The House Jesus Built

But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
Hebrews 3: 6 NKJV

There are those among in the Christian faith who continue to see the church building as one of the most fundamental icons of our belief.  It is Gods house, and we must gather in Gods house to worship Him.  I get it.  However, where does that leave me?  See, I have not stepped foot into a church service since 2011.  Am I now a non believer?  Is God somehow seeking to punish me for my ignorance?  Well, some would hold to that belief all day long.  Those would be the Christians who cling to the old covenant belief that this God we worship is a jealous and unforgiving God to those who do not tow the line of Christian teachings.  Believe me, I have been in the company of far too many old covenant believers than I can count.  My first impression when I encounter someone such as this is frustration.  Frustration that I have somehow been tossed aside by God.  See, that is what they will tell me.  That if I disagree with their old covenant belief that I have somehow turned away from who God really is.  So, some time ago I asked myself, who is God?  Who is this creator who loved me enough to spare me from myself?  Would it be in Gods nature to send His Son to die for me only to be angry with me because I don't follow one mans belief?  I'm thinking not.  But, how did I arrive at this conclusion?  Simple, I found the one true nature of God.  The nature of God that far too many believers fail to see is that God...is Love {1 John 4:8}.  So, what does all of this have to do with our mistaken belief that the church is the be all end all of our faith?  Plenty.  First off, even the apostle Luke recognized this.  God does not live in temples built by human hands {Acts 17:25}.  Indeed, this entire idea of "Gods house" has always been about a idea that we have about our local church.  We're the ones who see the building as Gods house.  We're the ones who have turned gatherings of fellowship in Him into dog and pony show productions.  Look at many of the splendid church buildings around the world, would a humble and meek Jesus desire to live His life there?  No, for these ornate Christian castles are not the true home of Christ Jesus.  For His true home is closer to Gods children than they may ever know.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2: 20 NKJV

That true house of Jesus, that place where He now resides has never been in some ornate temple.  Jesus is not impressed with all of the trappings of such places.  These are mere possessions, and Jesus is so much more than that.  He tells us to not store up for ourselves treasures on earth {Matthew 6:19}.  Jesus knows the true treasure of our hearts.  It all begins, and ends, with Jesus.  The apostle Paul also reminds us of the true home of Jesus in Galatians.  Paul recognized that it was Jesus who lived in Him.  The man Paul was dead, crucified beside Jesus on that cross.  What remains is Jesus in us.  Yes, you may have conflicting beliefs on this truth, I did as well.  How could I be dead if I don't feel as if I am?  I get it.  Paul also lays out for us in Romans what he tells us in Galatians {Romans 6:8}.  Jesus is not living in some wonderfully decorated building.  No, Jesus lives in me!  This truth of Christ is one that has been difficult to fathom for many Christians.  After hearing many years of church teaching, I understand why it may be difficult for someone to accept the idea that Jesus could live inside someone as sinful as myself.  The trouble with the sin argument is that we're also told that we, as followers of Jesus, are now DEAD to sin {Romans 6:11}.  Jesus tackled the sin issue on the cross.  He put it to death.  When we come before the Father in a vain attempt to confess our own sins, Gods first response may well be, "What sin?"  I believe that the sin issue is the number one roadblock in the way of believers seeing Christ Jesus in them.  Once we come to terms with the idea that Jesus has done away with sin forever, we can began to see Jesus in the house that Jesus built.

Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  Now, if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.  Death no longer has dominion over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise you also, reckon to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6: 6 - 11 NKJV

~Scott~

Whose life Is It Anyway?

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Corinthians 6: 19 - 20 NKJV

I heard a radio pastor the other morning discussing the positives and negatives of knowing the Holy Spirit within us.  As for myself, I have never seen Jesus in a negative way.  See, Christian teaching tells us that the Holy Spirit is three separate entities.  The doctrine of the Trinity tells us that the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Father, the Son AND of the Holy Spirit.  That is traditional Christian doctrine.  So, who is the Holy Spirit really?  Did Jesus promise to send us three unique Helpers {John 14:16}?  Was Paul filled with three Spirits {Acts 19:6}?  I am going to suggest something so off the rails that even I might consider myself a heretic.  This Holy Spirit, as I have learned from searching through scriptures, is none other than the Spirit of Christ Jesus Himself.  Well, you can stop reading now, or you can follow my lead which I will lay out.  For the longest time, it was my expectation that having the Holy Spirit within me was the quickest way to becoming more like Jesus.  Again, that was Christian teaching as I had come to know it.  The mistake which I found in this line of thinking is that it ignored the words of the apostle Paul we find in Galatians.  Paul discovered that it was no longer his life at all.  Paul had come to the realization that it was Jesus who now lived inside of him.  The man Paul was dead, what lived on was Jesus {Galatians 2:20}.  Paul does not mention anything about three separate Spirits in his own revelation of coming to know Christ Jesus in him.  No, Paul tells us that God revealed "His Son in me" {Galatians 1:16}.  Would Paul have known about the Trinity?  Perhaps, he was, after all, a student of Judaism in his younger days.  As such, he advanced in the teachings and training of the religion {Galatians 1:14}.  We also know that, as a student of such zealous teachings, that Saul persecuted the early church of the followers of Jesus and tried to destroy it {Galatians 1:13}.  So, was Saul filled with that Holy Spirit?  Well, if he was, it was replaced that day along the road to Damascus.  We know that it was not Jesus Himself who dwelled in Saul, because it was Jesus who brought him to his knees on that dusty road {Acts 9:5}.  What was Saul's response to the voice he suddenly heard?  "Who are you, Lord" {Acts 9:5}?  I'm guessing that Saul knew enough from his own teachings in religion that he was dealing with someone important here.  This encounter changed Saul, and us, forever.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2: 20 NKJV

As I've said, I have not found any mention in either Saul's Damascus road experience nor of his revelation of Christ Jesus in him of anything resembling a Trinity.  So, is this idea of a Holy Trinity simply something put forth as part of a religion?  I believe it is.  I believe in one Father and in the presence of His one and only Son, Jesus.  Of course, it was Jesus Himself who told His followers that He and the Father were one in the same {John 10:30, John 14:7, John 14:9}.  Now, I'm not simply cherry picking scriptures here, this was Jesus saying that when we see Him, we see the Father as well.  That sounds acceptable, after all, Jesus is the Son, so He carries the bloodline.  This is the same heredity that we share in Him as well.  For if Paul indeed had Christ Jesus in him, then Jesus lives in us as well.  How can that be if we have never realized it?  Well, my own path to the realization of Christ in me followed a similar path as Paul.  That is, when it pleased God, He revealed His Son in me.  It's nothing like the flipping of a switch, yet everything like coming to the realization that it is Christ Jesus who we now live as.  The prayer of Christ Jesus in the garden has been answered...we are one with the Father {John 17:21}.

"That they may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one is Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."
John 17: 21 NKJV

~Scott~

Show Us The Father

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
Hebrews 1: 1 - 2 NKJV

I knew that it would happen.  Sooner or later some scientist would come up with enough data to disavow that which I believe.  I read the other day that archeologists continue to question the validity of the events of the life of Jesus.  Now, to question the evidence of the life of Jesus pretty much means that you question Jesus Himself.  Who would do such a thing?  Headline seekers?  Religion scoffers?  No matter who they arrive as, deniers of Jesus will continue to arrive at the doorsteps of our faith.  So, what is it that holds our belief in Jesus so strongly?  Is it faith, or something more?  The writer of Hebrews described faith as the "evidence of things not seen."  I can agree with that.  I was not there when the world was created, yet my faith tells me that our heavenly Father crafted the earth in six days.  We believe that all that we see was created by His hands and His hands alone.  But  what about the so called big bang theory?  That theory that describes the creation of the earth came about as a result of some cosmic blast.  Do we feel better attaching our creation onto something we cannot see?  We are told that nobody has ever seen God {1 John 4:12}.  Yet, we believe that He exists.  Is this blind faith on our part?  My own faith leads me to believe that the evidence of our creator is all around us.  The air that we breathe, the earth we walk upon.  There are things about the history of our planet, and of ourselves, that simply cannot be explained away by science.  We, as humans, are such intricate creations that one must have a degree of faith to accept that we did not evolve out of some swamp somewhere in a tar pit.  Yet, we like to be in control of that narrative, we relish having the knowledge that we know how things happened.  The tree of knowledge leads us down many paths.  Why is it so difficult for us to have the faith to accept God for who He is, yet still have faith in other bits of His creation?  For example, we trust that if we toss a object into the air that it most certainly will come falling back down.  We believe that if we throw a rock into water that it will indeed sink.  Believe it or not, this can also be a basis for our faith in Jesus.

You believe that there is one God.  You do well.  Even the demons believe - and tremble!
James 2: 19 NKJV

I believe that our faith in God comes down to a unshakable belief that He is.  He is as sure as the air that we breathe.  He is as reliable as the ground we walk upon.  I cannot look around me without seeing the fingerprints of God upon His creation.  It's not just me, even Satan and his minions tremble at the sight of God {James 2:19}.  There are times where I wonder why it is easier for people to accept the existence of Satan than it is to believe in God.  If it was not for God, Satan would not exist!  We're told that Satan was indeed created by God {Ezekiel 28:13}.  We are told of the prideful fall of Lucifer from heaven {Isaiah 14:12}.  The history of God and Satan are intricately woven together.  Therefore, we cannot claim to believe in the existence of Satan without first acknowledging the existence of God Himself.  God is the lynchpin, by which all things were created.  But what about Jesus?  What about Jesus indeed.  Jesus Himself told His disciples that if they saw Him, they saw the Father as well { John 14:7}.  Yes, Jesus and the Father are One, they are the same.  This is the foundation of my faith.  I believe that Jesus was born into a earthly body, was put to death and rose again three days later.  I believe that Jesus not only defeated death, but also put to death the sin which plagued us {Romans 6:11}.  Indeed, when we come before the Father to seek forgiveness for a sin we THINK may have occurred, His natural response is, "What sin?"  The slate has been wiped clean, all that remains is our life in Him {Galatians 2:20}.  We can be as assured of our Lords presence as the air that we breathe.  This is what I believe.

Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."  Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?  He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'show us the Father?'
John 14: 8 - 9 NKJV

~Scott~

Seeing Jesus In A Pandemic

That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1: 3 NKJV

I'm sure that by now many of us have learned what it feels like to be isolated.  Throughout the country, individuals and families have been forced with the new reality of remaining at home.  Gone are the days when we could go out to eat or to grab a cup of coffee on a whim.  Those freedoms, it seems, have been taken from us if only temporarily.  I will tell you that the most difficult part of this national lockdown is not being able to see people.  Not being able to interact with others.  It is said that we humans are social creatures, and I agree with that 100%.  Along with some major changes to my schedule, I've had to learn to live in a new reality.  Of course, I am of the opinion that this is just temporary.  Then again, I've always been a optimist.  The other day I my very first doctor appointment via video conference.  Although that was cool in itself, I missed being able to meet with him.  I hear stories of this everywhere I go these days.  People missing their neighbors.  What I have found interesting is how churches have adapted to these changing times.  There are many local congregations which have switched to video services and groups in place of those which we once knew.  I get it.  For my part, my fellowshipping with my friends has also been relegated to video and phone meetings.  Yes, I miss my friends, but I know that we will meet again soon.  On the radio the other day I overheard a pastor bemoaning the fact that Jesus was somehow knocking at the door of our empty churches and wondering where we were.  Now, if Jesus were in fact some visitor from out of town, I might expect Him to wonder where everyone was.  However, Jesus knows all too well where we are, AND He is right here in the middle of it with us.  Whenever I hear some pastor speak to the fact that we are somehow separated from Jesus I cringe.  Not only is this a false narrative pushed by church theology, it simply isn't true.  Paul assures us of this in Galatians {Galatians 2:20}.  We need never worry that Jesus is far from us, as He is always in us.  One thing I noticed about the current situation in our country is that more than a few people put far too much emphasis on the physical images of the church and Jesus that they do on who He really is.  I will say that Jesus IS NOT identified with any brick and stone church building.  You may feel closer to Him when you enter there, but in reality He has never left you.  Whether we are in a church or not, Jesus is the same as He has been from the beginning {Hebrews 13:8}.

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2: 44 - 47 NKJV

I recall a conversation I had with a friend of mine some time ago on the popularity of the early church of the followers of Jesus we see in Acts 2.  These people communed together, shared meals together and overall looked out for one another.  What a wonderful thing it would be, I commented, if the churches we know today were like that of the early church of Jesus.  His response made me think, but I agreed that he was right.  In order for us to experience the fellowship of that early church, we would need a radical change in our own society.  See, we're not used to devoting so much of our own lives to others around us.  Each of us, on a normal day, have some pretty hectic schedules which we follow.  From jobs to school to the chores of life, all too often we get caught up in our activities.  What makes you think that we could ever resemble what the early church shared?  Now, I'm not saying that it's impossible, just pretty unlikely.  I think that what this lockdown has taught us is how to cope with being together with those around us.  Although this is pretty much on the family level, we've now been forced to immerse ourselves in this new reality.  I heard the story the other day of a man who had focused himself so much on his career that he sacrificed his relationship with his own son.  That is, until he was forced to remain at home because he was furloughed from his work.  Suddenly, he was faced with a relationship he had not shared in years.  Ultimately, father and son became closer than they had ever been and are now making up for lost time.  I have also heard stories of those who have come face to face with Jesus for the very first time.  Our own relationship with Him might resemble that of the career oriented father at times.  We have our lives and there are days where Jesus is merely a passing thought.  I've been there.  One thing we can always be assured of, Jesus is always there for us no matter what.  He experiences each and every moment of our lives just as we do.  There is nothing we will ever do that He is not a intimate part of.  That...is Christ Jesus in you.

~Scott~

Why I Wouldn't Make A Good Pastor

Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."  So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"  And he said, "How can I unless someone guides me?"  And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8: 29 - 31 NKJV

Believe it or not, there was a time in my life when I considered joining the ranks of the clergy.  In hindsight it may be a good thing that I didn't choose that path.  Not because I do not share a love for Jesus, mind you, but because of my inability not to espouse the church narrative.  See, in order to reach the opportunity to even be a pastor, one needs to spend their time getting their thoughts in order in seminary (Pharisee school).  Now, I've heard enough about the teachings given in our modern seminaries to make me realize that I made the right choice in the end.  To understand just why I would not make a good pastor, one needs to see first hand the teachings of the seminary and, in a larger part, the church.  Yes, I believe in God and the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, but there are also elements of modern Christian teaching that often has me scratching my head.  Wayne Jacobsen, in his weekly podcast this morning, titles his discussion "Why won't God love me?"  Really?  First off, if you are going through life with the belief that somehow God does not love you then you don't know God at all.  We're told that Love is the very nature of God {1 John 4:8}.  I could never honestly lead someone to believe that God does not love them.  Yet, in our modern church we continue to speak of a theology of a far off and distant God who is more likely to judge us by our behaviors than to shower us with the Love He has for His children.  It is this theology which has messed up many peoples understanding of God, and led to questions such as "Why won't God love me?"  Trust me, I've been in those shoes.  I've cried in tears, believing that my sin could never allow God to love and accept me.  Now, I've written of my indiscretions here before, so there is no need to revisit that which is dead and gone, but I truly believed that I was distancing myself from Gods love by my own behaviors.  So, if God indeed is upset with us, why ensure the death of our sins? {Romans 6:11}   If God is unsure of our devotion to Him, why appoint Christ Jesus to become sin on our behalf? {2 Corinthians 5:21}  All too often the question isn't why won't God love me, but why don't we SEE His love for us?

"I don't need to punish people for sin.  Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside.  It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it."
William P Young, The Shack

Of course, the sin issue isn't the only issue I would have trouble with as a pastor.  One of the biggest issues I would have is our own view of Christ Jesus.  It is here where our discovery of who God truly is begins.  The apostle Paul tells us that Jesus is not distant from us, as we've been led to believe.  No, for it is Jesus who lives through us today {Galatians 2:20}.  Yes, Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose three days later.  I get all that.  However, His story does not end there.  The cross has never been a finishing line...but a starting point.  When we recognize Jesus for who He really is, we open the door to a relationship with Him.  He is with us every step of every day, good times and bad.  Of course, it's not just the church dropping the ball on the story of Christ in us where I take issue.  I also take issue with the pomp and circumstance of the churches man made traditions.  Traditions such as tithing, praise and worship jam sessions and praying to seek our Lords forgiveness (see previous notes on the death of sin in Romans 6).  I've learned to accept one man made tradition which the church continues to embrace, that of communion.  I really don't have a issue in our remembrance of all Jesus did for us, but I'm not sure a replay of the last supper helps us get closer to Him than we already are.  I can honestly say, that if someone were to come to me seeking guidance for a situation they were experiencing, my last thought would be to quote scripture in hopes of making them feel better.  One more reason I would not make a good pastor.  No, my first question to them would be, "Do you realize the Person God sees you as?"  It is this question a dear friend, who still chooses to remain nameless despite all my efforts, asked me in a dark time in my life.  When I shifted my view of God from a theological lens to a personal one, I came to see Him for who He truly is.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?
Romans 10: 14 NKJV

~Scott~

The Jesus Doctrine

He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was the life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1: 2 - 5 NKJV

Doctrine is described as "A belief or set of beliefs taught by a church, political party or other group."  I never once thought to associate Christianity with a political party, but if the shoe indeed fits.  There are those who have seen the inner politics of church organizations and would agree with this.  For my part, I've seen enough to know that any time man is involved in any institution, human emotions and behaviors will definitely follow him there.  We can't help ourselves.  So, if doctrine is described to us as beliefs taught by the church, what is standard Christian doctrine?  Well, step into any local church (if it hasn't already been shut down by a authoritarian governor) and you will witness first hand the doctrine of the institutional church.  Over the Easter holiday I had the opportunity to watch the mass from Saint Patrick's cathedral in New York city.  I have to admit that the traditional Christian doctrine was missing a bit this year as the church played to a empty house due to authoritarian government restrictions.  I did, however, see all the pomp and circumstance the church has been known for.  What I didn't see...was Jesus.  That's right, despite the main reason for the Easter holiday being the celebration of His resurrection, what I mainly saw was a procession of grim faced men in white robes and funny hats.  What does Christian doctrine tell us about Easter?  Well, we're told that Jesus, after having been beaten and led to the cross to die for our sins, was buried in the tomb of Joseph and rose again three days later.  After His resurrection, He was seen by no fewer than 500 people as well as His disciples.  After rising from the grave, Jesus is said to have ascended to heaven where He now sits at the right hand of the Father {Acts 1:9}.  If this doctrine concerning Jesus sounds a little like God declaring "mission accomplished," you're not too far from the mark.  However, unlike that brash statement made by George H.W. Bush on the deck of that aircraft carrier all those years ago, this wasn't the end of Jesus.  Christian doctrine tells us that Jesus resides in heaven with the Father, that He looks down upon Gods children, encouraging them to be more like Him.  However, the truth of Christ Jesus is much different from traditional Christian doctrine in more than a few ways.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2: 20 NKJV

I can tell you that after sitting through many a church service, I have never heard a sermon where Christ is preached as living in us.  Perhaps this is why it was so difficult for me to accept the truth of Christ in me.  I listened and followed the Christian doctrine, hoping that one day I would "be like" Christ Jesus.  Well, the problem with that belief system, that doctrine, is that I already am like Jesus. The apostle Paul, one of the main authors of this truth of Christ, explains this to us in Galatians.  Paul claimed that it was no longer he who lived...he was now dead.  That life which Paul did live, was a life in Christ Jesus.  All we need do is read Paul's own words in order to see this..."But Christ lives in me."  No, I have never heard that in any Christian doctrine.  So, does that invalidate Paul's words?  Absolutely not!  In fact, I would say that this should strengthen our conviction even more that what Paul is describing is the truth of who we truly are.  Christian doctrine will tell us that we are simply sinners {Romans 3:23} striving to somehow earn our salvation.  The truth of the matter is that our salvation is our gift from God and not something that can be bought or sold {Ephesians 2:8-9}.  God gave us salvation willingly and lovingly.  It is our own doctrines that have made His gift to us a material thing that can be traded or taken away.  Have you ever known God to be a Indian giver?  Me neither.  So it is that I somehow bucked the Christian doctrine and came to the knowledge of who I truly am.  This is no easy task, for first you will need to overcome thousands of years of that doctrine being taught to the masses.  They had a word for those first followers of Jesus...Christ-eans.  Over time, this evolved into the term Christian we know today.  I would say that we are definitely followers of Jesus, in a way.  For to say that one is a follower maintains that they are somehow being led.  I'm not being led...I'm walking in Christ.

~Scott~        

Self For Jesus

'For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'  "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed you, or thirsty and You drink?  'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  'Or when did we see You sick , or in prison, and come to You?'  And the king will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
Matthew 27: 35 - 40 NKJV

It is said that the quickest way to depression is to think only of ourselves.  I couldn't agree more.  I believe that we, as humans, are hard wired to think of and do for others.  This isn't some biological theory, but in how we were created from the beginning.  I don't believe that it was Gods intention that we go through life solo, without the aid or comfort from those around us.  Indeed, God noticed this need in Adam as well {Genesis 2:18}.  Therefore, God created for Adam, a helper "comparable" to him.  Many see this scripture as the Lords indication that a man should indeed be bound to a wife.  I don't dispute this.  However, I also believe that God had something else in mind when He created Eve.  Something along the lines of companionship and/or relationship.  God did not desire for Adam or Eve to think only of themselves.  We can certainly learn from this scripture as well.  For the scriptures are full of reminders of our Lords desire for His children to be relational to others.  A good friend of mine who, despite all of my attempts, chooses to remain nameless refers to this as "self for self versus self for others."  When we are self for self people, our thoughts and actions are centered around ourselves only.  We desire to relate and help those around us as much as we can.  Self for others people often draw in others around them for relationships.  When I think of self for others people, I think of my mother.  There was never a Sunday morning when she wasn't in church in the company of the many friends she had made there.  To her it wasn't all about the tradition of the institutional church, but of the fellowship she had while she was there.  It was not until her passing that I realized just how many lives she touched.  Even now, I will run into someone who will know me only because I was her son.  That's some pretty good company to be in.  I've known many self for others people over the years, and I've known more than a few self for self people as well.  When you think about it, they are pretty easy to tell apart.  Jesus's statement we find in Matthew 25:40 should be our guide, "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."  Of course, our Lords statement is true in the fact that when we think of others over ourselves, we are thinking of Jesus Himself.  If we follow the apostle Paul's description of Christ in us, we can see that as we think of others, we think of Christ who is in them {Galatians 2:20}.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Philippians 2: 3 NKJV

When a friend pointed out to me that when we are upset with another person, we are upset with Jesus as well, I didn't want to accept it at first.  However, since I don't hold the patent on who Jesus chooses to abide in, I'm guessing that statement is true.  There are certainly others out there in our daily lives who have Jesus living through them.  There are also those who have His Spirit yet have not recognized Jesus in themselves.  Either way, Jesus is in us all.  Yes, even in that guy you flipped off after he cut you off on the freeway.  It was hard for me to see this truth, so I'm sure it's difficult for others as well.  There was a time when my thoughts of Jesus were more along the self for self line.  I knew Jesus was in me, but I mistakenly saw others who mistreated me as being self for self people.  Of course, I had no way of knowing that.  I will say that seeing Jesus for who He really is, that is, living in all of Gods children, will throw a monkey wrench into how we treat those around us.  Can I really be angry or mistreat Jesus?  Most would answer no, yet that is what we are doing when we talk wrongly or mistreat another person.  But what about the sins of others?  Forget about that, God already has a long time ago {Romans 6:11}.  We are now dead to those sins we've hung onto for so long.  So, does a person still sin?  No!  However, what will happen is someone may not realize the truth of who they really are inside.  Did I sin by flipping off the other driver?  No, I'm dead to sin now.  I did, however, temporarily forget He who lives through me.  The fact is, I believe that we were all created to be a self for others creation.  That is, a creation of our heavenly Father with kindness, compassion and, above all, relationships with Christ Jesus and those around us.  I consider myself to be a self for others type as I continue to seek relationships and friendships with those around me.  This is the person I was created to be.

~Scott~

What Shall I Do With Jesus?

Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said to him, "Let him be crucified!"
Matthew 27: 22 NKJV

I had forgotten, in the midst of all which has been happening lately, that this week is highly regarded among the Christian faith.  Traditionaly, it is said that it is during this time that we Christians recall those events which led up to the crucifixion and ended with the resurrection of Christ Jesus.  The week begins with Palm Sunday, in which we remember Jesus's entry into Jerusalem and ends with Good Friday where we recall His suffering and death upon the cross.  This has been a long held tradition among Christians for hundreds of years.  This week, however, I found myself wondering, what have we done with Jesus?  For if we have relegated Jesus to someone who is to be celebrated merely once a year then we're missing the point of His death for sure.  How did Jesus Himself feel about traditions?  Well, he critisized the Pharisees for disregarding the word of God as they hung onto their own traditions {Mark 7:13-14}.  We do well to remember the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, but there is so much more to Him we fail to see.  Growing up, I saw the holy week as a time when Jesus went away.  The prevailing church teaching to this day is that Jesus died upon the cross for our sins, rose again three days later then ascended into heaven to be at the right hand of the Father, end of story.  The trouble with this line of thinking is, it's not the end of the line for Jesus.  Far from it.  One of my favorite verses of scripture comes from the book of Mark.  As the women gathered at the tomb of Jesus the morning of His resurection, they were shocked to find a empty grave.  They were also amazed at the two men in shining garments who asked them all any of us need to know about Jesus, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?"  So, what have you done with Jesus?  Have you relegated Him to a simple celebration once a year?  Or, do you heed the angels words of that morning, "He is risen!"  The apostle Paul, himself a doubter of Jesus for many years raised in the Jewish faith before his eyes were opened, tells us the truth of Christ.  He has not gone away, as so many believe, but lives in us {Galatians 2:20}.  How great it would be if we incorporated the truth of Christ Jesus in us into holy week each year.  Yet, some are hard pressed to give up their traditions.  I cannot imagine living a life where Jesus comes around only once a year.  We do well to remember Him, and to celebrate His life in us.

Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?  "He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."  And they remembered His words.
Luke 24: 5 - 8 NKJV

What have I done with Jesus?  I have come to that realization that His death upon the cross was not a end to His story, but a begining.  I see the cross not as a ending, but as the new beginning of His life in us.  It is Jesus who has proclaimed that He will never leave us {Matthew 28:20, Romans 8:39}.  Jesus has not gone away, but come closer to us than we ever thought possible.  As Paul observed, it is Jesus who I live as today.  We can walk in the assurance that it is Jesus who shares our life and our experiences.  This, of course, may be a radical change in the way we see our lives in God and in Christ.  We're not in a waiting line as God decides whether He is going to help us or not.  We're no longer bound to our sins, which some believe would cause God to somehow "punish" us.  Paul assures us, in Romans, of our now being "Dead to sin" {Romans 6:11}.  What remains is our life in Him.  Of course, this goes against the teaching of the institutional church, but is by no means a false belief.  It was also during holy week some years back that I began my own journey of knowing Christ Jesus in me.  As I sat in church one Easter morning, I listened to the traditional story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  After his sermon of how Jesus had given Himself for the forgiveness of our sins, he welcomed the congregation to come forward to "confess" any sins which we might be carrying with us.  I thought that message strange.  Needless to say, I did not return to that church.  Instead, I began my own search of who Jesus is.  That is what I've done with Jesus.

~Scott~

Eyes To See

Then the disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us!  We are perishing!"  But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"  Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8: 25 -26 NKJV

The story of Jesus in the boat with His disciples was one illustrated at my mothers memorial service.  Here were the disciples, these men who Jesus spent every day with, sailing across the sea of Galilee.  Remember that a good number of these men were fishermen who made their living on the water.  I'm sure this was not the first gale they'd ever seen.  Knowing this, that must have been some storm.  Having personally been on a boat in bad weather, I can honestly say that it's not someplace I'd choose to be.  Still, this passage seemed a bit anticlimactic to me.  The disciples, on a boat in rough seas with Jesus.  Should these men who walked every day with Jesus been so filled with fear?  I mean, this was Jesus, right?  Well, I'll tell you who the disciples did not see that day...Jesus.  In the hour when they needed most to recognize Him for who He was, they punted.  We've all had those moments.  Those moments when our focus is far from Him.  When our eyes began to see what is all around us, instead of who is inside of us.  I've heard many a sermon about the dangers of taking our eyes off of Jesus, but that was before I knew Him as I do today.  In most church teachings, being told we've taken our eyes off of Jesus is akin to earning punishment from God.  We were bad Christians and we needed to refocus.  However, before I came to the realization of Christ in me, I did not have eyes to see Jesus for who He truly is.  Jesus is not a supernatural being who lives in heaven whose only purpose is to ensure we fly straight.  The apostle Paul ensured us of this when he observed that he no longer lived, but it was Christ who lived in him {Galatians 2:20}.  Paul had eyes to see.  All too often, we lose sight of who Jesus really is.  I know I have from time to time.  Too many times, this happens when I'm faced with a bad situation.  Our own storms of life can shift our focus pretty quickly.  As our country struggles with a epidemic, more than a few times I've watched the local news and lost my focus on Jesus.  Although I do have eyes to see Him, I was as distracted as those disciples in the boat.  I'm sure that many of those men had seen with their own eyes the miracles of Jesus.  I'm sure that they had also heard His teachings.  Yet, when the storm came, panic set in.  What would you do if you were caught in a storm with Jesus?  Would you have eyes to see Him?

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Matthew 14: 28 - 31 NKJV

One of those disciples who was in the boat with Jesus as He crossed the sea got another chance to put his eyes upon Jesus later.  Peter, not believing his own eyes, dared Jesus to prove Himself.  As Jesus tells him to come to Him, Peter gets out of the boat and walks on the water to Jesus.  This is where Peters vision goes haywire.  The scripture tells the story, "But when he saw the wind was boisterous; he was afraid."  This is the moment Peter begins to sink.  He has taken his focus off of Jesus and he's now watching his surroundings.  Like the disciples in the boat from earlier, Peter cries for Jesus to save him from the angry seas.  What is interesting here is that this is Peters second encounter with the wind and the waves when it comes to Jesus.  What didn't he learn from the first time?  I can't be too hard on Peter, because I've been there.  I've been on those stormy seas when, although I knew who was guiding me, I took my focus off of Christ.  It doesn't take much, it seems, to shift our focus from eyes that can see to our immediate surroundings.  One thing that remains constant is Jesus in us.  Jesus is one who never changes {Hebrews 13:8}.  Our circumstances may change by the minute, but Jesus, who is all in all, is always the same.  No matter what the storm, He who is in us is always there.  This is a far cry from the Jesus we grew up hearing about.  The Jesus who was removed from us until He returned once again.  Well, the funny thing is, He's already returned and many people just missed it completely.  They do not have eyes to see.  I see Jesus as my life.  No matter what may happen, He is always there.  I have eyes to see.

Thoughts About Home

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord
2 Corinthians 5: 8 NIV

Most of us, by now, have learned how it is to spend most of our daily time at home.  So much so, that many of us long for the days when we could simply go out and do that which we desired to do.  I know I do.  My entire daily schedule has been thrown out due to our current situation.  I'm guessing that I'm not alone when I say that.  Despite the current hardships we're facing, there are those who enjoy the opportunity to be at home among family.  I know more than a few people who are enjoying this time to connect and spend time with their families.  I'm not one of those.  Before all of this happened, I was one who enjoyed going out and talking to people throughout my day.  Don't get me wrong, I still do, just on a more limited basis.  I'm used to the heavy traffic, people everywhere and the hustle and bustle of daily life.  That's my thing.  I'm sure that once this shelter ban is lifted that perhaps I will long for a few moments of peace and quiet, but as for now I've had more than enough solitude.  For now, home is where we remain.  But, where is home, really?  All too many people associate home with that earthly we return to at the end of each day.  Yes, this indeed is our home.  However, I also hear those speak of home in a different way.  I've heard many a Christian speak of that time when the Lord calls us home.  I would point out that it is this home that should be our true desire.  some will say that, at some point, that we believers will be "home with the Lord."  We do well to think in this way, but we're also missing that which is right in front of us.  We need not wait until the Lord calls us home in order to be in His presence.  The apostle Paul speaks of this in Galatians.  Paul knew that it was indeed Christ Jesus who lived through him {Galatians 2:20}.  He also knew that it was better to abandon his earthly body for the opportunity to be "home" with the Lord {2 Corinthians 5:8}.  When Paul talked of focusing upon things above, this is what he was referring to {Colossians 3:1-2}.  We see out true home as that of our eternal dwelling.  That place where we will slip the bonds of our earthly life to be with Christ.  In the meantime, we are but visitors in a foreign land.  We may refer to this land as home, but I know where my home truly is.

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things of God, not on things of the earth.
Colossians 3: 1 - 2 NKJV

I recall my mother, before her passing, spoke of going home.  Now, I believed at the time that she was referring to her earthly home.  However, my mom was a God fearing lady, and I believe that in her final days she was longing for her life in the Lords presence (mom was on the fence about the whole Christ in us thing).  She knew what awaited her and, in her mind, it was much better than what she was facing here among the living.  When I think of her words, I think of Paul, who spoke of being at "home" with his Lord.  We think of home as being our earthly dwelling because that is what we know.  That is what we experience each day.  I have a home, that is where I've been sequestered during this unconstitutional government shutdown.  However, this is not the home I await so eagerly.  My true home will be free of hurt, pain and meddling government authorities.  My true home will be that place where I will be with God and my mother and I will be reunited once again.  That is what I wait for.  When our minds are focused upon things above, we see that our one true home is not that shack with a two car garage and fireplace.  No, our true home is one where we will reside with Christ Jesus and those who believed in Him.  How happy must the Father be to have His children home?  Too many people view our passing into the end of our lives in a painful, negative way.  We should be celebrating our new journey!  Remember, Christ has overcome death once and for all {Romans 6:9}.  This is setting our minds upon things above.  As we live as visitors in this land, we eagerly await the day when we will...go home.

For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Philippians 1: 23 NKJV

~Scott~

A Sober Reminder

Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
Psalm 91: 14 NKJV

One of my mothers favorite scriptures was found in Psalm 91.  She turned to it often in times of trouble, and I quoted from it at her memorial.  The funny thing is, about the only time she read it was in those times of her life when she felt that she needed the Lords comfort.  No doubt about it, when the wolf is at the door, many a Christian will turn to this scripture as well.  It's how we've been taught from a young age.  The bible is there to not only comfort us in our time of need, but also to guide us through life.  We see as Gods promise any scripture which speaks to our heart in our current situation.  However, is it really His divine promise to protect His children?  I believe that Gods intent is always for our good {Genesis 50:20}.  But, is His promise to always protect us?  Let me put it this way, is Gods promise to always protect us, or to never leave us? {John 14:16, Galatians 2:20}.  Examples for both can be found in scripture, but are both really promises from God?  I believe that at least one of these scriptures is a foundation of our relationship with Him.  That being His promise to never leave us.  I know that, were my mother still with us, that she would present a interesting discussion as to how Psalm 91 is indeed Gods promise to always protect us.  Of course, I would have to disagree.  I can already hear the nay Sayers lining up to say just how wrong I am in my thinking.  I get it.  For a long time, I too believed that God was my shield and my protection.  Don't get me wrong, God does look out for us.  His first thoughts are always for His children.  But is it His promise to defend us from any and all harm.  If you trust in this, then you've lost me.  How many Christians who believed it was the Lords promise to always protect them have died from the virus that is ravaging our country?  If I held so dearly to the belief that God would always protect me, the first thing I would do when things went south would be to blame God for breaking His promise to me.  In fact, this is what all too many believers do in times of trouble.  "God...why didn't you protect me?"  I'll tell you this, God may have allowed events to impact your life, but He NEVER left you.  While you walked through the fire, He was there with you through it all.  The apostle Paul assures us of this truth in Galatians {Galatians 2:20}.  It is Christ Jesus who lives through us and will never leave us.

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Genesis 50: 20 NKJV

Was it Gods desire to always protect Joseph?  Well, if it was then his story might have played out a different way.  As it was, God used Josephs situation for His purpose, for the greater good.  As my mom lay in a nursing home, I prayed daily that God would heal and restore her.  This went on for more than a few years.  The morning after she passed away, I could have spit at God I was so angry with Him.  Why had he not honored my prayers?  Why was He punishing me?  Then it hit me...my mother was no longer in pain.  She was now in peace with Christ.  How could I be angry with that?  When I look back on it, my prayers were kind of on the selfish side.  Gods intent, so I felt, should be to answer my prayer and heal my mom.  Well, as Joseph found out, God doesn't always work things out the way we'd like.  He does, however, work things out the way He intends to.  Was God punishing me?  Not at all.  He was using my situation to speak to me.  That message was, and still is, that it's not all about me.  We've been taught that we are good little Christians when we pray for those in need.  In fact, there are millions of so called "prayer warriors" around the world.  But, what should our prayers be?  See, God knows already the thoughts of our hearts, so He knows what we're about to pray for.  What if our prayers were as simple as this...Lord, let them see you?  The thing is, prayer is a extremely personal matter between ourselves and God.  Did Jesus pray?  The scripture tells us that He did.  However I see those times in Jesus's life as His conversations with the Father and not prayer as we know it.  I've been asked to pray for those who are affected by the COVID19 virus, and I've wondered how to approach a prayer like that.  However, last night I managed to pray for those who are suffering.  Lord, what is it that you are trying to show us through this?

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
Matthew 26: 39 NKJV

~Scott~