Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 39

“No one should wrong his brother in this matter or take advantage of him, because the Lord punishes all who do such things — as we have explained to you before at length. For God did not call us to live an unclean life but a holy one. Therefore, whoever rejects this teaching is rejecting not a man but God, indeed, the One who gives you the Ruach HaKodesh , which is his” (1 Thessalonians (1 Th) 4:6-8). You don’t see a lot of folks quoting the letters to Thessalonica, so I figured to give it a shot today as I just finished that letter yesterday in the latest translation I am reading. And this selection from the letter is a good reason to pick up the first letter because it gives some prudent advice about how Christians should act. It seems that the folks in Thessalonica needed some reminding about not wronging their brothers and sisters and that doing wrong makes us unclean. I mean, He did say to love God and to love your neighbor. And He does have a lot to say about the importance of doing good for one another and not doing wrong. So, rejecting the call to love our brothers, our neighbors, our enemies, is rejecting the love of God. That’s rejecting the Spirit of God.

That is something so heavy in its simplicity that I often fail to consider it. Loving others is how I show the world that I love God. And there can never be enough love. I am totally fixed on love right now. I have been fixed on this idea of love for a while now. I once told my pastor, “I don’t know how folks can be so worried about prophecy. I am still working on loving God and loving my neighbor. When I get that worked out, then I can worry about end times prophecy.” And I am still working on loving God through loving my neighbor.

Honestly, I think a lot of us need to spend a lot more time worrying about loving than we do about what happens when Jesus returns. I think we should worry about the love part because it is vitally important to what happens when Jesus returns. And rather than sitting around trying to map prophecy onto media reports, maybe we should be living out His command to love God and neighbor? I don’t know, BUT it sounds like something He would want. I don’t recall Jesus worrying about the prophecy. He was busy loving people and the prophecy was fulfilled according to His Plan. And I think the same can be true for us. Rather than worrying about His Plan, we should focus more on doing His Work of loving people. God’s Plan has a way of working itself out regardless. So, let’s focus on love. There is always much more love needed in this world. Let’s work on creating a Kingdom where, “They will never again be hungry, they will never again be thirsty, the sun will not beat down on them, nor will any burning heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will shepherd them, will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation of Yeshua to Yochanan (Rev) 7:16-17). Let’s love our way to His Kingdom.

Seek first His Kingdom which rests on the foundation of love.Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #NotMyWayYHWH

Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 32

"Yes, you will go out with joy, you will be led forth in peace. As you come, the mountains and hills will burst out into song, and all the trees in the countryside will clap their hands. Cypresses will grow in place of thorns, myrtles will grow instead of briars. This will bring fame to Adonai as an eternal, imperishable sign" (Yesha 'yahu (Isa) 55:12‭-‬13 CJB). Grace and Shalom. I say it a lot. I think it a lot. I live it out as much as possible because sometimes I fail. Go out in joy and be led by shalom.

I came back to the church of my youth and found it a lot smaller than I remembered. The sanctuary was not quite as impressive as when I was a child. The building was not as huge. But the joy and peace were still there. It was still a sanctuary. In the midst of the chaos that has been our life over the past months, it was shelter and sanctuary for us yesterday. And that wasn't because of the building. It was all because of the people. Go out in joy and be led by shalom.

Folks were sad but they went out with His joy and peace to give hugs, to cry, to encourage, and to love. And there is power in His joy and His peace. He restores. He encourages. He strengthens. He empowers. He makes the broken whole. He makes the mountains and hills burst with song. The trees clap and beauty replaces danger. That is God. Go out in joy and be led by shalom.

Shalom is wholeness. When we are not whole, we cannot be in right relationship with God. So, I pray for wholeness today for so many that are broken and in need of restoration. He can bring that joy and peace to us all if we only ask him. Go out in joy and be led by shalom.

Take that wholeness He has gifted and allow it to lead your way. Be happy that He has a plan and a way for each of us. Go forward optimistically with a song in your heart that will echo throughout creation. Go out in joy and be led by shalom.

Seek first the Kingdom of God.

Grace and Shalom to your home.

#NoKingButChrist#EmbraceTheWithin#seekfirstthekingdomofGod