What’s In Your Head?

Related to the “what” question, is the “how much” question.

But let us address the “what” question first. In the Gospels, Jesus asked people not so much what they thought of him but who they thought he was. I used to wonder why that mattered; after all, whether something exists, or someone is who they are, is external to what anyone thinks in their human capacity. If something exists and I don’t believe it to be so, then I’m simply wrong. But what we think is important, however, as what we think matters *insomuch as it affects us.* Jesus did not and does not need our approval, or even that we believe him; he, as our Creator, does not need the approval or belief of the created thing.

How does one know then what to think? I think that all the churn and concern on some atheist forums is just so much irrelevant noise. The reason can be summed up as in this passage of the Gospel of Matthew:

12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from you.

12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, one greater than Jonas is here.

12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, one greater than Solomon is here.

Looking for a sign, translate that as proof, as a prerequisite of believing makes perfect sense when dealing with other humans. Humans require positive identification as part of establishing contracts with one another as proof of their agreements; the purpose of these is to use as testimony against the other in the case of default. Effectually, such proof is required as a counterbalance against the untrustworthiness of other humans; and righty so!

In that context, the proof that humans demand of Jesus is not possible. The limitation is not that of Jesus; it is human limitation that will never allow the human need for proof to be met. No debate with or among believers or atheists will ever be resolved to anyone’s satisfaction. So such discussion is pointless for everyone.

Here’s why. We as humans don’t have the capacity for comprehending the “what” in this area. The reason is we cannot accommodate the “how much” dimension. It’s not going to happen. Consider this other passage from the Gospel of Matthew:

9:16 No man puts a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up takes from the garment, and the tear is made worse.

9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runs out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

There are a number of analogies to illustrate this concept, and address the “how much” question. You don’t put gasoline in a diesel engine, or diesel in a gasoline engine. You don’t play a DVD in a CD-only player. You don’t converse with someone who doesn’t share a common language with you. In computer programing, you don’t assign a floating point value to an integer variable. You get the idea; insert here the analogy that is most meaningful to *you.*

It’s not only the type that prevents us from mentally grasping it; it’s also the amount or degree. You don’t tow a locomotive with a lawn mower, but that’s exactly what those who “would see a sign” are demanding be done; and that it be done by they themselves! Pardon the cliché, but that will happen when pigs fly; which will be never, by design of the Almighty! If Jesus exchanged “the kingdom of heaven is like” for “the kingdom of heaven is,” (pardon another cliché) our “heads would explode.”

So what’s the most practical thing for people of all persuasions to do. I say leave the subject alone. Do not concern yourself with what someone else thinks or feels inside. As long as they treat others fairly, that’s as much as one can ask of another human; but we should indeed demand that much of ourselves and others. Consider how much more valuable time would be spent in schools if the curriculum were devoted to learning languages and practical sciences; that instead of making schools a doctrinal and ideological battleground.

And have a Merry Christmas. I can say that on my own blog; I’m a Christian. God bless.

Is it all God’s doing? Just asking.

No matter what your cultural/ideological/doctrinal perspective, there’s plenty to confound what would be the perfect order. Let’s look at some of the frustrating situations, and then examine what might possibly be going on.

The state of being aggrieved about something is effectively universal. Here’s a list of a few of the grievances:

• If you’re an economic conservative, you see an unjust effort to redistribute wealth to those who don’t deserve it.
• If you’re an economic progressive, you see an unjust imbalance of privilege and power, and a system fixed to keep it that way and even increase it.
• If you’re a social conservative, you see increasingly pervasive sexual immorality in all media and culture, topped off with more unborn babies being murdered every day.
• If you’re a social progressive, you see a cruel narrow-mindedness and deep seated suspicion of the “other;” this is especially manifested in the genuine hostility toward people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT).
• If you’re a believer in American exceptionalism, it’s baffling beyond reason how so many people cannot see the need for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; although certainly not perfect, the USA is a net force for good in the world. WikiLeaks enrages you; these people just don’t get it about the damage they’re doing to this net force for good!
• If you’re one who believes that the net effect of American exceptionalism is not for good, WikiLeaks is an essential force in exposing unsavory acts and intentions; the emperor has been disrobed, and it’s not a pretty sight.
• If you’re part of the mainline political establishment, you’re annoyed by the fringe efforts to influence otherwise sound policy; these include Tea Partiers to the Republicans and Greens to the Democrats.
• If you’re a part of those non-mainline movements, you’re skeptical that anything will change with this perennial business as usual approach by those in power. To conservatives, that means big unions and entrenched liberals. To progressives, that means unmitigated influence of greedy moneyed interests; the faces change but the corruption remains undisturbed.
• If you’re a conservative, you don’t understand why people don’t see that the way to create jobs and get the economy moving again is to remove onerous tax burdens and regulations from businesses.
• If you’re a progressive, you don’t understand why people don’t see the feudal oppression of the worldwide corporate oligarchy.
• If you’re concerned that national security is in peril, the monitoring of all communications and scanning of people at airports are essential and reasonable measures.
• If you’re concerned that civil liberties are in peril, the surveillance society we’re becoming is an ominous development.
• (etc, etc.)

Are you depressed yet?

Is it possible that all these things are happening for a reason? Let me be quick to say that I don’t know. All the things mentioned above are real. The economic downturn is real. The wars are real. Abortion and hate toward LGBT people are real. WikiLeaks and the response to it are real. Terrorists and surveillance measures are real.

Is it possible that God is making things impossible for the middle class for a reason? Does he want us to morph from the consumerist society that we are to a cooperative society where money is not the sole means of wealth?

Those changes may indeed come about, mostly out of necessity. If wages and other income are insufficient to provide a living, then life will carry on by other means.

But that won’t change anything at the fundamental human level. Evil people will develop ways to game the cooperative system, just as they have the current financial one. There will still be deceit, stealing, and injustice. The reason is the state of the human heart.

Consider this passage from the Gospel of Matthew:

13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? from whence then has it tares?

13:28 He said unto them, An enemy has done this. The servants said unto him, Do you want then that we go and gather them up?

13:29 But he said, No; lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them.

13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

You know where this piece is going. Jesus is the sole answer to any and all evil, everywhere and anytime. And Jesus can enter the hearts of those corporate oligarchs just as much as he can those welfare fraudsters—there’s some wheat among those tares. We’d best get to praying.

Glorifying Jesus—What’s in it for Me

There are two problems I think some people have with the idea of glorifying the name of Jesus. One is easily resolved through clarifying the definition of glory. The other is more subtle in appearance yet essential in the tangible substance of faith.

First the easy one. In our world of media with special effects and general sensory overload, we have become jaded by these things and have no “head room” left for greater stimulation. With marketing techniques becoming increasingly intrusive, many of us have conditioned ourselves to be unimpressed with anything, for our own protection. Even a rainbow or scenic overlook fails to impress as it has done for generations past.

When one reads in the Bible or hears in church references to the glory of God, probably medieval paintings of angels with streaming rays of light from heaven come to mind. Though perhaps impressive to their contemporary viewers, such images are no competition for the advanced media productions of today.

This problem is easily overcome by applying our own contemporary knowledge of the universe, one that for us is measured in space and time by light years and scientific notation with large exponential values. Anyone not in awe when considering that has a weak grasp on reality.

Now for the hard part. The prayer of Jesus in the Gospel of John (Chapter 17), just before his arrest and crucifixion, refers to the glory of God the Father in a context that implies more than just displays to impress humans. I recommend especially Verse 10 and Verses 22 – 24. In these passages Jesus refers to the glory of the Father being extended to those whom the Father has given to Jesus, i.e. those later to be known as the Christians.

There is a much more profound substance to the glory of God than mere tricks to wow us. Were impressing humans Jesus’ methodology, there would have been no admonitions not to tell who he was and certainly he would have responded to demands for signs with something other than a reference to the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:39). Going back to Jesus’ prayer in John 17, Jesus is about to deliberately deliver himself to be crucified but he speaks of glory and eternal life and that the time for both has come.

“Normal” humans do not think this way; that is the point. It is natural for humans to try to dominate one another, but that is not where life and happiness are in the Christian life (Mark 10:42-45). Leaders are servants, and happily so. That is what makes Christians “salty” to the rest of the world. Servant leadership is counter intuitive to the natural mind, but essential for every Christian to embrace in all faithfulness. One must be humble in order also to be bold; the two are inseparable as they are one in the same substance.

Here is the relevance of glorifying the name of Jesus in terms of “what’s in it for me:” The natural tendency to dominate others, to feel important in one’s own eyes, to control others for selfish objectives, and other sinful impulses are diminished by the glory of God. Glorifying Jesus shines light on the darkness of sinful motives and practices, immorality of all types from the very personal to the economic and cultural. The beauty of this is that in glorifying Jesus, we find a much more fulfilling reason for living. And that living is eternal, starting with the tangible here and now.

Let’s pray daily and fervently that the name of Jesus is glorified to all people.

Gospel of John, Session 1 of 4: Who Are You (Jesus)? Good Question; Divine Answer

Synopsis: Jesus as the embodiment (more than just incarnation) of Yahweh Himself. A concept arguably counterintuitive to human thought, but one that also is infinitely more profound than wordly human relationships. By becoming human, God has entered into His own creation; a reassuring affirmation that we, as part of that creation, are chosen by God to be one with Him.

Salient Points:

• 1:3 All things were made by him; and
  outside him was not any thing made that was made.
• 1:5 And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
• 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
• 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
  1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
• 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
• 1:18 No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
• 1:32 And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
  1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.
• 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
  1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he says, Behold the Lamb of God!
• 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip says unto him, Come and see.
• 1:49 Nathanael answered and says unto him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.
  1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto you, I saw you under the fig tree, you believe? you shall see greater things than these.
  1:51 And he says unto him, Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
• 2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus says unto him, They have no wine.
  • 2:4 Jesus says unto her, Woman, what have I to do with you? my hour is not yet come.
  • 2:5 His mother says unto the servants, Whatsoever he says unto you, do it.
• 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise.
  • 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of your house has eaten me up.
  • 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
  • 2:21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.
• 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
  2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
• 3:13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
  • 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
  • 3:15 That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
  • 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
  • 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
  • 3:18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
  • 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
  • 3:20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
  • 3:21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
• 3:28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I [John the Baptist] am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
  • 3:29 He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
  • 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
  • 3:31 He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that comes from heaven is above all.
  • 3:32 And what he has seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony.
  • 3:33 He that has received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true.
  • 3:34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure [i.e. without limit or restriction] unto him.
  • 3:35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
  • 3:36 He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.
• 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her [the woman at the well], If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water.
  • 4:14 But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
  • 4:21 Jesus says unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
  • 4:23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.
    4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
  • 4:25 The woman says unto him, I know that Messiah comes, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
    4:26 Jesus says unto her, I that speak unto you am he.
• 5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
  • 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
  • 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father works until now, and I work.
  • 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
• 5:21 For as the Father raises up the dead, and gives life to them; even so the Son gives life to whom he will.
  • 5:23 That all men should honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him.
  • 5:24 Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
  • 5:25 Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
• 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me.
  • 5:37 And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
  • 5:38 And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he has sent, him you believe not.
  • 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
• 7:15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knows this man letters, having never learned?
  • 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
  • 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
  • 7:18 He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
• 7:38 He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
  7:39 (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
• 7:45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have you not brought him?
  7:46 The officers answered, Never man spoke like this man.
• 8:12 Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
  • 8:13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, You bear record of yourself; your record is not true.
  • 8:14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know from where I came, and to where I go; but you cannot tell from where I come, and to where I go.
  • 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, you neither know me, nor my Father: if you had known me, you should have known my Father also.
  • 8:23 And he said unto them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world.
  • 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.
    8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
• 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
  • 8:34 Jesus answered them, Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.
  • 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
• 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
  • 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
  • 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?
  • 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you,
    Before Abraham was, I am.
• 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
  • 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
    10:15 As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
  • 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
  • 10:17 Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
    10:18 No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
• 10:30 I and my Father are one.
  • 10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
    10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me?
  • 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone you not; but for blasphemy; and because you, being a man, make yourself God.
  • 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, you are gods?
    10:36 Say you of him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I am the Son of God?
  • 10:38 But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works: that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

=========================================================

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.

1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

1:3 All things were made by him; and outside him was not any thing
made that was made.

1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

1:5 And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it
not.

1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that
all men through him might believe.

1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

1:9 That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into
the world.

1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world
knew him not.

1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor
of the will of man, but of God.

1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld
his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of
grace and truth.

1:15 John bore witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom
I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was
before me.

1:16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.

1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ.

1:18 No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is
in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

———————————————————————————–

1:26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there
stands one among you, whom you know not;

1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose
shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John
was baptizing.

1:29 The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and says, Behold
the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is
preferred before me: for he was before me.

1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to
Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

1:32 And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water,
the same said unto me, Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending,
and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy
Ghost.

1:34 And I saw, and bore record that this is the Son of God.

1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he says, Behold the Lamb of
God!

1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and says unto them,
What do you seek? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being
interpreted, Master,) where do you dwell?

1:39 He says unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he
dwelled, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

1:41 He first finds his own brother Simon, and says unto him, We have
found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said,
You are Simon the son of Jona: you shall be called Cephas, which is by
interpretation, A stone.

1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and finds
Philip, and says unto him, Follow me.

1:44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

1:45 Philip finds Nathanael, and says unto him, We have found him, of
whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth,
the son of Joseph.

1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of
Nazareth? Philip says unto him, Come and see.

1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and says of him, Behold an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

1:48 Nathanael says unto him, >From where know you me? Jesus answered
and said unto him, Before that Philip called you, when you were under
the fig tree, I saw you.

1:49 Nathanael answered and says unto him, Rabbi, you are the Son of
God; you are the King of Israel.

1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto you, I saw
you under the fig tree, you believe? you shall see greater things than
these.

1:51 And he says unto him, Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you,
Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending
and descending upon the Son of man.

———————————————————————————–

2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the
mother of Jesus was there:

2:2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus says unto him, They
have no wine.

2:4 Jesus says unto her, Woman, what have I to do with you? my hour is
not yet come.

2:5 His mother says unto the servants, Whatsoever he says unto you, do
it.

———————————————————————————–

2:13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem.

2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves,
and the changers of money sitting:

2:15 And when he had made a whip of small cords, he drove them all out
of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the
changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;

2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make
not my Father’s house a house of merchandise.

2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of
your house has eaten me up.

2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign do you show
unto us, seeing that you are doing these things?

2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in
three days I will raise it up.

2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in
building, and will you rear it up in three days?

2:21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.

2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples
remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the
scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day,
many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all
men,

2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what
was in man.

———————————————————————————–

3:13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from
heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of man be lifted up:

3:15 That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have
eternal life.

3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.

3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but
that the world through him might be saved.

3:18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes
not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God.

3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil.

3:20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to
the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

3:21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be
made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

———————————————————————————–

3:25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and
the Jews about purifying.

3:26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was
with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, behold, the same
baptizes, and all men come to him.

3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, unless it be
given him from heaven.

3:28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ,
but that I am sent before him.

3:29 He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the
bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of
the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

3:31 He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is
earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that comes from heaven is above
all.

3:32 And what he has seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man
receives his testimony.

3:33 He that has received his testimony has set to his seal that God
is true.

3:34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives
not the Spirit by measure unto him.

3:35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

3:36 He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that
believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides
on him.

———————————————————————————–

4:5 Then comes he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near
to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

4:6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with
his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

4:7 There comes a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus says unto her,
Give me to drink.

4:8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy food.)

4:9 Then says the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that you,
being a Jew, ask drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the
Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If you knew the gift of God,
and who it is that says to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked
of him, and he would have given you living water.

4:11 The woman says unto him, Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and
the well is deep: from where then have you that living water?

4:12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well,
and drank of it himself, and his children, and his cattle?

4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinks of this water
shall thirst again:

4:14 But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall
never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a
well of water springing up into everlasting life.

4:15 The woman says unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst
not, neither come to here to draw.

4:16 Jesus says unto her, Go, call your husband, and come to here.

4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto
her, You have well said, I have no husband:

4:18 For you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not
your husband: in that said you truly.

4:19 The woman says unto him, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.

4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and you say, that in
Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

4:21 Jesus says unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when you
shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the
Father.

4:22 You worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for
salvation is of the Jews.

4:23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers shall
worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such
to worship him.

4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in
spirit and in truth.

4:25 The woman says unto him, I know that Messias comes, which is
called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

4:26 Jesus says unto her, I that speak unto you am he.

4:27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked
with the woman: yet no man said, What do you seek? or, Why do you talk
with her?

4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city,
and says to the men,

4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not
this the Christ?

4:30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

4:31 In the meanwhile his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

4:32 But he said unto them, I have food to eat that you know not of.

4:33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Has any man brought
him anything to eat?

4:34 Jesus says unto them, My food is to do the will of him that sent
me, and to finish his work.

4:35 Do you not say, There are yet four months, and then comes
harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the
fields; for they are white already to harvest.

4:36 And he that reaps receives wages, and scatters fruit unto life
eternal: that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice
together.

4:37 And herein is that saying true, One sows, and another reaps.

4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon you bestowed no labor: other men
labored, and you are entered into their labors.

4:39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the
saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

4:40 So when the Samaritans had come unto him, they asked him that he
would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

4:41 And many more believed because of his own word;

4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of your
saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed
the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

———————————————————————————–

5:10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the
sabbath day: it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.

5:11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me,
Take up your bed, and walk.

5:12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto you, Take
up your bed, and walk?

5:13 And he that was healed knew not who it was: for Jesus had
conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

5:14 Afterward Jesus finds him in the temple, and said unto him,
Behold, you are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto
you.

5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had
made him whole.

5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay
him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father works until now, and I work.

5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not
only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father,
making himself equal with God.

5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Truthfully, truthfully, I
say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the
Father do: for what things soever he does, these also does the Son
likewise.

5:20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that
himself does: and he will show him greater works than these, that you
may marvel.

5:21 For as the Father raises up the dead, and gives life to them;
even so the Son gives life to whom he will.

5:22 For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto
the Son:

5:23 That all men should honor the Son, just as they honor the Father.
He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him.

5:24 Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you, He that hears my word,
and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not
come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

5:25 Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and
now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they
that hear shall live.

5:26 For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son
to have life in himself;

5:27 And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he
is the Son of man.

5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are
in the graves shall hear his voice,

5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of damnation.

5:30 I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my
judgment is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the
Father which has sent me.

5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

5:32 There is another that bears witness of me; and I know that the
witness which he witnesses of me is true.

5:33 You sent unto John, and he bore witness unto the truth.

5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say,
that you might be saved.

5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and you were willing for a
season to rejoice in his light.

5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which
the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear
witness of me, that the Father has sent me.

5:37 And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of
me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

5:38 And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he has sent,
him you believe not.

5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal
life: and they are they which testify of me.

———————————————————————————–

7:14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple,
and taught.

7:15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knows this man letters,
having never learned?

7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his
that sent me.

7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

7:18 He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks
his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is
in him.

———————————————————————————–

7:31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ
comes, will he do more miracles than these which this man has done?

7:32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things
concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers
to take him.

7:33 Then said Jesus unto them, yet a little while am I with you, and
then I go unto him that sent me.

7:34 You shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, to
there you cannot come.

7:35 Then said the Jews among themselves, To where will he go, that we
shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles,
and teach the Gentiles?

7:36 What manner of saying is this that he said, You shall seek me,
and shall not find me: and where I am, to there you cannot come?

7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and
cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

7:38 He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his
belly shall flow rivers of living water.

7:39 (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him
should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus
was not yet glorified.)

7:40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said,
Of a truth this is the Prophet.

7:41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come
out of Galilee?

7:42 Has not the scripture said, That Christ comes of the seed of
David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

7:43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

7:44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on
him.

7:45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and
they said unto them, Why have you not brought him?

7:46 The officers answered, Never man spoke like this man.

———————————————————————————–

8:12 Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the
world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life.

8:13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, You bear record of
yourself; your record is not true.

8:14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of
myself, yet my record is true: for I know from where I came, and to
where I go; but you cannot tell from where I come, and to where I go.

8:15 You judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

8:16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but
I and the Father that sent me.

8:17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is
true.

8:18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me
bears witness of me.

8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is your Father? Jesus answered,
you neither know me, nor my Father: if you had known me, you should
have known my Father also.

8:20 These words spoke Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the
temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and you shall seek
me, and shall die in your sins: to where I go, you cannot come.

8:22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he says, To
where I go, you cannot come.

8:23 And he said unto them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you
are of this world; I am not of this world.

8:24 I said therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins: for
if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.

8:25 Then said they unto him, Who are you? And Jesus says unto them,
Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent
me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard
of him.

8:27 They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father.

8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When you have lifted up the Son of
man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of
myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.

8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone;
for I do always those things that please him.

8:30 As he spoke these words, many believed on him.

8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you
continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed;

8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in
bondage to any man: how say you, You shall be made free?

8:34 Jesus answered them, Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you,
Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.

8:35 And the servant abides not in the house forever: but the Son
abides ever.

8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free
indeed.

8:37 I know that you are Abraham’s seed; but you seek to kill me,
because my word has no place in you.

8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that
which you have seen with your father.

8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus
says unto them, If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works
of Abraham.

8:40 But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth,
which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

8:41 You do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not
born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love me:
for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but
he sent me.

8:43 Why do you not understand my speech? even because you cannot hear
my word.

8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father
you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in
the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he
speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

8:45 And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not.

8:46 Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do
you not believe me?

8:47 He that is of God hears God’s words: you therefore hear them not,
because you are not of God.

8:48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that
you are a Samaritan, and have a devil?

8:49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honor my Father, and
you do dishonor me.

8:50 And I seek not my own glory: there is one that seeks and judges.

8:51 Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying,
he shall never see death.

8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that you have a devil.
Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and you say, If a man keep my
saying, he shall never taste of death.

8:53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the
prophets are dead: who do you think you are?

8:54 Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my
Father that honors me; of whom you say, that he is your God:

8:55 yet you have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say,
I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and
keep his saying.

8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and
was glad.

8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, You are not yet fifty years old, and
have you seen Abraham?

8:58 Jesus said unto them, Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you,
Before Abraham was, I am.

8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself,
and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so
passed by.

———————————————————————————–

9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they
which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words,
and said unto him, Are we blind also?

9:41 Jesus said unto them, If you were blind, you should have no sin:
but now you say, We see; therefore your sin remains.

10:1 Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you, He that enters not by the
door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a
thief and a robber.

10:2 But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

10:3 To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he
calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.

10:4 And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and
the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for
they know not the voice of strangers.

10:6 This parable spoke Jesus unto them: but they understood not what
things they were which he spoke unto them.

10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Truthfully, truthfully, I say
unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the
sheep did not hear them.

10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and
shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10:10 The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to
destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have
it more abundantly.

10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the
sheep.

10:12 But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the
sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees:
and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep.

10:13 The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and cares not for
the sheep.

10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

10:15 As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay
down my life for the sheep.

10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I
must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold,
and one shepherd.

10:17 Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life,
that I might take it again.

10:18 No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of my Father.

10:19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these
sayings.

10:20 And many of them said, He has a devil, and is mad; why hear you
him?

10:21 Others said, These are not the words of him that has a devil.
Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

———————————————————————————–

10:24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long
do you make us to doubt? If you be the Christ, tell us plainly.

10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works
that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

10:26 But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said
unto you.

10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man
is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

10:30 I and my Father are one.

10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my
Father; for which of those works do you stone me?

10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone you not;
but for blasphemy; and because you, being a man, make yourself God.

10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, you
are gods?

10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the
scripture cannot be broken;

10:36 Say you of him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into
the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I am the Son of God?

10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

10:38 But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works: that
you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of
their hand,

———————————————————————————–

14:8 Philip says unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices
us.

14:9 Jesus says unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet
Have You not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the
Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father?

14:10 Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father
that dwells in me, he does the works.

14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or
else believe me for the very works’ sake.

———————————————————————————–

THE KING JAMES BIBLE CLARIFIED NEW TESTAMENT, Version 1.1
Public Domain

Prayer is a Fruitful Endeavor

It was observed to me recently that someone had posted on their blog about how they had prayed that a loved one recover safely from an illness.  And that when the person recovered, that recovery was attributed to their prayers for him.

Well and good that the person recovered from their illness.  However, the one who told me about it was mocking the person praying because the illness and subsequent recovery was a normal course of events in that place and situation.  The point therefore was that the prayers were irrelevant.

Not so fast, oh mocking one.  The error was on the part of the one praying for their lack of awareness of the situation; their prayers and subsequent praise to God were quite appropriate in the context of their flawed human understanding.  Human error is no basis for mocking God, for God is not mocked with impunity.  [ Galatians 6:1-10 ]

Our temporal concerns are certainly worthy of prayer, as long as we acknowledge that it is God’s agenda and not ours that is our purpose in being.  Mature Christian prayer is about the Kingdom, and that is the calling of our prayer effort. [ Luke 10:2 ]

Daily we must do our work for our Lord, Jesus; and that work includes prayer as much as any physical or mental effort we apply in service to the Kingdom.  [ John 6:29 ] 

There was a time when I viewed with disbelief and disdain the idea that prayer changes things.  My tangible experience has since dispelled that human error from my life.

=========================================================

Galatians 6:1-10
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

006:002 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of
Christ.

006:003 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is
nothing, he deceiveth himself.

006:004 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have
rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

006:005 For every man shall bear his own burden.

006:006 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that
teacheth in all good things.

006:007 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap.

006:008 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the
Spirit reap life everlasting.

006:009 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not.

006:010 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,
especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Luke 10:2
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but
the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the
harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

John 6:29
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God,
that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

THE KING JAMES BIBLE – PUBLIC DOMAIN

Give the Man His Due

For most of us, observing or experiencing injustice, or even reading or hearing about it, stirs up righteous indignation inside. Justly so, and there’s plenty of injustice around; some committed by victims of other unjust acts, both great and small.

On the surface, Jesus’ teaching on this subject seems almost counterintuitive. Jesus seems to be telling us to throw in our lot with the Man (http://www.urbandictionary.com), and do his bidding regardless as to whether the Man deserves it. Never mind that the Man is “a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered,” an accusation that the Man himself in Jesus’ parable does not dispute.

What clarifies the matter is that ultimately we are serving God in our work, regardless as to the worthiness of the Man. When we are “obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ,” we are not approving the Man’s wrongdoing. Instead, we are demonstrating to the Man how he ought to be treating us.

We may rest assured that God will judge the Man, and the rest of us too, more righteously and thoroughly than we ever could hope to do ourselves.

And let us even more also render to the righteous Son of Man, in whom there is no injustice, His due.

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Matthew 5:41-48; 22:15-22; and 25:15-30 and Ephesians 6:5-9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Gospel According To Matthew

5:41 And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two.

5:42 Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you
turn you not away.

5:43 You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your
neighbor, and hate your enemy.

5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use
you, and persecute you;

5:45 That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:
for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends
rain on the just and on the unjust.

5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? do not
even the publicans the same?

5:47 And if you salute your brothers only, what do you more than
others? do not even the publicans so?

5:48 Be you therefore perfect, just as your Father which is in heaven
is perfect.

…

22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might
entangle him in his talk.

22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians,
saying, Master, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in
truth, neither care you for any man: for you regard not the person of
men.

22:17 Tell us therefore, What think you? Is it lawful to give tribute
unto Caesar, or not?

22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt you
me, you hypocrites?

22:19 Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarius.

22:20 And he says unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

22:21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then says he unto them, Render
therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the
things that are God’s.

22:22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him,
and went their way.

…

25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to
another one; to every man according to his own ability; and
immediately took his journey.

25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with
the same, and made them other five talents.

25:17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

25:18 But he that had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid
his lord’s money.

25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants comes, and reckons
with them.

25:20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other
five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered unto me five talents:
behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, you good and faithful
servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you
ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.

25:22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you
delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents
beside them.

25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant;
you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over
many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.

25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I
knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and
gathering where you have not scattered:

25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: lo,
there you have that which is yours.

25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, You wicked and slothful
servant, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I
have not scattered:

25:27 You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and
then at my coming I should have received my own with interest.

25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which
has ten talents.

25:29 For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have
abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that
which he has.

25:30 And cast you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

…

The Letter Of Paul The Apostle To The Ephesians

6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to
the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as
unto Christ;

6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of
Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man does, the same shall he
receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

6:9 And, you masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing
threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is
there respect of persons with him.

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Bible text is from THE KING JAMES BIBLE CLARIFIED NEW TESTAMENT, Version 1.1, Public Domain
available at http://www.loveallpeople.org/kjvpage.html

Jesus Am My God

Many languages, English included, have no convenient way to express the eternal. To express the literal eternal requires departure from “correct” grammar and syntax. “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again;” but through all of those, Christ am.

John 3:16 is widely quoted, and rightly so. Shine the light of John 8:58, and John 3:16 is illuminated to reveal its infinite and eternal meaning. The question put to Jesus, “who do you think you are?” is natural from a human perspective. Jesus’ answer is from a divine perspective, of which the natural is only a subset (“what is man that thou art mindful of him?”).

We will never answer questions in the divine domain with any resource from the natural domain. The human eye can see neither ultraviolet nor infrared light; and too much of either can cause loss of physical sight for visible light. Similarly, no man can see God and live, as He is “the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man has seen, nor can see;” so God became one of us so we could not only see Him, but also be with Him.

One way to imagine the eternal aspect is to recall times when you have first entered a large room with a lot of people talking, such as an auditorium before an event started. You were hearing dozens of conversations that were perfectly intelligible to the individual participants, but just jumbled sound to your perception. As a human, you would have to move close to each group of people talking to pick up what they were saying; and then you would have to know the language in which they were speaking. To hear all of the conversations, you would have to approach each group in the same way and then you would be able to hear only one or two of them at a time, missing the information exchanged in all the other conversations.

Imagine further each of those discreet conversations as occurring at separate points in time, removed perhaps by 100 years from each other. Suppose you had a super brain that could process all the conversations, the emotions behind them, the perspectives of the speakers and listeners, and what was understood and misunderstood by each person. And you were understanding everything said, including the subtleties and nuances. I submit that this great brain power is as infinitely insignificant compared to God’s understanding as our normal human abilities.

In his classic book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis wrote about how God viewed the “present” of 1940 as the same “present” of 1920 (which was in the past at that time) and as the same “present” of 1960 (which was in the future at that time). That was very helpful to me in appreciating God’s rule over eternity.

A practical application of this for us is when we petition God for something clearly within His will, such as revealing Himself to a loved one, we can be assured that He has answered our prayer “immediately.” From our perspective God’s answer might be done in the past or in the future, and for that reason we might never see His response to our prayers. But we can know with certainty that He has answered in His immediate time.

With that we can take comfort in the only living God, “who so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
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John 8:50 – 8:59
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8:50 And I seek not my own glory: there is one that seeks and judges.

8:51 Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying,
he shall never see death.

8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that you have a devil.
Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and you say, If a man keep my
saying, he shall never taste of death.

8:53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the
prophets are dead: who do you think you are?

8:54 Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my
Father that honors me; of whom you say, that he is your God:

8:55 yet you have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say,
I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and
keep his saying.

8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and
was glad.

8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, You are not yet fifty years old, and
have you seen Abraham?

8:58 Jesus said unto them, Truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you,
Before Abraham was, I am.

8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself,
and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so
passed by.

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Bible text is from THE KING JAMES BIBLE CLARIFIED NEW TESTAMENT, Version 1.1, Public Domain available at http://www.loveallpeople.org/kjvpage.html

Wages of Sin versus Cost of Discipleship

I am writing this in October 2008, when it looks like the world economy is headed for a serious decline with the United States in the lead. From visiting the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair I can still remember the cute little song “It’s a Small World (after all).” I wonder how many people then had the term “Globalization” in their vocabulary?

Just as the United States is not an isolated island in the world economy, neither is each of us as an individual. When any of us purchases something from any vendor, other than a local farmers’ market, chances are very high that another country was involved in the manufacture and delivery of the product. Chances are good also that some of the tools for the farmers’ market were from somewhere in the global economy.

Greed is frequently identified as one of the root causes of our current financial troubles. It is patently obvious that greed, by both great and small, is a contributing factor. But if all one is doing is trying to make a “decent” living, and there is no living that is separate from the global economy full of greed, then we are all tied to this greedy economy whether we like it or not. “O wretched man that I am!” complains the Apostle Paul referring to the conflicting laws of God and the flesh operating within him, “who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Paul promptly identifies Jesus Christ as the answer to this dilemma, but that does not diminish the greatness of the dilemma; it only highlights the omnipotence of God against it.

This dilemma is not new, as evidenced by at least two accounts in Acts. The first involves a slave girl and the second an artisans’ guild.

In the passage from Acts 16 it is clear that the slave girl was not normal. In effect her masters were using her condition for their own financial gain, disregarding the girl’s welfare; she was not just a “normal” servant carrying water and waiting tables. The income derived from this girl’s abnormal condition was great, and likely was over and above most other legitimate lines of business. Note the slave masters’ clever mis-application of the law to wreak their revenge on Paul (the Roman citizen) and Silas; their true complaint had nothing to do with Jewish customs and practices.

A whole “industry” is impacted in Acts 19. I can have some economic sympathy (but no other type) with the craftsmen. Imagine every auto-related company collapsing in one day in Detroit; that would be like running from a hot sauna and jumping into a lake of freezing water. But the basis of the craftsmen’s livelihood in Ephesus was a sinful thing, clearly in conflict with God’s will. How does a whole trade and craft re-orient itself from a sinful basis? Think hard before you answer; the cult of Diana had long been established and was ingrained in Ephesian culture.

Read these passages in Acts closely and it is obvious the central issue of contention in both cases is whether the profits gained are from appropriate sources. Among the many lessons to be drawn from this is that social justice (not necessarily socialism) must be integral to our economic livelihood.

There is no other way to get there than to trust and heed daily from the heart the guidance of the Holy Spirit. May God prosper you with His abundant blessings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Acts 16:16-24 and Acts 19:23-30
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[ At Philippi ]
16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel
possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her
masters much gain by soothsaying:

16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are
the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of
salvation.

16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and
said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come
out of her. And he came out the same hour.

16:19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone,
they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto
the rulers,

16:20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being
Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive,
neither to observe, being Romans.

16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the
magistrates tore off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them
into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely:

16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner
prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[ At Ephesus ]
19:23 … there arose no small stir about that way.

19:24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made
silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

19:25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and
said, Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth.

19:26 Moreover you see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost
throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away much
people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

19:27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at
nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be
despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and
the world worships.

19:28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and
cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

19:29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught
Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel,
they rushed with one accord into the theater.

19:30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the
disciples did not permit.

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Bible text is from THE KING JAMES BIBLE CLARIFIED NEW TESTAMENT, Version 1.1, Public Domain available at http://www.loveallpeople.org/kjvpage.html

Only Love Can Make Us Debt-Free

Let’s look at the first part of the first verse in the passage below: “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another:”

There is much to infer from this; Paul is no easy read. As noted in 2nd Peter, “our beloved brother Paul … in all his letters … which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

The Pauline passage is from the often abused Romans 13 part of Christian scripture, from which the misbehavior of governments and other temporal authorities is justified as being sanctioned by God. Fortunately, this error has been authoritatively refuted; but unfortunately, many have yet to receive the message. But that is a different topic for a different day.

Now let’s get to the point of Verse 8. In a practical temporal sense, there is no way anyone can avoid owing something to someone. The only difference between the rich and poor is that the rich are able to pay what they owe. So in that sense just debts are not disputed or challenged here.
One’s motivation is central to the point. What is in your heart matters more than the act of giving. To give out of obligation, that is to pay off a debt owed, is not by definition an act of love; it is an act of obligation, forced from the giver. There is far too much of that around already, so demanding more of “owing” only exacerbates human suffering.

But removing the debt is not the solution; it only makes way for the solution. The solution is to love one another. The only way we can truly love is to first receive love. The impure motivation, debt, must be supplanted by the pure motivation, love. Absent debt, we need another source of motivation to live. That is not an easy task, and working hard is unfruitful if the work is done in error.

The solution is counterintuitive to human instinct. We must do as Jesus did and Paul describes: to empty ourselves and find our lives in serving others. Our temporal stations in life are irrelevant to this; the greater our worldly authority, the greater service is required of us. The main lesson in this is to experience Who is our source of love and to Whom we are accountable in our temporal stations.

Therein is debt free life with love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Romans 13:8-14
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves
another has fulfilled the law.

13:9 For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You
shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not
covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly
comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.

13:10 Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law.

13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake
out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore
cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and
drunkenness, not in lewdness and wantonness, not in strife and
envying.

13:14 But put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for
the flesh, to fulfill the lusts of it.

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Bible text is from THE KING JAMES BIBLE CLARIFIED NEW TESTAMENT, Version 1.1, Public Domain available at http://www.loveallpeople.org/kjvpage.html

Sorting the Significant from the Trivial

When I was around 11 years old, I in my youthful naiveté chided my mother and grandmother for fretting about the state of the world. I did so using the passage below from the Gospel of Luke. They responded by acknowledging the wisdom in that passage.

Long since then I have done my own share of fretting about the world and also the problems that naturally are a part of being human, in violation of my earlier advice to my elders. That is easy to confess as there is no one who has lived at all who has not felt besieged by problems. Anyone who has not is like someone who on a cold winter day looks outside from a warm house and reasons that he does not need a coat to go outside; then he steps outside and quickly realizes that a coat is desirable if not essential.

“Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done” comes to mind; as God shares in our humanity, which He himself created. So there really are things that humans have reason to fret about, if all we have is limited to our own mortality.

In the passage below, Jesus has us sort out the significant from the trivial. Each of our lives in relationship with God is infinitely worth valuing over temporal things such as even the basics of bodily survival like food and protection from the elements. Being dressed as well as Solomon, or even being as wise as Solomon, is not the focus of our existence.

The purpose God has for us is to seek His kingdom, which is not of this world. But He rules this world also, and we rightfully can be content with that, as finding His heavenly kingdom covers our earthly needs. The key to that assurance is God-given faith that allows us to say to Him in our heart “nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.”

Let us proceed then to seek first “the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luke 12:22-31
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12:22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take
no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body,
what you shall put on.

12:23 The life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which
neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: how much more
are you better than the fowls?

12:25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one
cubit?

12:26 If you then be not able to do that thing which is least, why
take you thought for the rest?

12:27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not;
and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
like one of these.

12:28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field,
and the next day is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe
you, O you of little faith?

12:29 And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink,
neither be of doubtful mind.

12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and
your Father knows that you have need of these things.

12:31 But rather seek you the kingdom of God; and all these things
shall be added unto you.

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Bible text is from THE KING JAMES BIBLE CLARIFIED NEW TESTAMENT, Version 1.1, Public Domain available at http://www.loveallpeople.org/kjvpage.html