Christ, the Channel of God's Grace

Jesus Is Lord
Imitating Jesus
The Supremacy of Jesus Christ

Romans 5:15-21

The Message

^15-17 Yet the rescuing gift is not exactly parallel to the death-dealing sin. If one man’s sin put crowds of people at the dead-end abyss of separation from God, just think what God’s gift poured through one man, Jesus Christ, will do! There’s no comparison between that death-dealing sin and this generous, life-giving gift. The verdict on that one sin was the death sentence; the verdict on the many sins that followed was this wonderful life sentence. If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?
^18-19 Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right.
^20-21 All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.

For Reflection

The great pardon was not a parole, but rather, a sentence to life in the hollow of God's hand.  God offers an opportunity to live lives unconditionally, without threats, in endless grace.

Pray

that you will grasp with both hands the life gift offered to you.  Pray that the grace of God will flow through you, inviting others to a life that extends into infinity.

Christ, the Reconciler to God

Jesus Is Lord
Imitating Jesus
The Supremacy of Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

The Message

^16-20 Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
²¹ How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.

For Reflection

Many people think that Christ died only so that our sin could be reconciled and we could enter an afterlife in the presence of God.  This point of view seems a bit restrictive.  The previous passages expand reconciliation to include the transformed people in the here and now.  God calls us to set things right with each other.  He calls us to start a new life with Him as our best friend.  He calls us to represent him, persuading others through our prayers, and action and enter God's work to reconcile the world to him.  He calls us to love each other, to champion justice, and to be compassionate. Christ also died so that we could be free to represent God in His effort to transform the people of this world, here and now.

 

Pray

that you will put aside your petty assumptions about each other and seek the higher goal of reconciliation.  Pray that you will see all people through compassionate eyes. Pray that you will answer the call to represent God in all that you think, say and do.

Christ, the First Born of the Dead

Jesus Is Lord
Imitating Jesus
The Supremacy of Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:1-7

The Message (MSG)

1 ^1-2 A revealing of Jesus, the Messiah. God gave it to make plain to his servants what is about to happen. He published and delivered it by Angel to his servant John. And John told everything he saw: God’s Word— the witness of Jesus Christ!

³ How blessed the reader! How blessed the hearers and keepers of these oracle words, all the words written in this book!
Time is just about up.

His Eyes Pouring Fire-Blaze

^4-7 I, John, am writing this to the seven churches in Asia province: All the best to you from The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive, and from the Seven Spirits assembled before his throne, and from Jesus Christ—Loyal Witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler of all earthly kings.

Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us,
    who blood-washed our sins from our lives,
Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father,
    forever—and yes, he’s on his way!
Riding the clouds, he’ll be seen by every eye,
    those who mocked and killed him will see him,
People from all nations and all times
    will tear their clothes in lament.
    Oh, Yes.

For Reflection

"Jesus Christ—Loyal Witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler of all earthly kings."

Jesus Christ, Son of God.
Jesus Christ, Loyal witness to the living God, the God we can see.
Jesus Christ, First of those born into a new life transformed by God who resided in him.
Jesus Christ, Compassionate, obedient to God, leader of God's counter culture, the Kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ, The sign that God loves his creation so much that He suffered his son, so that all might be reconciled to the Truth.

Pray

that through the children of God all will see the the folly of self-centeredness and embrace God-centeredness.  Pray that all who are touched by the rush of the transforming waters of the Holy Spirit will be transformed into children of God.  Pray for the triumph of love, compassion, and obedience to the God whose sacrifice reconciles all.

Christ, the Head of the Church

Jesus Is Lord
Imitating Jesus
The Supremacy of Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:17-23

The Message

^15-19 That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
^20-23 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.

For Reflection

The world is peripheral to the church and Christ rules the church.  This church is not a place.  It is not a religion.  This church is a collection of those who are committed to living a God-centered life.  It is not religion that transforms the world. Transforming the world is accomplished by extraordinary people, beloving God, who chose to become citizens in the Kingdom of God -- here and now.

Pray

pray that all children of God live extraordinary lives as citizens in the Kingdom of God.  Pray that they in confidence, trust, and obedience face the challenges of transforming the world, bravely, one person at a time   Pray that where there is hate you sow love, where there is hopelessness sow hope, where there is injustice sow truth, where there is poverty share wealth, where there is desperation, invite the Spirit.

Stand Firm

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Stand Firm

Philippians 3:1-19

The Message (MSG)

To Know Him Personally

3 And that’s about it, friends. Be glad in God!

I don’t mind repeating what I have written in earlier letters, and I hope you don’t mind hearing it again. Better safe than sorry—so here goes.
^2-6 Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they’re interested in is appearances—knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise as we do it. We couldn’t carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God’s law Book.
^7-9 The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.
^10-11 I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

Focused on the Goal

^12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

^15-16 So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.
^17-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

For Reflection

Not even Paul thought that he had perfected his love of God as witnessed by Jesus Christ.  He understood that living out the example of a God-centered life was a work in progress.  Each of us came to God with scars.  Each of us will accumulate more scares.  However, if we have confidence and trust in the Living God, and refresh ourselves in the fellowship of believers we can continue to mature in grace.

 

Pray

that you, like Paul, will give up the interior self-centered stuff and come to know God personally through Christ.  Pray that you will have the courage to partner in His suffering.  Pray that you trust in the Living God will never wane.

Be Holy

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Stand Firm

1 Peter 1:13-21

The Message

A Future in God

^13-16 So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

¹⁷ You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.
^18-21 Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

For Reflection

What does God offer you?  The gift of holiness.

Accepting God into your life transforms you.  Obedience to the Way yields a life worth living.

 

Pray

that you "travel with a deep consciousness of God."

Be Compassionate

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Stand Firm

Matthew 25:31-40

The Message

The Sheep and the Goats

^31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.

^34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

^37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

For Reflection

None  of us will ever know just how we have influenced others.  A kindness to one is multiplied as a kindness passed on to another.  Sadly, a dis-service to one may be passed as a dis-service to another.

To those who live God-centered lives, compassion becomes so much a part of their being that they to not recognize that their compassionate lives are extraordinary.  Like the sheep they ask, "When did I do these things?"  They live their lives unaware that their expressions of hospitality are anything but a normal, natural way of being.

Pray

that you will live a life of mercy, a compassionate servant to all.

Be Trustworthy

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Stand Firm

Matthew 25:14-21

The Message

The Story About Investment

^14-18 “It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.

^19-21 “After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

^24-25 “The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’
^26-27 “The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.
^28-30 “‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’

For Reflection

Whom do you trust?  Why?

The man trusted these three servants to be stewards of the money and responsibilities he gave them .  However, understanding their abilities, he trusted each servant according to his expectations for them.

The man was testing his servants.  He wanted to know how much risk each servant was willing to take.  The servants trusted the man. But, the one who the man trusted least was more fearful than the others.  He also trusted the man least.  He was not confident enough in the man's trust to risk the consequences if he failed.

Trust is a two way street.  What did the man do that undermined the confidence of the third servant?   Why did the servant think investing the man's money carried far more risk than keeping it safe?

What can you do to improve the trust that others place in you?

Pray

that you will encourage trust.  Pray that all those who seek to help guide others into a right relationship with God warrant the trust of others. 

Be Prepared

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Stand Firm

Matthew 25:1-13

The Message

The Story of the Virgins

25 ^1-5 “God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.

⁶ “In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bride-groom’s here! Go out and greet him!’
^7-8 “The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’
⁹ “They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’
¹⁰ “They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.
¹¹ “Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’
¹² “He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’
¹³ “So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.

For Reflection

How prepared are you to meet the challenges of your Christian faith?  Is it enough to belong to a church?  Is it enough to participate in weekly worship?  It is enough to attend church classes and events.  It is enough to take part in the governance of the church?  Is it enough to be baptized or to participate in holy communion?  Is it enough to contribute to the church budget?  What is it that makes you think you are prepared to meet the challenges of living in this world as a child of God?

Pray

Pray, pray, and then pray again.   Confess your weakness to God.  Ask God to guide you and to give you courage to face this world.  Praise God often.  Thank God for even the smallest of blessings.  Give God the credit for the good in your life.  Accept God's comfort when the world crashes into you.  Pray that you will lose yourself in service to Him.  Pray that you will see beyond the challenge to the opportunity the challenge represents. 

No Value in Earthly Achievements

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Gaining in Jesus Christ

Philippians 3:1-6

The Message

To Know Him Personally

3 And that’s about it, friends. Be glad in God!

I don’t mind repeating what I have written in earlier letters, and I hope you don’t mind hearing it again. Better safe than sorry—so here goes.
^2-6 Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they’re interested in is appearances—knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise as we do it. We couldn’t carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God’s law Book.

For Reflection

Paul, using the example of his own life, shows us that adhering the culture of a religion satisfies only those who also follow superficially.  As invested as he was in his Jewish tradition, God had shown him that  in paying attention to the trees he missed the meaning of the forest.  To know God personally is to follow His path even if it is in conflict with a religion as commonly practiced.  Acts of faith, practiced in love and seeking justice and mercy in response to God's grace is authentic worship and worthy of a citizen in the Kingdom of God.

Pray

that you will follow God's call for your life.  Pray that all who have heard the good news will respond in ways that will please God.  Pray that a focus on a God-centered life will dominate your thoughts and action each day.

The True Value in Following Jesus

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Gaining in Jesus Christ

Luke 9:23-27

The Message

^23-27 Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I’m leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn’t, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God.”

For Reflection

Faith is full of paradoxes.  In the sixties many abandoned convention to "find themselves" only to lose themselves in a morass of chaos.  One finds him or herself only in losing him or herself in something that they realize is more important than themselves.  Lose your self in service to God.  Find your true self by abandoning the search.

Pray

that you will lose your reliance on self for reliance on God.  Pray that you will lose your self in service to to the One who promises that your sacrifice of self is rewarded in joy unattainable by any other means.

The Value of the Kingdom

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Gaining in Jesus Christ

Matthew 13:44-57

The Message

⁴⁴ “God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.
^45-46 “Or, God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.
^47-50 “Or, God’s kingdom is like a fishnet cast into the sea, catching all kinds of fish. When it is full, it is hauled onto the beach. The good fish are picked out and put in a tub; those unfit to eat are thrown away. That’s how it will be when the curtain comes down on history. The angels will come and cull the bad fish and throw them in the garbage. There will be a lot of desperate complaining, but it won’t do any good.”
⁵¹ Jesus asked, “Are you starting to get a handle on all this?”
They answered, “Yes.”
⁵² He said, “Then you see how every student well-trained in God’s kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it.”
^53-57 When Jesus finished telling these stories, he left there, returned to his hometown, and gave a lecture in the meetinghouse. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise, get such ability?” But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “We’ve known him since he was a kid; he’s the carpenter’s son. We know his mother, Mary. We know his brothers James and Joseph, Simon and Judas. All his sisters live here. Who does he think he is?” They got their noses all out of joint.

For Reflection

I suppose that's the way it is.  When one embraces the Kingdom of God and then realizes what sacrifices need to be make as one rejects the Kingdom of Human Kind the risk becomes too great. Then, rather than work on adaptation many abandon the new practice in favor of the old.  They then bolster their choice by demonizing the messenger.

Pray

that you will hold fast to your place in the Kingdom of God.  Pray that you will not be intimidated by the risk of practicing your faith.  Pray for those who reject the Kingdom's promise because of the pressure to conform to the kingdoms of human device.

The Value of the Spiritual

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Gaining in Jesus Christ

Romans 2:17-29

The Message

Religion Can’t Save You

^17-24 If you’re brought up Jewish, don’t assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you’re an insider to God’s revelation, a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines! I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God’s revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I’m quite serious. While preaching “Don’t steal!” are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law. The line from Scripture, “It’s because of you Jews that the outsiders are down on God,” shows it’s an old problem that isn’t going to go away.

^25-29 Circumcision, the surgical ritual that marks you as a Jew, is great if you live in accord with God’s law. But if you don’t, it’s worse than not being circumcised. The reverse is also true: The uncircumcised who keep God’s ways are as good as the circumcised—in fact, better. Better to keep God’s law uncircumcised than break it circumcised. Don’t you see: It’s not the cut of a knife that makes a Jew. You become a Jew by who you are. It’s the mark of God on your heart, not of a knife on your skin, that makes a Jew. And recognition comes from God, not legalistic critics.

For Reflection

Are you Christian?  Are you Muslim?  Are you Catholic? Are you protestant?  To what extent are you comforted by the fact that you are a member of an organized religion?  

The declaration of your religion, and yes,  even the practice of that religion is not enough.  Paul tells us it is the mark of God on your heart.  It is your devotion to living a God-centered life no matter what your declared faith that makes the difference.  Only God can offer and grant salvation -- the transformation which reconciles you to God.

Pray

that you will grow in the image of the transformed self God wants you to be.  Pray that you will grow beyond the boundaries of organized religion into a life guided by the Holy Spirit.

The Value of Each One

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Gaining in Jesus Christ

Matthew 18:10-14

The Message (MSG)

¹⁰ “Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?

Work It Out Between You

^12-14 “Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn’t he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn’t want to lose even one of these simple believers.

For Reflection

Get back to the basics.  As one transformed in the image of Christ, remember your child like beginnings in the faith.  You didn't know it all then and, quite frankly, no matter your age or length of your tenure of living out your transformation, you still have a lot to learn.

A work of art is just as valuable to one who exclaims "I like it!" without really knowing why as it is to one who knows about line, composition, color and all of those other things which make up a sophisticated understanding.  Likewise, one whose faith is simply understood is just as life changing as one whose studies build a complex understanding of the gospel. 

Each receives the same measure of God's love and protection. Those with a complex understanding  serve those whose simple understandings sometimes fail them.  Those with simple understandings serve those whose complex understandings sometimes fail them.  Each shepherds the other, equal in the sight of God.

Pray

that you will see each of God's children as equal participants in the Kingdom of God.  Pray that you will council each other as is befitting your understanding and tempered with grace, love and humility.

Look to the Interest of Others

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Jesus' Humility and Exaltation

He Took on the Status of a Slave

2 ^1-4 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

For Reflection

Lots of people focus on the afterlife portion of salvation.  They sometimes forget that salvation is not only for the afterlife.  Your transformation into a God-centered life saves you from slavery to culture-centered pressures. Our cultures often times drive us away from agape love.  They seem to favor self-reliance rather than reliance on God.  They drive conformity to the collective morality, and acceptable ways of living.  Christianity is a counter-culture movement. Christians are saved from enslavement to the ordinary.  The Christ event offers the extraordinary.  To be saved is to live a life extraordinary in God-centeredness.

Pray

That you will practice love.  Pray that all people will find courage to reject the cultural pressures that drive them to self-centeredness.  Pray that all those in need will find God-centered friends in their lives. Pray that you will sacrifice your self-centerdness for servitude.

Become a Servant and a Slave

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Jesus' Humility and Exaltation

Mark 10:35-45

The Message

The Highest Places of Honor

³⁵ James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.”

³⁶ “What is it? I’ll see what I can do.”
³⁷ “Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.”
³⁸ Jesus said, “You have no idea what you’re asking. Are you capable of drinking the cup I drink, of being baptized in the baptism I’m about to be plunged into?”
^39-40 “Sure,” they said. “Why not?”
Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you will drink the cup I drink, and be baptized in my baptism. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. There are other arrangements for that.”
^41-45 When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John. Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”

For Reflection

What moved the others to lose their tempers with James and John?  What caused them to argue?  In what ways were the ten acting out the question that was raised by James and John?  What special position did they think they held what would give them privilege and authority to be so judgmental?

Sometimes our need to occupy a special position expresses itself in disguise. What is a God-centered alternative to outrage and accusation? How did Jesus handle it?

Pray

that you will approach your life in Christian humility.  Pray that you will practice Christian hospitality.  Pray that you will exchange your self-centered life to help those who are held hostage in a cultured-centered life style.

Overcome Evil with Good

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Jesus' Humility and Exaltation

Romans 12:14-21

The Message (MSG)

^14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
^17-19 Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”
^20-21 Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

For Reflection

How often are we tempted to wipe out that which we consider evil?  How much time have we spent in enforcing prohibitions?  It seems that in spite of the fact that prohibitions are expensive and difficult to control, we keep using the same hammer over and over.

What do we offer as an alternative?  How often do we consider offering blessings rather than withholding them? Love is attractive. Hospitality is the medium.  Reject eye for and eye punishment.  Embrace the unexpected, non-judgmental, reinforcement of good and let God wipe away the evil.

Pray

that you will realize the power of rejecting negative responses in favor of reinforcing ones.  Pray that you will see beyond the evil deed and in humility, offer reconciliation and love.

Avoid Envy and Selfish Ambition

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Jesus' Humility and Exaltation

James 3:13-18

The Message

Live Well, Live Wisely

^13-16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

^17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

For Reflection

Don't tell me what you are going to do.  Just do it.  If it is authentic, you will represent God well.

Don't tell me what I should do.  It assumes that you are so wise as to know what God intends for me.  And furthermore, it assumes that what I am is not as valuable as what you are.

God's wisdom begins with love and hospitality.  God's wisdom protects one's right to choose.  God is found in mutual respect, dignity and honor.

Pray

that your wittiness to your God-centered life is clothed in humility.  Pray that you will be consistently gentle, merciful and hospitable.

Sower, Seeds, and Soils

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Jesus' Humility and Exaltation

Matthew 13:1-9

The Message

A Harvest Story

13 ^1-3 At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In no time at all a crowd gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the boat as a pulpit, he addressed his congregation, telling stories.

^3-8 “What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.
⁹ “Are you listening to this? Really listening?

For Reflection

Yes, what do you make of this? Shall we agree that Christ is speaking of the word of God?

In that case the word of God in contemporary terms is not limited to the spoken or written word.  It also includes the observations others make of Christian behavior.  What one hears or interprets does not totally depend upon what the person observed intends.  It depends upon what the observer intends. Some, like the birds, will try to remove the word from view.   Some, like stones, just flatly refuse to recognize the truth about living. Some, like weeds, will have intentions contrary to a Christ-centered life and intentionally spin the observations to lead others away from God's intention for reconciliation through transformation.  But some, like the seeds in fertile soil, will invite commitment to and renewed faith in God's promise.

Christ had realistic expectations for the results of his preaching.  He knew not all would respond positively to His message.  Like wise not all will respond to your transformation positively.  Are you up to the challenge of being rejected because of your transformed self is different from your former self?  Are you ready for your actions to be used against you because they do not conform to a culture-based standard?  Are you ready for others to use the example of your actions to mislead others? Are you ready to listen, as fertile ground, when God challenges you to mature in your faith?  Are you ready to provide Christian hospitality to all with out expectation of return?

Pray

that you will have the courage supported by God to face the consequences of a transformed life in Christ.  Pray that you will hone your interpretive skills through disciplined study of your faith. Pray for God's wisdom to lead you as you mature in grace.

Toiling to Proclaim the Gospel

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Proclaiming Christ

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

The Message

2 ^1-2 So, friends, it’s obvious that our visit to you was no waste of time. We had just been given rough treatment in Philippi, as you know, but that didn’t slow us down. We were sure of ourselves in God, and went right ahead and said our piece, presenting God’s Message to you, defiant of the opposition.

No Hidden Agendas

^3-5 God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with this Message. Be assured that when we speak to you we’re not after crowd approval—only God approval. Since we’ve been put through that battery of tests, you’re guaranteed that both we and the Message are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas. We never used words to butter you up. No one knows that better than you. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take advantage of you.

^6-8 Even though we had some standing as Christ’s apostles, we never threw our weight around or tried to come across as important, with you or anyone else. We weren’t aloof with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. And we did.
^9-12 You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the bone, up half the night, moonlighting so you wouldn’t have the burden of supporting us while we proclaimed God’s Message to you. You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among you, with keen sensitivity to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren’t freeloaders! You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life.

For Reflection

What is the proper way to proclaim the gospel? Is it bombastic rhetoric filled with the threats of eternal hell and the promise of eternal life? Or is it the promise of prosperity?  Or saved from sin? Or the offer of peace and comfort in the face of trouble? 

I suspect all ways work at some level.  God is both loving and punitive, merciful, redeeming, an advocate of peace, and above all, willing to accept all who call to Him.

How does one proclaim the Gospel?  Sincerely and with out a hidden agenda -- always preserving the right of one to choose his or her path into righteousness in the Kingdom of God.

Pray

that you will be humble in the robes of your God-centered self. Pray that you interact with discretion, and courtesy.  Pray that you will respect all with whom you come in contact.  Pray that you will be a conduit for God's grace.

Speaking the Word with Boldness

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Proclaiming Christ

Philippians 1:8-14

The Message

^7-8 It’s not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!
^9-11 So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

They Can’t Imprison the Message

^12-14 I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.

For Reflection

The greatest gift in response to God's love for you is to live an exemplary life.  The witness to God in such a life spreads the Gospel message far more effectively than words could ever convey.

Pray

that you will let all that come in contact with you know by your demeanor that you are a child of God.  Not a wimpy, mushy dogooder, but a person committed to your God-centered life. An authentic citizen in the Kingdom of God.

Sharing in the Gospel

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Proclaiming Christ

Philippians 1:1-8

The Message

1 ^1-2 Paul and Timothy, both of us committed servants of Christ Jesus, write this letter to all the followers of Jesus in Philippi, pastors and ministers included. We greet you with the grace and peace that comes from God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ.

A Love That Will Grow

^3-6 Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

^7-8 It’s not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!

For Reflection

The God who lives in you cannot be hidden.  He is the prime mover for all that you are, you do, you say, and what others say about you.  You, transformed into a God-centered being, are the living proclamation of the fullness that is God.  In that you cannot help but share the gospel.

Pray

that you will trust in the promise of God's persistent companionship.  Give God the credit for all that you do.  Pray that you will permit the Spirit embolden you to live out your faith.

Making the Word Fully Known

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Proclaiming Christ

Colossians 1:21-29

The Message

^21-23 You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.

^24-25 I want you to know how glad I am that it’s me sitting here in this jail and not you. There’s a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church’s part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God’s way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.

^26-29 This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That’s what I’m working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.

For Reflection

Being transformed through Christ and maturing in the way of the Cross Is not an easy path.  Even as transformed, others will see your old culture centered self and demand that you stay the same as you were.  You live in the same culture but you are not bound by it.  You are a misfit in the old ways, but a perfect fit in the new ways.  In truth you confront the past and embrace the opportunity to challenge the culture-centered power to limit you.  Who you were is of no matter.  Who you are becoming is paramount.

Pray

Praise God for the opportunity to suffer in your quest to become God-centered.  Pray for the courage to reject the pressures to conform to contemporary culture.  Pray for the wisdom to follow God' intentions for your life.