Lessons from the Magi

Let’s start with a quiz, just to make sure we are wide awake. This quiz will be a true/false quiz, and since my computer crashed this past summer, I couldn’t go back and see if I had given you this quiz. 1) The Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and then to Joseph. 2) Mary rode a donkey to Bethlehem. 3) Jesus was born as soon as they arrived in Bethlehem. 4) Jesus was born in a stable. 5) Animals were present at Jesus’ birth. 6) Angels sang at the announcement to the shepherds. 7) The shepherds were told to go and worship. 8) Not all the shepherds believed Jesus was the messiah. 9) Three kings came from the orient. 10) The star the magi followed rested above the manger, where Jesus lay. 

If you answered false to all these questions, then you answered them all correctly. When I first saw this quiz, I missed the very first, and only the first statement. The reason for the quiz was that sometimes, we might allow ourselves to become so familiar with the accounts of the birth; we forget that what we know isn’t really what we know. We become so focused on what the holiday is, we forget what the event meant, and means today.

It was a tumultuous times in which Jesus came into the world. Residents of the world were in upheaval. A census had been ordered. It wasn’t like we have today, where we receive the flier in the mail to fill out and return, or even see a person come to the door and take our number. Rather than the government doing the work of tallying the people, the people were required to make the journey to their hometowns, to the place of their ancestors. Though I’ve never really understood why this was. It just was.

To make matters worse, Mary was due quite soon. I don’t know if you have traveled with a very pregnant wife, or if you had been very pregnant as you’ve needed to take a trip. I know that it is quite uncomfortable. That is what Carol has told me, and that was when she was still a couple of months out, walking Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. For Mary, the journey was 120 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. She and Joseph were at least a week on the road. Perhaps two or three, depending on how fast she was able to journey.

When they did finally arrive in Bethlehem, there was no room for them in the inn. So often, we wonder about that. Was this a curse, or a blessing in disguise? After all, inns back then were not what they are now. They were a big open building where those staying would find a piece of floor. So that by staying in the inn, giving birth would have a couple of problems. First of course is the total lack of privacy for this moment. Second, can you imagine those weary of traveling, wanting sleep, being kept up by a woman giving birth? There would have been no peace there.

So where did the couple go to for Jesus’ birth? Was it to the stables in the back of the inn? Not likely. For one, we don’t really know, but if the inn had no room for Mary and Joseph, then chances are, the stable would have been equally crowded. I don’t imagine that Jesus was born in a barn. When we travel long distances, we have our family tent packed. We set it up where and when we are able. It’s been a few years since we used it. Nevertheless, I also suspect that Joseph also had a tent packed. I can see him pitching it in a field, finding a feed trough that wasn’t in use as a make shift crib. Shepherds left them in the fields all the time for the animals, be they sheep, cows or other livestock.

So there’s Mary, giving birth. We are not sure of how long they were camping out, if they were even in a tent. But by the time we see Matthew 2, Jesus has been born, has a proper bed and the family is living in a proper house. It is here that the Magi find the new born king, and it is here where we draw our lessons about Christmas from the Magi. Let’s read the text.

Now I could focus on the gifts and their nature, how that reveals to us who Jesus is as a king and as a priest. But instead, we first need to remember that Christmas means nothing, is worth nothing if we do not see this and look forward to Easter. His mission was to live with us, die for us, and then redeem us. That is what his death, burial and resurrection has done. So what do we learn here at this end about Jesus?

Our first lesson is that Jesus is a threat. He was a threat to Herod. And He was a threat to the Temple leaders.  Of all who focus on the unrest of Jerusalem, I’ve not seen anyone look to the Temple. It was not too far from Herod’s palace. And I imagine that the priests would be anxious because they knew full well that they were not leading God’s children as they should be. Surely they saw the slight God gave them by having these foreigners before them with news that they should have been first to know, not last. With Herod, I wonder if he was familiar with this type of series of events. Was he familiar with the reign of David? God appointed him to be king instead of Saul. Now here is another king, someone who may very well be usurping supplanting the former king once again.

But then that is how some react. When they are threatened, they become dangerous. Herod was both. He told the Magi to make the careful search and report back so that he too might go and worship the young king. I am not sure what he said directly, but what he did say was enough for the Magi to apparently buy the plan of events, until that is, God warns them with a vision. Being foiled didn’t sit well with Herod. He sets to cast the net to protect his power over the people. He demands all boys 2 and under to be slaughtered in and around Bethlehem.

Now not only was Jesus a threat to Herod, though not in the way Herod thought, Jesus was also a hope. For once, in a long time, the people would have a king that would take care of them. He would become their source of comfort. No matter how dangerous the fields look, Jesus said that he would never leave us, never forsake us. He will see us through the most dangerous of storms.  For those in Bethlehem, a storm unspeakable was about to fall on them.

That is something we tend to forget as Christians. God never promised us escape from the storms of life. He promised to see us through. When the boat was tossed to and fro, Jesus came and calmed the disciples and then he calmed the sea. That is our life now. You might be going through a rough time financially, or perhaps you have a relationship that is on the rocks. The news is nothing but dire with shootings, society falling down into a financial abyss, or perhaps even just a loneliness that sometimes people are reminded, being that it’s this time of year. Jesus promised that he would walk with us, to guide us through. We don’t escape, but our hope is in something deeper than feelings or even facts. Our hope is on Jesus, our savior. By him, we can call God, papa.

The final lesson I want to take from here is that when God gives us a mission, He will provide all that we need. For the family, they had the gold, perfume and spices. All of which could have been sold to keep the family on the lam for some time. It definitely saw them to and through Egypt. Now God still does give us all that we need to carry out the mission today.

No, don’t go looking for material goods because I am using this analogy. Rather, follow me. Paul told the Church of Corinth that they had everything they needed to carry out the mission, which is proclaiming the good news. Today he gives us all that we need.

It may not be money. It is, as Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus that the same power God used to raise Jesus from the dead, that power is now ours. He prayed for that the church that they might become more aware of what God has gifted them. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is ours. The same power that Jesus said could drive a mountain into the sea, yes that is ours. It is this same power that allows us to draw closer together. It allows us to draw closer to Him. It changes us to be filled with His grace, His love, and His vision.

For us, for those who seek God’s face, His favor, I encourage you to take a second look at the Magi, at all the aspects of Jesus’ birth. Let his love for you and I permeate and flow through us to those who are lost and hurting. Let us return to the true purpose of Christmas.ll encouus to be filled with His grace, His love, and His vision.

yes that is ours.It i

A Child

It would be so easy! It would be easy for me to talk and focus on what I was doing as the news broke about the second worse school violence. It would be so easy to relate to you how I felt, how I feel even now. Yet, despite all that is going on, I made a vow to preach messages of encouragement. Not messages that make us feel good listening, but messages that hopefully give your strength and courage, or fortitude to go out and be the Church in this dark world. For that is where we live. We live in a world where someone turns schools into a bloodbath, be it Newtown CT, China or Bath Township, MI.

We live in a world where people are out for themselves. They redefine morality by making laws about it. If it feels good, then do it. Follow your heart, for it will not steer you wrong. (Despite that the heart is deceitful is deceitful above all things and is beyond cure, according to the prophet, Jeremiah 17.9) I cannot help but wonder how much darker this world will get.

Though I must confess, I am taking an easy road. It is easy to take this opportunity and mesh it with the Christmas child. Both the news and the Christmas story has death of children, for remember, after the magi visit the young Jesus, Herod commanded all boys 2 and under to be killed. Even the broader picture, the Christmas story isn’t complete without death of the very child, then a grown man.

Nothing has really changed. The world was in a bit of topsy-turvy. Joseph found himself moving his family to Bethlehem to reestablish his home and his livelihood. Change is not easy when you find yourself moving, and with your wife about to give birth.

More was at play here. You see, the world was dying. The world still is dying. Back then, people who never went but a few years between hearing from God through the prophets had become silent. They were asking themselves if they were still God’s chosen people. The have gone from captivity to one occupation after another. Where was God? Where is God? Does he still know us?

You see, for just the right time, God sent his son Jesus. In the midst of dying in sin, in chaos, Jesus comes as a beacon of life, a beacon of light. Even though there is death, today, the world still struggles and will for only a short while before focusing on the cradle so long ago.

So as we look at our passage this morning, in the midst of death, let us consider how in death, a child in particular means so much to us. Who is Jesus right now?

Let us consider this morning’s passage from Isaiah 9. 2-7: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Now I am wondering about the Mayans and their calendar. No, I don’t think we have only 5 days left, though I wouldn’t mind in the least. I am tired and wore out. This weekend has been stressful, hard. I can see the pain wherever I tend to look. Who here is not at least a little weary from the news of death of children? These kids were Shea’s age. It would be good to have it all end, to be no longer battling sin in the world and within ourselves. It would be good to be resting in our Father’s presence.

But until then, the battle rages on. People are scarred by the sins of others. We are walking in darkness, but you and I have something that the world needs, those who are hurting, confused. We have seen a great light. The world once saw it thousands of years ago, and they look for it every day; for we are now that light of Heaven. How we respond in the face of tragedy is of the utmost importance. You see, this event serves to remind those in the world how lost they are, how dark their paths are, and all without us having to echo it.

They don’t need to hear the political diatribes or the religious vitriol. They need to see the light, to be shown the light. This is a time for compassion and grace on our part. While we cannot answer why, other than to say we live in a dark world, we can offer a way to something better. We are now that light, showing God’s love to those around us.

Jesus is our source of joy. Even though it is hard, do we truly find joy in Christ? I mean, you see the news, you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, but as you think of Christ, does the burden feel to lighten? Can it be in times like this something like what God told Isaiah? In the midst of darkness, they shall celebrate as if they had a plentiful harvest, as after a great military victory happened. After all, what does Jesus do for us? He gives us the hope of salvation, to overcome the grave, our sins, our short comings. No matter how bad life seems to be, Jesus is our joy. We, as a church, need to rejoice more often. We rejoice because we know that even though we see much rot now, a time is coming that there will be a worldwide peace.  

We rejoice because Jesus is our comforter. As comforter, he does two things for us: he trades us burdens. Take my yoke, for my burden is light. To be burdened as He is, is rather simple. That is what he meant in Matthew 11.28ff. Rather than worrying about things we cannot control, mainly the sins and evils of others, we can take up Jesus’ burden, take up His task. What was that task? Preach, teach. Preach that the kingdom is at hand. Tell others about the hope of salvation they can have as well.

The next part of Jesus being our comforter is that he is our peace. Now I must stress that peace isn’t to come to us between us as our Christmas songs imply, as the movies and shows state. For that peace, Jesus promised the opposite. There will be war between nations over Jesus. Families will be divided over Jesus.

Yet in Luke 2, the angelic host appeared and said, “peace to those upon whom God’s favor rests.” This means Jesus is our peace that is between myself, the believer, and God, our father. Between you, the believer and God, our heavenly Papa.  How many others would love to have that peace? Paul tells us in Philippians 4.8-9 that whatever good and praiseworthy things we think about, aka God’s redemption of us through this child, through our Lord Jesus. It is such an action that can bring us peace.  It is this peace that allows us to live in harmony not only with God, our Heavenly Father, but also with one another.

This same peace also assures of something. Though many believe that the shooter met out his own justice, there is an ultimate justice. However, we must be careful at this point. It would be so easy to rejoice that he did such an action. As I have quoted earlier, many have taken this easy road. We shouldn’t rejoice in the killer’s demise. Instead, we should be concerned with those who are hellbound. We should be trying our best to make sure that as we see the world perishing around us, we might be the source of peace that they seek. We might be the only light they see, because of the joy we have.

Even though we may hurt, this is a time of opportunity. It is a time to make sure that our words are seasoned with God’s love and grace. It is possible because God gave us that power when we were clothed in Christ, to see beyond ourselves, to go and reach others. Let this truly become a time of light, joy and peace, even though the world seems dark.

The Road Nearly Missed – Acts 9.10-19

In the days and times of ranchers along the US Border being worried about the invasion and drug war spilling into their lands, there is an account of one DEA agent and a rancher named Rance. This agent came onto his land stating that he was in search of a cartel leader who was seen fleeing onto his spread, and that he didn’t have time to obtain a warrant. Rance thought this over a bit and then decided to allow the agent to search, save a 10 acre plot just over the rise. He’d check that himself.

Being told that there was a place that he was not allowed to go did not sit well with the agent, being full of himself. He flashed his badge in his temper and stated that he could begin his search anywhere he wanted, and because Rance didn’t want the plot searched, that was precisely where he would begin his search. Now Rance did try to object, but the agent wouldn’t let Rance voice a word before storming off to the forbidden field.

It wasn’t too long as Rance was packing feed into the back of his ranger that he began hearing the screams of a man desperate. So Rance drove on over the rise to where the screams were coming from only to find the agent running straight towards him. And gaining on him was Rance’s Cracker bull. It would be interesting to see who got their prize first, the agent seeking the safety of the fence, or the horned bull seeking the agent.

Rance couldn’t help himself. He stood up on the ranger, cupping his mouth, hollered, “Show Ole Jack your badge! Tell him of your great authority!” Ever feel that way in your Christian walk?

Sometimes it becomes easy to mistake what looks to be a peaceful route. We find too late that the path we took is full of trials, struggles and pain. But these times for us is not near as plentiful as the times that we think that a path that is full of trials would really be a more peaceful path. Some might call them missed opportunities.

This morning, we are going to look at a road nearly missed by Ananias. His role in the Scripture is just here. He has a dialogue with God, then keeps and appointment and then that is the last we see of him. Yet he did his part. And he teaches us something about seeing roads we normally would not consider. Let’s read his story:

So here is the set up: Saul was coming to town to start a Christian train to destroy the Church. (Again, this is my speculation of his unspoken plan.) Ananias knows this, and he was probably taking a break from packing his “bug-out bag” in case he had to leave in a hurry. And then it happens. God shows up and talks to Ananias. What is the first lesson that we learn?

Look at the World from God’s view. No, I’m not talking about the horrid Bette Midler song, “From a Distance”, which says the world looks a lot better than we see it. It really looks a lot worse. God’s saw our sins. He saw our spite, our lusts, our lies, our greed. He saw us all filthy, but still He sent Jesus to be our redeemer, to shed his blood to make us clean, to restore us to His fellowship. This is better than the ultimate facebook friending.

Seeing the World from God’s view shifts us from seeing labels we put on others, or the so-called judgment calls. Instead of seeing the Satan-spawned enemy of the church, Ananias would see a man repentant of his evil. Instead of seeing the drug user, we see the man running from his pain. Instead of seeing angry old troll, we see the woman missing abandoned by her family. We see ways in which we can show God’s mercy and grace to those who need it most. Besides, Paul reminds us that we, ourselves, were no better before Christ. But mind you, seeing the world as God sees it will not keep us from missing the road.

Ananias would learn another lesson, that he wasn’t called to be the first person to share the Gospel with Saul. How many people, after Saul met Jesus on the road, came to Paul during those three days and shared the good news with him? We really do not know. Maybe just Jesus gave him the Gospel, and perhaps others came by. The point is, we do not know, cannot know. Not even Adee do. Only God knows. Just as you or I might be called to visit that angry old troll, we do not know the work that God has already done in her. She may be ready, may even be waiting for someone to friend her, to talk to her, to see past the wall she has up around her heart.

Now since I am on this point now, I’d like to take a side note: Here is this man meeting with his God. How would you feel if God spoke to you? Would you be in awe? Would you fear? Not Ananias! No, here he is arguing with the Creator of the Universe! He is more concerned with his physical safety more than the event of talking with his heavenly Father! Doesn’t it sink in; did it ever sink in that he was talking to the Lord, to the God Almighty, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Hello!!

No. I changed my mind here. This isn’t a side note. This is the third lesson. The first is that see the world from God’s view. The second lesson, God knows. Lastly, do not be afraid.

Do not be afraid of someone God wants you to talk to. If we have changed the way we look those around us, seeing the world a place full of hurting people, then we can better do the mission that we have been called to do. Now let’s be real here as well. Not everyone we talk to will accept the message that we have. But if we never talk to anyone, then some may not hear the message they need. Be you the first person to share Jesus, or the Nth person, it matters not. What matters is that you do talk. Too often, people let the fear of talking to others stop them from talking to others. We assume people know what we stand for because we have little emblems on our vehicles, or church signs in our yards. We leave it at that, and figure if our neighbor was interested, then he can make that first move. But what is there to fear?

Do we fear how they will perceive us? Oh, you’re a Christian, and look what you did. You’re such a hypocrite!

I’ll be honest. I sometimes blow it big. Sometimes I blow it small. But too often, I blow it. I mess up. Last night, power went out for a few hours. Boys were in the parking lot with one of the neighbor kids. He brought along a bunch of flashlights. A few times, he kept hitting me in the eyes with the light. I became short with him. Hopefully, not too short. He did stay another half hour playing until I had to tell him to go home because I was taking the family to get something to eat. Power came on at 9.40 pm. Went out due to a lady having an accident up on Main Street.

Ok now that lesson on fear is done, let’s look at the second half of this lesson. Being a dad, I will tell you, I love when my kids light up as they see me enter the room. Right now, (Flower) becomes especially glowing when I enter the room, all smiles and giggles for me. I love that they love me like that. I love that when my older boys come to show me something they did, (Little Duder) quickly does something to show me that he did. They feel that I am quite approachable. They know that they can battle me in squeak wars and call me silly. They call me, Papa. So what does this have to do with fear?

Do we have as casual a relationship with our Heavenly Father as Jacob, who wrestled with God; as Jesus did, as did apparently Ananias? Here he was arguing over a simple task, go heal a blind man. Our Father is approachable. He wants us to light up when we think of His Love for us. He paid the price, brought us back from exile so that He can spend time with us.

Ok, so I made a mistake. There is a fourth, final lesson here: If God gives us an assignment, He will give us the power to carry it through. Was Ananias selected because he was known for being able to give blind people his sight? Not that history recorded. God gave him the power to heal Saul, specifically. For that matter, was Sampson someone who resembled Dr. Banner or the Hulk? I tend to think that he looked like Dr. Banner, ordinary strength of any man, not even a warrior’s, because the Scripture says that the power of God came upon him. Perhaps as he was performing the feats, he looked more like the Hulk.

Maybe this lesson is why we fear telling others about Jesus. We don’t realize that God gives us power, the same power, as he told the Church in Ephesians 1, the same power  that raised Christ from the dead. He will not give us more than what we can handle.

I suspect that if I continue looking, I might find a few more lessons. Perhaps you might look at this sometime later today and find another lesson I missed. Bring it tonight. But the greatest lesson is the 3^rd, fear not. For when we are right with the Lord, as apparently Ananias was, then we will not miss the roads that lead to saved souls. Don’t nearly miss it.

When God Takes Another Direction – Acts 9.1-8

                In the Gospel of John, Jesus brings the teaching home to the people. They were following him, receiving the blessings of being near him, without fully accepting. Their sick were healed. Their bellies were full. And their leaders rebuked. Then they were told now it is time for them to decide what their part in following Jesus was. No more free ride, if you will. John records the most of the followers stopped following. It is here that Peter confesses the 12’s beliefs that Jesus is the Messiah. But even then, Jesus said that one would still betray him.

                Maybe it is because Judas did believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but he thought if he’d push it along, force Jesus’ hand, then the earthly kingdom would come. He wanted to be the hero of the hour. He didn’t have the right direction, though his actions did indeed bring about the direction God intended. Yet his mistake wasn’t the first misunderstanding, nor would it be the last. But I do wonder if that was Judas’ desire, but ultimately, his faith wasn’t founded for the kingdom, or for Jesus.

                I wonder if as a young man, if Saul of Tarsus, a member, or at least pupil of a member of the Sanhedrin was there that day Jesus was tried and executed. He saw that according to his understanding and education, Jesus was most certainly not the long awaited savior of the world. He was a heretic. He and his followers had to be destroyed. God’s honor must be defended.

                No, I am not stretching on this being Paul’s thought. That is the very definition of zeal. In his defense of God and the Law of Moses, he thought he was doing the right thing by destroying the Church. It’s the very confession to the church in Philippi. The man named Saul was always devoted to the Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it is here where we pick him up in our passage to telling others about Jesus. Stephen died for Jesus. Philip went on walk about preaching. Now we have Saul taking the persecution beyond the walls of Jerusalem, beyond the shadow of the Temple. Let’s read the text.

                Saul, as he was on his mission for God, came to see the light. We can look at it from all the traditional angles. We can see that God and Jesus are one; that what he thought he was doing for God was really attacking God. I have seen some imply that Saul was selected to be the Apostle to the Gentiles, that he had no choice but to comply. He went from being God’s biggest enemy to being his biggest preacher. Yet I think that there is more here, that as he became blind, something that has parallel in John 9.39 where Jesus said that he came to blind those who see and give sight to those who are blind.

                That would mean that Saul was one of those who claimed to see, to know the truth, when in fact, he was blind to the truth, and now literally blinded by the Truth. In Psychology, they would say that if Luke was accurate, Saul was protesting too much, that he must be dealing with guilt. I wonder what all he was processing in his thoughts. Could the stoning of Stephen be replaying in his mind? Or maybe it was the crucifixion of Jesus?

                Either way, he was now dealing with a choice, with a change in direction. He could continue on with what he thought he knew. He had a way of upbringing that has been set on its proverbial ear. Yet if he went down this avenue, as Jesus said in John 9, would Saul remain blind? Perhaps. It would be fitting if Saul chose not to listen to the truth of God’s Word.

                Then there is the other choice, to accept that he didn’t have a firm handle on who Jesus is. He didn’t understand how Stephen would, could stand there looking into heaven as the stones were knocking the life out of him. Of course we know the direction, the avenue Saul chose to travel down.

                But he was not the only one that afternoon who had a choice to make. He had an entourage with him. They, too, saw the light. They also heard the voice, but unlike Saul, according to Acts 22, the entourage didn’t understand voice, they knew it was a very supernatural event. They had to know that it was related to their present mission to Damascus, some 200 miles away from home.

                Too often we imagine that the entourage, after escorting Saul into Damascus, turned around and went home. This is something that has been nearly 2 weeks in the journey. What did they do during the three days of fasting that Saul submitted himself to? How did they respond to the message the Saul began immediately preaching?

                Now I am making an assumption about the entourage. I am assuming that the men were as open to learning the Word as Paul was that they were at least nearly as scholarly as Saul was. It is not within a person to take so much time with people he doesn’t particularly like. He wouldn’t be unevenly yoked. So I assume that they may have been some of his first believers. One other wondering question that I had: Could Silas have been part of Paul’s original entourage? The first time we really see Silas is where the Apostles and elders of Jerusalem selected him as part of the entourage to Antioch to explain what Gentile Christians were to do to live for God. He was the first choice for Paul when Paul and Barnabas had their tiff. But Silas is fanciful wondering.

                Yet what the Word doesn’t tell us is how the entourage chose. It is one of those unfinished stories that the Bible seems to be full of. It is like our story this morning. It’s not yet finished for any of us here. How do we choose?

                Yes, right now, following God within our understanding, it is easy to say yes. But what if God changes directions? What if God allows something to shake our very core, our very faith? Could we then be wise enough to recognize where God is and move ourselves to following Him? What if we as a church are called to go where we hadn’t planned on going?

                How do we make the right choice? Like Saul, we need to listen to his voice. No, he probably won’t talk to us in the manner that He spoke to Saul. We can see how God speaks to us through the reading of the word.  Often we don’t look at it because we let life distract us. Or perhaps we might fear what the Father might challenge us to change within our own lives. But reading the Bible is one aspect. It does no good if we just read the Bible and then live the day as we desire.

                We need to also make sure our spiritual life is in order. I like Luke’s gospel because it gives us a glimpse that Jesus had a habit of going off to pray to the Father. Do we make sure that our spiritual life is in order? Do we have a time that we let life just stop around us so that we can devote that time talking to our Father? Also that is the key. If God is our Father, than we are brothers and sisters, we are family. We are to gather, according to Colossians 3.16 and Hebrews 10.25, to encourage one another.  Yet how often do we let the world give us reason to skip any of the mentioned?

                When we make a choice for Jesus, when we listen to His Word, when our spiritual life is in order, we will find that God hasn’t changed as much as we have been changed, prepared for every good work that the Church, His children, His hands and feet and mouth, are called to do. Then those around us will take notice.