Talk About Shine! - Matthew 17:1-9 - Transfiguration of Our Lord

 

Matthew 17:1-9 NIV

17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Talk About Shine!

After six days. God created everything in six days. This makes me think that something special is happening here. Just prior to this event, Jesus had told the disciples about His suffering, death and resurrection, so, was there again here, in time, going to be a big reveal on the seventh day? A reveal that would take place with just a few of Jesus disciples. Were these disciples handpicked to witness something new? After all they were going up a mountain, and mountains tended to bring on special encounters with God.

It’s nice to spend time alone with God, with just a few people. It’s like a time to get prepared for something. Almost like when you go on a retreat to learn insights into those that you work with. Was this what was taking place? Was this like preparation and planning?

Remember how I just stated that Jesus had just revealed what was about to take place? Jesus was about to be crucified and die and rise again. Jesus has just told the disciples this. Well, talk about a punctuation mark before a select few of His disciples! Jesus was transfigured right before their eyes, and His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light.

This mountain was traditionally known as Mount Tabor, some suggest possibly Mount Hermon, but this brightness reminds me of what Moses must have witnessed at Mount Sinai that glowed from his own face after listening to God.

Exodus 34:29-35

²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. ³⁰ When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹ But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. ³² Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

³³ When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. ³⁴ But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, ³⁵ they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.

Well, this was just what happened to Moses in the presence of God. Think about what happened to the disciple’s faces in the presence of Jesus. This shining was God! Jesus IS God!

Jesus will shine once again and forever…

Revelation 1:16 NIV

¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

And think about those clothes! White! White of heavenly hosts in a multitude around the throne of God.

Revelation 7:9 NIV

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

I think this is a hard thing to put into words. I think it is a hard thing for me to imagine. This is the glory of God. This Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. This is God’s very own testimony about His Son. This is the bright Light hope of the resurrection, on this mountain. What a sight! Talk about the fear of God!

Here a bright Light in, of, around, and through Jesus, shining to Moses, Elijah and the select disciples. How’s that possible? This is weird now. This has become supernatural. This is without a doubt unbelievable to simple human-kind. It’s like Jesus is making the point of all points. Hey guys, you didn’t get it when I told you I must suffer, die and rise again; so, look at this. How can you doubt my words now?

Here’s the Moses and Elijah of your own Bibles of the day, right here before your eyes. They are the Law and the Prophets that you studied all along in your own version of Sunday School. Talk about an object lesson for the kids! Here they are, appearing with Jesus’ right before your eyes! Here they are combined all into one with Me. I’m the God they were talking about all along. Jesus IS God! There is something in the unity of Law, Prophet and fulfilled Gospel in Jesus on this mountain. It’s like Jesus giving full proof of God’s power and grace through His upcoming suffering, death and resurrection. Talk about Jesus witness to Himself! Prepare yourself guys!

And then there is Peter. Good ol Peter. Thinking like I would too, about the here and now of my world. Thinking about the Building Committee. Peter being as human as you can get. Peter being down to earth and practical. Peter, doing his best to bring honor and glory to Jesus in his worldly way. Peter doing maybe, just maybe what he thinks Jesus would want him to do. Build a few shelters for these guys.

There was a Jewish Feast of the Tabernacles, that made people remember how God supplies all that is needed, especially in the wilderness travels of the Israelites in Moses’ day. Let’s honor that joy, and think of this moment now, of how God has supplied this sight before our eyes. For, here we have gathered all that God could ever supply for humanity, Moses, Elijah and Jesus.

Peter tries to capture the moment. But this moment is eternity.

And then, I can just imagine a thought bubble above Peter’s head being burst wide open. A voice coming from a bright cloud, speaking loud and clear, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

That cloud of God that leads His people forth in joy to salvation out of the wilderness of sin and death. A cloud that leads His people into The Promised Land. What a gift! What a joy! What a fear that brings forth respect, and honor, and glory to God in Jesus! Here and now, stop and see and hear God’s exclamation point.

This distance between God and mankind is eternal, yet also, as close as you can get. How’s that? Fear strikes when we are in the presence of God. Fear and respect and honor and glory are present in the presence of God, and we can’t take that! We fall face down. Can’t help ourselves. Yet, at that same time and at that same moment, God came to these few disciples in human form. God came to them in the closeness of Jesus. Jesus knows exactly how it is to be human, and at the same time knows exactly how it is to be God. So, terror and love combine as one in Jesus. It’s beyond what I can understand. That’s a God thing, and I know my place. Yet, God chooses to come to me in Jesus. God chooses to take care of me and love me and bring me in His presence in all eternity.

Out of compassion Jesus touches His disciples. He assures them that He has all of this under control. And He urges them to get up. This “get up” can displace the fear of sin and suffering and death, to be a clue to what Jesus will do for these disciples of His and for all the world. Someday we too, disciples and believers throughout time, will hear the call of Jesus to get up. We will rise to be with God in eternity at our very own resurrection. So, for today, as we fear doing and acting on God’s call, let’s listen to this “get up” from Jesus. Let’s get up and go, doing what God calls us to do with our lives, using the gifts God freely gives to us, as we love God and neighbor in the worlds in which we have been set.

And when they “get up,” and we “get up,” on this day, all we see is Jesus. No need to “Point to Jesus” here; for Jesus is all we can see. Jesus will lead and guide His disciples into the world. As the disciples have seen the bright Light of God’s glory, they too see the direction that Jesus will guide them.

So, as this small group descends from the mountain, Jesus commands them to wait, to not say anything (my paraphrase). Why? There is a time for everything. Jesus will soon reveal His glory to all the world. But, first a few things will take place. When the time comes, the rest of the world will know that Jesus is God and Lord of all.

The glory of God sets up on the Mount of Transfiguration. Look, see, listen, this Jesus IS God. Listen to Him!

This is My Son! Listen to Him! See Him! Worship Him!

Peter heard the Father speak. Peter heard the voice of God on that sacred mountain. So, Peter knows that prophecy comes from God, not mankind. Prophecy of the Light to all the world comes from God. But what part do we play in all of this? God has shown us too, His Light, and we are called to talk about that Light to all the world. Jesus told these few disciples to be silent until after His resurrection. That has happened. So, like Peter, we are called to tell of the Light of Christ. Tell of forgiveness. Tell of the defeat of sin at the cross of Jesus, and tell of the defeat of death and the tomb of Jesus. Why? Because all this was freely given to the world, so that, all may believe in what God has done. So, let the Light of Christ shine in and through you to all the world.

So, with all of this, I would be negligent not to tell the story of my life. No, I didn’t see the bright shining Light of Jesus, blinding me. What I did see in my mind’s eye of a dream was more closely related to the very last verse of this passage. The “As they were coming down the mountain…,” part. So here goes…

I must have been somewhere between 5 or 6 years old at the time of this dream, or recollection, or whatever it was. I suspect that in my young mind, I had heard bits and pieces of Pastor Swinehart’s sermon on the Transfiguration. But I can’t be sure of this. I remember Pastor Swinehart, in my young mind, being a passionate preacher and always excited about his messages. Another words, I pictured him as a fiery preacher.

So, to this dream that has been with me through life. A dream, or whatever it was, that I have used to guide me in my walk with Jesus.

I heard a knock at the door of my family’s house on Washington Street in Sidney Ohio. I was excited to hear this knock, thinking that perhaps some of my friends were at the door, maybe it was Larry and Ernie Tate, I don’t know. As I answered the door, standing there was Jesus, Moses, Elijah and some other guy I didn’t recognize.

Yea, sure! How would a 5- or 6-year-old kid recognize this cast of characters? But somehow, maybe even if over some time, as this dream developed and changed in my memory, I did. Next is what Jesus said to me that has caused me to run down some path of discipleship for my entire life until now. Jesus simply says, “Can Billy come out to play?” Really? Didn’t Jesus know that I, standing before Him was Billy? I guess it really doesn’t matter.

I’ve always thought of this throughout my life growing up. Sometimes it spooked me, sometimes it guided me, sometimes I ran away from it all. But I’ve come to accept the message that Jesus wants me to go out into the world and be with Him, to follow Him, and to join in with all the Saints, like Moses, Elijah and whomever this other guy was, to do the will of God with what God has given to me. And all in the way of playing too! How great is that? So, I love to think of Jesus laughing and playing all the while as He takes me to the cross with Him and beyond into death and the resurrection. Fearful stuff, for sure, but always ending in the joy of playing with Jesus and His friends for a lifetime.

Was I a mixed up, confused child at the time of this dream or whatever it was? Maybe. But I really don’t care. I didn’t see that blinding white of Jesus transfiguration, but I did hear the voice of Jesus in my life.

And, I think if you too, listen to the voice of Jesus. Spend time in the Word, and see how Jesus comes to you in Holy Communion and Baptism; you too will be invited out to play. I would love to have you along with me as “that other guy” as we walk with and “Point to Jesus” … today… tomorrow… and forever … all the while playing in the love and joy and forgiveness that Jesus offers, and having a blast at it! Thanks be to God!

I really enjoyed this YouTube Music Video this week

Jesus Laughing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuKLRWJ6oF8&list=RDAuKLRWJ6oF8&start_radio=1

Shine! - Matthew 5:13-20 - Fifth Week after the Epiphany

 

Matthew 5:13-20 NIV

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Shine!

We sure know how to spoil ourselves, at least I know I do, speaking for myself. And when I spoil myself, I become ineffective and basically useless.

Salt is used to preserve and add flavor. A disciple of Jesus is to live life full of flavor, preserving the will of God in action in life. But, how many times have I started out with God’s Word in mind, began to do God’s will, and then failed in my own selfish desires? It’s then that I have lost my saltiness and flavor.

Jesus had just spoken to His disciples the Beatitudes. He had just taught them the characteristics that He expected from His followers. Now, Jesus warns them and us that failure is a possibility, especially when we rely on our own will and strength to follow all of His teachings that He just dispensed to His believers.

So, what is our call in all of this? Well, we are called to preserve our society by not losing our saltiness, or Jesus’ flavor of love for our neighbor in our society. The Christian flavor is unique in this world of evil and sin. Only through God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit can we maintain our flavor. So, you see how important it is to gather together to hear God’s Word spoken, week after week from the pulpit? Do you see how important it is to spend time daily in God’s Word to hear and read God’s guidance in our daily lives?

As disciples of Jesus, we CAN NOT allow the evil desires of this world to trample on Jesus’ call, to love and compassion, and giving to our neighbors in need. We serve by serving God and our neighbor out of love.

We are called to reflect the Light of Jesus into the world in which we live. We are called to be on a hill, with this Light, out in the open, for all to see. And as we reflect the Light of Jesus, we can’t, nor dare, do this to bring attention to ourselves. We are called to Point to Jesus for all to be drawn to His Light, to see His forgiveness, to become followers and to, likewise, reflect His Light on top of everything else in our lives for all to see.

This reflecting of His Light gets tough for us. For Jesus’ Light is pure. I fail to be pure, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t reflect the Light of Jesus through my own colors that God richly supplies.

In this reflection of the Light of Jesus, His disciples are to support and encourage one another to remain in, and work in, the mission of God in this world.

And don’t be afraid to let Jesus’ Light shine in your life. Don’t be bashful and hide it for fear or shame. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, it’s not your light after-all, this is God’s Light! So let the Light shine on the stand to bring Light for the entire house. This is your witness as a disciple of Christ. Let it shine!

So, we start at home; to illuminate to your family the Light of Jesus, that’s just the beginning. Take that Light of Jesus outside. Remember Jesus just taught the Beatitudes, so act out those actions in the love of God and neighbor to all the world. Why?

We are to glorify God and all that He has done. Worship God and draw all nations to Him.

You can’t just throw out the Old Testament, the Law and the Prophets because Jesus came to us in the New Testament. That’s not what this is all about. Jesus fulfills all that was told by the Prophets, and Jesus fulfills the Law of the Old Testament. So, study the Old Testament and see Jesus all over the place. Study the Old Testament as see how God, all along, was set to give us Jesus to forgive and save us from our sinful selves. God has always wanted for us to be His Children. Look at all of Scripture with the open eyes through the lens of Jesus, that you may see how God reaches out to you to save you and make you His own.

Everything, I mean everything is the fulfillment of God’s plan through His Word. Every speck, every Word, every Law is there for a purpose. And that purpose is made complete in Jesus coming. Jesus coming through the Law and the Prophets, Jesus coming into this world to save all of us, and Jesus coming again at the resurrection to take all who can’t help but to believe in Him, and to be His own in a new and perfect world. Why? Because we believe what God has told us all along. Are we saved because we believe? Kind of, but not exactly. We believe because God has saved us through His Son Jesus to be His forever. It’s not an action of ours. Salvation is an action of God, and that’s why we believe. How cool is that?!

Don’t rationalize your sin or the sin of anyone else. Don’t make light of your own sin or the sin of anyone else. Sometimes we have to face into ourselves. Don’t sugar coat or excuse yourself, or the public, or anyone else. When you hand out phony excuses, you will only make matters worse. And worse, yet, if you enable someone or cause the other person to believe all is okay, you hurt them and yourself for causing disobedience. But, if you speak truth and are honest in the teachings that Jesus gives us to follow, you will be great in the Kingdom of God.

It’s not about being a good guy here and now by enabling another person’s bad or even poor behavior that makes you great. It’s not about putting on a good face in front of the crowd and denying your bad behavior, that makes you great in the Kingdom of God. It’s being truthful and teaching the qualities that may be hard to act on, that makes one great in the Kingdom of God. This is tough stuff here, but it all needs to be out in the open. So, teach the truths that Jesus teaches and don’t sugar coat any failures. Acknowledge the failures and permit Jesus to spin you around to face Him as He forgives you and has you begin once again. Stick to the Beatitudes even when it’s tough to do. That’s what obedience is about. This is saved by grace, and the law that guides the disciple to obedience as a response to God’s love, not a way to earn God’s love.

Being righteous in the eyes of God, is not about what I do. Being righteous in the eyes of God is what Jesus has done. Righteousness is not a “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” thing. Being righteous is an act of God. What makes the difference, once again, is how you respond to God’s salvation. God transforms your heart, your mind, and your life, to lead you to His gift of faith. When you are genuine with God, you will jump to do God’s will and fulfill His plan in your life, even when it is tough. You, and I, depend on God. As children of God, we seek to reflect the teachings, the values, and the life that Jesus teaches. So, listen!

James 2:14-26 NIV

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[a]? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[b] and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

For many Lutherans this passage sounds funny. But not really. Faith and Works go hand in hand. You need both to be real. You need both to live the life that God gifts us to live in this world here and now. Jesus teaches us to display our works because of what He has done for us by forgiving our sins, releasing us from the power of sin, so that, we can do God’s will here and now and live with Him in His Kingdom forever. So, keep at it! Why, keep at it? Because God did all He needed to do to permit you to continue on in His love for Him and for your neighbor.

So, what are we to do? We are called to free our neighbor from the bondage of sin, hunger, and homelessness. We are called to serve our neighbor all the love that God has freely given to us. We are called to bring God to our neighbor.

As the Light of God shines in the darkness of my life, I sing praise and give thanksgiving to God for giving His Light to lead and guide me along my path in life.

Don’t worry about being charismatic, or eloquent, or refined in your life as a disciple. It’s not about any of that. Don’t worry about sounding wise and educated. It’s not about any of that. Be the person God created you to be and preach, or say, or act out, the message or actions, God has given for you to do. Why? Because God’s power will work through you no matter who you think you are. God will use you to show His love to all the world in whatever way God chooses. So, let it happen. Be happy and glad to let it happen, letting all the glory go to God… today… tomorrow… and forever. Thanks be to God!

What other YouTube music video could I have ever chosen?

“This Little Light of Mine”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dySb5HzSfJU&list=RDdySb5HzSfJU&start_radio=1

What A Teacher! - Matthew 51-12 - Fourth Week after the Epiphany

 

Matthew 5:1-12 NIV

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

 

 

What A Teacher!

Oh, the crowds that followed Jesus. Jesus was always aware of the crowds. Jesus was always compassionate towards those crowds. Crowds drawn to Him to hear teaching, to witness healing, and to see miracles.

And Jesus goes up to the mount. Think about that. It seems to me, whenever I’ve withdrawn to a higher place, maybe a mountain, maybe just a higher place, especially when I’m on my own; there’s something special about it. Not only does the air thin out but it seems to me my space to God thins out. Many times, it’s much quieter than what I would experience in the valley. And God did meet His people on mountains, think of Moses. So here as well with Jesus, this mount is like a higher connection with God.

And it’s on this mount that Jesus sits to teach. Jewish teachers often sat to teach. This position was an invite for those listening to pay close attention. There is something very important about to be taught, so listen.

Now we see that the disciples come to hear Jesus. Disciples yearn to hear Jesus teach. They are followers of not only His very being, but also followers of His teachings. As we draw near to the Word in the Bible, as we draw near to the spoken Word from the pulpit, as we draw near to Baptism and Communion; we are expressing our deep desire to learn and understand what God calls us to do and how God wishes for us to act. Draw near and be eager to listen to Jesus speak.

And when Jesus begins to speak, it’s the main event. Listen, look at His expressions, and feel his love for all those who are eager to hear Him.

Just who are the poor in spirit?

If we look to Isaiah 66:2 we see…

Has not my hand made all these things,
    and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.

“These are the ones I look on with favor:
    those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
    and who tremble at my word.

 

God looks with favor on the humble and the contrite in spirit. This is a radical teaching. Humility can get all mixed up with weakness. But the one that is truly humble is one of the most powerful characteristics of a leader. And it’s these types of people that will come into the Kingdom of God. Leaders are humble, joyful, servants of God.

Humble servants are acutely aware that they need the grace of God. They are aware that open and honest, looking into the mirror of the reality of sin, brings about a change that God begins and ends. For servant leaders know they depend on God for forgiveness, guidance and salvation, from themselves, and this evil world.

In this we mourn. We mourn for our own sins and the sins of this world. We know how evil man can be and we mourn these evil intentions that are used against one another. So, how does God bring comfort to all who mourn?

Through the actions and working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus will bring comfort, but the Holy Spirit will be present always. Comfort to embolden those who live in fear, and comfort to wipe away every tear, so that mourning can stop, and hope may begin.

Revelation 21:4 NIV

⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

 

So, let’s show empathy for one another. We all struggle with something. Let’s look out for one another to wipe away the tears of sinfulness and struggle, from the lives of all those God sets in your life, day after day. We need each other.

 

Be meek and show humility. When one is meek, they are really under the control of the Holy Spirit. It’s hard to be meek by your own effort. This is a quality of Jesus. Look at His life as an example of meekness. And guess what happened as Jesus displayed meekness? He inherited everything! Not just the earth but the entire Kingdom of God.

 

Revelation 21:1 NIV

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”^[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

 

So, with and through, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we are called to meekness and to submit our lives to God’s call, taking the actions, that God has equipped, and sent us to do, day after day. When we exhibit meekness towards one another, we put the other person first and respond in grace and patience and love. This is an eternal perspective towards God and one another.

 

I saw a homeless man on the news just the other day. In the interview, he was cold and hungry and needed a warm place to stay. Sure, there were shelters around, and perhaps he found one to stay at for the night. But what struck me, although this man had nothing to live on, or places to stay, he told the reporter that he prayed a lot each day. He had faith that God would care for him, as God cares for even the birds. This man not only hungered for what he needed to sustain his earthly life; he also hungered for what God could give him to sustain his spiritual life. I’m sure God has filled this man in more ways than one. How much do I need to be thankful that God blesses me and those around me who hunger and thirst for righteousness? I’m sure God fills us to more than we could ever wish or need.

So, yes, to this homeless man on the news, you teach all of us how God drives us earnestly to seek prayer, scripture, and worship.

Psalm 107:9 NIV

⁹ for he (the LORD) satisfies the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.

 

So, how can we be merciful to, and for, one another? Well, first to show compassion. Show compassion for the plight of those around us and put to action the love of God that God has shown us in Christ Jesus. This is more than prayer. Prayer is great, but following prayer we are sent out in love to respond with loving action to our neighbors. And this loving action extends to ALL people, not just those like ourselves, or those who may agree with our way of thinking or living. This means ALL. Jesus didn’t pick and choose, Jesus only did the choosing stuff, and His choosing was ALL.

 

When you don’t pick and choose, you exhibit an honest love for the other. In some sense, you are pure in heart. Hypocrisy is left behind and you love in a way that God loves His creation. This incorporates some of the end-time thinking.

 

Revelation 22:4 NIV

⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

 

When we see the face of God, He marks us as His own. His own who live in His Kingdom, now and forever. Now, that’s a pure heart!

 

The pure in heart will be peacemakers. It’s not about the winning. I’ve had to struggle with this all my life. I want to always be right. Well, I ain’t! I’m wrong a whole bunch of the time and hate to admit it. My wife, Sue, likes to keep the peace. I can learn from her, but I still tend to be stubborn and try to go my own way.

 

Jesus came to this earth to establish peace between mankind and God. How? Well, He forgave us, and He died for us to defeat sin, death and the devil that we may freely have peace. Now that, there, is a peacemaker. May we let the heart of Christ’s peacemaking grow in us to help us to put behind our pride and be people to keep the peace with and for one another. That’s what we are called to do, you know!

 

Keeping the peace is not giving in. Keeping the peace is reconciling differences in love for one another. It’s a humble act of love. Keeping the peace puts the other person’s needs above your own.

 

So, there you have it. The prosperity Gospel. But not the kind of prosperity that many preachers and people of today believe in. This prosperity comes in eternity with Jesus as we lay our lives down to do His will in the way He would have us to it. Jesus is open and honest here with His disciples. There WILL be suffering for those who walk in the way of Jesus. Doing what is “right” in the eyes of God rubs wrong with what mankind believes is “right” in the eyes of man. Doing what is right in the eyes of man is supposed to bring on power, monetary gain, prestige and accomplishments that are fruitful for life here on, and in, this world in which we live. But doing the will of God will most likely rub this world’s leaders the wrong way and bring on persecution, suffering and maybe even death. But guess what?

The true disciple of Jesus, the disciple that follows Jesus to do His will, not their own, will be given the kingdom of heaven. There’s more to life than what we see here and now. We live in this world for a really brief amount of time, compared to our life with God in His Kingdom in eternity.

This promise from God is not just a promise for now, but it’s a promise for those who live under God’s will. Our riches don’t reside here on earth.

Philippians 3:20 NIV

²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

 

And as Jesus speaks to us in this teaching, we have already heard our Savior from heaven.

 

But as we live our life in this world of opposites as compared to heaven, we can be sure that we will be insulted and persecuted. People with worldly thinking just can’t get past themselves and their own will to gain life and riches and power in the here and now. They can’t grasp a future world beyond the one in which they currently live, nor do they want to even think of that, because they simply don’t believe in anything else.

 

So, expect to be mocked, and insulted, socially, and slandered behind your back. This is how faith comes to us as we believe in all that Jesus has done.

 

What’s the big deal here? It’s because of Jesus, that the persecution comes. When a disciple follows Jesus, that connection alone draws out the very suffering that Jesus took upon Himself to save.

 

But, guess what? This association with Jesus’ suffering and death, also comes with the promise and sure hope of resurrection. This is the ultimate blessing of Jesus for ALL his disciples.

 

And here Jesus bids us to joy. Here Jesus tells us we will be glad. Here Jesus shows us His triumph for us.

 

In my foyer, I have a few pictures that were given to me that I cherish to see each day. Two of those pictures are of Jesus with children. In one picture Jesus is sitting in a circle teaching the children. In the other picture, Jesus is dancing in a play game in a circle with the children. In both of these pictures there is a smile on Jesus’ face. The third picture in my foyer is a picture of Jesus laughing. All three of these pictures make me think of the joy and gladness and laughter Jesus has in store for all of His believing disciples. And guess what? We’re all children, living in the great reward of heaven. Sometimes you just have to look beyond the persecution, and endure and be faithful to God, to see that joy in heaven.

 

All of these teachings of Jesus are really hard to follow. But, follow, we must. I need to go back over Jesus’ teachings each and every day. Why? Because I’ll forget, or choose to be lazy and turn and run from His teachings. I need to face into my sinfulness every day. Why? Because as I face my sin, God spins me around to show me the face of Jesus and what He did to call me and claim me as His own. I need to hear the Gospel of God every day. Why? Because it’s way too easy to forget and look in to myself and my own selfish needs. I need to hear these “Beatitudes” often. Why? Because I’ll wander from their rich supply of guidance and not project the love, compassion, understanding, forgiveness and care to all those people God places in my life each and every day.

So, at least for now, stop, listen and respond to the teachings of Jesus offered in these passages of Scripture. Why? Because you too are called to live out the love of God in your world, here and now.

There it is folks! God requires His disciples to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly. As I look at my own sin, I must admit and confess those times that I wasn’t just to my neighbor, I wasn’t loving to my neighbor, I didn’t show mercy to my neighbor and I was proud and haughty in the face of my neighbor. Forgive me Lord! Forgive me my neighbor! Lord, you have shown me my sinfulness, now I ask that you change me into what You would have me be.

How about we just take care of one another. Stand tall against evil, the vile, the oppressor, and those who take advantage of neighbor. Speak truth from the heart with love and compassion that defends one another and does no wrong to a neighbor.

What the world thinks brings power, riches, wisdom and strength to people or places, God declares as foolishness. God doesn’t see things like we do with our earthly, fleshly, eyes. God sees all things in His own and ultimate power and strength. So, as we believe one thing, God sees, just about the opposite thing as being powerful, rich and strong. Which causes us to believe in the love of God for the poor, the powerless, the ones who mourn or those who are lost and homeless. Of these people God seeks to save and forgive and to bring to Him… today… tomorrow… and forever. Thanks be to God!

Here is a great YouTube Music Video I found…

“The Beatitudes”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa7KN0Pl3qg&list=RDoa7KN0Pl3qg&start_radio=1

The Beatitudes

Willis Wheatley's 'Laughing Jesus.'