FEBRUARY 18, 2017

“As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.” 
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

LEVITICUS 26-27

14“ ‘But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16then I will do this to you: I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and sap your strength. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you. (26:14-17)

MARK 2

13Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

JOURNAL 

Jesus came to redeem us from ourselves...he came to redeem us from a life where we reject God. Everyone needs his grace...everyone needs forgiveness. We are all poor, and in need of a savior...it doesn't matter what our bank statement says, or the titles we amass, or the records we break...we are all in desperate need of his salvation, his love, his grace. To not understand this is to be trapped in our own sin.

To truly be great means that we become humble servants, fully aware of our own failures and our weakness. 

 6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:6-10

FEBRUARY 17, 2017

“If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it.” 
― Stephen Colbert

LEVITICUS 24-25

35“ ‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. 36Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. 37You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit. 38I am the Lordyour God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

39“ ‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. 40They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors. 42Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. 43Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God. (25:35-43)

MARK 1:23-45

32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

38Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”39So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

JOURNAL 

I wonder why it is that greed and selfishness have become something to be admired in our american society. We reward those who hoard money and manipulate others in order to earn it. As long as someone doesn't break a law and often even if they do but justifiably get away with it...they are revered for their wealth and power. I can understand it more from a societal standpoint but I it is really sad to see how it has taken over the identity of "conservative" churches. 

I guess it falls in line with the idea that if someone has wealth and power then that is an affirmation and a blessing of God. So the reverse is also thought of as true...if someone is poor and destitute then God is punishing them and they are not blessed by God. However scripture continually turns all of this on its head...yet for some reason it fails to find its way into our churches. 

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

MATTHEW 5:3-12

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

“Nothing can be more cruel than the leniency which abandons others to their sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe reprimand which calls another Christian in one’s community back from the path of sin.” 
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community

“I was born for a controversial world, and I cannot escape my destiny. John Quincy Adams” 

― Paul C. Nagel, John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life

LEVITICUS 22-23

22“ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.’ ”(23:22)

MARK 1:1-22

9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

12At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted^g by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

JOURNAL 

So Jesus is baptized and immediately the spirit of God sends him out into the desert to be tempted by Satan. Ok to really digest this is a little unnerving. Instead of receiving comfort and love and people affirming him...God sends Jesus right out into the fire. Direct temptation, loneliness and hunger...what?? 

This really does expose my erroneous idea of God and conflict. Conflict is not to be avoided but rather is to be accepted, received and ultimately overcome with love, truth and actions that build the kingdom. 

You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. 3For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. 4Now that the Lordyour God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 5But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

JOSHUA 22:2-5

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

“It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi

LEVITICUS 20-21

7“ ‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lordyour God. 8Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

(20:7-8)

MATTHEW 28:1-20

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

JOURNAL 

Some doubted...it's our other really tough characteristic as humans. We doubt and question. While God did make us this way, with this ability...it still creates such problems. I know for me when I doubt, I freeze up. I lose motivation and initiative and just want to go crawl in a hole. 

But as believers we are to not hold onto the belief, but we are commanded to go and to share and to make disciples of All nations. Not just our friends and family...but all nations. This is not just some feel good sermon. It is one that calls me out, that removes all ability to crawl in a hole. If I believe...then I am commanded to go!

14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

JAMES 2:14-17

FEBRUARY 14, 2017

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” 
― C.S. Lewis

LEVITICUS 18-19

1The Lord said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. 3You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. 4You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. 5Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord.(18:1-5)

MATTHEW 27:32-66

45From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^c lemasabachthani?”(which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^d

47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

JOURNAL 

Jesus is crucified. The reality and brutality of this life is right here in black and white. Jesus crying out to God. People mocking him and spitting on him and challenging him to save himself. What a horrible, horrible scene.  The darkness of that day and that moment is overwhelming. Yet this is what we are capable of and this is what humans do. We destroy goodness and mock righteousness. We run in fear and allow terrible, awful suffering to exist. We lie, steal, manipulate and then try and pretend that we are innocent. 

Every single one of us are guilty...no man passes through this life unblemished. But thank God that he forgives us. That he loves us still and will wash away all the nastiness of my past. That is amazing and something only a God of love can ever be capable of doing. This is the greatest valentine of all...God's love of redemption and grace.

 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8that he lavished on us.

EPHESIANS 1:7-8