Tag Archives: John

Jesus is the Son of G*d

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 17, 2015
Tags: , John   

“Too Soon Old and Too Late Smart” — Rev. David J. Schreffler

image    September 17, 2015

“The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’—and the scripture cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
John 10:31-38

“When we notice in ourselves eager desires for something in the future, and when we see that our temperament carries us too intensely to all that must be done, let us try to restrain ourselves from hurry, and ask our Lord to stop the haste in our hearts and the agitation of our behavior, since G*d has said Himself that His Spirit does not dwell in confusion. Let us take care not to participate too much in all that is said and done, and not to absorb too much of it, because this task that presents itself, let us keep to that, and separate from all the rest. Thus we shall always keep the depths of our souls free and balanced, and we shall cut off entirely the host of unnecessary things which burden our hearts, and which prevent them from turning easily toward G*d.” Christian Perfection, Francois de Salignac Fenelon (1651 – 1715) “For All The Saints” volume II (p. 850)

There’s the saying “We get too soon old, and too late smart” that is an idiom which comes from our PA Dutch friends. It means, in part, that wisdom often comes after we have lived many years. I think it relates to what our friend Fenelon was stating in the above devotion. If we are too much in a hurry to accomplish something that we lose ourselves, our time, our thoughts, and our allegiances in the process, we can also lose our connection with the Holy Spirit, and thus lose our connectivity to G*d. Slow and steady may not always win the race, but it may allow us to be open to the Holy Spirit who will help diminish the chaos and confusion that life can bring. We may still get “too soon old, and too late smart”, but at least we may also learn some wisdom along the way to guide us in faithful living and faithful decisions.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 10, 2015
Tags: John,   

Co-Workers — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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September 10, 2015

“Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth.” 3 John 1:8

“The apostle John, now an old man likely writing from Ephesus, wanted to encourage his friend Gaius to keep true faith in Christ burning brightly in his heart and the hearts of those in his church (3 John 1:1,4). So he penned a letter that referenced the great importance of two things—the teaching of the true gospel and the importance of fellowship. Without those things, Gaius’ church would be doomed to experience the cold ashes of dead faith.

John was pleased that his friend was “living according to the truth” (3 John 1:3). What’s more, Gaius and the fellow believers in his church had warmly received traveling teachers—likely John’s emissaries—who were instructing them in the truth. One man, Diotrephes, was not welcoming the traveling teachers because of his desire to be in control. John condemned the power-hungry, unrighteous leader and lifted up another, Demetrius, as an example of one who “does the truth itself” (3 John 1:12). “Our Daily Journey” devotions part of Our Daily Bread online devotions from Two Things We Need

Co-workers. We have them at our places of employment, and sometimes we are thrilled with the people we call “co-workers” . Other times we complain and complain about our “co-workers” because they do not fit our ideas of work, cooperation, or enthusiasm. But having co-workers does not stop at our places of employment. We also have “co-workers” in the church (our places of worship), and in the Church (meaning the Church Universal). Our “co-workers” in the gospel will be our friends at church, and also the ones we just cannot stand to be around. They will be the ones we share bible study and ministries with, and others will be the people with whom we sit on church council and find them to be exhausting to be around. And yet, we are “co-workers” in the gospel of Jesus, and these volunteers sometimes have more power than our co-employees in the day to day operations of the church.

When we are “co-workers” in the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to work very hard at limiting our need for power and influence. The human quest and need for power and influence will always squelch the power of the gospel — if not immediately, it will over time. We damage and limit the work of the gospel when we place our own individual needs above the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are co-workers — not self-employed — but part of a team — ship-mates together fighting the storms of life — with Jesus as our captain.

Pastor Dave