24 November 2015 - the word

See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ 
Do not follow them! 

We need to be grounded in the words of Jesus.

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed (cf. Gal. 1:8).

If we are not grounded in his words, the words of God, we are "infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming" (cf. Eph. 4:14).

His words are different than these other words. Words of men confuse us and lead us in a million directions. They obscure the priorities we know we should have and lead us off toward mere abstraction and curiosity. Suddenly things become about our own intellectual fitness and prowess. This is why Paul warns us about "quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen" (cf 2 Tim. 2:14). On the other hand, the words of Jesus are a lamp to our path and a light to our feet (cf. Psa. 119:105). His words are living and effective (cf. Heb. 4:12). Other words don't do anything. They are just words. But the word of God does not return to him empty (cf. Isa. 55:11). It works in those who believe (1 The. 2:13). What work does it? It works all things for our good (cf. Rom. 8:28)! It trains us and equips us for every good work (cf. 2 Tim. 3:17).

The world faces constant upheavals. One kingdom gives way to another. We cannot have peace if we act like citizens of these kingdoms. Rather, our citizenship is in heaven (cf. Phi. 3:20). We are members even now of the kingdom which "shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people". This is the Church against which the gates of Hell shall not prevail (cf. Mat. 16:18). This kingdom, his Church, will in fact "break in pieces all these kingdoms and put an end to them, and it shall stand forever."

So let us get grounded in the word. The word empowers us to know and to live this citizenship. The word enables us to experience the peace and the rest that can only come from God.

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.