Genesis 21 ~ The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.

Genesis 21

The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.^{[he laughs]} 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”


8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. 10 So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” 11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 13 And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.


22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” 24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”

25 When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized, 26 Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 30 He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this^[you] may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.



Luke 7:6-10
6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

We clearly remember Jesus was overwhelmed with the faith of the centurion. There is wonder and awe in the miracle of Sarah and Abraham's son. So much so, God Himself visits.

Genesis 15:5
And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be."

This was a miracle indeed. And once again the way, the truth and the life are not strewn with roses. We are like the people who followed Jesus into the wilderness and He says to so many, what do you want from me?

Sarah, with her longed for son, is displeased over laughter.  And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham.

1 Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

Mark 2:17
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Again and again the Scriptures point out - none of the characters were perfect, none had an easy path. And God continued to move them down the path He had for them. You have to wish they all could be more compassionate to one another.

Giving credit were credit is due, Abimelech, has none of the usual 'Philistine" characteristics. Abraham is blessed in Abimelech understanding Abraham has the blessing of God Almighty.  Abraham and Abimelech have a spirit of willingness to have peace, as a foreshadowing of Jesus the Savior to all nations He has created.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Matthew 9:13
But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Hebrews 11:8-12
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.




<><

Genesis 17 ~ Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him

Genesis 17


When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”


15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

"Hello, Honey. How was your day?"

"Oh man, the herds did not listen. The ewes have thrush. It was so hot. The lunch was dropped as it was unwrapped. And I had a conversation with the LORD. The Almighty. The Creator of All Things Through His Word."

Abraham did not always fall on his face before the LORD.

Genesis 17:17
Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?"

Genesis 18
And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.

27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes

God had to sweep up Abraham's mess.

Genesis 20
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife.”


Genesis 22
11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Isaiah 6:8
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”




<><

John 1:43-51 ~ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth,

or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.


Revelation 21:6
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”

Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,^{[The Greek for you is plural; twice in this verse]}  you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Matthew 4:4 
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"


John 21:24-25 
 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. ²⁵ Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.


Suppose with me the vastness of the Universe is God's Spirit. And Matthew wrote about every Word from Scriptures has a deep meaning. Because this is The Word of God. The first chapter of the Gospel of John explains Jesus is the Word of God brought forth.

The Gospels contain intimate details of Jesus' life.

Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Yet we know Andrew and Peter lived in Capernaum. We know Jesus was from Bethlehem. Jesus was raised in Nazareth. Confusion was mocked by the Pharisees because they said Jesus was from Nazareth, no prophecy said Nazareth would hold the Messiah. Ask Caesar Augustus, Jesus' family was from Bethlehem, and the actual census was found.

And Jesus, from Nazareth - only as a young person

Matthew 4:13
And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtal

So the Word of God tells us Jesus lived in Capernaum. Archaeology tells us Peter, Andrew, Peter's Mother-in-law, Peter's house  (resided) and the Sons of Zebedee lived in Capernaum.





What in the world do we think of this Bethsaida thing? No one knows where Bethsaida is...

Luke 9:10
When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida

Jesus continued to tell us about Bethsaida

Matthew 11:21
"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.


Bethsaida, Medieval works of travel notice only one Bethsaida. People debate why Bethsaida has disappeared further in history than the now found Sodom and Gomorrah. Tectonic rifting has uplifted et-Tell, water levels drop from increased population usage, land irrigation, and the Jordan delta has been extended. Bethsaida is.... missing.





What about beautiful Capernaum?

Matthew 11:23
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths

The depths of let's all go see Capernaum, the beautiful, beautiful city in the land flowing with milk and honey. Views of the wonderful Sea of Galilee. Jesus had good taste and lived among friends.

Peter, Andrew, James and John did not have lives of poverty and misery. They had reasons to stay where they were. Peter's house is the largest by far in Capernaum. He was well provided for, prosperous in the fishing industry. James and John, Sons of Zebedee are shown in archaeology to have given a pillar in the Synagogue. It is recorded in 1 Samuel, the followers of David, during his pre-kingdom years were the malcontents. Jesus did Not draw the malcontents.

Capernaum was so prosperous, so removed from Jerusalem - it was to remain- Intact for another 13 centuries. An amazing blessing for the town Jesus chose as an adult hometown. The Three Jewish Revolts and the destruction of Jerusalem did not touch Capernaum. Leaving us a city to visit where Jesus chose to live. Not so old as to be wiped away. Beautiful to appreciate.

Peter, Andrew, James and John left a virtual paradise for Jesus. Without much or any... persuasion. Why? They felt something more important in Jesus.






Matthew 13
"The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

Peter, Andrew, James, John and the 72 disciples wanted to rest in the shade of Jesus and nestle in His branches.

50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,^{[The Greek for you is plural; twice in this verse]}  you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”





This plural you is for you - today. When the trumpet sounds, we shall see. Jesus, who was taken up into Heaven, will come in the same way as He went into heaven.”

Acts 7:55-56 
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

He Reigns, by the Newsboys. Not all the powers of darkness, can drown out a single word.
He Reigns.



<><

2 Timothy 1 ~ 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.

Prayers for nights and days. Revelation tells us God inhales our prayers like incense. The candles represent lots of prayers. Days in prayer.


2 Timothy 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^[with] 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,^{[before times eternal] 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.^{[or what I have entrusted to him] 13} Follow the pattern of the sound^[healthy] 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.

15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.



The Scriptures have so many intimate details bringing the millenniums closer. Like Acts 12, when the Angel of the Lord has to tell Peter, "Get your coat." Peter was confused at the time, was he was having a vision or in actual time. Prison would be disorienting.

So Paul is telling us of suffering, egads these saints whine. Okay maybe not, see verse 16, Paul is in chains.

I was looking at family pictures of Rome, my mother was telling me about seeing Paul's Chains, in his Church namesake, where his remains are, in Rome. St. Paul's Basilica Outside the Wall. I was skeptical, asking if she felt anything seeing the chains, she said yes and she had done some research. They knew for certain what prisons operated during the time of Paul, these were the chains, as chains do not wear out. People wear out, chains don't.


The details. Paul tells us about his prayers for Timothy, the one Paul calls his child in the LORD.

I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day

Well let's think about prayer as a constant conversation. Paul also says this, in Philemon:

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

and tells Philemon, not only how Paul loves him, but the prayers about Philemon:

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ

Now that is realistic prayer. We don't remember to pray for everyone, even loved ones.


Paul is a Jewish Christian, yet he does not feel cut off from his loved ones.
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.

Paul is in prison proclaiming, 
God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

If you needed one brief explanation to find out why Paul has given up a prosperous career; Why?
Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us

~ to light through the gospel

Ephesians 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone

He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me



<><

John 1:29-34 ~ I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

National Geographic 2012 Photo Contest Winner taken in Lake Mary, FL




John 1:29-34

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Combined with this Scripture passage:


Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings^{[than God and the angels]}
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

This is the Son of God. Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to be upon the people who would ask in His name, with belief. So many, many times we are left with a photo image of a dove descending upon Him at His baptism. The important message - the Spirit remains.

Psalm 8 continues the message saying His name, Jesus, is majesty, glory and establishes strength. Many times in life we feel diminished, and this passage reassures us we are so important to HIM, the Spirit remains. The work of our hands, our life, will be established in Him. The journey, the path - His - He established for us.

Deuteronomy 2:7
For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”’

Psalm 34:10
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Romans 11:29
For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.

Asking us -

1 Peter 2:17
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

John 15:17
These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Walking with faith. We all have questions, not necessarily lack of faith, but questions. Jesus gives us an abiding Holy Spirit. John the Baptist knew he was serving God, he'd heard about his family, John had to have known about the Christmas story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. John went along his faith journey and God showed him the path forward.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”



<><

Matthew 3 ~ and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan

 Women in the Wheat Field, By Charles Carol Coleman

Chaff is good for feeding livestock and quickly burns.

Matthew 3

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”


13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”




Who is John the Baptist? We think of John popping locusts with honey dripping off of him. Running around in camel robes, when others were wearing light colors and looking pristine and well groomed. Maybe he was Jesus' crazy cousin.

Please notice with me, we have a camel visual image on today's post. Now let's talk about camel, as in sport coat.

Leviticus 11:22
Of them you may eat: the locust of any kind, the bald locust of any kind, the cricket of any kind, and the grasshopper of any kind.

A surprise. Few know today that locusts are kosher. However in Uganda, different areas of South America, Bangkok, Brazil,  locusts are like potato chips with honey. And rather relished. John was living simply and living quite kosher.

As a matter of fact, John the Baptist locust eating has been recorded as an analogy of eating demons in the Book of Revelation. Which is incredibly flawed because..... the locusts were the size of horses. John was actually rather more like Henry David Thoreau. With a twist. John the Baptist deserves our respect for several reasons. Good reasons. We will start with a humorous bend and travel to the wondrous. Camel hair. If you are going to run around in dusty streets and you want to look good, wouldn't you start with something that is good with wear & tear, not showing dirt. I think Aaron's offspring might just might have a bit of Solomon.

And the disciples record they were married with houses, businesses, agenda, mother-in-laws. John the Baptist didn't run from the Temple, he held his head up, and did as the Essenes of the Dead Sea Scrolls. He openly embraced the Holy Spirit, in repentance, while publicly pursing a priestly carrier (on both parent's side as the tribe of Levy) looking for the advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven. John the Baptist was not standing on street corners screaming, he was washing clean and telling the Truth of power versus holiness. John was willing to look with discernment at wheat, Bread of Life, versus chaff.

Salt. Jesus told us to be Salt. John the Baptist was far from neutral beige. He said some thought provoking things.

John 1:29-31
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."

So .... why didn't John recognize Jesus??? For the same reasons we didn't recognize Jesus until we invited Him to be part of us. Before we really knew Him: we heard about Jesus from other sources. Not all the sources were credible. Family (Church) is sometimes boring and the time it takes to get there and back is too long. Why put the effort into going when people aren't always nice? We missed the family get-togethers (Church) for so long, people hassle us about That too. If you don't remember the family stories correctly there is mocking. It's all a big tangle to sort out and we have other things to do.

Then, more importantly, it comes to the decision time. As John grew spiritually into God's plan for him, Jesus became important to him. John took the time to dwell and think about who Jesus is. God revealed not just family, a good man, but a Savior. John, bravely, and with certainty says, "And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

And we will go further, seeing the Words spoken by the Son of God recording John.

Matthew 11:11
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Perhaps we use this passage to say the greatest shall be last and the last first. However. Why? Why is it important how we see John the Baptist?

John 1:6-8
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.


What does our perception matter today of John the Baptist? This reflects on the Body of Christ. Those who proclaim Jesus as Lord. It reflects on what we say about other denominations, other Christians.

1 Corinthians 12:21
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

Leviticus 19:32
"Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the LORD."

Ephesians 4:11-12
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

To whom did Jesus turn to in His cleansing, the beginning of His ministry?

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Matthew 3:13-15
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

And after John the Baptist was killed by Herod, how did Jesus react? He fed the thousands. He is recorded before and after the celebration, rather like a funeral reception, seeking very private time.

1 Peter 2:17
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.



<><

Psalm 8 ~ what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings^{[than God and the angels]}
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!


This is the time of year things begin to slow down again. The loved ones and loved guests depart. The house grows quieter. The Christmas lights sparkle. The gratitude in our Church tradition, 12 days of Christmas remain, until The Visit of the Magi - Epiphany, January 6th. And I am not ready for the Christmas lights to be taken down. Tonight we traveled to the country to sit with friends and watch a bonfire. The sparks made a better glow than any firework display. God gives us majesty in small glimpses. This is a time of year life and routine will arrive. As we get older, cold, even in the subtropics, seeps into our bodies with little appreciation.

And yet this is a wonderful time to to enjoy home and hearth. The blessing of dominion, not being in the iron age as David was. The work of God's hand enjoying the blessings of light on an early dark, winter evening. The appreciation for His works under our feet in the warmth of the house. Not the kerchief of "Night Before Christmas", nor the night cap.

What is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

So many blessings to be grateful for.

1 John 1:5
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

Psalm 16:9
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure

Hebrews 12:28
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe

Psalm 122:8
For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.”





<><

Malachi 3 ~ Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Photo by Jannelle Loewen, Fireworks Oaks Park



Malachi 3

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.^{[and they will belong to the Lord in bringing their offers of righteousness]} 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.


6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer^{[Probably a name for some crop-destroying pest]} for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”


16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.


Behold, to be a land of delight, to be called blessed by the Lord of Hosts, to what shall we aspire?

We rely upon the Lord's gracious favor. His willingness to be forgiveness. His Steadfast Love and Mercy. As we stand on New Year's Eve, we willingly ask for the windows of heaven to open and pour down a blessing until there is no more need.

What kind of offering shall we give HIM? May the words of my lips and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to You, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.


Luke 18:13
The tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

2 Kings 22:19
Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.

1 Peter 3:4
Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.


How shall we approach the LORD. Isaiah wondered.

Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."


Micah 6:7-8
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

1 Corinthians 7:35
I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Acts 16:1-40
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. ...

Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.


“They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him."


<><