"These aren't the droids you are looking for"

LOL, I'm sorry but every time I read these verses, that is what I think of!  It's a good thing God has a sense of humor! 

Luke 4:28-30(NKJV)

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 

and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 

Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Heaven or hell is a long way off. What good is it being a Christian here and now?

One of my lifelong themes in my work for God has been to answer the question "what is in it for a believer here and now".  For most people I think, the fear of heaven or hell is so far off in the future, at least in their minds, that it is a bit theoretical.  However almost everyone out there is interested in making their lives better today so let's appeal to basic human nature.

And for some reason God has put it on my heart to write about that today.  I've been writing this blog for over 4 years now and one of the things I have learned is that when God says we are going to write about X, no matter what I intend to type, what comes out on the screen is about X.  :)

For me one of the biggest benefits of being a Christian in my daily life is experiencing the "peace that surpasses all understanding".  The certainty that God and Jesus have my back.  I just don't get rattled and worried about much anymore.  That doesn't mean that things always go my way.  They don't.  But it means that there is a certainty in my mind that all will work out for the best.

Now why do I believe that?  For the same reason we believe anyone else who makes a promise to us. First that they promised and second that they came through on the promise.  And the more they promise and come through the more we know that we can trust in that promise.

That is exactly what has happened in my life.  God has made promises in that Bible that I have seen come true, repeatedly, that lead me to experiencing the "peace that surpasses all understanding". 

Now what exactly does the phrase "peace that surpasses all understanding" mean?  I'm sure there are better ways to put this but I am just a plain spoken guy so let me speak plainly.  It means when you are at peace when everyone around you thinks you should be scared shitless!  Make sense?  :)

A very close second to this is the way that God steers my life on a daily basis.  The more I am willing to give up control and let God steer the more serendipitous blessings he lays on me.  Or again to speak plainly.  The more I let God steer, the more cool stuff that I never could have planned happen to me.

Now here is the coolest thing of all.  Each and every one of you can experience the same thing if you choose to.  It is totally up to you.  You can't be turned down or denied.  All you have to do is ask Jesus to come into your life and guide you. 

Have you done that yet?  Why not do it right now?  Just have a conversation with Jesus and ask Him to come into your life and guide you.  "Dear Jesus…."

 

John the Baptist's Revolutionary message.

You know it never occurred to me before just how revolutionary John the Baptist's message was. I always thought of him as a bit of a minor player, a side note.  He seemed to be there merely to usher in Jesus.  But today I realized how revolutionary his own message was that got things started. 

Luke 3:1-3(NKJV)

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 

while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 

In the old days under the Old Testament the people sacrificed animals for the forgiveness of sins.  What made John's message so revolutionary in my opinion was that forgiveness was not based on an animal sacrifice.  It was based on repentance and baptism with water which Jesus later replaced with baptism of the Holy Spirit.
 

Interesting. 

No Jesus was not homeless when he was born.

It always bugs me when you see people on the left saying "hey, don't forget, Jesus was homeless too!". 

No He wasn't. 

Luke 2:1-7(NKJV)

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 

This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 

So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 

to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

They were traveling and didn't have "hotel reservations" for where they were going.  I guess they didn't have hotels.com back then.  :)

He had a home back in Nazareth which He returned to and grew up in. 

Luke 2:39-40(NKJV)

So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Why am I making such a big deal about this?  Because it is just another example in my opinion of why you need to know Scripture so that you aren't led astray. 

Did Jesus start to discriminate?

I've always found this story a bit odd.  It almost seems to me that Jesus was going to refuse to help her because "she was one of those people".  She even seems to "recognize her place" in her response to Jesus.  Her faith wins Him over and he eventually helps her even though she is "one of those people". 

I must admit that I find Jesus acknowledging the distinction and difference really weird.  Him calling this woman a "dog" just doesn't fit the vision I have of Jesus. 

Mark 7:27-29(NKJV)

But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”

Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”

"The Lord is slow to anger and great in power…"

Just because He is slow to anger doesn't mean He won't get there eventually.  :)

Nahum 1:2-3(NKJV)

     God is jealous, and the Lord avenges;      The Lord avenges and is furious.     The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries,     And He reserves wrath for His enemies;

    The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,     And will not at all acquit the wicked.      The Lord has His way     In the whirlwind and in the storm,     And the clouds are the dust of His feet.

Just another Scripture backing up my growing belief that God is not a "live and let live" kind of guy.  He will put up with a lot.  He will give people multiple chances but in the end we will all be held accountable. 

Accountable for what?  Two main things in my opinion.  The first is did we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior?  If yes then cool beans, on to the next step.  If not then it is all over. 

Have you accepted Jesus yet?  There is no better way to live your life than to let Jesus lead you.  Why not live in God's favor and experience the "peace that surpasses all understanding"?  Just as Jesus to lead you.  "Dear Jesus.…".

Then the second thing we will be held accountable for is how much we served God by spreading the Gospel.  As I understand Scripture, that is what determines our rewards in Heaven. 

Seems pretty simple to me.  Accept Jesus.  Spread the Word!!!

But "live and let live"?  I don't think so.

Why do strangers believe quicker than those who know us?

Look how quickly the people of Nineveh believed when Jonah took the Word to them. 

Jonah 3:1-7(NKJV)

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” 

So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. 

And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 

Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. 

And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying,          Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 

Why is it that strangers believe quicker than those who know us best.  I guess it shouldn't be surprising since Jesus warned about it.  "A prophet is without honor in his own land".  :)