Who is in charge? What if there was just 1 name tag?

Who do you think is in charge? Who is holding all the cards? Who is pointing the way? Who is calling the shots? Who is providing direction? Who is leading the way? Who is showing what to do? Who is judging? Who is deciding?

Depending on how you answer these questions determines how you live, who you live for, and why you do what you do.

Today’s reading starts out on this topic with some great wisdom that we can take a hold of to help lead us and guide us through each day!

The Authority of the Son

19So Jesus answered them, “I tell you the truth: the Son can do nothing on his own; he does only what he sees his Father doing. What the Father does, the Son also does. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. He will show him even greater things to do than this, and you will all be amazed. 21Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, in the same way the Son gives life to those he wants to. 22Nor does the Father himself judge anyone. He has given his Son the full right to judge, 23so that all will honor the Son in the same way as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

24“I am telling you the truth: those who hear my words and believe in him who sent me have eternal life. They will not be judged, but have already passed from death to life. 25I am telling you the truth: the time is coming—the time has already come—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will come to life. 26Just as the Father is himself the source of life, in the same way he has made his Son to be the source of life. 27And he has given the Son the right to judge, because he is the Son of Man. 28Do not be surprised at this; the time is coming when all the dead will hear his voice 29and come out of their graves: those who have done good will rise and live, and those who have done evil will rise and be condemned.

Witnesses to Jesus

30“I can do nothing on my own authority; I judge only as God tells me, so my judgment is right, because I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants.

–from John 5

With Jesus we have a promise of a future. With Jesus we have a promise of eternal life spent with God rather than apart from God! With Jesus we have a promise of protection from final judgment. With Jesus we have a promise of life after death.

The way you live is important! The things you do! The words you speak! The life you live! We have been chosen! We have received the gift of God through faith in Jesus! Don’t let go! Don’t give up! Build up your relationship with Jesus and allow Him to work in and through your life! Let’s take a look at the next part of today’s reading and see what we can learn!

The Living Stone and the Holy Nation

1Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language. 2Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved. 3As the scripture says, “You have found out for yourselves how kind the Lord is.”
4Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable. 5Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. 6For the scripture says, “I chose a valuable stone, which I am placing as the cornerstone in Zion; and whoever believes in him will never be disappointed.” 7This stone is of great value for you that believe; but for those who do not believe: “The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all.” 8And another scripture says, “This is the stone that will make people stumble, the rock that will make them fall.” They stumbled because they did not believe in the word; such was God’s will for them. 9But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light. 10At one time you were not God’s people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God’s mercy, but now you have received his mercy.

–from 1 Peter 2

Today’s reading starts into a love song, the song of songs…

1The most beautiful of songs, by Solomon.

The First Song

The Woman

2Your lips cover me with kisses; your love is better than wine. 3There is a fragrance about you; the sound of your name recalls it. No woman could keep from loving you. 4Take me with you, and we’ll run away; be my king and take me to your room. We will be happy together, drink deep, and lose ourselves in love. No wonder all women love you! 5Women of Jerusalem, I am dark but beautiful, dark as the desert tents of Kedar, but beautiful as the draperies in Solomon’s palace. 6Don’t look down on me because of my color, because the sun has tanned me. My brothers were angry with me and made me work in the vineyard. I had no time to care for myself. 7Tell me, my love, Where will you lead your flock to graze? Where will they rest from the noonday sun? Why should I need to look for you among the flocks of the other shepherds?

The Man

8Don’t you know the place, loveliest of women? Go and follow the flock; find pasture for your goats near the tents of the shepherds. 9You, my love, excite men as a mare excites the stallions of Pharaoh’s chariots. 10Your hair is beautiful upon your cheeks and falls along your neck like jewels. 11But we will make for you a chain of gold with ornaments of silver.

The Woman

12My king was lying on his couch, and my perfume filled the air with fragrance. 13My lover has the scent of myrrh as he lies upon my breasts. 14My lover is like the wild flowers that bloom in the vineyards at Engedi.

The Man

15How beautiful you are, my love; how your eyes shine with love!

The Woman

16How handsome you are, my dearest; how you delight me! The green grass will be our bed; 17the cedars will be the beams of our house, and the cypress trees the ceiling.

–from Song of Songs