Only One Choice

I sometimes think that shopping is too complicated. There are too many choices!

 

Take toothpaste, for example. I can get it to whiten teeth, or to freshen my breath. They sell it for sensitive teeth and for soft enamels. Too many choices! I just need toothpaste!

 

Paper towel is another example. Some are the strongest, some the most absorbent. Still others come with soap already in them. Too many choices! I just need a disposable towel!

 

Today’s reading is 1Timothy 1:18-2:7. St. Paul, on a mission trip, was giving instructions to Timothy, the delegate leader of the Church at Ephesus.

 

Specifically, Paul is providing instructions regarding worship. As part of his instructions on prayers, Paul reminds Timothy, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom …” To the point, the only reason Timothy can pray to God is because he has faith in Jesus, who enables believers to approach God directly with requests.

 

In Paul’s day there were many religions claiming to have a path to God. Of course, there were numerous pagan religions, with priests encouraging people to worship creation, such as an alligator, a river or the Sun, instead of the creator. There also were Gnostics who claimed knowledge (the Greek word gnosis means knowledge) was necessary to reach God, not Christ’s crucifixion. Finally, Judaism had become a religion of Good Works.

 

Guess what? Things have not changed much in 2000 years. Pagan religions and Devil Worship exist today. The New Age Movement tells us we have what it takes to save ourselves. And there are many, many other religions that teach Good Works are required to reach God.

 

The only way to Heaven is through Jesus. The only reason we can approach God is because of Jesus.

 

What a blessing it is to approach God through prayer. He hears them all and answers them all. Of course, he does not always grant our request, but he does provide an answer.

 

Jesus is our mediator! Unlike shopping, Jesus is the only choice!

Do God's Work

Many years ago I travelled frequently on business. At first blush travelling to Chicago, New York, Amsterdam, Madrid, San Diego, Dallas, Frankfurt, Paris, Bordeaux, Nice and Rome can seem glamorous.  And at first it is glamorous.

 

However, over time, I came to loathe it.

My plane is not even shown in this picture

Flight delays, circling airports during thunderstorms, missed connections, flight delays, taxi drivers taking me to the wrong hotel, more flight delays,  locked out of my room on the balcony of my fourth floor room, lost luggage, cancelled flights, airport bomb scares, … , the list goes on and on (did I mention flight delays?).

 

I was not preaching the Gospel; I was merely trying to earn a living!

 

Today’s reading, Acts 27:1-44, is about one of the (arguably) worst trips in recorded history. Paul was travelling from Caesarea to Rome and in one trip he went through more than I went through in all my business travels combined.

 

Paul was preaching the Gospel; He was doing God’s work.

 

So was I doing God’s work? Well, I was not on the front line like Paul, but perhaps I was doing God’s work.

 

All Christians have a vocation. It includes worshipping God. Most of us have occupations, and some of us are called to be parents. Our vocation also includes being a member of a congregation that proclaims the love of Jesus to the world.

 

Earning a living meant travel, and that meant I was bound to have to put up with all the frustrations of travel. It also meant that I would have an income, and would have the wherewithal to contribute to my congregation.

 

By giving, I was playing a part, albeit small, in proclaiming God’s Message. I was not in a position in my life to go on mission trips, but I was in a position to give. God had blessed my family and I financially and it was only proper that I give back. The spiritual blessings my family and I received were immense!

 

Be a contributing member of a faithful congregation. Do God’s work. Give.

Focus (Ignore the Hocus-Pocus)

Life is full of distractions.

The other day while watching a college basketball game, I got up to go downstairs to get something to drink. On my way, I realized I had not gone through the mail, so I stopped and did that. That triggered the thought that I had an e-mail I had to write. I went and did that, then headed downstairs. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, I forgot why I was there. I went back to couch, wondering why I was still thirsty.

I had lost my focus.

Today’s story, Acts 13:44-50, is about a man who did not lose focus. Paul preached the Gospel in Antioch. God opened many hearts, heard Paul’s words and believed.

There were others, however, who did not like Paul’s message. “They stirred up persecution against Paul” and expelled Paul from the region. Paul could have stayed and argued, trying to convince these people they were wrong, but he did not. Paul realized his job was to preach; God would take care of the results. Paul was not distracted from his mission, so he left and went Iconium, where he continued to preach.

Paul kept his focus.

The Church has been under attack for 2000 years and continues to be so today. Christians are in prison and many are dying for their faith. TV shows belittle Christians and their values. Our government passes laws that show no respect for God’s Laws.

We could get mad and fight these battles, but really, they are a mere distraction.

Since Christ died for us, the Devil cannot get the souls of Christians. Nonetheless, he uses hocus-pocus and slights of hand to distract us so that we do not carry out God’s Will. Satan will do anything to make us lose our focus.

I must admit I do get angry with some of the things that are happening to our culture. However, I realize I must maintain my focus and continue to pursue God’s Will. I have a role to bring others to Jesus and I must not let my anger interfere with that.

I must keep my focus, and ignore the Devil's hocus-pocus.

Hey, I Didn't Sign Up For This!

Recently, in an adult Sunday School class, we were studying John 15:18-20. Jesus told his disciples, “If they persecute me, they will persecute you also.” One of the more astute students in the class joked, “Hey, I did not sign up for this.”

Today’s reading is Acts 4:23-31, known as The Believers’ Prayer. Peter and John had just been threatened by the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council) for preaching the Gospel. Peter and John might have thought, “Hey, I did not sign up for this.”

The disciples’ response, however, was to pray, asking God to, “consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” They were then filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to preach the Gospel..

The Church has been under attack for 2000 years. Jesus was crucified. Stephan was stoned.  St. Paul was chased out of many cities and spent time in several jails for preaching Christ.

The walls of the Sistine Chapel in Rome record the names of early Christian martyrs murdered in Nero’s Circus. Tens of thousands more have died throughout the years because of their faith.

The Church continues to be under attack today. Christians are ridiculed in the media. Christian values are flagrantly shuffled aside by politicians. The workplace can be hostile to people who practice their Christian principles. In Egypt, Christians are being killed for their faith. In Iran and North Korea, American Christians are in jail for preaching the Gospel.

I did not sign up for this.

Paul tells the Ephesians that God chose us, “to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Fortunately, God also gives us the tools to do the job and the tools of defense. Later in Ephesians, St. Paul encourages us to “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s scheme.”  The Holy Spirit provided the disciples, and provides us, with that armor.

God chose us. God gave us an assignment. Because of the devil, fulfilling that assignment can be challenging. Yet, through the Holy Spirit, God gives us everything we need.

Thankfully, God signed me up!