreats, and concerts as a way of convincing people to either come or return to Church. We probably even need to stop trying to convince them to come “through the back door” by bringing them to weekday ministries such as men’s or women’s groups or Bible studies. Then how? What are we supposed to do? First, let us stop complicating what is so simple. Jesus and Zacchaeus give us some ideas. Jesus had to engage Zacchaeus in such a way that it was his own decision to come down out of the tree. How does that look for us? Well, if God places someone on your heart, make time to find them and engage! Start simple. Invite them over for dinner or take them out to their favorite restaurant. Take them to lunch. The point is to make the time to befriend them in the atmosphere of fellowship. Another way that works is if you are out in public and someone catches your attention because they look sad, frustrated, or aren’t smiling. It is a time for you to take the risk and engage them. Ask “I noticed you looked stressed. What would put a smile back on your face today?” Or, perhaps “What is one thing that would make your day turn around for the better?” You would be surprised what their answers will be in response. You might hear things such as “a friend to talk to” or “my car broke down and I just need to get to my Mom to her medical appointment.” I am sure it would be a tailor-made “God arranged this just for you” moment in time. Jesus shows us that ministry starts by just engaging and seeing if Zacchaeus would be willing to come down out of the tree. Who can we befriend and engage with the love of Jesus? Lord, place those people in our hearts and help us to cross paths so that we may engage them with Your unconditional love. Amen! We are human and prone to mistakes, misunderstandings, and other influences towards our fallen nature that keep us from being absolutely perfect. There are those times where we may find exceptional achievement, but most times we fall short in some way. Perfection, however, is not an illusion. It is something that we can strive for in our spiritual lives. Jesus challenges a rich man with such a goal. Matthew 19:21, “Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” Why would Jesus give this man what appears to be a nearly impossible task? It would seem impossible if we didn’t understand the word “perfect.” The word is not implying that we should be continually living without fault. This form of perfection relates to love. Jesus is literally addressing the unconditional love of agape. In other words, Jesus is saying that we must strive to love as God does which includes expressing such love through radical forgiveness and unselfish giving. He is asking for undivided loyalty and full-hearted obedience. Radical discipleship. What does that form of perfection look like? Jesus gave us the answer earlier in Matthew 5:43-48, “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.’” We are to strive for perfection in our love of neighbor. What is unique in that is we do not get to determine who those neighbors get to be. It applies to all people. We are not allowed to pick and choose who we’ll love. Again, we love as God loves. The word Matthew uses for “perfect” is the Greek word “teleios” which means “mature” or “full grown.” We must grow in our faith. We must become mature believers. In our Methodist tradition, we call this “going on towards perfection” or “sanctification” where we surrender to God in faith and die to self so that we can be conformed to the image of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Jesus was challenging the rich man not because he was rich. Jesus challenged him with having a divided mind. He had a cerebral faith, but not a heart-faith. He knew all about it, but didn’t live it. Yes, he obeyed the laws, but not out of a loving heart. Jesus sets the standard of undivided loyalty and full-hearted obedience. Radical discipleship. When pursuing a life of perfection, we must learn to reconcile each day with questions such as “what was more important to me than God, today?” “Why was I willing to compromise obedience for convenience?” “Who didn’t I love unconditionally?” These aren’t all the questions, but I think you get the point. We cannot follow Jesus from a distance or when we have time or feel it is to our benefit. His commands are not suggestions. Jesus is not asking us to “pencil him in” our schedule. He is asking us to be our full schedule and to center our life on him. Work on being perfect. Love unconditionally. Live out your faith. Grow and deepen your faith. Follow Jesus. Be like Jesus. Especially to those who are your enemies or persecuting you…to the ones who hate you and are despitefully using you. Love is true perfection. We find a very uncomfortable statement made by Jesus to Peter in Luke 22:31, that reads, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.” What is more intriguing is that Jesus doesn’t stop it or prevent it from happening, but rather prays that Peter’s faith would not fail during the sifting. It is a prayer for our faith as well!
What is this sifting? The word used for “sift” means “inward agitation to try one's faith to the verge of overthrow” or can have a figurative interpretation to mean “to riddle.” One of the greatest acts of “sifting” by Satan is his use of doubt in God or to question God. One of the earliest examples is from Genesis 3:1 when Satan tried to get Eve to doubt God when he questioned, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” Satan’s tactics were no different with Jesus during Christ’s 40-days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Satan will always try to trick us into accepting his offers on things that were never his to give. All we need and every promise assured us comes from God and God, alone. The things of God were never Satan’s to give in the first place. We should not barter, bargain, or deal with the Devil. We should never want anything from him. The deception and sifting process is to encourage self-sufficiency by questioning God’s provision and love. Satan wants us to believe that God is not enough and doesn’t have our best interest in mind. Satan wants to instill doubt so that we turn from God and stop trusting his promises. This is what makes 1 Peter 5:8 such a powerful lesson for us. We are warned to “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” The distraction is not getting what you think will be your goal or gained independence. What you actually receive, in the end, is destruction, chaos, and death. What, at first, appears to be for your benefit actually ends up being a complete disaster....total annihilation. Life-long messes to clean up and recover from. If you are doubting God or questioning his love, care and best for you, then realize where those thoughts, challenges, and feelings are coming from. Your adversary, the devil, is doing everything possible to pull you away from God so that he can destroy you through doubt and questioning. We would call that “going in for the kill.” His “sifting” process is never for your benefit or good. We can be grateful for the assurance of Hebrews 7:25-26, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” This is why Jesus prayed for Peter’s faith to be victorious and to not fail. James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” As we grow in our faith, we must understand that even though the devil becomes less and less victorious, it doesn't mean that he is putting in less effort in trying to influence us. He will always be working passionately at sifting us. To grow in our faith, we need to make it a point to get with God daily in prayer and keep our focus on Him at all times and in every situation. We need to read and study the Word of God in order to implant it on our hearts. And we need to give thanks and praise to the Lord for all He does for us. Plus, never go at it alone! Stay connected with your Church family in fellowship, mentorship and guidance. Resist the sifting of Satan! We all have some type of device to track time. On our phone. Our watch. A clock on the wall. Some even spend great sums of money to have a grandfather clock to chime the top of the hour as well as each quarter hour.
Time matters. We schedule events for a particular part of the day based on time. Our favorite television program or educational classes are at a specific time each week. We have meetings, briefings, and other functions all have a set amount of time they last. However, when it comes to the life of the Church, we have a tendency to expect it to be regulated to a certain amount of time as well especially the Sunday worship service. We have allowed social norms to dictate worship to a one hour service. People have grown accustomed to that hour and now naturally expect that all church services to be one hour and no more. Through that understanding there has grown a population in the church that struggles to accommodate more than one hour. They become fidgety and restless the moment the service gets to the 61st minute. They simply cannot go “overtime.” Can we do something about this? Yes. All of us can. We’ve heard the saying many times, “Start on time, end on time, do the right things in between.” There is a basic expectation to start on time, but also not to waste the time. Meaningful and thoughtful worship, well managed, can take place within an hour that helps everyone encounter the Living God. However, let’s be fair here. The spirit of worship can be deadened, thrown off course, and greatly hindered when announcements, exceptionally long sermons, and other parts of the service are drawn out or “added in” at the last minute. I’ve heard it said that “The mind can only comprehend what the seat can endure.” Let’s face it; there are limitations to anyone’s ability to sit still for a long period of time. Plus, there are some who have physical disabilities and health concerns that challenge lengthy sitting in the pew and even a comfy, padded chair. There is much to consider when church leadership doesn’t recognize or commandeer the clock on the wall. Although we don’t want to rush, we must move along in a steady rhythm so as not to lose purpose and meaning of worship. Sloppy, thoughtless, and mechanical worship is horrific (if not blasphemous) regardless if it is within an hour or goes over an hour. 1 Corinthians 14:26, “What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.” We can all contribute and come into worship with the idea of participation, engagement, and willingness to “give and take” despite the “exact minute” displayed on the clock. Together, with everyone participating, we can make worship both meaningful and within the hour. There is always an awareness of time, but it still doesn’t dictate the moving of the Holy Spirit working amongst the congregation in worship. Having a clock on the wall in the sanctuary is both a blessing and a curse. It has been a source of contention for every generation amongst believers once the clock strikes “12:01PM” and “we’re not done yet.” You can trust that the Pastor and worship teams are fully aware of the time and have your best interest in mind when planning worship. However, understand that worship is not regulated to 60-minutes, while, at the same time, it doesn’t enhance anything by routinely going 20-30 minutes over the expected and usual end time. It is a delicate balance that needs to be embraced with grace and mercy. We must honestly evaluate our hearts and examine the depth of our faith if it pains us to endure an entire hour of worship on Sunday. If it seriously angers you or you begin to build a hatred or resentment toward your pastor(s) when services end a few extra minutes over a one hour time period or when something special happens and the benediction is delayed by 15-20 minutes, then the problem is not the service….it is you. It has been said, “If the service is too long it is because your love for God is too short.” I have found that the ones who complain the most about “going over” are usually the ones who are “checked out” before they even come in the sanctuary. When you arrive for worship just make sure you are there fully prepared and ready to engage in the worship of God and not distracted by “self” and the clock. We have to decide what is more important…the clock or encountering our Living God (Joshua 24:15). Don’t allow the clock and “what time is it?” to become an idol that turns your attention and heart away from God. Deuteronomy 29:18, “Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.” There are 168 hours in the week. That means that one hour, plus a few extra minutes, in worship on Sunday gives us no reason to complain when considering there is still 166-167 hours left for our use. A worship service that goes into “overtime” is not worth losing our minds over. Come to Church to worship and focus on God; not the clock. You have time, so make that time count. There is a wonderful southern community along the Gulf of Mexico in Texas called Corpus Christi. When I was stationed in Texas, at Fort Sam Houston, it was a joy, as an Army Chaplain, to lead marriage retreats in the luxurious hotels built along those Corpus Christi beaches.
It never dawned on me about the meaning of that name until becoming an Army Chaplain and getting to spend a lot of time with colleagues who were Catholic Priests. The name “Corpus Christi” is Latin and means “the Body of Christ.” For Catholics and some protestant denominations, “Corpus Christi” is a very special time of remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus made giving his body upon the Cross for our redemption and salvation. Today, this remembrance of “Corpus Christi” (Body of Christ) is also known as “The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.” So, what is this? This is a time they set aside after Pentecost to honor Jesus Christ, who they believe is really, truly and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine. This “presence” happens through the change which is called “transubstantiation” or “change of substance.” This is a belief that when the Priest prays over the bread and juice and says, “This is My Body,” and “This is the cup of My Blood,” along with “Do this in remembrance of Me” that Jesus is present within the juice and bread despite the physical appearance not changing (still looks and appears as juice and bread). Before we go any further, I am not promoting this belief in transubstantiation nor making this a “for or against” article. It’s simply a belief within some Christian communities. So, what’s my point? Well, it is actually a question. Do you believe in the presence of Christ with you literally and spiritually? Do you believe in the presence of God…period? Or, do we live as if God is “way up there” in Heaven and we are “way down here” on the earth? Remember the first announcement of the birth of Jesus? Matthew 1:23, “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” God is ever with us through Jesus the Son. Through the Holy Spirit’s presence, both God the Father and God the Son, Jesus, will never leave us. John 14:16-17, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” Jesus reaffirmed His commitment to never leave us all alone to “fend for ourselves” in this world after He ascended back to Heaven. Matthew 28:20, “…And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” There is also assurance of this promise from the Psalms that, no matter what, we cannot escape, turn away from, or feel abandoned from God physically, mentally, or spiritually. It is a true impossibility. Psalm 139:7-10, “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.” Just these few Scripture passages, alone, suffice to assure us with the utmost confidence that God is always with us in concert with His Son, Jesus and His Holy Spirit to lead us closer into relationship with Himself and to ignite within us a Spirit-fueled ministry to be disciples and ambassadors for God the Father. For some, Jesus is present in the elements of Holy Communion. For us, Jesus is present with us, along with the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us for the Glory of God the Father. There is nowhere God “can’t” be. In fact, God is in every place we go and is already there before we even arrive. He is with us and also ahead of us. As you hear the name “Corpus Christi” or any reference to this City, just remember God is always with us through His Son and Holy Spirit. Remember that when you see the sunrise in the morning or sunset at night. When you gaze at the universe at night and take in the stars, planets and moon. When you receive a courteous smile and greeting from a stranger or are hit with that strong “gut feeling” when the Holy Spirit helps confirm a decision you need to make. Go in peace as God is with you. The book of Sirach may not be one you are familiar with unless you have studied the Old Testament or, perhaps, grew up in the Catholic faith. Sirach 35:1-12 speaks of stewardship and sacrifice which is quite relevant for us, today. 1 He who keeps the law makes many offerings; he who heeds the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. 2 He who returns a kindness offers fine flour, and he who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering. 3 To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord, and to forsake unrighteousness is atonement. 4 Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed, 5 for all these things are to be done because of the commandment. 6 The offering of a righteous man anoints the altar, and its pleasing odor rises before the Most High. 7 The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable, and the memory of it will not be forgotten. 8 Glorify the Lord generously, and do not stint the first fruits of your hands. 9 With every gift show a cheerful face, and dedicate your tithe with gladness. 10 Give to the Most High as he has given, and as generously as your hand has found. 11 For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold. 12 Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it; and do not trust to an unrighteous sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge, and with him is no partiality. Giving is more than a financial matter. God wants us to give of ourselves fully and completely. We give with a joyful heart and with eagerness rather than grudgingly and as meagerly as possible. I believe, with the teachings of Jesus, that it is no longer about the “minimum requirements” of a 10% tithe, but a matter of 100% stewardship. It is about everything and not “just” figuring out “what amount” is the 10% for tithing. What do I do with all that I have? How do I treat everything I am given and everything I have? That is, my life, my dreams/hopes, my possessions, my finances, my time, my calendar, my willingness to obey….you get it…it covers everything. The question is not “how much do I tithe” but “Am I a good steward of all my resources?” For example, I have a car…so how do I “steward” my car? Can you use it to give someone a ride to a doctor’s appointment? Your home…do you have a spare bedroom to “house” a family member or a visiting missionary? Your time….can you invest a few hours to attend a weekday Bible study or teach a Sunday School class? There are many ways to “steward” what has been given to you. We have so many ways to sacrifice things that are important to us. The Lord revealed to the Jewish people that sacrifices entailed more than material things. He revealed not only the care for all possessions and the law, but also the sacrifice of obedience. For example, “To keep the law is a great oblation, and he who observes the commandments sacrifices a peace offering” (Sirach 35:1). The Lord also revealed the sacrifice of charity. “In works of charity one offers fine flour, and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise” (Sirach 35:2). Next, He revealed the sacrifice of justice, or at least of avoiding injustice (Sirach 35:3). Jesus revealed that sacrifices involved even more. He referred to the sacrifice of persecution (Mark 10:30). He ultimately offered the complete sacrifice of Himself on Calvary (Mark 10:34). As we try to live our Christian lives in holiness and “onward toward perfection” (Sanctification), we too are called to make sacrifices in the areas of time, loves, money, and possessions (see Acts 2:42ff). All that we are entrusted to be “stewards” of also has within it something to give back. Sacrifice and giving go hand-in-hand. As we do this, we realize our human-nature (sinfulness) challenges us to often think of justifying and finding excuses to minimize our sacrifices, despite knowing better that God is calling us and expecting us to maximize our sacrifices. The Lord wants us to learn “how to share in His sufferings by being formed into the pattern of His death” (Philippians 3:10). We are to be stewards of everything. We need to develop a healthy understanding of “sacrifice” which is going “above and beyond.” Don’t be stingy with your time, talents and treasure. Don’t be meager with the investments you make within the Church you attend. Don’t become possessed by your possessions. “Giving” to God is our finances, but it is also our obedience, time, talents, abilities, leisure, and every aspect of our life. Start to look at “all you have” as gifts and blessings from God that have been entrusted to you to care and manage. Think of all the things you have not as “my property,” but as treasures God has given you to care for as His “steward” (Matthew 25:14-30). Develop a healthy faith-life of learning how to embrace the life-giving words of “stewardship” and “sacrifice” into your spiritual vocabulary. |
AuthorPastor Charles - Archives
April 2024
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