Today's Verse: We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ro 6:4) When Jesus died, our sins also died, so that we are no longer sinners under the law but children under His righteousness.

Today's Comments: Tonight, I went to a party, and the host at the party was telling me that he was having a hard time believing that God exists. He was raised in a strict Roman Catholic school where the message was driven down his throat that humans are incapable of not sinning and that we must continually confess to a priest and do penance in order to absolve ourselves of sin. I suggested that he read the Book of Romans and something about Martin Luther. It was only when Luther discovered the power in the grace of God that he understood what Christ's death meant to the sinner. No longer could we, who have accepted Jesus Christ into our hearts, be classified as "sinners." But, by God's grace, we are absolved of sin under the law and offered a new life in Christ. And though we may stray and commit sinful acts, our sins are washed away in the blood of Jesus Christ for all time.

Today's Verse: God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 2 Co 5:19) We all know that Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save the world so that we might be reconciled with God.

Today's Comments: It is through Christ, and no other, that we are reconciled to God. The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Katharine Jefferts Schori has implied that there are other ways to God besides through Jesus Christ. Yet, the Bible, I believe, tells us otherwise. Perhaps, as I would like to hope, those people who are not Christians and who we regard as social examples and wonderful people will be given the chance to meet Jesus and believe in Him at some point in life or during death. But, that would be the only way that I might imagine that they could be reconciled to God. We, as Christians, cannot be all things to all people. We must commit ourselves in faith to Jesus' message of reconciliation. And we must commit ourselves to Him as our only mediator and advocate.

Today's Verse: ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jas 1:5-8) This verse, in my opinion, is suggesting that if we pray for something, we should be ready to receive an answer; if we are not confident that God will grant us an answer, then we should expect to receive nothing, because we will never be able to act on that answer due to lack of commitment, lack of faith, and instability with respect to our relationship with God.

Today's Comments:

It is interesting that in today's email, I received the following message, which illustrates what James is talking about:


Whispers

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang.

But, the man did not hear.

So the man yelled, "God, speak to me" and the thunder rolled across the sky. But, the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly.

But the man did not see.


And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle." And, a life was born.

But, the man did not notice.


So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here."

Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But, the man brushed the butterfly away .

and walked on.


I found this to be a great reminder that God is always around us in the little and simple things that we take for granted ... even in our electronic age.

So I would like to add one more:

The man cried, "God, I need your help!" And an e-mail arrived reaching out with good news and encouragement.

But, the man deleted it and continued crying .

Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

My instructions were to send this to people that I wanted God to bless and I picked you. Won't you please pass this to people you want to be blessed.

Have A Happy Day!

Today's Verse: Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jn 13:20) These words are spoken by Jesus to His disciples during the Last Supper and just before he predicts his betrayal.

Today's Comments: According to A Handbook on the Gospel of John, Jesus affirms His unity with that of the Father and His unity with His disciples. Acceptance is an act that takes place in the heart. Thus, if we accept God's word in the Gospels into our hearts, we can call ourselves children of God. And, as children of God, we have a father who loves us and cares for us.

Today's Devotion: He [the Lord] said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, 1984, S. Ex 15:26) In this verse, God promises to the Israelites good health and deliverence in exchange for their obedience.

Today's Comments: The concept in force here is called lex talionis and is defined, according to the Ontario Consultants of Religious Tolerance as follows:

Lex talionis: Latin for "law of retaliation." The Hebrew Scriptures state that Injury was to be repaid with a similar injury: "an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth." In the Bible, we learn that what we reap is what we sow. In modern language, we would say, "what goes around, comes around."

As we know from our studies in the Bible, Israel did not obey God, and as a result, they were forced to wander for forty years in the wilderness before even seeing the promised land. But, worse that that, they crucified the savior that God sent to them. As a result, they lost their homeland, until it was restored to them by the United Nations in November of 1947.

As a result of the New Testament and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are not only promised good health and deliverance. We are promised eternal life for our belief in Jesus Christ. That, however, does not mean that our nation is promised deliverance and good health. I believe that the concept of lex talionis is still a force to reckon with when it comes to the relationships between God and His nations. The nation which keeps God in its heart will be rewarded, but the nation that rallies against God will be destroyed. The process of secularization has begun in this country. Once it has been completed, we may, in fact, begin to reap what we have sown.

Today's Devotion: ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (The Holy Bible: New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Php 2:9-10). It was because Christ humbled himself that he was exalted. As a result, all power, honor, and glory was given to him.

Today's Comments: As I think about yesterday's Memorial Day ceremonies, I think about those soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines who died for their country. Harper's Bible Dictionary defines humility as follows:

humility, in the biblical world a value that directs persons to stay within their inherited social status, specifically by not presuming on others and avoiding even the appearance of lording over another. Humble persons do not threaten or challenge another’s rights, nor do they claim more for themselves than has been duly allotted them in life. They even stay a step below or behind their rightful status (e.g., the ‘unworthy’ John the Baptist, Mark 1:7). Thus humility is a socially acknowledged claim to neutrality in the competition of life. Conversely, to attempt to better oneself at the expense of others, to acquire more than others, to strive for honors others currently enjoy are all instances of proud and arrogant behavior. (Achtemeier, Paul J.; Harper & Row, Publishers; Society of Biblical Literature: Harper's Bible Dictionary. 1st ed. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985, S. 411).

I think that even good soldiers exercise traits of humility. They subordinate themselves to their superiors by staying in their given status or rank, they do not threaten or challenge others but give their orders and take action for the good of the group, they do not compete with each other but work as a team in their acknowledged roles and responsibilities.

There must be some sense of humility in a soldier's willingness to face death and to sacrifice oneself for others--- even strangers back home who enjoy the freedom that they protect. Maybe I am wrong, but I think this is worth thinking about. And, it is worth thinking about honoring those who in humility sacrificed their lives for their country. Therefore, let us put away our barbecues and three day weekends, and let us celebrate Memorial Day as it was meant to be celebrated--- in commemoration of those who humbled themselves to give their lives for us.

Today's Devotion: Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Co 15:34). Paul, here, is speaking to those who deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is exhorting them to true belief.

Today's Comments: Today, especially, are we confounded with false beliefs and heresies, even within our own Church. God created us with the freedom to make choices. Let us use the freedoms that God gave to us wisely. Let us use that which God gave us for His glory, not ours.

Since today is Memorial Day, let us also remember those who died to protect the freedom that God has given to us. Below, I have posted the Invocation and Blessing that I will be giving this morning at the Forest Lawn Memorial Day Service at Covina Hills. Please pray for me that I will touch and inspire so that closed hearts might be opened.

I. Invocation

O God of all nations, who created the peoples of the earth to serve you in freedom and in peace; we remember today, with grateful hearts, the men and women of our country who have ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. All have given their time; many have given much more, including their lives, for the freedom that we hold dear. We remember all today who have served in the military; but especially we remember those who served and lost their lives in both wartime and peacetime conflict, knowing full-well, that their sacrifices have made our nation stronger and have protected the liberty and freedom we all enjoy.

Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, so that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will. Grant to the President of the United States, who serves as Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces, as well as the Generals and Admirals under his authority, the wisdom and strength to know and do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve the people of this nation, under your guidance.

We thank you for the natural majesty and beauty of this land and for the great resources of this nation. We thank you for the torch of liberty which has been lit in this land and has drawn people from every nation. But, especially, today, we give thanks for the men and women who have made this country strong and keep it strong so that being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its responsibilities. And, grant that we may never forget those who have given their time, their treasures, their talents, their limbs, and their lives in the service of their country.

Let us remember the wars that were fought and the battles that were won against the tyrannical powers of slavery, nationalism, Fascism, Communism, and religious oppression. Let us remember those who, even today, heed the call to battle so that freedom will be returned to the oppressed.

Let us remember, especially, the citizen soldier, sailor, airman, and marine whose commitment to service in national emergency has become a commitment to international deployment so that the people of the Middle East, including Afghanistan and Iraq may enjoy the freedom and peace from oppression by religious fanaticism. Let us especially remember Army Staff Sgt. Esau Ivan De La Peña-Hernandez of La Puente who was killed on May 15^th, while on patrol during a battle at Chak, Afghanistan. I was personally privileged to offer my salute to him last Friday, as we lined the main street of the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base to render honors as his flag draped casket was transported from the air field to its final resting place. Staff Sergeant De La Peña-Hernandez would have been twenty-six years old today.

Let us also remember those soldiers, marines, sailors, and airman from the Korean and Vietnam War eras, as well as those of World War I and World War II. And, finally, let us remember those soldiers, sailors, marines, and (yes) even the airmen, who floated above the earth in balloons, during this nation’s great Civil War: those soldiers on both sides, for whom this day was originally created.

God, you know that we are not perfect. Nor have we done everything right. But give us the wisdom, the compassion, and the constitution so that we may strive to establish and preserve the justice, equality, and liberty that you created for us.

We ask this in the name of the great God of all Creation.

Amen

II. Benediction

Almighty God, creator and preserver of this world, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day; strengthen them in their trials and tribulations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be. Bless also those who have previously served in both peacetime and war, remembering that they have willingly risked their lives for our freedom. Finally, we ask your blessings upon this nation of men and women who enjoy the benefits of the freedom won and preserved under the vigilance of those who we honor today. Bless us and return us safely to our homes and families, and keep us ever mindful of our responsibilities in the protection and preservation of your creation and the freedom that you have bestowed upon us. Help us to always remember those who we honor today, and let us never forget their acts of patriotism, their unselfish service, and their acts of sacrifice.

Amen

Today's Devotion: ⁵¹ “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, ⁵² drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. ⁵³ Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. (The Holy Bible: New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Nu 33:50-53) These were the instructions that God gave to Moses before the Israelites crossed the Jordan to take possession of the land of Canaan. God tells Moses that he must take total possession of the land and that none of the enemy be left in that land.

Today's Comments: These are harsh instructions. God is telling his chosen people to wipe out or remove from the land all those who He has not chosen. Would the God of today say the same thing? Most people that I know would say, "no." However, if we read the Book of Revelation, it seems like God is going to do that for us. He will separate the sheep from the goats, the righteous from the unrighteous. So, God has not changed. Only his timing has changed. God will do whatever he needs or wants to do, when the time comes. In the meantime, God promised the Israelites that if they did not drive all of the Canaanites from their land, they would be a thorn in the side of Israel. And, curiously enough, maybe that thorn in the side of Israel still exists today. Has God been punishing Israel for failing to carry out His orders, as he said he would in Verse 56? I will leave the answer up to the reader.

Today's Devotion: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”^f (^f Deut. 21:23; The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ga 3:13) According to the New International Greek Testament Commentary, this passage is saying that Jesus acted as our substitute, becoming the curse which we were under, because through His lifelong obedience, He remained immune from that curse. Paul is saying that the punishment for the curse under which mankind existed was the most severe and equivalent to hanging on the tree, or crucifixion.

It is clear, when one reads the Book of Genesis, that mankind deserved no redemption for his rebellion against God. Death, and only death, would suffice to appease a righteous god. And, as it also worked out, it was death, and only death that sufficed to restore our severed relationship to a loving God. In that death, God, himself, took the form of a man, Jesus Christ, and came to Earth so that mankind might be redeemed and reconciled to Him. Though sacrifice was required, it was God, himself who provided the lamb that was sacrificed; so the relationship that Adam broke with God was restored in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Today's Devotion: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Eph 5:17) The Lord's will is not that which we want from God. It is what God, knowing what is good for us, wants for us.

Today's Comments: I just completed another round of Campus Crusade military ministries forms. I keep praying that this is something that God wants for me and is guiding me toward. At the same time, I know that God will make His will known to me, as He usually does. If it is not right, I will know it. Or, I will be asked to wait. If there is anybody out there reading this blog, please pray for me.

Today's Devotion: ¹⁴ This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Jn 5:13-15) It is important to make a distinction between granting our prayers and answering our prayers. God always answers, but he may not always give us what we want. Instead, he will give us what we need.

Today's Comments: Given today's situation, this verse is very applicable to me. Anybody who may be reading this blog may see that there has been a gap in time since last week's last entry. The reason is that I have been in prayer and discernment concerning my military chaplaincy. Way back in February, I came across an article about Campus Crusade for Christ's military ministries. Last Thursday, I received a call with an invitation to apply. After talking with one of my associates, a combat experienced Army Reserve Command Chaplain, I learned that Campus Crusade has been an instrumental force in developing family ministries for those veterans and their families who are reunited after deployment. This may be an opportunity for me to help develop the ministry that I have started, and it may help me with respect to my prayer to become a State Military Reserve chaplain. This could be the answer that I have been waiting for from God, and I spent all weekend filling out the applications and forms so that I can attend their new chaplain orientation in September. I ask that you all reading this please pray that God is answering my request or that He will make His wished known to me.

Today's Devotion: ¹⁰ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Php 3:9-11) Paul is saying that, to be Christ-like includes participating in the Resurrection, as well as the suffering. This is the goal for which Paul, I believe, is striving.

Today's Comments: It is clearly obvious from the teaching of scripture that the act of Christ's resurrection extended not just to one man, but it was an act for all men--- so that all men could participate in the resurrection to eternal life. Even though we cannot achieve perfection, we can strive to be Christ-like so that we know and understand not only the power of God's actions but also the love that God has for His creation. Paul wrote this letter from Rome and expressed the willingness not only to share the good things that come from God's love, but the suffering that comes from our love and devotion to God. Paul would soon be granted that wish. We, too, should be willing to share both the joys and the suffering that set us aside as followers of Jesus Christ.

Today's Devotion: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jas 1:22). In other words, practice what is preached or, if you talk the talk, then walk the walk.

Today's Comments: God's Word is meant to be lived, not to be heard and then stored away in some remote cavernous place in the mind. We must follow the scriptures both literally and figuratively. If we just listen without doing, we are, in a sense, lying to ourselves.

Doing what God commands is not easy. We deceive ourselves and allow ourselves to be deceived by the devil every day. Adam and Eve heard God, but they did not obey him. Instead, they were willing to sacrifice their relationship with Him for their own selfish reasons. They wanted to be like God, and Satan wanted control over God's creation so that he could be better than God. We can't let that happen to us.

Today's Devotion: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (The Holy Bible: New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 2 Ti 2:15) A Handbook on Paul's Second Letter to Timothy suggests that Paul is telling Timothy that he must do his best, which means to put forth his utmost effort in all his activity.

Today's Comments: Like Timothy, so are we required to put forth our best effort to do God's will. Such effort not only refers to behavior and worship, but it also includes study and giving. Yet, even our greatest efforts are not enough to please a righteous God. We will always be found wanting, except for God's grace and our faith in Jesus Christ, through whom we are all forgiven and reconciled to the Father. Only then can we strive to please God despite our own imperfections, because of His love for His creation.

Today's Devotion: And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (The Holy Bible: New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 2 Pe 1:19) The Bible Reader's Commentary suggests that Peter is stating that his witness as an apostle of Jesus Christ is supported by the prophets. In other words, the prophets accurately predicted that which Peter witnessed.

Today's Comments: Today's New Testament lesson at church was from the Acts of the Apostles, in which Philip baptizes the Eunuch on the road between Jerusalem and Gaza (Acts 8: 26-40). Beginning with an explanation of Isaiah's prophecy:

"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,

and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.

Who can speak of his descendants?

For his life was taken from the earth."

Philip then explains the Good News about Jesus. It is the light of scripture and the prophets which help us to illuminate our hearts so that we may believe and understand what God is revealing to us. That sustains us until the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

Today's Devotion:A fool gives full vent to his anger,but a wise man keeps himself under control. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Pr 29:11) A wise person, in other words, is patient and holds back his anger.

Today's Comments: Boy, does this one peg me. If there is a fool around here, I think that I am one. In the past few days, I have expressed my anger freely with Esther. We are in the process of breaking up, and she is staying at my house until her house remodeling is finished and she can move back in. There is so very little that we say to each other that does not end up in anger, and I am letting my temper get the best of me. I act totally undiaconal, and what makes things worse, she points that out, and I react in anger. Oh how I would like to please God, but it is so difficult to pray or give praise when one is angry at somebody else. Please pray for me, that I may tolerate the storm without losing my bearings.

Todays Devotion: Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mt 7:24). The Gospel is the foundation of our learning about God.

Today's Comments: Sometimes I wonder really how much I have put into practice. I am still having problems with my short temper. Just when I think that I might have it under my control, something comes along that triggers it. I really don't have any idea as to how many people are actually reading my blog, but, I ask that whoever does read it pray for me. That firm foundation is not so firm after all. I need help from God, and I need help from your prayers.

Today's Devotion: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jas 1:5) James is saying that wisdom comes from God, not from man. Without God, we are nothing. It is God's gifts that we should seek.

Today's Comments: When we talk about wisdom, we are talking about that which guides our being. Wisdom helps us decide what to do next or how to act in particular situations. Since true wisdom comes from God, it is imperative that we ask God what to do in important situations. It is important that we ask God to guide our lives by His Holy Spirit. In other words, wisdom comes through prayer and study of God's word. It is God, not man, who provides the enlightenment. And it is God who we must ask for that enlightenment.

Today's Devotion: 9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”a— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God (a Isaiah 64:4; The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Co 2:8-10) Knowledge of God comes not from rational study or exhaustive research. It comes from God, himself.

Today's Comments: In today's reading, Paul talks about spiritual wisdom. Research and seminary study does not give us spiritual knowledge. God does. While he reveals himself to us in scripture, it is understanding of that revelation that comes through the spirit. That is why concepts like literary criticism tell us nothing about God. We must be willing to accept everything that he says to us, including His self-revelation in the Bible, as truth and then pray for the understanding so that His spirit may bring us enlightenment and real wisdom. Only then can we have even a hint about the deep things of God.

Today's Devotion: The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Lk 12:42) A good manager and servant watches and waits for the return of his master, and he keeps all things in readiness.

Today's Comments: The military has its roots in the traditional master/servant relationship. Except for the most lowly private, airman, or seaman, and the highest General, or Admiral, the armed forces member is both a master and a servant in his or her domain. That domain may extend to a mere work detail or a major division or service branch. Yet even the highest ranking member is accountable to somebody else. The General or Admiral is accountable to the Commander In Chief, the President. And, even the President is accountable to someone--- to the people, including that lowly private, airman, or seaman. And, all, of course, are accountable to the Supreme Commander, God, While God needs no justification before man, He gave His only begotten son, Jesus Christ to the death of a cross in atonement for our sins. And while Jesus had no obligation to do so, He voluntarily offered himself as a servant, even unto that death.

And so, like the servant, faithfully waiting and watching for the return of his master, we should faithfully wait and watch for the return of our master, who will once again make all things right and will restore His Kingdom here on Earth.

Today's Devotion: 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Tit 2:11-14) If we accept God's grace, then we should be eager to do His will. As a result, we should be positively affected by God in our everyday life. Paul is talking, here, about Christian behavior. As God's grace envelopes us, we should expect that we can become more capable of doing good things and imitating Jesus Christ.

Today's Comments: It just so happens that I am preaching tomorrow. My sermon deals with shepherds and sheep. God gives us his grace to become His good shepherd in those who we lead and as sheep, we become obedient, when the Good Shepherd calls us to action. Below is a copy of my sermon:

This is the Sunday that we call “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The Old Testament lesson, psalm, and Gospel focus on that theme. The psalm tells us that the Lord is our Shepherd, and the Gospel speaks of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The Old Testament lesson condemns the evil shepherds who have led us astray. The New Testament lesson talks about the good shepherd who became the Lamb of God to reconcile us to the Father and Jesus’ followers who ministered to each other and were called to be the shepherds of Christ’s flock and the builders of His church. So, in these next few minutes, I would like to talk about the Bible as it relates to shepherds, sheep, and lambs.

If we could take a virtual trip back to ancient Palestine and its surrounds, we would discover that, during the time from Abraham through the end of the Roman Empire, livestock breeding, which included herds of both sheep and goats, was one of the two most important occupations in the country; the other, of course, was agriculture. Sheep, in particular, along with their importance to the Hebrews for sacrifice, also provided their masters with meat, milk, fat, wool, skins and horns. As a result, their major economic importance meant that many of the villagers and townspeople tended flocks on a part or full time basis. Consequently, the shepherd, or small livestock herder, as we see in the New Testament, enjoyed a well respected vocation.

The early shepherds, of course, worked in a pastoral environment, because we find sheep in the country, not the city. Our literature and music portray such environments as pleasingly peaceful, innocent, or idyllic. The biblical shepherd was one, then, who tended sheep in the countryside. Thus, if we look for words that might describe the actions of a shepherd, we might quickly come up with the following verbs:
1. care
2. conduct
3. direct
4. escort
5. feed
6. find
7. guide
8. lead
9. pilot
10.protect
11. route
12.seek
13.show
14.steer
15.tend

It is obvious, then, that a shepherd is a leader, not a follower. A shepherd has authority and responsibility. He (and perhaps today, she) possesses the qualities of loyalty, courage, unselfishness, and caring. And, considering the fact that the Palestine countryside was full of wolves, one might even speculate that there is some risk involved, because the shepherd is also a protector of the flock.

As in other occupations, the ancient shepherd had tools of the trade that he used. A cloak, was important to protect the shepherd from the elements. The shepherd also carried a staff to control the movement of the flock and a rod to ward off enemies. Our psalm for today mentions these two implements. A shepherd also carried his own food, as well as a sling to ward off predators. Shepherds also played reed flutes and small harps to calm the flocks. Even dogs were used to tend sheep, as evidenced in the book of Job (30:1)

The first shepherd mentioned in the Bible was Abel, who was (Genesis 4:2) a keeper of sheep and came into conflict with Cain, a tiller of the ground. It was, of course, Abel’s animal sacrifice that God favored over Cain’s fruits of the soil.

Abraham, of course, was also a shepherd, and it was through him that God populated the Earth with offspring too numerous to count, like the stars in the heavens. And, the generations from Abraham through the sons of Jacob were shepherds, as well.

Moses, himself, became a shepherd in the service of his father-in-law, Jethro, Priest of Midian, when he fled from Pharaoh after killing an Egyptian who was abusing one of the Hebrew slaves. It was in service as a shepherd that he encountered God in the burning bush. Until then, little did he know that he would become the shepherd of men, the great nation of Israel, and lead them out of bondage into the land that God would provide for His chosen people. As we know, Moses made considerable use of his rod and his staff, the tools of his shepherd’s trade.

Of all the shepherds, David is probably the best known. The psalms speak of David as a shepherd who ruled his people with an ‘upright heart’ and a ‘skillful hand’ (Ps. 78:70-72). Using one of the tools of his trade, David slew Goliath with one stone from a shepherd’s sling. Another tool, the harp which he played to calm his sheep, brought comfort to a deranged King Saul. There was no greater king than David. Yet, Samuel the Prophet, who was ordered to crown a new king to replace Saul, found David in the fields quietly tending his father’s sheep.

It was also common for the kings of Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt to be called shepherds, because they protected their people; Isaiah specifically refers to Cyrus, King of Persia (44:28) as the Lord’s Shepherd, because it was through his orders that Israel was released from exile so that they might return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

Sheep are a commodity whose economic value stands in direct proportion to the amount of supervision, guidance, and protection that they receive. While they are gregarious animals, they become easily lost in unfamiliar environments and are defenseless against predators. Although they are easily herded in flocks, they can become easily distracted. Therefore they need to be led and protected, and that is a major function of the shepherd.

It is from many of these references just mentioned that both the Old and New Testaments picked up the imagery that we find in today’s lessons and psalm. The lessons that we read do not merely refer to real shepherds or sheep. But the qualities and attributes of shepherds are compared with the leaders and rulers of that time. And the people who made up the Jewish population were compared with the qualities and attributes of sheep, who followed those leaders and, as a result, often failed to follow God. The truth is, like the sheep of the Old Testament, we all stray from the right path, and we all need shepherds to show us the way back. It is no wonder, therefore, that our definition of a shepherd also relates to the spiritual care or guidance of people, especially a congregation, and the word pastor comes from the same root that is attributed to the pastoral setting in which ancient shepherds worked. Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians 4:11 speaks of leaders of the church as pastors, and this usage continued through the early church, down to the present day. Paul viewed these pastors, known as elders and deacons, as special people given to the church by God to care for God’s people as a shepherd cares for his sheep, leading them and teaching them in the ways of God.Our Old Testament lesson, points to shepherds, or leaders, in Israel who were not so good. Ezekiel, of course, was not condemning pastoralists; he condemned the rulers of Israel who were responsible for the shepherding and care of their peoples, but who brutally ruled for their own profit, rather than for the good of their people. Like Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Zechariah similarly condemned those rulers who were considered to be God’s subordinate shepherds (e.g., Jer. 10:21; 22:22; 23:1-4; 25:34-38; Ezek. 34:1-10; Zech. 10:3; 11:4-17) . Ezekiel promised that God would not only punish the rulers, but God would also rescue His people. The rescuer is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who, in today’s Gospel, speaks of himself as the Good Shepherd.

Psalm 23 portrays God as the shepherd who protects and cares for his people, a helpless flock. Yahweh, in the old Testament was looked upon as the true shepherd of Israel.

• The good shepherd provides for the needs of his sheep: I shall not be in want; He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
• The good shepherd uplifts, guides, comforts, and protects his sheep: He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways:
• His people can always trust and depend on The good shepherd: Your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
  
  In the New Testament,

1. The Gospels of Mathew and Mark, portray Jesus as the shepherd of a shepherdless flock (Mark 6:34; Matt 9:36).
2. Jesus, himself, claimed that his mission was ‘to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’ (Matt. 10:6; 15:24).
3. The parable of the lost sheep exemplifies God’s love for His chosen people (Matt. 18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7),
4. The separation of sheep and the goats by the shepherd is compared to the final judgment (Matt. 25:32-33).
5. Elsewhere, in the New Testament, Jesus is called ‘the great shepherd of the sheep’ (Heb. 13:20), the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls’ (1 Pet. 2:25), and ‘the chief Shepherd’ (1 Pet. 5:4).

In the Gospel of John, where we find today’s Gospel reading
1. the good shepherd is prepared to sacrifice his own life for the sake of the flock (vv. 11, 15, 17, 18);
2. as the owner (v. 12) he feels responsible for his sheep,
3. and the good shepherd (v. 14) —knows his sheep (vv. 15, 27) and they know him (v. 15) and they follow him (v. 27; cf. vv. 4, 5).
4. Jesus’ responsibilities as shepherd, extends not only to the Jewish Christian community, but also to the Gentiles, because as the one shepherd he is to gather them together to the one flock (v. 16).

The New Testament lesson from the Book of Acts shifts our focus from the good shepherd, Jesus Christ back to the corrupt shepherds of the world: the rulers and religious authorities who gathered together to plot against our Lord. Yet, these verses also acknowledge that God’s plan for our salvation was fulfilled in those horrible acts against Jesus, when the Good Shepherd became the lamb of God.

John the Baptist twice referred to Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (Jn 1:29, 36) and, in the first instance as the “Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin.” Because the Apostle John provides no further detail concerning the use of this phrase, one cannot precisely explain what was on the Baptist’s mind. But, from the writings of both Old and New Testaments, we are led to understand that Jesus, the Lamb of God, was the perfect offering and sacrificed himself for our sins:

· First, we know that the fourth Gospel, from which we read today, places the death of Jesus at the time that the Passover sacrifices were killed --- the afternoon before the Passover feast, when the Passover lambs were slain.

· The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Suffering Servant (Chapter 53), and labeled those who caused that suffering as sheep who had strayed. Isaiah wrote:

o But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
o 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
o 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

C.H. Dodd, the Welsh New Testament scholar and influential Protestant theologian, suggested that John the Baptist was alluding to Jesus as the triumphant lamb of the apocalypses who is the Messiah and King of Israel, as pictured in the book of Revelation (Chapter 5 Verses 6-14). The apostle John wrote:

o 11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

· The word “lamb” in the Old Testament refers to sacrifice 85 out of the 96 times that it is used. So, perhaps, John the Baptist may have been thinking of Abraham and Isaac as they climbed the mountain to present their sacrifice to the Lord, when Isaac innocently asked his father, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham, of course, replied, “God will provide” (Gn 22:7, 8).

In the Orient, so much respect was given to shepherds that the people were often referred to as the “herd,” and the king was referred to as the “shepherd.” When one refers to a lamb in a sacrificial sense, he or she thinks of a perfect lamb. The purpose of sacrificing the perfect lamb was to please a righteous God.

o The Chinese character or word for righteousness, yi, is formed by the placement of two other characters, one above the other.
o The top character, yang, means lamb.
o The bottom character, wo, means me, self, or I.
o As Christians, therefore, we gain righteousness by putting ourselves under the lamb, Jesus Christ.

It is Jesus Christ, the good shepherd, who, for us became the Lamb of God. And it is through his perfect sacrifice, by his death and resurrection, that he has provided atonement for mankind’s sins. Because of his righteousness, humanity has been reconciled to God. And it is Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who is revealed to us in scripture, that we must follow, as he leads us to those green pastures, besides the still waters.