saw this article today, and thought it has a bearing on the 2 blog recent posts re 'what is gospel'
http://www.redletterchristians.org/gathering-crowds-making-disciples/
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
more what is gospel ..
thing is
being a child of God is a ..
being a disciple is a ..
being ' in-Christ ' is a ..
it's not what i ' believe '
God isn't my God because i believe something(s) about God
that means nothing, really
so when we posit a list of propositions that say God is this or that
and then draw lines around that list, such that if a person can check-off the things on the list they're ' in ', if not they're not ' in ' ... that's so .. pedantic
actually, it reduces God to a theory
i know i went all the way east there
but i'm trying to get my lame brain to wrap around this, which flies in the face of my spiritual history ..
God is a person
we don't have relationships with propositions
we don't talk to lists
we don't listen to doctrine
propositions and checklists and doctrines are not alive
we relate to living persons
and God is just that ..
and the perfect presentation of God in person is God-in-person=Jesus
mine is to call on God
whoever he is
and ask him to speak
to me
i want to know him
i have Scripture, thankfully
and that allows me to know about God
but it's not God himself
Hebrews ( my favourite book ) points to knowable revealed God in Jesus as the definition of who God is
and Jesus is a human
Hebrews 1.1 ff
Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, however, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word.
therefore, mine is to know this man, Son of Man, in order to fully appreciate who God is
while i can learn things about God from Scripture
i cannot know God there
knowing someone involves time spent with that person
asking
listening
talking
simply being with them
sharing presence
...
i'm struggling ( again ) to express my thinking that our historic propositional ' faith ' is, for the most part, not useful in making disciples
and what is termed ' the great commission ' is precisely that - make disciples
not make believers
a disciple is someone who sees and knows something of a person, and determines to be just like that person
whatever that person is, i want to be
just like that ..
it's almost, i want to be him/her
but you start with the person
i have to have a relationship with them to learn from them
i have to be with them to learn them, understand them, get to know their thinking, their motivations ..
why are we so afraid of ' knowing ' God ??
why does it have to be what we learned from a book ??
because we westerners are intellectually-oriented
we look for facts and data and base our thinking there
while God says ' anyone who comes to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who search diligently for him '
put in other words, ' without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him ' ( Hebrews 11.6 ) ..
2 things there ..
faith is necessary; it is indispensable
we must seek God diligently
it is the person of God i look to know
not facts about God ..
that then is the basis of these couple blog posts
presenting Got to people in gospel tract format or Bible format only provides them with information about God
it is not God
that person must have a desire to know God for themselves
be in relationship with God
i ' believe ' that we have walked a dread path of propositional belief
and left people thinking they know God because they know stuff about God ..
if i leave my relationship with God to the things i believe about God, i'm in deep doodoo
that would be similar to loving what i know about my wife
i don't love what i know
i love a person
go there
we've reduced relationship with God to knowing about God
and the twain shall never ever meet
.. still thinking on it
being a child of God is a ..
being a disciple is a ..
being ' in-Christ ' is a ..
it's not what i ' believe '
God isn't my God because i believe something(s) about God
that means nothing, really
so when we posit a list of propositions that say God is this or that
and then draw lines around that list, such that if a person can check-off the things on the list they're ' in ', if not they're not ' in ' ... that's so .. pedantic
actually, it reduces God to a theory
i know i went all the way east there
but i'm trying to get my lame brain to wrap around this, which flies in the face of my spiritual history ..
God is a person
we don't have relationships with propositions
we don't talk to lists
we don't listen to doctrine
propositions and checklists and doctrines are not alive
we relate to living persons
and God is just that ..
and the perfect presentation of God in person is God-in-person=Jesus
mine is to call on God
whoever he is
and ask him to speak
to me
i want to know him
i have Scripture, thankfully
and that allows me to know about God
but it's not God himself
Hebrews ( my favourite book ) points to knowable revealed God in Jesus as the definition of who God is
and Jesus is a human
Hebrews 1.1 ff
Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, however, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word.
therefore, mine is to know this man, Son of Man, in order to fully appreciate who God is
while i can learn things about God from Scripture
i cannot know God there
knowing someone involves time spent with that person
asking
listening
talking
simply being with them
sharing presence
...
i'm struggling ( again ) to express my thinking that our historic propositional ' faith ' is, for the most part, not useful in making disciples
and what is termed ' the great commission ' is precisely that - make disciples
not make believers
a disciple is someone who sees and knows something of a person, and determines to be just like that person
whatever that person is, i want to be
just like that ..
it's almost, i want to be him/her
but you start with the person
i have to have a relationship with them to learn from them
i have to be with them to learn them, understand them, get to know their thinking, their motivations ..
why are we so afraid of ' knowing ' God ??
why does it have to be what we learned from a book ??
because we westerners are intellectually-oriented
we look for facts and data and base our thinking there
while God says ' anyone who comes to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who search diligently for him '
put in other words, ' without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him ' ( Hebrews 11.6 ) ..
2 things there ..
faith is necessary; it is indispensable
we must seek God diligently
it is the person of God i look to know
not facts about God ..
that then is the basis of these couple blog posts
presenting Got to people in gospel tract format or Bible format only provides them with information about God
it is not God
that person must have a desire to know God for themselves
be in relationship with God
i ' believe ' that we have walked a dread path of propositional belief
and left people thinking they know God because they know stuff about God ..
if i leave my relationship with God to the things i believe about God, i'm in deep doodoo
that would be similar to loving what i know about my wife
i don't love what i know
i love a person
go there
we've reduced relationship with God to knowing about God
and the twain shall never ever meet
.. still thinking on it
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
the gospel of messiah Jesus, part 3 ..
“ Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged, for with the judgment you use you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep searching, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.
Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house, yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on solid rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed, and its collapse was great! "
When Jesus had finished this sermon, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.
Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep searching, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.
Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house, yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on solid rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed, and its collapse was great! "
When Jesus had finished this sermon, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.
sharing .. being present 2 . .. .
' being present ' is a recent post on understanding the role of the helped in the life of the helper - there is get-back; the benefits run both ways
it strikes me over the last few days .. there is a primo example of that in my life
his name is Random, and i've posted about him before, on another blog
a few weeks ago Random was drunk onsite on a sunday morning right around time of service
apparently some ' good-intentioned ' folk tried to get him to leave - he was causing a bit of a disturbance in his inebriation while people gathered for service and sunday lunch
i hung out with him for a few hours
he was confrontational at times, although mildly so
some other homeless people wanted him gone - he had offended them
i tried to keep things reasonable while service and lunch went on
that was 3 weeks ago
Random has been in and out of drunkeness since i met him
i invited him in one sunday soon after i got here to this town
like every person, he has a story
he has issues
and a pile-up of issues had him on the backfoot looking for escape from reality and help in dealing with the crap
he liquored
i guess when you live on the street and sleep in the woods and panhandle and beg for your daily bread and whatever it is you need ... . . . . .
you realize how alone you are, and try to escape the aloneness however you can, a very reasonable response for the human condition in walking-alone life
... many of us are lonely, even when we're not alone
and many of us seek escape even when we don't have the burden of being unhoused
i've watched and talked-with and listened-to Random
i've heard his stories, in pieces
i've smelled him after long bouts of drought where he simply drank, ate nothing, slept, and stopped caring for or about himself; he wanted death ..
and i've seen him sober and cognizant too
the drunkenness has been on the decline since i met him, slow but steady decline
the last couple weeks in particular i've seen a marked change
there is a disciple community movement on the rise here
and Random came recently and participated, and came back next time ..
sober both times
i've seen more and more bright spots in him
and recently it has been one long bout of bright
a smiling, clean, happy Random is now the new norm ..
maybe
i hope it stays that way
..
God has been active
many many times
and Random repeatedly gives him the credit
always making references to God's action ( or inactivity ) in his life
the deer that stepped over his sleeping bag
the frogs he listens to at night
the stars God ' set in place '
the cell phone that was returned by the thief
the person(s) that bought him sandwiches randomly
and i've watched
listened
learned
.. at least some
i think
..
last night, after community meet, we walked out to the street - Random was heading out for his walk 2 or 3 miles to the woods where he sleeps
he spoke of a friend's struggle with alcoholism and their recommendation to join a recovery group
Random's comment to me was similar to this: " that never worked for me; i always knew i needed the help of a higher power. i wake in the morning and thank him, and tell him i love him. i go to bed at night and i look at the stars and think of him, and i tell him ' thanks ' and that i love him ..
and he loves me back ! "
he has, in the last 2-3 weeks, been able to get GA, and is now in-line for housing assistance, as of this morning
... ..
i didn't mean for this to be so long a post, but i am struck by the apparent change i've seen, and i'm excited
it brings me back to the ' being present ' thingy, and our need to be ' in ' the lives of the people we look to help and minister-to, not only for them, although mostly for them - they're the blatantly in-need - but also ' for ' me
i get unexpected benefits
if i'm open to that
if my heart is set in a receiving mode
if i see that person as someone i can learn from
if i look to be blessed in the blessing
i'm excited
i've heard Random speak to the goodness of God over and over, and seen his unrelenting acknowledgment of God even when he was in the dump, scraping the barrel's bottom
..
i have much to learn
more from him, i'm sure
and from that happy Indian
and the wandering hillbilly
and the Traveler
and the young 2 that're constantly high, looking for escape from that grave
and the tall one looking to head north out of here, that told me a week ago he's not at all religious, still looking, but is touched by the wisdom and coolness of the local Shepherd
and the quiet island guy that inspires me with his cool, nursing a swollen and infected hand
and the skinny lady that quietly appears and disappears, and amazes me she could handle street life
and the never-stop-talking chick that volunteers every saturday, who's not associated with the church here
and never-say-die bob, who travels with more stuff on his bicycle than anyone could imagine - dude deserves a circus act
and .. and . .. .
i'm learning
Lord, open my ears, close my mouth
and allow me to simply try to understand so's i can rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that weep and help while being helped myself
thank you for the privilege of being involved in the lives of these my fellowhumans
remind me regularly .. they too carry the imago dei
i follow you
it strikes me over the last few days .. there is a primo example of that in my life
his name is Random, and i've posted about him before, on another blog
a few weeks ago Random was drunk onsite on a sunday morning right around time of service
apparently some ' good-intentioned ' folk tried to get him to leave - he was causing a bit of a disturbance in his inebriation while people gathered for service and sunday lunch
i hung out with him for a few hours
he was confrontational at times, although mildly so
some other homeless people wanted him gone - he had offended them
i tried to keep things reasonable while service and lunch went on
that was 3 weeks ago
Random has been in and out of drunkeness since i met him
i invited him in one sunday soon after i got here to this town
like every person, he has a story
he has issues
and a pile-up of issues had him on the backfoot looking for escape from reality and help in dealing with the crap
he liquored
i guess when you live on the street and sleep in the woods and panhandle and beg for your daily bread and whatever it is you need ... . . . . .
you realize how alone you are, and try to escape the aloneness however you can, a very reasonable response for the human condition in walking-alone life
... many of us are lonely, even when we're not alone
and many of us seek escape even when we don't have the burden of being unhoused
i've watched and talked-with and listened-to Random
i've heard his stories, in pieces
i've smelled him after long bouts of drought where he simply drank, ate nothing, slept, and stopped caring for or about himself; he wanted death ..
and i've seen him sober and cognizant too
the drunkenness has been on the decline since i met him, slow but steady decline
the last couple weeks in particular i've seen a marked change
there is a disciple community movement on the rise here
and Random came recently and participated, and came back next time ..
sober both times
i've seen more and more bright spots in him
and recently it has been one long bout of bright
a smiling, clean, happy Random is now the new norm ..
maybe
i hope it stays that way
..
God has been active
many many times
and Random repeatedly gives him the credit
always making references to God's action ( or inactivity ) in his life
the deer that stepped over his sleeping bag
the frogs he listens to at night
the stars God ' set in place '
the cell phone that was returned by the thief
the person(s) that bought him sandwiches randomly
and i've watched
listened
learned
.. at least some
i think
..
last night, after community meet, we walked out to the street - Random was heading out for his walk 2 or 3 miles to the woods where he sleeps
he spoke of a friend's struggle with alcoholism and their recommendation to join a recovery group
Random's comment to me was similar to this: " that never worked for me; i always knew i needed the help of a higher power. i wake in the morning and thank him, and tell him i love him. i go to bed at night and i look at the stars and think of him, and i tell him ' thanks ' and that i love him ..
and he loves me back ! "
he has, in the last 2-3 weeks, been able to get GA, and is now in-line for housing assistance, as of this morning
... ..
i didn't mean for this to be so long a post, but i am struck by the apparent change i've seen, and i'm excited
it brings me back to the ' being present ' thingy, and our need to be ' in ' the lives of the people we look to help and minister-to, not only for them, although mostly for them - they're the blatantly in-need - but also ' for ' me
i get unexpected benefits
if i'm open to that
if my heart is set in a receiving mode
if i see that person as someone i can learn from
if i look to be blessed in the blessing
i'm excited
i've heard Random speak to the goodness of God over and over, and seen his unrelenting acknowledgment of God even when he was in the dump, scraping the barrel's bottom
..
i have much to learn
more from him, i'm sure
and from that happy Indian
and the wandering hillbilly
and the Traveler
and the young 2 that're constantly high, looking for escape from that grave
and the tall one looking to head north out of here, that told me a week ago he's not at all religious, still looking, but is touched by the wisdom and coolness of the local Shepherd
and the quiet island guy that inspires me with his cool, nursing a swollen and infected hand
and the skinny lady that quietly appears and disappears, and amazes me she could handle street life
and the never-stop-talking chick that volunteers every saturday, who's not associated with the church here
and never-say-die bob, who travels with more stuff on his bicycle than anyone could imagine - dude deserves a circus act
and .. and . .. .
i'm learning
Lord, open my ears, close my mouth
and allow me to simply try to understand so's i can rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that weep and help while being helped myself
thank you for the privilege of being involved in the lives of these my fellowhumans
remind me regularly .. they too carry the imago dei
i follow you
Saturday, April 26, 2014
the gospel of messiah Jesus, part 2 ..
Jesus speaking ..
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them, otherwise you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
So whenever you give to the poor don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you, that's their reward! But when you give to the poor don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Whenever you pray you must not be like the hypocrites - they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you, that's their reward! But when you pray go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees the secret things will reward you.
When you pray don’t babble like the idolaters - they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.
Therefore, pray like this:
Our Father in heaven may your name be revered.
May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth, even as it is done in heaven.
Give us today the bread we need for today.
Forgive us our debts as we ourselves also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for the kingdom is yours, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
For if you forgive people their wrongdoing your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive people your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing either.
Whenever you fast don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you, that's their reward! But when you fast put oil on your head, and wash your face so that you don’t display your fasting to people but only to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees the secret things will reward you.
Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; but collect for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness!
No one can be a slave of two masters since he will either hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't be slaves of God and of wealth too.
This is why I tell you: don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the sky: they don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?
Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying?
And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread, yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you, you of little faith?
So don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’, for the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, and then all these things will be provided for you.
Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them, otherwise you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
So whenever you give to the poor don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you, that's their reward! But when you give to the poor don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Whenever you pray you must not be like the hypocrites - they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you, that's their reward! But when you pray go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees the secret things will reward you.
When you pray don’t babble like the idolaters - they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.
Therefore, pray like this:
Our Father in heaven may your name be revered.
May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth, even as it is done in heaven.
Give us today the bread we need for today.
Forgive us our debts as we ourselves also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for the kingdom is yours, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
For if you forgive people their wrongdoing your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive people your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing either.
Whenever you fast don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you, that's their reward! But when you fast put oil on your head, and wash your face so that you don’t display your fasting to people but only to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees the secret things will reward you.
Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; but collect for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness!
No one can be a slave of two masters since he will either hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't be slaves of God and of wealth too.
This is why I tell you: don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the sky: they don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?
Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying?
And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread, yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you, you of little faith?
So don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’, for the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, and then all these things will be provided for you.
Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Friday, April 25, 2014
the gospel of messiah Jesus, part 1
When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
Then He began to teach them, saying:
The poor in spirit are blessed for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Those who mourn are blessed for they will be comforted.
The gentle are blessed for they will inherit the earth.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed for they will be filled.
The merciful are blessed for they will be shown mercy.
The pure in heart are blessed for they will see God.
The peacemakers are blessed for they will be called sons of God.
Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven, for that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.
You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For I assure you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so 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. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to our ancestors 'Do not murder' and 'whoever murders will be subject to judgment', but I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother ‘Fool!’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says ‘You moron!’ will be subject to hellfire. So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar; first go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I assure you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
You have heard that it was said 'Do not commit adultery', but I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away, for it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away, for it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell!
It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce', but I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors 'You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord', but I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; or by the earth, because it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. But let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.
You have heard that it was said 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth', but I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy', but I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary?Don’t even the pagans do the same?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Then He began to teach them, saying:
The poor in spirit are blessed for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Those who mourn are blessed for they will be comforted.
The gentle are blessed for they will inherit the earth.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed for they will be filled.
The merciful are blessed for they will be shown mercy.
The pure in heart are blessed for they will see God.
The peacemakers are blessed for they will be called sons of God.
Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven, for that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.
You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For I assure you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so 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. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to our ancestors 'Do not murder' and 'whoever murders will be subject to judgment', but I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother ‘Fool!’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says ‘You moron!’ will be subject to hellfire. So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar; first go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I assure you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
You have heard that it was said 'Do not commit adultery', but I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away, for it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away, for it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell!
It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce', but I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors 'You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord', but I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; or by the earth, because it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. But let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.
You have heard that it was said 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth', but I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy', but I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary?Don’t even the pagans do the same?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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