Encouraging Words

Good Morning! 

Paul loved Timothy.  The statement is simple but very true.  Timothy served Christ Jesus as a pastor and bishop in Ephesus.  He was one of Paul’s early converts on his first missionary journey.  He was martyred in 97 A.D., being stoned while attempting to preach the gospel in the midst of a parade for the goddess Diana. 

The thought occurs to me that we are privileged to read Paul’s personal letters to this person whose name means “honored by God”.  This morning, the verse of the day on Biblegateway refers to one of these letters … and the encouragement Paul was sending to him …

2 Timothy 1:1-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to[a] a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,[b] 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.[c] 13 Follow the pattern of the sound[d] words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Footnotes:

a.     2 Timothy 1:9 Or with

b.    2 Timothy 1:9 Greek before times eternal

c.     2 Timothy 1:12 Or what I have entrusted to him; Greek my deposit

d.    2 Timothy 1:13 Or healthy

I am convinced that God allows us to read these personal letters from Paul because He wants us to be encouraged by the same words that Paul wrote.  Here Paul calls on Timothy to remain strong in his faith.  Listen, I need that as much as Timothy did.  Our culture is increasingly becoming more belligerent towards those of us who name the Name of Christ.  You and I remain in a critical battle for the souls of humankind.  We are soldiers of the Cross, carrying the message that Jesus is the only Hope for all of humankind.  It is easy to grow weary when we face rejection … but we must continue.  Hear the message:

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace,

One of my bosses from times past had a saying that I remember well: “keep on keeping on”.  By this he meant to continue to work hard to achieve a goal.  We, too, should keep on keeping on as we share God’s love and peace found in Christ Jesus.

Well, we come to the end of another week … and another month.  Sunday is the beginning of March … wow, where has the time gone this year?  Blessings to all of you this good day and this weekend. 

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Thank You, dear Father, for the encouraging words of Paul to Timothy and to me on this good day.  In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  2^nd Timothy 1:1-14

Highways and Hedges

Good Morning! 

Are you ready for yet another trip down Jim’s memory lane?  Well, I guess you don’t have much choice … either walk with me or close the blog this morning.   When I read Luke 14, I cannot help but go back to some memories of working in the bus ministry at Red Oak Baptist Church. This work took place in the 1971-1975 timeframe.  It is hard to believe that I am looking back almost fifty years … my goodness!  This means that the “little ones” of five are approaching their mid-fifties … and the ones who were in high school are in their sixties.  Wow!!! I am getting a little long in the tooth!

Anyway, Luke 14 always brings back memories of the sermon on reaching people.  Let’s read the passage … and then some comments:

Luke 14:1-24 English Standard Version (ESV)

14 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. 2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son[a] or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” 6 And they could not reply to these things.

7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers[b] or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant[c] to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you,[d] none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

Footnotes:

a.   Luke 14:5 Some manuscripts a donkey

b.     Luke 14:12 Or your brothers and sisters

c.     Luke 14:17 Or bondservant; also verses 21 (twice), 22, 23

d.     Luke 14:24 The Greek word for you here is plural

One of the chief sticking points for the religious leaders was the keeping of the Sabbath.  Over the centuries, much discussion of the meaning of keeping the Sabbath had resulted in draconian rules regarding what it meant to labor on the Sabbath. Jesus confronts this immediately at this “ruler of the Pharisees”.  In short, this was a high muckity-muck in the religious community.  One of the invited guests had dropsy (modern term is “edema” meaning the swelling of tissue due to congestive heart failure).  Jesus asks the religious leaders if it is wrong to help someone in need even on the Sabbath.  They couldn’t conjure up an answer … so Jesus healed the man – right then – on a Sabbath day.

The second subject Jesus deals with on this Sabbath day is pride.  He observed how some attempted to position themselves at the table.  Jesus points out that it is the host that determines the position … not the attendee.  What does this mean to us?  God gives us His gifts and His talents for His glory.  We should rejoice that we have a place at the table … and not try to outdo one another.

The third subject is reaching out to people.  Surrounding one’s self with people of like means is okay … but it is much more impactful when the less fortunate are included at the table.  Jesus noted that the ruler had surrounded himself with other religious leaders … and omitted the less fortunate.  True love is inclusive. True love reaches out to all … and is not exclusive. 

Last, Jesus points out how the religious leaders had become complacent and presumptive.  They assumed their goodness would be sufficient … so they didn’t have to respond when God called.  They assumed that since they were “God’s Chosen People” , they did not have to do the work God called them to do.  They set their energies on self-fulfillment.  Jesus points out that God’s chosen are those who respond to Him. 

So … what does that all have to do with us today?  God is calling on us to fulfill His commission to reach people with the gospel message and to teach people about Jesus.  While I love to gather with my fellow believers to worship God, the task still remains … as I am going, I am to tell people about God’s offer of salvation in Christ Jesus. I am to help them to identify with like believers.  And I am to help new believers to grow in Christ.   In short, my invitation to the banquet says “and bring others with you”.

God bless you on this good day …

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Oh that I might have spiritual eyes to see all the need, dear Father, and be willing to respond with action. Fill my life, dear Father, with opportunity to glorify You by caring and sharing.  In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Luke 14:1-24

Galileans?

Good Morning! 

Have you ever come across a passage of Scripture that perks your interest but there is no real answer that you can find?  I was reading Luke 13 this morning and became curious about the first few verses …

Luke 13:1-5 English Standard Version (ESV)

13 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

My question is what is the incident that the “some” is asking about?  There is no real answer available.  Here’s what GotQuestion says ..

We see glimpses in Scripture of how Galilee may have been a trouble spot for Roman rule. Gamaliel mentioned a failed revolt led by “Judas the Galilean” in Acts 5:37. In Luke 13:1–3, some people told Jesus about an incident involving Galileans: “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices” (verse 1). Neither Scripture nor secular history gives any more details regarding this massacre, but it is likely that the Galileans, visiting Jerusalem to offer sacrifices, had been caught up in a nationalistic fervor and started a commotion on the temple mount. The Roman governor Pilate quickly and violently quelled the disturbance, killing the Galileans along with their sacrificial animals, perhaps as a public demonstration of how violators must “atone” for their “sins” against Rome.

Jesus responded to hearing about the massacre of the Galileans with a warning: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:2–3). Instead of conjecturing on the Galileans’ sin, Jesus said, take care of your own sin. Everyone needs to repent.

I think this was a genuine question … that is, one without an underlying reason. If the supposition in GotQuestions is right, the question is whether God was punishing Galileans for their sins. Jesus’ response is to tell the questioners to refocus on their own sins.  Many of us look for an escape when our sins are revealed … deflecting our sins by comparison with others. Jesus understood this. He follows the question with the following parable …

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

God is patient.  His desire is that all of us should come to Him.  He gives us ample opportunities to hear His voice and turn to Him.  Rather than focusing on another, each one of us must first evaluate our relationship with God.  

May God bless you this good, good day.

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, reprogram my mind to see my shortcomings first before focusing on others.  In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Luke 13:4-9

Condensed

Good Morning! 

When I was growing up at Grandma Ward’s, when I was bored, like on a rainy day when I couldn’t go outside, I would read some of the books from her library.  She had a number of sets of books by noted authors … like Mark Twain, James Whitcomb Riley, and the like.  She also invested in the Reader’s Digest Condensed books which were published quarterly(?).  One that I remember well was entitled The Day Lincoln Was Shot by Jim Bishop (1907-1987).  Of course, what I was reading was only a condensed version of the entire book.  I think reading this particular book is the one that got me interested in history … an interest that continues to this day.

If you are joining me in studying the four gospels, yesterday’s study of the first part of Luke 11 was a condensed version similar to the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5-7.  Keep in mind that Matthew’s gospel is directed more to the people of Israel and Luke takes in a broader spectrum of peoples.  Let’s take a look at Luke 11:

11 Now Jesus[a] was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,[b]
4 and forgive us our sins,
    for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence[c] he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for[d] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Footnotes:

a.     Luke 11:1 Greek he

b.     Luke 11:3 Or our bread for tomorrow

c.     Luke 11:8 Or persistence

d.     Luke 11:11 Some manuscripts insert bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for

While I like the whole sermon found in Matthew, I do like Luke’s version as well as Jesus points out the relationship of God with each of us. When we seek God, we will find God.  When we ask of God, He will provide according to our true need. 

So, the question I must ask of myself is my desire to seek and to ask. Am I just rocking along in life … not seeking after the will of God – just letting life happen?  Or, am I seeking the will of God for my life and asking Him to enthuse me to do that will?  Good questions for all of us to ask of ourselves.

Well, I hope your Monday was a good day for you.  I was truly blessed by the residents at Friendship Rehabilitation who attended our worship service.  God is good.

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, teach me how to seek Your face and to ask for Your will to be done in me. In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Luke 11:1-13

Dreams ... dreams, dreams, dreams

Good Morning! 

Have you ever had one of those nights where you dream something that just doesn’t make any sense?  Early this morning … I know it was after midnight because someone with a waggily tail had to “go out” after that time … I dreamed that I was still gainfully employed and my old boss, Mr. Day, fired me!!!  Now, I am aware that some folks place meanings to dreams … so I wonder what all that would mean to me.  First, Mr. Day has been dead for almost a decade. Second, I have been retired for six years … and believe that “work” is a four-letter word.  So, the dream doesn’t make sense … unless the memories bubbling up in my brain is preparing me for some disappointment coming down the pike.  If that is the case, I thank my heavenly Father, God, for preparing me for things to come. 

God is good.  God is wise.  God cares about you and me.  From before we were even a thought, God has numbered our days. When we trust in Him, we can walk in confidence, knowing that He wants the very best for all of us.  Hear the words of the prophet, Jeremiah, as he proclaims the words God gave to him…

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV

1.      God has a plan for each of us.  When you were being formed in the womb of your mother, God already knew you.  He knew your personality. He knew your strengths and your weaknesses.  He knew … and knows … the desires of your heart.  He offers to you … and to each of us … His plan for us.

2.      His plan is for good to give us both a future and a hope.  God, who knows each day of your future, wants to give you the very best.  I am not speaking of a prosperity gospel … but of those things that last through eternity … things that cannot be bought or sold.  Love, peace, joy and the like.  These intangibles are available to those who trust God.

3.      God is waiting for us. He is listening for us to call upon Him, to offer prayer to Him, to seek him with all of our hearts.  Jesus tells us to prioritize seeking God in our lives so that all may be added to us.  God promises to us.

As we begin our new week, let us set aside the worries and cares that cloud our relationship with God … and spend time meditating on this great promise given to each one of us.  May we seek to follow His great plan for each one.  May we call upon Him and listen carefully for His direction in each one of our lives.  And may we offer praise to God for His great love for us.

My prayer for you today is that God will make you aware of His closeness so that you might feel His touch this good day.

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, thank You for Your plan for my life. Help me see Your plan and to respond obediently to that plan. In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Jeremiah 29:11-13

A Leaf in My Lily Pond

Good Morning! 

It did snow yesterday … for about four hours.  But there is no accumulation to speak of here in Cleveland … perhaps some in higher elevations, like Brasstown Bald.  When Heather came down to get a bowl of chili and freshly made cornbread (yum), I told her that my first boss, Mr. Johnston, who was from a Scandinavian country, once told me that “big flakes means the snow will stop soon”. 

Mr. Johnston is one of my many leaves in my lily pond.  He owned the Emory Hardware store.  Mom arranged for Bruce and me to deliver his monthly circulars to the homes in the Emory area of town.  He paid us forty cents an hour to do so after school … usually only two and one-half hours each day. If you can do math, that adds up to one dollar a piece for Bruce and me. But I need to give you some reference to that amount of pay.  The Federal minimum wage was $1.00 per hour at the time.  The federal minimum wage did not apply to Mr. Johnston because his business had less than six employees.  And, the child labor laws did not apply because the job we did was not considered to be continual … it was month to month and only five or less days per month.  So, Bruce (11 at the time) and I (9 at the time) would head to the store on North Decatur Road after school. Mr. Johnston’s teenage employee would transport us to a drop off location, leave us to deliver the circulars in that neighborhood, then pick us up at a given point when the task was complete.  We would return to the store where Mr. Johnston would hand each of us a dollar. 

While it may appear that I am complaining, let me hurriedly say that I am not.  Mr. Johnston was a good man … perhaps a little thrifty … but very good to Bruce and me.  One has to remember that people in the hardware business at the time earned their living in terms of cents rather than dollars.  In 1960 there were no megastores like Home Depot or Lowes.  Screws and nails were sold by the pound … at cents per pound.  For that reason, thriftiness was essential for success. 

Mr. Johnston taught Bruce and me the value of a dollar … and the value of hard work. His instructions on delivering the circulars were very detailed … we were not permitted to cut across the yards … we had to walk up the driveway, place the circular in a very visible spot or, preferably, engage the occupant and hand the circular to them.  We then had to walk down the drive, over the sidewalk to the next drive and repeat the process.  In some of the Druid Hills neighborhoods, the driveways were quite long and steep.  But we survived.  And we obeyed.

Emory Hardware is no more.  In fact, most of the local hardware stores have disappeared as a result of the Home Depots and Lowes stores that can afford to charge less.  I admit that my first inclination is to visit the big box stores to save a dollar or two.  But the cost goes beyond those savings.  Mr. Johnston was a friend to many of the people in the Emory area.  People would come in and spend a few moments visiting with him.  He always treated them as customers but also as friends.  We don’t get that today.  And I think it affects the way we see community.

I left Emory Hardware to work at the Emory theatre when I was fourteen.  I got a huge raise … to sixty-five cents an hour … to sell candy and popcorn to patrons.  At sixteen, I moved on to Kroger whose interstate business required the $1.25 per hour minimum wage.  But I still remember my time at Emory Hardware … and Mr. Johnston … fondly.

Colossians 3:23-24 English Standard Version (ESV)

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Our responsibility as believers is to work as hard as we can, doing the best job we can do so that Christ is glorified through us.  I know there are good bosses and bad bosses … but that does not change our responsibility to work as if we are working for Christ Jesus. 

We come to the end of another week … a couple of days to rest, recover, and regain the vigor we need to carry on for the Lord.  God bless you this day and this weekend.

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, thank You for the Mr. Johnstons that You have placed in my life to teach me what You want me to know. May I continue to learn these lessons so that You will be honoredin all my actions. In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Colossians 3:23-24

A Supper

Good Morning! 

There was a woman who was a sinner.  One day, she crashed a supper at the house of Simon, a Pharisee.  She wasn’t allowed at the table … no woman was … but during the course of the meal, she began to weep and to anoint the feet of Jesus.  Let’s take a look at the response …

Luke 7:36-50 English Standard Version (ESV)

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among[a] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Footnotes:

a.     Luke 7:49 Or to

Taking a look at the people involved …

·         The woman.  She was not welcomed at the Pharisee’s house because, in Simon’s eyes, she was a sinner and was not worthy to be in his presence.  But she felt compelled to take a risk and enter Simon’s house. Once there, she was overcome with emotion, beginning to weep. She used her tears to wet the feet of Jesus, her hair to wipe them clean, and anointed His feet with ointment.  Each of these actions indicated her love and trust in this man.  We don’t know what her sin was … though one might assume that it was a moral issue.  We do know that she was in need of a savior … and she found one in Jesus.

·         Simon. Simon was a Pharisee.  He obviously had some level of wealth … he could afford to have Jesus and others come to his house to dine.  He felt he was better than others … as is indicated with his feelings toward the woman.  He was inconsiderate towards his guest … failing to offer the basics to a visitor, as Jesus pointed out. 

·         Jesus. Jesus allowed the woman to touch Him.  Did He not know she was a sinner? He did, of course.  But Jesus wasn’t afraid of being considered to be unclean because of the touch of a sinner. He wanted to draw the woman towards Him … not push her away.  He saw her faith and her love … and He comforted her by telling her that her sins were forgiven.

·         The other guests.  Note what they focused on … the fact that Jesus told her that her sins were forgiven.  We cannot tell from the words whether they were incredulous or amazed.  I lean towards the former … because the guests probably had the same attitude towards people that Simon had … feeling superior to others. 

What does all this mean to you and me on this Good Morning? 

As Paul tells us, there is not a single one of us who can claim to be righteous. We are not in a contest with other humans about who is better than the other … our measuring stick is God and His perfection.  When we recognize the fact that we cannot measure up, we have but one choice … believe God and the forgiveness He offers in Christ Jesus.  He, who bore the condemnation for our sin, will say to us what He said to that woman … “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, “my hope is found in nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest from but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.” Thank You for Jesus.  Thank You from His blood.  Thank You that He was not and is not afraid to touch this sinner to redeem him from his sin. In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Luke 7:36-50