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Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him - so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke: You're blessed when you've lost it all. God's kingdom is there for the finding. You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry. Then you're ready for the Messianic meal. You're blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning. "Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens - skip like a lamb, if you like! - for even though they don't like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this. Give Away Your Life But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you'll ever get. And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it. "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests - look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular. (Luke 6:17-26 The Message)
Happy Monday, dear Friend! I pray the weekend found you enjoying the blessings of fellowship and worship and this week will be an opportunity for you to shine the love of God into the lives of those who need it! Nellie and I enjoyed a great trip down and back from Kingsville where we were received with love by the congregation of First United Methodist Church. Thank you for your prayers. Pray for me as I prepare to preach at First Presbyterian Church this coming Sunday. Interesting for me as my great-grandfather Carlos Valverde, Sr. was a Presbyterian layman in Kingsville. His faith impacted my father, Eradio, Sr. I pray I may bring a blessing to the kid folks of FPC.
There are so many things here on earth that we feel the need to touch. And to me it's interesting that the Bible employs all the senses for us as we read the stories of faith in its pages. The sense of touch is awesome. With it we can feel soft textures, or even feel pain on rough or sharp, pointy things. I remember seeing my first Jello and wanting not so much to eat it as just touch it and make it wiggle. I can't resist holding a puppy or picking up my grand babies to hug and hold them. In this reading, the people wanted to touch Jesus for one reason only; Jesus possessed healing power in Him, and the people had discovered that. Impossible ailments removed by the touch; the blind could see, the lame could walk, the demon-possessed were freed of their demons, a woman's 12 year suffering from a blood flow - all healed by the touch of Jesus or their having touched Him. But it's also interesting to note that some came to hear the word of God. Jesus taught the Law in new and loving ways; indeed His message was all about Good News. They heard God's perspective and found it to be in conflict with the world's take on things. This passage, by the way, is Luke's account of the Sermon on the Mount and the powerful things Jesus shared; blessed are you right now, right where you are, just as you are. Have you lost it all? You're blessed with greater things! Are you hungry? The Messianic meal is served and ready for you! Have you been crying? You're blessed because your joy is coming! Have people sought to put you down, shredding your self-confidence? You're blessed because they're the ones who are truly hurting and uncomfortable! And Jesus even says, "Give away your life!" Even with trouble ahead, you're still going to come out on top! Seek to be true to God and not to be popular with the people! Jesus reminded them of the many "scoundrel preachers approved by their ancestors" and the title of today's message, "Your task is to be true, not popular." Boom!
Just yesterday a lay person and I spoke of that; he shared how his Sunday school class did not want to read from the Bible but instead wanted to talk about what the world thought and what the world was asking to have everyone approve. You have not to look too far, it may be closer to you than you think. Our task is to be true to God and God's teachings, not the world's and their desire to make true the popular. Stand with Jesus, or you'll fall for anything.
PRAYER: Awesome Father, speak to my heart about my life. You better than anyone know what has been coming my way. May the words of my Savior speak to me and may I seek to be true to You and not to the world. Set my eyes on my Lord and His way; this is my prayer in Christ Jesus, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Seek to be true to God today; you can win the popularity contest later.
Eradio Valverde
