Sunday Easter Week Six -- May 25
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Meditation
Sunday, Easter Week Six celebrated the love of God for believers and called us to be the same. John’s Gospel stated, “if ye love me, keep my commandments.” A simple call to obey. Do what I ask if you love me.
As a child, my Nana was anti-smoking. My grandfather would mention that he liked to smoke a cigar with his colleagues on occasion. Nana would reply, “You are joking. You know how it would make me feel if you did that. I know you love me too much to hurt me like that.”
My mother always chuckled, but added that my grandfather stopped smoking cigars out of love for his wife.
When we love someone, we do things more readily than when we don’t like someone.
God wants us to be our best. God has our best interests at heart and won’t ask for us to do anything that would not be good for us. In addition, Jesus promised a comforter—the Holy Spirit to believers, after Jesus had gone.
The Epistle to Peter elaborated on how Christians should behave. If we treat others kindly, who would want to hurt us? Most people would respond positively to positive treatment.
The lesson in Acts was the famous encounter of Paul on Mars Hill in Athens. Instead of telling the Athenians that they were idiots for believing in the long list of idols, Paul explained that he was going to tell them about the altar to THE UNKNOWN GOD. They had intended to cover their bases. Paul used that altar to teach them about Jesus.
What does that mean for us today? We can use whatever the resources available to open the opportunity to teach about the good news of Jesus. We are not confined to the ‘church structure.’ We can share anywhere.
I have used the most unconventional situations to listen to concerns by Navy personnel—especially when they didn’t think talking with the chaplain would be conducive to their careers. Sometimes when the stressors are levied intentionally on the service member, then seeing someone for help would be noted by their supervisors. Pilots. Nuclear types. High ranking officers. I didn’t care where the location was—baseball bleachers, coffee shop, restaurant bar stool— or what people might have thought we were talking about; I used it as a time for God’s witness.
We speak with courtesy (not the hatred that some leaders spew); we respect the habits of the sinners (even if they are worshipping pagan gods); we are gentle as we lead them to the saving knowledge of God.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Easter Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts 17:22-31;Psalm 66:8-20;1 Peter 3:13-22;John 14:15-21&version=NCV;ERV;GNT;KJV;NIV (multiple versions)
Sunday, Easter Week Six
Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 66:8-20
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
John 14:15
King James Version (KJV)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
John 14:15-21
King James Version (KJV)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, we praise your name for your gracious love towards us that promised and sent us the comforter. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be resourceful and prepared to share the good news with others, by our actions, our words and our gentle spirits. Help us to please you. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Sunday, Easter Week Six reminded us again of how important it was not to be judgmental of non-Christians, but show them respect and gentleness as we instruct them. Like Paul on Mars Hill, we should not be putting them down for believing in pagan gods, but lift them up by showing them another way.
As I have led people to God, I have often had to undo the shame and prejudice levied on them by Christians in their past. “I can’t come to church because I am living with my boyfriend.” “I can’t bury my partner in church because we were gay.” “I don’t attend church anymore because of the way they treated my sister, when she lost her baby. They said it was because of sin in her life that God was punishing them.” “I won’t attend church because some Christian leader said the crash of the planes into the towers on 9/11 was God’s judgment. I won’t believe in a God like that.”
Well, neither do I.
Christians will have a LOT to answer for on judgment day. We have driven people away instead of reaching out to them as Christ reached out to us. God takes us as we are….full of imperfections. Then, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will help us do what pleases God. When a person accepts Jesus as his/her savior, instant perfection does not happen. We become a work in progress. Jesus promised help, even as he showed Paul how to reach the Athenians and the Psalmist with his issues.
We need to stop preventing people from coming to church by our lack of gentleness. Our unkindness. I am sad to say that the Evangelical church does not have an image of acceptance of people as they are. The dominant culture of churches today have pushed people away. Just because a church is growing, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are being gentle and kindly to the sinners that enter the doors. Some churches grow around local connections—organizations, and political influence.
Jesus said, “if you love me you will do what I ask.” That does not mean the church is to judge people coming through the door. That is a case for each of us to examine ourselves.
If I love Jesus, I will hunger to do what Jesus wants me to do. What is that? Today? Am I doing it? If not, why not? If I am, why am I doing it—for love of Jesus or hope that someone will think better of me? Like the song says, the imperative is:
Love. Love. Love. Believers that is our call. Love our neighbor as ourselves for God loves all.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Sunday, Easter Week Six celebrated the love of God for believers and called us to be the same. John’s Gospel stated, “if ye love me, keep my commandments.” A simple call to obey. Do what I ask if you love me.
As a child, my Nana was anti-smoking. My grandfather would mention that he liked to smoke a cigar with his colleagues on occasion. Nana would reply, “You are joking. You know how it would make me feel if you did that. I know you love me too much to hurt me like that.”
My mother always chuckled, but added that my grandfather stopped smoking cigars out of love for his wife.
When we love someone, we do things more readily than when we don’t like someone.
God wants us to be our best. God has our best interests at heart and won’t ask for us to do anything that would not be good for us. In addition, Jesus promised a comforter—the Holy Spirit to believers, after Jesus had gone.
The Epistle to Peter elaborated on how Christians should behave. If we treat others kindly, who would want to hurt us? Most people would respond positively to positive treatment.
The lesson in Acts was the famous encounter of Paul on Mars Hill in Athens. Instead of telling the Athenians that they were idiots for believing in the long list of idols, Paul explained that he was going to tell them about the altar to THE UNKNOWN GOD. They had intended to cover their bases. Paul used that altar to teach them about Jesus.
What does that mean for us today? We can use whatever the resources available to open the opportunity to teach about the good news of Jesus. We are not confined to the ‘church structure.’ We can share anywhere.
I have used the most unconventional situations to listen to concerns by Navy personnel—especially when they didn’t think talking with the chaplain would be conducive to their careers. Sometimes when the stressors are levied intentionally on the service member, then seeing someone for help would be noted by their supervisors. Pilots. Nuclear types. High ranking officers. I didn’t care where the location was—baseball bleachers, coffee shop, restaurant bar stool— or what people might have thought we were talking about; I used it as a time for God’s witness.
We speak with courtesy (not the hatred that some leaders spew); we respect the habits of the sinners (even if they are worshipping pagan gods); we are gentle as we lead them to the saving knowledge of God.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Easter Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts 17:22-31;Psalm 66:8-20;1 Peter 3:13-22;John 14:15-21&version=NCV;ERV;GNT;KJV;NIV (multiple versions)
Sunday, Easter Week Six
Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 66:8-20
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
John 14:15
King James Version (KJV)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
John 14:15-21
King James Version (KJV)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, we praise your name for your gracious love towards us that promised and sent us the comforter. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be resourceful and prepared to share the good news with others, by our actions, our words and our gentle spirits. Help us to please you. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Sunday, Easter Week Six reminded us again of how important it was not to be judgmental of non-Christians, but show them respect and gentleness as we instruct them. Like Paul on Mars Hill, we should not be putting them down for believing in pagan gods, but lift them up by showing them another way.
As I have led people to God, I have often had to undo the shame and prejudice levied on them by Christians in their past. “I can’t come to church because I am living with my boyfriend.” “I can’t bury my partner in church because we were gay.” “I don’t attend church anymore because of the way they treated my sister, when she lost her baby. They said it was because of sin in her life that God was punishing them.” “I won’t attend church because some Christian leader said the crash of the planes into the towers on 9/11 was God’s judgment. I won’t believe in a God like that.”
Well, neither do I.
Christians will have a LOT to answer for on judgment day. We have driven people away instead of reaching out to them as Christ reached out to us. God takes us as we are….full of imperfections. Then, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will help us do what pleases God. When a person accepts Jesus as his/her savior, instant perfection does not happen. We become a work in progress. Jesus promised help, even as he showed Paul how to reach the Athenians and the Psalmist with his issues.
We need to stop preventing people from coming to church by our lack of gentleness. Our unkindness. I am sad to say that the Evangelical church does not have an image of acceptance of people as they are. The dominant culture of churches today have pushed people away. Just because a church is growing, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are being gentle and kindly to the sinners that enter the doors. Some churches grow around local connections—organizations, and political influence.
Jesus said, “if you love me you will do what I ask.” That does not mean the church is to judge people coming through the door. That is a case for each of us to examine ourselves.
If I love Jesus, I will hunger to do what Jesus wants me to do. What is that? Today? Am I doing it? If not, why not? If I am, why am I doing it—for love of Jesus or hope that someone will think better of me? Like the song says, the imperative is:
Love. Love. Love. Believers that is our call. Love our neighbor as ourselves for God loves all.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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Replies
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At times i get saddened because I spend quite a bit of time helping or giving to others, and they not only do not return the kindness, but end up doing something hurtful. It is than that I remind myself, I wanted to help, or I wanted to give and do it lovingly and to do as Jesus would do. For several months last year I drove a friend without a car to doctors appointments, stores, to get her pills and never asked for a cent for gas. Many times I would nap in my car I was so tired. I am still working and am 71, this young lady is not even 50 yet but does not work due to mental problems. She now has a car. A group of us met on a deck to get something to eat Friday. She was in attendance. When the individual bills came she said something ti a friend beside her. The friend said to me, did you have two soft drinks. I said yes. The girl I did so many things for had asked the other girl to ask me. I looked at my bill and said the waitress only has one on mine. I said oh my I will give you two dollars. It was not until I left that I realized that the girl I drove all around had two soft drinks too. When I paid my bill the waitress gave me my change andI about five dollars short the place was crowded so I said nothing. I also ended up giving my friend the two dollars and she ended up giving no v
Tip. I was saddened by my friend. I am a very giving and doing person. I would take her again and help get, but it saddened me what She did. I always think what would Jesus do. The more I give the more I get back. Jesus always blesses me. I do hurt though when I try so hard to help others than see how they respond. Yes i know that if I love Jesus that i should more closely follow his word. How he must hurt when he loves the sinner but hates the sin. I gave my daughter 4000 for a wedding. I had to borrow it. The wedding did not last and she is using money to go to the ocean for three days. I will be quitting work at the end of August and won't have any extra. Again, giving because I want to be helpful. God always sees that my needs are met. I am trying to love people just as they are. To not point fingers. To love the sinner and let God be the judge. To let God judge. I have stayed away frin some churches because I am divorced. I have been made to feel unwelcome. Yes it is true that some fundamental churches have people who take the approach that they are better than. May I let God judge people and let me look at my own behaviors and follow his word closer. Thank you Chaplynne for your service to us. Harriet0
