UNITY - Get It Done!

There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,  a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Prov.6:16-19

Few people read this verse and most when they do do not pick up on the last statement made. The Lord HATES someone who sows discord!   Discord means just that, whatever causes people to be at odds with one another. And I know how we tend to apply this - we tend to apply this to religious division. We blame others that they do not agree with the Bible, therefore they are causing division. I agree, that truth is truth and that if you are not going to abide by that, then you are fighting against God not for Him.  However, the emphasis in proverbs is God HATES anyone (those who call themselves Christians or not), that is the cause of sowing, instigating, breeding, festering, fostering, agitating discord. PERIOD!

We see so much of this today. Turn on the news and there is always someone sowing discord.  Rom.3:10-18 is a good synopsis of our world and even our nation today. "...  as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known is no fear of God before their eyes." 

Before we get self righteous, let's keep in mind that we are included in this description. Now, this doesn't mean we have to get all warm and fuzzy with every false doctrine that comes along, or teaching that doesn't agree with the scripture.  We ARE going to disagree. But, there is no room for labeling, judging, name calling, slander bashing, whispering, backbiting, gossiping or anything else associated with any of those. If we do that, cause that, participate in that, then know you are doing what the Lord HATES!  Think you'll get into heaven?

Jesus showed us that no matter how oppressing, no matter how ugly the situation, we can overcome and we can act as God wants! Remember Gethsemane? Did Jesus curse? Did he accuse, blame, call people names?  Did He tell the Guard they had no right? Did He insight a riot?

Jesus said, "For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." Jn.13:15-17

Get it done!

Jim

You DON'T Want to See!

It is interesting in study of the scriptures to notice when things begin and the consequences of those things.  It is the story of humanity, and the great revealer of the grace and mercy of God.  To say as Paul quote, "There is none righteous, no not one" a quote even from the days of David (Psa.14:3; 53:3), you can understand when you look at the purity of God versus the humanity of man. 

What started out described and implemented by God in the Law of Moses as a good thing, winds up being even before the cross to the promised land, a corrupted thing. yet, during the First Temple period it remains reasonably sound and mostly what God wants. However, while the efforts of Ezra and Nehemiah are notable, noble, and commissioned by God, the Priesthood never resumes its full status. The scripture while a standard is trumped by "circumstances of life."  The Jewish people were not "their own" and from the Babylonian Captivity forward are always subjugated and occupied - subject to the whims of those who ruled over them. Such, was the priesthood, especially the High Priest.

In the era of the Maccabees, following the re-dedication of the temple, there was a division in the ranks over the question of whether to continue fighting or not. When the revolt began it was seen as a war for religious freedom to end the oppression of the Seleucids. The Maccabees wanted to continue the revolt and conquer other lands with Jewish populations. When Judah Maccabee died in battle in 160 BC he was succeeded by his younger brother, Jonathan, was already High Priest, but the dynasty was established and from that point forward the High Priest's role was more political than religious. Independent Hasmonean

Burial Ossuary of Joseph ben Caiaphas
High Priest in the time of Christ

rule lasted until 63 BC, when the Roman general Pompeus intervened in Hasmonean civil war, making it a client kingdom of Rome. The Hasmonean dynasty ended in 37 BC when the Idumean Herod the Great became king of Israel, designated "King of the Jews" by the Roman Senate, effectively transforming the Hasmonean Kingdom into Herodian Kingdom – a client kingdom of Rome. Annas, the Father-in-law of Caiaphas the High Priest at the time of Jesus, was chosen to the high priesthood by Quirinius, the imperial governor of Syria; obliged to give way to Ismael by Valerius Gratus, procurator of Judaea, in the beginning of Tiberius' reign, 14 A.D. Eleazar, the son of Annas, followed Ismael; then Simon; then Joseph Caiaphas, son-in-law of Annas (John 18:13).

What is the point of all of this? Well, in our study we have been looking at coming up - the trials of Jesus and how illegal things were handled and were about the whole deal. Even non-Jews and non-Christians have commented about the illegality of it all. Yet, the whole incident shows us several things about humanity:

• When a society is based upon corruption, that corruption will eventually rise and feed upon itself until it is destroyed.
• When people act based upon covetousness, nothing is illegal, even when the act itself is illegal.
• One should not expect fairness, from a society and system that is corrupt.

The teaching of Jesus becomes paramount in his final days because there is no greater injustice than His crucifixion. An innocent man dies, all because men think only of themselves more than their brother (Mt.22:37-40) or God. These men that were High Priests, served themselves, their own glory and power. God's word had only a superficial place to elevate them in the eyes of others. The will of God had no place in their lives.

Before we do a lot of condemning here though - go look in your bathroom mirror. You're liable to see a reflection of yourself that you don't like (Jas.1:22-25).

Jim