God Pause for Sunday

Jesus says that everyone who belongs to the truth listens to his voice. True listening involves also doing what he tells us to do. Jesus' most repeated topic is the kingdom of God. His next most frequent subject is money and possessions. He tells us we can not serve both God and money. He says, Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. It has been said that if you want to know what people really value, look at how they spend their money. What would an analysis of our expenditures reveal about us? Would it say that Christ is the king of our lives? Would it say that we are listening to the voice of Jesus?


O Lord, help us to listen to your voice and empower us to do your will. Give us the courage to put our treasure in those places where we would like our heart to dwell. Guide us and direct us to live as those who follow you as our king. Amen.

Paul L. Larsen
Christ the King Lutheran Church, New Brighton, Minn.
Master of Divinity, 1973

John 18:33-37 (NRSV)
33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"
34 Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"
35 Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"
36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."
37 Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."