' who – ever '

whoever welcomes you – welcomes ME...

so are we preaching peace or divisions, inclusion or exclusion, and of who... the Truth in the Living Word is difficult at best to discern – however the Holy Spirit will help us in finding the true meaning and then show us what it is and how we are to share it with others - in what and how we say – what we say about the Living Word often without ever saying a word...
God has chosen us... “humans” to be in covenant with... to be in relational fellowship with... for all generations... not just yesterday's or not even just today's... but all – ours, theirs – past, present and future generations... God loves us so much as to give us Christ as an example to live by... and a new Covenant... of Grace, over Law... knowing that we can and never would satisfy the letter of the law... and so only in our humiliation can we recognize our Salvation by God... our invitation to “come” participate in the new covenant of Grace... Grace and Sin are to one another as “either” is to “or” - Sin is described as (things in which you are ashamed) the Holy Spirit convicts you of it... not I – and certainly not others... the Spirit will not allow you to understand anything that isn't Truth!!! nothing anyone else says or does can convince you of anything that God hasn't wanted you to hear, see or learn... no one can ever tell you that – something means this or that and you believe it unless the Spirit gives you understanding and that it is Truth the Spirit will never miss-guide you, people can, but the Spirit won't let you accept anything that isn't truth!... I can't convince you something is true anymore than anyone else can... and no amount of proof can ever convince some that just are unwilling to hear the Truth... Sin is anything we allow to separate us from God... the tenision between the two realities remain unresolved, humans by nature – sin, believers by (their new) nature – do not... believers are human but believers also represent a new type of humanity. Paul sets the law and Christ as opposite means: what the law could not do, Christ has done... and still today we see and hear of others who continue to set distinctions or exceptions to full equality for all... injustices against others different from our selves... the homeless, the hungry, the you fill in the blank.... who are you - leaving out... excluding from Worship, Fellowship or Relationships... who is next to you, here, - at the restaurant, - at the dinner table, in your neighborhood... where ever you are, where ever you go... who is the ever we should be reaching out to, we are told that whoever is willing to follow the example Christ has given us, none of them will lose their reward... We are all - to be a Holy Temple, acceptable to God, but who are we acceptable to – God or Man?... and are we living our lives so reflective of the example that has been given us, often without ever saying a word, who-ever – welcomes you welcomes Me; are we truly Welcoming others by the lives we live, even when we think others are not looking? What did they see? Are we Welcoming... are we giving, are we..... showing others that if God can love one such as us, then God truly loves even them; we must also be careful not to neglect the physical needs of others while providing the Spiritual or vise versa... Let us be present, be real, be open to all that God has awaiting us - with welcoming and loving hearts for we all matter to God; If who-ever includes us all, - then shouldn’t we also then matter to each other... Scripture tells us we are to be found out-giving to one another: Are We? May we always give and receive Love, without distinctions, exceptions or fail... amen Rev. Terry J. McGuire