Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

Is this a trail of a mole?  I think it must be.  In any case, the highway is there – open for traffic.

Each year I am newly amazed by this flower – first to appear after the cold and snow, as showy and beautiful as any flower.  Thank you, Lord, for this breath of fresh air as Spring begins to make its appearance.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

The brotherhood of believers, both Jews and Gentiles, in the Greek city of Philippi, received this precious letter from the Apostle Paul.  On Paul’s Second Missionary journey this fellowship grasped the love of God and the church there flourished.  It was the only church that prospered in Greece after Paul’s journey.

That church was multi-ethnic.  The believers, no matter their background, loved Jesus dearly and wanted to follow Him.  That such a loving multicultural church in that great city is in itself a miracle.

Think of it, the four “missionaries,” Paul, Luke, Timothy and Silas were sharing their love of Jesus on this trip.  That love bound them together.  Paul had a strict Jewish background, Luke was a Gentile, Timothy was a Jew but a “liberal one.”  Silas was a Jew, now believing in Jesus.  Their differences were not a hinderance but a story that blessed all people.  They were a team!

They obviously stressed the virtues of Jesus, not their own cultures. That is – truth, what is right, what is pure, whatever is lovely and admirable.  All could agree on that cluster of virtues.  They embraced what they all believed.

Now, how about me, and you?  We do well to think about such things.  I am amazed and challenged.

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:22 – 26

This is one off my favorite blessings – the Lord to the sons of Aaron, the chosen priests in Israel.

The Lord bless you and keep you.  This word falls on me like a refreshing rain, or a cool zephyr on a hot day.  The Lord wants to bless me!  That is, in itself, reason to stop, consider, praise and worship.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.  The Lord’s face is more beautiful than the sun.  That face lightens everything.  When we see the face of Jesus, a peace comes over us that is beyond telling.  It blesses me and you, and all who believe.  Let’s us never take our gaze away from that face – it smiles on us with love and mercy.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen

2 Timothy 4:18

This is the theme of Daily Light this morning – a fresh and encouraging word.  I think you will agree.

Paul was being harassed on every side because of his love for not only Jews but Gentiles as well.  It seems as though the Jews were super active against the ministry of Paul at this time.  Paul held that the Gentile believers were accepted by God as beloved, just like the Jews were accepted.  To many Jews, they could not believe that the Gentiles could possibly be accepted into their faith that was shaped over many generations of history.  The Gospel invited both Jews and Gentiles, alike.  The were very different but the answer was the same – Jesus.

Paul was under attack from both Jewish and Gentile forces because neither could see how the two faiths, so to speak, could be held as true in the emerging Church of Jesus Christ that was open to all who believe.   The battle raged!

Paul felt the problems that this presented to the believers must be faced.  It would have been easier to stay divided but that was not in the plan of God.  Jewish and Gentiles will be one – To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen

And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Revelation 14:3

I am inspired and given hope as I read this joyous passage.  It is God’s revelation to our elder brother, John, and through him to us.  Since it is to us, we do well to absorb it into our inner beings.

To begin with, I have been bought with the precious Blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, so am oriented toward knowing that this is my new life in Christ. Life with Christ has challenges, unbelievable ones, but He is the victor and we are his!  That makes all the difference.  This world has us thinking that all this is wishful thinking – not for the born-again children of God who love it as life itself.

There are times when we feel like there but a few of us who are so blessed of Jesus.  Then, as with John in Revelation, the big picture flashes before our hopeful eyes – 144,000 brothers and sisters in Christ, from all cultures, all ages, all challenges, there before us to encourage us on.  Biblical scholars pretty much agree that this figure is symbolic of the miraculous body of Christ that has kept the faith alive these two thousand or more years.

I see this scene as a centerpiece of the vision.  We dare never be discouraged, there are more in the Body of Christ than we ever imagined.  And they are the happiest people ever.  That is my group, and yours, dear reader, if we walk with Jesus.

Anna Ruth contracted with a member of the White Oak Church of the Brethren to clean our place once a month.  I am impressed with the different products! These dear people do a marvelous job.  We admire their industriousness and professionalism.

In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.

Isaiah 38:17

I am aware of the fact that the book of Isaiah has a lot to say about sin.  As I compare that text to the themes of our Christian faith these days, I find that the idea of sin is almost omitted in Christian discourse.  It was very real to Isaiah – and all of the prophets of God!

What is my greatest debt to God this morning?  Mmm.  It surely is that Jesus died for my sins and keeps me walking close to God, aware of the allure of sin.  The book of Isaiah, and many other books, points to sin as the issue that must be dealt with, the sins of the people, my sins.

In times of revival of the people of God, sin stands out as the issue.  I think we humans shy away from thinking much about our sin.  Yet this is the heart of our relationship with God.

Lord, give me great joy in knowing that you have forgiven my sin – a gift that is precious beyond measure!

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38, 39

Paul, the noted persecutor of the Church of Jesus Christ, is writing!  He was captured with the love of God – that changed everything.  Once he hated the followers of Jesus, then he was one of those followers!  That made all the difference.

That happens to all of us followers of Jesus.  We have not always been sure of his love for us, but when he reveals his love for us all walls tumble, and we find that we are like Paul.  Nothing can separate us from that love.  It’s origins were not in us but in the Lord of All.

I rest everything on the love of God that is mine in Jesus Christ.  Life is that simple!  And that awesome.  Let’s live it to the full!!

This year we received more snow in March than all other months together.  This is our lamp post with a warm and glowing Winter light.   A delight.  It seems like Spring is near, but the weather does not agree!