"Food...And...Drink"

"All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink.  For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ."  (1 Corinthians 10:3, 4)

Well, here it is again, just like all Scripture.  As I have written before, "The Word of God," keeps repeating Himself, over and over and over again, ever since the early centuries of the Church.  Apparently the Godhead is not like so many today, always needing a "fresh word," something new, "something borrowed, something blue" (sorry).  But wait; maybe that last pop quote isn't so flippant.  Too many succumb to, "O, I've heard/read that so many times.  How about moving on, something different."  The Enemy is only too ready to comply. And I can assure anyone; most of what some call, "fresh," is noting but, "something borrowed."

You cannot get more "fresh" than our text.  And I can tell you that the same, "spiritual food," which, "followed them," follows you and me, day by day, moment by moment, "whether we wake or sleep."  Even though some are going through "deep waters" now, I remind us all of some of the words of the old hymn, "Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, by the cross are sanctified; peace is there that knows no measure, joys that through all time abide."  Whatever is going on in your life today, I call you to eat and drink: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever."

Biblical Theology teaches us that our, "Spiritual Rock," not only follows us; Jesus lives in us, and, Jesus tells us repetitively, "As the Living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me....The Words I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."  Feed on and drink today of our Lord Jesus Christ.  If we don't fully grasp what that means, well, maybe that's why He has been repeating Himself for centuries.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You that You have, "followed," all who have believed You, from the beginning.  Amen.

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* We ask prayer for our decision on Berlin.

* I plan to spend some time in DC during the confirmation hearings of Judge Kavanaugh.

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

No Reasons To Quit

"Yet to us [there is] One God the Father of whom [are] the things all and we for Him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom [are] the things all and we by Him."  (1 Corinthians 8:6, Interlinear Greek)

The older we become, the older many of our friends become.  A guy I played football with in junior high and high school stopped by our house yesterday.  He had one knee replaced and needs to have the other one replaced.  His wife has severe rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.  We have a number of friends who are also now going through significant health issues.  How does the Gospel of Jesus Christ, indeed, the entirety of Scripture, apply in such situations?

I think there is a certain aspect of life's journey which is like what our Lord Jesus said to Peter.  I know the context speaks of how Peter would depart this life, but there is a certain "truth" about life in general here,  "When you were younger, you...walked where you wished; but when you are old...."  No one can do at 75 what they could do at 15.  I wonder where is the theology which will help the "aging population" in the Church.  Much of modern, popular, "theology" speaks of wealth and health as though the modern church will never grow old and is exempt from what David said, "I go the way of all the earth."  Maybe this is a reason so many modern congregations have few people of retirement age.

While others continue to buy into the religion of the god of this age, I call you to join me in the affirmation of our Brother Paul.  He had trial after trial, imprisonment, and rejection by friends.  Yet, in and through it all he never wavered in this most excellent of what church bulletins contain, "This We Believe," or, "Statement of Faith."  "For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live."  Dear loved of our Lord Jesus Christ, even if there are seemingly no answers for your life's struggles and suffering, join me today in this great "Statement of Faith!"

Father, in Jesus' Name, my trust today is in You, not in my philosophy of life.  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

"Kept Burning...Continuously"

"The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out."  (Leviticus 6:13, NIV)

When doing a lot of reading, I sometimes read ahead if I anticipate travel, etc; hence today's text "ahead of time."  I wonder if the reason for the fire to be continually burning on the altar was/is primarily fellowship, not only prayer meetings.  It would be consistent with Biblical Theology.

This was the fellowship of the Garden, "in the cool of the day."  This was the, "fire," at night and, "cloud," by day in the wilderness.  This is Jesus' Words to His Followers, "Abide in Me, and I in you."  This is, "Fix your eyes on Jesus." 

And, right now, right where you and I are, this is, "The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out."  Maybe Paul had this in mind when he told Timothy to, "fan into flame the gift of God."  This, my friend, is the, "fire," we could even say, "....the gift of God," of continuous fellowship in Jesus Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me and Your People away from "quiet time" limitations.  Holy Spirit, help me to keep, "The fire...burning on the altar continuously...."  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

What Jesus, "Destroy[s]...And Bring[s] To Nothing

"For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent ('intelligent').'" (1 Corinthians 1:19)

Today's text is based on yesterday's, of what a later verse calls, "the foolishness of the message preached."  We have, "received a kingdom," not a religion.  Our text is a Kingdom statement, not a religious one.  The Bible affirms the virtue of wisdom and understanding.  What, "The Word of God," rejects, however, is when you and I attempt wisdom and understanding and intelligence apart from, "The Word of God," Himself, Jesus.

Religion of men is, "wisdom of the wise, and...understanding of the prudent."  This is a reason Muhammed had no problem slaughtering people who disagreed with him; this is a reason some have established homosexual "churches," can approve of those who murder babies in their mothers' womb, while preaching "salvation," praying, raising hands in "worship."  They will all come, "....to nothing...." 

The Word for, "prudent," is also translated, "intelligent."  Those considered wise, understanding, prudent, intelligent are all, "foolishness"-philosophy.  Jesus tells us that He, "will destroy...and bring to nothing," these, "foolishness," attempts to find God, understand the universe, life, why man is here.  The Bible "answers" all these questions, at least to the degree you and I can "understand."

Here is what, "The Word of God," says about our Kingdom.  "Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe...."  The Kingdom, "of our Lord and of His Christ," is unshakable.  Our "kingdoms" of mental processes are not.  I wonder if, "gratitude...reverence and awe," are some characteristics we should spend a little more time working on.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I do want to live more a life of, "gratitude...reverence and awe."  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

"Foolishness," Or, "Power"--Our Choice

"For the Word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  (1 Corinthians 1:18)

"Foolishness," is an attempt at an "intellectual" approach to life.  "Power," is the, "Godhead," approach to life.  It is always our choice------ in this present age.

"Foolishness," approach says, "I know I can figure this out if I just keep searching and asking questions and debating/dialoguing with, or reading others.  "Power," says, "I do not understand with my intellect.  I do know, however, that in Jesus' Blood, in Jesus' Cross, in Jesus' Resurrection, in Jesus' Second Appearing is my Eternal Salvation, my forgiveness of sin, my name in the, "Lamb's Book of Life," and my Eternal Home in the Living Triune God.  My life is somehow different, "Since Jesus Came Into My Heart."  The response, "How?" is, "foolishness."  That "something happened," is, "power."

"Foolishness," will always need "answers."  It will look at life and be enslaved to, "Why?"  And, it is those "whys" which will destroy faith.  On the other hand, "power," is what the Bible calls, "the faith of Jesus," or we could say, "power,"-living, and will produce the "answers," not necessarily answers which we understand, but sort of like, "How-did-that-happen?" answers.  All of our unbelieving acquaintances are, "foolishness," people.  They attempt to live by what "makes sense."  So little of what we experience "makes sense." 

I once shared "the gospel" with a person, and their response was, "That's weird."  I walked away, "Say what?"  It is, indeed, "weird" to everyone whose approach to life is, "foolishness," those who are of the "figure-everything-out" people.  "Flesh and blood has not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."  Too many times I attempt to, "reveal this to you," which is, "foolishness."  Ah, but when Father, "reveal[s] this to you," we have the, "power of God." 

What will be your ongoing approach to life?  How do you, and will you choose to live out your remaining days on Planet Earth?--- "foolishness," or, "power."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that too much of my life has been the, "foolishness," approach.  Holy Spirit, empower me to be more of a, "power of God," person.  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