Eternal Family

Eternal Family

Jude 1: ¹ From Jude, servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James—

To those who have been called by God, who live in the love of God the Father and the protection of Jesus Christ:

 

² May mercy, peace, and love be yours in full measure.

 

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Seeing the family as chess pieces, I wondered where I fit. I was the youngest and my siblings had moved on by the time I had questions about life. Was I on the side “for” or “against” the family? Was I a pawn or a rook? Please excuse the chess terms.

 

• I wondered where I fit in the family?
• I wondered if I was part of something or if I needed to fight what was established.
• I wondered if other families had it “better” than mine.

 

Jude, brother of JESUS, begins his letter in a somewhat awkward way. He recognized James as his brother and that he was a servant of JESUS. He did not mention his other two brothers, Joses and Simon. James wrote an epistle and so did Jude. Both recognized JESUS as the Savior and saw a different perspective of family.

 

My Observations:

• Families can be messy, BUT GOD welcomes all into HIS loving family.
• Families can have rivalries, fights and divisions, BUT GOD’s family includes love, peace and harmony.
• Families can have hurt, pain and poor affirmation management, BUT GOD showed HIS love to the extreme by allowing JESUS to die for us and being raised from the dead.

 

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends, and that’s what JESUS did for you and me. HE became the solution to the biggest problem, namely all humans were lost. HE wanted us back in HIS family so HE did something about the problem. HE became a human and took all the blame humans can dish out.

 

HE then allowed HIMSELF to be murdered and was raised from the dead. HE now invites anyone to believe HE did all of this out of love. Unfortunately, many twist HIS actions and fall prey to the Enemy who wants people to remain blind to true love. I gladly accept HIS love and HIS invitation to join an eternal family.

 

Challenge

• Who does the writer address the letter to?
• Have you ever questioned where you fit within your own family?
• Will you join GOD’s eternal family that is filled with love and appreciation for you just as you are today?

Needed Encouragement

Needed Encouragement

1 Peter 5: ¹² I write you this brief letter with the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful Christian. I want to encourage you and give my testimony that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

 

¹³ Your sister church in Babylon, also chosen by God, sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark. ¹⁴ Greet one another with the kiss of Christian love.

May peace be with all of you who belong to Christ.

 

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After the car crash, I wondered if GOD was in my corner. I questioned HIS every move. Months later, bills poured in and the school dean had some bad news for me. I sat on a bench with a worried look on my face. A guy said to me “GOD loves you.”

 

• I wasn’t feeling loved because I had many problems.
• I didn’t want to hear that GOD loved me when I had so many problems.
• After hearing that GOD loved me, I turned to prayer for the first time in a long time and things got better.

 

Peter, with the help of Silas, concludes his letter to those who were suffering because of their belief in JESUS. Church leaders as well as Roman leaders, were persecuting believers because they were perceived as a threat to the government and the church. Through all the problems they faced, Petr wanted to encourage them.

 

My Observations:

• My problems can make me blind to other people having problems.
• GOD gives me resilience by telling me I will face persecution while I am on this earth.
• My eyes need to be opened to the need for encouragement.

 

Be encouraged because GOD sees you and hears you and wants you to have peace today. But what about this problem or that problem? GOD sees “you” and hears “you” and want “you” to have peace today.

 

In the middle of your storm, GOD is there. HE see what you are going through and has calculated it all in HIS plan for you. This plan is not to harm you, rather it will prosper you. I am glad GOD has a plan for peace for you and me.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer close the letter with a prayer of peace?
• Have you ever scoffed at the statement “GOD loves you” because you were too worried to hear it?
• Will you turn to GOD for HIS answers so you can hear words of encouragement today?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, please guide this reader to YOUR peace which may come in the middle of his or her problems. Give him or her a new mindset that releases YOUR resilience and protects those who love YOU. amen

Employed or Called

Luke 20: ⁹ He went on to tell the people this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. ¹⁰ At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ¹¹ He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. ¹² He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

¹³ ‘Then the owner of the vineyard said, “What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.”

¹⁴ ‘But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. “This is the heir,” they said. “Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” ¹⁵ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

‘What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? ¹⁶ He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.’

When the people heard this, they said, ‘God forbid!’

¹⁷ Jesus looked directly at them and asked, ‘Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

‘“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone”?

¹⁸ Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’

¹⁹ The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

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JESUS spoke directly to the church leaders who were looking to kill HIM. They were appointed over people to preach only about HIM, but their words turned into those of greed and lust for political power. JESUS implied that Abraham, Moses and Elijah were not listened to, so GOD sent HIM but this act of kindness would be met with murder.

• GOD says to me “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
• GOD says to me “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of ME.”
• GOD says to me “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Whether I like it or not, I am involved in a spiritual war once I sided with JESUS. I mean each and every day I have to get up and ask GOD to protect me and those HE has given to me. HE also wants me to remain “called” versus “employed” by HIM.

• Serving GOD is a privilege, not a job. HE wants me to serve others just as HE serves me GOD is my refuge. I am glad to serve.
• Are you exhausted by serving GOD?
• Do you feel HE owes you something because of your service?
• Will you stop for a minute, regroup and look at your service to HIM with excitement today?

Family

Luke 8: ¹⁹ Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. ²⁰ And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”

²¹ But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

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“Stay and eat” said one of my mothers as my stomach growled. I gladly accepted the offer. “Come bowling with us” said one of my fathers as I was getting ready to go home. “Wow, these people are generous” I thought to myself.

• I used to think my relatives were only blood relatives.
• I used to think my only family were those I would visit on occasion.
• I used to think my relatives were those who were supposed to be in my corner.

JESUS increases the number of HIS relatives by saying “MY mother and MY brothers are these who hear the word of GOD and do it.” In other words, relatives do not have to be paternally or maternally driven.

• GOD wants me to seek to increase the “family” by bringing people to HIM.
• GOD wants me to be generous so I can increase HIS “family”
• GOD wants me to see the people around me can be part of HIS “family.”

GOD’s family is not limited by blood relations. HE opens HIS door to those who believe in JESUS as their personal savior. Those who do are adopted into a wonderful family that follows HIS will and serves others as HE guides them to do. I love being adopted in this wonderful family!

• Has your family disappointed you?
• Do you wish you were born of a different family?
• Can you forgive relatives who have hurt you and welcome people who follow GOD into your spiritual family today?

Fake Friends

Mark 14: ⁴³ And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.”

⁴⁵ As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

⁴⁶ Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. ⁴⁷ And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? ⁴⁹ I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

⁵⁰ Then they all forsook Him and fled.

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“He called me the wrong name again!” I said to myself. He would greet me with the warmest greeting, but when someone important walked in the room, he would leave our conversation. This, however, was the guy to know. “How can I get noticed by him?” was my thought.

• Sometimes I have sought out fake friends.
• Sometimes I wanted to be in the “in” crowd so much that I would settle for fake friends.
• Sometimes I was popular enough that I was a fake friend to people.

Hundreds of people are pictured here in this passage, yet JESUS had no friend. The army of hundreds had no feeling towards HIM and Judas put on the act of love when his heart was filled with deceit. Not even the disciples acted like a friend as they forsook HIM and fled. BUT JESUS does something different.

• JESUS says to me “Greater love hath no man than this, that a MAN lay down HIS life for HIS friends.”
• JESUS says to me ”I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from MY FATHER I have made known to you.
• JESUS says to me “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

At times JESUS has been my only friend. When the winds of life are blowing hard against me and those around me are questioning me, JESUS has been right there comforting me and lifting me up. HIS love endures forever and HE shows me that friendship is not about leaving it is about loving.

• Has everyone left you?
• Do you feel alone?
• Can you take some time to be a friend to someone today?”

Finding Affirmation

Mark 6: Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. ² And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! ³ Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

⁴ But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” ⁵ Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

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• GOD says to me “Look for honor from ME.”
• GOD says to me “Look to do mighty works with MY help alone.”
• GOD says to me “Search for those who will believe and focus them on ME.”

Getting affirmed by friends and family is nice but what happens if they reject me? How should I handle it? GOD wants me to seek affirmation from HIM by following HIS ways. HE wants me to have grace for those who poke fun at the way I serve HIM and serve those who flat out reject my efforts to be more like HIS SON.

Even JESUS was rejected by HIS immediate family. HIS neighbors could accept HIM being GOD. They saw HIM as a baby and wondered “What makes HIM so special?” As HE grew up they overlooked HIS deity because HE looked like other humans but HE acted very differently.

• JESUS was rejected by HIS neighbors.
• JESUS was rejected by HIS family.
• JESUS was rejected by those HE created.

GOD has a personal relationship with me that HE wants me to cherish. HE does not need me to ask people around me if my relationship with HIM is adequate for them. HE wants me to have grace enough to not be upset if those around me cannot understand how HE is moving me down HIS path.

• Are you seeking affirmation from friends and family and are not receiving it?
• Are you led by GOD to do something that will grow HIS kingdom and those around you are judging you instead of affirming you?
• Can you ask GOD for strength and seek HIS leading daily without judging them?