Numbers 1 – God’s priests

Numbers 1:47-54 The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe. 48 For the LORD had spoken to Moses, saying, 49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel. 50 “But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it; they shall also camp around the tabernacle. 51 “So when the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle encamps, the Levites shall set it up. But the layman who comes near shall be put to death. 52 “The sons of Israel shall camp, each man by his own camp, and each man by his own standard, according to their armies. 53 “But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.” 54 Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all which the LORD had commanded Moses, so they did.

Honestly, the first several chapters of numbers are boring. Sorry, they are. But if you hold on to about chapter eight, it’s totally worth it. Numbers has some of the coolest stories in the entire Old Testament. But Chapter 1 is a census, and census records are never really thrilling information.

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Romans 16 – I walk the line

Romans 16:17-20 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

If someone is leading away from Christ, do not follow them. Be obedient to God and the grace of Jesus will be on you.

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I’ll admit that I’m a fool for you
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I’ve known proves that it’s right
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

You’ve got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can’t hide
For you I know I’d even try to turn the tide
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

(I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash)

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Romans 15 – Bearing the weaknesses of brothers and sisters

Romans 15:1-2,7 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification… 7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

We have a responsibility to look out for those who are being trampled upon, those who are forgotten, those who are in need. Each of us has a responsibility to “bear the weaknesses” of those around us.

Christianity is not an individualist faith. Christianity is not just about my relationship with God. Christianity is about the family of God. I am to care for my brothers and sisters; I am to care for my potential brothers and sisters. More succinctly, I have some responsibility for everyone I meet. I am not ultimately responsible for their choices and circumstances; but, I am responsible for bearing some of their weaknesses.

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Romans 14 – Accept your brother/sister in Christ without passing judgment

Romans 14:1,4,7-8,10 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions… 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand… 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s… 10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

If you believe Democrats/Republicans are evil, what should your attitude be toward the Democratic/Republican Christian in your church? “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.”

If you are a theologically liberal/conservative Christian, what should your attitude be toward the conservative/liberal Christian in your church? “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.”

If you do not believe women should be in leadership/ministry, what should your attitude be toward a woman who feels God’s call to enter leadership/ministry? “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.”

If you believe homosexuality is a sin, what should your attitude be toward the gay Christians in your church? “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.”

It seems Paul is saying that if we share a faith in Jesus Christ then we are to accept the other’s faith without passing judgment on their opinions.

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Romans 13 – Rambling thoughts on Christians and governments

Romans 13:1-2 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

Is this a command all Christians are to follow? Is it true that God establishes our leaders and authorities? Are Christians forbidden to oppose authority?

Many Christians I know take this passage to be an instruction that Christians are to obey, honor, and serve their government. Many Christians use this passage as a basis for “Just War Theory” and for political activism.

As with any passage of the Bible, we need to be sure we are reading Romans 13:1-2 in context. Paul’s argument here is a continuation of what he began in the previous chapter when he wrote: “Present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Reading Romans 13 in the light of Romans 12 it seems that the correct understanding of 13:1-2 is that we, as Christians, have less interest in the kingdoms of earth than we have in the Kingdom of Heaven. If our rulers are treating us unfairly, so what? We have a God who will car for us. If we have a government that overtaxes us, so what? It was all God’s to begin with. We are not to be conformed by the customs, powers, and authorities of this age.

Rather than being concerned about the rulers and authorities of this age, we are to be concerned with loving God, loving our neighbor, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I would argue that none of those things can be done through politics and none of those things can be done through government.

Romans 13:1-2 is not a call to blindly support our government; rather, it is a call to let the powers of this earth do their thing. If they are not contradicting Jesus, let them have their way. We are called to work in the service of the Kingdom of Heaven.

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Romans 12 – Diversity in Christ

Romans 12:1-6 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly

Thank God for the diversity found among those who have faith in Christ. We all think, speak, and act differently. We all have different priorities. We all have different measures of faith.

We need to be grateful for those who have faith in Christ, but are different from us; especially when we disagree. I am thankful for the more conservative members of my Christian family because they ground me in the Bible, in tradition, and in the surety and faithfulness of God. I am thankful for the more liberal members of my Christian family because they pull me out of the church and into the world; they force me to reach into the lives of the poor, the needy, the broken, and to meet their needs. I am thankful for the charismatic members of my Christian family because they draw me out of my self and into the reality of the awesomeness of God. I am thankful we are all different, because God is greater than our differences.

It can be hard to be thankful when you butt heads with a fellow Christian who is of contrary opinion; but, we should be thankful for the diversity we all bring to our Christian family.

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Romans 11 – Mercy for the disobedient

Romans 11:30-33 For just as you [Gentiles] once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these [Jews] also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

Mercy is good. Thank God for the mercy he has shown you. Do not be quick to judge what degree of mercy he may show another.

God forgive our disobedience and bring us ever closer to you in all we think, say, and do.

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Romans 10 – Church litmus tests

Romans 10:9-13 if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

Christians can be very good at creating litmus tests. In the past when I have applied for pastoral positions I have always been fascinated by the litmus tests that churches put on their applications.

What is the role of women in church leadership? What is the definition of marriage? Which translation of the Bible do you preach from? Are you reformed? Are you evangelical? How old is the earth?

To some extent we can divide churches into two groups. The first is the boundary based church that defines the theological boundaries within which the church body must remain. The second is the center based church that focuses on moving people closer to Jesus. Neither is in and of itself wrong; both have advantages and disadvantages. I prefer the second.

In my view, most churches spend far too much time setting up boundaries to keep “them” out (or “us” in). We would be far better off if we spent that time and energy pointing people toward Jesus.

If we confess and believe in Jesus as risen Lord we are reunited with God, we are brought into fellowship with God, we are adopted into God’s family, we are redeemed, we are saved, we are a friend of God.

The main thing is to confess and believe in Jesus as risen Lord. Everything else is secondary, and is far less important.

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Romans 9 – Tricky little rock…

Romans 9:30-33 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

The thing about stumbling blocks is that their not very sneaky. They don’t jump out from a hiding place. They don’t sneak up on you. A stumbling block is out there, in the open, totally obvious, totally available. There’s nothing secretive about a stumbling block.

So why do we stumble over them? Why do we stumble over rocks sitting right in the middle of the road? Usually because we’re too busy looking at something else.

May Jesus grab a hold of your toe and trip you to the ground; and when you get up, take the time to look around and see what made you fall.

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Romans 8 – My soul, it groans within me

Romans 8:18-23 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

A constant theme that I have come back to over and over again is that life is not always pleasant. In life there are plenty of times of joy, celebration, happiness, and peace; but, there are many, many times of sorrow, tragedy, pain, hurt, despair and suffering.

One of my favorite books/movies is “The Princess Bride” and a quote that has always stuck with me is this: ‘life is pain. Anyone who says different is trying to sell you something.”

Life is pain. Life stinks. Life hurts. Life is tough.

Just because I have a relationship with Jesus Christ does not mean that life becomes easier. It does not mean that my body or my soul groans any less. My relationship with Christ means I have one in whom I can confide, in whom I can trust; and it means I have a hope of an ultimate reality where the pain, the suffering, the tragedy, the groaning in my body and soul will be gone.

We are corrupt. Our faith in Christ does not change that now; but, one day it will.

God I wait, but God I can’t wait
For your holiness,
To hover over me.

God I wait, but God I can’t wait
For your holiness,
To hover over me.

My soul, it groans within me.
My soul, it groans within me;
Waiting for your hand to move.

My soul, it groans within me.
My soul, it groans within me;
Waiting for your hand to move.

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Romans 7 – Why I do evil

Romans 7:19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

This is the frustration that most Christians live with. Once we start listening to the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts, we begin to understand all the evil that we do. We begin to see all the natural thoughts and actions which are not in line with the will of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Gradually, over time, our hearts, minds, and lives grow more attuned to the Holy Spirit and so our lives are more able to reflect the life of Christ.

I will always be frustrated by how easily I turn to that which is evil; but, I should not let my frustration dominate me. I move forward by recognizing that, while I will always be drawn toward doing evil, I have the constant presence of the Holy Spirit leading me toward that which is good.

Half the battle is listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit, the other half is doing what the Holy Spirit leads me to do.

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Romans 6 – Live your life

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 6:11-14 consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus does not make us perfect. Jesus does not keep us from committing sins. Jesus does not take away all pain and sorrow. Jesus represents grace; when we live with Christ we live with the grace of God spread over all of our doings (right or wrong). Jesus does not give us a license to sin, rather Jesus gives us a reason to avoid sin.

We are not to be mastered by sin. I have seen people mastered in two different ways. One is obvious; the individual who, for whatever reason, can not give up a vice that has mastery over his or her life. The other is the person so fearful of sin that they can not live the life God has given them.

Do not live in sin and do not live in fear of sin. Live your life, to the fullest, recognizing the grace of Jesus Christ in every moment of every day.

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Romans 5 – Jesus loves me

Romans 5:6-8 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is John 17. In John 17, Jesus is praying prior to his arrest and crucifixion. During his prayer he prays for himself and for his disciples; he prays that God would finish the work that was started at Jesus’ birth; but, for me, the most important part is when Jesus prayers for those who would come after. Jesus, as he prepared for his death, prayed for you and me.

While we were helpless, before we could do anything to restore our own relationship with God, Jesus died for us. God has known, loved, and wanted the best for each one of us since the creation of the world. Jesus was the pivot point of history upon which God’s love is anchored.

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Romans 4 – Learn to rest in the ambiguity

Romans 4:13-17 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

Romans 4:22-25 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

The idea of faith being credited as righteousness is one of the most important concepts to grasp as we explore salvation. I will never be righteous, there is nothing I can do to achieve righteousness, and left to my own devices I will wander away from righteousness. However, if I have faith in “Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead”, then I will be credited with righteousness. Righteousness is a gift. It is not something we can make, take or earn.

When we elevate laws over faith, we are missing the point. When we raise dogma over a relationship with Christ, we have turned Christ into a religion. Do not sacrifice the ambiguity of faith for the certainty of law. When we claim certainty, we have traded our faith for a law. Don’t substitute law for faith.

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Romans 3 – Faith, love and action; not legalism

Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

The purpose of God’s law was to enable humanity to be aware that we are sinful, that we are in need. God’s overarching purpose was for humans to live in relationship with God. If we believe ourselves to be sufficient, then we are less likely to seek out God. The law makes us aware of our need for God.

The law never had any power to save humanity or to, in and of itself, bring anyone closer to God. The law is a catalyst that enables us to pur our faith in God. It is through faith that we are united in relationship to God. The law can not save; only faith can save.

This leads to Paul’s comment at the end of chapter three…

Romans 3:31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

Our faith does not make the law invalid; in fact, we still have a responsibility to work toward living out God’s law. But living perfectly according to the law is not the goal of a Christian’s life. The goal of a Christian’s life is to live under the grace and by the example of Jesus Christ, loving all those we meet, and doing that which God calls us to do.

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Romans 2 – In which I discuss homosexuality and make no one happy

“Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.

I think the issue of homosexuality in Christianity is often a distraction from doing the actual work of Christ. Romans 1 speaks of the sinfulness into which humanity has fallen and specifically references homosexuality as being something that was not a part of God’s created order. However, this passage also lists greed, arrogance, disobedience, lacking in love, lacking in understanding, and lacking in mercy, as being outside of God’s created order.

Can you be a gay/lesbian Christian? That’s like asking, can you be an arrogant Christian? I have met many of both.

As Christians we are not called to stand on street corners and call people sinners; we are called to love people and be examples of Jesus Christ.

When we choose to judge someone else, it says far more about the state of our own heart than about the person we are judging. If I see evil in someone else’s life, I need to ask myself why that evil is so apparent to me. Typically, we are very good at seeing, in the lives of other people, the sins we are committing.

We cannot return the world to God’s created order. We can, however, care for all people living in this world. We need to love and defend all people; people openly living outside of God’s order.

What is the role of an openly LGBTQ Christian in the church? What is the role of an openly arrogant person in the church? To do that which God is calling them to do.

Now everyone can be unhappy with me.

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Romans 1 – I live outside of God’s created order

“For since the creation of the world [God's] invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

We are all living outside of God’s created order and none of us are able fix that. We worship and serve ourselves, the creation, rather than worship and serve God, the creator. The only hope we have is the grace of Jesus Christ. Yet even if I live under grace, I am still not able to fully live within God’s created order. I can come a little closer, but I will fail.

As a Christian I am not to approve of practicing that which is outside of God’s created order; but at the same time, I must always recognize that I will always live outside of God’s created order.

I can see, in Christ, a coming perfection that will wash away the evil in this world; but, that perfection is not yet here. Until perfection comes, I need to daily look at my life, search out where I am living outside of God’s order, and beg for God’s forgiveness and restoration. Until perfection comes, I need to love everyone around me, even those who do evil to me. Until perfection comes, I need to work with fellow sinners, who are focused on Jesus Christ, to build up the Church.

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John 21 – The books that would be written of Jesus

‘So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”

Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.’

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John 20 – Receiving Jesus’ Spirit of peace

“So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”

At our darkest hour, in our loneliest circumstance, when we we feel doomed; Jesus will come to us and speak peace. All we need to do is recognize his presence in our midst. All we need to do is receive the blessing he is longing to breath out on us.

Recognize Jesus, receive the Spirit, go in peace; regardless of your circumstances.

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John 19 – Consistently in Christ

“After [Jesus' crucifixion] Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

Joseph had been a secret disciple of Jesus because he feared that being a public disciple would ruin him. It was only after Jesus had died that Joseph was willing to publicly align himself with Jesus. It was not until he believed Jesus to have failed that Joseph was willing publicly proclaim faith in Jesus. We know nothing else about Joseph of Arimathea. I have often wondered what happened to him after Jesus resurrection. Was he one of the multitudes in the upper room on the day of Pentecost? Was he one of the disciples who ultimately deserted Jesus? We do not know.

It is not good for us to wait until a moment of failure to publicly proclaim our faith in Jesus. On Monday we need to be the same person we were on Sunday. In public we need to be the same person we are in private. In failure we need to be the same person we are in success.

Do not wait for failure to publicly proclaim Jesus. Live every moment of your life so that everyone can see the light of Jesus in you.

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