Lord, Increase My Faith

At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them [the disciples in the boat] walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid." Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come ahead." But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!" Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, "Faint-heart, what got into you?" ("Your faith is so small!" he said. "Why did you doubt me?" (NIRV)) The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You are God's Son for sure!" Matthew 14:25-33 - The Message

Have you ever found yourself alone and afraid? Or even in a moment in life where you were vulnerable to danger or despair? I can remember as I was growing up when my parents started leaving me briefly “home alone” on occasions. It was a good learning experience and a way to develop my independence and maturity. But at times, especially after dark, my mind started creating scenarios and events that likely would not happen, but filled me with fear regardless. If I acted properly and my parents saw that I could be trusted, then they would continue to trust me with bigger and better things – more responsibility. If I acted improperly and my parents learned that I could not be trusted, then it would be a while before they would trust me with this responsibility again. This is great learning tool that can be taught and practiced by parents to help train their kids up in the Lord. And, I believe it is also a tool used by our heavenly father to His children even today.

By reading a few verses that preceded the above text in Matthew 14, we find that Jesus and the disciples had a huge day. It was already getting late in the day even before Jesus had fed the 5,000 men and their families. But even after the supper that more than likely took a few hours, Jesus told the disciples to “go on ahead of him” v. 22 by boat to the other side of the sea of Galilee. Jesus then dismissed the crowd and went up on a mountain alone to pray. It was dark. Here at this time, Jesus had purposely left his disciples alone, vulnerable and even possibly afraid. Jesus may have even stirred up the winds that now were pushing the boat all around, and were also stirring up the sea and tossing the boat up and down.

Why would Jesus possibly do this or cause this to happen? (If he did in fact plan this – and I’m only guessing that he did) Jesus could possibly be testing his closest follower’s faith. He had just miraculously fed over 5,000 people, maybe double that number due to the women and children. Had they even noticed this miracle? Or had they quickly forgotten his concern and care for this crowd because now they were facing a real storm in their lives. That’s my best guess. Jesus was no where to be seen, they were alone, in a boat, on the water, in a wind storm, with large waves crashing all around. I’d be scared too. But then again, Jesus might also rebuke me in the same way as he did his disciples, “Your faith is small, and why did you doubt me?”

Please note, that Jesus did not call them faithless or without faith. But Jesus rebuked them for their forgetfulness, since they were a witness to many miraculous events by his own hand. Even though Jesus had left them alone for a time, and allowed troubled waters to buffet them and bring about fear, Jesus was there. Even further, Peter boldly tested this ghost’s claim of being Jesus, by saying something rash and impetuous. “If you are Jesus, command me to come to you. Because I know my Jesus would not let me sink and drown.” The ghost said, “Come.” Peter gets out and makes his way to this ghost. “It’s going pretty good so far. Wait a second,” Peter said, “I’m walking on water. This can’t be right.” And he starts to sink. The moment Peter starts to think, he starts to sink. The closer Peter got to Jesus, his more his faith was leaving him. Jesus was there. As soon as Peter cried out to Jesus, Jesus immediately reached “down” and gripped him, lifting him up out of the water, placing his feet on the water, and holding him as they walked to the boat. Jesus was there.

Now I wonder, if this story were to be repeated later in Peter’s life, how would it play out? I believe Peter and the others learned a great deal that night. I believe that Peter and the others learned to trust Jesus to save them, in good times or bad. I believe that their faith grew greatly that night so that they would not doubt Jesus that way again. How about you? How about me? Do I feel like I’m being tested? Do I know or remember that God is always there for me? Isaiah 59:1. Do I remember God’s promise that He will hear those who call Him in truth? Psalms 145:18. I’m also learning that God brings His children up with proper and righteous training. God’s working on me and others. James 1:2-4 I pray that I might be strengthened, that my faith and reliance upon God will grow, and that I might pass the test and be blessed even more abundantly afterward.

If I can learn to trust God to take care of me, to put my complete trust and faith in him, to seek after the kingdom of God and after His righteousness, then God will bless me with all I need. Matthew 6:33. Matthew 6:25-34.

Seeking The Lost

Yesterday at work, I started singing this great old song that popped into my head. I hadn’t sung it in a while, but it really was a great encouragement for me. The song was Seeking the Lost written by William A. Ogden in 1886 at the age of 45 years old. The song is a tender song showing the passion that Jesus had when he came into the world to bring salvation to mankind. He knew full well that most of the whole world would reject him, but he knew that there were those who would accept him. Luke 19:10. Remember too that Jesus himself told those who felt like they did not need him; to those who felt like they were already righteous and saved, the He did not come for them, but for those only who needed salvation. Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17.

The song is a song of compassion that we too should have as children of God for those who do not yet know Jesus, for those who are searching for a purpose in their lives, and for those who simply choose to live in sin – outside of the hope of Jesus. The song sings of a dedication that one might feel about going far and wide for those in sin – whatever it may take, however far one might need to go to bring an erring brother or sister in Christ back into the body – to once again reunite with the church so that the body might be made stronger. The song is also a gentle reminder that Jesus, the only son of God came to this earth to be the only sacrifice that would be capable of paying the debt of sin to which we all owe. Otherwise, our wretched life of sin would go unpaid and unforgiven. Romans 7:24, Hebrews 9:28, Revelation 5:12. It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive. Jesus Christ is the world’s redeemer.

Unfortunately, there are billions of people in this world who have never heard the good story. There are billions of people who are lost, and do not even realize their dreadful condition. The writer of the song further describes that we should be busy “pointing the way” to Jesus. Romans 15:18. My only hope is You, Jesus. All that I need is You, Jesus.

The song also gives a subtle hint that those in the world who live without Jesus are simply wanderers in this world, like the sheep without a shepherd, not knowing how to take care of themselves, going around in circles without someone to lead them. Jeremiah 50:6, Ezekiel 34:6. The song also sings about those who have given up, who are weak, who are hurting, who have been through so much without much support from others. It’s sometimes hard to put our trust and hope in others, because we often times let each other down. We cannot always be there for each other. But the song sings and reminds us that we can put our hope and trust in God. Matthew 11:28.

The song reminds us too that salvation is not found in us, but in our message. The message of the gospel is not about who baptized us, it’s not about how good we claim to be or how we can somehow earn our own salvation. The message of the gospel is about Jesus. It’s about having faith in Jesus. It’s about following Jesus. It’s about learning from Jesus. It’s about having Jesus as our perfect example. It’s about having the same love for others that Jesus had for us. It’s about Jesus. John 14:6.

The song is a major influence to me and also reminds me that our walk with Him is not always an easy walk. Not only should we seek the lost, but we should also take time to strengthen each other in Christ. Encourage our church family, the body of Christ both when we’re strong but especially when we’re weak. Remind each other that we’re stronger when we’re together. Tell each other that we remember each other daily in our prayers. Allow Christ, God, and His Spirit to dwell in us. Allow His Spirit to work in us and let His Spirit use us to further edify each other. 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Galatians 6:2.

Seeking the lost, yes, kindly entreating
Wanderers on the mountain astray;
“Come unto Me,” His message repeating,
Words of the Master speaking today.

Seeking the lost and pointing to Jesus
Souls that are weak and hearts that are sore,
Leading them forth in ways of salvation,
Showing the path to life evermore.

Thus would I go on missions of mercy,
Following Christ from day unto day,
Cheering the faint and raising the fallen,
Pointing the lost to Jesus, the Way.

[Refrain]

Going afar
Upon the mountain
Bringing the wanderer back again
Into the fold
Of my Redeemer
Jesus the Lamb for sinners slain.

Allergies

Most every year, I seem to get a good dose of Poison Ivy. I haven’t gotten it yet this year, but the past couple of years I always seem to get it during the winter months. For those of you who have never had Poison Ivy, let me explain that you don’t even need to touch or handle the plant to get it. In fact the past several years I’ve gotten it, has been thanks to my oldest son who’s “given” it to me. You see, my son loves to go out into the fields and woods behind our house and build club-houses and just hang out and explore. Then, when he comes home, he unknowingly “gives” me this pestilence. The allergens from the plant are all over his clothes. Sometimes I can just touch his clothes, other times the allergens just travel through the air and get on me. I don’t even realize what has happened until the next day when I start to see the reaction on my skin, and the unmistakable itching that comes with the reaction.

I’ve been thinking for a while about things in my own life, that I’ve been “carrying” around, and how it affects others around me. Do I offend others knowingly? Do I offend others unknowingly? Do I continue to carry things around in my life even if I know that it affects others? Or do I try to remove the exposed and filthy clothing and clean up my life so that I no longer offend? Or, am I satisfied with my situation and care not how I might affect my brother or sister in Christ? I would say that over the past couple of years, I have made a very strong effort to remove those infected clothes that I’ve been wearing – those hypocritical garments that were stained with sin. The Lord has been working on me and in me and has shown me that “His grace was sufficient for me.” I’ve been learning that on my own, I cannot stand perfect in front of God, but it’s only through being immersed into his blood, by partaking of the only sacrifice that can remove my sins that I’m able to stand in front of God – with confidence knowing that when He looks at me he does not see my sins, but He sees His own son’s blood covering my body.

Yes. I sin. I sin every day, unfortunately with this or that. With one thing or another, whether it’s doing something I shouldn’t or not doing something I should. But, what matters is that I should not feel hopeless, helpless, and simply give up trying. It’s when I’ve given up that Satan has won the battle. It’s the point when I stop trying or caring that Jesus’ blood no longer covers me. It’s those times in my life when I infect others with my wrongs and cause someone to stumble that affect me the most. I feel the worst when I’ve done something either to someone or around someone and made that person think less of me.

Remember the story found in Luke 7:36-50 when a Pharisee [considered himself righteous by his strict obedience to the old law (legalism)] invited Jesus to his house for dinner. When a sinful woman who lived in the town heard that Jesus was there, she came to the home, knelt down and began crying and kissing Jesus’ feet – pouring her tears onto his feet, scrubbing his feet with her hair, then anointing his feet with expensive perfume. When the Pharisee saw what was going on, he watched and waited to see what would happen. I could also see in my minds eye, that as she walked in, he took a deep breath and held it - so as not to become infected. He knew the history of this woman. He knew that she carried around sin in her life just like an infected person carries around sickness or allergens that might also infect others. But he waited to see what Jesus would do with her. You see, these Pharisees would not even come close to a woman like this for fear of being “contaminated” and “associated” with this sinful person. In their own minds, the “righteous” Pharisees should not even be around this “sinner”, and they thought that neither should Jesus. But by her act of repentance, by her sacrifice and offering to Jesus, by her great love that she gave the son of God, Jesus was moved with compassion for this person. He forgave her sins. Again, in my own mind, all those Pharisees finally collapsed and fell out from holding their breathe so long.

Father God, Holy God, Lord, I come to you today as this woman has. I humbly come to your feet, knowing that I am a sinner unfit to approach you, Lord. I am thankful, Lord that you are our father, that you are compassionate with us, longsuffering with us. I am thankful that you care enough for us to prepare a way for us to be made whole in your sight. Thank you for sending your only son – Jesus to be our perfect sacrifice. And thank you Lord Jesus for loving your father and being completely obedient to Him. Thank you Jesus for loving us, and for being willing to suffer humiliation and pain on our behalf. Lord, I realize that the suffering you went through was not because you deserved it, but because of my sinful nature. You died in my place, so that I could stand redeemed in front of God our father. Lord, forgive me of my sinful nature. Forgive me when I sin and become covered in filth. Forgive me when I carry that filth around and expose it to others, Lord. Lord, wash me and cover me with your blood so that I can stand pure in front of others, so that when they look at me, they can also see you living in me. Thank you, Lord for your forgiveness, and for your Love. In the name of the one who has redeemed me, Jesus Christ our Lord – Amen.

Baby Feet

Feet are funny, feet are fat.
Some are White, Red, Tan, or Black.
Feet can run, and feet can jump,
Feet can smell just like a skunk.
Brand new feet are soft and cuddly,
Older feet are hard and crusty.
Brand new feet must walk on grass,
Older feet can walk on glass.
Oh, to have the feet of a child,
To be a youngster, meek and mild.
To put away my older habits,
And run and play like baby rabbits.
If I could make my feet brand new,
I’m sure my heart would soften too.
I’d rather not be old and calloused,
But young at heart, filled with softness.
When I can forget the wrongs to me,
And focus on the good in thee.
When I can realize that I’ve done wrong,
And my conscious will be loud and strong.
Give me a soft heart oh God,
And watch over me, wherever I trod.
Make my heart a useful tool,
And bless my tired worn out feet too.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus. They asked him, "Who is the most important person in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus called a little child over to him. He had the child stand among them. Jesus said, "What I'm about to tell you is true. You need to change and become like little children. If you don't, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Anyone who becomes as free of pride as this child is the most important in the kingdom of heaven. "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. "But what if someone leads one of these little ones who believe in me to sin? If he does, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and be drowned at the bottom of the sea. - Matthew 18:1-6

People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to touch them. But the disciples told the people to stop. When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to his disciples, "Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. God's kingdom belongs to people like them. What I'm about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God's kingdom like a little child will never enter it." Then he took the children in his arms. He put his hands on them and blessed them. - Mark 10:13-16

Am I listening to what God is saying in His Word?

God - Our Provider

God works in wonderful ways. It’s hard or even impossible for me to understand. But I’ve seen things in my own life – after the fact that I look back and say, wow! It gives me chills down my back to realize that at that time, when I didn’t even realize it, God was directing me. And I shutter to think of the outcome had it not been for Him being beside me. I’d rather not get off on trying to explain tragic events in peoples life – because I know they do happen. But I also see in mine and in others life – a chain of events that can only be explained as the providence of God. Praise Him!

Over the past couple of years, I was introduced to an older man at church, Mr. Rufus Organ. He went out of his way to make it a point to introduce himself to me, and I’ve been great full ever since. Mr. Rufus will be 73 this month. He’s lived an ordinary life, and he and his wife are now retired and live in Earle. He used to carry the mail out in Earle. Mr. Rufus hasn’t slowed down yet though – he’s one of the hardest working men I know. He’s sort of a do-all man, and can practically do any kind of handy work on your house. He can build anything you need. But mostly he spends his time during the day in painting people’s house.

I don’t know all the details, so I’m just recounting all of this from my perspective. Last Spring, Earle had a tornado come through and destroy some homes and businesses. A few months before the tornado, there was a lady who lived in Earle who had just lost her husband. Then, she lost her home by the tornado. Mr. Rufus felt so bad for this lady and his loving heart went out to this person. He decided to make it his project to help this lady put her home back together again. What I find amazing is that I felt like I had known Mr. Rufus very well during this time, but for six to eight months during this home’s reconstruction, I never knew the first thing about what he had been spending his time doing. You see Mr. Rufus apparently is a quiet kind of guy. There’s no bragging or showing off with him. Matthew 6:1. Every time I would talk to him about his day, it was just the standard line of, “Oh, I’ve been painting here, or painting there.” In fact, Mr. Rufus did spend a lot of his time during the day alone, painting houses here and there.

Last month, a large group of men finally discovered what he had been doing – although it had been known by a few for a while. One of the men from our church organized a work day to help and paint as much of the house and clean up the yard out there in a day. The lady, the owner of the house had always been overwhelmed at Mr. Rufus’ generosity, but I heard that day, she was so overwhelmed her and her mother could not hold back their tears. Through tragedy comes an opportunity to serve. Thankfully this lady was not hurt during the storm. But God saved her and showed her love through hundreds of people. Many companies have donated their time, money, expertise, equipment, supplies, and material to get her house back in order. It is so overwhelming to be used by God. At the end of every day, to drive away with a huge grin on your face knowing that you helped someone in need is so rewarding – and hundreds of people experienced that feeling when they went out there to help. Again I say, “Praise God!”

New Years weekend, my friend Mr. Rufus and his wife headed down to Dallas for a niece’s wedding. They drove the whole trip in one day, with few stops in between. In fact, I’m not sure that they even stopped for lunch. Upon arriving at the hotel, Mr. Rufus was wheeling his luggage into the hotel room when he suddenly had to stop. He couldn’t breathe. He made it into his room, but realized that he was in some trouble. He started getting scared and nervous and so he was taken to the hospital and they started working on him right away. All they could tell at the moment was that he was having irregular heart beats. After the doctors got him settled down and up into a room, his wife was checking on him. Suddenly she wasn’t feeling good either. She needed to go out in the hall for some fresh air. She fainted right in front of the nurse’s station. They rushed her down to emergency to check her out. She was worn out tired and stressed over her husband. She told me that she hadn’t eaten yet that day because they had planned to eat once they got into town. They got her fixed up and wheeled her into the room across from the hall from her husband. What a way to spend the weekend – cooped up in the hospital away from home.

As Mr. Rufus was telling all of this to me, I just felt so bad for both of them. But then I heard, “the rest of the story.”

On their way down there – while they were still in Arkansas, their daughter called them on their cell. She was checking where they were by then, and was toying around with the idea that she might like to head down there with them and go to the wedding. Mr. Rufus and his wife had already passed their daughters house by some distance, so their daughter told them not to worry about turning back around for her. After they hung up, Mr. Rufus felt compelled to turn around anyway and go and pick up their daughter to take her with them. If she was willing to go, then they were more than willing to take her with them.

So it was there on the sidewalk, as he pushed the cart of luggage up to their room, when he stopped in his tracks and could go no further that his wife and daughter were there to help him up to his room, and wheel the cart up in afterwards. They were also there at the hotel with other family that had driven in for the wedding that weekend. Mr. Rufus was surrounded by family that was able to take care of him, and help him head to the hospital. Did I mention that the hospital was right across the street from their hotel? It was also fortunate that their daughter and other family were there when Mrs. Organ collapsed in the hospital hallway – not to mention the fact that maybe the best place to collapse is in a hospital. So, their daughter pulled up a chair, and sat in the middle of the hallway between her Dad and Mom’s room – going from one room to the next for that night and next day. Do you have chills running down your back yet? I still do.

Let’s talk a little about God now, or Yahweh Yireh which is translated as God our Provider. Since God sees the future as well as the past and the present, he is able to anticipate and provide for what is needed. Interestingly the English word “provision” is made up of two Latin words that mean “to see beforehand.” Listen friends, when Mr. Rufus asked me to remember them in prayer that weekend, and also when they prayed that morning asking God for a safe trip, God who sees the situation beforehand and who is able to provide – worked in wonderful ways that day.

Genesis 22:1-14 tells us the story of Abraham and his son Isaac. Genesis 22:2 says that God told Abraham to go and offer his only son, whom he loved. Abraham was faithful and went – knowing that God would provide. When asked by his son Isaac, “Father, where is the sacrifice”, his father said this in Genesis 22:8. After Abraham showed to God that he was faithful, God showed to Abraham that He was also faithful by providing an alternative to his son. Genesis 22:14.

Again, I cannot understand or even explain God’s help for us today – physically. I’ve seen it happen. But I’ve also seen tragedy too. I do know that God is more interested in our spiritual welfare and desires that we all be saved. But I do also believe that He works through us and in us to bless us and others. Just like examples found in the bible of God’s work through man in the many miracles that we read about today as found in the NT, God works in ways to build us up and increases our faith. When Mr. Rufus told me this story, all I could do was shake my head and grin, and then we offered up a prayer together praising Him for being our provider.

Ephesians 5:1, 2

You’ve Just Won Free Tickets!

Today I heard a radio contest and it brought back memories of the one and only time I ever won anything from a radio show. The gift was nice, but I had to head on over to Memphis to pick up free coupon. As I thought about this FREE ticket contest, it reminded me that even though something wonderful and exciting can be free, there is always a price to pay to obtain it. But the FREE gift usually outweighs the duty spent to obtain it. Here’s a similar add that I heard today.

* - Hey, thank you for calling FM 92 where we play 80’s over and over and over, who’s this?
+ - Uh, this is Jonathan.
* - Hey Jonathan, thanks for calling in to the show.
* - Of course the show is sponsored by your local Quik-Shop, where we get you out the door, just as quickly as you came in.
* - Okay Jonathan there’s an NBA game tomorrow night at the local arena and you can win FREE tickets if you can answer the question. Did you hear the quik-clip that we just played?
+ - Uh, yea.
* - Okay, what was the number one hit on December 30th, 1987? (drum roll please)
+ - Uh…. Umm…. I think it was Faith by George Michael..?
* - You’re exactly right! That’s a great memory you have there Jonathan! Way to go!
* - Hang on the line there with me Jonathan, and I’ll hook you up with those FREE tickets.
* - Everyone be sure to have a good and safe and happy New Year out there this week, and remember the station that plays 80’s over and over and over – FM 92.
* - Okay, you still here with me Jonathan?
+ - Uh, yea.
* - Okay Jonathan, do you know where our radio studio is here in town?
+ - Uh, well, I live in the town right next to you, but yea, I know where it is.
* - Well, just head on over to our studios today, and pick up these FREE tickets for the game tomorrow night.
+ - Uh, you can’t mail them to me?
* - Well, they wouldn’t get to your house in time and the game’s tomorrow night.
+ - Uh, you mean I need to come way over to your town to pick up the tickets today, and come back way over to your town again tomorrow for the game?
* - Yes – if you’d like these FREE tickets.
+ - These tickets don’t sound very free to me.
* - We’ll they’re FREE, and they will be here waiting for you if you’d like to come and get them….

What about you, do these tickets sound like a good deal to you or not. It may depend on what the tickets are for, or what the event is whether it’s a good deal for you. For me personally, a basketball game would not really be something I’d be willing to put forth an effort to take advantage of. But everyone has something that interests them so that they’d be willing to take advantage of this “FREE” offer.

God offers us this very same deal, but the event is going to be the grandest event ever known to mankind or angelic beings alike – and that’s heaven. God offers us all “FREE” tickets to heaven. But just like the example above, there is an action required on our part.

Just as God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a staff and raise it up for the people who had been bitten to come and look at – and be made well again. Numbers 21:8-9. Many of the people who grumbled and complained against God were bitten by poisonous snakes and died. But God made a way for the people to be saved. The people were told if after they were bitten, if they would look at this snake up high on a pole, they would be made well. So, when the people were bitten those who believed looked to the pole and were saved.

Jesus himself retells this same story and compares what he would shortly be going through to be the saving means or mechanism that would save us. Jesus said:

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, the Son of Man must be lifted up also. Then everyone who believes in him can live with God forever. "God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. "God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world. He sent his Son to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not judged. But anyone who does not believe is judged already. He has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:14-18

Free tickets to heaven anybody? Just come to Jesus. Let Jesus save you. Don’t let this great sacrifice go unused. Take advantage of it. He is waiting. He has a place prepared for us, if we will only wake up, and get up out of the hog pen and realize how filthy we are, and how much better our situation would be in “our father’s house” He stands up on the porch – just like the Prodigal’s father – watching and waiting for us to return to him. We must be willing to take the step, to even go out of our way if need be to come to him. We must believe. Faith is an active description which requires us to make an effort. Just like me having to drive over to the next town just to pick up some FREE tickets. If it’s heaven we’re talking about here, then its well worth the drive.

Giving My Best

I've rewritten or paraphrased a couple of passages from the bible, to help me study and understand these pasages a little clearer. God is so good in that he provided us with His holy scriptures, so that we might come to learn from Him.

GOD - Israel, I have loved you.
Israel - Ha! How have you loved us?
GOD - Was Esau not the rightful son who should have been blessed?
GOD - Wasn’t Jacob the younger chosen?
GOD - I cursed Esau because he dishonored his father.
GOD - I have torn down Easu’s mountains and left his dwelling desolate.
GOD - They may try and rebuild, but I will again destroy it all.
GOD - They shall forever be cursed.
GOD - You will see and know that God, who rules over all judges even them.
GOD - A son honors his father.
GOD - If I am a father, where is the honor I should have?
GOD - A servant honors his master.
GOD - If I am a master, where is the respect you should give me?"
GOD - You priests look down on me.
Israel - How have we looked down on you?
GOD - You put unclean food upon my altar.
Israel - How have we made your altar unclean?
Israel - How have we defiled you?
GOD - You do it by looking down on my altar.
GOD - By despising my altar you despise me.
GOD - Is it not wrong to sacrifice blind, sick, or defiled animals to me?
GOD - How would your governor enjoy those gifts?
GOD - Do you fear your governor more than you fear me?
GOD - Do you honor your rulers more than you honor me?
GOD - Now you dare to ask me to show you my favor and to bless you?
GOD - Don’t you know how you dishonor me?
GOD - As long as you give me these types of offerings, how can I bless you?
GOD - You might as well close up the temple and stop pretending to honor me.
GOD - I am not pleased with you, and I will not accept any of these offerings you bring.
GOD - My name will be great throughout the world!
GOD - The whole world will worship me from the east to the west.
GOD - In every place they will burn beautiful incense to me.
GOD - They will bring pure offerings to me because my name will be great in the world.
GOD - But you, you treat me and my name as if it is a common name.
GOD - You treat my altar as a common altar, worth less than your rulers.
GOD - You look down on the offerings you bring and give me the leftovers.
GOD - You grumble as if serving me is a burden.
GOD - You wish you could do the things that make you happy, instead of thinking of me.
GOD - You cheat me by promising the best, and delivering the second best.
GOD - Because you cheat me, you are under my curse.
GOD - Remember Esau.
GOD - Even the nations around you respect and know me as the great king.
GOD - So why can’t you?

Malachi 1

As Jesus looked up, He saw rich people putting in their gifts into the temple offering boxes. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.
JESUS - What I’m about to tell you is true.
JESUS - That poor widow has put in more than all the others.
JESUS - All of those other people put in a lot, because they are rich.
JESUS - But even though this lady is very poor, she has put in everything she had.
JESUS - She has nothing else to live on.

Luke 1:1-4

What if I sing with the voice of an angel?
Without love, my voice and my songs are worthless.
I am really only a loud, noisy clanging symbol in God’s eyes.
What if God has blessed me with the gift of prophecy?
What if I memorized the Bible, inside and out.
What if I think I know the deep mysteries of God.
What if I have more faith than anyone, so that I can do anything?
If I don’t have love, then all of these gifts don’t matter.
Without love, I am really no one at all.
What if I give everything I have to the poor?
What if I give my own body to be sacrificed in place of someone else?
If I do not have love, these generous actions will not benefit me.
If I do not do these actions out of love, care, and concern, then I might as well not do them. It would be the same as I did nothing at all, than to do these without love. What good is it?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3