Part of our scripture reading in church today was: "If you bad-mouth the Son of Man out of misunderstanding or ignorance, that can be overlooked. But if you're knowingly attacking God himself, taking aim at the Holy Spirit, that won't be overlooked." (Luke 12:10, THE MESSAGE)
The more traditional translation states: "And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven." (same verse, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION)
Something to do with the Holy Spirit is the only thing that won't be forgiven. And yet we know so little about Him. Many many scriptures talk about God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Only a few mention the Spirit. I don't think the Holy Spirit minds. He doesn't need to be glorified or praised. (Is he a mother or what?)
Look at The Apostles' Creed. "I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth." There are 9 lines stating what we believe about Jesus but all it says about the Holy Spirit is "I believe in the Holy Spirit."
What do you think about the little known Holy Spirit and the unforgivable sin of blaspheming Him?
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Showing posts with label Luke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Luke. Show all posts
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Luke 10:38-42
This is one of my favorite scriptures and was the inspiration for Sunday’s sermon, “A Messy World.” You can plan and plan and plan (like Martha) but things don’t always turn out the way we plan. If you’re like Mary and have discovered the One Important Thing, then when plans go awry, it doesn’t matter. You still have your joy and your focus.
Mary and Martha: two sisters, two personalities, both serving the Lord. Martha had their home warm and welcoming for Jesus when he arrived. I wonder if Mary helped her. Jesus entered their house and Mary sat down with him. She spent time with him. Martha carried on preparing the meal without the help of her sister. Martha got annoyed. I know the feeling.
Jesus appreciated Mary’s presence and her attention to what he had to say. That’s why he came to see them, to be with them. He wasn’t really upset with Martha when she asked for Mary’s help. THE MESSAGE puts it this way, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing.” This is the Jesus I know. When I’m doing something that does not please him, he doesn’t turn me into a pillar of salt but gently turns me in the right direction. And he’s very patient.
I used to wonder what they would’ve eaten if Martha hadn’t busied herself getting the meal ready. But the dinner isn’t important. The fact that Jesus is at their house is important. And it’s the same with any visitor. People don’t come over to eat your food and inspect your house, they come to see you and spend time with you. If Martha didn’t get a meal prepared, Jesus could have multiplied whatever they had on hand and turned water into wine.
Martha missed out on being with Jesus. Jesus was in her house and she chose to work instead. There’s a lesson here for us. We need to be in the presence of our Lord and not be worried and bothered about so many unimportant things. Easier said than done.
Mary and Martha: two sisters, two personalities, both serving the Lord. Martha had their home warm and welcoming for Jesus when he arrived. I wonder if Mary helped her. Jesus entered their house and Mary sat down with him. She spent time with him. Martha carried on preparing the meal without the help of her sister. Martha got annoyed. I know the feeling.
Jesus appreciated Mary’s presence and her attention to what he had to say. That’s why he came to see them, to be with them. He wasn’t really upset with Martha when she asked for Mary’s help. THE MESSAGE puts it this way, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing.” This is the Jesus I know. When I’m doing something that does not please him, he doesn’t turn me into a pillar of salt but gently turns me in the right direction. And he’s very patient.
I used to wonder what they would’ve eaten if Martha hadn’t busied herself getting the meal ready. But the dinner isn’t important. The fact that Jesus is at their house is important. And it’s the same with any visitor. People don’t come over to eat your food and inspect your house, they come to see you and spend time with you. If Martha didn’t get a meal prepared, Jesus could have multiplied whatever they had on hand and turned water into wine.
Martha missed out on being with Jesus. Jesus was in her house and she chose to work instead. There’s a lesson here for us. We need to be in the presence of our Lord and not be worried and bothered about so many unimportant things. Easier said than done.
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