April 17, 2025
No Favorites!
“Then Peter began to speak, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts people from every nation who fear God and do what is right.”
Acts 10:34-35
This morning’s devotional verses are from our first reading for Easter Sunday morning. These are the words of Peter spoken at the house of Cornelius in Caesarea. Peter had been in the town of Joppa when he had a vision that included food that he considered unclean. In this vision Peter refused to eat this food three times. Then the Lord spoke to Peter, telling Peter not to consider anything the Lord had made to be unclean. Just then some men, sent to Peter by Cornelius, arrived and asked Peter to come with them to Caesarea. Cornelius too, had a vision from the Lord instructing him to invite Peter to his home.
This was unusual in that Cornelius was a Gentile. In fact, he was a centurion in the army of Rome. However, he was also a devout man who prayed frequently and gave generously to those in need. The ultimate result of the Lord reaching into the lives of Peter and Cornelius was that Peter came to understand that the message of Jesus’ salvation was an invitation to all people.
For a God-fearing Jew like Peter to associate with a Gentile, even a righteous person like Cornelius, was against the Law of the Jews. However, the intersection of the visions convinced Peter that the Lord does not show favoritism to people of one nation over another. What the Lord desires is for people to understand the message of God available to all through Christ and for everyone to do what is right.
If the Lord does not play favorites, why should we? If it is the Lord’s desire that all people be included in the heavenly realm, then we should accept them in their time on earth. When we hear words from people that are designed to divide us, or worse yet, turn us against each other, we need to reject them out of hand. It is our task as the Body of Christ to strive to accept each other as we are, recognizing the gifts each of us has to offer for the greater good. May it be so for us today!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
April 16, 2025
Hard Truths!
“Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them. “I do not know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.”
Matthew 26:74
The above verse are the words of the disciple Peter, spoken in the courtyard of the Caiaphas, the high priest. At that time Jesus was standing trial before Caiaphas and other leaders of the Jewish people in Jerusalem. While the other disciples had scattered following Jesus’ arrest in the garden, Peter had quietly followed the crowd to Caiaphas home. In the courtyard there he was confronted three times about being a companion of Jesus. Each time he denied knowing Jesus. The final denial, quoted above, was the most vehement as he called down curses upon himself. As Peter denied Jesus the third time, a rooster crowed in the background.
Previously, Jesus had told Peter that this denial would happen. Peter protested that he would never disown Jesus, even if it meant his own death. Yet, here in the cold dark of Caiaphas door yard, Peter’s resolve disappears, and he cannot live up to his promise. The sound of the rooster proclaiming the coming of dawn reminds Peter of Jesus’ words and Peter leaves the courtyard weeping bitterly. In the face of his own possible persecution, Peter could not keep his promise to Jesus.
It is easy, as we sit at our work desks, or in our comfy church pews, to condemn Peter’s weakness. Surely, you or I would be able to find the determination to step forward and speak of our relationship with Christ. But in the cold dark of early morning, surrounded by those who oppose us, would it be that simple? How often in life do we compromise our beliefs to avoid confrontation? What is the line that we draw in the sand that delineates where we take our final stand?
Hopefully, we will never have to answer the questions with our safety, or our life, hanging in the balance. But around the world, as well as in the depths of history, there have been many who have found the courage to set their face like flint and affirm their faith. As the bright light of Easter morn draws ever closer, may we remember that Peter’s denial of Jesus was not the end of his faith journey. His redemption would come at the hands of the risen Christ by the shores of the Sea of Galilee. We too, can be redeemed in our lives because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
April 15, 2025
The Real Goat
“He will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me.”
Matthew 25:45
As this is Holy Week, I thought it was fitting to use some verses from Jesus’ time in Jerusalem following the triumphal entry that we celebrated on Palm Sunday. Today our verse comes from Jesus’ lesson that is referred to as the story of the sheep and the goats. Now, please understand that this is not about Tom Brady, he may be called the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) but Jesus was thinking about the stubborn farm animal, not a football player.
The larger message behind the teaching Jesus imparts here is that the Lord expects us to help others to the best of our abilities. In addition, that desire to assist people should not arise from our need to be recognized for our magnanimous actions. We should act this way because this is how we live out the greatest commandments. By caring for others in our world we demonstrate our love for the Lord and for our fellow humans.
The conclusion of the story involves those who failed to recognize those in need and act to support them. They are the true goats in this story. They moved through the world with their focus only being on themselves and their desires. They might take time to assist a person who could benefit them in some way in the future. But they did deem or even recognize the need of those who they considered to be less worthy or incapable of benefiting them in the future.
In this week, as we contemplate the sacrifice that Jesus made so that we may be saved, it is important that we do not lose sight of the totality of his gift. His life was forfeited so that humans with all our faults and failings might be given a chance of redemption. The offer of grace is not without obligation, however. It is expected that we should care for the Lord’s creation without any anticipation of being rewarded for our actions. There is no quid-pro-quo in the covenant between us and the Lord. There are no back-alley agreements guaranteeing our salvation. Our path to the eternal is laid out clearly before us. If we love the Lord and our fellow man, without exception or expectation, we will welcome when our time before the Lord occurs!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
April 14, 2025
Getting What is Coming to You?
“Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s”
Matthew 22:21
Following Jesus triumphal entry, but before his arrest in the garden Gethsemane, Jesus said and did a lot of things. Many of his interactions were with the Pharisees. In this encounter in Matthew, we are told the Pharisees came to Jesus with a question, hoping to trap him. They asked him whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar or not. This was a loaded question. If he said yes, he would be seen as endorsing the Roman occupiers of Israel. If he said no, he could be accused of encouraging sedition and would be considered a criminal by the Romans.
Jesus recognizes what the Pharisees were trying to do. However, instead of avoiding the question, he asks them to give him a coin that was used to pay the taxes. In doing this he knew that the only accepted coin for this purpose was a Roman coin. They gave him a denarius, which he showed to them. “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” Jesus asked. The Pharisees replied, “Caesar’s.” The Jesus instructed them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s” The Pharisees were befuddled by his unexpected reply, so they went away to regroup.
I have always interpreted Jesus’ words as meaning that God does not give a hoot about cash (or checks, Venmo, or Bitcoin for that matter). What we are to offer to God is our heart, soul, and mind. “Hypocrite!” some may shout. It may seem that the church is always asking for some type of monetary donation. Often, we cloak that request as giving to the Lord. Of course, that reference is metaphorical, we are not sending money orders to the great beyond. But we are using those donations to further the work, the mission, and ministry of both the local and the wider church.
There are those who stand in their pulpits and preach to you that the Lord wants you to prosper. The rub in that message revolves around what type of prosperity they are espousing. Is it the prosperity of faith? Is it a material and financial affluence they are envisioning for their flock? I believe that if we use Jesus’ words from the above quote from Matthew we are called to strive to prosper spiritually. Jesus believed that if we had our spiritual house in order, all the other aspects of our lives would be fulfilling.
As we continue our Lenten journey, inching ever closer to the glory of Easter morning, may we seek to find a way to give to the Lord what belongs to the Lord. That gift would consist of the very heart of our being. While we may never to fully commit ourselves as we wander this earth, perhaps we can give a bit more of ourselves as we look to the horizon on Easter morn. May it be so for us!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck