"A Stone Of Stumbling And...Of Offense"

"A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.  They stumble, being disobedient to the Word...."  (1 Peter 2:8)

Jesus does not make people, "stumble."  Rather, "They stumble, being disobedient...."

This was Adam's problem.  As the movie line says, "He chose poorly."  Every day, you and I must make choices.  No, we are not, "born again," over and over.  We do, however, choose each day to be obedient or, "disobedient to the Word."  

We are told in 1 Corinthians that Jesus Christ is, "to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness."  In other words, their belief systems met another.  "Choose you this day," is a continuum. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray I always choose wisely.  Amen.

From Yesterday's Minor Prophets Reading

"Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me."  (Micah 7:8)

St. Augustine once said, "The New is in the Old concealed.  The Old is in the New revealed."  

The following New Covenant writings are the reflection of this concerning our text.  Paul reminded the Corinthian Church, "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;...struck down, but not destroyed...."  

And then the wonderful Words which are the fulfillment of, "....the Lord will be a light to me."   Jesus tells us, "I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  So there you have it: Micah 7:8 affirmed and fulfilled in the New Covenant in Jesus Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You.  Amen.

Worship

"The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: 'Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you.'" (Jeremiah 31:3)

If you think worship is a one way street, you're on the wrong street.  Our text more than equals any "act" of worship, any words of praise, singing, hand raising, dancing, whatever your definition of worship may be.  The Words of our text are glorious Love-Words to the Triune God's Covenant People.

Yes, our "engagement" in worship is really fellowship.  This is what our Lord Jesus Christ desires for us.  This was the reason for the thousands upon thousands of sacrifices in the Old Testament, which all were pointing to the Cross of Jesus.  Fellowship had been broken in the rebellion of the Garden.  Then, when Jesus cried, "It is finished," on the Cross and the, "veil of the Temple was rent in two," the very "doorway" into the, "Holiest of All," was open to us.  The rest of the Bible, yes, right up to the end, and "throughout" the unspoken Eternal Fellowship in the Godhead in Eternity, all reveals just what our Lord Jesus Christ desires for us: Fellowship-Partnership in the Blessed Trinity.

Worship is not just you and I saying and demonstrating our praise and love to Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  No!  "'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' says the Lord, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.'"

And what about, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."  These Words are the other "end" of the "worship spectrum."

Father, in Jesus' Name, what You say to me, what You do for me has no comparison in anything I may say or do.  Amen.

"....Not...Word But...Power"

"For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power."  (1 Corinthians 4:20)

Mohammed's words were just words; no power followed, just the "power" of the sword, killing and rampaging.  He had no power to forgive sin, no power to bring us into fellowship with the Living Triune God.  Jesus does it all.

Jesus, as Word of Father, spoke Words which are Who He Is----- Power.  The oft quoted, "you must be born again," are power Words, because they take a sinner, "condemned, unclean," and cleanses him/her from all sin, bring that sinner in Himself right into the very, "Holy of Holies," into the very Heart of The Godhead.

Yes, Jesus did/does many mighty other miracles, viz., healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead.  None are as so miraculous, however, as bringing you and me from the depths of lostness, hopelessness, and eternal judgement into, "Once I was lost, but now I am found," into the glorious, "joy unspeakable and full of glory," and, "whoever believes in, trusts in, relies upon [Jesus] shall not perish, but have everlasting/eternal life.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that Your Words are Power.  Amen.

"Pilgrimage"

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage."  (Psalm 84:5)

The Word, "pilgrimage," describes perfectly the life of those who Follow Jesus.  The Hebrew Word means, "course, path," most often, "highway."  In short, you and I are on a journey; we're going somewhere in Jesus Christ.  Scientists tell us that from creation the solar systems have been rushing away from one another at incredible speeds.  The Universe itself reflects, "pilgrimage."  

Is there something here of Paul's, "I press on"?  The Word, "pilgrimage," tells me that we are never static in our walk in Jesus Christ, not in prayer, Bible reading, service (ministry), worship, listening, living as the Church and Citizens of the," Kingdom of Heaven/ God," in our homes, communities, and nations.  There is a child-like wonder and learning, growing, and, can I say it, a "rushing away from" ourselves----------- every day!

Father, in Jesus' Name, teach me more of, "whose heart is set on pilgrimage."  Amen.