WEBVTT 00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:03.680 Welcome to the First Love Church podcast. 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:11.279 This is a collection of Sunday teachings inspired by the Revised Common Lectionary and recorded weekly in Ocala, Florida. 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:15.039 I know that you um are as excited about the seasons as I am. 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:17.920 It just reminds us of what we can do with our life. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:25.839 Um I was with someone recently and they were doing some cleaning and they said, I'm s I knew that it was summertime and we've been very hot, and they said, throw all the sweaters out. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:27.519 And I was like, well, maybe not. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:29.359 Maybe don't throw that out. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:34.799 Because maybe, just maybe, fingers crossed, in a few months we might need a sweater. 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:39.600 And so sometimes in our lives, we need to be reminded of the season. 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:43.679 Sometime the season you're in, you don't have to throw everything out, just put it away for another season. 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:45.119 And there's a hope for that. 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:50.000 Now, I don't mean for us to be hoarders and never to go through things, but to recognize the seasons come. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:59.119 And that's why the church calendar is so helpful as a tool to develop a deep spiritual life, to look at these things and say, What season are we in? 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:02.159 The season of practicing our alignment with the spirit. 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:08.319 And in this season, starting on September 1st, all the way till the end of the month, there is a sub-season. 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:10.560 And it's called the season of creation. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:30.879 And the invitation is that you would allow creation to testify to you intentionally of God, that you would begin to open your heart and your mind to the thought that creation will tell me something about God, something about my place in the world, something about God's love for me and for everyone. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:45.359 And so it is with a lot of joy that we enter into these seasons and that we pay attention to our own spiritual growth and our own spiritual invitation into the family of God, into the heart of God. 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:51.680 There is much happening around us, and we'll pray for things after service and we'll have holy communion together. 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:53.680 That's the crescendo of the whole thing. 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:59.680 We get together every time and we do what Jesus told us to do, and we see what Jesus did. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:04.799 Very often, in fact, the miracles that Jesus did were part of creation. 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:08.960 And so I ask you to open your heart to the miracles that you may begin to see. 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:11.680 I was thinking about the verses that we were reading in John. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:13.599 It says, No one has ever seen God. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:17.520 And I was going through the Hebrew Bible in my mind, all the people said that they had seen God. 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:19.520 I mean, let's start with Abraham. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:24.319 We'll start, you could go to Moses, you could go to a lot of people who have said that they've seen God. 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:32.080 And then you recognize what the apostle is telling us until Jesus, no one had gotten God right. 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:47.039 And Jesus came to reinstruct us, to show us this is who the Father is and invite us into the longing that we have together, that we would be the hands and feet of God, that the kingdom of God that we pray for would come and it would be here with us now. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:56.479 Um, I don't want to call people out because sometimes people don't want to be called out, but my friend Mary Ann is here and I didn't know she was coming, and she came all the way from New Mexico, and that's super exciting. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:58.319 So so glad to see you, Mary Ann. 00:02:58.479 --> 00:02:59.840 Thank you for being here with us. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:03.199 And then Ethan is here this morning and it's his 21st birthday. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:07.120 And so after church, yeah, we'll sing to him. 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:14.400 But I was thinking, um, he mentioned it before church, and I was thinking about what it is to celebrate your 21st birthday and to be in the house of God. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:16.400 So, Ethan, I wrote a blessing for you. 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:20.960 It's not just for me, it's from the church, but I was the one who was writing it, so you'll listen. 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:32.000 Ethan, beloved child of God, may you know deep in the places of your soul that you are already welcomed in God's presence. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:36.159 Before you ever knew how to reach for God, God was reaching for you. 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:41.759 Before you had words for your faith, love had already spoken your name. 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:52.879 May you never believe that you have to become more worthy, more certain, or more holy, or more like anyone else to have place at God's table. 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:54.639 There is a place for you here. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:57.120 There has always been a place for you. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:20.959 And may the house of God become for you a place where you do not have to prove yourself, a place where you can be and just breathe, a place that you are seen without being judged or scrutinized, without being intentionally asked to be someone other than you are, may you know that the house of God will love you without condition. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:32.560 And may you discover more about who God is and how much God loves you, and that God is wider than your questions, deeper than your doubts, and more enduring than any fears. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:38.240 And when you wonder whether or not you belong, may you remember you belong always to love. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:45.680 You belong to us, you belong at the table of God, you belong in the great unfolding family of God. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:54.639 And may you know with confidence your own belovedness, not as an idea that you were taught, but as something that you feel in your bones. 00:04:55.040 --> 00:05:09.199 And may you hear the voice of God whisper over your life, you are my beloved, not because of what you accomplish, what you will grow up to be, but simply because you are made in the image of God. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:18.879 May you grow in the freedom of being deeply loved by God, who delights in you, who makes room for you, who walks with you, who will never stop welcoming your home. 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:26.959 Ethan, on your birthday, may this, your life, become a living answer to the question that love has called you here. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:30.399 And may you know you're not standing at the edges of family. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:32.000 You are already home. 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:33.120 You are loved. 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:36.000 Happy birthday for all of us. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:39.839 Reminded, yes, yes, yes, we are loved. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:41.040 We should always be affirmed. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:44.639 I was walking through the other day, and my kids were watching um a story. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:52.160 And in the story, the part that I was walking through, um, the person was uh a person was telling someone else, whatever you do, don't forget your name. 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:56.480 Because if you forget your name, you'll stay here and you'll never get out. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:59.360 And they said, I don't even remember my name. 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:01.439 And then the person said it to them. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:03.680 And he said, You have to remember this. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:06.800 And I was thinking, oh, that's what we do in church every Sunday. 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:09.439 We remind ourselves of our true name. 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:11.439 We are beloved of God. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:16.319 We are ones chosen and we have a place in the family of God. 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:24.879 So I don't know if you forgot your name this week, and this could be your weekly amnesia therapy, but you are beloved and you are welcomed in the house of God. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:30.240 Together, when we gather, we have something very special that happens. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:33.439 The presence of the Holy Spirit is with us. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:38.959 Jesus said this, where two or three are gathered together, there I am in the middle of them. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:49.759 In the Hebrew Bible, there is a very similar um quote, and the rabbis would say this: whenever people gather around the Torah or the Word of God, the Shekinah glory of God is in the middle of them. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:57.600 And so Jesus was reminding us that when we gather, that there is an expansion in the way that we can see God. 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:04.560 There is an expansion in the way that we can see each other, and there is for us an alignment in the spirit. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:08.000 And so I'm grateful that you are here with us this morning. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:10.560 We have been reading in the book of Romans. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:24.160 Um, in this season of the Christian calendar, we're looking at a specific set of texts that remind us about the Holy Spirit and what it looks like for us to have the Holy Spirit in our lives and how that will play out. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:33.279 I'm sure that if you went to children's church or kindergarten or like a Sunday school, they told you about the fruits of the Spirit and sometimes they attach them to different kinds of fruits. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:36.399 And I want to remind you that it means an evidence of. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:42.560 And while you might not have grapes in your life, I hope that you have patience because love is patient. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:46.000 The Holy Spirit, an evidence of God's Spirit, is patience. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:50.560 And so when we learn these things, we learn to be able to see them and know what to look for. 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:55.519 And so today, when we go back to the text, let love be genuine. 00:07:56.639 --> 00:08:01.279 Hate what is evil and hold fast to what is good. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:10.319 The older that I get in my life, and I have been trying to follow Jesus since I was about five years old. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:14.959 So it's been a while of practicing and following. 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:19.199 But holding fast to that which is good is a practice. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:29.040 With your other hand, let go of anything else that doesn't serve, that that no longer helps, that is something that we need to expand from. 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:32.000 In fact, Jesus said this all the time in following Jesus. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:34.000 You are gonna have to think a new way. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:39.840 You have heard it said, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, but I'm telling you, there's another way to live. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:43.120 Jesus said, You have heard it said, but I say unto you. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:51.600 And so we follow the way of Jesus in expanding our ideas of love and what it means to hold on to good. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:55.519 Love one another with mutual affection. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:59.120 Outdo one another in showing honor. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:02.240 This is what it looks like to be a part of the family of God. 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:08.720 This is what it looks like to be ones who remember our belovedness, who remember who we are. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:12.480 We would outdo each other in showing honor. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:16.399 I was in the grocery store the other day and somebody wanted to let me go first. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:17.679 I said, No, you please. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:19.519 And he said, No, you go. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:21.519 And we had this little contest. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:23.279 I said, I would really love for you to go first. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:25.440 And he said, Yeah, but that was my intention first. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:26.799 So I would like for you to go. 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:30.320 And then there was a woman who came behind us, and we both said together, you go first. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:33.120 And that was great because and it became this wonderful thing. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:35.120 And then she goes, I don't know, I want to play the game. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:35.919 You go first. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:38.320 And then I was like, What if we all did that though? 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:41.279 What if we all said we would like to pay it forward? 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:44.159 We would like to say, what does it look like to honor each other? 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:50.879 What does it look like to give a special place to someone and say, I see the image of God in you. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:56.000 Do not lag in your zeal, be ardent in spirit. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:58.000 Serve the Lord. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:01.279 There's some beautiful language here. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:13.919 It's it would be incredible if you could spend some time this week paying attention to this particular portion of scripture and allowing the Holy Spirit to tell you how you can open your heart to this. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:18.559 And I really think in today's language, what it means is don't live your life on autopilot. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:35.440 Choose, choose to live in the spirit, choose to live in love, choose to live not programmed by the culture of this world, but to live in the love that is divine, in the love that invites us into more and in the spirit. 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:41.279 These are practices, again, where the church here reminds us what is it like to live differently? 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:44.559 What is it like to be baptized into a new family? 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:52.000 What is it like to remember that you are born again, that there is a whole new way of living? 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:53.679 Serve the Lord. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:57.039 What does it look like in your life to serve the Lord? 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:03.200 I was thinking about this because somebody was asking me some questions, and I was really trying to boil them down and make them simple. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:05.919 Catherine had left a little message for me. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:15.519 She's in Paris, and she left it late last night, and she goes, Somebody said, you know, that they needed a synopsis of this and they needed it right away, and they couldn't have it, and they were really upset. 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:17.440 And she's like, I could ask my mom. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:32.000 And so she sent a little message and we got a text, and it was one of my favorite stories in the scripture about the friends who find a man on a mat who need healing, and they pick up the mat and they bring him to Jesus. 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:38.320 And I love the stories of Jesus because they remind us of what it looks like to live in this world. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:40.240 How do we bring people to Jesus? 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.519 How do we love them? 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:43.200 How do we serve them? 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:51.840 How do we open our hearts to say the spirit in me compels me to live differently because I know that I am loved. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:54.000 Rejoice in hope. 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:56.799 That's an easy one, I think. 00:11:57.039 --> 00:12:00.399 When everyone's hopeful, it's so good to be hopeful with them. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:02.240 This one's a little harder. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:04.159 Be patient in suffering. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:07.120 Because you know what we want to do the minute we suffer? 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:08.240 We want to get out of it. 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:11.360 The minute we are there, we are ready to be done with it. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:16.080 And the minute I think about this in the summertime, I'm like, I am ready for the fall. 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.399 And then in the fall, I'm like, I can't wait for the spring. 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:21.279 And then in the spring, I'm like, won't it be wonderful when we have the fall? 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:23.120 And we do this as humanity. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:26.639 And the scripture here reminds us, be patient in the suffering. 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:28.639 The suffering is producing in you. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:31.360 And often it's not talking about abuse. 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:41.120 He's talking here about the suffering of what it means for you not to be first, for you not to think of yourself better than you ought, for you not to allow your ego to run the show. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:48.960 This is the kind of suffering that he's offering us and saying, what is it like for you to follow the way of Jesus into compassion? 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:51.600 Persevere in prayer. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:56.320 Beloved, do not give up on praying. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:02.000 Do not give up, persevere in this time when something is not right. 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:02.960 Pray about it. 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:06.879 In fact, the scripture tells us that we're invited to live in prayer. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:09.120 And what is prayer but communication? 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:12.559 To ask God about things and then to listen. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:14.480 To listen. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:25.200 And then to watch God show us different ways of seeing and for us to be able to find the miracles. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:45.200 I was thinking about Hagar in the Jewish Bible, and she's the first person who names God in the scripture, and she's in a terrible situation that men have put her in, and she is confident that she is gonna die and her child with her, and that is despair, beloved. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:57.440 And then an angel shows up and sees and she sees something differently, she sees something that was already there, and she names God as the one who sees me. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:02.720 And I was thinking about that how often the miracle is already there, we just don't see it. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:11.120 Very much like the disciples, where the fish and loaves were there, but they didn't see it as enough and put in the hands of Jesus. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:15.039 It is so this invitation to persevere into prayer. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:19.919 There are many different forms of prayer, and the church has always been about prayer. 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:21.679 Jesus was a person of prayer. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.080 In fact, the disciples said, teach us to pray. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:32.240 It is one of the reasons why we pray the Lord's prayer and this idea that Jesus shows us how to pray and how to live. 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:38.720 So as a person who is in faith, as a person who lives together, I want to remind you, persevere in prayer. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:40.879 Do not give up on praying. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.159 Contribute to the needs of the saints. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.000 This is the invitation. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:49.279 This looks like Acts chapter 2, verse 42. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:55.440 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:57.600 This is what the first church looked like. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:08.639 And the invitation for us is to continue in these things, that we would continue to contribute to each other's needs, that we would extend hospitality to strangers. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:12.399 And this is where the reckless love of God shows up. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:19.840 Because very often we want to show hospitality to our family or the people who are just like us or our friends. 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:24.000 And the invitation is to show hospitality to strangers. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:29.039 What does it look like for you to show hospitality to everyone? 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:33.519 We pause here for a moment to thank you for joining us today. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:39.120 If you're finding this episode meaningful, would you take a moment to share it with a friend? 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:44.399 This podcast is made possible thanks to the generosity of people just like you. 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:56.799 If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church and the continued work of our podcast, visit us online at firstlovchurch.org, reminding you to like, follow, and subscribe. 00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:58.000 This is the message. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:04.639 This is the good news of Jesus that God has come and God is coming and living in the middle of us. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:07.200 Emmanuel, God with us. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:10.879 But extend hospitality to strangers. 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:15.039 Open your heart to ask the Spirit and say, How will I do this? 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:27.039 Some of the strangers that you might be asked to show hospitality to are to um insects and bugs and animals and plants, not just people. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:35.200 I have some hard lines at some things, like spiders. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:37.919 I believe in their existence. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:44.879 I know that the Lord has beautiful plans for them, and I know that they have a purpose, but I just do not want to dwell with them. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:48.240 That's just a personal thing, it's not a Jesus thing. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.120 But I have really hard lines about that. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:57.759 And the invitation is may you find someone who is thrilled with spiders. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:02.240 I have a friend recently, and she cannot get over spider webs. 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:06.960 She, the the way that they make them is just the are the most fascinating thing. 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:13.599 And it's so fun for me because I walked outside the other day and I walked into one, and I just want to tell you how upset I was. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:18.880 Face full of spider, and then I'm never sure if it's in my hair now, you know, like how that works. 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:26.480 And I the first thing I got was upset because this spider put its house right where I was going to walk. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:31.759 Now that spider should have known I feel like this because this is my house, those are my pillars. 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:32.400 You know what I mean? 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:34.720 Like we have these ideas that are insane. 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:38.960 But I was firstly upset, and then I thought, oh my gosh, I shouldn't just wipe it away. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:45.920 I should take a picture so my friend could see the beautiful web that she loves so much all over my face. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:49.519 And I thought she would probably really enjoy this experience. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.559 I do not. 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:59.359 But the invitation is to change the way that you think, beloved, and you're not going to do that until you have people around you who will also see things differently than you do. 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:03.759 So embrace the diversity, show hospitality to the stranger. 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:06.880 Bless those who persecute you. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:12.400 Yeah, bless and do not curse them. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:28.400 The invitation for all of us living in the Spirit is that we would be people who bless, that we would bless with our words, that we would bless with our presence, that we would bless with our resources, but that we are to be people who bless. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:34.079 Because God said this, I put before you blessing, life, choose life. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:42.559 There's blessing and cursing, be people who bless, be people who find ways to create opportunities for others. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:45.200 Bless and do not curse them. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:50.799 Now, this is going to be a uh just a reminder to the original audience. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:56.240 These people heard the words of Moses, they understood the culture that they were in. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:19:00.400 And in this time, blessing and cursing got a little conflated. 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:04.880 People got more excited about the curses than they did the blessing. 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:07.200 I was talking about this the other day with somebody. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.559 We were talking about Jonah. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:11.440 It's such a beautiful story, and it's a really, really old one. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:19.839 But there's a point where Jonah has, he know, he has the his events, and then he tells the people that God is going to judge them, and then the people repent. 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:21.440 They change the way that they think. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:26.079 And then they don't get the punishment, and Jonah is furious. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:31.680 And let me just tell you, the story of Jonah tells a lot more about Jonah's own heart than anything else. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:39.839 And at one point, Jonah said, This is why I didn't want to come and do this, because I knew God that you were not going to punish these people. 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:43.680 I knew you would relent from what you said. 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:54.880 I wonder if that isn't what Jesus is asking all of us to open our eyes and see that God is different than the God that we have made, that we have created. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:57.279 We like a God of judgment. 00:19:57.440 --> 00:20:01.279 We like a God like the Greek gods who are furl of fury. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:05.279 And Jesus comes and shows us a basin and a towel. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:09.440 How are we going to change the world with this? 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.640 Through Jesus. 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.759 This is the way. 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:13.759 In John chapter 3, you know the verse. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:23.680 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life through him. 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:27.359 It is through the way of Jesus that God saves the world. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:30.400 And this is the invitation that we are all called to. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:32.240 Bless and do not curse them. 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:36.319 Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:40.640 Beloved, this is a way to allow compassion to lead us. 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:52.720 There are some people who have allowed their hearts to be so hardened that when someone is crying, we make excuses and say, Well, that's their own fault, or that's what they have done. 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:56.640 Instead of going, wait, let our hearts be broken with each other. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:21:05.920 Let our hearts rejoice with each other, but let our hearts stay soft and full of the compassion of God. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:09.039 Live in harmony with one another. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:11.359 Do not be haughty. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:16.079 Another name for that is prideful, but associate with the lowly. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:27.680 Jesus is reminding us, the apostle Paul is reminding us, the kingdom of God is not a hierarchy, it looks like a big circle. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:33.519 Everyone in Jesus at the very center saying, Come to God, all of us. 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:39.680 You do not have to climb a social ladder or perform at a certain level for you to be holy. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:44.319 In fact, the scripture tells us you are made whole and holy by God's love. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:47.440 So love is the invitation for us. 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:50.720 Do not claim to be wiser than you are. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:55.519 This is an excellent way of remembering that we are all to be students. 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:58.640 We are all to learn more of Jesus. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:02.240 That there is so So much that we still do not know. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:13.279 The minute you think that you know everything Do not repay anyone evil for evil. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:19.519 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:24.480 But take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:28.640 And if it is possible, I do love this language. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:31.200 If it is possible. 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:46.480 But if it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 00:22:46.880 --> 00:23:06.880 And so this is an invitation in the spirit to change the way that we think, that we're not to judge other people or other situations, and that we can choose to live in peace no matter what happens around us, because our peace is in the fact that we are loved by God, that Jesus has made the way, and that we trust in the love of God. 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:09.119 We read those verses before with Thomas. 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:12.400 We said we trust in the love that God has for us. 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:16.480 And so if it's possible, live peaceably with all. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:23.119 I remind you that the kingdom of God is a kingdom of peace, that is not a kingdom of violence. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.640 It is not a kingdom of war. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:43.359 We see even when Jesus came in the actual physical realm that the empire of Rome was so violent and had used so much domination that even the disciples were thinking when Jesus really gets with it, he's gonna take over and smash Rome, and then we're gonna be the ones on top. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:46.960 And Jesus said to Peter, put down your sword. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:52.640 And he said over and over again, that's not how we, that's not how this works. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:24:01.759 It is the towel and the basin, it is serving each other, it is loving each other, but as so far it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:09.759 Beloved, never avenge yourself, but leave room for the wrath of God. 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:13.599 Don't say anything, don't make any faces yet because this is a test. 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:17.279 This is a test, not from me, this is from the apostle. 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:22.799 Never avenge yourself, make room for the wrath of God. 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:32.880 For it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:44.079 And we like that because we want a God who is going to bring justice upon the people that are different than us, that are not like us. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:48.319 Mercy for us, justice for others. 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:52.559 This exposes our ideas about a vengeful God. 00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:55.440 Vengeance is mine, I will replace as the Lord. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:58.160 Because this is what Jesus said. 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:01.359 This is what actually the Proverbs say as well. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:05.200 No, so that was the test. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:08.960 Don't be excited about the fact that your enemies are gonna get theirs. 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:11.440 No, says the apostle. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:14.000 Again, he's not coming up with a new version. 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:17.920 This is the same thing that the Torah has teach has taught us. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:20.960 This is the same thing that the Psalms and the Proverbs are teaching. 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:26.000 In fact, it is from Proverbs, I think, 23. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:34.079 If you can't find it, I can find it for you later. 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:36.319 But it's in there. 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:40.880 This is an exact quote. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:44.640 And that's why it's actually in quote quotations for you. 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:48.240 But the apostle here is quoting a very old text. 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:50.960 If your enemies are hungry, feed them. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:54.400 If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:59.839 By doing this, you will heap burning coals on their heads. 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:07.680 I remember being very little and loving this idea of burning someone's head. 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:11.920 I just thought it was the greatest thing. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:16.079 Don't worry about it, I'll be nice to you and I'll burn your head. 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:20.880 I want to remind you that it's not what the story is saying at all. 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:22.400 Again, very old text. 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.599 This is what we're doing. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:26.079 Give them food, give them drink. 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:29.759 And when you give them food and drink, you will be doing this. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:34.160 In ancient times, if your fire went out, your life went out. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:39.359 If you didn't have a way to make fire, you not only could you not cook, but you were also not protected. 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:43.839 And so if your fire went out, you would go to your neighbor and you would say, Could I have a living hole? 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:48.480 Could I have a red hot ember so that I could take it to my fire and relight it? 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:51.680 And often they would carry those containers on their head. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:56.079 So you would go to your neighbor and you would ask for something that would support your life. 00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:57.279 Can I make food? 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.480 Can I boil water? 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:00.720 Can I, what can I do to sustain life? 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:10.640 And so the scripture here is telling us give your enemies a chance to actually repent by giving them what they need to thrive. 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:26.880 Not withholding open hands, generosity by doing this, not that you will burn their heads, you will give them the life that they can love so that they can see the work of God, so that they can come to repentance. 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:33.440 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:45.200 We see this in the life of Jesus, and the apostle is reminding us in our lives that if you see evil around you, don't panic, don't give up, overcome the evil by doing good. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:50.000 You be the person who lives in love, full of the Spirit of God. 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:57.119 You, the person who expands your mind and your hospitality and your table so that others can see. 00:27:57.359 --> 00:28:00.720 Do not be overcome by evil. 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:03.839 Overcome evil with good. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:11.920 This is the invitation that we would live a life practically full of good things that God has given us. 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:16.880 But the invitation is for us to recognize that it needs to be given everywhere. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:27.039 We've been talking about this in even the disciples, more about that story where Jesus sees the people and the disciples said, Well, send them away so they can go and get their own food. 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:29.599 And Jesus says, No, you feed them. 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:32.079 And they're like, Well, we don't have anything. 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:34.400 And Jesus said, Maybe look better. 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:38.559 And so they found a little boy whose mom had packed a lunch. 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:45.759 God blessed the women who pack lunches and breakfasts and and then they gave it to Jesus. 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:48.079 And I mean, they gave it to him, I don't think, with a whole lot of faith. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:52.160 I don't know that that's an accusation, but they went to Jesus and they're like, That's all we have. 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:54.000 It's not going to feed everybody. 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:58.799 And Jesus took it and he blessed it and he gave thanks for it. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:05.839 And it said, and then they took it hand in hand and they distributed it, and it was enough, and there was some left over. 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:07.519 Beloved, what is in your hand? 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:23.279 What bread, what resources in your hand to give to someone else so that everyone can be fed, so that the miracle of Jesus can be seen, so that the promise that there's another life, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:27.279 There is so much hope in this verse. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:34.480 There's so much, there is so much richness in this is the kind of life we're invited to leave as followers of Jesus. 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:37.119 We're invited to be people of good works. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:43.279 In fact, the scripture tells us before the world was formed, good works were planned and you were invited into them. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:59.759 That we can be people, the hands and feet of Christ, continuing to live in love, in generosity, and in respect.org.