Full of Joy; Luke 10,12

May the mumbling commence!

From where does unbridled joy flow?  Let’s find the answer from a couple of passages in the gospel of Luke:

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.  

All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 

Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.  For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." (10: 21-24)

All the fullness of joy comes from the Holy Spirit of God.  The Holy Spirit works alongside Jesus to reveal our heavenly Father.  The relationships amongst the persons of the Trinity are revelatory.  It is through rightful relationships that joy is found to abound. 

It is through knowing that we are all little children of God that abundant joy flows.  Healthful relationships give God good pleasure, because the joy is rightly shared so that it may abound.  These relationships are the positive path to joy.

What are some of the things in life that cannot produce joy in and of themselves?  Joy is hidden from the wise and learned.  Too often, humanity tries to make things more complicated than they need to be.  There is some sense of comfort and satisfaction in complicating things, because when failure comes it is easier to accept. 

When we complicate things, we miss the forest for the trees.  Wisdom can only be found in relating well to God and to others.  To look for wisdom anywhere else is futile.

Well, what about status?  Can we find true pleasure and joy from our status?  Kings and prophets were not permitted to see what the followers of Jesus’ way see.  Some of them may have seen our blessedness from afar, but they never attainted it. 

Titles and status cannot create true pleasure and joy – they are only found in an innocent and trusting and obedient child of God.

Well, what about money?  The Beatles told us that money cannot buy us love.  But, can’t we buy happiness with money?  Read from Luke chapter twelve:

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 

Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"  Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 

Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I'll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." 

But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 

This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." (Verses 13-21)

Yes, money can buy possessions.  But possessions, by themselves, cannot give us joy.  In fact, if we hoard our possessions, they will make us miserable.  Joy will come as we show ourselves rich toward God and God’s little ones. 

Joy will come as we hold our wisdoms and positions and possessions lightly.  After all, all we have belongs to God.   Joy will come as we leave our own agendas behind and embrace rightful relationships with God, humanity, and the beautiful creation that surrounds us. 

Real joy! 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out

Joy for Many; Luke 10

May the mumbling commence!

What are we waiting for?  There is Good News to spread.  The time is ripe.  The harvest is plentiful.  And the workers are too few.  Even as we make the commitment to go ourselves, we should pray for others to join in our labor.  But, with what attitude should we go out into our world with the Good News?  Let’s take some clues from this passage from Luke chapter ten:

Luke 10:1-20  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.  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.  Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.  Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 

When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.'   If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.  Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 

When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you.  Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'   But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say,  'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.'   I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. 

Woe to you, Korazin! 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.  But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. 

He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." 

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

He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Verses 1-20)

Travel light.  Oh, boy!  I look at the many things that we have in our home, and I ask myself: “How can I travel light?”  Traveling light is a matter of faith.  Can we trust that God will provide the things we need?  Can we feel comfortable with being at the mercy of those who we bring the gospel?

Pick one home, and stay there.  Do not grumble about the food and drink of the house.  Do not seek a home where you might be fed better or fed the food and given the drink that will remind you of home.  Jesus says it again: “Eat what is set before you.”  That can be quite a challenge when you leave your comfort zone. 

One does not even need to leave the United States to come upon some of these issues.  My wife and I spent time in the southeastern United States.  There is nothing quite like southern hospitality and southern cooking.  I have found it is sometimes best not to ask what you are eating.

Expect both acceptance and rejection.  How does our message change for those who accept and those who reject?  Not much – those who accept our Good News are to be told, “The kingdom of God is near you.”  Those who don’t accept our Good News are to be told, “The kingdom of God is near.” 

The kingdom of God will come whether we accept it or not.  It is our choice.  Will we let the kingdom of God pass us by, or will we seize the opportunity to claim it for ourselves and lead others to claim the kingdom for themselves?

What power we have in our knowledge!  Let us use our knowledge wisely – in a godly way.  Godly wisdom benefits everyone, and joy is a by-product.  There is joy like we have never known in the kingdom of God! 

So, let’s not seek dominance.  Let’s seek the reality of our dependence on God and our interdependence on each other. 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out

Pray to Change...Yourself; Luke 9

May the mumbling commence!

Pray with abandon.  Prayer will change you.  Pray with caution.  The synoptic gospels all record the transfiguration of Jesus.  Only Luke notes that Jesus’ purpose for climbing the mountain was for prayer.  Read from Luke chapter 9:

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.  As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.  Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.  Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.  As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) 

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."  When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen. (Verses 28-36)

Luke stands alone with his emphasis on prayer in this retelling of the transfiguration of Jesus.  It is apparent that rest and prayer were needed.  Luke alone records that Peter, James and John fall asleep.  Hmm… Peter and James and John fall asleep while Jesus is praying.  This prayer and resting episode seems to foreshadow the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane – where these same men fall asleep while Jesus earnestly prays. 

Luke alone tells us what Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus about – his impending departure in Jerusalem.  In the midst of their prayer, Jesus was transfigured.  Jesus’ countenance was changed – much like the countenance of Moses was changed whenever he spoke with God in the Tent of Meeting.  Jesus’ clothes became as white as lightning.  Talk about the transformational power of prayer.

Jesus and Moses and Elijah were all powerful men of prayer.  Many times Moses interceded for the people of Israel in the desert.  Through the prayers of Moses, many lives were saved.  And Elijah once prayed that there would be no rain until he said so.  What happened?  There was a drought for several years.  Much power is there in the prayers of a righteous man! 

And what did God say about Jesus?  "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."  So, there was Moses and Elijah giving encouragement to Jesus as he prepared to set his face toward Jerusalem and the painful death upon a cross that awaited him there.

Just as Moses and the people of Israel received divine manna from heaven, Jesus was receiving divine empowerment to tread the painful path of the cross.  Just as the raven fed Elijah, Jesus’ spirit was being fed through prayer.  Just as Elijah and Moses had found God’s presence on a mountaintop, Jesus found God’s presence on a mountaintop.

I wonder when Peter and James and John woke up in all this…  I wonder what woke them up…  Was it the light of the Son of God shining on them?  Was it the hushed conversation between Jesus and Moses and Elijah?  Regardless of what woke them, James and John and Peter saw Moses and Elijah speaking with Jesus.  How did they know the men were Moses and Elijah?  Perhaps they introduced themselves.  Perhaps Jesus introduced them. 

And Peter, speaking without thinking it through (as he was wont to do), decided this would be a good place to stay – forever.  As the other men moved to leave, Peter pleaded with the other men to stay.  But Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah about his departure.  This mountaintop experience was the runway to something much better.  The path was fraught with pain, agony and danger; but the outcome is out of this world.  It is something far better than this mountaintop experience could ever provide.

We have no need to fear the radiance of Moses or Jesus anymore.  We have no need to fear physical death. 

May we pray for change in our appearances – our attitudes and thoughts and words and actions.  May our faces be radiant with the light of God and the Son, Jesus.  That light is the Shekinah glory of God! 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out

Peter, Petra, Rock?!? Matthew 16

May the mumbling commence!

What is the rock, the petra, that the church of Jesus is built upon?  Let’s look at the context of the statement that Jesus made about the foundation of the church from Matthew chapter sixteen:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. (Verses 13-20)

Some people read this and would name Simon Peter as the bedrock foundation of the church.  This makes some common sense.  Peter, the name that Jesus gave Simon, means rock in Greek.  It is from this text that we get apostolic succession from Peter to the modern day priests of the Roman Catholic Church. 

So God used a backwards fisherman to build the foundation of the church.  That’s just like God – using what we would think to be cast off material and making something special, even divine about it.  Could God do this?  Absolutely.  But, is it the total truth of this passage?  No.

The Apostle Paul speaks of one foundation for the church, and that is Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:11).  The fact that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, is the rock solid foundation of the church.  Should we give some equal meditation to this thought? 

When he talked to Simon Peter, what exactly did Jesus say?  He said, “You are blessed that God revealed this (that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God) to you.  The simple faith of Simon Peter in this fact – this statement - is what the rock is.  Let’s read a little further in Matthew chapter sixteen:

   From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" 

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.  What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.  I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." (Verses 20-28)

Talk about a quick turnaround!  Only a few verses earlier, Jesus called Peter the rock on which the church would be built.  Now, Peter denies the inevitability of the passion, and Jesus calls him Satan!  So, Peter, who is the rock-solid foundation of the church, is now Satan incarnate?  No, I don’t think so. 

Again it is the statement of Peter that Jesus talks about.  What Peter said and did revealed a lot about him.  Peter tried to take charge, perhaps taking his role as the rock the church is built upon as the invitation to do so. 

In what ways do we take advantage of the privilege of knowing Christ as the living Son of God?  Is it an invitation to be controlling?  "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet he forfeits his soul?"  

Or is it an invitation to obedience to God’s will?  “You have in mind the things of men not the things of God.”  What we say and do reveals a lot about us. 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out

Relationship Trumps Tradition; Matthew 15

May the mumbling commence!

Every family has developed traditions over the years – whether that is a biological family, a blended family, or a spiritual family.  And these traditions are important to us for the relationships that we have built with one another.  But what do we do when our traditions come into conflict with the Law and the commands of God?  Which one will have preeminence?  Read a passage from Matthew chapter fifteen:

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" 

Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?  For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'   But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' he is not to 'honor his father 'with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.  You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 

'These people honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me. 

They worship me in vain;

their teachings are but rules taught by men.'" (Verses 1-9)

When we pose this question to ourselves, “What traditions of our elders do we seek to maintain at the cost of breaking the commands of God?”  What will we find?  Do we dare to look?  Or do we simply say, “That’s the way we always have done it”?  To change the traditions of our elders is to make ourselves uncomfortable.  Will we risk feeling uncomfortable to do the will of God?

Yes, it is a humbling question.  Of our many traditions, which ones cause us to break the commands of God?  What traditions do we have that destroy divinely created relationships?  For example, in a perfect world, the church of Jesus would be one church.  The unity of the church of Jesus is a divinely created relationship. 

I have had the privilege to worship in many different settings – Mennonite, Church of the Brethren, Beachy Amish, Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, United Methodist, Church of the Nazarene, Church of God, Four Square, Messianic Jewish, and Pentecostal (to name just the ones that come off the top of my head).  There is also the Greek Orthodox Church.

Each of these worship settings claims Jesus as the Son of God.  Why can’t we worship together?  Traditions of each church pull us apart.  There are traditional points of emphasis that seem to be dissonant to one another. 

There are traditionally different socio-economic backgrounds that are attracted to these points of emphasis of the various denominations.  Instead of honoring God-established relationships outside the socially acceptable context of the denominational guidelines we make outside relationships difficult or near impossible. 

Why is Sunday morning the most segregated time of the entire week?  We need to honor our traditions.  Does this honor God?  Does this send the message of Christians love for one another?  Did not Jesus pray that we be one so that the whole world will know God sent Jesus into the world (John 17)?

And there are smaller things that we do that destroy our relationships with one another.  Things that we think are quite insignificant, but these things send unintentional messages to certain groups of people.  What about our focus on the family unit?  It assumes that all people will become married and have children.  What message does that send to people who are called to the single life or to people who would like to be married but are not? 

When we set up tables for fellowship, do the tables always have an even number of seats?  A number of little things can add up and speak a clear (though unintentional) message to someone.  For some young adults (many churches talk about the missing donut hole of the people aged twenty to thirty), this may be a part of the equation for their absence from church life.  Particularly those people who have grown up in the church all their lives and have had these unintentional messages sent to them again and again.  They do not feel like they fit in - that they belong.  

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out

You Are What You Eat; John 6

May the mumbling commence!

The pendulum continues to swing.  Sometimes, we are told that things like chocolate are bad for us.  Sometimes, we are told they are good for us.  We cannot seem to make up our minds.  We only know that what we eat or drink makes a difference in our level of healthiness. 

So, what should a main staple of a Christians’ diet be?  What should be at the bottom of a Christians’ food pyramid?  Read from John chapter 6:

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 

"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." 

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.  But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.  All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.  For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.  For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."  They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?" 

"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered.  "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.  It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.  No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.  I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.  I am the bread of life.  Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.  But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 

Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.  Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." (Verses 32-58)

The disciples called this a hard teaching.  Many of Jesus’ followers left him after this teaching.  They got hung up and eating human flesh and drinking blood.  The Law prohibits drinking blood, and most societies frown on cannibalism.  It is no wonder that they made to leave!

What does it mean to eat of Jesus’ flesh and drink of Jesus’ blood?  These words can easily be connected to the Lord’s Supper.  But to simply state that Jesus was talking about communion doesn’t really address the issue at hand.  What does it mean to eat Christ’s flesh and drink Christ’s blood?  Well, we are what we eat.

And good food deserves to be eaten slowly and enjoyed.  In fact, the Greek word used in this passage for eating has the connotation of grazing.  When we eat of the essence of Christ Jesus, we mull over and meditate over how Jesus lived his life.  When we eat of the essence of Christ Jesus, we incorporate his way of life into our very being.  We are what we eat.

Let us take in Christ Jesus slowly and thoughtfully.  Let us integrate Christ’s way of life into our very beings.  That is the currency of belief.  And a new and enhanced life – eternal life – will be ours. 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out  

Principles of Christian Ministry; Mt. 13, Mk. 6, Lk. 9, Jn. 6

May the mumbling commence!

Want to know some Christian principles in ministry?  Look to the feeding of the five-thousand men.  It is important.  All four gospels record this occurrence.  What do we do when we feel overwhelmed?  Jesus and the disciples were in the midst of ministry that engulfed every waking hour – and some of their sleeping hours as well.  Jesus had just learned of the death of John the Baptist.  What did Jesus do..?

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."  So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. (Mark 6:31-32)

It was time to make time to rest.  And the only rest they would get would be in a secluded and solitary place.  They set out to sail for that place.

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. (Matthew 13a)

Jesus had heard what had happened – the death of John the Baptist.  It was time to seek privacy in a solitary place to give himself time to mourn.  It is okay to rest and mourn for those you love that have died.  Luke says the same thing:

Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida. (9:10b)

But, sometimes, an attempt to seek rest and privacy for mourning is not possible.  What do we do when our ministry follows us to our times of retreat..?  What did Jesus do?

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. (Mark 6:34)

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. (Matthew 14:14)

He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. (Luke 9:11)

Jesus had compassion on them.  He welcomed them.  He taught them and healed them.  He anticipated and met their needs to be fed spiritually and physically.  Jesus led his disciples to feed the large crowd with… what appeared to be nearly nothing – five loaves and two fishes.  When our resources seem so woefully inadequate what should we do?

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. (Mark 6:41)

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. (Matthew 14:9b)

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. (Luke 9:16a)

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. (John 6:11)

Give thanks for what we have.  Be willing to give a portion of what we have – even when we do not think we have enough for ourselves.  Distribute the food to those that have need – as much as they want.  When everyone has their fill, be sure to check for leftovers.

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. (Mark 6:42-43)

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. (Matthew 14:20)

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. (Luke 9:17)

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."  So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. (John 6:12-13)

John records Jesus’ command: Let nothing be wasted.  I think that says it best.  In Christian ministry, seek time to rest and mourn when you need to.  But when ministry still calls - trust God, give thanks for whatever you have, share, and let nothing be wasted. 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out

Testify! John 5; Matthew 10

May the mumbling commence!

Jesus made some pretty bold claims.  They would indeed be blasphemous if they proved false.  In the Law, testimony needed to be given by two or three witnesses in order to be considered valid.  Think about this need as you read from John chapter five:

"If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid.  There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. 

You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.  Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.  John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. 

I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.  And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.  You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 

I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.  I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.  How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?” (Verses 31-44)

Here are the witnesses that testify that Jesus is the Son of God: 1) John the Baptist testified to this truth.  2) The work that Jesus does for the Father testifies to this truth.  3) The Scriptures testify to this truth.  God has said it; therefore, it is.  This truth is recorded in the Scriptures for you and me to discover.  Jesus’ work of perfect obedience testifies to the truth of God.  And John read the Scriptures and testified to the truth that he saw there.  All of these things praise God.

From whom do we seek praise?  Are you a people pleaser?  It is not hard for me to fall into this pattern.  It builds up the ego…  But, it is not about me.  That’s the problem with seeking praise from our fellow brothers and sisters.  Many times, seeking the pleasure of our brothers and sisters will be against the will of God.  It will mean simple disobedience.  And God cannot be pleased with our disobedience.

To please God, we will need to make a concerted effort to go against the grain of the lies that are planted in our lives by the world.  You know, the lies we hear like looking out for number one – me.  Who deserves our ultimate allegiance?  Read from Matthew chapter ten:

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”  (Verses 37-39)

My family must take second place (at best).  My own desires and will must also take second place (at best).  My own will for survival must take second place (at best).  First place belongs to God alone.  That means simple obedience in all things.  Simple obedience to God is the cross we must bear, wherever it may take us.  To be simply obedient is to be worthy of Jesus – for Jesus was simply obedient.

So, let’s continue to read the Scriptures.  Let’s speak out for the truth of the way of Jesus.  Let’s humbly do the work that God’s Spirit leads us to.  Let’s join the chorus of testifying with our words and actions that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out