October 2021 – Sonshine's Journal

October 27, 2021October 27, 2021

Which path will you choose?

Luke 14 and James 2 “Pride and Prejudice.”

Jesus and James show us the effects of both prideful and prejudicial choices. Luke recorded a story told by Jesus about how we view ourselves and demonstrate it in our options at a wedding feast, and the second story in James shows us how others view us when at church. In both, the contrast of pride and prejudice is the telling factor. We pride ourselves on our “position.” Jesus says, look at your choices before you, and that reveals your heart. Those who choose the best seats think of themselves ahead of others. James says, look at how you speak and act towards others. You reject the lowly stranger but give accolades to the rich and pompous. That should not be. In both cases, we should act and respond as God would. Perhaps that is why David wrote in Ps 139: examine me and see if there is any wicked way in me.

Today be humble and let others be ahead of you and when you are at a function, observe how the hosts seat others. Be discerning about them for their behavior reveals what they think and how they respond to their understanding of God and His priorities.

October 26, 2021October 26, 2021

Questions about the afterlife

No matter what time it occurs, will you be ready to meet Jesus

Luke 12 Are you prepared to meet Jesus?

Some came to Jesus to inquire about those, the Galileans, who died by the hand of Pilate. Were they at the wrong place at the wrong time or the right place because it was “their time?” As Jesus listened, he noted that they had the wrong question. The right question is not whether it is the wrong place or the right place; or the wrong time or the right time. Instead, one should ask, were they, and are you prepared to meet Jesus? The Hebrews author reminds us that “ALL people are appointed to die once and then face judgment.” [Heb 9:27] Only God knows our “end date.” We should not be concerned about that but concerned whether or not one has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Know this promise: “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us [that is you] from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Rom 8:38] if you know Him as Savior. So the real question today is, have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior?

October 25, 2021October 25, 2021

Saying and Doing are very Different Things!

You can say you believe but it is in the doing that proves it

John 10:22-42, Luke 10-11, Do I “truly” believe that Jesus is the Son of God?

A “whoa and loaded” question! The scribes and Pharisees just couldn’t wrap their mind around the works that Jesus did as proof of who He was, and so they came “once again” to test him. Into that scene, we find them stumbling over their questions and words, and Jesus listens with great patience, but you can tell he is tired of their frivolous words, their testing, their on and on questions. So, when a lawyer, probably one of them, comes and asks:” “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [Luke 10:25] Jesus asked him what the Law said, and the lawyer responded: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” [Luke 10:27]

You know we can know what the Law says, we can say we believe, but our belief is proven by what we say and do. Perhaps that is why James said so eloquently, do not merely listen to the message, go and do likewise because faith without works is dead. [James 1:22; 2:14-19] So Jesus told him to find a neighbor and show him mercy.

Where can I show others I believe God and the Son whom He sent?

October 24, 2021October 24, 2021

Are you Spiritually Blind?

John 9 and 10 The blind is made to see the “seeing” remain blind.

Will the religious leaders relinquish their man-made rules to believe? The disciples ask if the man sinned or his parents caused his blindness. Neither was the cause, but he “is” blind so that the works of God might be made manifest and cause men to choose the correct answer to this question: “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” KJV. [Jn 9:35]

The blind man obeyed the instructions of Jesus after receiving the “mud bath” and the “water bath,” and now is seeing. You would think others would stand up and praise God for this miracle but not so. Instead, he is tossed to and fro between his parents, neighbors, and religious leaders. Indeed Solomon was correct to say; the fear of man holds men. They fear men more than God. [Prov 29:25] Truly as Jesus said, they now remain in their sinful state. Jesus is the “Light” of the world, and He is the “Door.” Do you believe this?

Spiritual Truth: Some are more comfortable in their sin than in the light of seeing spiritual truths.

October 23, 2021October 23, 2021

The Faith Kernel is Tested

John 7 and 8 If you plant a kernel of wheat in the ground, it cannot grow without tender care. Nicodemus was given that kernel with the words “you must be born again.” [Jn 3] Now, it is months later, and that kernel of faith has been growing in small incremental steps. Will it pass the test of the doctrine of men? He steps up to the religious leaders whose intent is to kill Jesus and asks them this question: “Our law doesn’t condemn a man unless it first hears from him and learns what he is doing, does it?” [Jn 7:51] But in an instant, he is silenced! “Investigate carefully and you will see that no prophet comes from Galilee!” [Jn 7:52]

How often do we hear challenges to our kernel of faith, and when put on the spot we too are silenced. They were the religious leaders and should have recalled that both Jonah and Nahum were from Galilee and were prophets called by God. But, when you are intent on your way, no amount of evidence will sway you otherwise.

Nicodemus might have been silenced then, but when Christ is crucified, it is he and Joseph of Arimathea who take his body down and place it lovingly in a tomb. Nicodemus’ faith had grown exponentially.

Be sure of this; each faith kernel will be tested. Is your kernel of faith growing?

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021

Protect the Little Ones!

Matthew 18 The disciples wanted to know who was the greatest so Jesus took a little child and said, here is the true test of greatness: “become like little children,” or you will not ever enter the kingdom of heaven. Pride stands in the way of greatness. Be ye humble like this child.

And again, if you cause even one to sin, it would be better to be thrown in the sea with a millstone about your neck. Remember this; their angels stand before God, waiting to do His bidding. Beware! Remember, this is how the enemy works: “the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” [2Cor 4:4] Therefore, do not aid him in his work.

As was then, so it is today: the culture disdains its children; we must protect the little ones. Remember this warning: “The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it because they repented when Jonah preached to them—and now, something greater than Jonah is here!” [Matt 12:41]

October 21, 2021October 21, 2021

Meeting God Face to Face

Mark 9; Luke 9:28-62; Matthew 17 From Glory to Earth.

Recently Wm. Shatner, better known as Capt. Kirk of the TV series Star Trek and the spaceship Enterprise said: “To see the blue color [of the atmosphere] shoot by like that; Down there is mother, comfort – and up there is death.”

The disciples experienced the very opposite as they saw Jesus transfigured before them and then descended to see why man needs not a starship, but the healing power of God.

When you enter the “final frontier” and when you see the power of God vs. the power of sin, how will you respond?

Jesus went on to remind them that if you cause a child who has great faith to fail, you will experience not comfort but hell itself, as Mark aptly describes “where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.” [Mark 9:48] Both visions caused the disciples to be fearful, and rightly they should be, for when you see God face to face, you will respond either in fear or in faith. You will either hear “I never knew you” or “enter into the joy of the Lord.”

Which will you choose? How will you respond?

October 20, 2021October 20, 2021

“Who Do You Say I am?”

Mark 8 The truth of the matter is this: “For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom” [1Co 1:22], so it is no wonder that the Jewish religious leaders arrive to argue with Jesus and to test him. Had they been there earlier, they would have seen a miraculous sign of the multiplied loaves and fishes, instead, they come in “after” and miss the blessing. What more can God give them than his only beloved Son who gave his life? No wonder an exasperated Jesus left them.

Too many are like the religious leaders who have seen God at work, yet seek to test him again. Remember the warning of Moses: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, [Deut. 6:16]. When we do, we grieve or quench the power of the Holy Spirit, who convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

What are we looking for— a sign from heaven or the Messiah himself who is the True Bread of Heaven, the Light of the World, the Living Word who is TRUTH? The religious leaders had the prophets of old but missed the point that the Messiah was in their midst and his miracles proved that he was the Son of God.

What more could the Father give them? He gave them this: an empty tomb. Jesus is the Christ who rose from the dead. Do you believe this?

October 19, 2021October 19, 2021

Hypocrisy Stinks!

Mark 7, Matt 15 “Rules of Men and Rules of God”

We are caught up in men’s rules: do thus and so because if you don’t, you won’t reach heaven. Martin Luther was caught in that vicious cycle. When he was at the Vatican, he crawled on his knees in penance. Later, he would read in Romans: “The righteous by faith will live.” [Rom 1:17] From that point on, he lived not by the rules of the church and the hierarchy but by the very word of God.

Where am I caught up in the do’s and don’t’s of the world, religious leaders, and the church? Jesus caustically said to the Pharisees: ‘you are hypocrites!’ because they had determined that if one wanted to be “clean,” they had to wash themselves, their utensils, and their clothing a certain way. Jesus said you know God looks at the heart, not on your outward duties. God says to honor your parents, but you say otherwise. You set aside that money that would help them, but you call it “Corban,” which means sacred; a gift, or offering consecrated to God. Which do you think is more important to God?

How do I pierce the heart of God? When I say “I love you, God,” but my actions say otherwise.

October 18, 2021October 18, 2021

“Gimme” or Grateful

John 6 Today we are bombarded with trinkets, gifts, and so on and in fact so much that we have become the “gimme” generation, and this is not new. In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman and dialogs with her about living water. She says, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” [Jn 4:15] Now Jesus feeds the 5000, and soon after, they come to him and say, give me the manna that does not quit just like the manna our forefathers had in the wilderness. Jesus reminded them: “I tell you the solemn truth; you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted.” [Jn 6:26] Translation: you want something free, and you are not grateful for what you have been given.

In both cases, each wanted something for nothing, and so Jesus tells them about work. “So then they said to him, “What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?” Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires—to believe in the one whom he sent.” [Jn 6:28-29] Paul reminded the Corinthians, which is a reminder to us as well: “These things happened as examples for us so that we will not crave evil things as they did.” [1Cor 10:6]

Challenge: Am I a “gimme” person, or am I a person who is grateful for what I have received?