Digging Deeper~New Year's Day

Ecc. 3:1-13: To everything there is a season and time. What good is it for someone to work hard? As you work remember that God will make all things beautiful in his time.When you remember this you can enjoy your work for you will be working with God. It is God's gift to us to let us enjoy what we have worked for.

Ps.8 Lord God, your name is above every name on earth. It brings you praises from heaven above. You have even taught our little ones how to sing praises unto you. When they do so, it silences your enemies. I look at the sky and see the moon and stars that you have made. Then I wonder, why mankind is so important to you? Why did you make us a little lower than the angels and crown us with glory and honor? How is it that you choice to put us in charge of all that you have made? 

Rev.21:1-6: John saw a new heaven and a new earth comes down to there the old earth was. The old earth passed away. There was also a new Jerusalem. A voice came from heaven saying, "see the temple of God has come to mankind. So God is now living with man and man with God. He will wipe all tears from their eyes for there shall be no more death, sorrow, or pain. Because all from the past will be gone, for God , who is on his throne will make them all  things new. He invites all who is thirsty to come and drink of the fountain of life freely. 

Mat.25:31-46:When Jesus comes back to the earth and sits on his throne to judge all the people from every nation. He will separate the people who followed him from those who did not.  Just like a shepherd would separate the sheep from the goats. Putting the sheep on the right and the goats on the left. To those on the right, he will say, "come into the Kingdom of God for you are blessed. Because when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you became my friend. When I was naked, you gave me clothes. When I was sick, you visited me. When I was in prison, you came to me." Those he was talking to asked him," Lord, when did we do these things?" He said,"when you did it to people in these situations, you did it to me." Then Jesus turns to the ones on his left and says, get out of my sight, you cursed and go into the fire that never ends. For you did none of these things for me. They asked him, "When did we not do these things. Lord?" He told them, "When you did not do these things to anyone in these situations, you did not do it for me.

God made the heavens and the earth. Then he put mankind on the earth to take care of all that he had made. Doesn't sound like much does it? But it is!  You see he made us to not only tend what he made. But he  also gave us his glory and honor, so that we could partner with him in ruling over what God made. We should sing praises to him for that (Ps. 8). God made the earth with seasons and times. This makes it easier for us, for each season and time has it's own work that needs to be done. When we work with him, we will work within those seasons and times. For example, where I live, Spring is the times of planting; Summer is the time of taking care of what has been planted, and Autumn is the time to harvest what has been planted. Winter is the time to rest from all of that. Now if we were to try to rest in the time of planting, we could go hungry. As as you can see, our work will be better and easier if we work with God within his seasons and times. Then we will be  more able to enjoy our work (Ecc. 3:1-13). 

You see, he put us in charge until Jesus comes back to earth. And He is coming back! We are told of his return in many places in the Bible. Let me share a couple of the places that speaks of this with you. In Revelation 21:1-6a. we read of how a new heaven and earth will come down and replace the old earth. And there will be a new Jerusalem where God will sit on his throne. In Matthew 25:31-46, we read about how Jesus will sit on the judgment seat and judge us for how well we tended to the people that he made. Then we read again in Revelation how he will reward those who were faithful in tending to the job that he gave them (Rev. 6).

Challenge of the year: 

As you start this new year, sit down and look at you life. Ask yourself, is my job and how I live helping God take care of his world and all who live in it? If not, choose to change that this year. If so, ask yourself, how can I better help God tend to all that he has made? Then do it. Have a blessed New Year!

Digging Deeper~ 3rd Sunday of ordinary times

Mic. 6:1-6:The Lord pleases his case against the people to the mountains and hills, because they had tired of him. The Lord tells of how he had freed the people from slavery in Egypt. He reminds the people of a conversation between Balak king of Moab & Ballaam son of Beor, and the conversation between God and Ballaam where God tells him that the people are blessed (Num. 22:1-14).

Ps. 15: Who shall dwell in God's house? He who is living a righteous life.

1 Cor. 1:18-31: The foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom. God has chosen to call people through the foolishness of preaching of Jesus Christ in whom we can be saved.

Mat. 5:1-12:Jesus preaches the people that being poor in spirit, mourn, hunger after righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, those persecuted for God's sake will be blessed by him. 

In the verses above, we see that God does not work as the wisdom of the world does.The world sees man's wisdom and strength as being good. God wants us to come to him in humbleness allowing ourselves to lean on him instead of our own strength. God says that we are blessed by him when he bow down to his will. Even when doing so will make people of the world do bad things to us. God wants us to want to follow after his righteousness so badly that it is like a man who is very hungry or thirsty wants food or drink. God has proven his faithfulness to his people many times when thy follow after him. God even talks of his faithfulness to his people when he took them out of their slavery in Egypt because he had blessed them (Num. 22:1-14). Jesus teaches the people what it takes for God to bless us (Mat. 5:1-12). Paul speaks of God's faithfulness to mankind when he sent Jesus Christ to save us from the slavery of sin (1 Cor. 1:18-31). Once we are saved from our slavery of sin, God wants us to live righteous lives and tell others how to become free from their slavery of sin. 

Challenge of the week:

This week, ask God what you need to do to please him. If you have not become saved from the slavery of sin, go to Jesus and ask him to forgive your sins, and save you from your slavery of sin. If you are already saved, humble yourself before God and ask him for help in becoming a more righteous person this week. Then go and tell anyone you know that is stuck in the slavery of sin how Jesus can free them from it. 

Accomplishment of the week: So what did you do this week that helped you accomplish your spiritual goal?

Digging Deeper~ Sunday after Christmas

Is. 60:1-6:Isiah prophecies of wealth coming to the Holy lands because of the light that is come. Jesus is that light. He also prophecied about the wealth of the nations being brought because of the light. He says that gold and incense will be brought from a far. Many believe that this is speaking of the Wise men that followed a bright star from the East to bring gifts of gold and frankincense & myrrh. Ps. 72:1-7, 10-14:A prayer for a good king to come and judge the people in a righteous way. Then kings will come from far away lands will bring him gifts.  Eph. 3:1-12: Because of Jesus Christ Non-Jews as well as the Jews can have the grace of God. Now we can come before God with freedom.  Mat. 2:1-12: Matthew tells of the Wise men that came from the East to Jerusalem looking for the King of the Jews. They said that they had come to bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to worship him. This is the Sunday that we celebrate the fulfillment of the prophecy that Isiah and King David spoke of. It was the prophecy of how Jesus would come to be our righteous king & that kings would come from far away to bring him gifts of gold and frankincense (Is. 60:1-6;Ps. 72:1-7,10-14). Matthew tells of of that fulfillment in Mathew 2:1-12. They indeed came from far countries and brought the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Why did Jesus come? Paul tells us that it was to join all mankind, both Jews and non-Jewish people to God. So that we can all live is spiritual freedom (Eph. 2:1-12). We too can come to him and worship him for humbling himself and becoming a human, live the life of a human, teaching mankind what God wants of us to act like.  Then went to the cross to pay for our sins, so that we could have spiritual freedom from the kingdom of darkness.  Challenge of the week: This week, take the time to worship God for loving us enough to become a human, so that he could understand what it is like to be a human, reached out to mankind and then died to pay for our sins. So that we could be free to go to God and have a relationship with him.  Accomplishment of the week: How did you do?

Digging Deeper~ 2ed Sunday of ordinary time

s. 9:1-4:Isiah prophecies of how the lands of Zebulun, Naphtali, the land that lies from the Mediterranean Sea to along Jordan River and North to Galilee where many non-Jewish lived would see a great light that will shine into their darkness and take that darkness away. This will take away their heavy load and give them joy and happiness. . 

Ps. 27:1,4-9:The Lord is my light & the one who saves me. So why should I be afraid of anyone? I ask that I might be able to go to live in the Lord's temple where I can worship Him and be safe. 

I Cor. 1:10-18: Paul addresses the problem of division in the church. The division was that the people were claiming to be followers of the different people that had Baptiste them. Paul goes on to tell them to be united in their minds and follow Jesus not other men.

Mat. 4:12-23:Jesus begins his work in Galilee which fulfills the prophecy in Isiah 9:1-4. He also starts to choose some of his disciples. 

Isiah had prophcied that those who lived in the lands of Zebulun, Naphtali and the land that stretches to the Mediterranean Sea to along the Jordan River going north to Galilee would no longer sit in spiritual darkness. Why? Because someone would come and shine a light into their  spiritual darkness and make it  would go away (Is. 9:1-4). This important because many of the people who lived in those areas were non-Jewish people. So Isiah was telling these people of a time when God would also allow them to be saved from their sins. This was unheard of in those days as many of the prophecies were for the Israelites (Athlon Specials #ISSN 2469-3014 Jesus :The Prince of Peace, Pgs. 13-15). Jesus was the fulfillment of that prophecy. Matthew tells us that in his book (Mat. 4:12-23). Isaiah had promised that when that light arrived the people would have joy (Is. (:3-4). Now because of Jesus bringing the spiritual light into the spiritual darkness there. People all over the world can sing the song that David sang in Psalms. 27:1, 4-9). 

Paul tells us that we should unite in Christ, after all we are Christians which means followers of Christ (1 Cor. 1:10-18). let us strive to be good followers of Christ this week. 

Challenge of the week:

This week, strive to line up with the Word of God and how it tells us to act as followers of Christ. Then let us go to his house and worship him. 

Accomplishment of the week:

So how did you do? What did you do to help accomplish the goal of being more like Christ?

Digging Deeper~ 1st ordinary time

Is. 42:1-9: Isiah prophecies about the Lord coming and bringing justice to the people of the earth even those far from the Holy land. He is the one who created the earth. He calls us to do right. He will hold our hand and protect us if we do so. He will be the light that helps free those in darkness. He is the Lord and will share his glory with no other. Ps. 29:The Lord's voice does great things. The Lord gives strength to his people & blesses them.. The Lord is King forever. Let us praise the Lord. Acts 10:34-43:Peter tells of how John the Baptist came to preach to the people about baptism.  About how Jesus came as the Christ in power going about doing good in Judea and Jerusalem. Then he died on a cross, and raised from the dead. He told us to preach and tell people that he was the chosen one whom God chose to judge the living and the dead. All who believes in him  will be forgiven.  Mat. 3:3-17: John the Baptist was the fulfillment of Isiah's prophesied about (Is. 40:3). He came preaching in the area of Judea & baptized all who confessed their sins. He was not afraid to tell the spiritual leaders of their sins. He Baptized Jesus.  Isiah prophesied about Jesus coming to do many things to for the people of earth including judging them (Is. 42:1-9). John the Baptiste came and fulfilled Isiah's prophecy of a forerunner coming before Jesus (Is. 40:3) . One of the things John told the people was to repent and be baptized for the judge would be coming soon (Mat. 3:3-17).   While Jesus was here on earth he fulfilled the prophecy told in Psalms 29. After Jesus went back to heaven, Peter tells of how John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecies about him (Acts 10:34-43). We too should do as John the baptist, and Peter did, and tell others about Jesus and what he did for them.  Challenge of the week: How will you tell others of the great news of what Jesus did for them? Who will you tell? Accomplishment of the week:  So did you tell someone about Jesus did week? How did it go?