Author: Pastor Doug

Our scripture this morning is Ephesians 6:12 (ESV).

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Our brother Paul writes to remind the Ephesians (and us) that there is a war going on and it’s not with each other. That’s what the forces of evil want us to think and they encourage the chaos. It is how evil has always separated us from God and each other.

In Romans 8:31 we read “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” We seem to forget this essential truth and as we often do, try to handle things ourselves. Unfortunately we usually direct our efforts against other humans who are not the underlying cause of the problem, only the symptom.

Colossians 2:15 tells us that through Jesus “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him.” This battle belongs to the Lord! When we put our faith in Christ, we are part of this victory.

Loving Lord, help us to remember we are all Your children and we can choose Your way over the ways of the world. Bless us to go in Your name to share Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ (‭ESV‬‬).

And Judah and all its cities shall dwell there together, and the farmers and those who wander with their flocks. For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.

I’ve been traveling for family this last week and haven’t been on much. I head home tomorrow and hope to resume daily posting. I have been doing a lot of thinking though.

I feel we put way too much emphasis and effort into our human created organizations, counting on them to save us from what we have allowed to happen in the world. At times I’ve been asked why I don’t speak out more in defense of or opposition to one side or another. I’ve always thought Jesus doesn’t have a “side” in all this. We are all His brothers and sisters.

To be honest, I do have opinions and I vote, but I don’t think that is what matters to Jesus. God warned the people what asking for a king meant in 1 Samuel 8:7 – “And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.” Unless we are willing to let Him be the king of our lives, nothing else matters.

What about people who don’t listen to our message? Well, first off it has to be His message, not ours. Look at how Jesus handled it with the rich young man in Matthew 19:16-26. We read that the young man walked away sadly, and Jesus didn’t run down the hill after him. In the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), the father let the son make his own decisions, both to leave and to return. God gave us free will and waits for us to use it properly.

Today’s verse from Jeremiah reminds us we are all called to a better existence than we know here. God wants our trust to be in Him, not in things or organizations we have created ourselves. That’s why I avoid political commentary here and stick to scripture. Please know I am a fallible human and I surely don’t have answers to many of our very human and very valid questions. Only our personal relationship to the Father through Jesus can bring that peace.

Patient God, we are amazed that You are still waiting for us to make the decision to return to Your love, and ashamed it has taken us so long. Help us to be patient with each other, that we may all be part of Your Kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 9:23-24 (ESV).

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Jesus teaches that if we intend to follow Him we must want what God wants for us rather than what we want for ourselves. This is hard for us as humans as we see in our history. We are not very good at denying ourselves whatever interests us at the moment, no matter the risk.

In addition to this we must be willing to take up our cross daily. Jesus means we are called to do as He does, wanting what is best for God’s children and not just us personally. True service as He showed us is caring about each other more than ourselves.

He tells us “whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” This seems backwards to humans but is completely faithful to what He teaches and does for us – sacrificing Himself that we might be saved. Jesus tells us the world is not our home and that He has prepared a place for us in the Father’s house.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for our selfish ways that often harm us and others. Forgive us and send us to show the world Your love and mercy. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 20:21-22 (ESV).

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

This is John’s recording of the Great Commission given to us by Jesus. He says “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you”, meaning we are sent to do and teach the things He did and taught us. What an amazing gift, to be part of His work in the world!

He’s not sending us alone. Yes, we have brothers and sisters in the faith who will go also, but more than that, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to be our guard and guide wherever we go. This is God present with us always.

Jesus taught us about God’s love for us and the special relationship He has with the Father. He wants all of us to have that same relationship with God as His children, and with each other as His heirs. We carry on His work of spreading the Good News all over the world.

Loving Lord, we are humbled that you call us to be Your representatives here. Help us to go in faith wherever there is need and bring Your love to all. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 10:12-13 (ESV).

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

In the early church there was some concern over the inclusion of Gentiles among the followers of Jesus. Jesus Himself had no problem of course, but early church leaders discussed this at length, some in earnest, some in anger. Jewish worship was part of their lives and those practices were not easily dismissed.

Paul, known as the apostle to the Gentiles, defended their inclusion based on their faith alone. Eventually Peter would be shown this as well, as we read in Acts 10:9-45. God made us all in His image, and He made only one group of us: human.

This passage tells us no matter how grievously we divide ourselves, we are all one in our Father’s eyes. Above all the petty rules and practices we devise is the command to love God and one another. If we start getting that right we will be on the way to His kingdom coming on earth.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the artificial barriers we create for ourselves and each other. Help us to know each other as Your beloved children instead of a label. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Genesis 1:3-4 (ESV).

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

Light plays an important part in the Bible story. It was the first thing God spoke into existence when He began creating. The concept of light is used several places in scripture to help us understand a variety of lessons.

In John 1:4-5 we read “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” This is the description of Jesus coming to be with us, and the light He has shined on a dark world. Sadly we also hear “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him” (John 1:10).

Jesus calls us to be light in the world too. He tells us “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14). We were made according to God’s plan, and He sends us to share the Good News everywhere.

Gracious God, we are grateful for all Your many gifts, none more precious than You sending Jesus to save us. Help us to be light in our world, telling everyone of Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalm 105:1-2 (ESV).

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

This song of praise reminds us that God is the source of all things and we owe Him thanks and praise for our very existence. It was composed by David and the first part was originally sung during the procession bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16). It continues with a summary of God’s promise to the children of Abraham and the Exodus from Egypt.

It was important for the people to remember their history as laid out in this psalm, and God’s saving grace that led them to the Promised Land. God intended it as a new start for them, but they got comfortable in the ways of the world quickly. The hard truth is we often forget what the Lord has done for us when things are good.

The last phrase of this passage encourages us to “tell of all his wondrous works!” It is a call to evangelism, sharing the joy of what God has done for us with the world. God wants everyone to know of His love and connect with Him personally.

Heavenly Father, You have blessed us and led us in Your ways so that we could be saved. May we always remember Your love for us and carry it to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture today is Amos 5:24 (ESV).

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

It may be an oversimplification, but it seems virtually every human problem we face stems from our lack of love for God and one another, and our failure to treat them as we want to be treated. That’s what Jesus taught us when He said “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:40).

Amos speaks of justice, not the go to court legal kind, but God’s universal justice of treating each other with love and care. If we do the right things out of our love for God and encourage others to do so as well, we can become part of that “ever-flowing stream” of righteousness. Micah spoke similarly, saying “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

It’s that last part about “walking humbly with God” that the people of Amos’ time (and us, if we’re honest) have trouble following. We wish evil on one another and say things about each other. We need to pray for ourselves and the world before we can see “justice roll down like waters.”

Loving Lord, help us to be every day Christians, honoring You with our actions as well as our worship. May we be part of what You are doing in the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 1:19-20 (ESV).

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

I feel this scripture is especially relevant in the world we face today. Having said that, it has been especially relevant in every time since Jesus taught it and James recorded it. Even in the Old Testament we read “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Proverbs 10:19).

I need to pay attention to verse 20, “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Since my retirement, my physical condition has caused me problems – nothing very serious, but I am unable to do things I used to do without thinking. This frustrates me and often it comes out as anger…which does nothing to resolve the situation and doesn’t make me feel better!

Jesus taught us to be receptive and responsive to God’s Word – listening, learning and doing. We are called to bring the Good News to the world, but we must be “in the world, not of it” as He said (John 17:14). We must be ready to listen and perhaps hear things that anger us, but we must respond as He did, with love and charity to be able to understand what angers our brothers and sisters.

Patient God, teach us to listen longer and talk less in order to reach everyone with Your love. May we be calm voices in an angry world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Mark 11:24-25 (ESV).

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Jesus speaks of the power of prayer, and the things necessary for it to be effective in our lives. In Matthew 7:7 He tells us “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” It is this kind of continual connection to God that makes prayer part of what we need to do every day.

Faith and forgiveness are essential to effective prayer. Jesus tells us to “believe that you have received it”, which is our faith in action. He also warns that we must forgive others in order to receive God’s forgiveness. This is part of the model prayer He taught us: “and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”

Paul writes “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ” (Philippians 2:5). If we want to follow Jesus, we must think and act as He did. By treating others with love as He showed us, we can be part of the Kingdom work to which we are called.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we ask for selfish things. Bless us to be eager in sharing Your love with all Your children. Amen.