After the parable of the sower and the telling of its meaning to his disciples, Jesus goes on to further explain what the kingdom of God is like.

²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”   (Mark 4:26-29)

As we learned earlier in the chapter, the seed is the Word of God.  When it’s spread on the path, rocks, or among thorns it produces no fruit.  But when it is spread on the good soil it produces a crop that can be a hundred times what was sown.  The passage teaches how the word will be received.  Verses 26-29, however, teaches the power of word, and consequently the importance we have to sow it.

The symbolism between sowing and reaping is used repeatedly in the Bible.  The idea of planting a seed and producing a crop is an elementary truth.  In other words, you don’t have to be a farmer to understand it.  Even a small seed can lead to a large crop (The parable of the mustard seed is only a few verses away).   The key, though, is that it needs planted!

There is power in the word of God, power to start small and grow into a large harvest.  When we share God’s word we are planting a seed.  That seed has the power to sprout and grow entirely on its own.  Sure, it’s a good idea to make sure the seed doesn’t get snatched up by the birds, or to make sure the seed is properly rooted, or that it doesn’t have to grow up among thorns.  But, ultimately, when it comes to actually growing the seed does it on its own.

The same is true with the word.  We are called to make disciples, and we’re to do that by sharing God’s word… by sowing.  We sow the seed, and God’s word will do the rest.

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.” (5:9)

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (10:34)

So how can Jesus, on one hand say that those who promote peace are blessed, while he himself did not come to bring peace? It’s actually pretty simple. On more than one instance, the beatitudes reveal God’s will for how we should act is a peaceful one:

“…anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement” (5:22)

“…if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (5:39)

“…Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you .” (5:44)

Remember the second greatest commandment, ” Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). How can we say we love our neighbor if we are angry with him? How can we say we love our neighbor if we retaliate against him? And how can we say that we love our neighbor if we hate him? Later on in Matthew 7, Jesus warns us to aware of false prophets. He tells us that we will know them by their fruit. In the same manner, God wants us to be identified by our fruit. Galatians 5 identifies the fruit of the Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, [oh and] PEACE…” (Dramatic emphasis added to make my point. )

It’s clear that God wants us to live in peace. So in Matthew 10 when Jesus says “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth…” he must not have been talking about our attitudes. He must have been talking about something else.

Certainly Jesus knew that his ministry was going to be short, and during this sendoff with his disciples, he certainly didn’t want to give them the wrong idea– the idea that he came to bring peace and happiness to the world. He was preparing them for battle, a spiritual war that began in the garden of Eden. He knew that the message they would deliver would bring ridicule and persecution. It would cause children to rebel against their parents, and for households to be split in disagreement. “I am sending you like sheep among wolves. ” (Matthew 10:16)

I think Paul summed it up best. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18) Paul acknowledges that it won’t always be possible to live at peace with everyone. It takes two people in a relationship to be in agreement to have true peace. However, in all relationships, we’re to do our part.

Remember, we’re in the middle of a spiritual battle, and conflict, unfortunately, is the inevitable result of the message that Jesus Christ brings. And, Jesus acknowledges that in Matthew 10. However, at the same time, his message of living at peace is clear, and the fruit of peace should be evident in our lives.

“There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

I’ve been struggling with this verse for the past few days, trying to understand it fully.  It seems simple enough, right?  “There is no fear in love.”  The surrounding passage clearly indicates that John was writing about judgement and punishment.  But what about other aspects of life? God made the answer very clear to me last night.

To better understand what I learned, you need to understand what I’ve been going though lately.  There have been many changes in my life recently, and the changes, while good for me, haven’t come without their opposition.  I feel as though satan has been attacking me in every way that he can to instill fear in me.  He’s given me every reason I need to understand why I’m not good enough, or strong enough, or prepared enough.  And at my lowest point last night this verse popped into my head, and God showed me exactly what it means.

He reminded me of two things.  First of all, He is in control.  This is his universe.  There is nothing in this universe he doesn’t control, and there is nothing bigger than He is.  Second, He loves me, and He’s for me.   So if the almighty, all powerful God of the universe loves me… then what do I really have to fear?

I’m so thankful I serve a God who cares for me, and loves me, and won’t set me up for failure!

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear…

1 John 4:18

The verse just prior says that love is what gives us confidence for the day of judgment.  It wasn’t until this morning that I saw the bigger picture.  I’ve known for a long time that it’s by our faith that we can have confidence on the day of judgment, but today I was able to clearly see the connection of faith and love when it comes to our salvation.

For by grace you have been saved through faith.

Let’s not forget that God is love (1 John 4:16), and love is a choice.  God chooses to love us despite our sin, and it’s the love he has for us that results in the grace we see in Ephesians 2:8.  So in a big picture sense, our faith is an attribution of God’s love for us.   It’s because God loves us, and because we believe in that love that we can have confidence in our salvation.

In summary:

There is no fear in love. (1 John 4:18)

God’s love was manifested through Jesus (1 John 4:9)

Fear is the opposite of faith (Mark 4:40).

Our faith in Jesus is what gives us salvation and confidence.

I remember reading Ephesians 1:4-5 recently and seeing a clarity to it that I’m sad to say, I missed so many times in the past.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love  he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

I know there’s a fair amount of confusion and discrepancy when it comes to the topic of predestination even among fellow Christians.  But then, I now don’t see how this verse can read any clearer.  Allow me to summarize:

Before the beginning of the world, God intended that every person in history would be holy and blameless; and according to his will, every person in history would be saved through his son Jesus.

When it comes to matters of doctrine I take a stand that refuses to take a stand unless I have a clear understanding of what I’m standing for.   I know, right?  I said “stand” a ton of times just now.  What I’m saying is that prior to my new found inspiration, I didn’t take sides on predestination.  But now it’s clear and I know where I, for lack of a better word, stand.

And it makes sense doesn’t it?  If we say that God is a god of love, and we say that God is perfect, how can we still say that God predestines only some of us.  That doesn’t sound very loving if you ask me.  How can you have a perfect love and only love some of the time?

So if God predestines everyone, why doesn’t everyone go to heaven?

Good question.  I think this goes back to how much God loves us.  God created us to have a relationship with him.  Above all else, God desires love.  He choose to love us enough to send his own son to take the penalty for our sin… to take the penalty that we deserve.  In return he simply asks us to choose love.  If we love God, we accept his gift, and his salvation.  On the other hand, if God were to sit in heaven controlling us like little puppets and forcing us to “love” him… well that wouldn’t exactly be love would it?  Love is a choice.  And God loves us enough to let us make that choice.

So, my advice?  Choose love.  After all… it is God’s will. 

If you’ve been following my blog since it’s conception, you’ve no doubt read chapter 24.  The problem with chapter 24 was that it was written when I was only 23.  Now I’m writing chapter 25… and I am 25.  If you’ve done the math (carry the 1) you’ve already realized…I SKIPPED AN ENTIRE YEAR!  So here it is: Chapter 24 when I was actually 24.

When I was 24, I got my first college degree earned job.  I gambled for the first time.  I got my motorcycle license.  I took up golf.  I tried snowboarding.  I sucked at golf and snowboarding.  I got my heart broken.  I fell in love.  I started a business.  I got a puppy.  I moved into my first house.  I went parasailing.   And, I taught myself to cook.

I can’t so much complain about 24…. except that it’s gone.

More to come….

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Wow.  What is this country coming to?  The Pastor is absolutly right.  Our forefathers would be in shock to see that any sub-governing body of the United States is directly prosecuting a person for the free practice of their own religion.  Not to mention this is free practice in that person’s home.  Our nation was founded on the basis of free religion.  In fact, it was so important to this nation and it’s forefathers that it holds the first clause of the United States Bill of Rights:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; …

The county in this article  is in direct violation of the United States Consititution, and I ask again.  What is this country coming to?  Where do we get off prosecuting people who live under the freedoms this nation was established with.  If we can’t back on our constitution, then what good is our government.  I mean, the only reason I can even write an article like this is because of what the very next line of that first amendment reads:

[Congress shall make no law]… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; …

I promise you if any person or organization were to attempt to bring back slavery, he or it would be crushed under Amendment 13 instantly.  However, because we’re dealing with religion, and more specifically, Christianity, it’s almost as if we forget why our country even became a country in the first place.  Time and time again we see Christians being persecuted within our own borders.  Kids are getting in trouble for praying or trying to hold religious functions in schools.  We hear arguments that something “violates the separation of church and state,” often from people who have no clue what that separation even means.  The idea was always to keep the government out of church.  It was never to keep the Church out of government.

This country is slipping down a dangerous slope by forgetting its foundation.  It’s something we as Christians need to be praying about.  I think too many times, we hear things like this couple being forced to cease their Bible studies, and we lose more and more hope for our nation.  I for one am standing firm… God wants to bless and he wants to revive… but he also wants us to believe in him for it.

God Bless America.