Tag: focus

Matthew 10:16-23

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

We have entered into a season, that many people have never seen before. Most people did not grow up during the major shifting movements that have taken place in the United States. More people have never experienced true persecution when it comes to their faith in Jesus Christ in this country. Nevertheless, we are now seeing an outright assault on the truth of the gospel.

The attack is not on religion. The attack is not on beliefs. The attack is on truth and persistent understanding. Many people are presented with truth on a regular basis. Yet, they choose to look the other way in order to maintain the status quo. Those individuals that refuse to change the circumstances in the name of God’s liberation are committing themselves to the gods and methods of this world.

Many of us know what God‘s truth really is. We also understand that God‘s word must have a place in cultivating and shifting the conditions we currently see in our world. It is necessary for us to no longer allow evil to co-opt a gospel that will never be signed off by Jesus Christ. In this world you may lose Some friends, colleagues, and status for doing the right thing. The right thing is not always profitable, but it is the sign that you refuse to live under the shadow of a godless empire. Remember that the Kingdom’s reward transcends momentary pleasure. Remember, God is counting on you to make the truth know and change the world.

Genesis 1:26a

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

Sometimes we lose touch with who we are. In many ways, it is the result of how we have devalued humanity. We possess a unique to understanding about what people are supposed to mean. Somehow time has taught us to lean in more on creating a monolithic environment rather than embrace the uniqueness of every individual.

We should have a daily reflection that reminds us that every person has something extraordinary to offer our world. The great sin of humanity is not how we treat one another, but it is how we forget the sacredness of our individuality. That loss of memory influences the way that we treat one another. Ultimately, that produces the various sinful acts that destroy the possibility of a greater world.

Once you and I remember where we come from, we will form new ways of expressing the healing of community and embrace the beauty of God‘s variety. Until we understand self through the lens of God‘s creative nature, we will never be able to build a world that provides the equity, equality, justice, and love that is needed to guide our existence into a kingdom future.

Ephesians 4:26-27

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

One of the things that people don’t consider is that anger has a significant place in one’s life. Most people suggest that they do not wanna live an angry life. Yet, many circumstances occur that would bring anger to the forefront. What do you do when injustice seems to reign? What do you do when you hear the ignorance of racist and others? What do you do?

The trouble with anger is that most people do not know how to focus this feeling. Some people are of the mentality that if they check their anger, they will not do destructive things. Some people believe that if they let all their anger out, they will not have to address the problems that caused it anymore.

Could it be that proper anger should cause us to think and consider our values and beliefs? Is it possible that our anger exists because we feel powerless to address what is happening around us? It may be possible that Paul is asking all of us to give proper attention to the anger that we might feel, so we do not allow it to fester and linger. It might be time to give our anger a critical look. It might be that our anger is ringing our phone that we might become a witness and advocate for effective change.