Devotional 6-24-11

Resurrection Reality PEACE
John 20:19-31

Do you remember how Walter Cronkite used to close his broadcast by saying, “And that’s the way it is”? Such is a world vision that reflects the painfulness of reality. It is an echoing of the somber words of agnostic Bertrand Russell: “Brief and powerless is Man’s life; on him and all his race the slow, sure doom falls pitiless and dark.”

Life on Easter evening for the disciples opens in a somber, fearful mood. John reports, “When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews.” Huddled behind locked doors, the followers of Jesus are struggling.

Today, we struggle with reality, we doubt like Thomas did. I have I been in a season of doubt since Oct. 24, 2010 when my brother died. I didn’t doubt God in 1972 when I was laying beside my mother, and she never woke up at the age of 43, and I was 9. I didn’t doubt in 1981 when I was a freshmen in college and my brother David called to tell me that my brother John had been killed. I didn’t doubt in 1979 when my grandmother who raised me died. But my life fell apart when David died. I have questioned God, and the God I serve is big enough, deep enough, strong enough, wise enough to handle my doubts and my questions. In fact the biggest venue on television is the genre of so-called reality TV. I’ve got this great idea for reality TV. It would be the ultimate survivor show. Take a guy who is obviously a religious fanatic. So much so that he believes he’s the messiah, the savior of the world. Then you could have authorities who are out to get him. Let’s say they succeed and put him to death. But how’s this? He rises from the dead after three days. Now that is a survivor! His reality changes our reality.

He didn’t just survive. He triumphed! Now that is real reality, resurrection reality peace. It is way beyond the survivor. Now comes the really great part; you can be a part of the show.

Resurrection reality peace takes us way beyond the survivor. “Peace be with you,” the Savior said. Jesus offers reality that is so much better than just struggling to survive. In resurrection reality, our Lord and Savior offers a spiritual peace that triumphs in the midst of the raging storms of modern living. Reality TV says that the purpose of life is to claw your way ahead, to do everything you possibly can to make money, to win in the end, to survive by being number one regardless of what happens to others.

Resurrection reality peace with Jesus offers a purpose that is far beyond just looking out for number one or just advancing your career or just earning money.

Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Resurrection reality peace is about living your life to the mighty purposes of God. It is about advancing the kingdom of God through evangelistic witness and the deeds of love and mercy. Reality television is about living life for insignificant goals. Resurrection reality peace is about the opposite—living life for the greatest goal of all, the advancement of God’s kingdom here on earth, the sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ by words and deeds. To what purpose are you living? Is it reality TV or resurrection reality peace? Resurrection reality peace is just the opposite. It is not all up to you. Jesus “breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ ”Many of us live with the functional atheism of reality TV. Resurrection reality peace is completely contrary to that. It is living in the conviction that God is not asleep or in a coma but will act with you and through you, empowering you to accomplish the impossible for God’s kingdom. We are not alone. God is with us, in history and in our lives, transforming them with a resurrection reality peace. “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Which do you choose? Will you live on your own power, exhausted and struggling, or will you open yourself to the mighty power of God? Peace, purpose, power—three things we all desperately need. TV reality offers no peace, only the running of the rat race. It offers no purpose beyond the accumulation of money, place, or pleasure. It offers no power beyond your own limited resources. Resurrection reality peace offers peace for a purpose with power. It breaks through locked doors and banishes fear. This can be yours. You won’t be voted off the island but rather have reality shaped day by day and moment by moment through the risen Lord and Savior who, in the power of the Holy Spirit, stands in our midst this hour. Just Believe. I believe Thomas. I believe church. I believe Jeremiah. God help my unbelief. Amen

Preached on May 1, 2011 at Johnson Memorial UMC by Jeremiah A. Jasper

Devotional 8-13-10

Faithful Pilgrims

Hebrew 11:29-12:1

A person of faith is always, always, always a person in motion. These actions figures are not on the List of Faithful Saints because they were models of perfection. They were not always perfectly obedient to God. They screwed up at times like the humans they were. They obeyed God much of the time, but when they disobeyed, it was ugly. Noah got drunk after the flood and passed out naked in a tent, only to have his son, Ham, walk in on him in his rather ignoble condition. Abraham lied about his wife, saving own skin but putting Sarah at risk—twice. Jacob cheated Esau. Moses killed an Egyptian. Rahab supported herself through prostitution. Jephthah was the son of another prostitute and then was run out of town by his father’s real wife. Barak refused to fight without Deborah holding his hand. Samson had a weakness for beautiful, persistent women. David’s misconduct in the bedroom and the battlefield are well-documented. In other words, these people are closer in temperament to Jerry Springer than Jesus Christ; they ought to be in the Hall of Shame, not the Hall of Fame. They’re not on the list because they were so special. In fact, many of them were profoundly ordinary. Abel didn’t seem to do much of anything remarkable except watch sheep superbly. They’re not on the list because they won all the battles. Many were notorious failures. The writer says that some were stoned, some endured colorful episodes involving raging fires, hungry lions, flogging and sword fighting. What makes a person of faith influential today? What common thread runs through the lives of all these people on the Hebrew list? What do a good-hearted prostitute, a good man with a drinking problem who built a boat and a blinded, strong man have in common? They were people who were willing to act on vision even though the fruit of their faith was not readily apparent. The text tells us that they all died before receiving everything God had promised them. But they never fully enjoyed those promises. Those who live by faith may never understand why a sheep offering trumps a fruit offering in God’s eyes, as it did in the lives of Abel and Cain. Those who live by faith may never understand that curious tugging which makes us long to leave home and move into unfamiliar territory, as in the lives of Abraham and Sarah. Faith does not guarantee power or beauty or riches or even influence. “Faith is merely and miraculously—the assurance “of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. This is what that odd assortment people of Hebrew 11, had in common; THEY ACTIONIZED THEIR FAITH, INFLUENTFLUAL BECAUSE OF GOD’S ON THEM. WE SHOULD ALL BE SO INFLUENCED. My hope and prayer for myself and for the church is that we might be faithful farsighted pilgrims; that we not be so anxious for immediate results that we miss the blessing of a glorious adventure, following the call of God in our lives.

Jeremiah A. Jasper

Devotional 6-5-09

A Christian

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, “You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.” Then he thought, “Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet.”

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, “Here, you gave me too much change.”
The driver, with a smile, replied, “Aren't you the new preacher in town?”

“Yes,” he replied.

“Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday.”

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, “Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.”

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember -- you carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself, “Christian.”

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

I'm glad a friend forwarded this to me as a reminder. So, I choose to forward it to you - my friend. God bless you; I hope you are having a wonderful day!

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not PROTECT you...

Stay FAITHFUL and Be GRATEFUL!

Rev. Jeremiah Jasper

Devotional 2-20-09

TRANSFORMATION

The risen, living Christ calls us by our name;
Comes to the loneliness within us;
Heals that which is wounded within us;
Comforts that which grieves within us;
Releases us from that which has dominion over us;
Cleanses us of that which does not belong to us;
Renews that which feels drained with us;
Awakens that which is asleep in us;
Names that which is still formless with us;
Empowers that which is newborn with us;
Consecrates and guides that which is strong with us;
Restores us to this world which needs us;
Reaches out in endless love to other through us;
The risen, living Christ calls us by our name.




Grace to you, grace to you.
May grace abound in all you do.
Grace to do the will of the father.
Grace, grace to you.

Peace to you, peace to you.
May peace abound in all you do.
Peace to do the will of the father.
Peace, peace to you.

Joy to you, joy to you.
May grace abound in all you do.
Joy to do the will of the father.
Joy, joy to you.

Rev. Jeremiah Jasper

Devotional 11-21-08

USE IT AND LOSE IT
Readings: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18; Psalm 123; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30

Quotes like “Nothing ventured, nothing gained” surface, as does the statement “If you prefer security to opportunity, you’re doomed from the start.” Both of these have a significant relationship to Jesus’ parable of the Talents.

The parable itself is part of the farewell discourse on the Mount of Olives during which Jesus predicts the fall of Jerusalem. Jesus also reveals signs that will precede his personal return. After telling the parable of the Fig Tree, Jesus gives four other parables: the Thief in the Night, the Faithful and Wicked Servants, the Ten Virgins, and the parable of the Talents—our text.

In this parable a master travels to another country, leaving his capital in the hands of three servants. Today we use the word talent to refer to some special ability or aptitude one might have, as for example, a talent in music or art. However, in Jesus’ time talent referred to wealth and was not a coin but a measure of weight. A silver talent for example, was worth about $1,000. (Some translations indicate the servant hid his master’s silver.)

Suffice to say, a talent amounted to a considerable amount of money. The servant who received five talents and the one who received two talents traded them, each doubling his capital. The servant with only one talent did not attempt to invest but dug a hole and hid it in the ground.

When the master returned there was a day of reckoning. With joy the servants who had invested their capital made their reports. To each of them the master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”(v. 21 NIV).

The man who received the single talent also reported. The reprimand of this servant was as severe as the master’s commendation for the other two servants was glorious. This servant was called wicked and lazy, the opposite of good and faithful.

The master took away the one talent this servant had, gave it to the one who now had ten talents, and expelled the unfaithful servant from his presence. This is figuratively expressed as being thrown into the darkness.

Jesus adds no explanation of the parable, yet the emphasis is on service. Blessings bring responsibility and accountability. God’s gifts are tools to be used in the divine kingdom and not prizes to enjoy along the way. In a very real sense we use these gifts or we lose them. This may be disturbing or sound harsh, but it is true.

What of our talents? Talents come in all sizes and shapes. God blesses everyone with some talent—the just as well as the unjust. Lest we become proud of our particular talent, the Bible notes that we are given talents “according to our . . . ability.” All people are created equal only in the sense that all have equal chance to prove themselves. Somewhere along the line we all realize we are unequal in looks, in opportunity, in advantages, even in mental capacity. When you get right down to it, all talents are undeserved.

One thing, however, is supremely clear. God expects each of us to perform up to our own capability. The five-talent individual is expected to produce five additional talents and the two-talent individual is not condemned if he only produces two additional talents. The one-talent person was not required to produce five talents! You might say all talents are like coins: on one side is written “endowment” and on the other, “accountability.”

Never forget that the reward for faithfulness is greater opportunity and greater responsibility. Both the five-talent and the two-talent person were given additional talents, which meant more responsibility. Polio vaccine inventor Dr. Jonas Salk said it well: “The greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.” If you think because of your faithfulness you will be relieved of further responsibility, think again!

The “villain” in this parable is the one-talent individual. In calling this person “wicked,” Jesus used the same term he used six times in reference to Satan, seven times in a general sense, and only two times related to a character outside Satan. “Wicked” is a strong, strong word in the Bible.

Far too many church members are doing exactly what this one-talent person did. Afraid of any risk, they bury their talent and refuse to get involved in meaningful Christian service of any kind. These people minimize the talent they have.

How many church members do you know who “used to” sing, “used to” teach, “used to” visit, “used to” help around the church? Look at them now and realize this parable is so true to life—you really do lose what you refuse to use! Obviously, God expects from each of us faithfulness, dependability, tenacity, diligence, and discipline. Anything else merits no commendation from God, only condemnation. We bring it on ourselves.

George Buttrick, in his fine book, The Parables of Jesus, tells of visiting an ancient abbey in France named “Our Lady of the Risk.” Upon investigation he found this was a reference to none other than Mary, the mother of Jesus, who risked everything to have the Christ child. What was the master looking for from his servants when he returned from his journey? Not fame, but faithfulness. Not genius, but goodness. Not degrees, but dependability. Those God commends are those willing to work while others play, to study while others sleep, to risk all for God’s sake rather than play it safe for their own sake.

The practical appeal of the parable is clear. This parable is a stimulus to faithfulness in service, knowing of a sure and glorious reward. At the same time, it is a warning against sloth or laziness, knowing the sure and certain loss.

Written by Drew J. Gunnells Jr.
For J. Jasper