Month: September 2023

Now wait a minute! How can you say there’s one true church? It’s impossible!! If so, where is it? I want to know and what it looks like! Well, let’s go visit it!
Although buildings are often used as church-gathering places, Jesus changed the format forever! The original gathering place where God met with Israel, the Tabernacle, allowed His presence to fill it while the people gathered outside of it on all four sides.
Throughout the centuries, churches have been built, both to honor God, and for Him to dwell in. Some are simple structures while others may be elaborate with cathedral ceilings, pipe organs, and story-telling stained-glass windows.
My wife and I love stained glass windows. Some depict Biblical scenes and stories, and others display nature, animals, or everyday life. As light enters, it gets diffused bathing an area with wonderful colors.
Let’s eavesdrop on what Jesus said to a Samaritan woman.
“The time is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-25).
The Tabernacle had two room: the Holy Place, and The Most Holy Place (also known as the Holies of Holies). A thick, heavy curtain (veil) separated them. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy place (room where God dwelt) once a year on the Day of Atonement. The priest, however, could enter the Holy Place every day. When Christ died, “Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom” (Matthew 27:51). Removing the veil allows us to come on our own (without the aid of a priest) with confidence into His presence (Hebrews 4:14-16). The gist??
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; Therefore, honor God with your bodies (1Corinthians 6:19, 20)? “As God has said, I will dwell in them; and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2Corinthians 6:16).
YOU are the church! Your life is that stained glass window displaying God’s story, God’s life! He dwells in you, not in a building. When His light shines through you, His glory is displayed to everyone around in radiant colors! What an honor to be His house! Before His death, He cleansed the temple; are you cleaning yours on the inside? You’re the true church! Living for God makes a difference and matters more when we understand we’re His temple and that He’s living within us.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:14).
God Bless!
Sam

Old movies made jokes about washing up only on Saturday nights. We just spent a month in Florida visiting our family. It is hot in Puerto Rico, but we have breezes throughout the day. In Florida, we had none. It was just hot, sticky, and humid everywhere. Somehow, the topic of water caught up with us one day. Our eldest daughter began a discussion about bathroom renovations.
She figured a bathtub is no longer needed in her house. A walk- in shower stall will do. We sometimes use the words shower and bath interchangeably. When someone says, “I’m going to take bath,” it doesn’t always mean a literal bath in a tub. It can mean to shower or to wash up. The same thing happens in Spanish. “Me voy a bañar” (I am going to bathe) can refer to bathing as well as showering (duchar), although it literally means to bathe.
So, when our daughter said, “If I bathed all the time, then I’d keep the tub, like the neighbors. They love to bathe. However, they only bathe once every 3-4 months.” My 86 yr. old mom laughed hysterically! She couldn’t believe it! How can someone who loves to bathe rarely do so?! I quickly explained that our daughter meant bathing in the tub; but they do shower every day! We all thought, “Imagine the smell!!!” That was a great laugh! Mom turned red as she held her hand over her mouth unable to stop laughing for a while!
Whether we shower or soak in a tub, we need washing, for sure! But, how do we wash away sin? King David in Scripture wrote: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).
Fact is, nothing we do can remove sin; only Jesus can.
1John 1:7 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Thank God for His washing! He has washed us clean by laying His life on the cross for our sins. He died in our place. When we accept His sacrifice, we’re made clean, however, if we don’t accept it, see what scripture says: “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.”
God is ready to wash you clean regardless of how clean you think you are, or how dirty you feel. Doesn’t matter how you live(d) and what things you have done. He washes you, sanctifies you, and justifies you before God, the Father! He then shows you…
“Some of you were once like that. But you were washed; you were sanctified; you were justified in the name of the Lord God Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God” (1Corinthians 6:9-11).
Thank Jesus for washing us, and also for the gift of laughter!! We desperately need it. By the way, it need not be Saturday for dipping your toe in the waters! God Bless!
Sam

There I was in Florida driving around with two back-seat drivers: 4-yr old Trueman & 8-yr old Ellie; my grandkids. They were my GPS! “At the light, turn left, Abuelo” Trueman would say. “That’s not left, Trueman,” Ellie would tell him. It was the other left, I learned. So, “At the right, turn right” became our mantra! Ellie was right about 98% of the time. Even on a few occasions when she misguided me, she knew how to get me back on track. “I thought it was at this light to turn left. So, make a right and another right. Then a left and you’ll be back on the main road,” she said. She was right!
You may not have two back-seat drivers in your vehicle (thank God, you said?), or two little critters singing, “Get Up and Boogie, THAT’S RIGHT! But we all need guidance.
Have you tried the Holy Spirit? He can guide you in life. Of Him, Jesus said to His disciples,
“It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7).
“But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever he hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come” (John 16:13). He can be your backseat driver. He knows His rights and lefts. Better yet, invite Him into your heart, and He’ll be available in your front seat. “THAT’S RIGHT, GET UP AND BOOGIE (Silver Convention)!
Sam