"Jerusalem: 'May [Only] They Prosper Who Love You.'"

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you.  Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.'" (Psalm 122:6,7)

The word translated, "peace," is, "shalom," which means, "completeness, soundness, welfare, peace."  Most people just say, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," and stop.  But our text tells us what to pray, "May they prosper who love you," etc.  I pray that only, "they...who love you...prosper."  Arabs do not love Jerusalem.  They only want Jerusalem so that they can drive the Jews out.  They have absolutely no tie, emotional or otherwise, to Jerusalem.  Furthermore, many politicians who vote favorably towards Jerusalem do it for the Jewish votes; they don't love Jerusalem.  American Presidents too have been cowardly, both Democrat and Republican, in their refusal to move the American Embassy to Jerusalem.  Moving the embassy would declare to the whole world that America, and any government which would so do, we too, "love you," Jerusalem.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace!  But now they are hidden from you eyes."  I leave for Jerusalem next Thursday, December 1, and arrive in, "The City of the Great King," in the morning of December 2.  I am and will be praying in the city, that Jerusalem will come to know, now, "in this your day, the things that make for your peace!"  I pray that, "the things...hidden from your eyes," will be manifest by obedience to, Messiah Jesus, "King of kings, and Lord of lords."  I pray that the President of the United States of America and leaders of the nations will boldly proclaim to the world, not by talk and political rhetoric, but by the action of moving embassies to Jerusalem, "We love you, Jerusalem."  And most importantly, that the nations, before it is too late, will surrender to King Jesus Christ as King of the Kingdom of God, and King of, "the City of the Great King."   

Father, in Jesus' Name, May only those who love Jerusalem prosper; may the Jews have the veil lifted to see things which are, "now...hidden from [them]."  Amen.

"Brethren, pray for us."  Please pray for complete healing of chronic sinus infections.  We love and appreciate you.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"Giving Thanks To His Name"

"Therefore by Jesus let us continually offer sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." (Hebrews 13:15)

This is Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America.  Other nations also observe a Thanksgiving Day, including Canada and The Netherlands.  One source tells us that "many of the Pilgrims who migrated to the Plymouth Plantation had resided in the city of Leiden (The Netherlands, aka, Holland) from 1609-1620, many of whom had recorded their birth, marriages and deaths at the Pieterskerk (church building).  To commemorate this, a non-denominational Thanksgiving Day service is held each year on the morning of the American Thanksgiving Day in the Pieterskerk, a Gothic church building in Leiden, to commemorate the hospitality the Pilgrims received in Leiden on their way to the New World."

You are probably receiving many Thanksgiving Day blessings today.  The close of the Hebrew Letter, a fitting "end" to a great treatise.  "Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You.  Amen.
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Unreached of the Day: www.apfunreachedpeoples.blogspot.com ;

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"Therefore Let Us Go Forth To Him"

"For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.  Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp bearing His reproach."

Our text is a summation of the difference between the Old and the New Covenants.  In the Old, it was, "the bodies of those animals."  In the New, it is Jesus Christ.  Both, however, were discarded, "outside the camp."  Hebrews tells us that the blood of animals could do nothing to purify, cleanse the human conscience of sin.  The Blood of Jesus Christ, however, does this, "once for all."

What seeming travesty this is.  "Outside the camp," in the Old Covenant was nothing but a garbage heap: so too Golgotha.  Also, located nearby was a cemetery--waste and death.  It is fitting that Jesus should die in such a place, for He was taking the waste and death of humanity, "in His Own Body on the Tree." 

Man does not want to, "bear[] (such) reproach."  He wants happy stuff, acceptance, affirmation, told that he is special and have everyone accept him in all his self- centered sin.  But to those of us who know Jesus, we take great delight (or do we?) to, "go forth to Jesus, outside the camp, bearing His reproach."  To obey such an invitation is, "foolishness to those who are perishing."  Ah, "but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  This is, "to the Jews a stumbling block and to the [Gentile Peoples] foolishness, but to those who are the called, bearing the reproach of Jesus in  His Cross, "is the power of God and the wisdom of God."  

There can be no other command, no other invitation to you and me today than, "Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach."  The reproach of Christ will be with us until we die or the Trumpet announces His return.  Everywhere they go, whether they choose it or not, Followers of Jesus, "bear[] His reproach."  But there is joy only in the willingly embrace of, "Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp...." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I, "go forth to Him outside the camp...."  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

17 Commands in Hebrews 13

"Let brotherly love continue....Entertain strangers....Remember the prisoners.... Marriage is honorable...." (Hebrews 13)

There are at least 17 commands in chapter 13.  Most people do not think of the New Testament when there is talk of "commands;" they think only of the Old Testament.  Yet commands from God did not stop at Sinai.  The Bible teaches that you and I are servants of the Living Triune God, and servants obey commands.  Jesus said, "If any man serve me, let him follow me."  People say, "I want to serve the Lord."  Fine.  Then obey the command to follow. 

My calling in life is to serve and follow.  These are two very difficult realities for rebellious humanity.  Yet to the person who obeys, serves, and follows, the Bible speaks of indescribable blessings, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever."  All He has said to us so long ago, He still does to and for us today.  As Billy Graham once said, "He brought peace to the troubled sea, and to many a troubled hearts." 

Our text speaks of just a few of the commands in Hebrews 13.  "Be content with such things as you have," is another one, a command which gives peace and admonition to a literally bankrupt earth.  And if anyone wonders about indescribable blessings for those who obey His commands, "I will never, no never leave you nor forsake you."  This, my friend, is the blessing of the command-keeper, one who obeys, serves, follows. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight."  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"Holy Caution"

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12: 28, 29)

One of the meanings of the phrase translated, "godly fear," is, "Holy caution."  I really, really like that.  Is this how you and I, "serve God"?  Do we pray, read the Scriptures, witness, work in our vocations, relate with our families, friends, neighbors, government, preach, do mission work, in short, all things with, "Holy caution?"  This is how the "faith people" of Hebrews so lived.     

There is great comfort and confidence today in knowing, "we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken," and, "we have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably," in, "the [unshakable] Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ."  I need to walk in that, "grace," however, availing myself of what Wesley called "The means of grace," e.g., abiding in Christ Jesus, His Words, praying in my spirit in the Holy Spirit, continually and consciously under the Blood of Jesus, manifesting the love of Jesus Christ to all mankind.  I pray today that you and I learn more and more in the Holy Spirit what is true, "Holy Caution."

Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me for any moments of [un]holy caution.  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2