Acts 15:22-29
English Standard Version (ESV)
This is an interesting section to come upon in the day of fake news. It seems like the last few months have been a desperate time for people to try and figure out what is really happening in the country and in the world. We've known for a long time that no news source was completely unbiased, but it seems (to me at least) that there has been much greater emphasis on this topic lately, to the point where we wonder what the truth is and just how to find it in an age where too much information is far more likely than too little.
The church in Antioch was faced with a similar situation. They weren't sure what the faithful path to follow was, and they needed guidance. In this case, the church sent Barsabbas/Judas and Silas to illumine they way. They wanted these believers to have the best information, so they personally reached out to help guide their way.
In our own lives, it may not personally affect us when we try and make decisions about some of the news articles. But some of them matter to us, and in other times we need to make important decisions in our lives. In these times, it's vital to lean into the church and let ourselves be led by the community. The church should be willing to pray with one another, to listen and to discuss how the Spirit is at work among us, that we can make decisions informed not only by our own reading of Scripture and our own prayers, but also the witness of our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, who are willing to dive in and help us discern just how God is on the move.
Let us not struggle alone. Rather, let us practice community by sharing our lives with one another and bearing one another's burdens.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Acts 15:12-21
Acts 15:12-21
English Standard Version (ESV)
History can be a wonderful gift to us -- it has much to teach us about how we can live, about the consequences of mistakes, about what truly matters in life. Here, in the 15th chapter of Acts, the church council is leaning into their own church history to learn about what God is doing. They draw upon the words of the prophets to better understand their current situation, and they make a decision informed by their common history.
Memorial Day is an interesting holiday. It's the start of summer, and so we're interested in being outside, in celebrating a long weekend and looking forward to recreation and relaxation. And yet, the day itself is set aside to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Thousands have put their lives in jeopardy for this country, and they have given their lives for freedom. This is our common history -- and we are wise to remember the sacrifices that make our freedom possible. Informed by the cost of our freedom, we should celebrate what we have with an eye on honoring those who have made it possible.
This is what we do in the church as well. We remember the cost of our freedom in Christ -- it was not free, or easy, but Christ paid the price so that we might be free. Remembering that, we should be willing to live in such a way that honors the sacrifice, that is filled with gratitude, that looks forward to a future with hope based on what has transpired in the past.
English Standard Version (ESV)
History can be a wonderful gift to us -- it has much to teach us about how we can live, about the consequences of mistakes, about what truly matters in life. Here, in the 15th chapter of Acts, the church council is leaning into their own church history to learn about what God is doing. They draw upon the words of the prophets to better understand their current situation, and they make a decision informed by their common history.
Memorial Day is an interesting holiday. It's the start of summer, and so we're interested in being outside, in celebrating a long weekend and looking forward to recreation and relaxation. And yet, the day itself is set aside to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Thousands have put their lives in jeopardy for this country, and they have given their lives for freedom. This is our common history -- and we are wise to remember the sacrifices that make our freedom possible. Informed by the cost of our freedom, we should celebrate what we have with an eye on honoring those who have made it possible.
This is what we do in the church as well. We remember the cost of our freedom in Christ -- it was not free, or easy, but Christ paid the price so that we might be free. Remembering that, we should be willing to live in such a way that honors the sacrifice, that is filled with gratitude, that looks forward to a future with hope based on what has transpired in the past.
Friday, May 26, 2017
Acts 15:6-11
Acts 15:6-11
English Standard Version (ESV)
What if the best thing in your life happened not by your control?
We don't like to admit that we're not in control. America was founded on the idea of manifest destiny, that we could wrestle our futures into our hands through our own efforts. We believe in the idea of independence, that hard work can help you rise above, that we can shape our lives through our hard work.
And yet the Gospel runs counter to all of that. In the Gospel, we confront the radical truth that our own efforts cannot save us. We are not good enough on our own, and we must accept our weakness and confess another as Lord. True life can come only through admitting that our own choices lead us to sin and death.
We are saved by grace through faith, not by our own works, but rather by the work of another, by the blood of the Lamb that gave his life on the cross. He, and he alone, has the power to save, and he gives this to us as a free gift. It is not ours to earn, but rather ours to accept. We have life because he gives it to us.
It runs against how we are trained to think, but only in Christ will we find the freedom our souls were made for. Our next step is through Him, in Him, and only in Him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What if the best thing in your life happened not by your control?
We don't like to admit that we're not in control. America was founded on the idea of manifest destiny, that we could wrestle our futures into our hands through our own efforts. We believe in the idea of independence, that hard work can help you rise above, that we can shape our lives through our hard work.
And yet the Gospel runs counter to all of that. In the Gospel, we confront the radical truth that our own efforts cannot save us. We are not good enough on our own, and we must accept our weakness and confess another as Lord. True life can come only through admitting that our own choices lead us to sin and death.
We are saved by grace through faith, not by our own works, but rather by the work of another, by the blood of the Lamb that gave his life on the cross. He, and he alone, has the power to save, and he gives this to us as a free gift. It is not ours to earn, but rather ours to accept. We have life because he gives it to us.
It runs against how we are trained to think, but only in Christ will we find the freedom our souls were made for. Our next step is through Him, in Him, and only in Him.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Acts 15:1-5
Acts 15
English Standard Version (ESV)
What a timely section for us to come to, as our nation seems to grow a little more divided each and every day. We seem to spend a lot of time and energy trying to find labels for each other, especially when people often end up defying the stereotype we have attached to certain labels. We start to think we understand one another, and then people have this habit of surprising us. It's exhausting, right?
In the early church, there was division. There was debate. And people inevitably divided into two camps about things. But what is beautiful is that they gathered together to discuss it. They were deeply divided over whether the Jewish laws and customs would apply to new believers. Remember, the early church believed they were being faithful Jews and worshiping the long-awaited Messiah. They didn't see their beliefs as a radical departure from the expectation. They thought that others who wanted to follow Jesus should accommodate to the historical traditions of the faith -- they didn't completely comprehend all the new that God was doing.
So the church debated. And it wasn't always neat and tidy, and I'm sure there wasn't always perfect resolution where everyone got along and sang hymns together at the end of the debate. But the important thing is that the church continued to be the church. The church has debated various things over the centuries, but it has always remained, and there is always room for debate within the church. We don't have to agree on every little detail -- we can welcome and love one another even while we debate some things. The important thing is to remember to be humble, to love one another as Christ loves each of us, and to remember that we are part of a community that stretches back thousands of years. Whatever storms the church is in, it will survive, and it will thrive, because Christ is our Head and nothing shall ever defeat him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What a timely section for us to come to, as our nation seems to grow a little more divided each and every day. We seem to spend a lot of time and energy trying to find labels for each other, especially when people often end up defying the stereotype we have attached to certain labels. We start to think we understand one another, and then people have this habit of surprising us. It's exhausting, right?
In the early church, there was division. There was debate. And people inevitably divided into two camps about things. But what is beautiful is that they gathered together to discuss it. They were deeply divided over whether the Jewish laws and customs would apply to new believers. Remember, the early church believed they were being faithful Jews and worshiping the long-awaited Messiah. They didn't see their beliefs as a radical departure from the expectation. They thought that others who wanted to follow Jesus should accommodate to the historical traditions of the faith -- they didn't completely comprehend all the new that God was doing.
So the church debated. And it wasn't always neat and tidy, and I'm sure there wasn't always perfect resolution where everyone got along and sang hymns together at the end of the debate. But the important thing is that the church continued to be the church. The church has debated various things over the centuries, but it has always remained, and there is always room for debate within the church. We don't have to agree on every little detail -- we can welcome and love one another even while we debate some things. The important thing is to remember to be humble, to love one another as Christ loves each of us, and to remember that we are part of a community that stretches back thousands of years. Whatever storms the church is in, it will survive, and it will thrive, because Christ is our Head and nothing shall ever defeat him.
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Acts 14:24-28
Acts 14:24-28
English Standard Version (ESV)
So if you want to learn something, how do you approach it? Some years ago, I started to learn how to play the piano. Rather than pound away on the keys on my own, I spent time with an expert, someone who could lead me and teach me and show me the way. The more time I spent with him, the better I got. I would practice on my own after lessons, but I always needed to return to follow-up. The deeper I wanted to go, the more I needed to listen, to learn.
So often, however, when it comes to matters of spirituality we seem to believe that we can do it on our own. We don't seek out community, we don't seek out tutors, we just stubbornly try and do it all on our own. A lot of the time we guilt ourselves, convincing ourselves that we 'should' be better at this, as though we come out of the womb with fully formed spiritual lives.
If you want to learn how to pray, if you want to grow spiritually, ensure you are spending time with people who have a deeper faith maturity than you do. There is a lot of time where you'll need to practice on your own, but it's vital to be in community with people who have more spiritual discipline, because they can teach you.
And if you have spiritual maturity, whatever level you feel like you are at, spend time with people who are still growing, who are younger in the faith. It's vital that we practice our faith together, that we may benefit from the strength of one another, that we might grow together and encourage each other. It's how the Lord works through us, one by one and all together, to build his Kingdom here on earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
So if you want to learn something, how do you approach it? Some years ago, I started to learn how to play the piano. Rather than pound away on the keys on my own, I spent time with an expert, someone who could lead me and teach me and show me the way. The more time I spent with him, the better I got. I would practice on my own after lessons, but I always needed to return to follow-up. The deeper I wanted to go, the more I needed to listen, to learn.
So often, however, when it comes to matters of spirituality we seem to believe that we can do it on our own. We don't seek out community, we don't seek out tutors, we just stubbornly try and do it all on our own. A lot of the time we guilt ourselves, convincing ourselves that we 'should' be better at this, as though we come out of the womb with fully formed spiritual lives.
If you want to learn how to pray, if you want to grow spiritually, ensure you are spending time with people who have a deeper faith maturity than you do. There is a lot of time where you'll need to practice on your own, but it's vital to be in community with people who have more spiritual discipline, because they can teach you.
And if you have spiritual maturity, whatever level you feel like you are at, spend time with people who are still growing, who are younger in the faith. It's vital that we practice our faith together, that we may benefit from the strength of one another, that we might grow together and encourage each other. It's how the Lord works through us, one by one and all together, to build his Kingdom here on earth.
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Acts 14:19-23
Acts 14:19-23
English Standard Version (ESV)
If I was Paul, this first verse would occupy the vast majority of the book of Acts. I'd want everyone to know what I've gone through, so they'd know how much I suffered and how dedicated I was.
Also, I wouldn't go back into the city. At all. If I managed to survive such an event, I would go in the exact opposite direction after the disciples dragged me out from underneath the rockpile. I don't think I'd have very nice things to say about my enemies, either.
But for Paul, it was all for the sake of the Gospel. No matter what he had to endure, he took these burdens on so that the Gospel could be proclaimed. He risked everything for the sake of Christ, so that others might hear of the wondrous goodness of the King of Glory. He wanted the name of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed, and even if it meant his own death, he was willing to take that risk.
Valuing the name of Christ that highly means treasuring the relationship, seeking to deepen it above every other thing in life, and recognizing that only that relationship endures beyond the grave.
May we hold so dearly to Christ that we shape everything else around it, and may we love one another enough to want to share this life-changing Gospel with them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
If I was Paul, this first verse would occupy the vast majority of the book of Acts. I'd want everyone to know what I've gone through, so they'd know how much I suffered and how dedicated I was.
Also, I wouldn't go back into the city. At all. If I managed to survive such an event, I would go in the exact opposite direction after the disciples dragged me out from underneath the rockpile. I don't think I'd have very nice things to say about my enemies, either.
But for Paul, it was all for the sake of the Gospel. No matter what he had to endure, he took these burdens on so that the Gospel could be proclaimed. He risked everything for the sake of Christ, so that others might hear of the wondrous goodness of the King of Glory. He wanted the name of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed, and even if it meant his own death, he was willing to take that risk.
Valuing the name of Christ that highly means treasuring the relationship, seeking to deepen it above every other thing in life, and recognizing that only that relationship endures beyond the grave.
May we hold so dearly to Christ that we shape everything else around it, and may we love one another enough to want to share this life-changing Gospel with them.
Monday, May 22, 2017
Acts 14:8-18
Acts 14:8-18
English Standard Version (ESV)
We've been elevating our religious leaders above the status they rightfully deserve for thousands of years. It's easier to do this, to assume they are perfect and to worship them, then to deal with the messy reality that even the best of our leaders are broken and flawed. We aren't called to worship our leaders -- we are called to worship our Lord and Savior. Only he is perfect, and only he can save.
When we worship our leaders, we set them up for failure by giving them unrealistic expectations and inflating their egos. They will disappoint us, they will let us down, because they can't live up to the standards of perfection.
This doesn't mean you need to call your pastor and tell them they are a terrible person. But remember that they are a sinner seeking a Savior, just as the rest of us are, and that they need companions for the journey. It's not easier for them, and they aren't closer to God than anyone else is. God has given them certain gifts, and they are called to use those for leadership, but they are to remember their place as well.
So let us pray for our pastors, that they are empowered and blessed and have the presence of the Spirit to walk with them every step of the way, that they may remain humble and let the Word of God speak to them and through them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
We've been elevating our religious leaders above the status they rightfully deserve for thousands of years. It's easier to do this, to assume they are perfect and to worship them, then to deal with the messy reality that even the best of our leaders are broken and flawed. We aren't called to worship our leaders -- we are called to worship our Lord and Savior. Only he is perfect, and only he can save.
When we worship our leaders, we set them up for failure by giving them unrealistic expectations and inflating their egos. They will disappoint us, they will let us down, because they can't live up to the standards of perfection.
This doesn't mean you need to call your pastor and tell them they are a terrible person. But remember that they are a sinner seeking a Savior, just as the rest of us are, and that they need companions for the journey. It's not easier for them, and they aren't closer to God than anyone else is. God has given them certain gifts, and they are called to use those for leadership, but they are to remember their place as well.
So let us pray for our pastors, that they are empowered and blessed and have the presence of the Spirit to walk with them every step of the way, that they may remain humble and let the Word of God speak to them and through them.
Friday, May 19, 2017
Acts 14:1-7
Acts 14:1-7
English Standard Version (ESV)
When we're working with financial data, there is a saying that applies to a lot of areas of life -- Garbage in, garbage out. In other words, you can't do much if you have bad data to start with No matter how much you process it, it can't portray anything accurate because the original data is flawed.
I think the way verse 2 is phrased is really interesting. You get the feeling that many Gentiles were listening, but the Jews stirred them up, poisoning their minds. They probably spread lies and rumors and mistruths, convincing the Gentiles things that weren't true. They put garbage in their minds so that the Gentiles would then repeat these lies to others, turning others away from the truth of the Gospel. Garbage went in the ears and out the mouths.
When you think about how you spend your time, do you take in things that will enrich you, that will build you up? Do you take in things that are good? Or do you mindlessly pay attention to garbage that fills your minds, then coloring your words and thoughts? If we attune our senses to things that do not glorify God, these will influence how we think and talk. In the same way, if we focus on what is good and true and enriching and lovely, these things will help tune our hearts to pay attention to what God has to say to us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
When we're working with financial data, there is a saying that applies to a lot of areas of life -- Garbage in, garbage out. In other words, you can't do much if you have bad data to start with No matter how much you process it, it can't portray anything accurate because the original data is flawed.
I think the way verse 2 is phrased is really interesting. You get the feeling that many Gentiles were listening, but the Jews stirred them up, poisoning their minds. They probably spread lies and rumors and mistruths, convincing the Gentiles things that weren't true. They put garbage in their minds so that the Gentiles would then repeat these lies to others, turning others away from the truth of the Gospel. Garbage went in the ears and out the mouths.
When you think about how you spend your time, do you take in things that will enrich you, that will build you up? Do you take in things that are good? Or do you mindlessly pay attention to garbage that fills your minds, then coloring your words and thoughts? If we attune our senses to things that do not glorify God, these will influence how we think and talk. In the same way, if we focus on what is good and true and enriching and lovely, these things will help tune our hearts to pay attention to what God has to say to us.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Acts 13:44-52
Acts 13:44-52
English Standard Version (ESV)
I'm always curious what the apostles talked about when they were between cities. Surely there were days when they gathered around the water cooler and lamented the suffering they were going through, wondering if it was all worth it, wondering when the struggle would stop and people would realize the wisdom of accepting Christ as Savior, no matter how much of a challenge this might be to their current state of mind.
But you don't get that feeling. The Apostles were so single-minded that they kept going back, time after time, no matter how much abuse they took. People rose up, threatened their lives, and they proclaimed the Gospel, because nothing else mattered as much as the Gospel did. Above all else, Jesus Christ was Lord, and this good news needed to be told to everyone, everywhere, no matter the cost, even if that was their safety and security and their very lives.
What's it look like for us to value Christ above all else? What kind of security and false idols do we need to set aside to pursue Christ? What are we called to risk? Who are we called to share the Good News with? What might we need to give up?
These are hard questions that take a lifetime to answer, but its absolutely worth the pursuit.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I'm always curious what the apostles talked about when they were between cities. Surely there were days when they gathered around the water cooler and lamented the suffering they were going through, wondering if it was all worth it, wondering when the struggle would stop and people would realize the wisdom of accepting Christ as Savior, no matter how much of a challenge this might be to their current state of mind.
But you don't get that feeling. The Apostles were so single-minded that they kept going back, time after time, no matter how much abuse they took. People rose up, threatened their lives, and they proclaimed the Gospel, because nothing else mattered as much as the Gospel did. Above all else, Jesus Christ was Lord, and this good news needed to be told to everyone, everywhere, no matter the cost, even if that was their safety and security and their very lives.
What's it look like for us to value Christ above all else? What kind of security and false idols do we need to set aside to pursue Christ? What are we called to risk? Who are we called to share the Good News with? What might we need to give up?
These are hard questions that take a lifetime to answer, but its absolutely worth the pursuit.
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Acts 13:36-43
Acts 13:36-43
English Standard Version (ESV)
We serve our kids pizza sometimes, and they get so excited they want pizza again the next night, and then the next night. It's so good to them, they cannot wait until they try it again. Rachel and I went out to eat on Sunday night, and we were commenting that if we had gone to that place on Saturday, we would have gone back on Sunday, because it was that good. Unfortunately, our trip had ended and we had to go home.
Here, the Gospel is proclaimed, and the people love the message so much that they are begging for it again the next Sunday. They've been fed the Gospel truth, and they can't wait to have more. They are eager.
I think there are two things at work here. The first is that God's Truth never gets old or stale -- the heart of the Gospel is always deeper than our faith maturity. There's always more. No matter how much we know or how long we have followed, we should be excited to hear more, to learn more, to draw closer to God.
The second thing is that we need to recognize our true hunger. So often we mask it by sating our appetites with lesser things, but it's important to remember that we are sinners and Christ is our needed Savior. The reality of our redemption and new life in Christ should excite us, energize us, and draw us back to the Gospel day after day after day!
English Standard Version (ESV)
We serve our kids pizza sometimes, and they get so excited they want pizza again the next night, and then the next night. It's so good to them, they cannot wait until they try it again. Rachel and I went out to eat on Sunday night, and we were commenting that if we had gone to that place on Saturday, we would have gone back on Sunday, because it was that good. Unfortunately, our trip had ended and we had to go home.
Here, the Gospel is proclaimed, and the people love the message so much that they are begging for it again the next Sunday. They've been fed the Gospel truth, and they can't wait to have more. They are eager.
I think there are two things at work here. The first is that God's Truth never gets old or stale -- the heart of the Gospel is always deeper than our faith maturity. There's always more. No matter how much we know or how long we have followed, we should be excited to hear more, to learn more, to draw closer to God.
The second thing is that we need to recognize our true hunger. So often we mask it by sating our appetites with lesser things, but it's important to remember that we are sinners and Christ is our needed Savior. The reality of our redemption and new life in Christ should excite us, energize us, and draw us back to the Gospel day after day after day!
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Acts 13:26-35
Acts 13:26-35
English Standard Version (ESV)
One of the things we talk with the kids about quite often is that their attitudes are their choice. No matter what has happened, their reaction to it is a choice that they make. Even if things don't go their way, they don't have to whine about it -- they can choose to move forward with a positive attitude. (Whenever I talk to the kids about this, I realize that I need to listen myself!)
In Acts, the Apostles are often preaching the Gospel, and they don't sugarcoat the messy history, that the Jews cried out for Jesus to be condemned to death. but they don't dwell on it, and they aren't just sending people down a guilt-laden road. They're pointing out the sin, but they're inviting all to move through it and into forgiveness, for God conquered sin through death, and all are invited into new life in Jesus Christ. Peter and Paul are adamant that all are invited into the new covenant -- it's not only for the perfect or for those without sin in their lives. Whoever has sinned, and whoever is guilty, that's all in the past -- the current choice is how to move forward. Should we cling to sin, or cling to the righteousness of Christ that defeats sin and offers new life?
English Standard Version (ESV)
One of the things we talk with the kids about quite often is that their attitudes are their choice. No matter what has happened, their reaction to it is a choice that they make. Even if things don't go their way, they don't have to whine about it -- they can choose to move forward with a positive attitude. (Whenever I talk to the kids about this, I realize that I need to listen myself!)
In Acts, the Apostles are often preaching the Gospel, and they don't sugarcoat the messy history, that the Jews cried out for Jesus to be condemned to death. but they don't dwell on it, and they aren't just sending people down a guilt-laden road. They're pointing out the sin, but they're inviting all to move through it and into forgiveness, for God conquered sin through death, and all are invited into new life in Jesus Christ. Peter and Paul are adamant that all are invited into the new covenant -- it's not only for the perfect or for those without sin in their lives. Whoever has sinned, and whoever is guilty, that's all in the past -- the current choice is how to move forward. Should we cling to sin, or cling to the righteousness of Christ that defeats sin and offers new life?
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Acts 13:13-25
Acts 13:13-25
English Standard Version (ESV)
Because I love to make rampant generalizations, I'm going to say that we, as a collective society, are really into ourselves. When society has reached a point where people are having plastic surgery to look better in their selfies, I think it's safe to say that we think very highly of ourselves. We spent a lot of time thinking about ourselves, and when we're not thinking about ourselves, we're thinking about how to make other people think about us. Social media is great at this -- look at this! look over here! Like me! Favorite me! Me!
As Christians, we're rooted in a long line of church history. It's not about us, and it's not even about here and now. We stand in a long tradition of people who have been faithfully living selflessly, serving one another, and if we're going to be serious about telling people about God, we can't just talk about ourselves, we need to talk about what God has been doing throughout time and space.
See, in today's world the message is generally "What's okay for you is fine as long as it doesn't affect me." We personalize everything and let others do the same.
But when we point out that God has been moving in an arc that transcends the here and now, that reaches back into history and binds people together, creating connections through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that God has never broken a promise and is building this amazing Kingdom with singular purpose throughout history, we tell a much more powerful story than the one that just talks about God and me.
It's important to link ourselves as part of the story and part of God's story, but by giving it context, we point out how much bigger God is, and then the love of God is even more amazing and more compelling, because the God who is that big reaches down into human history and intercedes on our behalf, on your behalf, to forgive our sins and love us as individuals.
That's a great story. Let's tell that story. Let's live it!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Because I love to make rampant generalizations, I'm going to say that we, as a collective society, are really into ourselves. When society has reached a point where people are having plastic surgery to look better in their selfies, I think it's safe to say that we think very highly of ourselves. We spent a lot of time thinking about ourselves, and when we're not thinking about ourselves, we're thinking about how to make other people think about us. Social media is great at this -- look at this! look over here! Like me! Favorite me! Me!
As Christians, we're rooted in a long line of church history. It's not about us, and it's not even about here and now. We stand in a long tradition of people who have been faithfully living selflessly, serving one another, and if we're going to be serious about telling people about God, we can't just talk about ourselves, we need to talk about what God has been doing throughout time and space.
See, in today's world the message is generally "What's okay for you is fine as long as it doesn't affect me." We personalize everything and let others do the same.
But when we point out that God has been moving in an arc that transcends the here and now, that reaches back into history and binds people together, creating connections through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that God has never broken a promise and is building this amazing Kingdom with singular purpose throughout history, we tell a much more powerful story than the one that just talks about God and me.
It's important to link ourselves as part of the story and part of God's story, but by giving it context, we point out how much bigger God is, and then the love of God is even more amazing and more compelling, because the God who is that big reaches down into human history and intercedes on our behalf, on your behalf, to forgive our sins and love us as individuals.
That's a great story. Let's tell that story. Let's live it!
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Acts 13:4-12
Acts 13:4-12
English Standard Version (ESV)
I consider myself a (somewhat) patient parent, but when my child whines about what color their dinner plate is for the 16th night in a row, I tend to reach the end of my last nerve and perhaps don't always react as Christ would have me react. At a certain point, I feel compelled to let them know exactly how unimportant the color of their plate is and the repercussions of what will happen to their dinner if they continue to protest their assignment of dinnerware.
We all reach this point, right?
What's good is when the church finds the balance between loving selflessly, with humility, and standing up and speaking out when the time calls for it. Often, the church needs to listen and love. At other times, when forces or people are making crooked the straight paths of the Lord, it's time for the church to rise up as one and announce that the Lord's will, that the love and mercy and grace and truth of God, will conquer against those who stand in its way. We need to act out, to love boldly and to take the message of repentance and grace into the streets.
I'm not going to pretend to know exactly how to discern the best times to turn the other cheek and when to speak out with passion, but that's why we gather as a community -- to listen to one another and help us know exactly how the Lord is calling us to be the people of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I consider myself a (somewhat) patient parent, but when my child whines about what color their dinner plate is for the 16th night in a row, I tend to reach the end of my last nerve and perhaps don't always react as Christ would have me react. At a certain point, I feel compelled to let them know exactly how unimportant the color of their plate is and the repercussions of what will happen to their dinner if they continue to protest their assignment of dinnerware.
We all reach this point, right?
What's good is when the church finds the balance between loving selflessly, with humility, and standing up and speaking out when the time calls for it. Often, the church needs to listen and love. At other times, when forces or people are making crooked the straight paths of the Lord, it's time for the church to rise up as one and announce that the Lord's will, that the love and mercy and grace and truth of God, will conquer against those who stand in its way. We need to act out, to love boldly and to take the message of repentance and grace into the streets.
I'm not going to pretend to know exactly how to discern the best times to turn the other cheek and when to speak out with passion, but that's why we gather as a community -- to listen to one another and help us know exactly how the Lord is calling us to be the people of God.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Acts 13:1-3
Acts 13:1-3
English Standard Version (ESV)
If I had to hazard a guess, I'd imagine that most of us don't feel 'set apart'. We don't think of ourselves as particularly useful to the Kingdom of God, and we look with envy upon those who are better able to understand and utilize their gifts to spread God's word. We feel like we're important parts of the church, but we have a hard time understanding our own fit and often feel like we're just another face in the crowd.
The great thing about God is that he is unbounded. He doesn't have the limited attention that we do -- he can attend to each of us at every moment. He's not like an earthly parent, whose attention is limited to one child at a time, often leaving another child doing something dramatic in order to capture that precious attention (this is a concept we are VERY familiar with in our house!). God can pour himself into each and every one of us as though there was no one else, for his love and attention are truly limitless.
So when you think about being set apart, don't think of it as being some rock star that everyone else in the church will look upon in wonder. Think of the fact that God has called you to serve a role that only you can serve. You have been gifted for this time and place, and the relationships you are in can be used by God to proclaim his love and majesty. You are here and now for a reason, and as a good friend of mine has said, you may well be the answer to someone else's prayer. You have been set apart because God has called you in this precious time to do what only you can do as well and as faithfully as you can, and to point those around you to the majesty and glory of the Risen Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
If I had to hazard a guess, I'd imagine that most of us don't feel 'set apart'. We don't think of ourselves as particularly useful to the Kingdom of God, and we look with envy upon those who are better able to understand and utilize their gifts to spread God's word. We feel like we're important parts of the church, but we have a hard time understanding our own fit and often feel like we're just another face in the crowd.
The great thing about God is that he is unbounded. He doesn't have the limited attention that we do -- he can attend to each of us at every moment. He's not like an earthly parent, whose attention is limited to one child at a time, often leaving another child doing something dramatic in order to capture that precious attention (this is a concept we are VERY familiar with in our house!). God can pour himself into each and every one of us as though there was no one else, for his love and attention are truly limitless.
So when you think about being set apart, don't think of it as being some rock star that everyone else in the church will look upon in wonder. Think of the fact that God has called you to serve a role that only you can serve. You have been gifted for this time and place, and the relationships you are in can be used by God to proclaim his love and majesty. You are here and now for a reason, and as a good friend of mine has said, you may well be the answer to someone else's prayer. You have been set apart because God has called you in this precious time to do what only you can do as well and as faithfully as you can, and to point those around you to the majesty and glory of the Risen Lord.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Acts 12:20-25
Acts 12:20-25
English Standard Version (ESV)
Everyone loves a happy ending? The Bible is not short on examples of what happens to those who oppose God's will. Some of these characters meet ends that make me wince and wonder if a few of these details could have been left out, but then I remember that this was written in a very different time and place, when the church was violently opposed and the death of the oppressors was a great encouragement to the church members. They saw God making roads for the church to grow through the deaths of their enemies.
Now, I certainly wouldn't recommend that we start praying for those who oppose Christianity to be eaten by worms, (I'm pretty sure the Bible tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us), but we should look for ways that God is at work making it possible for the church to expand and reach more people, and we should celebrate when obstacles are removed and the church can spread in places where it once was outlawed or oppressed. The Word of God is mighty and will not be denied, but many seek to silence its voice. In these times, there are faithful disciples working to smuggle Bibles (that image always excites me) and spread the radical Word of God no matter what, so let us pray for their continued success and that all will come to bow the knee before the throne of glory!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Everyone loves a happy ending? The Bible is not short on examples of what happens to those who oppose God's will. Some of these characters meet ends that make me wince and wonder if a few of these details could have been left out, but then I remember that this was written in a very different time and place, when the church was violently opposed and the death of the oppressors was a great encouragement to the church members. They saw God making roads for the church to grow through the deaths of their enemies.
Now, I certainly wouldn't recommend that we start praying for those who oppose Christianity to be eaten by worms, (I'm pretty sure the Bible tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us), but we should look for ways that God is at work making it possible for the church to expand and reach more people, and we should celebrate when obstacles are removed and the church can spread in places where it once was outlawed or oppressed. The Word of God is mighty and will not be denied, but many seek to silence its voice. In these times, there are faithful disciples working to smuggle Bibles (that image always excites me) and spread the radical Word of God no matter what, so let us pray for their continued success and that all will come to bow the knee before the throne of glory!
Friday, May 5, 2017
Acts 12:12-19
Acts 12:12-19
English Standard Version (ESV)
You have to wonder if Herod didn't suspect that something miraculous was going on. Peter had disappeared from under lock and key, and there was no good explanation He had the sentries put to death, as though punishing them might ease his mind about who was at fault, but surely he had to wonder if there was a more powerful force, if God was at work in the world, building his church, person by person.
So often there are things that happen in the world that present us with a choice -- how are we going to interpret them? Are we going to trust that God is at work, leaning in and wondering how we can join in with what God is doing? Or do we choose to sit back and assume that something else is going on, maybe a simpler explanation? If we choose to believe that God is at work, then I think that crafts a mindset within us, one that is always looking for evidence of God's handiwork, a spirit that is ready to follow, willing to trust. We'll have to take things on faith, but it will shape us into the kind of people always wondering how God is at work in the world and in our lives and in our relationships, and I think that's the kind of person I want to be.
English Standard Version (ESV)
You have to wonder if Herod didn't suspect that something miraculous was going on. Peter had disappeared from under lock and key, and there was no good explanation He had the sentries put to death, as though punishing them might ease his mind about who was at fault, but surely he had to wonder if there was a more powerful force, if God was at work in the world, building his church, person by person.
So often there are things that happen in the world that present us with a choice -- how are we going to interpret them? Are we going to trust that God is at work, leaning in and wondering how we can join in with what God is doing? Or do we choose to sit back and assume that something else is going on, maybe a simpler explanation? If we choose to believe that God is at work, then I think that crafts a mindset within us, one that is always looking for evidence of God's handiwork, a spirit that is ready to follow, willing to trust. We'll have to take things on faith, but it will shape us into the kind of people always wondering how God is at work in the world and in our lives and in our relationships, and I think that's the kind of person I want to be.
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Book Review: Stories of Your Life and Others
I finished reading Ted Chiang's Stories of Your Life and Others last night. It's a collection of short stories, which I usually don't read, but this one has pretty stellar reviews on Amazon.com (which means it has to be good, right?) and one of the stories is the base of the movie Arrival, which looked interesting from the previews (which means the whole book has to be good, right?).
Well, I wasn't a big fan. Based on the movie previews, the movie is a huge departure from the story, which consists of aliens who set up camp in tents, learn to communicate with Americans, then leave. Seriously -- that's all that happens. The most exciting part of that story is... well, there actually aren't any exciting moments.
Several of the short stories experiment with space and time, and there's a pretty interesting story about a man who is disinterested in God for his entire life until the moment before his death, in which he suddenly realizes the vast and incomprehensible love of God, only to be destined for hell and suffer miserably because he learned, too late, what he was missing out on by turning his back on God.
The stories aren't connected to each other, and I was forcing myself through the book just so I could finish it. Maybe I'll someday find some short stories that I love to read, but I don't connect with many of them. The comics are about the only collection of short stories I like to read.
Well, I wasn't a big fan. Based on the movie previews, the movie is a huge departure from the story, which consists of aliens who set up camp in tents, learn to communicate with Americans, then leave. Seriously -- that's all that happens. The most exciting part of that story is... well, there actually aren't any exciting moments.
Several of the short stories experiment with space and time, and there's a pretty interesting story about a man who is disinterested in God for his entire life until the moment before his death, in which he suddenly realizes the vast and incomprehensible love of God, only to be destined for hell and suffer miserably because he learned, too late, what he was missing out on by turning his back on God.
The stories aren't connected to each other, and I was forcing myself through the book just so I could finish it. Maybe I'll someday find some short stories that I love to read, but I don't connect with many of them. The comics are about the only collection of short stories I like to read.
Acts 12:6-11
Acts 12:6-11
English Standard Version (ESV)
So God intervened when Peter was in jail, leading him out between sentries, dressing him and leading him through two guards and out the gate, and only then did Peter realize that God was at work. The rest of us read this story and wonder just what Peter was thinking while he was being led out of jail. He must have thought it was a dream, but God was at work, freeing Peter for ministry.
In the same way, someone else might look at your life and see different ways God is at work. They might look at what is happening and see the hands of God working, but we're often so close to the action and so emotionally tied up that we don't notice how God might be at work. We wonder where God is, while others look at us and see God right in the midst of our lives.
This is why it's important to be in community, to hear what others think God might be doing in our lives, and also why we need time for silence in our prayer lives, that we might hear just what God is up to and how God is leading us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
So God intervened when Peter was in jail, leading him out between sentries, dressing him and leading him through two guards and out the gate, and only then did Peter realize that God was at work. The rest of us read this story and wonder just what Peter was thinking while he was being led out of jail. He must have thought it was a dream, but God was at work, freeing Peter for ministry.
In the same way, someone else might look at your life and see different ways God is at work. They might look at what is happening and see the hands of God working, but we're often so close to the action and so emotionally tied up that we don't notice how God might be at work. We wonder where God is, while others look at us and see God right in the midst of our lives.
This is why it's important to be in community, to hear what others think God might be doing in our lives, and also why we need time for silence in our prayer lives, that we might hear just what God is up to and how God is leading us.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Acts 12:1-5
Acts 12:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)
Sometimes people wonder what will happen to the church in the future. I have no anxiety about the future of the church. I'll admit that I sometimes wonder what the place of the church in society will be, but I have total confidence that the church will still be alive and active, because I've read the end of the story. The church is the body of Christ, and Christ is coming to defeat sin and death at the end, riding a white horse and wearing a robe dipped in blood with a sword coming out of his mouth. He's the victor, and nothing will stop him or thwart his purpose. He shall be victorious, and he'll bring his church with him into the eternal victory.
So fear not for the future of the church. Rather, let your life be a celebration of Christ's triumphant victory, and may we spend our lives inviting others into the joy of Christ as triumphant victor!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Sometimes people wonder what will happen to the church in the future. I have no anxiety about the future of the church. I'll admit that I sometimes wonder what the place of the church in society will be, but I have total confidence that the church will still be alive and active, because I've read the end of the story. The church is the body of Christ, and Christ is coming to defeat sin and death at the end, riding a white horse and wearing a robe dipped in blood with a sword coming out of his mouth. He's the victor, and nothing will stop him or thwart his purpose. He shall be victorious, and he'll bring his church with him into the eternal victory.
So fear not for the future of the church. Rather, let your life be a celebration of Christ's triumphant victory, and may we spend our lives inviting others into the joy of Christ as triumphant victor!
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Book Review: Joy on Demand
How could I pass up a book called Joy on Demand? It is written by Chade-Meng Tan, who was the happiness guru at Google. Pretty cool title, right? And if I can get to a place where I have joy on demand, that would be great! I don't think anyone would call me the most joyous person ever, but I am trying... everyone wants to be happier, right? And if I could read my way to happiness, all the better. Now if only there was a solution that didn't ask anything of me...
Joy on Demand is all about meditation. It's another in what seems like a long line of books that promises happiness if we meditate more. Happiness teaches us detachment, and the root of the story is that if we aren't so focused on external stimuli, we can find more joy, because we can find peace within us. External things are unpredictable and can rile us. If we discover all we need internally, we can discover peace and stop developing a ceaseless anxiety. Meditation teaches us contentment, and contentment leads to peace, and peace leads to joy. Simple, right?
You can read the book if you're interested in the meditation techniques. I don't think anyone comes here for that. What I think is interesting is that Paul taught us about the idea of contentment thousands of years ago: Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13).
What Paul is trying to teach us is that in Christ, we can be content, because in Christ, we are enough. We don't earn our way to God -- we come to God through the gift of Christ. It's unearned grace and unmerited favor, and when we realize that it is a free gift, we stop striving and anxiously fretting, and we can rest easy in his love. It's unconditional, and so all our work will not bring us closer to God. When we accept grace as an unearned gift, we can discover contentment, because we recognize that all the money and all the fame in the world cannot bring us before the throne of God -- only Christ can bring us to God, and Christ does this as a free gift, not because we've earned it.
So true contentment comes not from focusing on ourselves, but rather from focusing on what Christ has done for us. When we accept the gift, our worrying can cease, and we can live from a place of gratitude and freedom.
Joy on Demand is all about meditation. It's another in what seems like a long line of books that promises happiness if we meditate more. Happiness teaches us detachment, and the root of the story is that if we aren't so focused on external stimuli, we can find more joy, because we can find peace within us. External things are unpredictable and can rile us. If we discover all we need internally, we can discover peace and stop developing a ceaseless anxiety. Meditation teaches us contentment, and contentment leads to peace, and peace leads to joy. Simple, right?
You can read the book if you're interested in the meditation techniques. I don't think anyone comes here for that. What I think is interesting is that Paul taught us about the idea of contentment thousands of years ago: Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13).
What Paul is trying to teach us is that in Christ, we can be content, because in Christ, we are enough. We don't earn our way to God -- we come to God through the gift of Christ. It's unearned grace and unmerited favor, and when we realize that it is a free gift, we stop striving and anxiously fretting, and we can rest easy in his love. It's unconditional, and so all our work will not bring us closer to God. When we accept grace as an unearned gift, we can discover contentment, because we recognize that all the money and all the fame in the world cannot bring us before the throne of God -- only Christ can bring us to God, and Christ does this as a free gift, not because we've earned it.
So true contentment comes not from focusing on ourselves, but rather from focusing on what Christ has done for us. When we accept the gift, our worrying can cease, and we can live from a place of gratitude and freedom.
Acts 11:27-30
Acts 11:27-30
English Standard Version (ESV)
Did you know there's a famine going on right now? In parts of East Africa, there's a massive famine that is endangering the lives of thousands. There's so much else going on in our lives, we may not have even noticed, and even if we do, there's a feeling of helplessness, right? What are we supposed to do about a famine in East Africa? I think it partly tests our theology of prayer -- do we think our prayers really matter? I was at a monastery once and heard a monk describe their responsibility as being in prayer for the world. At that moment I realized that they don't view their lives as withdrawn, but rather as engaged with the entire world through prayer. It's a deep theology of prayer that trusts in God to hear our prayers, and that our prayers matter.
So the famine in East Africa should matter to us. (If you want to learn more about it, click here: https://www.worldvision.org/hunger-news-stories/matthew-25-pray-hunger) The neighbor's strife should matter to us. The plight of the homeless should matter to us. The struggles of our family members and friends matters, just as our own struggles matter.
When we care, when we really care, we set aside resources -- whether it is time or energy or attention or money -- and we reach out, personally or in prayer or through mission agencies, to let the love of God bind us together.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Did you know there's a famine going on right now? In parts of East Africa, there's a massive famine that is endangering the lives of thousands. There's so much else going on in our lives, we may not have even noticed, and even if we do, there's a feeling of helplessness, right? What are we supposed to do about a famine in East Africa? I think it partly tests our theology of prayer -- do we think our prayers really matter? I was at a monastery once and heard a monk describe their responsibility as being in prayer for the world. At that moment I realized that they don't view their lives as withdrawn, but rather as engaged with the entire world through prayer. It's a deep theology of prayer that trusts in God to hear our prayers, and that our prayers matter.
So the famine in East Africa should matter to us. (If you want to learn more about it, click here: https://www.worldvision.org/hunger-news-stories/matthew-25-pray-hunger) The neighbor's strife should matter to us. The plight of the homeless should matter to us. The struggles of our family members and friends matters, just as our own struggles matter.
When we care, when we really care, we set aside resources -- whether it is time or energy or attention or money -- and we reach out, personally or in prayer or through mission agencies, to let the love of God bind us together.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Acts 11:19-26
Acts 11:19-26
English Standard Version (ESV)
I love dramatic movies. Within two hours, the characters experience a range of emotions from joy to despair, and by the end they've found some inspirational rallying point to push forward to a new level of understanding, often through some poignant teachable moment.
In real life, things grow in fits and spurts, and it takes time. In Antioch, Barnabas and Saul spent a year meeting with the church and teaching people. For a year they were building, waiting, watching, teaching. We often hear of overnight success stories, but we don't see the years of work and risk that went into the venture. We only see the neatly-tailored story that follows. Reality requires hard work and investment of sweat and tears. In Antioch, they spent years building the church, teaching the people, trusting in the Holy Spirit and whatever speed God was choosing to work.
In our own lives, we've got to trust that God is at work, and so we show up, day after day, leaning into the Holy Spirit, waiting and watching, knowing that it might take days or years to see the changes God has in store for us. The Christian life is a whole-life journey, and there often aren't dramatic moments neatly wrapped up -- it's an investment of a lifetime, but the promise of Christ is that it's completely worth it!
English Standard Version (ESV)
I love dramatic movies. Within two hours, the characters experience a range of emotions from joy to despair, and by the end they've found some inspirational rallying point to push forward to a new level of understanding, often through some poignant teachable moment.
In real life, things grow in fits and spurts, and it takes time. In Antioch, Barnabas and Saul spent a year meeting with the church and teaching people. For a year they were building, waiting, watching, teaching. We often hear of overnight success stories, but we don't see the years of work and risk that went into the venture. We only see the neatly-tailored story that follows. Reality requires hard work and investment of sweat and tears. In Antioch, they spent years building the church, teaching the people, trusting in the Holy Spirit and whatever speed God was choosing to work.
In our own lives, we've got to trust that God is at work, and so we show up, day after day, leaning into the Holy Spirit, waiting and watching, knowing that it might take days or years to see the changes God has in store for us. The Christian life is a whole-life journey, and there often aren't dramatic moments neatly wrapped up -- it's an investment of a lifetime, but the promise of Christ is that it's completely worth it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)