Works

"Therefore," Psalm 46:2.

Therefore. Therefore? What came before therefore? God is our refuge, strength, help, protection. That's the what before therefore. God is in the midst of his dwelling place. Therefore. The Lord of armies is with us. Therefore. The God of Jacob is our fortress. Therefore. God makes wars cease. Therefore. God breaks bows, shatters spears, burns chariots with fire. Therefore. Jehovah of armies is with us! Therefore. God's works bring all nations to praise him. Therefore. We know that God is God. Therefore, we will not fear. Therefore, our souls will quiet down. Therefore, all we of earth (and of the skies and of under the earth) will praise God. God's dawn comes.

With a brother or sister today, we rest safe in the arms of Jesus. And, together, with our souls stilled in the faithfulness of our God, we say: Thank you, Lord!

Fact

"I'm telling you in fact: Some people standing here will not die before they see God's kingdom," Luke 9:27.

That's what Jesus said. When? Well, give or take, about 2,000 years ago. When? right after he said: If you're ashamed of me and my teaching, I will be ashamed of you when I come in God's glory and the glory of holy angels. When did he say that? after he said: If you want to follow me you've got to give up your life for my sake. When was that? after Jesus told his comrades that the people whose heritage had waited centuries for him, would utterly reject, torture, and kill him. (But he'd be raised three days later.) When said he that? after a marveling Peter confessed Jesus as God's Christ. That's when.

We share life with a brother or sister today and so fellowship in the sky kingdom. And, giving thanks together, we keep following Jesus through death into forever life.

Talking

"Look at him! A glutton and a drunk," Matthew 11:19.

Who are they talking about? Jesus. They're talking about Jesus. Who's saying these things? Jesus' fellow countrymen. Why? Why do people of such privilege say this? because they saw him eating and drinking with low class people. because Jesus made friends with with just anybody. Hmm. So here's Jesus talking: If the good works they saw him do had been done in the destroyed, ungodly cities of Tyre or Sidon or Sodom, those people would have repented a long time ago, and would have survived to the present. But God's coming judgment on the present people who accused Jesus would hardly be bearable: They would be brought down to Hades. Even Sodom would go through God's judgment day in better shape than they.

We meet today with a brother or sister sobered by our Master's words - the sky kingdom's not to be trifled with. And, together, humbly, we give thanks to God for his son who made friends even with us.

Engraving

"The truth shall set you free," John 8:32.

What a great slogan! Amply suitable for engraving into university or government buildings all over the world. But who said it? Jesus. But who did he say it to? His cultural/religious fellows. But what truth was he talking about? A truth that his countrymen didn't know. But what truth should they know? That anybody who sins becomes a slave to sin. But what should they know? That a slave does not have an inheritance with the family's heir. But what should they know? That if the heir sets them free, they will have true freedom. But what truth? That if they follow Jesus' teachings these would set them free. And they would inherit eternity. Truth: They didn't know. Truth: Jesus is God's Son. His word alone can set free. Sky kingdom.

We get in contact with a brother or sister today to share Jesus' truth. And, together, we give faithful thanks to God for the liberty we inherit as his children, co-heirs with Jesus.