Month: February 2024

My mom walked in kindness. My dad valued truth. They were not opposites attracting.

Jesus told Pilot that he had come into the world to testify to truth. Pilot asked Jesus “what is truth?” John 18:37-38

Jesus is the embodiment of love and truth. God is love. 1 John 4:b and Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through him. John 14:6.

Ephesians 4:¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Being able to speak in love and truth makes us like Jesus and mature in the faith and wise I would say.

What is love? Paula tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

‭‭1 Peter 3:15 NASB1995‬‬
[15] but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

This was a verse in VBS one year when I was a teacher in my son’s class. I have been trying to always be ready to make a defense to anyone who asks about my hope ever since. It takes courage, preparation and experience but most people don’t ask. So, I’m not confident in my ability to do so when the time comes. But the spirt brings to my mind:
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, Matthew 10:19

As David says in The Bible miniseries God is with me.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8 NIV

The nations are all the other countries in the bible besides Isreal. Assyria, Babylon, Cannan, Roman Empire. Godless and sinful, without morals. God set up for us to live in fellowship in a garden but the sin to be our own God got us kicked out. Then there was family and men as leaders of their families/tribes. Then a temple for cental location for communing with God with leaders of priest, prophets and judges; but the people felt weak and wanted a king like the nations. God warned them against this and spoke to them through his profets, but as they say in What’s in the Bible the children of Isreal went through cycle after cycle of “repent, repent, snooze. ” Which got them all destroyed save a remnant. My favorite word.

I sin like the nation of Isreal. I put other people as higher authority than the Lord my God. I’ll be busy loving others instead of keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus. It causes me to care what they think, trying to please them. Then, I become a slave to them. Galatians 1:10

am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

God had to teach me the hard way not to keep my focus on trying to be pleasing to other women. My mom passed down this sin of wanting the favor of other women of the church. They are not God. Some people will never give you approval. They will have you seeking after their approval for as long as we will stumble, forsaking myself trying to receive it.

At best it puts pressure on people to be perfect instead of real and authentic which is where fellowship occurs.

I would relate this misguided seeking to the scene in Lost Boys 1987 (a vampire movie) where Edward Herrmann’s character says: “Dont ever invite a vampire into your home, you silly boy, it renders you powerless. ” Lesson for Life- don’t give your power over to other people. Sounds like a lesson from an Oprah show. My pastor Dr Mercer once said in a sermon “Jesus is the only person in your life, who can govern your life, without enslaving you.” I know that’s true.

A key word for me in a Bible study was up. Such a small word with such a powerful effect when we keep our eyes upon Jesus.

‭‭Acts 10:26 NASB1995‬‬ [26] But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.”

‭‭Job 14:17 NASB1995‬‬ [17] My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You wrap up my iniquity.

‭‭Psalms 147:3 NASB1995‬‬ [3] He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.

‭‭Deuteronomy 32:34 NASB1995‬‬ [34] ‘Is it not laid up in store with Me, Sealed up in My treasuries?

‭‭Isaiah 62:10 NASB1995‬‬ [10] Go through, go through the gates, Clear the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway, Remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples.

‭‭John 3:14 NASB1995‬‬ [14] As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;

‭‭Luke 21:28 NASB1995‬‬ [28] But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

This brethren is where we are!