“Amen” is a powerful word with multi-layered meanings. “Let it be,” “Hopefully,” “Thank you,” “I agree,” “Yes,” and “I believe” are some meanings of “Amen,” carrying power when spoken. It encompasses faith, trust in God, and gratitude, uniting believers in prayer and always projecting eternal hope. Whatever intent the word “Amen” may mean, we trust in faith that things can happen, and often are, to be ready and accepting of them happening for us.
The movement of the Kingdom of God Philosophy is not entirely new in conceptualizing how we can be instruments in a world that needs the truth of the gospels. Yeshua/Jesus message was that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Meaning Yehovah’s (God’s) reality breaks into and transforms lives.
The last few years in American politics have been very interesting to say the least. The media – all of them – and the politicians, have convinced the American people that there are only two kinds of people in this country and that there are only two ways of thinking – conservative and liberal. It is as if we have two buckets – conservative and liberal, and that every social issue belongs in one of these two buckets, as if sorting laundry.
The Bible is full of very interesting stories such as David and Goliath, Moses and the Red Sea, Jonah and the Whale (or Big Fish), Jesus healing a blind beggar, and Him dying on the cross for our sins. There are many interesting, parables, proverbs and teachings. There are psalms of praise, accounts of miraculous events, and prophecies of future things that are also very interesting.
In 1968, during my last year in the Army in West Virginia, I had decided to get a part time job off base to raise a little extra money for when I was discharged and headed back home here. I got a job at a Caring Hab. Center, much like the one we had here in Marshall. There were three large buildings, one behind the other with the front one housing the light cases and the rear one -- way back close to the woods -- that housed the most severe cases. I worked at the front building, but was given a tour of the other two. In the last one they had a patient, a fairly young man in his 40s that they said was a sad case. This man was a millionaire and had somehow for whatever reason lost his mind. I, myself, know a person who never got married and saved all the money he could and even investing some of it in the Stock Market. At the moment he really has no idea how much money he has and unfortunately he has developed Alzheimer’s that has and is growing rapidly.
When we are overwhelmed by the Lord’s love, acknowledging all he has done for us, accepting the depth of that love, we can develop a deeper intimacy with him. Through this intimacy, we can humble ourselves, becoming honest with the Lord. He knows everything about us, so honesty is essential to recognize our shortcomings humbly, not for guilt or condemnation, but to accept His healing love in all areas of our lives. Our honesty is necessary to mature in love and experience the power of overcoming any hindrances.
Today, we aren’t talking about myths, or fables, or made up stories. We are talking about the most pivotal event in human history. It can be found written about in 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 in the Bible. I welcome you to turn to a Bible that you own or search for this passage in a Google search.
In the Gospel of Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-12, we find a Bible story that is good news for all of us. It’s about a son who rebels against his family. He asks for his share of the family inheritance so he can go off to a distant country and start a new life. The end result was he squandered his fortune in wild living and ended up broke and alone in a foreign land. When a severe famine spread throughout the whole country, the young man was desperate and hired himself out to a pig farmer just to keep from starving to death. Feeding pigs was rock bottom. It was the most shameful job a Jewish young man could have.
“Give us this day our daily bread” is the first petition for ourselves within the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus teaches us to reflect first on Our Heavenly Father, His Holiness, His Name, His Kingdom and His Will. After that, we are ready to pray this request.
The Bible preserves records of many interesting individuals, their struggles, and triumphs as they strive to faithfully follow God’s teachings. The spiritual lessons we learn will help us work through our own struggles. One particularly profound record is of a faithful man named Job.