Category: News (Page 2 of 108)

Pentecost is often called the birthday of the Church, so: “happy birthday!”

The story of Pentecost in Acts 2 is so often simplified into “reversing the curse of Babel” or that the Gospel is meant for all nations.

Those, of course, are true, but I think these are often minimized said in a somewhat quaint way.

The reality is that Babel was a colossal event and Pentecost even more so!

The people at Babel were seeking to elevate themselves to the heavens; elevate themselves to be like God. (Sound familiar?) They sought to displace God with themselves and their fear was that they may be “dispersed over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4). (God is amazing at natural consequences!)

It shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:21

So from their hubris and idolatry, they are dispersed and there is now enmity among peoples and nations and the idolatry they had in their hearts becomes manifested in gods and deities of nations; worship outside of and opposed to Yahweh.

But God is One who redeems peoples and nations, and creation itself!

When Jesus conquered sin, death, and the Devil, He also sent the Holy Spirit, through Whom order was restored from chaos; peace from confusion; law from lawlessness.

Yahweh is the God of and for all, and “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Everyone!

The only Nation with standing now is the Nation of the Lord! The only peoples who have standing are the people of the Lord! The only boasts we or anyone has is of the Lord!

Jesus’ victory brings all together under His lordship, His reign, His dominion!

He is lord of all; for all time; for all peoples and nations!

Praise the Lord!

“Gracious Lord Jesus, thank You for Your victory and for redeeming all peoples, nations, and creation itself under Your rule! Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to fill, direct, and move us to see how You see, love how You love, speak how You speak, and serve how You serve. Move us to look upon all with the same mercy and grace as You do and have shown through Your redemption. In Your precious Name do we pray. Amen!”

Scripture

• Genesis 11:1–9
• Acts 2:1–21
• Psalm 25:1–5 (Responsory)

I often hear well-meaning Christians wear their suffering as a badge of honor.

And certainly, suffering for the sake for Christ – for being a Christian – is an honor and privilege, to be embraced and a reason to praise the Lord!

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 4:13

Unfortunately, many times I hear Christians lift up general sufferings – ones that have nothing to do with being a Christian, and somehow use those sufferings as a reason to show that they are “worthy.”

There are sufferings that come from being in the world; suffering that come from being in sin; and sufferings that come from being in Christ. They are not all the same!

Suffering for the sake of Christis something to praise the Lord about and celebrate for glory that will be revealed and “because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon” us (1 Peter 4:14b).

Suffering from being in the world or for being in sin is consequence for sin. Future glory is not given for such suffering, but God can and still should be given glory in them – for His mercy and grace shown through them.

And how we endure suffering can give God glory in every way!

When we suffer for Christ – He gets the glory and glory will be revealed to us.

When we suffer in the world or because of sin and we do so in contrition, in humility, and in grace, giving Him the glory regardless, there is a blessing for others.

Suffering this side of eternity is inevitable. Living lives boldly and unashamedly as followers of Jesus will bring suffering that leads to glory. Facing other suffering in contrition and humility because we give God the glory in and through it can winsome for Christ.

So we turn our face toward suffering – for Christ, in all things.

And in all our suffering, we keep in mind why we face suffering bodly – because Jesus suffered to the point of death for our salvation; for our eternity; so that our sufferings here would be temporary and time with Him eternal!

So we endure, with confidence, with certain hope, and with joyful anticipation for where it will end – for Christ, and with Christ!

Halleluia, and amen!

“Gracious Lord Jesus, You suffered and bore all our sins and those of the world. Thank You for that! Grant that we endure all suffering in a way that brings You honor and glory, and points all to You. In Your precious Name do we pray. Amen.”

Scripture

• 1 Peter 4:12–16
• Romans 5:3-5
• 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
• Psalm 68:1–10 (Responsory)

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15-21).

That can seem both obvious – and challenging.

Of course, if you love someone, you want to do things for them to show that love. You want to give of self because you love them. It flows naturally. It is self-evident. “Love is a verb” as the saying goes. (Note: it’s also a noun!)

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 14:15

The converse is also true: if you aren’t giving of self to another, it is probably an indication that there is a lack of love present.

But whenever we have sentences with “if” in them, we can get uneasy. It seems so…transactional. Standoffish. Perhaps even cold. It causes us to wonder if we are truly fulfilling that “if” well enough to meet the “requirement” stated.

“If I love God” – how much? I “will keep [His” commandments” to what level or extent?

And then we go on to see, “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me” (John 14:21).

But in that case, we’re the ones trying to codify a simple statement into a complex one. We’re the ones taking a statement of Truth and muddying it with conditions.

Love Jesus, and that will naturally manifest itself in willing obedience.

It really is as simple as that.

Love begets obedience.

Not out of fear; not out of obligation; not out of coercion. Out of gratitude; out of heart-felt desire; out of selfless yearning!

And the reason is simple: “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Jesus loved His Father, loved the world, loved us so much that He selflessly, willingly, lovingly, suffered, died, and rose for us.

And it goes on!

Because He loves, He obeyed; because He loves, He saved; because He loves, He sends the Holy Spirit, the Helper; because He loves, all things are accomplished, fulfilled, given!

Because He loves, how could we not love back?! Because He has sacrificed and given so much, how could we not want to obey and keep every good, Holy, loving, challenging, blessed, enriching, edifying, disciplining, gracious, blessed Word and commands He has given us!

And through all of that loving, we are not only blessed with a more abundant and blessed life, but we also receive the Holy Spirit for discernment and Holy living and the love the of the Father as well!

What is not to love here?! “Thank You, Lord Jesus, for showing us Your love through Your actions. Grant us a willing, gracious, and loving heart that responds in grateful, obedient actions. Fill us with the Holy Spirit – the Helper so that all we think, say, and do is in line with Your will, Your Word, Your commandments. In the precious name of Jesus do we pray, O Lord. Amen”

Scripture

• John 14:15–21
• Psalm 66:8–20 (Responsory)

Peter has a lot to say in his first letter to believers; about how to live and stand firm in the Faith of Jesus amidst difficult people and a challenging world.

Part of today’s Scripture remind us that we start somewhere and end elsewhere. That is, we may start as believers who do not know how to live as God’s children when we come to Faith, but through that Faith, we “are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood…acceptable to God” (1 Peter 2:5). We are to begin by craving “pure spiritual milk, so that by it [we] may grow up in [our] salvation, now that we have tasted that the Lord is good” (2 Peter 2:2-3).

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 2:2-3 (NIV84)

In other words, if we are to be faithful as children of God, we don’t remain where we are. We are to grow up – in our Faith, in our living, in our understanding, in our service – in every aspect as a Christian.

God has called us to be “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” (2 Peter 2:9).

If we examine ourselves – our hearts and actions, we know that we have been far from those descriptors.

So it’s time for us to “grow up in [our] salvation” (1 Peter 2:2)! And we do so because we crave it. We crave Him! We see all that our loving, reigning, and living Lord Jesus has done for us and we can’t wait to grow in our love, faith, and service to Him and all whom He loves!

Today we celebrate Holy Communion, where we grow up in our salvation by receiving the true Body and Blood of Jesus through bread and wine.

Today we rejoice at a baptism, where God brings His precious child into His family through water and His Word.

Today we delight at nine young men and women who Confirm their faith publicly.

Through these beautiful events – and so many others – we all “grow up in [our] salvation;” are “built into a spiritual house;” are living out lives as a “holy nation…belonging to God.” Today we vow to not remain where we are, but crave growing into being closer to the “holy” people God has called us to be.

All because of Jesus, through whose suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension made our Fatih possible. All because of the Holy Spirit who moved us to Faith at all. All because of our heavenly Father, who loves us and desires to be with us forever.

We have everything through our Lord. Let us respond by growing up and holding steadfast to the gift of Faith in and through our lord and savior, Jesus Christ!

“Lord, You have chosen us to be royal and holy. You have called us to be built up in the Faith You have given us. You desire that we grow up in our faith and our Christian living. Send us Your Holy Spirit, Lord, and help us do this. Create a craving in our heart and soul, not just to be steadfast, but to push forward in every way You want us to grow. In thanks for Jesus and in His precious name do we pray. Amen.”

Scripture

• 1 Peter 2:2-10
• Psalm 146 (Responsory)