1-15-2019

Good Morning All,

       John 13:17: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

     This verse comes from what we call the “Upper Room” discourse.  Jesus is spending the last night with his disciples before he is betrayed by Judas.  He was giving them the instructions that they would need to manage these next few days.  In the first part of chapter 13, we see Jesus as he demonstrates true humility.  In the next section, he teaches about holiness.  In this verse, Jesus tells us about happiness or being blessed.  Our happiness is based on holiness and humility.  We are given Jesus’ holiness so that we can stand before God, so we can come to God in prayer in confidence.  This is given to us, we do nothing to earn it.  Because of this fact, we should be humble, humble before God.

    But we see that knowing what is right isn’t enough to keep us happy; we must put this knowledge in practice.  This has been the most basic tenet in the Bible.  You know what is right, that is God’s will, so do right, that is live according to God’s will.  Many think this means we have to earn our way into heaven but what it really means is that if you have faith; it will show by how you live.  God called upon the Israelites to have compassion on widows and orphans and sojourners (aliens in the land).  While we like to make this idea difficult it really is quite simple, you live the way you believe.  If you truly believe that God’s mercy calls you to mercy then you will live that way.  If you think getting everything you can for your own selfish desires then that is how you live.  

    Jesus has just shown his disciples a lesson in humility, in serving others.  Jesus is showing his disciples (and us) what we as humans were created to do and that is to take care of creation, to take care of each other.  The world will ask,” how many people serve you?”  God asks us,” how many do you serve?’  We see this in many other parables and teachings of Jesus.  In the parable of the good Samaritan, the teacher asks who is my neighbor?  At the end of the parable Jesus asks who was the neighbor?  This shows that we are not to measure who warrants our compassion we are simply to give it to those in need.  How many do we help?  Who have we been a neighbor to?  How many feet have you washed today?  Who has received compassion from you today?  While this may sound strange to the world, God gives us peace and happiness in our task.  We have no great effort to do to earn our salvation, we have no great work to do to battle the devil; Jesus has done this already for us.  Now that we are saved; we are free to enjoy his grace and to share his love with those around us.  This is part of God's plan for you; to enjoy the life that He gives you.  So be happy with God's blessings!

 Lord Jesus, we are too often unhappy because we do not place our trust in you.  Forgive us our weaknesses and sins.  Give us strength to follow you with all humility and holiness.  Use us as your hands to serve others that we know true happiness in your grace. 

In your name we pray, Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret