Matthew 2:1-12
English Standard Version (ESV)
I could write a lot about the wise men -- they're a fascinating topic. Here we find some Persian astrologers who are looking into the sky when what should happen, but God writes the truth into the sky, and they're bold enough to pursue it. Lesson 1 -- God comes to us where we are. God didn't wait for the Persians to figure out the truth, but God reached out to them in the method they would understand.
Then the wise men go to Jerusalem, but they don't know where Jesus is born, so they go looking for answers. Lesson 2 -- don't be afraid to ask directions!! Just because you aren't certain of how best to follow Jesus doesn't mean that you have to blindly stumble along out of pride -- let yourself be led by the community.
When they find Jesus, they fell down and worshiped. Think of it -- beforehand, they had been staring into the sky for answers, and suddenly they're falling down before a toddler to worship. The truth that was written in the stars came down from heaven to welcome them into a Kingdom of grace. These outsiders were welcomed as they were, and they laid down their treasure. Lesson 3 -- the treasure to offer to God is what you have, not necessarily what you think might be needed. The gifts of the wisemen weren't perfect for a toddler, but that's what they had, so they offered it, and we read about it to this day. Give what you have, not what you think is needed. Start where you are -- God is reaching out to you, inviting you in to an abundant and eternal life. Start the journey!
Friday, December 28, 2018
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Luke 2:1-7
Luke 2:1-7
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having never been pregnant, I can't pretend to understand the experience Mary has. I cannot imagine that riding a donkey while pregnant would be a pleasurable experience, especially when laden with uncertainty. Mary has been told that she would give birth to the Messiah, and so she knows that she carries the hope of nations within her womb, but the Gospels are silent as to whether or not she has any details beyond that. Her mind must be filled with questions as her body prepares to deliver the Christ child.
On that first Christmas morning, she gives birth and lays her child in a manger. The Messiah has come, God with us, and God experiences life as a helpless, dependent infant, looking to Mary for love and for nourishment.
I don't know what God has planned for my life, and I don't know what God has planned for your life, but you have been called to bear the presence of Christ into the world. There is great uncertainty in the specifics, but just as the angel came to Mary and announced that she was chosen by God to serve, know that you have been selected by God to serve in unique and particular ways that only you can serve. You have been given a skillset and a personality that can bring glory to God and help expand the Kingdom of God, and while there are times that your calling will be intimidating and likely fearful, trust and believe that God is with you and that you are infinitely loved and treasured. Do not be afraid -- God is with you, and so let the light shine, no matter how strong the darkness may be.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having never been pregnant, I can't pretend to understand the experience Mary has. I cannot imagine that riding a donkey while pregnant would be a pleasurable experience, especially when laden with uncertainty. Mary has been told that she would give birth to the Messiah, and so she knows that she carries the hope of nations within her womb, but the Gospels are silent as to whether or not she has any details beyond that. Her mind must be filled with questions as her body prepares to deliver the Christ child.
On that first Christmas morning, she gives birth and lays her child in a manger. The Messiah has come, God with us, and God experiences life as a helpless, dependent infant, looking to Mary for love and for nourishment.
I don't know what God has planned for my life, and I don't know what God has planned for your life, but you have been called to bear the presence of Christ into the world. There is great uncertainty in the specifics, but just as the angel came to Mary and announced that she was chosen by God to serve, know that you have been selected by God to serve in unique and particular ways that only you can serve. You have been given a skillset and a personality that can bring glory to God and help expand the Kingdom of God, and while there are times that your calling will be intimidating and likely fearful, trust and believe that God is with you and that you are infinitely loved and treasured. Do not be afraid -- God is with you, and so let the light shine, no matter how strong the darkness may be.
Friday, December 21, 2018
Acts 1:1-5
Acts 1:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)
During Advent, we celebrate what God has done and we look forward to what God will do. It's not unlike sitting down for a meal at your favorite restaurant -- before the food is served, you're comforted by all the memories you have of previous meals there, and it gives you confidence that this next meal is going to be good. You get excited, looking over the menu with anticipation at what will surely bring delight.
In Advent, we remember all the amazing things that God has done. Mostly, we focus on how God fulfilled the promises of the prophets so many years ago. Those prophets had a challenging duty, calling the people back to faithfulness in the present while pointing forward to God's redemptive work. They were calling people to rely upon a promise and shape their lives around the basis of God's previously reliable works and the certainty of God's continual providence.
In the present, we sit down and remember what God has done. With fondness and affection, we recall the ways that God has worked in our collective history. We remember the sending of a Savior, a light into the midst of the darkness, and we look over the promises of God in ancitipation of the delight that God will bring to our weary souls, knowing that our hungry hearts will be fed by the Word of God trusting that the God who fulfills his promises will continue to provide for us both today and forevermore.
English Standard Version (ESV)
During Advent, we celebrate what God has done and we look forward to what God will do. It's not unlike sitting down for a meal at your favorite restaurant -- before the food is served, you're comforted by all the memories you have of previous meals there, and it gives you confidence that this next meal is going to be good. You get excited, looking over the menu with anticipation at what will surely bring delight.
In Advent, we remember all the amazing things that God has done. Mostly, we focus on how God fulfilled the promises of the prophets so many years ago. Those prophets had a challenging duty, calling the people back to faithfulness in the present while pointing forward to God's redemptive work. They were calling people to rely upon a promise and shape their lives around the basis of God's previously reliable works and the certainty of God's continual providence.
In the present, we sit down and remember what God has done. With fondness and affection, we recall the ways that God has worked in our collective history. We remember the sending of a Savior, a light into the midst of the darkness, and we look over the promises of God in ancitipation of the delight that God will bring to our weary souls, knowing that our hungry hearts will be fed by the Word of God trusting that the God who fulfills his promises will continue to provide for us both today and forevermore.
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Mark 1:1-8
Mark 1:1-8
English Standard Version (ESV)
There's something remarkable about John's humility. He knows that his life has one task, one purpose, and that is to help prepare the world for the public ministry of Jesus Christ. He joins a long and faithful line of prophets who pointed beyond themselves and beyond their present time to a future where the promises of God would become real, no by their doing, but by the work of God.
Our job is not so different. Sure, we don't wear camel's hair (at least I don't) and locusts are not my meal of choice (although the nutritional value of a locust can be found here), but we are called to point beyond ourselves. Our actions and our words, the way we treat one another, should announce that the Lord reigns in our lives, and that we believe that he is coming again. The Lord is mightier than we are, and our lives should serve as an invitation to others to participate in the joy of Christmas, when Christ enters into our world, into our lives, and transforms us by God's grace.
English Standard Version (ESV)
There's something remarkable about John's humility. He knows that his life has one task, one purpose, and that is to help prepare the world for the public ministry of Jesus Christ. He joins a long and faithful line of prophets who pointed beyond themselves and beyond their present time to a future where the promises of God would become real, no by their doing, but by the work of God.
Our job is not so different. Sure, we don't wear camel's hair (at least I don't) and locusts are not my meal of choice (although the nutritional value of a locust can be found here), but we are called to point beyond ourselves. Our actions and our words, the way we treat one another, should announce that the Lord reigns in our lives, and that we believe that he is coming again. The Lord is mightier than we are, and our lives should serve as an invitation to others to participate in the joy of Christmas, when Christ enters into our world, into our lives, and transforms us by God's grace.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Matthew 1:1-7
Matthew 1:1-7
English Standard Version (ESV)
Everyone's eyes gloss over a bit at the genealogies -- I cut this one off 9 verses before the end. But there is a foundational message included in this genealogy. Look at some of the names in here, and realize how broken some of the people are that are included. Jacob was a thief who stole his brother's birthright. Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law that he failed, so she disguised herself as a prostitute and seduced Judah, and Judah was ready to condemn her until he realized that she was pregnant by him. Ruth was a foreigner from Moab, a wicked place. David was an adulterer who had a man killed so that he could take his wife. Solomon was certainly far from perfect. The list goes on, each person broken in their own way, each one pointing to Jesus.
And that's my story, and it's your story -- we're each broken in our own way, but through the grace of God, we point to Jesus. God is doing something miraculous through the people of faith, and he's redeeming us by his love, so that we can be included in this story.
So don't look down upon yourself because you're imperfect. Don't exclude yourself because of what your past or your present looks like. Look to the future with hope, and look to God with trust, because God can do a great work through you, no matter how broken you may be!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Everyone's eyes gloss over a bit at the genealogies -- I cut this one off 9 verses before the end. But there is a foundational message included in this genealogy. Look at some of the names in here, and realize how broken some of the people are that are included. Jacob was a thief who stole his brother's birthright. Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law that he failed, so she disguised herself as a prostitute and seduced Judah, and Judah was ready to condemn her until he realized that she was pregnant by him. Ruth was a foreigner from Moab, a wicked place. David was an adulterer who had a man killed so that he could take his wife. Solomon was certainly far from perfect. The list goes on, each person broken in their own way, each one pointing to Jesus.
And that's my story, and it's your story -- we're each broken in our own way, but through the grace of God, we point to Jesus. God is doing something miraculous through the people of faith, and he's redeeming us by his love, so that we can be included in this story.
So don't look down upon yourself because you're imperfect. Don't exclude yourself because of what your past or your present looks like. Look to the future with hope, and look to God with trust, because God can do a great work through you, no matter how broken you may be!
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
John 1:1-5
John 1:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's fascinating to me that John doesn't have a birth narrative, and it's not because he doesn't start early enough, but rather because he goes back before the birth, before the Israelites, before God called a man named Abram into a new relationship, before a man named Noah became a boatbuilder, before Adam and Eve listened to their appetites, before all of that -- there was only God.
In a way, my story and your story begin there, too. In the beginning, there was enough, but God's generosity and love overflowed to create, and the same love that carved the mountains from the sea designed you and claimed you, and when it was clear that you were lost to sin, that love reached down and redeemed you at great price. The Christmas story is a vital chapter in your redemption story, for when Christ came into the world, your salvation entered the human story. As many have said, the author of the story fell in love with the characters and wrote himself into the story so that the characters might be saved and find their true love. Augustine says that our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God, and the Christmas story is a story of the heart's journey back to God, for that journey is finally free to be made due to the price Christ pays for us to redeem us, to win us back to our Creator.
So the beginning of the whole story is part of our story, a story that carries on into eternity, for the light shall forever shine, and the darkness shall fall away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's fascinating to me that John doesn't have a birth narrative, and it's not because he doesn't start early enough, but rather because he goes back before the birth, before the Israelites, before God called a man named Abram into a new relationship, before a man named Noah became a boatbuilder, before Adam and Eve listened to their appetites, before all of that -- there was only God.
In a way, my story and your story begin there, too. In the beginning, there was enough, but God's generosity and love overflowed to create, and the same love that carved the mountains from the sea designed you and claimed you, and when it was clear that you were lost to sin, that love reached down and redeemed you at great price. The Christmas story is a vital chapter in your redemption story, for when Christ came into the world, your salvation entered the human story. As many have said, the author of the story fell in love with the characters and wrote himself into the story so that the characters might be saved and find their true love. Augustine says that our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God, and the Christmas story is a story of the heart's journey back to God, for that journey is finally free to be made due to the price Christ pays for us to redeem us, to win us back to our Creator.
So the beginning of the whole story is part of our story, a story that carries on into eternity, for the light shall forever shine, and the darkness shall fall away.
Monday, December 17, 2018
Luke 1:26-33
Luke 1:26-33
English Standard Version (ESV)
When you fly enough times, you begin to take airplanes for granted. You grumble about the speed of the WiFi on the plane, forgetting that you're in a giant metal tube with wings 35,000 feet in the air. The miracle fades into the background as you wonder if you'll get a decent snack.
The same is true of the Christmas story -- we forget the miracles that took place along the way. Mary was chosen to bear the Messiah, the light of the world, and became pregnant when she was only engaged. This could have easily been a life-threatening situation, and the scandal could have destroyed her life. As a young teenager, she was willing to risk everything because God had chosen her and was inviting her into something new, something unknown. An angel showed up in her room, and she was troubled by his greeting, uncertain of what this might mean.
The angel's greeting to Mary is the same as the message God wants to send to us -- Do not be afraid! We often don't know what lies ahead, and there are always plenty of reasons to shrink back in fear, but God is with us, and despite the challenges that await, God will remain with us for every step of the journey.
Mary could have easily said no and opted for the easier path. But she trusted in God and the miracle continued. May we give thanks for her courage, and may we hear God's words of encouragement to us today.
English Standard Version (ESV)
When you fly enough times, you begin to take airplanes for granted. You grumble about the speed of the WiFi on the plane, forgetting that you're in a giant metal tube with wings 35,000 feet in the air. The miracle fades into the background as you wonder if you'll get a decent snack.
The same is true of the Christmas story -- we forget the miracles that took place along the way. Mary was chosen to bear the Messiah, the light of the world, and became pregnant when she was only engaged. This could have easily been a life-threatening situation, and the scandal could have destroyed her life. As a young teenager, she was willing to risk everything because God had chosen her and was inviting her into something new, something unknown. An angel showed up in her room, and she was troubled by his greeting, uncertain of what this might mean.
The angel's greeting to Mary is the same as the message God wants to send to us -- Do not be afraid! We often don't know what lies ahead, and there are always plenty of reasons to shrink back in fear, but God is with us, and despite the challenges that await, God will remain with us for every step of the journey.
Mary could have easily said no and opted for the easier path. But she trusted in God and the miracle continued. May we give thanks for her courage, and may we hear God's words of encouragement to us today.
Friday, December 14, 2018
Genesis 1:1-8
Genesis 1:1-8
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's amazing to me is that at some point, the canvas upon which Vincent Van Gogh painted Starry Night was blank. It was a white rectangle, and he eventually created a masterpiece upon it. In the same vein, Michelangelo's David was at one point, just a cube of marble, and The Count of Monte Cristo was simply a collection of blank pages (what a sad, sad world it must have been!). What we consider masterpieces were, one day, not even figments of the imagination.
The world, the known creation, did not exist at one point. There was once nothing, a watery chaos if you take the Creation account seriously, a singularity if you lean towards the popular physics interpretation (I think. Please don't email me and tell me I'm wrong on this. I work at a bank. I'm commonly wrong on matters of interplanetary physics.) At any rate, there was nothing, and then there was suddenly something. God created, through the power of God's voice, and there was something. Theologically, we say that God created ex nihilo, out of nothing.
What's important for you and I is that God created something out of nothing. If you had looked at the universe before God's creation, you wouldn't have seen anything, and you wouldn't have imagined what could possibly be. But not only could God imagine what could be, but also God had the power to make that happen.
In the same way, God can see into your future, and God can imagine ways to use you that you can't even begin to see. God's vision is so much stronger than yours, and God can imagine how you might be used for God's glory and for the loving service of others that you can't see. Also, God has the power to make that happen -- God can send the Holy Spirit to bless and equip you, to surround you with a loving and supportive community that helps you into a new future that is beyond what you can ask or imagine. God is at work, and God can send you forward and create a new future for you. Trust in the God who creates anew at every opportunity, for God has the vision and the power to make all things new.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's amazing to me is that at some point, the canvas upon which Vincent Van Gogh painted Starry Night was blank. It was a white rectangle, and he eventually created a masterpiece upon it. In the same vein, Michelangelo's David was at one point, just a cube of marble, and The Count of Monte Cristo was simply a collection of blank pages (what a sad, sad world it must have been!). What we consider masterpieces were, one day, not even figments of the imagination.
The world, the known creation, did not exist at one point. There was once nothing, a watery chaos if you take the Creation account seriously, a singularity if you lean towards the popular physics interpretation (I think. Please don't email me and tell me I'm wrong on this. I work at a bank. I'm commonly wrong on matters of interplanetary physics.) At any rate, there was nothing, and then there was suddenly something. God created, through the power of God's voice, and there was something. Theologically, we say that God created ex nihilo, out of nothing.
What's important for you and I is that God created something out of nothing. If you had looked at the universe before God's creation, you wouldn't have seen anything, and you wouldn't have imagined what could possibly be. But not only could God imagine what could be, but also God had the power to make that happen.
In the same way, God can see into your future, and God can imagine ways to use you that you can't even begin to see. God's vision is so much stronger than yours, and God can imagine how you might be used for God's glory and for the loving service of others that you can't see. Also, God has the power to make that happen -- God can send the Holy Spirit to bless and equip you, to surround you with a loving and supportive community that helps you into a new future that is beyond what you can ask or imagine. God is at work, and God can send you forward and create a new future for you. Trust in the God who creates anew at every opportunity, for God has the vision and the power to make all things new.
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Joshua 1:1-9
Joshua 1:1-9
English Standard Version (ESV)
Movies are often made about what great people do. The other day, I watched Won't You Be My Neighbor?, the biopic about Mr. Rogers. He doesn't get as much credit as he deserves -- he was truly a visionary. He saw the potential in television, and he was willing to take a chance to communicate directly to them, to treat children as though they matter, and their feelings matter, as much as adults. He resisted the urge to do something easy, something marketable, and as a result he developed something that took them and their problems seriously. It was a remarkable effort that shaped my childhood.
When we talk about being strong and courageous, so often we think about things that people do. What's equally important is what people don't do. Mr. Rogers didn't turn aside from his main task, and Joshua didn't turn aside, either -- he stayed committed to the Law, even when it was easier to do otherwise.
When you and I go out into the world, there are a thousand temptations to take the easy route. Be strong and courageous, and resist the temptation to throw in the towel when the Lord calls you to something challenging. Be strong and courageous, and know that God is going with you -- waking up every day and continuing to wade forward is the faithful move. Endurance isn't often praised the way it should be in the church, but we should celebrate the saints of the church who continue, year in and year out, to resist the call to take an easier way and instead take up their cross daily to follow Christ wherever God may lead.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Movies are often made about what great people do. The other day, I watched Won't You Be My Neighbor?, the biopic about Mr. Rogers. He doesn't get as much credit as he deserves -- he was truly a visionary. He saw the potential in television, and he was willing to take a chance to communicate directly to them, to treat children as though they matter, and their feelings matter, as much as adults. He resisted the urge to do something easy, something marketable, and as a result he developed something that took them and their problems seriously. It was a remarkable effort that shaped my childhood.
When we talk about being strong and courageous, so often we think about things that people do. What's equally important is what people don't do. Mr. Rogers didn't turn aside from his main task, and Joshua didn't turn aside, either -- he stayed committed to the Law, even when it was easier to do otherwise.
When you and I go out into the world, there are a thousand temptations to take the easy route. Be strong and courageous, and resist the temptation to throw in the towel when the Lord calls you to something challenging. Be strong and courageous, and know that God is going with you -- waking up every day and continuing to wade forward is the faithful move. Endurance isn't often praised the way it should be in the church, but we should celebrate the saints of the church who continue, year in and year out, to resist the call to take an easier way and instead take up their cross daily to follow Christ wherever God may lead.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Ezekiel 37:1-6
Ezekiel 37:1-6
English Standard Version (ESV)
Rachel and I had the chance to get away for a few days, and it's such a gift for us to step back from the day-to-day rush of everyday life and take a deep breath. In these times, we realize that things are in good hands, and while we don't have everything perfectly under control, we're blessed beyond measure and grateful for what we have.
When you look at the news on a daily basis (or an hourly basis, considering the pace the world seems to move forward), it can be overwhelming. There are ample reasons for despair, and the constant headlines seem filled with reasons for us to wonder what kind of shape the world is in. We might fear for our future or for society. We might feel threatened or want to step back from engaging with those who are different. We might feel like Ezekiel, in a valley of dry bones and wondering if there is life to be found in such a place.
But God is still on the throne, and God is in charge -- and there is a possibility of life, there is a future with hope, as long as we let it be in God's hands. Do not fear, do not despair -- but look for hope. This Christmas season, remember to look to the manger -- an unlikely place for hope, but one that emerges into the world and shines brighter than any darkness. The angels sing and the world shines with hope, because God is at work!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Rachel and I had the chance to get away for a few days, and it's such a gift for us to step back from the day-to-day rush of everyday life and take a deep breath. In these times, we realize that things are in good hands, and while we don't have everything perfectly under control, we're blessed beyond measure and grateful for what we have.
When you look at the news on a daily basis (or an hourly basis, considering the pace the world seems to move forward), it can be overwhelming. There are ample reasons for despair, and the constant headlines seem filled with reasons for us to wonder what kind of shape the world is in. We might fear for our future or for society. We might feel threatened or want to step back from engaging with those who are different. We might feel like Ezekiel, in a valley of dry bones and wondering if there is life to be found in such a place.
But God is still on the throne, and God is in charge -- and there is a possibility of life, there is a future with hope, as long as we let it be in God's hands. Do not fear, do not despair -- but look for hope. This Christmas season, remember to look to the manger -- an unlikely place for hope, but one that emerges into the world and shines brighter than any darkness. The angels sing and the world shines with hope, because God is at work!
Friday, December 7, 2018
Isaiah 56:1-5
Isaiah 56:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)
For some resources, there is only so much to go around. For Rachel, she's only got so much attention, and each of the three kids demands all of it. As you can imagine, this leads to occasional conflicts when one of the three kids is feeling neglected. At work, I've only got so much time, so I've got to ensure that I'm dedicating my time to the most important issues to make the best use of my time.
When we come to God's love, it's not a limited resource. There is more than enough for each of us, so we don't have to worry that when someone else receives God's love. This doesn't mean we receive less, but it rather enriches the entire Kingdom, because there is one more person to join us in eternal worship. People who are cultural outsiders are welcomed in to the Kingdom because God pours out love unconditionally, no matter their status in the world. God looks beyond this and invites all who will faithfully serve, who will acknowledge Jesus as Lord, and bestows upon us an everlasting name that shall not, that cannot, be cut off.
English Standard Version (ESV)
For some resources, there is only so much to go around. For Rachel, she's only got so much attention, and each of the three kids demands all of it. As you can imagine, this leads to occasional conflicts when one of the three kids is feeling neglected. At work, I've only got so much time, so I've got to ensure that I'm dedicating my time to the most important issues to make the best use of my time.
When we come to God's love, it's not a limited resource. There is more than enough for each of us, so we don't have to worry that when someone else receives God's love. This doesn't mean we receive less, but it rather enriches the entire Kingdom, because there is one more person to join us in eternal worship. People who are cultural outsiders are welcomed in to the Kingdom because God pours out love unconditionally, no matter their status in the world. God looks beyond this and invites all who will faithfully serve, who will acknowledge Jesus as Lord, and bestows upon us an everlasting name that shall not, that cannot, be cut off.
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Isaiah 55:1-5
Isaiah 55:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)
Isaiah spent a lot of time looking forward. In the midst of challenging times, he lifted his eyes forward and imagined the future God has in store for us. This future isn't a divided society, where wealthy elites escape the burdens faced by so many just trying to scrape by. There will be no one sleeping in door frames and searching through the garbage for sustenance. No, the riches of the Kingdom of God are available without price -- no money would be enough to buy the anyway! God gives them freely, inviting us to participate in a different economy, where we eat richly and delight in what is good at the will of God. Our souls will live in an everlasting relationship based on the selfless and endless love of God.
So be careful when you think about saving for the future. Don't let the world trick you into believe that the only investment you can make is monetary. While saving is good and investing is fine, the spiritual riches God offers trump whatever monetary plans we can make. Our future does not depend upon a bank account and our worth is not measured by the spread on the table from which we eat -- we are counted as worthy because we are counted as Christ's, and the future we hold is abundant because of the great love with which God loves us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Isaiah spent a lot of time looking forward. In the midst of challenging times, he lifted his eyes forward and imagined the future God has in store for us. This future isn't a divided society, where wealthy elites escape the burdens faced by so many just trying to scrape by. There will be no one sleeping in door frames and searching through the garbage for sustenance. No, the riches of the Kingdom of God are available without price -- no money would be enough to buy the anyway! God gives them freely, inviting us to participate in a different economy, where we eat richly and delight in what is good at the will of God. Our souls will live in an everlasting relationship based on the selfless and endless love of God.
So be careful when you think about saving for the future. Don't let the world trick you into believe that the only investment you can make is monetary. While saving is good and investing is fine, the spiritual riches God offers trump whatever monetary plans we can make. Our future does not depend upon a bank account and our worth is not measured by the spread on the table from which we eat -- we are counted as worthy because we are counted as Christ's, and the future we hold is abundant because of the great love with which God loves us.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Isaiah 53:4-9
Isaiah 53:4-9
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy not to consider the consequences sometimes. Let's say that you notice there is something wrong with the tire of your car, but since you're still able to drive it now, you keep going, ignoring the problem because it's not impacting you today, and maybe you could continue to drive on it for weeks, or for months, and whenever the noise gets loud enough you just turn the radio up, and the car travels on. Let's say a warning light comes on, but the car is still running, so maybe you find a sticker to cover the warning light, because it doesn't affect you immediately. You carry on... until one day the tire bursts on the freeway at high speed. Then you're really in trouble and you wonder how this happened, suddenly realizing the full impact of the consequences.
Sin works that way. So often, we carry on without realizing the full weight of the consequences of our actions. So much of sin doesn't have an immediate impact on us.
But God realized the full weight of sin, and God wept at the thought of being separated for eternity from us. So God, who is rich in mercy and love, accepted the full and painful weight of sin. Jesus Christ, God's own Son, was pierced for our transgressions, despite having no fault of his own, and accepted the death that we deserve. All of this was done because God loves you, and God wants you to be free of the weight of the consequences of our sin, and so God pays the price that we cannot pay.
Because of this, we have forgiveness and peace and mercy in Jesus Christ, and we receive what we do not deserve -- eternity, the full weight of glory, escaping the consequences of sin, all through the free gift of grace.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy not to consider the consequences sometimes. Let's say that you notice there is something wrong with the tire of your car, but since you're still able to drive it now, you keep going, ignoring the problem because it's not impacting you today, and maybe you could continue to drive on it for weeks, or for months, and whenever the noise gets loud enough you just turn the radio up, and the car travels on. Let's say a warning light comes on, but the car is still running, so maybe you find a sticker to cover the warning light, because it doesn't affect you immediately. You carry on... until one day the tire bursts on the freeway at high speed. Then you're really in trouble and you wonder how this happened, suddenly realizing the full impact of the consequences.
Sin works that way. So often, we carry on without realizing the full weight of the consequences of our actions. So much of sin doesn't have an immediate impact on us.
But God realized the full weight of sin, and God wept at the thought of being separated for eternity from us. So God, who is rich in mercy and love, accepted the full and painful weight of sin. Jesus Christ, God's own Son, was pierced for our transgressions, despite having no fault of his own, and accepted the death that we deserve. All of this was done because God loves you, and God wants you to be free of the weight of the consequences of our sin, and so God pays the price that we cannot pay.
Because of this, we have forgiveness and peace and mercy in Jesus Christ, and we receive what we do not deserve -- eternity, the full weight of glory, escaping the consequences of sin, all through the free gift of grace.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Isaiah 52:7-10
Isaiah 52:7-10
English Standard Version (ESV)
If you're like me, you're somewhat stuck in the middle of your routine, plugging along, pressing forward, every once in a while sticking your head up to see what's going on in the broader world. (If you're like me, you see how crazy the world is and instantly retreat back into a safe little bubble.) What happens is that over time, utilizing this approach means that we lose perspective and only see the world the way we're accustomed to seeing it, and we forget the bigger picture.
Notice here whose feet are beautiful -- it's the messenger who comes to the people and reminds the that their God reigns. Somehow, in the midst of everything, they've lost sight of that, and they need a messenger to come and remind them of good news, to point to the light in the midst of the darkness.
So there's two things here for us. The first is to remember that God reigns. God reigns in the world and God reigns in your life. Now, do me a favor -- take a deep breath, let it out, find a mirror, and remind yourself that Jesus Christ ascended the cross so that you would be redeemed from sin and death and spend eternity with God. God treasures you enough to die for you. You are worthy and beloved and beautiful. Remember that today.
Secondly, think of one person to whom you could bring good news. Who can you remind that they are lovely and treasured today? Maybe you could make their day, through an email or a handwritten card or a phone call. Tell them they're treasured. Remind them of good news. They are loved. You are loved.
And love wins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
If you're like me, you're somewhat stuck in the middle of your routine, plugging along, pressing forward, every once in a while sticking your head up to see what's going on in the broader world. (If you're like me, you see how crazy the world is and instantly retreat back into a safe little bubble.) What happens is that over time, utilizing this approach means that we lose perspective and only see the world the way we're accustomed to seeing it, and we forget the bigger picture.
Notice here whose feet are beautiful -- it's the messenger who comes to the people and reminds the that their God reigns. Somehow, in the midst of everything, they've lost sight of that, and they need a messenger to come and remind them of good news, to point to the light in the midst of the darkness.
So there's two things here for us. The first is to remember that God reigns. God reigns in the world and God reigns in your life. Now, do me a favor -- take a deep breath, let it out, find a mirror, and remind yourself that Jesus Christ ascended the cross so that you would be redeemed from sin and death and spend eternity with God. God treasures you enough to die for you. You are worthy and beloved and beautiful. Remember that today.
Secondly, think of one person to whom you could bring good news. Who can you remind that they are lovely and treasured today? Maybe you could make their day, through an email or a handwritten card or a phone call. Tell them they're treasured. Remind them of good news. They are loved. You are loved.
And love wins.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Isaiah 41:8-10
Isaiah 41:8-10
English Standard Version (ESV)
At last count, our kids have approximately 8,000 stuffed animals. I'm not quite sure how we arrived at the present population, but we are approaching the point at which we'll need to discuss alternative housing arrangements for a portion of the group or risk being crowded out of the house. We finally did get Caleb to not sleep with all of them at once, due to a fear that he'd end up on the floor because there wouldn't be any room left for him in bed.
They have a lot, but there are a select few that are always nearby. If anything should happen to these few, heaven and earth will be moved to find them.
Our God has selected you from the ends of the earth. God has pursued you, sought out a relationship with you, and awakened your heart through the power of the Holy Spirit. You are beloved and sought out, treasured and pursued. So do not doubt your worth. Do not let the voice of fear convince you that you are not of infinite value. God paid the price of Jesus Christ's life so that you might be redeemed. God will uphold you, God will help you, God will strengthen you -- so take heart and be confidant that this week is blessed because God is with you!
English Standard Version (ESV)
At last count, our kids have approximately 8,000 stuffed animals. I'm not quite sure how we arrived at the present population, but we are approaching the point at which we'll need to discuss alternative housing arrangements for a portion of the group or risk being crowded out of the house. We finally did get Caleb to not sleep with all of them at once, due to a fear that he'd end up on the floor because there wouldn't be any room left for him in bed.
They have a lot, but there are a select few that are always nearby. If anything should happen to these few, heaven and earth will be moved to find them.
Our God has selected you from the ends of the earth. God has pursued you, sought out a relationship with you, and awakened your heart through the power of the Holy Spirit. You are beloved and sought out, treasured and pursued. So do not doubt your worth. Do not let the voice of fear convince you that you are not of infinite value. God paid the price of Jesus Christ's life so that you might be redeemed. God will uphold you, God will help you, God will strengthen you -- so take heart and be confidant that this week is blessed because God is with you!
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Acts 2:29-36
Acts 2:29-36
English Standard Version (ESV)
On Monday, I was in Austin, visiting some affordable apartments for work. We're working on refinancing them, and someone decided at the last minute that we needed to see them, so off I went. While at the last property, I asked where to get some good barbecue, because I felt like good brisket might make up for the fact that I had to set an alarm for 3 am to catch my flight. They proceeded to tell me about a place downtown where people line up for hours, and they said the only person that's ever been able to cut the line is the president of the United States -- even famous movie actors go to the back of the line. I guess it would be a good test of how famous you are, to show up and see if you're able.
There are ranks in our society -- some wield more power than others. (Some even choose to use this power to better society, which is another conversation for another day.)
Here, Peter is proclaiming that even David, a man lauded by people of faith as someone who sought a relationship with God with all of his heart, pales in comparison to Jesus. We have a hard time understanding just how great Jesus is, because all of our best comparisons fall very short of what a great man he was -- because he's more than a man, Jesus is the Savior of the world.
So think of the best person in the world, and then realize Jesus is a thousand times better than that -- kinder, more compassionate, more loving, more forgiving. Our very words fall short when we try and describe just how great Jesus is.
And this is the Jesus who loves you and calls you his own. Give thanks!
English Standard Version (ESV)
On Monday, I was in Austin, visiting some affordable apartments for work. We're working on refinancing them, and someone decided at the last minute that we needed to see them, so off I went. While at the last property, I asked where to get some good barbecue, because I felt like good brisket might make up for the fact that I had to set an alarm for 3 am to catch my flight. They proceeded to tell me about a place downtown where people line up for hours, and they said the only person that's ever been able to cut the line is the president of the United States -- even famous movie actors go to the back of the line. I guess it would be a good test of how famous you are, to show up and see if you're able.
There are ranks in our society -- some wield more power than others. (Some even choose to use this power to better society, which is another conversation for another day.)
Here, Peter is proclaiming that even David, a man lauded by people of faith as someone who sought a relationship with God with all of his heart, pales in comparison to Jesus. We have a hard time understanding just how great Jesus is, because all of our best comparisons fall very short of what a great man he was -- because he's more than a man, Jesus is the Savior of the world.
So think of the best person in the world, and then realize Jesus is a thousand times better than that -- kinder, more compassionate, more loving, more forgiving. Our very words fall short when we try and describe just how great Jesus is.
And this is the Jesus who loves you and calls you his own. Give thanks!
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Acts 2:22-28
Acts 2:22-28
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus could not be held by death -- He was too strong. This same Jesus, crucified for wrongs he did not commit, will not abandon his children, and seeks to fill us with gladness through the power of his presence.
Jesus wants the best for us, and Jesus knows that the only way we reach the abundant life is through finding peace with our Creator, and so Jesus seeks us out and holds tightly to us, calling us into faithfulness. It is a hard life into which we are called, but the training and consistency strengthen us, encourage us, and we ultimately grow into disciples who draw peace and joy from Jesus. Maybe you don't feel like you could ever be filled with gladness, and maybe after a week or a year of discipleship you won't be, but faithfully emptying yourself and letting the Holy Spirit fill you will draw you closer to peace and joy, because it will draw you closer to Jesus, the Savior who seeks you and will not let you go, the same Savior who died on the cross and was too strong for death to hold.
If Jesus is too strong for death, then he is stronger than any opponent we will face, and we can take confidence that we, too, will overcome our enemies through his grace.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus could not be held by death -- He was too strong. This same Jesus, crucified for wrongs he did not commit, will not abandon his children, and seeks to fill us with gladness through the power of his presence.
Jesus wants the best for us, and Jesus knows that the only way we reach the abundant life is through finding peace with our Creator, and so Jesus seeks us out and holds tightly to us, calling us into faithfulness. It is a hard life into which we are called, but the training and consistency strengthen us, encourage us, and we ultimately grow into disciples who draw peace and joy from Jesus. Maybe you don't feel like you could ever be filled with gladness, and maybe after a week or a year of discipleship you won't be, but faithfully emptying yourself and letting the Holy Spirit fill you will draw you closer to peace and joy, because it will draw you closer to Jesus, the Savior who seeks you and will not let you go, the same Savior who died on the cross and was too strong for death to hold.
If Jesus is too strong for death, then he is stronger than any opponent we will face, and we can take confidence that we, too, will overcome our enemies through his grace.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Acts 2:17-21
Acts 2:17-21
English Standard Version (ESV)
Do you ever think ahead?
As a society, we're a people focused on the here and now. You can see this in any city -- everyone's head is down in their own device, focused on their world, on pressing notifications. We're dealing with the urgent, often just trying to juggle things and make it through the day, somehow hoping that tomorrow will be different. But we often don't think ahead -- we don't think about how our actions are shaping us into a certain kind of people 10 and 20 years from now. We often don't save for retirement, because it seems like it's so far away... until suddenly it isn't. As a culture, we've done a great job of isolating death to a very separate place -- we don't think about, don't look that far ahead.
But what do you really believe is going to happen? Do you believe that, one day, God will pour out the Spirit on all flesh, animating us in a sense of spiritual activity? Do you look for wonders in the heavens above? Are you ready for what God might do?
I don't know when and how God will do this, but we can all pray for hearts anticipating the things God might do, both the grand actions and the tiny ways God calls us closer.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Do you ever think ahead?
As a society, we're a people focused on the here and now. You can see this in any city -- everyone's head is down in their own device, focused on their world, on pressing notifications. We're dealing with the urgent, often just trying to juggle things and make it through the day, somehow hoping that tomorrow will be different. But we often don't think ahead -- we don't think about how our actions are shaping us into a certain kind of people 10 and 20 years from now. We often don't save for retirement, because it seems like it's so far away... until suddenly it isn't. As a culture, we've done a great job of isolating death to a very separate place -- we don't think about, don't look that far ahead.
But what do you really believe is going to happen? Do you believe that, one day, God will pour out the Spirit on all flesh, animating us in a sense of spiritual activity? Do you look for wonders in the heavens above? Are you ready for what God might do?
I don't know when and how God will do this, but we can all pray for hearts anticipating the things God might do, both the grand actions and the tiny ways God calls us closer.
Monday, November 26, 2018
Acts 2:1-4
Acts 2:1-4
English Standard Version (ESV)
I've grown to love Thanksgiving. It's a time to gather together around the table, to remember all the blessings we have and to spend time in fellowship. There's no materialism around the table (we save that for Black Friday & Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday), but a wealth of food and a realization that it's the relationships that carry us through the year. There's something special about gathering together.
For the disciples, after Jesus ascended into heaven, they continued to gather together. They wouldn't have known what was going to happen, and I'm sure they spent a lot of time discussing a multitude of options. They'd seen Jesus do amazing things, including rising from the grave, but I'm sure they didn't have an idea as to what he could do through them. The power of the Holy Spirit wasn't something they expected to come over them in such a dramatic way, I'm certain of that!
But they kept gathering together, and sure enough, God showed up in a dramatic way! The Holy Spirit filled them, then sent them out. There's certainly no guarantee about how God will act when we gather together as Christian community, but I'm a strong believer that God does show up and works among and between us and encourages us and supports us and strengthens us and gives us a clearer sense of how we are called, together and separately, as Christians to be salt and light in the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I've grown to love Thanksgiving. It's a time to gather together around the table, to remember all the blessings we have and to spend time in fellowship. There's no materialism around the table (we save that for Black Friday & Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday), but a wealth of food and a realization that it's the relationships that carry us through the year. There's something special about gathering together.
For the disciples, after Jesus ascended into heaven, they continued to gather together. They wouldn't have known what was going to happen, and I'm sure they spent a lot of time discussing a multitude of options. They'd seen Jesus do amazing things, including rising from the grave, but I'm sure they didn't have an idea as to what he could do through them. The power of the Holy Spirit wasn't something they expected to come over them in such a dramatic way, I'm certain of that!
But they kept gathering together, and sure enough, God showed up in a dramatic way! The Holy Spirit filled them, then sent them out. There's certainly no guarantee about how God will act when we gather together as Christian community, but I'm a strong believer that God does show up and works among and between us and encourages us and supports us and strengthens us and gives us a clearer sense of how we are called, together and separately, as Christians to be salt and light in the world.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Psalm 119:169-176
Psalm 119:169-176
English Standard Version (ESV)
Today, many of us will gather around a table with loved ones and express our gratitude for what we have received, either as an unexpected blessing or as the result of hard work. We'll talk about what we're grateful for and what we're hopeful for, and in this country there is much to put in both categories, while we also should not forget that we still have a long way to go in showing selfless love and seeking ways to serve others.
Mostly, I'm grateful for the fact that the God who created me, who knit me together in my mother's womb, who crafted me with a purpose and on purpose, was not satisfied to create me and leave me to figure things out on my own. Long before I caught breath of this wondrous place, a guiltless Savior ascended the cross and took on my guilt, our guilt, and paid the ultimate price so that I might not be condemned to die due to my sinful choices. My fate might have been sealed, but it was unsealed and redeemed by the blood of an innocent lamb who felt that no obstacle is too great, no price too high to pay for eternity. I did not deserve this, and it is wildly unfair in my favor, and I am grateful to have been set free from sin and death by this wild love of God.
When we talk about what we are grateful for, may we remember the selfless love of God that saw fit to redeem us from sin. While it is nice to have food on the table and loved ones beside us, the best gift we've received often goes unmentioned as we forget due to the tyranny of the urgent -- there is so much going on that we forget to give thanks for all that we have received through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Be blessed!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Today, many of us will gather around a table with loved ones and express our gratitude for what we have received, either as an unexpected blessing or as the result of hard work. We'll talk about what we're grateful for and what we're hopeful for, and in this country there is much to put in both categories, while we also should not forget that we still have a long way to go in showing selfless love and seeking ways to serve others.
Mostly, I'm grateful for the fact that the God who created me, who knit me together in my mother's womb, who crafted me with a purpose and on purpose, was not satisfied to create me and leave me to figure things out on my own. Long before I caught breath of this wondrous place, a guiltless Savior ascended the cross and took on my guilt, our guilt, and paid the ultimate price so that I might not be condemned to die due to my sinful choices. My fate might have been sealed, but it was unsealed and redeemed by the blood of an innocent lamb who felt that no obstacle is too great, no price too high to pay for eternity. I did not deserve this, and it is wildly unfair in my favor, and I am grateful to have been set free from sin and death by this wild love of God.
When we talk about what we are grateful for, may we remember the selfless love of God that saw fit to redeem us from sin. While it is nice to have food on the table and loved ones beside us, the best gift we've received often goes unmentioned as we forget due to the tyranny of the urgent -- there is so much going on that we forget to give thanks for all that we have received through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Be blessed!
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Psalm 119:161-168
Psalm 119:161-168
English Standard Version (ESV)
Scripture never promises us that we'll escape this life without suffering. The reality of sin and death assures us suffering -- whether it is our own physical suffering, through sickness or disease, or the suffering of a loved one. As the church is one body, whenever the church is being persecuted anywhere in the world, we all join together in that suffering, just as whenever I step on a Lego in the basement, my entire body cries out in pain.
A powerful testimony is the way we endure under suffering. We can opt for self-pity, or we can choose to endure with faithfulness, demonstrating our trust in God to ultimately redeem us through suffering and bring us into eternal life. By keeping our eyes fixed on the hills and our hearts filled with joy, we endure and demonstrate our trust in the God who is greater than our suffering, who is able to overcome all of our fears and oppressors and ultimately lead us into a place of triumph over whatever persecutes us.
Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil, for God is with us, and we shall emerge into eternal light on the other side.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Scripture never promises us that we'll escape this life without suffering. The reality of sin and death assures us suffering -- whether it is our own physical suffering, through sickness or disease, or the suffering of a loved one. As the church is one body, whenever the church is being persecuted anywhere in the world, we all join together in that suffering, just as whenever I step on a Lego in the basement, my entire body cries out in pain.
A powerful testimony is the way we endure under suffering. We can opt for self-pity, or we can choose to endure with faithfulness, demonstrating our trust in God to ultimately redeem us through suffering and bring us into eternal life. By keeping our eyes fixed on the hills and our hearts filled with joy, we endure and demonstrate our trust in the God who is greater than our suffering, who is able to overcome all of our fears and oppressors and ultimately lead us into a place of triumph over whatever persecutes us.
Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil, for God is with us, and we shall emerge into eternal light on the other side.
Monday, November 19, 2018
Psalm 119:153-160
Psalm 119:153-160
English Standard Version (ESV)
I've been in a courtroom a few times, fortunately never for anything I did or was involved in, and it's intimidating. It feels tense, and everyone there is serious, because they're dealing with serious things. The judge wears a robe and presides over the precedings, and it all has the feel of something I would love to never be involved with.
The Bible uses a lot of legal language to describe our relationship with God, and what can easily happen is that we can then translate that into our relationship with God. We think that God is a judge who is ready, even eager, to condemn us for the slightest misstep, and so we approach God with fear, or maybe we even avoid approaching God at all, instead opting to avoid God and hope that our sins go unnoticed.
What we know, thanks to the New Testament, is that God comes to us with grace and love, like a good shepherd tending to the cares of even the most wayward sheep. While we are guilty and stand under condemnation, that weight has been lifted by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and we have life according to God's love. Salvation is poured out upon us, and we have been redeemed to life.
So let go of your fears when it comes to God -- rejoice, give thanks, and sing God's praises, for you have been set free!!
English Standard Version (ESV)
I've been in a courtroom a few times, fortunately never for anything I did or was involved in, and it's intimidating. It feels tense, and everyone there is serious, because they're dealing with serious things. The judge wears a robe and presides over the precedings, and it all has the feel of something I would love to never be involved with.
The Bible uses a lot of legal language to describe our relationship with God, and what can easily happen is that we can then translate that into our relationship with God. We think that God is a judge who is ready, even eager, to condemn us for the slightest misstep, and so we approach God with fear, or maybe we even avoid approaching God at all, instead opting to avoid God and hope that our sins go unnoticed.
What we know, thanks to the New Testament, is that God comes to us with grace and love, like a good shepherd tending to the cares of even the most wayward sheep. While we are guilty and stand under condemnation, that weight has been lifted by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and we have life according to God's love. Salvation is poured out upon us, and we have been redeemed to life.
So let go of your fears when it comes to God -- rejoice, give thanks, and sing God's praises, for you have been set free!!
Friday, November 16, 2018
Psalm 119:145-152
Psalm 119:145-152
English Standard Version (ESV)
There are usually at least two sides to every story. Visit Ann Arbor, Michigan and talk about Columbus, Ohio, then do the reverse, and you're likely to get very different perspectives. Or maybe talk to Republicans and then Democrats about certain proposed laws, and you'll likely get very different understandings. Talk to a vegetarian and a steak-lover about the most popular steakhouse in town, see what happens.
There's a few different ways to read this text as well. Some people rise in the middle of the night and cry out to God as a routine, a pattern of devotion in which the shape of the rhythms of their lives are set by fixed hours of prayer. Some of these people live in monasteries (some of them have bells that ring at 2.30 in the morning right next to the guest sleeping rooms, as I discovered. At that point, I may as well go pray, since I wasn't going back to sleep!), and some of them have never darkened the door of a monastery, just creating strong habits that help them grow in faithfulness and dependence on God. These rhythms help them find strength in times of need.
Others cry out to God in the middle of the night because that's when they feel threatened and vulnerable. I don't think I'm the only one that occasionally lies in bed at 3 a.m. wide awake, thinking big things, fearing big fears, asking big questions, crying out to God for comfort, for assurance, for guidance and grace.
There are as many reasons to pray as there are prayers, and each of us has the freedom to come to God as we are, covered in Christ and filled with questions and uncertainty and faith and wonder and love. There is grace enough
English Standard Version (ESV)
There are usually at least two sides to every story. Visit Ann Arbor, Michigan and talk about Columbus, Ohio, then do the reverse, and you're likely to get very different perspectives. Or maybe talk to Republicans and then Democrats about certain proposed laws, and you'll likely get very different understandings. Talk to a vegetarian and a steak-lover about the most popular steakhouse in town, see what happens.
There's a few different ways to read this text as well. Some people rise in the middle of the night and cry out to God as a routine, a pattern of devotion in which the shape of the rhythms of their lives are set by fixed hours of prayer. Some of these people live in monasteries (some of them have bells that ring at 2.30 in the morning right next to the guest sleeping rooms, as I discovered. At that point, I may as well go pray, since I wasn't going back to sleep!), and some of them have never darkened the door of a monastery, just creating strong habits that help them grow in faithfulness and dependence on God. These rhythms help them find strength in times of need.
Others cry out to God in the middle of the night because that's when they feel threatened and vulnerable. I don't think I'm the only one that occasionally lies in bed at 3 a.m. wide awake, thinking big things, fearing big fears, asking big questions, crying out to God for comfort, for assurance, for guidance and grace.
There are as many reasons to pray as there are prayers, and each of us has the freedom to come to God as we are, covered in Christ and filled with questions and uncertainty and faith and wonder and love. There is grace enough
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Psalm 119:137-144
Psalm 119:137-144
English Standard Version (ESV)
This reminds me of the cartoons that show a young predator growling at prey, sending it fleeing, without realizing that the youth's parent was towering behind it, menacing and threatening, the real cause of the terror in the heart of the prey.
Here is the Psalmist, small and despised, yet mighty because he is in the hand of the Lord Almighty. We do not survive on our strength, but rather on the strength of the Lord. Evil will not shrink back if we call upon our own power, but when we depend on the glory of God, then we have the ability to wade forward through the turmoil that life throws at us.
So do not despair if you do not feel strong or mighty enough. You are not. But the God who cares for the sparrow watches over you, and the Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep will come after you, and in Christ, victory will be ours.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This reminds me of the cartoons that show a young predator growling at prey, sending it fleeing, without realizing that the youth's parent was towering behind it, menacing and threatening, the real cause of the terror in the heart of the prey.
Here is the Psalmist, small and despised, yet mighty because he is in the hand of the Lord Almighty. We do not survive on our strength, but rather on the strength of the Lord. Evil will not shrink back if we call upon our own power, but when we depend on the glory of God, then we have the ability to wade forward through the turmoil that life throws at us.
So do not despair if you do not feel strong or mighty enough. You are not. But the God who cares for the sparrow watches over you, and the Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep will come after you, and in Christ, victory will be ours.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Psalm 119:129-136
Psalm 119:129-136
English Standard Version (ESV)
Think of the darkest place you've ever been. Maybe it's in a basement with the lights turned out. Maybe you hid in a closet during a game of hide-and-seek. Perhaps you've been out in the wilderness during a new moon, far from any lights. Sometimes, I'll help out and put Charlotte to bed, and when I walk out of the dark nursery into the light, I blink and blink as my eyes adjust to the kitchen lights. It's not the most brilliant lighting in the world, but it's still blinding due to the contrast.
Thinking of that contrast, imagine what it would be like for God's face to shine upon you. Here we are, surrounded by sin and brokenness, having grown used to our earthly lives. God's face, the blinding brilliance that we cannot even begin to describe (In 1 Timothy 6 it says that God dwells in unapproachable light), would be a stark contrast -- we'd be unable to see, unable to understand, unable to blink our eyes enough to adjust to the fullness of God's face.
And so we do not see God's face this side of heaven. When we die and our baptisms are complete, we are no longer trapped in the sin of this world. We pass through the veil of death and enter into eternal life, and we have new eyes with which to see, eyes capable of grasping the fullness of God, grace upon grace.
In the meantime, we pray for the ability to see the world as God sees it. We pray for the wisdom to see our neighbors and co-workers and friends and enemies the same way that God does, so that we might begin to love them the way that God does. In so doing, when we act out this love, we give people a glimpse -- we give them tiny windows so they can catch a glimpse of the Gospel love, so they can be compelled forward to discover more about the God who is pure and brilliant, who is so good that we cannot approach him without being first covered by the grace of Jesus Christ, who comes willingly to enable us to be worthy of approaching the throne with confidence because we have been made new in Christ!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Think of the darkest place you've ever been. Maybe it's in a basement with the lights turned out. Maybe you hid in a closet during a game of hide-and-seek. Perhaps you've been out in the wilderness during a new moon, far from any lights. Sometimes, I'll help out and put Charlotte to bed, and when I walk out of the dark nursery into the light, I blink and blink as my eyes adjust to the kitchen lights. It's not the most brilliant lighting in the world, but it's still blinding due to the contrast.
Thinking of that contrast, imagine what it would be like for God's face to shine upon you. Here we are, surrounded by sin and brokenness, having grown used to our earthly lives. God's face, the blinding brilliance that we cannot even begin to describe (In 1 Timothy 6 it says that God dwells in unapproachable light), would be a stark contrast -- we'd be unable to see, unable to understand, unable to blink our eyes enough to adjust to the fullness of God's face.
And so we do not see God's face this side of heaven. When we die and our baptisms are complete, we are no longer trapped in the sin of this world. We pass through the veil of death and enter into eternal life, and we have new eyes with which to see, eyes capable of grasping the fullness of God, grace upon grace.
In the meantime, we pray for the ability to see the world as God sees it. We pray for the wisdom to see our neighbors and co-workers and friends and enemies the same way that God does, so that we might begin to love them the way that God does. In so doing, when we act out this love, we give people a glimpse -- we give them tiny windows so they can catch a glimpse of the Gospel love, so they can be compelled forward to discover more about the God who is pure and brilliant, who is so good that we cannot approach him without being first covered by the grace of Jesus Christ, who comes willingly to enable us to be worthy of approaching the throne with confidence because we have been made new in Christ!
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Psalm 119:121-128
Psalm 119:121-128
English Standard Version (ESV)
Lots of people wonder if there is a God or not. They look at the world around, which has its fair share of problems, and cannot imagine how God would fit into the picture. I don't know how many people would say it's a lost cause, but to describe it as a place created by a benevolent God who cares deeply for the world and all who live here and who is planning on coming back to redeem all of Creation, well, it's easy to see how some people would say that might be a stretch.
Now, I'm not a scholar who can prove the existence of God in a sentence or paragraph. I'll freely admit that there have been days where I have wondered if God is really there. There are certainly times when it would be easier to not believe in God.
But here's the thing -- when I look at the world around me, I see that there are things that are not the way they should be, and they feel wrong to me. When I read about murders and drugs and exploitation and slavery, there is something within that tells me that such things are wrong, and we as a society agree that such things are wrong. Where does that come from, if it's not rooted in a deeply personal God who sends the Holy Spirit to plant within us a longing for God's salvation? We have a sense that things are not as they should be, which means that we have been given a sense for how things should be. If not for God, how would we know how things should be? God has planted an ethic within us, and we strive for what is good. Even people who do not openly serve God can often recognize right and wrong.
So I long for God's salvation, when all will be set right. That longing within me supports the other evidence in my life that God is real and God is at work, using me as an agent in the world to serve and proclaim another Kingdom.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Lots of people wonder if there is a God or not. They look at the world around, which has its fair share of problems, and cannot imagine how God would fit into the picture. I don't know how many people would say it's a lost cause, but to describe it as a place created by a benevolent God who cares deeply for the world and all who live here and who is planning on coming back to redeem all of Creation, well, it's easy to see how some people would say that might be a stretch.
Now, I'm not a scholar who can prove the existence of God in a sentence or paragraph. I'll freely admit that there have been days where I have wondered if God is really there. There are certainly times when it would be easier to not believe in God.
But here's the thing -- when I look at the world around me, I see that there are things that are not the way they should be, and they feel wrong to me. When I read about murders and drugs and exploitation and slavery, there is something within that tells me that such things are wrong, and we as a society agree that such things are wrong. Where does that come from, if it's not rooted in a deeply personal God who sends the Holy Spirit to plant within us a longing for God's salvation? We have a sense that things are not as they should be, which means that we have been given a sense for how things should be. If not for God, how would we know how things should be? God has planted an ethic within us, and we strive for what is good. Even people who do not openly serve God can often recognize right and wrong.
So I long for God's salvation, when all will be set right. That longing within me supports the other evidence in my life that God is real and God is at work, using me as an agent in the world to serve and proclaim another Kingdom.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Becoming Leonardo
Quickly, name the three most famous works of Leonardo di Vinci.
The Mona Lisa would be first, and the Last Supper would probably be next. After that, probably the Vitruvian Man would be the most recognizable work. There are a few other paintings that I recognized by name, but I struggle to name too many of his works. (Truth be told, if you told me I would only do one painting in my life but it would be the Mona Lisa, I'd take that trade. As it is, my most famous painting is the hand-print turkey I did as a five year old that hangs in my mother's kitchen.)
Leonardo wasn't the most prolific painter. Most of his life seemed caught between various political sponsors and foes, and he doesn't seem driven the way I would have imagined. Mike Langford's Becoming Leonardo explores the life of Leonardo in a way that goes deeper than the story -- the author tries to help us understand how Leonardo thought, what motivated him, and why he did things. Leonardo clearly had a brilliant mind, but he was caught up in 16th century Italian politics, and was a captive to the instability that came along with that. Having a politician who favors you is useful, but what happens when that politician is no longer in power?
Who knows what works Leonardo might have turned out if he was offered stability and a safe place to create? He might've created countless wonders with amazing productivity. Or maybe not -- maybe the chaos swirling around him of Machiavelli and Cesare Borgia were catalysts in his creative process, driving him to greater artistic heights.
It's easy to wish the world were another way. We look at the lives of others and wonder what we would do in their circumstances, always assuming the best, thinking our problems would be solved if we had the resources that another has. But that might not be the case -- you'd just have different problems, and there would still be people you'd look at with envy and wish you had their resources. Don't spend your time wishing your life away -- but focus on being faithful in the midst of your current circumstances. In some way, your current experience will plant seeds now that will bear fruit later.
The Mona Lisa would be first, and the Last Supper would probably be next. After that, probably the Vitruvian Man would be the most recognizable work. There are a few other paintings that I recognized by name, but I struggle to name too many of his works. (Truth be told, if you told me I would only do one painting in my life but it would be the Mona Lisa, I'd take that trade. As it is, my most famous painting is the hand-print turkey I did as a five year old that hangs in my mother's kitchen.)
Leonardo wasn't the most prolific painter. Most of his life seemed caught between various political sponsors and foes, and he doesn't seem driven the way I would have imagined. Mike Langford's Becoming Leonardo explores the life of Leonardo in a way that goes deeper than the story -- the author tries to help us understand how Leonardo thought, what motivated him, and why he did things. Leonardo clearly had a brilliant mind, but he was caught up in 16th century Italian politics, and was a captive to the instability that came along with that. Having a politician who favors you is useful, but what happens when that politician is no longer in power?
Who knows what works Leonardo might have turned out if he was offered stability and a safe place to create? He might've created countless wonders with amazing productivity. Or maybe not -- maybe the chaos swirling around him of Machiavelli and Cesare Borgia were catalysts in his creative process, driving him to greater artistic heights.
It's easy to wish the world were another way. We look at the lives of others and wonder what we would do in their circumstances, always assuming the best, thinking our problems would be solved if we had the resources that another has. But that might not be the case -- you'd just have different problems, and there would still be people you'd look at with envy and wish you had their resources. Don't spend your time wishing your life away -- but focus on being faithful in the midst of your current circumstances. In some way, your current experience will plant seeds now that will bear fruit later.
Psalm 119:113-120
Psalm 119:113-120
English Standard Version (ESV)
If you surround yourself with people who all rise early in the morning to exercise and eat nothing but steamed broccoli and baked chicken, guess what your life will look like in a few years. Similarly, if your community is filled with people who attend concerts and stay out until 3 a.m. sampling different late-night restaurants, in a few years you'll be well-versed in the best late-night food in town.
We emulate our communities -- they rub off on us, and after a while, the traits of our lives resemble the traits of the larger community. If you wisely choose friends who have integrity and pursue God, they'll push you to be a more faithful Christian. Likewise, if you opt to have people who are double-minded, who pursue evil over selfless service, then there's a chance they'll influence your life in that way.
So find a community of faith that you trust, that pushes you to grow in faith and challenges you with tough questions. Ensure they are people of integrity, who pursue the right thing over the easy thing. Pray for that community, and let them surround you with their prayers, and in the years to come, you'll find yourself growing in faith and integrity as well.
English Standard Version (ESV)
If you surround yourself with people who all rise early in the morning to exercise and eat nothing but steamed broccoli and baked chicken, guess what your life will look like in a few years. Similarly, if your community is filled with people who attend concerts and stay out until 3 a.m. sampling different late-night restaurants, in a few years you'll be well-versed in the best late-night food in town.
We emulate our communities -- they rub off on us, and after a while, the traits of our lives resemble the traits of the larger community. If you wisely choose friends who have integrity and pursue God, they'll push you to be a more faithful Christian. Likewise, if you opt to have people who are double-minded, who pursue evil over selfless service, then there's a chance they'll influence your life in that way.
So find a community of faith that you trust, that pushes you to grow in faith and challenges you with tough questions. Ensure they are people of integrity, who pursue the right thing over the easy thing. Pray for that community, and let them surround you with their prayers, and in the years to come, you'll find yourself growing in faith and integrity as well.
Friday, November 9, 2018
Psalm 119:105-112
Psalm 119:105-112
English Standard Version (ESV)
I still remember printing out the directions for our trip to Europe. We went not long after we were married, and would be driving a rental car around northern France for several weeks. This was long before we had any smartphones, so I went and printed out weeks' worth of turn-by-turn directions, hoping that we wouldn't deviate too severely from them, trusting our map-reading skills if we did go astray. In our entire trip, we only got lost once!
Now that smartphones have thoroughly inundated our culture, there are stories wondering if they are harming our ability to navigate. While that's a debate for another day (and perhaps another blog), what's important is that we spend some time thinking about what is guiding our feet. As the old saying goes, if you don't know where you're going, any road will do.
What's the guiding principle by which you make decisions? How do you decide what to do if you're torn between two choices? Do you pick what makes you happier? Do you flip a coin? Perhaps you sleep on it.
What the Psalmist is saying is that the Word of God is the light by which he goes forward. The rules of God are the map for his life, and trusting that this is the best path forward, the Psalmist has peace in his soul as he relies upon the Truth of God's Word.
For the decisions we often face in the world, finding a verse in the Bible that directly guides us can be tough, but the ethics laid down by Jesus can always guide our ways. Choosing what is selfless and what lifts up the other, choosing what honors God and builds up community -- when we make these choices, we opt for the path of faithfulness and glorify God, bringing peace to our restless hearts as well.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I still remember printing out the directions for our trip to Europe. We went not long after we were married, and would be driving a rental car around northern France for several weeks. This was long before we had any smartphones, so I went and printed out weeks' worth of turn-by-turn directions, hoping that we wouldn't deviate too severely from them, trusting our map-reading skills if we did go astray. In our entire trip, we only got lost once!
Now that smartphones have thoroughly inundated our culture, there are stories wondering if they are harming our ability to navigate. While that's a debate for another day (and perhaps another blog), what's important is that we spend some time thinking about what is guiding our feet. As the old saying goes, if you don't know where you're going, any road will do.
What's the guiding principle by which you make decisions? How do you decide what to do if you're torn between two choices? Do you pick what makes you happier? Do you flip a coin? Perhaps you sleep on it.
What the Psalmist is saying is that the Word of God is the light by which he goes forward. The rules of God are the map for his life, and trusting that this is the best path forward, the Psalmist has peace in his soul as he relies upon the Truth of God's Word.
For the decisions we often face in the world, finding a verse in the Bible that directly guides us can be tough, but the ethics laid down by Jesus can always guide our ways. Choosing what is selfless and what lifts up the other, choosing what honors God and builds up community -- when we make these choices, we opt for the path of faithfulness and glorify God, bringing peace to our restless hearts as well.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Psalm 119:97-104
Psalm 119:97-104
English Standard Version (ESV)
School can be a slow accumulation of knowledge. At the beginning of the school year, it may not seem like you're learning much, and the year can drag in such a way that there may be days when you wonder what you are learning. By the end of the year, however, you look back and realize how much you've learned, how much you've grown. It's similar to having children -- they don't change much from day to day, but I now have a seven year old where a toddler once toddled, and a five year old where a newborn once slept. Life moves along.
In the same way, we accumulate wisdom as we follow God. Little by little, day by day, the faithful life unfolds and the Holy Spirit builds us up, maturing us as Christ-followers. It's not always apparent in the day-to-day, but the little habits of Scripture reading and prayer build up and transform us into a people that depend upon God for the very breath in our lungs. We are shaped, molded like a river carves a canyon, into the people of God.
So take the little steps today, and then again tomorrow, and trust in the God who is molding us into a people covered in grace and invited into the abundant life.
English Standard Version (ESV)
School can be a slow accumulation of knowledge. At the beginning of the school year, it may not seem like you're learning much, and the year can drag in such a way that there may be days when you wonder what you are learning. By the end of the year, however, you look back and realize how much you've learned, how much you've grown. It's similar to having children -- they don't change much from day to day, but I now have a seven year old where a toddler once toddled, and a five year old where a newborn once slept. Life moves along.
In the same way, we accumulate wisdom as we follow God. Little by little, day by day, the faithful life unfolds and the Holy Spirit builds us up, maturing us as Christ-followers. It's not always apparent in the day-to-day, but the little habits of Scripture reading and prayer build up and transform us into a people that depend upon God for the very breath in our lungs. We are shaped, molded like a river carves a canyon, into the people of God.
So take the little steps today, and then again tomorrow, and trust in the God who is molding us into a people covered in grace and invited into the abundant life.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Psalm 119:89-96
Psalm 119:89-96
English Standard Version (ESV)
I've spent a decent amount of time sailing with my dad, and so we've talked a lot about anchoring. We've tried anchoring in rough seas near other boats, and we've done it in isolated places with no one else around. One thing we've discussed, which I might not have considered, is what the bottom of the lake/sea is like. Is it sandy? Is it rocky? You have to understand the bottom before you attempt to anchor, because it can make the difference between dragging anchor until you ram into another boat or having a secure anchorage that lets you rest easy.
When we anchor in the Lord, we find a secure anchorage. We find a God who is strong and faithful, a God whose Word is fixed in the heavens and who has established the earth. We anchor in the Lord who predicts his own death and resurrection, and we anchor in the Lord who establishes his power over sin and death by rising from the grave, exactly as he said he would. He stands fast, and we are secure in God.
So decide whom you shall serve. Will you serve money and power, who are all the rage today but cannot survive the test of time? Or will you opt to serve the eternal God? The eternal God might not offer the same easy life, but God has promised that over time you will discover the abundant life that leads to salvation, that leads to joy and peace, and you shall be fulfilled. That is surely the better anchorage, in which we can rest secure and trust fully in God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I've spent a decent amount of time sailing with my dad, and so we've talked a lot about anchoring. We've tried anchoring in rough seas near other boats, and we've done it in isolated places with no one else around. One thing we've discussed, which I might not have considered, is what the bottom of the lake/sea is like. Is it sandy? Is it rocky? You have to understand the bottom before you attempt to anchor, because it can make the difference between dragging anchor until you ram into another boat or having a secure anchorage that lets you rest easy.
When we anchor in the Lord, we find a secure anchorage. We find a God who is strong and faithful, a God whose Word is fixed in the heavens and who has established the earth. We anchor in the Lord who predicts his own death and resurrection, and we anchor in the Lord who establishes his power over sin and death by rising from the grave, exactly as he said he would. He stands fast, and we are secure in God.
So decide whom you shall serve. Will you serve money and power, who are all the rage today but cannot survive the test of time? Or will you opt to serve the eternal God? The eternal God might not offer the same easy life, but God has promised that over time you will discover the abundant life that leads to salvation, that leads to joy and peace, and you shall be fulfilled. That is surely the better anchorage, in which we can rest secure and trust fully in God.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Psalm 119:81-88
Psalm 119:81-88
English Standard Version (ESV)
Does it get under your skin when the wicked seem to get ahead? Does seeing the rich and corrupt live glamorous lives while trampling on others make you furious? Have I got some verses for you!
Here, the Psalmist is lamenting how his enemies are triumphing over him. It doesn't seem fair to the Psalmist any more than it seems fair to us. The Psalmist is being trampled upon and fears that the end is near, and he cries out to God for hope and salvation. In God, there is always hope.
When you reach the end of your rope, when it feels like the world is closing in, when all seems lost and the darkness is about to snuff out the light, remember that God never abandons nor forsakes us. The Savior who reigns in eternal light is the same Savior who climbed into an empty tomb and pulled death over himself like a blanket, only to cast it aside later as a show of power and might. Death has been defeated, and God has not forgotten you. In Christ, there is hope and there is life, and your enemies shall not triumph over you!!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Does it get under your skin when the wicked seem to get ahead? Does seeing the rich and corrupt live glamorous lives while trampling on others make you furious? Have I got some verses for you!
Here, the Psalmist is lamenting how his enemies are triumphing over him. It doesn't seem fair to the Psalmist any more than it seems fair to us. The Psalmist is being trampled upon and fears that the end is near, and he cries out to God for hope and salvation. In God, there is always hope.
When you reach the end of your rope, when it feels like the world is closing in, when all seems lost and the darkness is about to snuff out the light, remember that God never abandons nor forsakes us. The Savior who reigns in eternal light is the same Savior who climbed into an empty tomb and pulled death over himself like a blanket, only to cast it aside later as a show of power and might. Death has been defeated, and God has not forgotten you. In Christ, there is hope and there is life, and your enemies shall not triumph over you!!
Monday, November 5, 2018
Psalm 119:73-80
Psalm 119:73-80
English Standard Version (ESV)
To truly understand something, we have to understand the motivations of the one who made it. If we come across a piece of art, we can interpret it in a number of different ways, but only the one who sculpted the clay or moved the brush can tell us what they were truly thinking about. Similarly, if we come across a tool, we can find ways to use it, but only the creator can tell us the intent with which it was created. We can learn a lot, but the creator tells us the full story.
So if we want to understand ourselves, truly and deeply, we go back to the Creator. We go back to the God who made us to discern God's intent for us, and only when we have Holy Spirit understanding can we understand ourselves. Scripture teaches us about the God who made us, about God's endless love for us and God's desire for us to live peaceably and in service to one another. Scripture also teaches us about how we turned from God in sin, and then it shows us how God pursues us. This teaches us that we were made to be in communion with God, and when we broke that communion, God took the first step to pursue repairing that relationship.
So knowledge of the self and how to live rightly with God gives us the ability to be at peace in the midst of our enemies, in the midst of chaos, because we know that God made us out of love, and that God pursues us when anything threatens our relationship with God. Be at peace, and know that God is stronger than your enemies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
To truly understand something, we have to understand the motivations of the one who made it. If we come across a piece of art, we can interpret it in a number of different ways, but only the one who sculpted the clay or moved the brush can tell us what they were truly thinking about. Similarly, if we come across a tool, we can find ways to use it, but only the creator can tell us the intent with which it was created. We can learn a lot, but the creator tells us the full story.
So if we want to understand ourselves, truly and deeply, we go back to the Creator. We go back to the God who made us to discern God's intent for us, and only when we have Holy Spirit understanding can we understand ourselves. Scripture teaches us about the God who made us, about God's endless love for us and God's desire for us to live peaceably and in service to one another. Scripture also teaches us about how we turned from God in sin, and then it shows us how God pursues us. This teaches us that we were made to be in communion with God, and when we broke that communion, God took the first step to pursue repairing that relationship.
So knowledge of the self and how to live rightly with God gives us the ability to be at peace in the midst of our enemies, in the midst of chaos, because we know that God made us out of love, and that God pursues us when anything threatens our relationship with God. Be at peace, and know that God is stronger than your enemies.
Friday, November 2, 2018
Psalm 119:65-72
Psalm 119:65-72
English Standard Version (ESV)
How many people out there have ever said that it was good that they were afflicted? I know I'm not raising my hand on that one -- when I feel afflicted, I just want the pain to stop, and when I look back on it, I usually just wish there was another way to learn that lesson. I understand that there are benefits of the trials of life, and that they build character and teach us things, but I'd much rather learn those things in other ways.
Then again, without the crucifixion, we don't get the resurrection. Without the knowledge of how lost we are, we don't have a full grasp of the power of God's grace.
I don't know what God is doing in your life. I'm often unsure of what God is doing in my life. In the dark nights, I wish I better understood where God was and how God was moving and what the Spirit was preparing me for. Sometimes I just stare into the darkness and wonder why I can't see any light. But I also know that God keeps all God's promises, and that one of those promises is to never leave nor forsake us, and also that God has promised to go ahead of us and to prepare a place for us. So some days, I cling to that promise with all of my heart, hoping that these promises are true for me. I believe they are true for each of us, that God walks with us in the valley of the shadow of death, and that we learn of God's grace and power and God leads us through adversity to deliver us into eternal life.
English Standard Version (ESV)
How many people out there have ever said that it was good that they were afflicted? I know I'm not raising my hand on that one -- when I feel afflicted, I just want the pain to stop, and when I look back on it, I usually just wish there was another way to learn that lesson. I understand that there are benefits of the trials of life, and that they build character and teach us things, but I'd much rather learn those things in other ways.
Then again, without the crucifixion, we don't get the resurrection. Without the knowledge of how lost we are, we don't have a full grasp of the power of God's grace.
I don't know what God is doing in your life. I'm often unsure of what God is doing in my life. In the dark nights, I wish I better understood where God was and how God was moving and what the Spirit was preparing me for. Sometimes I just stare into the darkness and wonder why I can't see any light. But I also know that God keeps all God's promises, and that one of those promises is to never leave nor forsake us, and also that God has promised to go ahead of us and to prepare a place for us. So some days, I cling to that promise with all of my heart, hoping that these promises are true for me. I believe they are true for each of us, that God walks with us in the valley of the shadow of death, and that we learn of God's grace and power and God leads us through adversity to deliver us into eternal life.
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Psalm 119:57-64
Psalm 119:57-64
English Standard Version (ESV)
Caleb has reached a phase in his life where he decides that if I do something he doesn't like, I have to pay him a million dollars. Given my current level of indebtedness to him, I'm going to have to start using his 529 money to play the Powerball and hope I can win enough to pay him. If we played by his rules, I'd be very, very poor. Fortunately, we don't play by his rules.
Everything depends on who makes the rules. Humans have set up rules that don't always favor everyone equally. Often, the rules are weighted in favor of keeping people in power who are currently in power. Or maybe those who are the richest and most powerful benefit more from rules than the poorest and most downtrodden.
Here, we are reminded that God's grace isn't given out according to human rules, but by God's rules. We receive grace according to God's promise -- this doesn't rely on us. And we know that God always keeps his promises, and that grace and mercy is promised to all who believe, regardless of our past or our present. Our futures are safe in God, because we are steadfastly loved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Caleb has reached a phase in his life where he decides that if I do something he doesn't like, I have to pay him a million dollars. Given my current level of indebtedness to him, I'm going to have to start using his 529 money to play the Powerball and hope I can win enough to pay him. If we played by his rules, I'd be very, very poor. Fortunately, we don't play by his rules.
Everything depends on who makes the rules. Humans have set up rules that don't always favor everyone equally. Often, the rules are weighted in favor of keeping people in power who are currently in power. Or maybe those who are the richest and most powerful benefit more from rules than the poorest and most downtrodden.
Here, we are reminded that God's grace isn't given out according to human rules, but by God's rules. We receive grace according to God's promise -- this doesn't rely on us. And we know that God always keeps his promises, and that grace and mercy is promised to all who believe, regardless of our past or our present. Our futures are safe in God, because we are steadfastly loved.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Psalm 119:49-56
Psalm 119:49-56
English Standard Version (ESV)
Being the center of attention can be hard, especially when it's not good attention. When we're surrounded by our enemies, beset on all sides by opposition, we want to strike out, because it seems so unfair. We want to make others feel the way we do when we suffer, and the world can often seem like an unfeeling place, where suffering is meted out upon those who do not deserve any more, while some who seem to care little about their fellow humans can get by with little trouble.
In these times, the promise of God is what keeps us going. Bitterness and anger can eat away at us -- holding a grudge has been likened to eating rat poison and waiting for the rat to die. Entrusting ourselves and our fates and our futures to God and relying on his promises, however, allows us to forgive one another, because we aren't called to set things right -- that's in God's hands. We trust in God, the God who forgives us when we don't deserve it, the same God who forgives others when they seem not to deserve it. The Romans didn't deserve Jesus' forgiveness when he was hanging on the cross, but he gave it anyway, because Jesus loves without condition or restraint.
Jesus loves you, and when you are surrounded and beset by affliction, know that God chooses to be for you, and by focusing on the unconditional love of God, you can entrust your enemies to God and know that you are safe in God's hands. May you find the words to sing to God in the midst of affliction, and may you keep the long view, knowing that eternity with God awaits all who are in Christ Jesus, no matter what.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Being the center of attention can be hard, especially when it's not good attention. When we're surrounded by our enemies, beset on all sides by opposition, we want to strike out, because it seems so unfair. We want to make others feel the way we do when we suffer, and the world can often seem like an unfeeling place, where suffering is meted out upon those who do not deserve any more, while some who seem to care little about their fellow humans can get by with little trouble.
In these times, the promise of God is what keeps us going. Bitterness and anger can eat away at us -- holding a grudge has been likened to eating rat poison and waiting for the rat to die. Entrusting ourselves and our fates and our futures to God and relying on his promises, however, allows us to forgive one another, because we aren't called to set things right -- that's in God's hands. We trust in God, the God who forgives us when we don't deserve it, the same God who forgives others when they seem not to deserve it. The Romans didn't deserve Jesus' forgiveness when he was hanging on the cross, but he gave it anyway, because Jesus loves without condition or restraint.
Jesus loves you, and when you are surrounded and beset by affliction, know that God chooses to be for you, and by focusing on the unconditional love of God, you can entrust your enemies to God and know that you are safe in God's hands. May you find the words to sing to God in the midst of affliction, and may you keep the long view, knowing that eternity with God awaits all who are in Christ Jesus, no matter what.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Psalm 119:41-48
Psalm 119:41-48
English Standard Version (ESV)
Note the order here in the beginning -- God's love comes to us, and then we get an answer. It's like in school -- you study for the test, and then you're ready for it when it comes. Or maybe at work -- you prepare for the presentation, so that when it comes, you're prepared. If you go in cold, you're going to struggle.
So God prepares us for what is to come. By studying God's Word, we learn to delight in it, because of the riches that are there. When we study God's Word, we learn how others have endured through tribulation, how they've learned to depend on God and found the light on the other side of the darkness. By studying God's Word, we learn that it is enough, that God's love conquers death, that peace prevails. Every time we study God's Word, we draw closer to God, and farther from sin, and we are prepared for what is to come.
So study God's Word, and you will come to delight in it. Delight in it, and it will sustain you. Let is sustain you, and you will discover abundant life in the author who stands behind it
English Standard Version (ESV)
Note the order here in the beginning -- God's love comes to us, and then we get an answer. It's like in school -- you study for the test, and then you're ready for it when it comes. Or maybe at work -- you prepare for the presentation, so that when it comes, you're prepared. If you go in cold, you're going to struggle.
So God prepares us for what is to come. By studying God's Word, we learn to delight in it, because of the riches that are there. When we study God's Word, we learn how others have endured through tribulation, how they've learned to depend on God and found the light on the other side of the darkness. By studying God's Word, we learn that it is enough, that God's love conquers death, that peace prevails. Every time we study God's Word, we draw closer to God, and farther from sin, and we are prepared for what is to come.
So study God's Word, and you will come to delight in it. Delight in it, and it will sustain you. Let is sustain you, and you will discover abundant life in the author who stands behind it
Monday, October 29, 2018
Psalm 119:33-40
Psalm 119:33-40
English Standard Version (ESV)
When we talk about faith, we focus a lot on issues of the heart. In many churches, we can go too far, making faith a purely emotional exercise. In other churches, we lean too far the other way, making faith an intellectual exercise and forget to bring the emotions into faith.
Here in the Psalms, we're called to bring both the heart and brain into our faith. We ask for understanding, that our minds might be led into obedience and understanding, and we ask that the teachings of faith might lead our hearts, might transform what we look at and how we act. This mindful obedience leads our lives and teaches us to desire righteousness and a proper life.
As a church, we need people who are on the emotional side of things, and we need the intellectuals as well -- we balance each other, and the body as a whole is richer for it. We need to be in the middle, growing in knowledge and finding space for our hearts to be captivated by the love and wonder of God. We incline our hearts to God, and we grow in understanding, and we learn how to become a whole person in the light of God's wonder and love.
English Standard Version (ESV)
When we talk about faith, we focus a lot on issues of the heart. In many churches, we can go too far, making faith a purely emotional exercise. In other churches, we lean too far the other way, making faith an intellectual exercise and forget to bring the emotions into faith.
Here in the Psalms, we're called to bring both the heart and brain into our faith. We ask for understanding, that our minds might be led into obedience and understanding, and we ask that the teachings of faith might lead our hearts, might transform what we look at and how we act. This mindful obedience leads our lives and teaches us to desire righteousness and a proper life.
As a church, we need people who are on the emotional side of things, and we need the intellectuals as well -- we balance each other, and the body as a whole is richer for it. We need to be in the middle, growing in knowledge and finding space for our hearts to be captivated by the love and wonder of God. We incline our hearts to God, and we grow in understanding, and we learn how to become a whole person in the light of God's wonder and love.
Friday, October 26, 2018
Psalm 119:25-32
Psalm 119:25-32
English Standard Version (ESV)
Have you ever gotten out of bed in the morning only to turn around and crawl right back in? Sometimes I'll wake up on Wednesday morning and spend the first thirty minutes wishing that it was Friday. Every once in a while, I'll spend the evening wondering if I should call in sick the next day, even if I don't feel sick. Am I the only one?
If we live according to how we feel, we're on a constant roller coaster ride. We're up one day, down the next, constantly buffeted by the joys and struggles of life. I've had a number of struggles lately -- and it's all I can do some days to keep my head above water. At times, my soul melts away for sorrow. If I judged how I was doing based on how I felt, I'd be pretty down.
If, however, I look to the constant and steady presence of God, my temptation to be depressed is relieved, for God is a faithful servant to those whom God loves. God chooses to be for us, and the eternal love and mercy of Almighty God is poured into your life. No matter what your past and present look like, your future is safe and secure because it is with God. If you define yourselves and define your feelings based on being judged worthy because you are covered in Christ, then that's a different approach, right? Things are better, right? Your eternal future is safe in the hands of God because you have been deemed worthy to stand in eternal light due to the sacrifice of Christ. That should make you feel great!!! You've won a lottery that makes two billion dollars look paltry -- you have eternal life in Christ!!!!! Nothing can ever separate you from God's love!!!!!!
So cling to God's Word, and let the voice of life lead you forward!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Have you ever gotten out of bed in the morning only to turn around and crawl right back in? Sometimes I'll wake up on Wednesday morning and spend the first thirty minutes wishing that it was Friday. Every once in a while, I'll spend the evening wondering if I should call in sick the next day, even if I don't feel sick. Am I the only one?
If we live according to how we feel, we're on a constant roller coaster ride. We're up one day, down the next, constantly buffeted by the joys and struggles of life. I've had a number of struggles lately -- and it's all I can do some days to keep my head above water. At times, my soul melts away for sorrow. If I judged how I was doing based on how I felt, I'd be pretty down.
If, however, I look to the constant and steady presence of God, my temptation to be depressed is relieved, for God is a faithful servant to those whom God loves. God chooses to be for us, and the eternal love and mercy of Almighty God is poured into your life. No matter what your past and present look like, your future is safe and secure because it is with God. If you define yourselves and define your feelings based on being judged worthy because you are covered in Christ, then that's a different approach, right? Things are better, right? Your eternal future is safe in the hands of God because you have been deemed worthy to stand in eternal light due to the sacrifice of Christ. That should make you feel great!!! You've won a lottery that makes two billion dollars look paltry -- you have eternal life in Christ!!!!! Nothing can ever separate you from God's love!!!!!!
So cling to God's Word, and let the voice of life lead you forward!
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Psalm 119:17-24
Psalm 119:17-24
English Standard Version (ESV)
I got an email yesterday that hurt. A notification of a death, of a man who I knew as one of the best, and who I knew as fighting a battle that I didn't know about, struggling, dealing with life, trying to find his way. Life is hard enough, and we all have days where the sun is shining and the wind is at our backs and we surge forward with the providence of God, and then we have weeks where the stars laugh at our feeble attempts to find our way in what feels like the dead of night. My friend who died was caught in that space in between, a good man who lost his way, who was fighting something stronger than himself, who didn't know or didn't choose to find the light in the midst of the night. I don't know much of the story, but it hurts. It aches with sorrow at what was lost, and I can't for a moment make sense of it.
You've been there. I've been there. We live in a middle place, in between grace and sin. We know of grace and we see it, we live it, we witness it around us. We know that God is good, and that God loves us, and we drink deeply from the well of God's mercy and sovereign provision for us. It sustains us, like manna from the heavens, and we delight in the wonder of God's presence here.
And then we shift from that into the utter darkness, crying out for God from the depths of our souls, hoping against hope that there might be some deliverance from the oppression that crushes us. We wonder if the valley walls will collapse and cover us, and our enemies surround us.
I am complicated. So are you. You have good and evil within you, often crying out all at once. If you're like me, and like everyone else, you tend to hide your struggles within you, afraid that if anyone else knows how hard you have it, they'll turn from you and reject you. You put on a strong face and tell the world that everything is fine.
Know two things. First, God loves you and accepts you as you are, filled with contradictions and imperfections. God knows your weaknesses and still chose to die on a cross so that you might be redeemed God knew the mistakes you would make and set out to rescue you anyway. You are worth the sacrifice, and God would make it again if that's what it took to redeem you. God doesn't make junk, and you are worth the price God paid for you.
Second, there is a community of faith that will accept you as you are, because they are like you, even if they struggle to admit it. Find that community, the one that allows you to be honest and open about your struggles. We're all broken and being healed by the Spirit. Love others as God loves you, and fine a community that shows unconditional love to you, and be honest -- in your honesty about your struggles, you invite others to be honest as well, and there we discover how broken we all are, and we fall together into grace, where God heals us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I got an email yesterday that hurt. A notification of a death, of a man who I knew as one of the best, and who I knew as fighting a battle that I didn't know about, struggling, dealing with life, trying to find his way. Life is hard enough, and we all have days where the sun is shining and the wind is at our backs and we surge forward with the providence of God, and then we have weeks where the stars laugh at our feeble attempts to find our way in what feels like the dead of night. My friend who died was caught in that space in between, a good man who lost his way, who was fighting something stronger than himself, who didn't know or didn't choose to find the light in the midst of the night. I don't know much of the story, but it hurts. It aches with sorrow at what was lost, and I can't for a moment make sense of it.
You've been there. I've been there. We live in a middle place, in between grace and sin. We know of grace and we see it, we live it, we witness it around us. We know that God is good, and that God loves us, and we drink deeply from the well of God's mercy and sovereign provision for us. It sustains us, like manna from the heavens, and we delight in the wonder of God's presence here.
And then we shift from that into the utter darkness, crying out for God from the depths of our souls, hoping against hope that there might be some deliverance from the oppression that crushes us. We wonder if the valley walls will collapse and cover us, and our enemies surround us.
I am complicated. So are you. You have good and evil within you, often crying out all at once. If you're like me, and like everyone else, you tend to hide your struggles within you, afraid that if anyone else knows how hard you have it, they'll turn from you and reject you. You put on a strong face and tell the world that everything is fine.
Know two things. First, God loves you and accepts you as you are, filled with contradictions and imperfections. God knows your weaknesses and still chose to die on a cross so that you might be redeemed God knew the mistakes you would make and set out to rescue you anyway. You are worth the sacrifice, and God would make it again if that's what it took to redeem you. God doesn't make junk, and you are worth the price God paid for you.
Second, there is a community of faith that will accept you as you are, because they are like you, even if they struggle to admit it. Find that community, the one that allows you to be honest and open about your struggles. We're all broken and being healed by the Spirit. Love others as God loves you, and fine a community that shows unconditional love to you, and be honest -- in your honesty about your struggles, you invite others to be honest as well, and there we discover how broken we all are, and we fall together into grace, where God heals us.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Psalm 119:9-16
Psalm 119:9-16
English Standard Version (ESV)
What truly delights you? The thought of winning a few billion dollars certainly seems to offer delight!
Ice cream and sunshine and the laughter of a child all bring happiness. When the planets align and the kids are quiet and I can sit in my backyard and listen to the world go round, I feel peace. At times, I've experienced a deep joy, combined with a wonder at the beauty of God's creation.
God offers us delight beyond riches. God brings us forth into a new economy, one that is based on grace and doesn't define us based on our status in the world. We aren't left looking at our bank account and wondering if we are good enough -- we delight in God, and that is a deeper, sustaining delight, one that doesn't bounce around depending on our life circumstances. When we discover delight in God, we are anchored to the steady deep even in the most tumultuous storm. When we discover delight in God, we're brought into light that darkness can only threaten, never destroy.
To find this delight in God, we study God's Word. It's there that we see the wonders of God's love, and we realize that much of the law is there to organize our life around God. It's a gift, meant to point all of life to God, meant to help us marvel at God's provision for us. God isn't just looking to restrict us -- God is trying to call us deeper into delight, into joy, so that we turn from fear and anxiety and wonder at God's amazing love for us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What truly delights you? The thought of winning a few billion dollars certainly seems to offer delight!
Ice cream and sunshine and the laughter of a child all bring happiness. When the planets align and the kids are quiet and I can sit in my backyard and listen to the world go round, I feel peace. At times, I've experienced a deep joy, combined with a wonder at the beauty of God's creation.
God offers us delight beyond riches. God brings us forth into a new economy, one that is based on grace and doesn't define us based on our status in the world. We aren't left looking at our bank account and wondering if we are good enough -- we delight in God, and that is a deeper, sustaining delight, one that doesn't bounce around depending on our life circumstances. When we discover delight in God, we are anchored to the steady deep even in the most tumultuous storm. When we discover delight in God, we're brought into light that darkness can only threaten, never destroy.
To find this delight in God, we study God's Word. It's there that we see the wonders of God's love, and we realize that much of the law is there to organize our life around God. It's a gift, meant to point all of life to God, meant to help us marvel at God's provision for us. God isn't just looking to restrict us -- God is trying to call us deeper into delight, into joy, so that we turn from fear and anxiety and wonder at God's amazing love for us.
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Psalm 119:1-8
Psalm 119:1-8
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is at work. God is at work in your life, in your heart and in your home and in your workplace and in your relationships. God is calling you deeper into the waters of discipleship, that you might entrust yourself to God and allow the waters to wash over your feet and your hands and your life, that you might know and understand the depths of God's love and the breadth of God's claim on your life. Like the sun on a warm summer morning, rising above the hills and desperate to bathe the world in warmth and light, God is seeking to enfold all of you in grace, and God is inviting you into a relationship that is deeper and richer than anything you can imagine.
And so every day, we seek God. Our hearts and our minds and our lives seek God and God's guidance, that we might follow God faithfully and understand how God is at work. We want to know the next step in our walk of faith, so we might grow as disciples and access more of the abundant grace and love God has for us.
In the midst of life, we find struggles. There is death of loved ones and friends and family, and we wonder where God is in the chaos and dark of night. We shrink into the pain and a community gathers around us, uncertain of the answers but confidant that God is still there. God did not shrink from death in the Bible, and God doesn't turn from it in the here and now. I don't understand how God is at work, but I believe that God is, because I have read the end of the Gospels -- we worship a God who cannot be contained by the tomb and by death. Sin itself cannot hold God, and so we place ourselves in the grip of a sovereign God who can crush sin and death in the palm of his powerful and righteous right hand.
Death still lingers, reminding us all of what it once was, threatening to cause dismay, stealing our loved ones from this present realm, sowing chaos in this place. I cannot say that I understand how God is at work, and my heart weeps with those who mourn the death of loved ones taken too soon. What I do believe, along with the saints of old, is that the God who emerged from the tomb on the first Easter morning still has power over sin and death, and this God calls us into discipleship today, encouraging us to take up our cross, to confront the waning power of death and proclaim a confidence in resurrection and a kingdom that will have no end.
I know not when my life will be taken from me, but I know that it will pass through the grasping fingers of death, a power that has no claim upon me, and into the hands of God almighty, who will smile at the presence of God's child that God has crafted in the womb and returned from a pilgrimage to worship in the Kingdom of God forevermore. I will discover, upon reflection, that in fact I never left the providence of God. While my adventures (and misadventures) have taken me to the precipice where I wondered if God was still present, in fact I was only staring into the depths that I could glimpse from my perch in the folds of God's hand, where I was safe and covered in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. There, in that place, I was made and have dwelt and will forever worship the King who has welcomed me home, the father who enfolds the Prodigal Son in loving arms, the mother who shelters her beloved under the shadow of her wings, the crucified Savior who lays down his life for those whom he loves, the Shepherd who seeks me when I am lost.
Death calls for me, it reaches for me, it whispers to me in the depths of night, but a greater voice, a stronger power, has already staked its claim on my life, and I shall not be moved, not by the greatest army that might rise in this world, for the Kingdom of light shall be my home, and I will dwell with my King forevermore.
And so death still is, but life is greater, and it shall stand eternal.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is at work. God is at work in your life, in your heart and in your home and in your workplace and in your relationships. God is calling you deeper into the waters of discipleship, that you might entrust yourself to God and allow the waters to wash over your feet and your hands and your life, that you might know and understand the depths of God's love and the breadth of God's claim on your life. Like the sun on a warm summer morning, rising above the hills and desperate to bathe the world in warmth and light, God is seeking to enfold all of you in grace, and God is inviting you into a relationship that is deeper and richer than anything you can imagine.
And so every day, we seek God. Our hearts and our minds and our lives seek God and God's guidance, that we might follow God faithfully and understand how God is at work. We want to know the next step in our walk of faith, so we might grow as disciples and access more of the abundant grace and love God has for us.
In the midst of life, we find struggles. There is death of loved ones and friends and family, and we wonder where God is in the chaos and dark of night. We shrink into the pain and a community gathers around us, uncertain of the answers but confidant that God is still there. God did not shrink from death in the Bible, and God doesn't turn from it in the here and now. I don't understand how God is at work, but I believe that God is, because I have read the end of the Gospels -- we worship a God who cannot be contained by the tomb and by death. Sin itself cannot hold God, and so we place ourselves in the grip of a sovereign God who can crush sin and death in the palm of his powerful and righteous right hand.
Death still lingers, reminding us all of what it once was, threatening to cause dismay, stealing our loved ones from this present realm, sowing chaos in this place. I cannot say that I understand how God is at work, and my heart weeps with those who mourn the death of loved ones taken too soon. What I do believe, along with the saints of old, is that the God who emerged from the tomb on the first Easter morning still has power over sin and death, and this God calls us into discipleship today, encouraging us to take up our cross, to confront the waning power of death and proclaim a confidence in resurrection and a kingdom that will have no end.
I know not when my life will be taken from me, but I know that it will pass through the grasping fingers of death, a power that has no claim upon me, and into the hands of God almighty, who will smile at the presence of God's child that God has crafted in the womb and returned from a pilgrimage to worship in the Kingdom of God forevermore. I will discover, upon reflection, that in fact I never left the providence of God. While my adventures (and misadventures) have taken me to the precipice where I wondered if God was still present, in fact I was only staring into the depths that I could glimpse from my perch in the folds of God's hand, where I was safe and covered in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. There, in that place, I was made and have dwelt and will forever worship the King who has welcomed me home, the father who enfolds the Prodigal Son in loving arms, the mother who shelters her beloved under the shadow of her wings, the crucified Savior who lays down his life for those whom he loves, the Shepherd who seeks me when I am lost.
Death calls for me, it reaches for me, it whispers to me in the depths of night, but a greater voice, a stronger power, has already staked its claim on my life, and I shall not be moved, not by the greatest army that might rise in this world, for the Kingdom of light shall be my home, and I will dwell with my King forevermore.
And so death still is, but life is greater, and it shall stand eternal.
Monday, October 22, 2018
Romans 8:31-39
Romans 8:31-39
English Standard Version (ESV)
We should all memorize these verses -- they teach us about how highly God values you. God believes that redeeming you is worth sacrificing God's own Son, Jesus Christ. You were lost in the depths of sin, residing in darkness, and God voluntarily made the choice to pay the ultimate price so that you would be redeemed. You have been saved from sin and death because Jesus Christ ascended the cross.
If the God of the universe, the author of the stars and the one who has demonstrated power over death, decides that God is for you, who or what could oppose that? What in creation can stand up to the power of God? Nothing, and God has chosen to be for you. God opts to redeem you, to save you, and to keep you in the palm of God's hand for all of eternity. Do not doubt, even for a moment, that nothing can separate you from God's love.
English Standard Version (ESV)
We should all memorize these verses -- they teach us about how highly God values you. God believes that redeeming you is worth sacrificing God's own Son, Jesus Christ. You were lost in the depths of sin, residing in darkness, and God voluntarily made the choice to pay the ultimate price so that you would be redeemed. You have been saved from sin and death because Jesus Christ ascended the cross.
If the God of the universe, the author of the stars and the one who has demonstrated power over death, decides that God is for you, who or what could oppose that? What in creation can stand up to the power of God? Nothing, and God has chosen to be for you. God opts to redeem you, to save you, and to keep you in the palm of God's hand for all of eternity. Do not doubt, even for a moment, that nothing can separate you from God's love.
Friday, October 19, 2018
Romans 8:26-30
Romans 8:26-30
English Standard Version (ESV)
We forget that God is for us. When we can't figure out how to pray or what to say, God helps us. God is a gentle, caring parent, encouraging God's children and wanting them to succeed. God isn't waiting for us to make a mistake so we can be punished -- God is cheering for us, encouraging us, longing to see us succeed in faithfulness so our lives can be enriched by grace and mercy and we can step into the abundance that awaits us.
This is our future, our destiny for those who believe -- when we can't pray, when we can't figure out why things are happening the way they are, remember that God helps you pray, and that things eventually work together for good. All things -- it's hard to remember this, and we need people to remind us of the hope we have in Christ, so that we can endure through the long nights and look forward to the dawning of the new creation that exists in and through Christ Jesus our Lord!
English Standard Version (ESV)
We forget that God is for us. When we can't figure out how to pray or what to say, God helps us. God is a gentle, caring parent, encouraging God's children and wanting them to succeed. God isn't waiting for us to make a mistake so we can be punished -- God is cheering for us, encouraging us, longing to see us succeed in faithfulness so our lives can be enriched by grace and mercy and we can step into the abundance that awaits us.
This is our future, our destiny for those who believe -- when we can't pray, when we can't figure out why things are happening the way they are, remember that God helps you pray, and that things eventually work together for good. All things -- it's hard to remember this, and we need people to remind us of the hope we have in Christ, so that we can endure through the long nights and look forward to the dawning of the new creation that exists in and through Christ Jesus our Lord!
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Romans 8:18-25
Romans 8:18-25
English Standard Version (ESV)
When I'm sick, the world gets very small -- I forget what it's like to be healthy, and I can quickly lose hope that I'll ever feel better again. When I'm sick, all I think about is being sick, and every ache and pain is magnified.
We do the same with all the suffering and hurt in this world -- we forget that there is a glory waiting to be revealed to us, and that glory is far beyond what we can even imagine in our wildest dreams. We forget that God has made promises (and God keeps all his promises!) that there is a Kingdom of nothing but light waiting for us, and the hope of that Kingdom should allow us to endure our present sufferings.
Hope is a beautiful thing, and Paul is reminding us of our hope in Christ. Lift up your heads in the midst of suffering, and know that God is with you, and what God has in store for you is far greater than anything you can even imagine.
English Standard Version (ESV)
When I'm sick, the world gets very small -- I forget what it's like to be healthy, and I can quickly lose hope that I'll ever feel better again. When I'm sick, all I think about is being sick, and every ache and pain is magnified.
We do the same with all the suffering and hurt in this world -- we forget that there is a glory waiting to be revealed to us, and that glory is far beyond what we can even imagine in our wildest dreams. We forget that God has made promises (and God keeps all his promises!) that there is a Kingdom of nothing but light waiting for us, and the hope of that Kingdom should allow us to endure our present sufferings.
Hope is a beautiful thing, and Paul is reminding us of our hope in Christ. Lift up your heads in the midst of suffering, and know that God is with you, and what God has in store for you is far greater than anything you can even imagine.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Romans 8:12-17
Romans 8:12-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
To quote C.S. Lewis: “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
The Lord our God offers us an abundant life, one drenched in grace and free from fear. To reach it is hard -- it means turning our back on much of what the world offers and living differently. It is a hard road of daily discipleship, highlighted by the daily lifting of our cross and dying to the self.
But what we get in return... a life free from fear and bathed in the spirit! We are fellow heirs with Christ, glorified with him because of what Christ has done for us!! We are offered joy and peace and love that knows no end. We often live according to the flesh, ignoring the riches God offers, instead trying to close our hands around the riches of the world, fooling ourselves into believing that they will bring real peace and joy, when only God can provide that.
You are extended life, abundant life, through the power of the Spirit. Will you take it? Will you follow Christ daily, listening to the still small voice of the Spirit that calls you into the deep waters of discipleship?
English Standard Version (ESV)
To quote C.S. Lewis: “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
The Lord our God offers us an abundant life, one drenched in grace and free from fear. To reach it is hard -- it means turning our back on much of what the world offers and living differently. It is a hard road of daily discipleship, highlighted by the daily lifting of our cross and dying to the self.
But what we get in return... a life free from fear and bathed in the spirit! We are fellow heirs with Christ, glorified with him because of what Christ has done for us!! We are offered joy and peace and love that knows no end. We often live according to the flesh, ignoring the riches God offers, instead trying to close our hands around the riches of the world, fooling ourselves into believing that they will bring real peace and joy, when only God can provide that.
You are extended life, abundant life, through the power of the Spirit. Will you take it? Will you follow Christ daily, listening to the still small voice of the Spirit that calls you into the deep waters of discipleship?
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Romans 8:9-11
Romans 8:9-11
English Standard Version (ESV)
I would imagine I'm not the only one that has gone out to start the car one day to discover the battery is dead. At that moment, no one calls the wrecker to tow the car to the junkyard to scrap it -- they either jump it or catch a ride to the parts store for a new battery.
In the same way, our body is dead because of sin. While that means that all is not as it should be, this doesn't mean that all is lost. God, who is gracious and displays a willingness to seek out the lost and forsaken, makes a path back to life -- through Jesus Christ, our mortal bodies are given life and the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
What's amazing is that through the gift of Jesus Christ, we aren't just restored to what we once were -- we are elevated to be new creations. What once was is no more, and we can dream of a future where we can worship before God Almighty because we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. You were dead, condemned by sin, and you have been set free and are alive to Christ. A future of eternal light and love awaits, and it's a gift, free to you and to all who bow the knee to Christ as Lord and Savior.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I would imagine I'm not the only one that has gone out to start the car one day to discover the battery is dead. At that moment, no one calls the wrecker to tow the car to the junkyard to scrap it -- they either jump it or catch a ride to the parts store for a new battery.
In the same way, our body is dead because of sin. While that means that all is not as it should be, this doesn't mean that all is lost. God, who is gracious and displays a willingness to seek out the lost and forsaken, makes a path back to life -- through Jesus Christ, our mortal bodies are given life and the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
What's amazing is that through the gift of Jesus Christ, we aren't just restored to what we once were -- we are elevated to be new creations. What once was is no more, and we can dream of a future where we can worship before God Almighty because we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. You were dead, condemned by sin, and you have been set free and are alive to Christ. A future of eternal light and love awaits, and it's a gift, free to you and to all who bow the knee to Christ as Lord and Savior.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Romans 8:1-8
Romans 8:1-8
English Standard Version (ESV)
I remember someone once telling me about adopting former racing greyhounds. They've been cooped up so long in pens and cages that they need a fence to serve as a barrier -- without it, they tremble at the sight of open spaces. They're so accustomed to limitations that true freedom can be intimidating.
In the same way, our minds wrestle with the freedom we've been given in Christ. We're so accustomed to having to earn things, to be worthy or deserving of things, that the absolute freedom we have in Christ is hard for us to fathom. Because of what Christ has done, and not because of what we have done, we are able to stand before the throne of grace and be accepted. We struggle to wrap our minds around that truth, and so we spend our lives trying to earn God's love and fearful of God's wrath. Our minds get focused on little things, all the while eternity stretches out before us, calling us forward in love and truth.
Friend, you are covered in mercy. Fix your mind on what Christ has done, and know that you are accepted as you are because of the transforming love of God. All of those anxieties and fears can fall away -- receive the peace of the Spirit and walk in the light of unconditional love.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I remember someone once telling me about adopting former racing greyhounds. They've been cooped up so long in pens and cages that they need a fence to serve as a barrier -- without it, they tremble at the sight of open spaces. They're so accustomed to limitations that true freedom can be intimidating.
In the same way, our minds wrestle with the freedom we've been given in Christ. We're so accustomed to having to earn things, to be worthy or deserving of things, that the absolute freedom we have in Christ is hard for us to fathom. Because of what Christ has done, and not because of what we have done, we are able to stand before the throne of grace and be accepted. We struggle to wrap our minds around that truth, and so we spend our lives trying to earn God's love and fearful of God's wrath. Our minds get focused on little things, all the while eternity stretches out before us, calling us forward in love and truth.
Friend, you are covered in mercy. Fix your mind on what Christ has done, and know that you are accepted as you are because of the transforming love of God. All of those anxieties and fears can fall away -- receive the peace of the Spirit and walk in the light of unconditional love.
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Psalm 103:1-5
Psalm 103:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)
These first two verses are the middle verses of the Bible, and they are a fantastic reminder for us to remember all that God has done. In today's what-have-you-done-for-me-lately culture, we get disappointed in a number of people and things because they don't always do what we want. We get frustrated at a car that doesn't start, forgetting the 5 years in a row when it started every time. We yell at sports teams for losing big games, even if they won the pennant the year before. We get frustrated at friends who don't answer our messages, forgetting all the times they did, even in the middle of the night.
And we get upset at God sometimes because we don't get a prayer answered, forgetting all that God has done for us. The Psalmist here is reminding us all the great things God has done for us -- forgiving all of our sins, redeeming our life from the pit, crowning us with love and mercy, and being the ultimate satisfier of our soul. When we find ourselves frustrated at unanswered prayers or unwanted trials, remember the big picture -- that God loves you unconditionally and has paid the ultimate price to buy you back from sin and death, and that life eternal in the Kingdom of God awaits each of us who bow the knee before the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
These first two verses are the middle verses of the Bible, and they are a fantastic reminder for us to remember all that God has done. In today's what-have-you-done-for-me-lately culture, we get disappointed in a number of people and things because they don't always do what we want. We get frustrated at a car that doesn't start, forgetting the 5 years in a row when it started every time. We yell at sports teams for losing big games, even if they won the pennant the year before. We get frustrated at friends who don't answer our messages, forgetting all the times they did, even in the middle of the night.
And we get upset at God sometimes because we don't get a prayer answered, forgetting all that God has done for us. The Psalmist here is reminding us all the great things God has done for us -- forgiving all of our sins, redeeming our life from the pit, crowning us with love and mercy, and being the ultimate satisfier of our soul. When we find ourselves frustrated at unanswered prayers or unwanted trials, remember the big picture -- that God loves you unconditionally and has paid the ultimate price to buy you back from sin and death, and that life eternal in the Kingdom of God awaits each of us who bow the knee before the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Psalm 1
Psalm 1
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy for me to tell my kids that they can choose their attitude every day, that they're not locked into a certain path.
It's much harder for me to remember that the same is true for myself. Every day is a choice about how I want to serve God -- will I choose the harder work of faithfulness, or will I put off discipleship until tomorrow? The Psalmist uses the metaphor of a tree, helping us think about how a tree nourished by a stream will grow quickly and abundantly, much more so than one planted far from the stream. This is meant to encourage us to think about how we are drawing life from the Word of God.
But it's also easy to think of ourselves as inflexible, focusing on how we are like a tree, with roots planted deep and hard to move. We get accustomed to our daily rhythms and patterns, no matter if some of them are not very helpful, and we can get stuck. It's hard work to uproot and move closer to the stream -- but that's where abundance is.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy for me to tell my kids that they can choose their attitude every day, that they're not locked into a certain path.
It's much harder for me to remember that the same is true for myself. Every day is a choice about how I want to serve God -- will I choose the harder work of faithfulness, or will I put off discipleship until tomorrow? The Psalmist uses the metaphor of a tree, helping us think about how a tree nourished by a stream will grow quickly and abundantly, much more so than one planted far from the stream. This is meant to encourage us to think about how we are drawing life from the Word of God.
But it's also easy to think of ourselves as inflexible, focusing on how we are like a tree, with roots planted deep and hard to move. We get accustomed to our daily rhythms and patterns, no matter if some of them are not very helpful, and we can get stuck. It's hard work to uproot and move closer to the stream -- but that's where abundance is.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Isaiah 40:27-31
Isaiah 40:27-31
English Standard Version (ESV)
There is a man who can run 26.2 miles in less than 123 minutes. To do so, he averages around thirteen miles an hour, running 26 consecutive sub-five minute miles. That's quick.
There are some people who aren't content with running 26 miles. They run 50 and 100 mile events. Proving that some people will stop at nothing to test the limits of the human body, there is a 135-mile race across Death Valley that people run.
But all these people will, eventually, go so far so fast that they will tire. They will tire out like a college student around finals and a new parent whose baby keeps crying at night. We all wear out in some way -- we have so much fun we exhaust ourselves at times, and at other times we are so worried and stressed that we need a break.
We who depend upon the Lord find ourselves with a Savior who offers us a rest for our weary souls. We find a Savior who pours the Spirit into us, and promises us an eternity without worry and fear, without bodies that wear out, without minds burdened by stress. We who wait upon the Lord will find that God is enough for our weaknesses, and that while we often tire, the Lord never does, and there is always enough in Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
There is a man who can run 26.2 miles in less than 123 minutes. To do so, he averages around thirteen miles an hour, running 26 consecutive sub-five minute miles. That's quick.
There are some people who aren't content with running 26 miles. They run 50 and 100 mile events. Proving that some people will stop at nothing to test the limits of the human body, there is a 135-mile race across Death Valley that people run.
But all these people will, eventually, go so far so fast that they will tire. They will tire out like a college student around finals and a new parent whose baby keeps crying at night. We all wear out in some way -- we have so much fun we exhaust ourselves at times, and at other times we are so worried and stressed that we need a break.
We who depend upon the Lord find ourselves with a Savior who offers us a rest for our weary souls. We find a Savior who pours the Spirit into us, and promises us an eternity without worry and fear, without bodies that wear out, without minds burdened by stress. We who wait upon the Lord will find that God is enough for our weaknesses, and that while we often tire, the Lord never does, and there is always enough in Christ.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
2 Timothy 3:10-17
2 Timothy 3:10-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
I hear from my kids quite a bit that life isn't fair. Sometimes they're fighting over who gets to pick the songs in the car, sometimes they fight over who gets to brush their teeth first, and sometimes it's over who gets to use the vacuum cleaner. Really important debates going on in our house!
Paul, here, is addressing the church's sense that life isn't fair. The church is watching their loved ones be persecuted, while the evil ones seem to escape without punishment. (Someone once said that while history doesn't repeat itself, it often rhymes.)
Meanwhile, Paul exhorts the church to endure, and then reminds us that all of Scripture is helpful. It's easy to pick out the parts we like and ignore the rest, but Paul reminds us that it is all there for a reason. It teaches us, even the parts we don't like, and helps equip us to grow in Christ. Those parts you struggle with? Press in on those -- study how they fit together, what makes you uncomfortable, and why. That's crucial -- Scripture should challenge us and make us examine who and how we are. We can't get too comfortable. The Holy Spirit is always at work, refining us, pulling us forward into the future God has in mind for us. So press in. Linger on those difficult passages, and trust that God is speaking through them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I hear from my kids quite a bit that life isn't fair. Sometimes they're fighting over who gets to pick the songs in the car, sometimes they fight over who gets to brush their teeth first, and sometimes it's over who gets to use the vacuum cleaner. Really important debates going on in our house!
Paul, here, is addressing the church's sense that life isn't fair. The church is watching their loved ones be persecuted, while the evil ones seem to escape without punishment. (Someone once said that while history doesn't repeat itself, it often rhymes.)
Meanwhile, Paul exhorts the church to endure, and then reminds us that all of Scripture is helpful. It's easy to pick out the parts we like and ignore the rest, but Paul reminds us that it is all there for a reason. It teaches us, even the parts we don't like, and helps equip us to grow in Christ. Those parts you struggle with? Press in on those -- study how they fit together, what makes you uncomfortable, and why. That's crucial -- Scripture should challenge us and make us examine who and how we are. We can't get too comfortable. The Holy Spirit is always at work, refining us, pulling us forward into the future God has in mind for us. So press in. Linger on those difficult passages, and trust that God is speaking through them.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Philippians 2:1-11
Philippians 2:1-11
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's the first thing you would do if you were God?
Would you give yourself a million dollars? Maybe you'd exact some vengeance on an enemy. I bet we'd all come up with different lists, some of which would serve our own needs, while other items would likely serve the needs of others. Maybe you'd get rid of pollution or finally take care of human trafficking.
God, the most powerful being in the universe, opted to take on a lowly existence as a poor carpenter. Having done so, after laboring in obscurity for decades, Jesus then traveled the countryside performing selfless acts of service. He healed the lame and brought sight to the blind, often transcending cultural taboos by reaching out to the lowest of the low in society. After three years, rather than choosing to ascend a throne and reign in regal power, Jesus instead allowed himself to be publicly mocked and crucified.
Why?
Because God saw that as the necessary path to redeem you. You are worth all of the suffering in the world to God. God treasures you, and there wasn't a price too high to pay, so God offered everything in order to bring you forgiveness.
You are infinitely treasured and loved by the most powerful being in creation. I hope that truth changes the way you live today.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's the first thing you would do if you were God?
Would you give yourself a million dollars? Maybe you'd exact some vengeance on an enemy. I bet we'd all come up with different lists, some of which would serve our own needs, while other items would likely serve the needs of others. Maybe you'd get rid of pollution or finally take care of human trafficking.
God, the most powerful being in the universe, opted to take on a lowly existence as a poor carpenter. Having done so, after laboring in obscurity for decades, Jesus then traveled the countryside performing selfless acts of service. He healed the lame and brought sight to the blind, often transcending cultural taboos by reaching out to the lowest of the low in society. After three years, rather than choosing to ascend a throne and reign in regal power, Jesus instead allowed himself to be publicly mocked and crucified.
Why?
Because God saw that as the necessary path to redeem you. You are worth all of the suffering in the world to God. God treasures you, and there wasn't a price too high to pay, so God offered everything in order to bring you forgiveness.
You are infinitely treasured and loved by the most powerful being in creation. I hope that truth changes the way you live today.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Acts 14:19-23
Acts 14:19-23
English Standard Version (ESV)
How do you know how determined you are to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit?
With Paul, he was stoned by crowds in Lystra who then left him for dead, but instead of taking the hint and heading off somewhere that might be a little more welcoming, he gets on his feet and goes right back into the city, continuing on after that, determined to proclaim the Word of God.
It's easy to become frustrated when one meets resistance. Maybe you're unsure of what God wants from you, or maybe you're certain that God is leading you in one direction but nothing seems to be affirming that. Maybe it feels like everything around you is falling apart.
God's work often moves forward in uncertain stages. From the outside, it may not seem like progress, but God is always at work, even in the hardest and most uncertain chapters of life. Even when the church was being persecuted and seemed like it was shrinking, God was at work, growing disciples and preparing the church for something new. God is always at work, and our responsibility is to faithfully endure, trusting in God, focused on the long-term Kingdom of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
How do you know how determined you are to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit?
With Paul, he was stoned by crowds in Lystra who then left him for dead, but instead of taking the hint and heading off somewhere that might be a little more welcoming, he gets on his feet and goes right back into the city, continuing on after that, determined to proclaim the Word of God.
It's easy to become frustrated when one meets resistance. Maybe you're unsure of what God wants from you, or maybe you're certain that God is leading you in one direction but nothing seems to be affirming that. Maybe it feels like everything around you is falling apart.
God's work often moves forward in uncertain stages. From the outside, it may not seem like progress, but God is always at work, even in the hardest and most uncertain chapters of life. Even when the church was being persecuted and seemed like it was shrinking, God was at work, growing disciples and preparing the church for something new. God is always at work, and our responsibility is to faithfully endure, trusting in God, focused on the long-term Kingdom of God.
Monday, October 1, 2018
2 Timothy 2:1-13
2 Timothy 2:1-13
English Standard Version (ESV)
Here in Paul's second letter to Timothy, he lifts up athletes and farmers as models of how the church ought to work.
Think of how challenging it is to be a farmer. Seed is sown, but there's no guarantee that anything happens after that. There has to be faith and trust that the seed will grow into something, that the water and the work will ultimately result in a harvest.
In the same way, we place our trust in God to shepherd the church forward. We trust that God will do astounding things through the church, and we stay faithful, enduring to the end, because we trust that God's work will triumph in the end. We trust in the outcome, even though the process is uncertain, and it's hard, and there will be plenty of temptations to find easier ways. Just as the athlete is tempted to sleep in rather than wake up early and train, the Christian is tempted to be spiritually lazy, to trust in things other than God, to forget about the long-term and opt for short-term wins.
If we endure, we reign with him. Day after day, make the small choices, the right choices, and trust in the God who remains faithful.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Here in Paul's second letter to Timothy, he lifts up athletes and farmers as models of how the church ought to work.
Think of how challenging it is to be a farmer. Seed is sown, but there's no guarantee that anything happens after that. There has to be faith and trust that the seed will grow into something, that the water and the work will ultimately result in a harvest.
In the same way, we place our trust in God to shepherd the church forward. We trust that God will do astounding things through the church, and we stay faithful, enduring to the end, because we trust that God's work will triumph in the end. We trust in the outcome, even though the process is uncertain, and it's hard, and there will be plenty of temptations to find easier ways. Just as the athlete is tempted to sleep in rather than wake up early and train, the Christian is tempted to be spiritually lazy, to trust in things other than God, to forget about the long-term and opt for short-term wins.
If we endure, we reign with him. Day after day, make the small choices, the right choices, and trust in the God who remains faithful.
Friday, September 28, 2018
1 Timothy 1:12-17
1 Timothy 1:12-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
When an NFL team drafts a player, they want to pick the best of the best of the best, so that the player will bring their talent to upgrade a weakness in the current team so that the team will be better. Scouts spend weeks watching film of players, breaking down every attribute to determine the factors that will be the most reliable indicators of success at the next level. It is a high pressure opportunity.
When God was picking an evangelist for the growing church, God picked a blasphemer, persecutor and insolent opponent. God picked the individual that was busy hurling insults and violence at the church. It seemed like God picked the worst candidate possible.
In doing so, God demonstrated God's power, God's mercy, and God's grace. This wasn't about the talent that Paul brought to the table. This was about the majesty that God brings to the table, and through the workings of the Holy Spirit, God transformed Saul into Paul and a broken and proud man into a powerful evangelist for the church, and all the glory was directed towards God.
God saves sinners, not by their own merit, but rather by grace and love. You have been selected and redeemed -- not because you deserve it, but because God chooses to shower grace upon you. Revel in it, give thanks for it, and live as though you are completely freed and completely loved. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.
English Standard Version (ESV)
When an NFL team drafts a player, they want to pick the best of the best of the best, so that the player will bring their talent to upgrade a weakness in the current team so that the team will be better. Scouts spend weeks watching film of players, breaking down every attribute to determine the factors that will be the most reliable indicators of success at the next level. It is a high pressure opportunity.
When God was picking an evangelist for the growing church, God picked a blasphemer, persecutor and insolent opponent. God picked the individual that was busy hurling insults and violence at the church. It seemed like God picked the worst candidate possible.
In doing so, God demonstrated God's power, God's mercy, and God's grace. This wasn't about the talent that Paul brought to the table. This was about the majesty that God brings to the table, and through the workings of the Holy Spirit, God transformed Saul into Paul and a broken and proud man into a powerful evangelist for the church, and all the glory was directed towards God.
God saves sinners, not by their own merit, but rather by grace and love. You have been selected and redeemed -- not because you deserve it, but because God chooses to shower grace upon you. Revel in it, give thanks for it, and live as though you are completely freed and completely loved. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Romans 12:1-2
Romans 12:1-2
English Standard Version (ESV)
The problem with living sacrifices, someone once said, is that they keep crawling off the altar.
It's hard and yet easy to imagine one's life as a living sacrifice. In some ways, it's our breathing in and breathing out. We are always seeking to renew our minds, to grow in knowledge and wisdom about how we live as Christians in today's world. We're seeking knowledge, to better inform our spiritual lives.
In other ways, it's so hard to know what it means to live a life that is holy and acceptable to God. How do we resist conforming to the world? By what basis do we know what is good and acceptable and perfect? Scripture guides us and the Spirit leads us, but we often end up in ambiguous places with uncertainty about what is right and wrong.
Being a Christian isn't easy. It means that we dwell in a land of uncertainty, never 100% positive where God is calling us, but always completely sure that God is calling us, that God is at work, that Jesus Christ is Lord and will be ultimately victorious over sin and death. And because God is all of those things, then God is interested in our daily lives, and God is calling us to live in such a way that not only glorifies God but also draws us closer. We all do this a little differently, and we have wonderful freedom in Christ to serve in the places we are, just as we are, uniquely and wonderfully different. My call is different than yours, and we each are part of the body of Christ.
So let us give thanks for diversity in the church, and may we endeavor to listen a little more closely to how God is at work and calling us forward.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The problem with living sacrifices, someone once said, is that they keep crawling off the altar.
It's hard and yet easy to imagine one's life as a living sacrifice. In some ways, it's our breathing in and breathing out. We are always seeking to renew our minds, to grow in knowledge and wisdom about how we live as Christians in today's world. We're seeking knowledge, to better inform our spiritual lives.
In other ways, it's so hard to know what it means to live a life that is holy and acceptable to God. How do we resist conforming to the world? By what basis do we know what is good and acceptable and perfect? Scripture guides us and the Spirit leads us, but we often end up in ambiguous places with uncertainty about what is right and wrong.
Being a Christian isn't easy. It means that we dwell in a land of uncertainty, never 100% positive where God is calling us, but always completely sure that God is calling us, that God is at work, that Jesus Christ is Lord and will be ultimately victorious over sin and death. And because God is all of those things, then God is interested in our daily lives, and God is calling us to live in such a way that not only glorifies God but also draws us closer. We all do this a little differently, and we have wonderful freedom in Christ to serve in the places we are, just as we are, uniquely and wonderfully different. My call is different than yours, and we each are part of the body of Christ.
So let us give thanks for diversity in the church, and may we endeavor to listen a little more closely to how God is at work and calling us forward.
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