Posts Tagged ‘Jesus’
Lectionary Scriptures for February 19th, 2012
February 13, 2012Pastor’s Ponderings, Wonderings, Wanderings
February 8, 2012
I have another Matthew moment from our Bible Study tonight. In Matthew 20:20-28 we get to hear the mother of Zebedee’s sons ask Jesus if her sons James and John could sit one on the right hand and one on the left hand in His kingdom.
Perhaps we see a mother who wants her sons to have positions of power in the earthly kingdom that they still believe Jesus will create. But is it her ambition or theirs? Jesus tries to warn them that they will have to “drink from His cup” because they are His disciples but makes no promise to give a position that only God can grant. Now needless to say this band of disciple brothers were jealous or perhaps outraged that James and John would seek this high ranking position. Jesus addresses this disciple rilvary by letting the disciples know that they are to have on their minds how they might serve rather than looking for a position they could be served in.
I wonder just how many disciples of Jesus Christ today are looking for positions of importance in which they can garner the praise and sit in the seat that will get them served? It is always a struggle to be the servants servant but that is exactly what Jesus calls us to do. We must set aside our own will that leads us to the desire to be recognized and work on doing the will of Jesus Christ because it is what He calls us to do. It is a hard thing for us in our humanity to not seek praise for what we do but it is our role as Christians to do just that. Do what God through Jesus Christ calls us to do in a way that is humble and self sacrificing. God will see us and He will reward us with rewards that will be so much better than any plaque or certificate that man can create.
As Christians we do work for Christ because we love Him, want to give Him glory and honor and see His kingdom grow.
Have a blessed day, Randy
Pastor’s Ponderings, Wonderings, Wanderings
February 7, 2012
In our Bible Study for this Wednesday we will be reviewing Matthew Chapter 20. Jesus tells the parable about workers getting the same pay (1 denarius) for the work they have done. Some of these workers went to work early in the morning, some in the middle of the day and some late in the day. In the parable they all receive the same pay. Jesus is telling His disciples that no matter what time in our life we come to a saving knowledge of Him we will all receive the same reward. That reward of course is our salvation and life eternal in Heaven with Him. The reward however does go further than that. Those of us who come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ early in our lives are blessed with a new outlook that can make our lives much better and can give us the opportunity to witness and share with many more people.
Jesus also was addressing the Jewish belief system which was saying that their favored nation status was being taken and given to all who believed in Him. We who come to this saving knowledge of Jesus Christ become children of God without following the letter of the law. Jesus teaches us that we are to love God and to love our neighbors as the most important guidelines we can follow. He even calls them two new commandments. Very important for us and for the new disciples. Jesus gives us all favored nation status as His children.
A learning for many in churches today would be that no matter how long we have been followers of Jesus Christ we are to be accepting of and care for those who are new believers. We need to remember that our status in God is just the same as the new believer. Our blessings in this life are that we have the opportunity to be known as people who love, care for and support each other no matter how long we have known our Savior. We are to be known as people who reach out to the world and exclude no one.
God’s Peace and Blessings to each and everyone,
Randy Branch
Lectionary Scripture February 12th, 2012
February 6, 2012Lectionary Scripture for February 5th, 2012
January 30, 2012Pastor’s Ponderings, Wanderings, Wonderings
January 25, 2012Last night I watched the State of the Union Address by President Obama. It really got me to thinking but not necessarily about the things he was talking about. It was a state of the union and it was his view of how things were going with the United States. What he has gotten done and what he hopes to achieve.
It made me think about Jesus and His ministry. About what He has gotten done and what He hopes to achieve. We sometimes look to the leaders of our country to help us with our lives. We have faith in them because of what they tell us. Which is so often what we want to hear. Jesus told us so much in His short three-year ministry. Much of it words that we really didn’t want to hear. Words, however, that we needed to hear. Words that would heal us and help us through our lives if we would just hear them. I believe that if we would just listen to the words of Jesus we would hear the solutions to many of our problems today. That’s interesting isn’t it. Someone 2000 years ago could tell us about ourselves and how to solve our problems today.
Wouldn’t it be a great thing if our politicians listened to the words of the Savior of the world and used those words to help solve the problems of the world. Wouldn’t it be a great thing if we elected people who had compassion and genuinely cared about humanity and were not so interested in their own careers and selfish agendas. Now I am not saying that all politicians are bad but I am saying that there are many who are misled.
As Christians we are to be led by the one we believe is the Son of God. He will not mislead you. Try Him out as the one who can help solve those problems you need help with. I believe He can and will if you will depend upon Him.
Pastor Randy
Lectionary Scriptures for January 29th, 2012
January 23, 2012Lectionary Scriptures January 22, 2012
January 16, 2012Lectionary Scriptures for January 15th, 2012
January 9, 2012Pastor’s Ponderings, Wonderings, Wanderings
January 7, 2012Great Granddaughter meets Great Grandparents. Georgia Ann got to meet her great grandparents Friday the 6th. Her great-grandfather will turn 92 on January 8th and Georgia will turn one month on the 12th. This age difference got me to thinking about all that my dad has seen and all that Georgia has an opportunity to see. The changes that have happened during my father’s 92 years have been amazing for his life and for the way he lived it. Georgia’s life will be filled with changes that will be even more amazing and will affect the way she will live her life in astounding ways.
I hope to baptize Georgia in the next few months. Georgia’s parents will accept responsibility for her spiritual growth and someday she will go through confirmation classes and confirm her belief in God and Jesus Christ. As I think about all that Georgia has to experience as she grows I am excited as the promise of scientific knowledge grows exponentially. The wonderful things that she will see and the changes that will affect her life will be many and many will be brand new discoveries. While there will be many changes it is our hope that her belief in God and her parents efforts at sharing their beliefs with her will be a solid foundation that gives her the one constant that will help her center her life. Her belief will help to center her life around consistent moral values that will lead her through all the changes that will take place in the world around her.
It is a new year with lots of new experiences for us all. Allow your beliefs to center your heart and mind around all the changes that take place in your life. Those who do have a much better chance at enjoying life as it comes to them.
Our baptism is the beginning of a new life in Jesus Christ. We are called to grow in our knowledge of His way and in His Spirit. Remember your Baptism and remember your covenant relation with your God.
Randy
Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX 