How do you promote America? Are you proud of this nation? Imagine going to a land where very little was known about how America is supposed to function, or how its laws are implemented. Would it be easy to describe to someone who had never experienced freedom before? Or been part of a democratic republic like ours?
Jesus had a mission to reveal the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. It makes sense that God’s kingdom would have something similar to what God created in the first place. After all, it was sin that messed up His paradise. So, His kingdom would be a kind of copy of what Eden had started off being.
In fact, throughout God’s relationship with the Israelites, reminders of Eden were constantly being brought to their attention. Within the tabernacle, God had a scene that was to be observed that mimicked Eden.
In Exodus 31, God commissions Bezalel and Oholiab to build everything in the tabernacle “just as He tells them too.” Think how a homeowner tries to convey their plans and ideas to a home builder: they want it just right. So does God, and for a good reason.
Eden is seen in the Tabernacle, later the temple. From Adam and Eve being commissioned to care for God’s “temple” or Eden (Genesis 2:15) to the most holy place being where God meets with them every day (Genesis 3:8). The place was filled with images of trees, fruit, pools of water, a never-ending light, etc.
The point is that everywhere the Israelites moved to, they took this image of Eden with them. So, a subliminal message was always being planted in their minds about what God’s kingdom would “look” like, but Adam and Eve (and everyone else) failed to realize is how it functions. That’s what Jesus came to reveal.
Hebrews 9:23-24, “It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”
After Jesus showed us a true and powerful love for all mankind by giving His life to save ours, He established a kind of diplomatic union (church) to go help other people see how His kingdom will function upon Christ’s return.
Take time to reflect on the importance of promoting God’s kingdom.
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Favoritism Rejected
What if we could crawl inside the mind of God and see what He sees when He looks at us…all of us? I can only imagine, how on that day that He created mankind as the crowning pinnacle of the cosmos, what He reflected on during His Day of Rest. He saw something with great potential to powerfully impact all that God spoke into existence. But temptation took control of His creation. In fact, it was that very desire to “know what God knows” that caused them to fall (Genesis 3).
The rest of the Bible serves as a tool to get inside the mind of God. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:11-12, “For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
What the Spirit reveals is God’s unique look at us! Romans 2:11 reveals this simple truth about our creator: “God does not show favoritism.” Time after time, Jesus healed anyone who would seek Him. The religious leaders even recognized that in Luke 20:21, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach what is right, and that You do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.”
Unfortunately, Christians can fall under the same temptation as Eve and the rest of the world. We can want to be elevated to a higher position in people’s eyes, but that hunger usually comes at a price.
Jesus warned against that in Matthew 6:2-4, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Or James said in James 2:1-4, “Believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism… If you show special attention to [someone], have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (5-8) Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? … If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right.”
Consider how you can practice this kind of Christian demonstration during these odd
and challenging times. To view one another through a God-like lens, it may surprise
you the opportunities around you to bless someone in a special way.
The rest of the Bible serves as a tool to get inside the mind of God. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:11-12, “For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
What the Spirit reveals is God’s unique look at us! Romans 2:11 reveals this simple truth about our creator: “God does not show favoritism.” Time after time, Jesus healed anyone who would seek Him. The religious leaders even recognized that in Luke 20:21, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach what is right, and that You do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.”
Unfortunately, Christians can fall under the same temptation as Eve and the rest of the world. We can want to be elevated to a higher position in people’s eyes, but that hunger usually comes at a price.
Jesus warned against that in Matthew 6:2-4, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Or James said in James 2:1-4, “Believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism… If you show special attention to [someone], have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (5-8) Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? … If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right.”
Consider how you can practice this kind of Christian demonstration during these odd
and challenging times. To view one another through a God-like lens, it may surprise
you the opportunities around you to bless someone in a special way.
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Repentance: A Kind of Graduation
Graduation is a time of celebration when completing one phase of life and moving on to better things.
1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”
Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
In context, Paul is reprimanding the Corinthians for their divisive and selfish nature (1 Corinthians), and he’s encouraging the Philippians to continue in their love for people (Philippians 1:9-11). In either case, he’s promoting the concept of repentance! If repentance is turning away from one way of doing something and turning towards another, then we could say that repentance is a kind of graduating from an old way of living and starting a new way of living.
It’s true that moving on can be a little scary, but when you have the support of experienced “graduates” cheering you on, it’s much easier. That is what Paul spent most of his time writing to churches to repent or to give up that old way of living and embrace the brand-new road ahead that’s filled with promise and hope.
Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”
Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
In context, Paul is reprimanding the Corinthians for their divisive and selfish nature (1 Corinthians), and he’s encouraging the Philippians to continue in their love for people (Philippians 1:9-11). In either case, he’s promoting the concept of repentance! If repentance is turning away from one way of doing something and turning towards another, then we could say that repentance is a kind of graduating from an old way of living and starting a new way of living.
It’s true that moving on can be a little scary, but when you have the support of experienced “graduates” cheering you on, it’s much easier. That is what Paul spent most of his time writing to churches to repent or to give up that old way of living and embrace the brand-new road ahead that’s filled with promise and hope.
Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Struggles
The struggle is beyond the planting and raising.
From the first moments, a mother welcomes the little life of her baby into this world, she understands the responsibility that comes with being a mother. For some, the pressure is too great, but for many others, it’s a noble calling filled with ups and downs. In the end, raising children is the most fulfilling venture in human existence.
But the struggle doesn’t go away at graduation. Perhaps as the mother’s body nurtures that baby while it grows in her womb, so parenting nurtures that child’s life while it's still at home. Time will tell if the effort, the wisdom, the sacrifice, the struggle a parent goes through for 18 years was successful or not.
Every God-fearing parent surely longs to hear the news that John heard about those worshiping with Gaius in 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” But walking in the truth is more than going to church; it’s living according to the kingdom of God. This helps us see the roles of parents in a child’s life – to teach kingdom principles!
Proverbs 1:8-10, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them…”
Psalms 119:9-11, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Share God’s word with your children. They grow up to be men and women who will be faced with decisions of morality, faithfulness, and justice. How will they do it alone? Mothers wear the burden of parenting their entire life. To see their children utilize discernment and wisdom brings such a wonderful sigh of relief.
From the first moments, a mother welcomes the little life of her baby into this world, she understands the responsibility that comes with being a mother. For some, the pressure is too great, but for many others, it’s a noble calling filled with ups and downs. In the end, raising children is the most fulfilling venture in human existence.
But the struggle doesn’t go away at graduation. Perhaps as the mother’s body nurtures that baby while it grows in her womb, so parenting nurtures that child’s life while it's still at home. Time will tell if the effort, the wisdom, the sacrifice, the struggle a parent goes through for 18 years was successful or not.
Every God-fearing parent surely longs to hear the news that John heard about those worshiping with Gaius in 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” But walking in the truth is more than going to church; it’s living according to the kingdom of God. This helps us see the roles of parents in a child’s life – to teach kingdom principles!
Proverbs 1:8-10, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them…”
Psalms 119:9-11, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Share God’s word with your children. They grow up to be men and women who will be faced with decisions of morality, faithfulness, and justice. How will they do it alone? Mothers wear the burden of parenting their entire life. To see their children utilize discernment and wisdom brings such a wonderful sigh of relief.
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Understand
Why didn’t the Pharisees pick up on the many fulfilled prophecies by Jesus (over 300 by His crucifixion), during His ministry? These were the guys trained in the Torah, they read the prophets, and they knew the history – how could they miss it?
In reality, they chose to miss it! After all, King Herod called the religious leaders together years earlier to help reveal when and where the Messiah would show up (Matthew 2:3-6). And Nicodemus (a Pharisee) came to Jesus at night and confessed they knew (John 3:2). But what they “knew” and what they understood was different. At least, when we read 1 Corinthians 2:8, “None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
Perhaps the most logical explanation is they were jealous! Jealousy is a destructive force that has left a trail of collateral damage throughout history. Paul describes the human condition by summing up our actions when left on our own. Galatians 5:19-21, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: …hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions…”
Jesus, our king, came to earth to accomplish amazing spiritual things for us that through Him we can live not to the human nature, but to the spiritual nature. To do that it takes patience, kindness, forgiveness… all the fruit of having the Spirit that is mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23!
Our desire, as citizens of the heavenly kingdom (Phillipians 3:20), should be to truly embrace what the Pharisees didn’t want to understand. God’s kingdom has a new way to live that blesses people around us; it embraces times spent with loved ones and even total strangers. Right now, we are living in a unique time in history when our secular government has tried to prompt us to spend time together.
These are serious times with serious issues going on, but the positive side is we’ve had the opportunity to let our jealousies go and seek for ways to encourage one another. And all of this makes our longing to be near to those we love so much even stronger.
In reality, they chose to miss it! After all, King Herod called the religious leaders together years earlier to help reveal when and where the Messiah would show up (Matthew 2:3-6). And Nicodemus (a Pharisee) came to Jesus at night and confessed they knew (John 3:2). But what they “knew” and what they understood was different. At least, when we read 1 Corinthians 2:8, “None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
Perhaps the most logical explanation is they were jealous! Jealousy is a destructive force that has left a trail of collateral damage throughout history. Paul describes the human condition by summing up our actions when left on our own. Galatians 5:19-21, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: …hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions…”
Jesus, our king, came to earth to accomplish amazing spiritual things for us that through Him we can live not to the human nature, but to the spiritual nature. To do that it takes patience, kindness, forgiveness… all the fruit of having the Spirit that is mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23!
Our desire, as citizens of the heavenly kingdom (Phillipians 3:20), should be to truly embrace what the Pharisees didn’t want to understand. God’s kingdom has a new way to live that blesses people around us; it embraces times spent with loved ones and even total strangers. Right now, we are living in a unique time in history when our secular government has tried to prompt us to spend time together.
These are serious times with serious issues going on, but the positive side is we’ve had the opportunity to let our jealousies go and seek for ways to encourage one another. And all of this makes our longing to be near to those we love so much even stronger.