9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
"Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world." (Romans 10:9-18)
The Bible is far more than a record of human experience or a report of spiritual realities by long, dead, people. Through the Scriptures the incarnation, the cross, the resurrection and the ascension are as real
today in our lives as if they were happening today; the reality of a present day Savior and a present day salvation.
The Word of God is a living and active power, a timeless moment at which, in our own time and space, we can meet the living God. Christ died on a Roman cross at Jerusalem, and his death was effective then and is effective now to bring forgiveness to sinners. God expresses himself in his revealed Word and continues to act through it. The Word is both recorded truth and our moment of truth, both truth about God and the place where we meet God personally. It is content, giving shape and form to historical reality; and it is confrontation, that moment of meeting God that calls for our personal response of faith.
The biblical Word cannot be separated from God’s personal presence and power in believer’s lives. The word that Jesus spoke was the word of transforming power; by his word the sick were made whole and demons were driven out. The word that Jesus spoke was the word of salvation that brings life to the dead, and continues to transform lives, today, and in the future.
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
So what if the world does hate the disciples?
18"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. 23He who hates me hates my Father as well. 24If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'
Why would Jesus, who talked of love, now talk about hate? Why did he feel it necessary to say this to the disciples? Why is he saying it to us? Jesus, by giving his disciples notice of trouble, hoped that the terror might not be a surprise to them, or consequently to us. I believe that Jesus wanted to warn all of his disciples of the fact that it is possible for those who are real enemies to God’s service, to pretend to love it. This does not lessen the sin of the persecutors; villainies will never be changed by putting the name of God to them. As Jesus did in his sufferings, so his followers must do in theirs. We must look to feel and experience the love of God and to share this news with others.
Jesus knew that the problems of the world would come soon enough for the disciples. He did not warn them about it sooner, because he was with them to teach, guide, and comfort them. They did not need to be concerned about the problems that they would face while he was still present to them in the flesh. It was when Jesus was no longer visible to them, that they would need to remember the warnings he was giving them.
As followers of Jesus, we need to know that we will face our share of troubles. We may be persecuted for following Jesus. This persecution may come in many forms that may include being considered outcasts from the world around us, to the loss of our lives. Although most of us will not experience the latter, many of us will experience the former.
But Jesus is saying that we are in good company. Those who hate us or persecute us because of our love for Jesus will not know the joy that comes from being his followers. We must remember that Jesus was persecuted too. As followers of Jesus, we will experience a gift greater than any hardship we may have to endure. So although it may be difficult, we must remember that the problems of this present life will pass. We must remember that knowing and loving Jesus and experiencing the love Jesus has for us, will far outweigh any troubles we may experience from the world.
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
Why would Jesus, who talked of love, now talk about hate? Why did he feel it necessary to say this to the disciples? Why is he saying it to us? Jesus, by giving his disciples notice of trouble, hoped that the terror might not be a surprise to them, or consequently to us. I believe that Jesus wanted to warn all of his disciples of the fact that it is possible for those who are real enemies to God’s service, to pretend to love it. This does not lessen the sin of the persecutors; villainies will never be changed by putting the name of God to them. As Jesus did in his sufferings, so his followers must do in theirs. We must look to feel and experience the love of God and to share this news with others.
Jesus knew that the problems of the world would come soon enough for the disciples. He did not warn them about it sooner, because he was with them to teach, guide, and comfort them. They did not need to be concerned about the problems that they would face while he was still present to them in the flesh. It was when Jesus was no longer visible to them, that they would need to remember the warnings he was giving them.
As followers of Jesus, we need to know that we will face our share of troubles. We may be persecuted for following Jesus. This persecution may come in many forms that may include being considered outcasts from the world around us, to the loss of our lives. Although most of us will not experience the latter, many of us will experience the former.
But Jesus is saying that we are in good company. Those who hate us or persecute us because of our love for Jesus will not know the joy that comes from being his followers. We must remember that Jesus was persecuted too. As followers of Jesus, we will experience a gift greater than any hardship we may have to endure. So although it may be difficult, we must remember that the problems of this present life will pass. We must remember that knowing and loving Jesus and experiencing the love Jesus has for us, will far outweigh any troubles we may experience from the world.
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
What is law?
10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." 11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them. "13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:10-14)
Everyone is concerned with following the law and to a certain extent they should be. There are certain things that people should and should not do to each other in order to live in a civilized society. But think about how laws are created. Laws are usually created because people cannot always be trusted to do what is right and good all on their own. They must be told where to draw the line on their behavior.
The speed limit on roads and highways, for instance, has been legislated based upon what has been determined to be the maximum safe speed in order for people driving a particular road not to kill themselves and others. In order to drive safely, we must stay below the stated maximum limit. Now perhaps, in certain driving conditions, that maximum limit could still be too high for safe driving. If we were to use our own judgment, we would drive slower and some of us may use that judgment. Others may not be concerned about driving safely, and must be told to limit their speed. However, as long as we maintain our speed below the limit posted, we are legal, yet an accident can still occur.
Jesus did not want us to mindlessly follow the law. Jesus was never about looking for the minimum or maximum limits of love and compassion. Jesus never said, this is the least that you can do for one another and still get to heaven. The law of Jesus is one that looks for the most we can do to be loving and compassionate, not the least, and there are no limits on love. Jesus did not preach about what we can get away with and still be legal. Jesus talked about doing and giving our all to God and to others. Doing what is legal in the human sense is following what someone else tells us to do. God's law is knowing what to do in our hearts and minds.
Paul saying that the righteous will live by faith means that we do not need the law to tell us what is right and good. We know what is right and good because that knowledge has been put into our hearts by God and our trust is in God.
We do not blindly live in the law of humanity, because the law of humanity is not always right and good. Even the laws of the church can be wrong at times. However, if we trust in God and allow God's law to be written on our hearts and minds, we will live in peace with one another. We cannot receive the promise of the Spirit though following human law. Only in allowing God to guide our path can we hope to reap the blessings of the Spirit.
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
Everyone is concerned with following the law and to a certain extent they should be. There are certain things that people should and should not do to each other in order to live in a civilized society. But think about how laws are created. Laws are usually created because people cannot always be trusted to do what is right and good all on their own. They must be told where to draw the line on their behavior.
The speed limit on roads and highways, for instance, has been legislated based upon what has been determined to be the maximum safe speed in order for people driving a particular road not to kill themselves and others. In order to drive safely, we must stay below the stated maximum limit. Now perhaps, in certain driving conditions, that maximum limit could still be too high for safe driving. If we were to use our own judgment, we would drive slower and some of us may use that judgment. Others may not be concerned about driving safely, and must be told to limit their speed. However, as long as we maintain our speed below the limit posted, we are legal, yet an accident can still occur.
Jesus did not want us to mindlessly follow the law. Jesus was never about looking for the minimum or maximum limits of love and compassion. Jesus never said, this is the least that you can do for one another and still get to heaven. The law of Jesus is one that looks for the most we can do to be loving and compassionate, not the least, and there are no limits on love. Jesus did not preach about what we can get away with and still be legal. Jesus talked about doing and giving our all to God and to others. Doing what is legal in the human sense is following what someone else tells us to do. God's law is knowing what to do in our hearts and minds.
Paul saying that the righteous will live by faith means that we do not need the law to tell us what is right and good. We know what is right and good because that knowledge has been put into our hearts by God and our trust is in God.
We do not blindly live in the law of humanity, because the law of humanity is not always right and good. Even the laws of the church can be wrong at times. However, if we trust in God and allow God's law to be written on our hearts and minds, we will live in peace with one another. We cannot receive the promise of the Spirit though following human law. Only in allowing God to guide our path can we hope to reap the blessings of the Spirit.
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
Monday, August 2, 2010
Why do we doubt?
22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance[a] from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
Completely depending upon God is essential, regardless of our level of spiritual maturity. When we begin to rely on our own understanding, we are in danger of ignoring God’s assessment of the situation. But by remembering his past works and his present power, we can be sure that we are not cutting off his potential help.
Doubt blocks your receiver; just as we know that there are signals all around us, radio waves, television signals, and all we have to do to receive their transmission, is to tune in.
Doubting skeptics are limited in what they might see or know, while Jesus said “all things are possible to him who believes” (Matthew 9:23). Peter walked on the water until he began to doubt. Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said to him, you of little faith, why did you doubt?
We resist doubt by practicing trust. Trust in God grows as we faithfully seek him on a daily basis. To stabilize your trust, commit yourself whole heartedly to God. If your faith is new, weak, or struggling, remember that you can trust God. Ask for Jesus' help as often as you need to strengthen your faith and trust in God's love and guidance. Please remember, you can never ask to often for God to help you have trust in him. As a matter of fact, I think that it is the prayer God most waits to hear.
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
Completely depending upon God is essential, regardless of our level of spiritual maturity. When we begin to rely on our own understanding, we are in danger of ignoring God’s assessment of the situation. But by remembering his past works and his present power, we can be sure that we are not cutting off his potential help.
Doubt blocks your receiver; just as we know that there are signals all around us, radio waves, television signals, and all we have to do to receive their transmission, is to tune in.
Doubting skeptics are limited in what they might see or know, while Jesus said “all things are possible to him who believes” (Matthew 9:23). Peter walked on the water until he began to doubt. Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said to him, you of little faith, why did you doubt?
We resist doubt by practicing trust. Trust in God grows as we faithfully seek him on a daily basis. To stabilize your trust, commit yourself whole heartedly to God. If your faith is new, weak, or struggling, remember that you can trust God. Ask for Jesus' help as often as you need to strengthen your faith and trust in God's love and guidance. Please remember, you can never ask to often for God to help you have trust in him. As a matter of fact, I think that it is the prayer God most waits to hear.
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Do we really follow Jesus?
1Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?
5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. (1 Cor. 3:1-9)
Paul is making a good point. Are we following Jesus, or are we following mere humans? We have to remember that we as humans are only preachers of the word of God, but that it is God who has given us this purpose. Only God can make us grow in love and goodness.
Through our own human limitations, we do not know, nor profess the truth, but it is through Jesus that we have the truth revealed to us. Our focus and our example of how to live must always be gained by looking to Jesus. If we focus on others and look to others as our example and our inspiration, we will always be disappointed in the long run.
This is why we should not be placing our faith in the institutions of humanity, even the institution of the church on earth. If our faith is in Jesus, it will not matter what our imperfect human institutions may do or say. Our example for our words and deeds rests always with Jesus.
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. (1 Cor. 3:1-9)
Paul is making a good point. Are we following Jesus, or are we following mere humans? We have to remember that we as humans are only preachers of the word of God, but that it is God who has given us this purpose. Only God can make us grow in love and goodness.
Through our own human limitations, we do not know, nor profess the truth, but it is through Jesus that we have the truth revealed to us. Our focus and our example of how to live must always be gained by looking to Jesus. If we focus on others and look to others as our example and our inspiration, we will always be disappointed in the long run.
This is why we should not be placing our faith in the institutions of humanity, even the institution of the church on earth. If our faith is in Jesus, it will not matter what our imperfect human institutions may do or say. Our example for our words and deeds rests always with Jesus.
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
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