#maranatha

Third Sunday of Lent

Year C

Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans

whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.

Jesus said to them in reply,

“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way

they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?

By no means!

But I tell you, if you do not repent,

you will all perish as they did!

Or those eighteen people who were killed

when the tower at Siloam fell on them—

do you think they were more guilty

than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?

By no means!

But I tell you, if you do not repent,

you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable:

“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,

and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,

he said to the gardener,

‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree

but have found none.

So cut it down.

Why should it exhaust the soil?’

He said to him in reply,

‘Sir, leave it for this year also,

and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;

it may bear fruit in the future.

If not you can cut it down.’"

Biblically ALL Christians NEED to avoid Echo Chambers‼️

“Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in an abundance of counselors there is victory.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭14‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

ABUNDANCE of counselors for an ABUNDANCE of different opinions! Remember though the Bible should ALWAYS be our FINAL authority. Fact check EVERYTHING you hear, read, and even think about!

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

The Bible also says NOT to abandon the gathering of believers. Because with interacting with other believers you will encounter differing opinions. Don’t be scared about different opinions REJOICE in them because they will help you form an even HEALTHIER, STRONGER, DEEPER RELATIONSHIP with God because those that challenge your viewpoint will ignite an urge to dive into the Word to not just test their opinions but also should ALWAYS make you reevaluate and TEST yours!

“not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭25‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

I mean just look at the example Jesus left for us while He was down here! He didn’t hang out in an echo chamber He went out challenged those IN the echo chambers as well as OTHER people of different cultures and religious beliefs! That’s what got Him CRUCIFIED! The religious leaders REFUSED to leave their echo chambers and fact check Jesus with Scripture while putting their presuppositions aside!

“And at this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What are You seeking?” or, “Why are You speaking with her?””

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭27‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

In conclusion, the Bible encourages a posture of humility, open-mindedness, and a willingness to engage with diverse perspectives, all of which stand in contrast to the nature of an echo chamber so break out of your echo chamber and develop a deeper relationship and understanding of God and the Bible! I speak from experience because if I stayed in my echo chamber I wouldn’t be a Christian.

“Come, Lord Jesus!”

(via Beslan Remembers Victims of Russia’s Deadliest Terror Attack 20 Years On  - The Moscow Times)

Relatives of the victims of the Beslan school siege gathered Sunday to pay tribute at the ruins of the school, remembering the 330 people, including 186 children, who lost their lives in Russia’s deadliest terror attack.

School bells rang at 9:15 a.m. local time, marking the start of the siege 20 years ago, while mourners laid flowers, lit candles, and placed bottles of water — a tribute to the hostages who were held in inhumane conditions.

On Sept. 1, 2004, militants from Chechnya stormed Beslan School No. 1 in North Ossetia, demanding the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya. Gunmen took 1,100 hostages, including children, parents and teachers who had come to the school to celebrate the start of the new academic year.

For nearly 52 hours, the hostages were held without food or water. Negotiations with the militants were tense and largely unproductive, with the attackers refusing to back down from their demands.

On the third day of the hostage crisis, a series of explosions erupted inside the school, plunging the situation into chaos and triggering an assault by Russian special forces. It remains unknown whether the explosions were accidental detonations or triggered by the militants, who had rigged the school with bombs.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86ld5z2ll7o