I Have An Invitation For You

"But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.....But when the king heard about it, he was furious.  And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city....Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding." (Matthew 22)

Jesus' teachings are full of, "This is what I offer you.  If you live in Me and I in you, if you obey my words, you will have, "My peace....'  If you do not live in Me and I in you, if you reject my words, you will have a life of frustration, bitterness, and ultimately rejection and judgment."  Our text is such a teaching.

After so many rejected the King's invitation to the wedding and the accompanying feast, our text tells us that the servants were commanded, "Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding."  When, "those who were invited...were not willing to come", the King "threw open" the invitations to everyone who would hear, receive and respond to the invitation.

Our area is under a "winter storm warning."  This means, in meteorologist terms, a storm is coming; count on it.  There are also storm "watches," and storm "advisories," depending on the greater or less possibility. Everything Jesus says is a "storm warning;" it is coming; He is coming.  By "warning," I mean the same, yes, even greater than NOAA's warnings.  It is the absolute certainty expressed in His Words, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  The only "watch" and "advisory" about the Words of Jesus is the reaction of you and me and humanity.   Your invitation to the Wedding Feast has been sent.  The "warning" aspect is the reality that the Wedding will take place, and His Invitation has been sent to all.  The "watch/advisory" aspect is:  What is our response?

Father, in Jesus' Name, I respond with a resounding, "I accept Your more-than-I-deserve invitation." Amen.
*******************   
* Still planning on DC Mission, January 27.
* Already have a contribution commitment towards our Berlin Mission.  Thanks to a faithful family. 

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

The King On A Baby Donkey

"Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"  (Matthew 21:5)

Just compare Jesus' approach to the Capitol of the Jews, aka, "The City of the Great King," with other notable people, viz., world leaders, movie stars, lauded athletes.  The latter come before people with expensive cars, clothes, entourage.  These, for the most part, prima donnas receive and expect adulation and are mostly over paid.  The Former had, "no place to lay His Head."  The Word Who, "was God," the very, "King of kings and Lord of lords," entered Jerusalem, the Capitol of Israel, on a donkey's baby; "Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side."

If anyone who ever lived had the "right" to enter in a BMW motorcade, wearing a gold crown, with hundreds of "advance men," closing down everything and everyone in his path, it was Jesus.  That would be our thinking.  There is a phenomenon in the Godhead, however, which you and I have difficulty embracing.  Otherwise so many senior pastors, elders, bishops, archbishops, popes would manifest less preferred seating, less demand on being called something which makes sure everyone knows they are special and need special entertainment rooms, accommodations, etc.  What is it about historic Christendom which tends to portray the exact opposite of, "Behold Your King,..lowly/gentle and sitting on...the foal of a donkey."  My dear God, forgive me if I have ever or would ever portray anything else.

Humility is not always what it seems to be.  Even the "shy" person battles with pride and the desire for recognition.  A lot of shyness is driven by fear that if they were to assert themselves, they would be rejected or embarrassed.  It is a sort of, "Better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."  In the Gospels we hear Jesus warning us to beware of those (as well as anything in ourselves) who, "....make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments (over dress?).  They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi'....But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant (sit in the back row?)"

Deference is a word which should dominate you and me.  The Bible teaches us that love, "does not cherish ideas of its own importance."  Everything about Jesus is this.  What an ongoing, daily, moment by moment lesson to you and me.  May our lives today so manifest Jesus to others.

Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me if I have ever or ever would enter "the city" any other way than You.  Amen.
*************************** 

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Some "New" Thoughts On An Ancient Text"

"The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out.  Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it."  (Leviticus 6:12, NIV)

This quarter I noticed particularly that, "The fire (is) on the altar...."  It is not "on" me, my church, my work.

I have concurred with the Unitas Fratrum Community's application of our text that, at least in part, our text can be a reference to that Acts passage, "but prayer was made without ceasing of the church...."  Today, however, I took notice of the place of that, "fire...must be kept burning"; it was, "on the altar."  Along with, "prayer...made without ceasing of the church," there is here a sense of the continual awareness, perhaps a perpetual honoring, worshiping of, "Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us."  The Reformation Study Bible says, "The action was perhaps prescribed as a reminder of God's continual presence and the people's need for continual atonement.  The first burnt offering at the tabernacle was consumed by fire from God Himself." 

I have many problems with Catholicism, but there is something in the concept of the "daily Mass" which is seen in our text.  Regardless of some mythological aspects of the Mass, it is focused on the Blood and Body of Jesus.  Whatever they believe about it, this is not a "continual atonement," in the sense of perpetual sacrifice of Jesus.  The Atonement of Jesus Christ is a, "once for all," completed act.  Perhaps this is why the great Pastor-Statesman, G. Campbell Morgan took communion every day.  I pray for an every-moment-of-every-day, "not go out," awareness of the Blessed Trinity Presence.  I pray for an every-moment-of-every-day awareness, meditative, honoring, worhipping Jesus, "Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us."  Prayer, "on the Altar," worshipping, "on the Altar," serving and living, "on the altar," continually remembering that we can/may only talk with God because, "Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us."  In short, our text says to me that no matter what I do in life, it is not separate from, "the altar of sacrifice."  

"Prayer...made without ceasing of the Church," should be, "....On the altar...prayer without ceasing...."  How much less self-centered praying, how much less, "I declare" praying, how much less me, family, job, local church, nation-centered praying would be ours if the Shed Blood, Death and Resurrection of Jesus be the "Altar" upon which our 24/7 praying, serving, worshiping, "missioning," and everything else is centered, foundational!  Pray all that we pray, but literally "begin" and "end" with, "on the altar."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I don't fully grasp all of this, but I know You are "there" somewhere in it.  Amen.
**************
DC Mission: January 27
Berlin Mission: September 

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"The Mystery of Godliness"

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
        God was manifested in the flesh,
        Justified in the Spirit,
        Seen by angels,
        Preached among the Gentiles,
        Believed on in the world,
        Received up in glory."  (1 Timothy 3:16)

In other words, if you want to know that, "great...mystery of godliness," you need look no further.  The rest of our text tells us the revelation of, "the mystery...."  Biblical, "godliness," is not so much acting right; it is "receiving" right, receiving Jesus Christ, living in obedience to Jesus Christ.

If you check the "new" translations, you will find that they are reluctant to translate, "God was manifest...."  I checked the Interlinear. "And confessedly great is the mystery of godliness [He] who was revealed in flesh was justified in [the] Spirit was seen by angels was proclaimed among nations was believed on in [the] world was taken up in glory."  If one can read, one will see that, "the mystery of godliness," is not a what, but a, "Who."  It is, "God was revealed in the flesh."  Again, this and this alone is, "the great...mystery of godliness," and what a glorious, "mystery."  It is, "God (Himself) was manifested in flesh."  

It is a, "great...mystery," because unlike Islam and all other religions and philosophies, "the faith of Jesus," is Jesus Himself, "God...manifested in flesh."  "Godliness," is Jesus, not do this; don't do that; say this; don't say that; believe this; don't believe that.  The Living Triune God gave us the Commandments on Sinai.  He taught us, "exceeding great and precious promises," and life principles in both Old and New Testaments.  But these are, "exceeding great," because they speak of a Person, our Lord Jesus Christ.  The Bible teaches that no man can live in the purposes of God, no person can walk in the way He created us apart from Jesus Christ.  A person only is godly if God dwells and rules in him/her.

If religious people, evangelical, "born again," people, church-goers would believe this they would not be confused about Who God Is.  They would not say such dumb things as "the world's great religions."  Without Jesus nothing is "great," not you, not me, not Mr. or Mrs. Wonderfully Spiritual, great preachers, no one.  It is not "worship" if Jesus is not "in it."  Neither am I "living" apart from Jesus.  I have no hope, and joy cannot be deep and victorious in me without Jesus.  But I repeat the words of Pascal, "Apart from Jesus Christ we know not what is our life, nor our death, nor ourselves."

What do you want from life?  Is that joy, happiness, contentment too often illusive?  Don't look for words and what they describe and which so often take you to "fantasyland."  Rather, "look" for Jesus today.  Look in your life, your work, your leisure, your local church.  You will find no, "godliness," if there is not Jesus Christ.  "The mystery of godliness," is Jesus Himself.  When we have Jesus and Jesus has us, we have the, "great...mystery," in us.

Father, in Jesus' Name, only You are my, "godliness."  Amen.
*************************************
* DC Mission: January 27

* Berlin Mission:  September 14-October 5

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

His Words Are "New Every Morning"

"....although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man (or, 'violently arrogant'); but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."  (1 Timothy 1:13)

Once you and I come to Jesus Christ, we can no longer claim "ignorance."  It is the, "be converted and become as little children," that follows the, "born again," which delivers us from such evil.

This was yesterday's "last third-of-the-New Testament" reading.  The word for, "insolent," in the margin of my Bible is, "violently arrogant."  The Interlinear says, "insulting [person]."  One "word study" says, "someone damaging to others by lashing out with a nasty spirit.  This kind of individual...(delights in wrong-doing)-- finding pleasure in hurting others)."  There is something very evil here.  Because words can hurt so much, I think we can easily see just how "violent" is an, "insolent [person]."

This is not someone you and I want to be.  Some are this way because they are living in the "old nature."  Some just "find[] pleasure in hurting others."  It's a sort of "get-even-with-how-life-has-treated- me" attitude.  How can I say I have His Words written in my heart if I act this way?  This is hideous, and even though others may not call them on it, we would recognize the folly of such a life style if we read the Bible and prayed in the manner our Lord Jesus teaches us, viz., allowing, "The Word of God and prayer," to change ("sanctify") our hearts.

Paul told Timothy to, "preach the word;...reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."  If we study carefully each word, we see the heart of Jesus.  This is exactly as we see Jesus living in the Gospels, and the rest of the Bible.  The Blessed Trinity does not just spew forth condemnations, judgments, "fire and brimstone."  Jesus is these Words, "became flesh and dwelt among us."  For instance, the word for, "exhort," means, "I send for, summon, invite, beseech, entreat,..admonish, I comfort, encourage, console."  This is the heart of the Living Triune God.  These Words perfectly describe all we see of God throughout the Bible, and if I am in Jesus and Jesus in me, then these Words will be my biography, "I send for, summon, invite, beseech, entreat,..admonish, I comfort, encourage, console."

O, Father, in Jesus' Name, let it be so!  Amen.
***************************
* Washington, DC Mission, January 27.  I will be praying in the Indian Affairs Committee Hearing and David's Tent.  January 27 is also, "International Holocaust Remembrance Day," the seventy-first anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz/Birkenau Concentration Camp.

* Berlin Mission:  September 14-October 5

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2