Urgent - Luke 10:1-20 - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

 

Luke 10:1-20 NIV

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ² He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ ¹² I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

¹³ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.

¹⁶ “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Urgent

The Perean-Judean journey that we spoke of in the last session of “Pointing To Jesus” continues. Jesus teaches us, by extension, once again this week, about the Plan God has for the early church as well as the church of today. Last week, Jesus showed us, through His very own example how we need determination with God’s call and plan in our lives. This week’s passage teaches us. As disciples, through a trip out into the world. A trip to proclaim the Gospel of how God offers healing, forgiveness, and love. Jesus sends out His disciples to walk in the faith God has richly and freely supplied, to go out into the world in determination, mission, and boldness to meet and greet those God sets before them, with a proclamation that the Kingdom of God is near in Jesus.

The purpose of this was to prepare people for the Advent of Jesus, the Messiah, as He goes to His death on the cross. A death FOR ALL, even Samaritans and Gentiles. Jesus death was not ONLY for Jews, but for ALL. This was an important work of Love.

Jesus and His disciples are leaving the region of Galilee.

Right from the start we deal with the number 72, or as other sources use, 70. There are all sorts of number games here. Some look at 70 as the number of elders of Moses, some look to a number in the Sanhedrin, others look at Genesis 10 as the nations of the world at that time, even something about Elim and an oasis of 12 wells and 70 palm trees, from Exodus. But really, for me, Jesus sent out a bunch of His disciples with a mission and a purpose to proclaim just how close the Kingdom of God was to them in what Jesus was about to do in going to the cross.

Preaching the Kingdom of God IS IMPORTANT and URGENT. People who accept the Gospel, accept salvation and the forgiveness God offers. Likewise, those who reject the Gospel are choosing, on their own, judgment and death.

Yes, the Kingdom of God is near and IS NOW, no matter how long history goes on. These sent disciples are confronting the world with the alternatives to accept the Gospel OR choose death. You see, God gives life, BUT, YOU CAN choose to not accept life.

In this case as well as others throughout time, people ARE ready for the message of the Gospel, if they can be reached. And that’s what we are to do, in the church today… reach people with the Gospel of God’s love and forgiveness through Jesus death, resurrection and ascension.

Yet, disciples must be cautioned. If you think your actions of proclaiming the Gospel through word and deed, raises you up to heaven; well then look out! If you raise yourself to heaven, YOU WILL, be cast into hell. This preaching the Gospel IS NOT about you, it IS about God’s gift of life to all the world.

As these sent disciples came back to report to Jesus, the satisfaction IS NOT in what they did or have done. The satisfaction is in belonging to God AND being used to give life to the world through the forgiveness God gives which grants LIFE eternal. YOU WILL ALWAYS stand in the need of God’s mercy and love yourself.

But as Jesus reflects, this sending IS SUCCESS. A new age has started.

So, what’s our take? With determination and URGENCY, God sends His Church into the world to proclaim what God has done to forgive and grant LIFE to everyone… today… tomorrow… and forever. Thanks be to God!

Enjoy this YouTube Video that puts to word and music the Gospel...

Jesus

Determined - Luke 9:51-62 - Third Sunday after Pentecost

 

Luke 9:51-62 NIV

⁵¹ As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. ⁵² And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; ⁵³ but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” ⁵⁵ But Jesus turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶ Then he and his disciples went to another village.

⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

⁵⁸ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

⁵⁹ He said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

⁶¹ Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

⁶² Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Determined

So, what’s this passage of Scripture have to do with this season of Pentecost? You know, the season of the Holy Spirit and the early Church as it develops into the Universal Church throughout all time. OK, we’ll get to that as we go.

Some theologians refer to this journey of Jesus as the Perean or Judean ministry. What’s that about? Perea is an area east of the Jordan river. Perea is the place that John the Baptist was doing all of his work of baptizing.

Jesus was in Perea, near the Jordan river when He got news that Lazarus was dead. So, Jesus leaves Perea for Bethany to raise Lazarus. Well, when Jesus raised Lazarus, the Jewish leaders decided it was time to kill Jesus. But it wasn’t time, as of yet for Jesus to die. So, Jesus goes back to Perea through Samaria. Perea is where Jesus blessed the little children. Jesus spent time with the Samaritans teaching. This was part of His ministry.

As this passage of Scripture takes place, Jesus is determined to fulfill the plan God has for Him and all creation, to go to His death in Jerusalem, be resurrected and ascend into heaven to be with the Father. So, Jesus leaves Perea and moves into Judea.

So, this is a roundabout journey in the final month of Jesus ministry as He and His disciples leave the region of Samaria, pass into Perea, and out of Perea into Judea on Jesus final journey to the cross.

This gives you some reference to the reason the disciples want to bring fire on the Samaritan village that did not welcome Jesus. So, that sets the geography of this passage of Scripture.

Now, what about this mission of Jesus? Jesus was on His mission prophesied throughout time, to the cross, resurrection and ascension. This is right up front with the beginning of verse 51. “As the time approached for him (Jesus) to be taken up to heaven...” – That’s a reference to Jesus’ ascension.

This mission, as I mentioned above, was a mission throughout time. Like a mission that was there before the beginning of time. I can’t even wrap my head around that, but depend and trust in God for the Truth of it. Even the thought of it, proclaims the Love God has for all that He created.

This Gift from God is the Gospel in eternity. It is the Gospel of Jesus’ destiny and acceptance of death. A death chosen by Jesus, not forced upon Him. Yes, here, Jesus is going to meet death. And Jesus is going to meet death FOR all of us throughout time. SO THAT we may be one with Him and be in God’s care as His Children.

So, Jesus is determined to complete His mission. Some interpret this as “He set His face” towards the completion of this journey towards Jerusalem, His death, His resurrection, and His ascension. God spoke about this determination back in the book of Isaiah as he spoke through the prophet about determination of the mission of the Love of God in Jesus… Isaiah 50:6-8

⁶ I offered my back to those who beat me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
    from mocking and spitting.
⁷ Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore I have set my face like flint,
    and I know I will not be put to shame.
⁸ He who vindicates me is near.
    Who then will bring charges against me?
    Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
    Let him confront me!

Well, on the way out of Samaria, Jesus and His disciples pass through a Samaritan village. Jesus has been teaching in Samaria for some time now. But as Jesus headed towards Jerusalem with full conviction, these Samaritans were offended and would not receive Jesus into their village. You see, the Samaritans and Judeans hated one another. But Jesus didn’t hate either of them.

Well, the disciples were enraged at this attitude of the people that Jesus had spent so much of His time with, teaching and healing, that they were all in favor of obliterating the village with fire.

To Jesus this part of the journey and the people of the Samaritan village, was just a bump in the road to what Jesus has really decided to do, you know, His determination to go to His death. Jesus “Set His face” on the completion of God’s plan for Himself and all people, over sin, death and the devil.

So, there was no need to destroy this Samaritan village. Jesus has a different point of view. There is no need to kill the sinner or wrongdoer. God is much more patient than this. After all God is Holy. Thanks be to God for that!

Along the way on this roundabout journey to Jerusalem, Jesus meets a few seekers who wish to be followers. But these, unknown to themselves, would prove to be casual followers of sorts. Jesus was “On a Mission” as the often-used phrase is said.

None of these people are loyal to the passion that the Kingdom of God requires. Take this seriously. The Kingdom of God is no joke here. We all fall short of this passion many times in our lives. Admit it!

The obstacles that get in the way of mankind and disciples are self-pleasure and a lack of loyalty to God and God’s mission. You see, the Kingdom of God, far exceeds our need for food, wealth, power, and many other human desires.

The All-important mission of God lies in the priority that the Kingdom of God demands from us.

Loyalty to Jesus demands more that what Elijah asked of Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19-21, as Elijah was about to go to God.

 ¹⁹ So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. ²⁰ Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

²¹ So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

Elisha was the successor of Elijah as prophet. But now we don’t need a successor to Jesus. Jesus completes the mission, and with the power of the Holy Spirit we carry on the Gospel message to all those God gives to us, until Jesus returns to draw all of His Children to Him in a New World, as originally intended for all of God’s creation.

And this brings us back to Pentecost. This brings us back to that original question that I posed…

So, what’s this passage of Scripture have to do with this season of Pentecost? You know, the season of the Holy Spirit and the early Church as it develops into the Universal Church throughout all time.

As disciples of God, at our baptism, we were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We were gifted with God’s Word and God’s coming to us in Word and Sacrament, like Holy Communion. We were also gifted with anything needed to carry out God’s mission in the world in which God set us. Part of that world in which God set us was His Church, God’s universal, catholic church. Gifted in many and various ways, TO --- hear this --- be determined, to set our face, to work in God’s Kingdom and proclaim the Gospel of Love that God has freely given to all people, so that they may see God’s love and believe in the Truth of that Love for all creation throughout time and eternity. This is our priority.

Why? Because we have seen God’s love, and are sent on that roundabout journey to give our lives, here and now, to confess how God has saved each of us from sin, death and evil powers – THROUGH – our Savior Jesus Christ as He “Set His face” in determination to carry out His death, resurrection, and ascension.

This is a serious mission that God has given us. Set your face and turn to God to lead and guide you in that mission… today… tomorrow… and forever! Thanks be to God!

I leave my Blog Readers with this YouTube Video that reflects a determination that we are all called to…

Here I am Lord --- Enjoy Set Your Face Like Flint to what God has called you…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcxOkht8w7c&list=RDEcxOkht8w7c&start_radio=1

 Here I Am Lord

 

Hey! That's Me! - Luke 8:26-39 - Second Sunday after Pentecost

 

Luke 8:26-39 NIV

²⁶ They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. ²⁷ When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. ²⁸ When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” ²⁹ For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

³⁰ Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. ³¹ And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

³² A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. ³³ When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

³⁴ When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, ³⁵ and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ³⁶ Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. ³⁷ Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

³⁸ The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ³⁹ “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Hey! That’s Me!

First off, let’s realize that Jesus is now in non-Jewish, or Gentile territory. And in this Gentile territory, Jesus displays a compassion for people not of His own race, that imitates God’s mercy for ALL people. Hey! That includes me! Yes, Jesus comes to not only Jew but Gentiles like me too!

This whole passage about demons made me realize how God has come to me, in Jesus, even as I deal with my very own demons. Think of this for yourself as well.

Demons make me think of conflict, sin, separation from God. Demons that take me far away from a God who made me for Himself, who in Him, that is God alone, I can trust.

For me demons are an inner division and a hostility to my soul and spirit. I hate these demons. Look at the words of Paul in the 7^th Chapter of Romans…

¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

Yea, these are the demons I struggle with!

BUT – Jesus comes to me, just like He came to this demon-possessed man, to cure me of my demons, my sin, my separation from God --- BUT --- the cure WILL involve suffering. Yes, to be saved I will SEE my need to be saved on all dimensions. To be saved, I WILL see my disgusting, sinful, ways. To be saved, I WILL smell the stench of my sin and face what I find disgusting about myself.

Yes, to be saved, I will notice God VOID in me as God confronts me in my sinfulness, and demands from me what is painful to me. In front of God, my Savior, God WILL give me a hard, difficult, painful readjustment.

Let’s look at an example of this tough stuff from the Old Testament, to a man after God’s own heart…

David, committed a lustful adultery and had her husband killed. Feel this, as God confronts David with his sin through God’s words spoken through Nathan…

2 Samuel 12:7-14 NIV

⁷ Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. ⁸ I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. ⁹ Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

¹¹ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”

¹³ Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. ¹⁴ But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.”

For me? I realize, in this account, and my own sinfulness, how I MUST KNOW the pain of judgment BEFORE I can experience the joy of God’s salvation.

I realize that like the demon-possessed man and David in his sin…

Hey! That’s Me!

I – not just me – But an entire mob of disgusting “Me’s” – am filled with a bunch of sinful conflict and sins. Every Man is full of sins. Yes, a Legion of sins. If you want numbers that fall short, a Roman Legion was around 6000 soldiers. Well, my sin is much greater than that!

But LOOK! As Jesus saves, as Jesus casts out my sin, as I face the Truth of Jesus in God and as Jesus takes on my sin, He removes the power of sin over me. THEN --- I can sit at the feet of Jesus IN joy, to acknowledge that Truth and see salvation in Jesus. What does this make me want to run out and do, in response to what God has done for me, through the saving love of Jesus?

It makes me gleeful to “Point To Jesus,” to tell what God does for me and for you and for all creation, as I sit at the feet of Jesus, in my “right” mind and in the face of the Truth of God’s eternal love.

Yet, look around. When this takes place and people see me saved from sin, death and the devil, the stinker that I am; some fear this Truth that Jesus saves the demon possessed, “Hey! That’s Me!”

Some don’t want to see, or admit, in this power of God to save, because they fear Truth. The Truth in themselves of a need they would rather not face.

BUT

The fear for the saved that realize the power and the beauty and the love of God for them and all creation, bursts forth in a joyful praise of God that is for today… tomorrow… and forever! Thanks be to God!

Hey! That demon possessed man --- Hey! That’s Me!

May we rejoice as the demon possessed man rejoiced … listen to this…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZhHe3vvWC0&list=RDlZhHe3vvWC0&start_radio=1

The Saving One – Chris Tomlin

Eternal Love - John 8:48-59 - The Holy Trinity

 

John 8:48-59 NIV

⁴⁸ The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”

⁴⁹ “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹ Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

⁵² At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

⁵⁴ Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. ⁵⁵ Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

⁵⁷ “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

⁵⁸ “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” ⁵⁹ At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Eternal Love

Bluntly, Jesus IS God, the Father IS God, and the Holy Spirit IS God.

As I studied, pondered, and reflected on the Gospel passage for this week, I was led into eternity. Yes, I was led into eternity. All something beyond my comprehension. Eternity is something I can’t grasp as a sinful man. I can’t understand something so impossibly larger than myself. I can’t grasp space and time beyond what I can see and feel. No, it’s all beyond me. I can’t even grasp God. God is beyond my understanding. The only thing that this leaves me with is to accept. But accept what?

So, I can see and understand why people question Jesus. Who are you Jesus? What do you mean that You and yours’ will NOT die. You know God? Well, just how is that?

I along with so many people, past and present, have always attempted to pull down God to my level. Why? We try to make sense of God, to satisfy the desire to know God from our level of logic, perception, science, and proof positive that God really exists. BUT, if this is so, THEN, we have made US God and we are rulers of ourself.

To make sense of God, many people throughout the ages have drawn God close to themselves. To make sense of the Bible, people tend to throw away eternity and the impossible for a blind faith of trust. But that even falls short. It may make us feel better and give us reason to NOT believe in any of this “God” stuff, but it leaves me empty, speaking for myself.

I’m not alone in my feelings on this. As I pondered this passage, I couldn’t help but to recall Luther’s Explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed…

Let me remind you…

The Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed is…

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Look at that! Stuff beyond my understanding and maybe yours’ as well. Stuff that I can’t bring into my thinking on my own. First off, the Holy Spirit, how can I believe in that?

Then the catholic Church. That’s not the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, or Baptist, Methodist, Orthodox, or anything we have today by itself. It’s God’s Church throughout and beyond all time, perfect and without flaw or error. Well, when I look around at all of these Churches I see today, I sure see many flaws and errors! Yet, God has chosen all of these to make the holy catholic Church come forth from them.

And then go on to the forgiveness of sins. Come on! I can’t, on my own, excuse or even forgive everything I see and have had done to me, let alone all the things that I have done to God and to other people that I live with and around!

Now, the resurrection of the body? I’ve, not once witnessed this in my own life. How can I believe that!

And finally, everlasting life, COME ON!

Here’s Luther’s Explanation:

“What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and kept me in true faith.

In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it united with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

In this Christian church day after day he fully forgives my sins and the sins of all believers. On the last day he will raise me and all the dead and give me and all believers in Christ eternal life.

This is most certainly true.”

You see, it’s not about my own ability to comprehend, or even my own ability to believe, because all of this “God” stuff is too far beyond me. This IS about an eternal LOVE that God freely gives to His creation, even before the creation. Well, I can’t grasp that!

So, when Jesus said in verse 56…

⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

Abraham was able to look beyond himself in time TO SEE God in Jesus. Impossible! Yet, these are the words of Jesus.

It throws out time as we know it.

So, when we ponder this idea of the “Last Days” --- well they came with Jesus. The Word, the Logos, and Jesus HAS now spoken. Yes, the “Last Days” are NOW!

Look back in the Gospel of John to the beginning of the book…

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Think about that. Jesus, incarnation, as God, coming in flesh AS God did not change God. God was always Jesus. Jesus DID NOT make God loving and forgiving. God IS ALWAYS loving and forgiving. AND, God comes to us always and forever. Even before Abraham. So, Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit always exists as the I AM.

God didn’t change; we changed. And we ARE changed by God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God was, and is, always the same. We are not.

The absolute existence of Jesus IS eternal.

But, through God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, God has come to us, to you and to me, to make US better. As we have turned away from God in our sinfulness and rejection of God and believing in God, God spins us around to face Him and in repentance for our turning away, God forgives us.

These are all actions of God, not our own efforts. God didn’t become better. God never needs to become better, because God is always God and God displays for ALL people and Eternal Love.

It’s NOT up to me or you to understand Eternal Love. It’s a gift of grace, free love, of, and from, God for all His creation. It’s NOT our effort or understanding that brings us into God’s grace!

So, why fight it? Why try to make sense of it? Why try to draw God down to our level?

God, comes to us, you and me and all, with an everlasting, eternal Love… today… tomorrow… and forever. Thanks be to God!

I enjoyed this hymn as I reflected this week… Enjoy!

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlbnP4_yj18&list=RDMlbnP4_yj18&start_radio=1

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise