Peace

Some time ago I began using the word "peace" to close emails and letters. I suppose I started doing this in an attempt to be hip. As I have continued this practice, I do so more now in appreciation for peace. Peace is one of the most valuable commodities in my life. The Apostle Paul used this familiar salutation often in his letters to the churches, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

The angels announced the birth of Christ this way, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Isaiah prophesied the coming Messiah would be called, Prince of Peace. When Messiah puts the government upon his shoulder on and for all there will be no end to peace. The description of life on earth after the Lord's second advent is one of peace. Swords will be beaten in plows. Wolves and lambs will live together. Children will play over the holes of cobras. Jesus will reign over this world with love and peace.

Until Jesus comes again to rule and to reign in the earth as Prince of Peace, let us do all we can to bring peace and to live in peace in our little corner of the world. While the world awaits the coming of God' kingdom, we live in his kingdom now. The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. He told them God's kingdom does not come with observation. In Luke 17:21 he declared, "The kingdom of God is within you." The Prince of Peace now rules in his kingdom. As his subjects let us yield our hearts, minds and actions to his peace.

Romans 5:1 declares, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Our sins and transgressions have been forgiven. May we receive this wonderful gift. Yet, the guilt of our unrepentant sin robs our peace today. We must boldly apply 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Revenge, seething turmoil, anger and hatred robs peace. Forgive others. Do not judge others. Romans 12:18, "If it is possible, as much as depends upon you, live at peace with all men." Every person is looking for inner peace. Tennis star Boris Becker was on the brink of suicide said this, "I had won Wimbledon twice, once as the youngest player. I was rich. I had all the material possessions I needed, but I had no inner peace." There is a false assumption that different circumstances will bring inner peace and happiness. Peace is not the absence of problems. Peace is the absence of Jesus in  the midst of my problems.

In Philippians 4 we are encouraged to pray instead of worrying. The promise is that peace beyond our comprehension will guard our hearts and minds, when we pray, praise God and give him thanksgiving in the midst of all of our circumstances. Until Jesus comes again to rule and to reign in the earth as Prince of Peace, let us do all we can to bring peace and to live in peace in our little corner of the world.

Peace,

Stan

Jesus Loves Sinners

If I were a person outside of the church, I might think that Jesus hates me. To an outsider, it appears that Jesus is angry with me, because the church is angry with me. I have habits they reject; I have different values; and I don’t share their political leanings. I am confused. The church judges me, but seems very tolerant of its own hypocrisy. I am genuinely interested in Jesus. But, I don’t fit the culture of church. What am I to do? What would Jesus do?  How did Jesus deal with sinners?

Notice Jesus’ interaction with sinners in Luke 5:27–32, “After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus is not afraid to call sinners to become followers. Christians are also known as Christ followers or disciples. A disciple is a learner or one who follows after a certain leader. We are Christ followers. We learn from him. The church must have a great love for sinner, because our leader does. Jesus purposefully mixed with sinners. He was not afraid of them. He did not treat them as enemies. He sought their company, and called them to become his followers.

Jesus spent enough time with sinners that the religious establishment accused him of sinful activity. About Jesus they said in Matthew 11:19, “He came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him!’ A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” In John 9:24 they said, “We know this man is a sinner.” If the church starts loving sinners like Jesus did, they will say the same about us!

In John 8 the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and threw her down at Jesus’ feet. They questioned Jesus as to whether he agreed with them that she should be stoned to death, as according to Moses’ law required. Jesus said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” All the accusers walked away on shame. Jesus said to the woman, “Where are your accusers, does no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus answered her with the most amazing words, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Like Jesus, the church must adopt a non-condemning attitude toward sinners. A loving attitude will win sinners toward repentance. God loved the world so much that he sent his son to us. Romans 2:4, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Jesus loves sinners. The church must love them also.

Who Is My Neighbor?

Looking for a loophole in Scriptural obligation, a man asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" So, as one might expect, Jesus told a story. In the story a man was travelling, and on his journey he was robbed and beaten half to death. Luckily for him a preacher came along. But the preacher did not stop to help. Likewise, a church leader came upon the scene. The church leader did not stop to help either. The only one of three people in the story to stop and help was a Samaritan.

Who might be a modern equivalent to a Samaritan--a Muslim, a Scientologist, or Mormon perhaps? The foundational truth of Judaism and Christianity is loving God passionately and loving our neighbors genuinely. In Jesus' story the ones who should be living this truth the most did not. The one who was outside of the faith did. Being a doer of God's Word is much more important than faith without action. Check this out further in the book of James.

It was not convenient to stop and help. It cost time and money.  The Samaritan showed compassion through his actions. After hearing me preach this message, two men from Cornerstone Church picked up a hitch hiker. The men asked the hiker questions about his life. He shared a sad story with them. The two men shared sound counsel with him and prayed with him. Phone numbers were exchanged. The hiker was grateful for the ride down the road. He gladly received the love demonstrated to him.

Who is my neighbor? It could be any person who runs across my path today.

Peace,
SS

Jesus Way

On Amazon.com I found titles such as: Artist's Way, Toyota Way, Wilderness Way, Way of the Turtle, The Way-Using the Wisdom of Kabala, and The Jesus Way. Let's examine The Jesus Way. Very often people outside of the church express great admiration for Jesus, while despising the church. They love Jesus, but not the church. The church represents rules, conformity, and narrow-mindedness. They loathe the political agendas, both internal and external. They don't like the holier-than-thou attitudes of some Christians.

Dan Kimball wrote They Like Jesus but Not the Church. He interviewed dozens of people outside of the church. Kimball found that people have very powerful opinions about Jesus and the church. A guy named, Duggan, said, "If I were to go to church, I'd want it to be like a family, a healthy family where you all are looking out for each other. Church should be a place where they are glad to see you and it really feels like a community. Church sould be a place where they love you, even when you aren't doing well. Love shouldn't be conditional. I feel that most churches will only accept you and love you when you obey them and do what they say. I think Jesus would accept me and be there for me when I am doing good or bad. I think church should be loving like that."

While I am not going to let Duggan or others determine what church sould be, I do think his point about church and Jesus being more closely related is right on. Church must be the representation of Jesus in the earth. "What would Jesus do?" is the correct question. All attention and effort must be given to following the Jesus Way. Jesus stated a revolution. A revolution is a sudden, radical or complete change, especially the overthrow of a ruler and substitution of another by the governed. A revolution is a mutiny. The question for every person is, "Who is going to rule my life?"

Jesus simple said to people, "Follow me." Following Jesus means that I become completely absorbed into what is important and priority to him. I believe we are living in a time when Christ followeres are more interested in the kingdom of God than the kingdoms of this world. "Jesus is Lord," is a radical expression of understanding that The King, Jesus, rules over one's life.

Walk with me as I atempt to "take up the cross daily" and follow Jesus.

Peace,

SS

Think Great Thoughts

Our lives are controlled by our most dominant thoughts. We need to think about what we are thinking about. We have the ability to control our thoughts. Romans 8:5-9 reads, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him."


Too many people have empty thoughts. They give little or no attention to what enters through eye and ear gates. When people do not guard their thoughts it leaves a void. A void will be filled. Writers, singers, actors, educators, politicians, businesspersons, everyone has a message to spread to further their cause.  Someone else determines what you believe.


Others have distortional thinking. Many make negative comments like, "Nothing ever goes right for me," "Nobody likes me," and "I can’t do anything right." These kind of thoughts distort healthy successful thinking. Thoughts of infidelity, procrastination and ignoring problems lead to damaging actions. Infidelity never just happens. Cheating starts with thoughts. Ignoring problems usually leads to greater problems. Putting off unpleasant tasks causes problems and makes things more difficult.


We need to think better thoughts. Here are a few better thoughts I try to think. "My past does not define me." "I am a new creation." "God delights in things going well for me." "This trouble is not forever. It will pass." When temptations come, we must take our thoughts captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…”


Think great thoughts.


Peace,


Stan