Matthew 22:15-22
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Pharisees are hoping to get Jesus in trouble here -- if he says that it's not lawful to pay taxes, then they can accuse him of insurrection and get him in trouble with the Romans. If he says that it is, some of the Jews might get upset at him because they don't like the Roman rule in the region. So the question doesn't appear to have a middle ground, and yet Jesus finds it, gracefully, and others marvel at his wisdom.
If you ever want to be amazed, just watch others argue on the internet. It's astounding how upset some people can get, because they'll be on opposite side of an issue, shouting at each other. Christians get into this as well -- sometimes with outsiders, sometimes with other Christians. No one comes out looking good in these situations, and I don't think many people change their minds.
It's a delicate balance to engage in conversation with those you disagree with. It's not easy, and the landscape is rife with pitfalls. But as Christians, it is vital that we do engage with others in conversation, including those we disagree with. If we do so with grace, and trust the Holy Spirit to give us the words to say, we have a chance to invite others to marvel at the wisdom of Christ. Christ was loving, even with his opponents.
So may we be a graceful people, firm in our convictions, welcoming in debate, willing to consider the person on the other side of the conversation, always patient and selfless, inviting the outside to come, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
Matthew 22:1-14
Matthew 22:1-14
English Standard Version (ESV)
Yesterday was a rough day. At church, I heard the tragic tale of a 30-year old woman who was 7 months pregnant with her first child and suddenly passed away. Just heartbreaking, the kind of pain that transcends words and leaves you simply praying for the Holy Spirit to show up and offer enough strength to make it through the day.
And then I stopped by a roadside stand selling honey on the way home. I got to talking to the guy, and he and his wife had retired to the area after 40 years of marriage, thinking they knew what their future together held. Then their eldest daughter died, and then his wife got sick and died two weeks later, and there he was, uncertain what his future looked like. We prayed together, but it was hard to find the words.
Friends, we truly don't know what tomorrow holds. These heartbreaks reminded me of that. We certainly take life for granted, assuming that tomorrow will be like today, that our plans will be realized, that we have some semblance of control as the earth spins through this crazy universe. Every now and again we get reminded of how little control we have, and we have a choice -- will we cling to the one who throws the wedding feast, following and serving the one who has power over life and death, or will we continue to try and stubbornly do things our own way, thinking that we know best, that if we just try harder we'll figure it all out.
It is my prayer that we all have decades left to love and to serve and to draw nearer to God. But we don't have any guarantee of that. May we open our eyes and our hearts to Scripture and trust in the God who transcends time and space and invites us to reign with him in the eternal Kingdom.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Yesterday was a rough day. At church, I heard the tragic tale of a 30-year old woman who was 7 months pregnant with her first child and suddenly passed away. Just heartbreaking, the kind of pain that transcends words and leaves you simply praying for the Holy Spirit to show up and offer enough strength to make it through the day.
And then I stopped by a roadside stand selling honey on the way home. I got to talking to the guy, and he and his wife had retired to the area after 40 years of marriage, thinking they knew what their future together held. Then their eldest daughter died, and then his wife got sick and died two weeks later, and there he was, uncertain what his future looked like. We prayed together, but it was hard to find the words.
Friends, we truly don't know what tomorrow holds. These heartbreaks reminded me of that. We certainly take life for granted, assuming that tomorrow will be like today, that our plans will be realized, that we have some semblance of control as the earth spins through this crazy universe. Every now and again we get reminded of how little control we have, and we have a choice -- will we cling to the one who throws the wedding feast, following and serving the one who has power over life and death, or will we continue to try and stubbornly do things our own way, thinking that we know best, that if we just try harder we'll figure it all out.
It is my prayer that we all have decades left to love and to serve and to draw nearer to God. But we don't have any guarantee of that. May we open our eyes and our hearts to Scripture and trust in the God who transcends time and space and invites us to reign with him in the eternal Kingdom.
Friday, July 27, 2018
Matthew 21:33-46
Matthew 21:33-46
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus speaks directly to the chief priests, confronting them on their actions -- they're rejecting him, refusing to consider the belief that he might be the Savior they've been waiting for. He spends so much time with them, urging them to see what they are doing, pointing to the Scripture that all point to him. He wants them to see, to understand, and he knows he needs to confront them to do so. They continue to resist.
We need friends like this. The church should be like this -- willing to confront us about the things we refuse to see in our lives. The church should be able to confront us in love, and to do so with humility, but we need to be honest with one another, because that's how we move forward. In our society, it's so easy to not take responsibility for one another -- we are nice and we are polite, but we often don't have relationships deep enough that allow us the trust, the currency, to speak hard truths with love into one another's lives. The danger of the consumerist church mentality is that we only show up to church to hear what God has to say to us, and we miss out on the chances to build relationships together, to be drawn closer to one another and be honest about our struggles and joys of the road of discipleship.
It's so important to find a group of people, a community, where you can be honest and where you can hear the things they have to say, the words of affirmation as well as the words that challenge our shortcomings. In hearing and speaking these things in love, we help see the way sin and idolatry creeps in our lives and we can find ways together to cling to Christ through it all.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus speaks directly to the chief priests, confronting them on their actions -- they're rejecting him, refusing to consider the belief that he might be the Savior they've been waiting for. He spends so much time with them, urging them to see what they are doing, pointing to the Scripture that all point to him. He wants them to see, to understand, and he knows he needs to confront them to do so. They continue to resist.
We need friends like this. The church should be like this -- willing to confront us about the things we refuse to see in our lives. The church should be able to confront us in love, and to do so with humility, but we need to be honest with one another, because that's how we move forward. In our society, it's so easy to not take responsibility for one another -- we are nice and we are polite, but we often don't have relationships deep enough that allow us the trust, the currency, to speak hard truths with love into one another's lives. The danger of the consumerist church mentality is that we only show up to church to hear what God has to say to us, and we miss out on the chances to build relationships together, to be drawn closer to one another and be honest about our struggles and joys of the road of discipleship.
It's so important to find a group of people, a community, where you can be honest and where you can hear the things they have to say, the words of affirmation as well as the words that challenge our shortcomings. In hearing and speaking these things in love, we help see the way sin and idolatry creeps in our lives and we can find ways together to cling to Christ through it all.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Matthew 21:28-32
Matthew 21:28-32
English Standard Version (ESV)
When James and John were hoping to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in the Kingdom, they had a warped understanding of what it means to be in the Kingdom. They viewed power the way we view it here on earth -- as something by which we compare one another. We could probably rank all 7 billion people on the planet by how much earthly power they wield, from the highest statesmen and women to the recent sighting of the Amazonian man dubbed the 'World's loneliest man' who has never had any outside contact. We can acummulate power and try and locate ourselves near the sources of it to make ourselves more important.
What Jesus is teaching the pharisees here is that power in the kingdom of God doesn't work that way. You don't get an extra trophy or an extra star in your crown for believing first. No one gets bonus points and can sit next to the teacher in class in heaven because they managed not to completely mess up their life at some point. God isn't looking to see who is more worthy of God's love.
It's about simply accepting that we are lost and believing that in Jesus we have a Savior. The more we are willing to be honest with ourselves and accept that we are sinful and broken and unworthy, the easier it is to accept that we need someone to help us sort ourselves out. If it takes us twenty years and a lot of sin and brokenness to get to the point where we see we need a Savior, it's a sad tale that we have to wander in the wilderness for so long, but Jesus rejoices all the same when we come to accept that he is King and died for us. Believing that you are better than someone who is a little more lost doesn't get you closer to God -- it can put you in danger of pride, which is the belief that you don't need a Savior as much as others because you're doing just fine.
So focus on the Savior, and trust that God is using all the things in your past to enrich your future ministry. Past mistakes don't have to be baggage to weigh us down -- they can be gifts that enable us to reach out to other broken people and demonstrate that God can work in anyone's life. We worship a God of grace, and I pray that the grace that accepts us can transform the way we treat one another.
English Standard Version (ESV)
When James and John were hoping to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in the Kingdom, they had a warped understanding of what it means to be in the Kingdom. They viewed power the way we view it here on earth -- as something by which we compare one another. We could probably rank all 7 billion people on the planet by how much earthly power they wield, from the highest statesmen and women to the recent sighting of the Amazonian man dubbed the 'World's loneliest man' who has never had any outside contact. We can acummulate power and try and locate ourselves near the sources of it to make ourselves more important.
What Jesus is teaching the pharisees here is that power in the kingdom of God doesn't work that way. You don't get an extra trophy or an extra star in your crown for believing first. No one gets bonus points and can sit next to the teacher in class in heaven because they managed not to completely mess up their life at some point. God isn't looking to see who is more worthy of God's love.
It's about simply accepting that we are lost and believing that in Jesus we have a Savior. The more we are willing to be honest with ourselves and accept that we are sinful and broken and unworthy, the easier it is to accept that we need someone to help us sort ourselves out. If it takes us twenty years and a lot of sin and brokenness to get to the point where we see we need a Savior, it's a sad tale that we have to wander in the wilderness for so long, but Jesus rejoices all the same when we come to accept that he is King and died for us. Believing that you are better than someone who is a little more lost doesn't get you closer to God -- it can put you in danger of pride, which is the belief that you don't need a Savior as much as others because you're doing just fine.
So focus on the Savior, and trust that God is using all the things in your past to enrich your future ministry. Past mistakes don't have to be baggage to weigh us down -- they can be gifts that enable us to reach out to other broken people and demonstrate that God can work in anyone's life. We worship a God of grace, and I pray that the grace that accepts us can transform the way we treat one another.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Matthew 21:23-27
Matthew 21:23-27
English Standard Version (ESV)
The chief priests and elders get something right here that isn't happening very often in today's world. They admit that they don't know. They consider the possible options, and while their answer is born out of fear, they have to admit that they fall short of Jesus' understanding of things.
As Christians, it's ok that we don't always have all the answers. We aren't the source of all wisdom -- Jesus is. It's hard to admit that we don't know, but that's often the best answer -- it's one that comes from a place of humility. We reach the end of our knowledge and we have faith and trust in the God that is beyond knowing.
Wouldn't it be interesting if the Christian church stood up in this modern era and demonstrated humility and the acceptance of ambiguity? We live in complicated times, and there seem to be so many people speaking so loudly without a solid grasp of facts. Let us be certain of the facts of our faith, and let us admit that we don't know beyond that, but we trust the God who has been faithfully consistent over the centuries and has promised to be faithful forevermore. I can't answer every question, but I can point to the God that I trust has every answer and holds every question and every question-asker in the palm of his mighty and magnificent hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The chief priests and elders get something right here that isn't happening very often in today's world. They admit that they don't know. They consider the possible options, and while their answer is born out of fear, they have to admit that they fall short of Jesus' understanding of things.
As Christians, it's ok that we don't always have all the answers. We aren't the source of all wisdom -- Jesus is. It's hard to admit that we don't know, but that's often the best answer -- it's one that comes from a place of humility. We reach the end of our knowledge and we have faith and trust in the God that is beyond knowing.
Wouldn't it be interesting if the Christian church stood up in this modern era and demonstrated humility and the acceptance of ambiguity? We live in complicated times, and there seem to be so many people speaking so loudly without a solid grasp of facts. Let us be certain of the facts of our faith, and let us admit that we don't know beyond that, but we trust the God who has been faithfully consistent over the centuries and has promised to be faithful forevermore. I can't answer every question, but I can point to the God that I trust has every answer and holds every question and every question-asker in the palm of his mighty and magnificent hand.
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Matthew 21:18-22
Matthew 21:18-22
English Standard Version (ESV)
The disciples marveled at Jesus when he cursed the fig tree -- they couldn't believe that his words alone could have such an effect. Jesus was then trying to teach them that by believing in him, there is no obstacle that could stand in the way of the spread of the Gospel.
The disciples saw the fig tree whither. They saw sick people be cured. They saw the dead raised to life. And yet still, when the Roman army came for Jesus, they scattered, afraid for their own lives. What we often know in our heads may not drive how we behave out of our hearts. We often react out of fear. Jesus is teaching us to believe, to keep our eyes focused on him, and not to fear.
There is a world beyond this one that we cannot see. Ultimately, we will pass through the veil of death and into an eternal life that is bigger than what we can possibly imagine. Jesus invites us to believe that through his life, death and resurrection, he has created a way for us to enter into that Kingdom. He promises us abundant life, and assures us of his trustworthiness. If we can find a way to trust in him and let go of our fears, just as he invites the disciples here to let go of their fears and trust him completely, we'll see amazing things that we can scarcely contemplate this side of heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The disciples marveled at Jesus when he cursed the fig tree -- they couldn't believe that his words alone could have such an effect. Jesus was then trying to teach them that by believing in him, there is no obstacle that could stand in the way of the spread of the Gospel.
The disciples saw the fig tree whither. They saw sick people be cured. They saw the dead raised to life. And yet still, when the Roman army came for Jesus, they scattered, afraid for their own lives. What we often know in our heads may not drive how we behave out of our hearts. We often react out of fear. Jesus is teaching us to believe, to keep our eyes focused on him, and not to fear.
There is a world beyond this one that we cannot see. Ultimately, we will pass through the veil of death and into an eternal life that is bigger than what we can possibly imagine. Jesus invites us to believe that through his life, death and resurrection, he has created a way for us to enter into that Kingdom. He promises us abundant life, and assures us of his trustworthiness. If we can find a way to trust in him and let go of our fears, just as he invites the disciples here to let go of their fears and trust him completely, we'll see amazing things that we can scarcely contemplate this side of heaven.
Monday, July 23, 2018
Matthew 21:12-17
Matthew 21:12-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
Think how hard it was to be a chief priest -- they knew they had to be indignant at Jesus, but every day he did something different that upset them. Sometimes they were upset that he healed someone on the wrong day, and occasionally he ate dinner with the wrong people. Here, Jesus is upset that commercial operations have completely taken over the central place for the worship of God and so he flips some tables over. The chief priests were constantly upset, but because Jesus is interested in claiming and redeeming all of life, they could never be certain exactly what he would be doing next, so they just had to stay constantly mad, a slow simmer that occasionally erupted.
It reminds me of the arguments I come across on the internet at times. There are people on the internet who seem to be always upset about something, directing their anger at different sources depending on the day. To try and talk them out of such emotions is fruitless -- they just need to be mad.
Surely there were people who saw the constantly-angry chief priests and steered clear of the temple as a result. They were afraid of accidentally offending someone and having wrath poured out upon them.
What kind of atmosphere do we set in our churches? Are we kind and gracious, displaying the type of patience that God pours out on us? Do we receive any and all, selflessly loving friends and strangers? Do we listen and attempt to understand all sides of an issue before rushing to judgment?
May God give us the grace to create a spirit-filled atmosphere that welcomes others in, rather than a place of judgment or anger that turns people away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Think how hard it was to be a chief priest -- they knew they had to be indignant at Jesus, but every day he did something different that upset them. Sometimes they were upset that he healed someone on the wrong day, and occasionally he ate dinner with the wrong people. Here, Jesus is upset that commercial operations have completely taken over the central place for the worship of God and so he flips some tables over. The chief priests were constantly upset, but because Jesus is interested in claiming and redeeming all of life, they could never be certain exactly what he would be doing next, so they just had to stay constantly mad, a slow simmer that occasionally erupted.
It reminds me of the arguments I come across on the internet at times. There are people on the internet who seem to be always upset about something, directing their anger at different sources depending on the day. To try and talk them out of such emotions is fruitless -- they just need to be mad.
Surely there were people who saw the constantly-angry chief priests and steered clear of the temple as a result. They were afraid of accidentally offending someone and having wrath poured out upon them.
What kind of atmosphere do we set in our churches? Are we kind and gracious, displaying the type of patience that God pours out on us? Do we receive any and all, selflessly loving friends and strangers? Do we listen and attempt to understand all sides of an issue before rushing to judgment?
May God give us the grace to create a spirit-filled atmosphere that welcomes others in, rather than a place of judgment or anger that turns people away.
Friday, July 20, 2018
Matthew 21:1-11
Matthew 21:1-11
English Standard Version (ESV)
Thank you to those of you who have donated to my Pelotonia fund!
The crowds lined up to praise him, and later in the week, they gathered to cry out for his condemnation. They are fickle, and as the atmosphere around Jerusalem changed, so did their attitude towards their Savior.
If we're not careful, we'll allow the circumstances of our lives to dictate our response to Jesus. When things are going well, we may choose to praise him and give thanks for his blessings. When things go poorly, though, do we run from him and look for comfort anywhere else? Or are we conditioned to understand that Jesus suffered and died for us, and thus he understands suffering and is able to sympathize with us in our moments and seasons of weakness? The more we read Scripture, the more we understand that God's complete love is present with us on the mountaintops and in the valleys, and a mature faith look to the light at all times, even in the darkest chapters, because God is always with us.
Our outside circumstances should not dictate our gratitude for God's love and salvation. God loves you and will give anything for you! There are better days ahead, no matter how good today is!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Thank you to those of you who have donated to my Pelotonia fund!
The crowds lined up to praise him, and later in the week, they gathered to cry out for his condemnation. They are fickle, and as the atmosphere around Jerusalem changed, so did their attitude towards their Savior.
If we're not careful, we'll allow the circumstances of our lives to dictate our response to Jesus. When things are going well, we may choose to praise him and give thanks for his blessings. When things go poorly, though, do we run from him and look for comfort anywhere else? Or are we conditioned to understand that Jesus suffered and died for us, and thus he understands suffering and is able to sympathize with us in our moments and seasons of weakness? The more we read Scripture, the more we understand that God's complete love is present with us on the mountaintops and in the valleys, and a mature faith look to the light at all times, even in the darkest chapters, because God is always with us.
Our outside circumstances should not dictate our gratitude for God's love and salvation. God loves you and will give anything for you! There are better days ahead, no matter how good today is!
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Matthew 20:29-34
Matthew 20:29-34
English Standard Version (ESV)
Can you imagine having the Lord and Savior of the world, the King of Kings and the one who crafted the universe from nothing, stand before you and ask you what it is that you want? I'm not sure I would even know how to answer -- and if I did, I doubt that I'd have the situational awareness to ask for what I truly needed. I'd panic and ask for season tickets to the Reds, only to realize later that there are 3,574 things more important than that.
What fascinates me is that Jesus knows what we truly need. He knows what these two blind men need. To everyone around, it's obvious that they need their sight, and they've probably given up hope of getting it back. But Jesus still asks. He doesn't simply walk by and wave a hand to give them what he knows they need. He asks, and when they answer, he has pity upon them and responds. Jesus listens. He invites us into the conversation, to be a part of what he is doing. We're not just passive riders on his kingdom -- we're active participants, and what we think and do matters! Jesus cares!
I hope you know that you matter infinitely to God. For years, I've preached this message, over and over again. You matter to God, and if you were the only person on earth, Jesus Christ would have counted you as worthy to die on the cross so that you would be redeemed. So you matter, and you have agency -- God listens to you. Even if the rest of the world insists that what you have to say doesn't matter, Jesus Christ cares enough to stop by the side of the road and listen to what you have to say, and to hear what it is that you think. You matter, and what you think matters, and Jesus will invest the time and love to walk with you on your journey of faith and life, wherever that may lead.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Can you imagine having the Lord and Savior of the world, the King of Kings and the one who crafted the universe from nothing, stand before you and ask you what it is that you want? I'm not sure I would even know how to answer -- and if I did, I doubt that I'd have the situational awareness to ask for what I truly needed. I'd panic and ask for season tickets to the Reds, only to realize later that there are 3,574 things more important than that.
What fascinates me is that Jesus knows what we truly need. He knows what these two blind men need. To everyone around, it's obvious that they need their sight, and they've probably given up hope of getting it back. But Jesus still asks. He doesn't simply walk by and wave a hand to give them what he knows they need. He asks, and when they answer, he has pity upon them and responds. Jesus listens. He invites us into the conversation, to be a part of what he is doing. We're not just passive riders on his kingdom -- we're active participants, and what we think and do matters! Jesus cares!
I hope you know that you matter infinitely to God. For years, I've preached this message, over and over again. You matter to God, and if you were the only person on earth, Jesus Christ would have counted you as worthy to die on the cross so that you would be redeemed. So you matter, and you have agency -- God listens to you. Even if the rest of the world insists that what you have to say doesn't matter, Jesus Christ cares enough to stop by the side of the road and listen to what you have to say, and to hear what it is that you think. You matter, and what you think matters, and Jesus will invest the time and love to walk with you on your journey of faith and life, wherever that may lead.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Matthew 20:20-28
Matthew 20:20-28
English Standard Version (ESV)
**Quick request -- In a few short weeks, I'll be taking part in Pelotonia, a fundraiser here in Columbus where 100% of the funds raised goes directly to life-changing cancer research at Ohio State. I'll be riding 50 miles and raising $1,500 as my small part in the larger effort to find a cure for cancer. We all know too many stories of lives changed and broken by this awful disease, so if you'd like to be a part of this work, please donate here. (I really need to start riding my bicycle more. I rode 12 miles the other day... so I've got work to do!)**
Here we see worldly views of power coming into direct conflict with Jesus' understandings of true power. The worldly approach to power is to look at the most public people -- there have been various websites that have tried to calculate the power or influence of public figures. We look at worldly leaders and see them as powerful, and James and John see the same opportunity here. They want to sit beside Jesus on the throne, but they don't grasp that the only way to achieve this power in God's kingdom is to serve. Jesus is on the throne only after he serves by giving himself completely, violently, to the powers of Rome. Rome thinks that it is conquering him through the cross, but they are only bit players in a much larger story that God is telling, a story of love and redemption. If Jesus Christ, the most powerful person to ever walk the planet, shows his power through selfless service, how then will you use whatever power you have?
The world may consider many of us powerless, but by choosing to serve without regard for ourselves, we are telling a different story -- we are telling a story that determines human worth not by worldly standards, but rather we are proclaiming human worth and dignity simply because each person is a child of God. We are affirming and encouraging every one we meet when we choose to serve them, and we are denying that status comes from money or fame. We are proclaiming an eternal story, in which love is the ultimate thread in the narrative that will stand the test of time.
English Standard Version (ESV)
**Quick request -- In a few short weeks, I'll be taking part in Pelotonia, a fundraiser here in Columbus where 100% of the funds raised goes directly to life-changing cancer research at Ohio State. I'll be riding 50 miles and raising $1,500 as my small part in the larger effort to find a cure for cancer. We all know too many stories of lives changed and broken by this awful disease, so if you'd like to be a part of this work, please donate here. (I really need to start riding my bicycle more. I rode 12 miles the other day... so I've got work to do!)**
Here we see worldly views of power coming into direct conflict with Jesus' understandings of true power. The worldly approach to power is to look at the most public people -- there have been various websites that have tried to calculate the power or influence of public figures. We look at worldly leaders and see them as powerful, and James and John see the same opportunity here. They want to sit beside Jesus on the throne, but they don't grasp that the only way to achieve this power in God's kingdom is to serve. Jesus is on the throne only after he serves by giving himself completely, violently, to the powers of Rome. Rome thinks that it is conquering him through the cross, but they are only bit players in a much larger story that God is telling, a story of love and redemption. If Jesus Christ, the most powerful person to ever walk the planet, shows his power through selfless service, how then will you use whatever power you have?
The world may consider many of us powerless, but by choosing to serve without regard for ourselves, we are telling a different story -- we are telling a story that determines human worth not by worldly standards, but rather we are proclaiming human worth and dignity simply because each person is a child of God. We are affirming and encouraging every one we meet when we choose to serve them, and we are denying that status comes from money or fame. We are proclaiming an eternal story, in which love is the ultimate thread in the narrative that will stand the test of time.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Matthew 20:17-19
Matthew 20:17-19
English Standard Version (ESV)
If I gave you two dinner plates and told you which one was likely to give you food poisoning, you'd pick the other one, right? Or what if I gave you a map with two paths, one of which was marked with constant danger and the certainty of an accident -- which way would you go?
Never forget that Jesus knew what was going to happen. He knew that a violent death awaited him in Jerusalem, and he went anyway, because that's how much God loves you. Even though Jesus Christ knew that he would suffer the ultimate torment and the depths of hell by taking the sin of humanity upon himself, he withstood it because of the depth of his love for you and for me. God would do anything to redeem you from sin and death, and Jesus went to Jerusalem to pay the only price that could be paid.
So hold your head up high -- you are infinitely loved and treasured beyond measure. You are a priceless creation that is valued so deeply that God would allow his own Son to be willingly crucified on a cross so that you could spend eternity in heaven. You have been redeemed and set free from the powers of sin and death. No one can ever take that away from you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
If I gave you two dinner plates and told you which one was likely to give you food poisoning, you'd pick the other one, right? Or what if I gave you a map with two paths, one of which was marked with constant danger and the certainty of an accident -- which way would you go?
Never forget that Jesus knew what was going to happen. He knew that a violent death awaited him in Jerusalem, and he went anyway, because that's how much God loves you. Even though Jesus Christ knew that he would suffer the ultimate torment and the depths of hell by taking the sin of humanity upon himself, he withstood it because of the depth of his love for you and for me. God would do anything to redeem you from sin and death, and Jesus went to Jerusalem to pay the only price that could be paid.
So hold your head up high -- you are infinitely loved and treasured beyond measure. You are a priceless creation that is valued so deeply that God would allow his own Son to be willingly crucified on a cross so that you could spend eternity in heaven. You have been redeemed and set free from the powers of sin and death. No one can ever take that away from you.
Monday, July 16, 2018
Matthew 20:1-16
Matthew 20:1-16
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having children, we spend a lot of time refereeing about what is fair. It's a shifting scale, of course -- what once might have been wonderful is rendered entirely unfair if one child sees another with something better. Caleb's happiness can be ruined if what he has suddenly doesn't measure up with what his sister gets.
Not that this changes much in adulthood. Our own happiness is often undermined when we see what someone else has. What would have once satisfied us is looked down upon when we realize that the neighbors or our friends are seemingly doing better than we are. We're constantly ranking ourselves.
The church seems to join in this ridiculous parade. The church can invest so much energy in determining who exactly is on the outside, because those on the inside might need to feel better about themselves. The church can try and define the limits of God's grace, and the church can be guilty of forgetting that we have all received abundantly more than we deserve. Each of us was lost, hopeless and afraid until we had a Savior rush into the world, calling us by name and gifting us with the free gift of salvation in the name of Christ.
So rather than try and limit the grace our good Shepherd doles out freely upon the world, let us celebrate that we worship a God of abundance who pays any price to rescue any sinner who will call Jesus Lord. May we find our ultimate satisfaction in the Lord, who alone can truly satisfy, and may our sense of peace invite others to find grace without judgment and love without limits.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having children, we spend a lot of time refereeing about what is fair. It's a shifting scale, of course -- what once might have been wonderful is rendered entirely unfair if one child sees another with something better. Caleb's happiness can be ruined if what he has suddenly doesn't measure up with what his sister gets.
Not that this changes much in adulthood. Our own happiness is often undermined when we see what someone else has. What would have once satisfied us is looked down upon when we realize that the neighbors or our friends are seemingly doing better than we are. We're constantly ranking ourselves.
The church seems to join in this ridiculous parade. The church can invest so much energy in determining who exactly is on the outside, because those on the inside might need to feel better about themselves. The church can try and define the limits of God's grace, and the church can be guilty of forgetting that we have all received abundantly more than we deserve. Each of us was lost, hopeless and afraid until we had a Savior rush into the world, calling us by name and gifting us with the free gift of salvation in the name of Christ.
So rather than try and limit the grace our good Shepherd doles out freely upon the world, let us celebrate that we worship a God of abundance who pays any price to rescue any sinner who will call Jesus Lord. May we find our ultimate satisfaction in the Lord, who alone can truly satisfy, and may our sense of peace invite others to find grace without judgment and love without limits.
Friday, July 13, 2018
Matthew 19:16-30
Matthew 19:16-30
English Standard Version (ESV)
If you would be perfect...
If we're trying to be perfect on our own, we will discover that our attempts are sorely lacking and will always fall short. But we lull ourselves into the false sense that we are good enough as we are, and money is a great security blanket for that state of mind -- it can make us believe that we can use it to obtain anything we want, and we can start to look to it for security.
But money cannot provide us ultimate security, and we will never find perfection without Jesus Christ. If we look to anything in this world to give us security, we'll be disappointed and broken by the end, because everything else will disappoint. Only Christ is perfect and perfectly reliable, and only by his grace and love are we made perfect. With God, all things are possible, even obtaining salvation that would otherwise be possible if it depended on humans and our human efforts.
English Standard Version (ESV)
If you would be perfect...
If we're trying to be perfect on our own, we will discover that our attempts are sorely lacking and will always fall short. But we lull ourselves into the false sense that we are good enough as we are, and money is a great security blanket for that state of mind -- it can make us believe that we can use it to obtain anything we want, and we can start to look to it for security.
But money cannot provide us ultimate security, and we will never find perfection without Jesus Christ. If we look to anything in this world to give us security, we'll be disappointed and broken by the end, because everything else will disappoint. Only Christ is perfect and perfectly reliable, and only by his grace and love are we made perfect. With God, all things are possible, even obtaining salvation that would otherwise be possible if it depended on humans and our human efforts.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
Matthew 19:13-15
Matthew 19:13-15
English Standard Version (ESV)
Loving children isn't always easy -- if you do a cost/benefit analysis, they may come up short. It requires tremendous sacrifice to love children. They can be messy and selfish and can bicker, and you don't get days off. In fact, if you try and take days off, the local police department may have something to say about your choices, especially given that children tend to find their way into danger. I find myself saying the most absurd things some days as I'm urging my children to make better choices so as not to endanger their physical health. It's hard to raise them, and it isn't easy, but it's wonderful as well. They love so purely, so fully, and when they laugh, which is far more often than I do, it's the most perfect sound in the world. I've learned so much about God's love from the love of my children.
So Jesus is teaching us about the kind of love we can expect in the kingdom. Goodness knows that humans aren't always easy to love, but God has chosen to love us. He wants us to learn from them, so that we might love as fully as they do, as freely as they do. May we pay attention to the wonder that children have, and may we join with them in their awe of how amazing life is and how joyous it is!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Loving children isn't always easy -- if you do a cost/benefit analysis, they may come up short. It requires tremendous sacrifice to love children. They can be messy and selfish and can bicker, and you don't get days off. In fact, if you try and take days off, the local police department may have something to say about your choices, especially given that children tend to find their way into danger. I find myself saying the most absurd things some days as I'm urging my children to make better choices so as not to endanger their physical health. It's hard to raise them, and it isn't easy, but it's wonderful as well. They love so purely, so fully, and when they laugh, which is far more often than I do, it's the most perfect sound in the world. I've learned so much about God's love from the love of my children.
So Jesus is teaching us about the kind of love we can expect in the kingdom. Goodness knows that humans aren't always easy to love, but God has chosen to love us. He wants us to learn from them, so that we might love as fully as they do, as freely as they do. May we pay attention to the wonder that children have, and may we join with them in their awe of how amazing life is and how joyous it is!
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Matthew 19:1-12
Matthew 19:1-12
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's interesting to note the setting of this teaching -- Jesus is busy healing large crowds of people. He's doing amazing work, and doubtless his work is causing many people to inquire more about God's work in the world and in their lives. Perhaps they're thinking of changing everything and following Jesus.
Into the midst of this amazing scene enter the Pharisees. What do they want to talk about? Divorce. They want to use this question to trap Jesus into breaking the law of Moses.
There's a time and a place for this discussion, and it's an important one. We have to talk about how the family matters to God, and how our sexual ethics matter to God. We are called to honor God in all of our relationships, no matter what level they exist at. It's vital that we listen carefully to the voice of the Holy Spirit and one another, interpreting what the entire witness of Scripture has to say, and find ways to match our understanding with the importance of loving God's children.
We need to pay attention to where and how we have these discussions. In this case, this doesn't seem to be the right time and place. The Pharisees are trying to score political points while Jesus is trying to heal and teach. In the same way, let us have our discussions in the appropriate places without harming the proclamation and service of the church in the world. We don't need to hide anything, but we need to ensure that our personal agendas don't do harm to the mission of the larger church in the way the Pharisees are so focused on 'winning' the debate with Jesus that they turn a healing event into a debate.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's interesting to note the setting of this teaching -- Jesus is busy healing large crowds of people. He's doing amazing work, and doubtless his work is causing many people to inquire more about God's work in the world and in their lives. Perhaps they're thinking of changing everything and following Jesus.
Into the midst of this amazing scene enter the Pharisees. What do they want to talk about? Divorce. They want to use this question to trap Jesus into breaking the law of Moses.
There's a time and a place for this discussion, and it's an important one. We have to talk about how the family matters to God, and how our sexual ethics matter to God. We are called to honor God in all of our relationships, no matter what level they exist at. It's vital that we listen carefully to the voice of the Holy Spirit and one another, interpreting what the entire witness of Scripture has to say, and find ways to match our understanding with the importance of loving God's children.
We need to pay attention to where and how we have these discussions. In this case, this doesn't seem to be the right time and place. The Pharisees are trying to score political points while Jesus is trying to heal and teach. In the same way, let us have our discussions in the appropriate places without harming the proclamation and service of the church in the world. We don't need to hide anything, but we need to ensure that our personal agendas don't do harm to the mission of the larger church in the way the Pharisees are so focused on 'winning' the debate with Jesus that they turn a healing event into a debate.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Matthew 18:21-34
Matthew 18:21-34
English Standard Version (ESV)
Here in the Gospels, the fellow servants alert the master to the wicked behavior of the debtor. He had been forgiven much, but the condition of his heart was such that he wasn't able to allow the grace that had been extended to him to transform his life into one that was gracious to others.
In today's world, social media serves the role of the fellow servants. There is almost always a camera recording interactions, and when people behave poorly, their behavior is quickly launched into the social media feeding frenzy, where a microscope is pointed at their misbehavior and real-world consequences often follow the misbehavior, often rightfully so. It's my opinion that the fury of the crowds isn't always directed in the right direction, but there have also been spotlights shined upon poor behavior that helps us as a society realize there is much growth we still need, and I think many people have properly been held accountable for misbehavior.
As Christians, we're called first to remember what has been done for us. Jesus Christ, out of selfless love and grace, died for us while we were still unworthy. We did not earn his grace and love, but he still gave it freely, and did so in order for us to receive what we did not deserve, forgiveness and hope and eternal life.
Therefore, we should be the most gracious of people. We have received with gratitude despite being unworthy. We are welcomed as friends despite the way we treated our host. We should then receive others with the same grace, all the while offering them the same selfless and unconditional love. In doing so, may we invite others to consider the God who calls followers to radical hospitality.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Here in the Gospels, the fellow servants alert the master to the wicked behavior of the debtor. He had been forgiven much, but the condition of his heart was such that he wasn't able to allow the grace that had been extended to him to transform his life into one that was gracious to others.
In today's world, social media serves the role of the fellow servants. There is almost always a camera recording interactions, and when people behave poorly, their behavior is quickly launched into the social media feeding frenzy, where a microscope is pointed at their misbehavior and real-world consequences often follow the misbehavior, often rightfully so. It's my opinion that the fury of the crowds isn't always directed in the right direction, but there have also been spotlights shined upon poor behavior that helps us as a society realize there is much growth we still need, and I think many people have properly been held accountable for misbehavior.
As Christians, we're called first to remember what has been done for us. Jesus Christ, out of selfless love and grace, died for us while we were still unworthy. We did not earn his grace and love, but he still gave it freely, and did so in order for us to receive what we did not deserve, forgiveness and hope and eternal life.
Therefore, we should be the most gracious of people. We have received with gratitude despite being unworthy. We are welcomed as friends despite the way we treated our host. We should then receive others with the same grace, all the while offering them the same selfless and unconditional love. In doing so, may we invite others to consider the God who calls followers to radical hospitality.
Monday, July 9, 2018
Matthew 18:15-20
Matthew 18:15-20
English Standard Version (ESV)
It matters deeply how we treat one another and how we work together. As someone once said, "We're all just walking each other home." We're in this together, and we all have issues & problems -- it's vital that we take seriously the responsibility to join together, with all humility, and figure out how to love and serve one another.
I was watching Hidden Figures this evening. It's the story of the NASA mathematicians who worked together to send men into space. A number of the pivotal figures in this effort were African-American women, and these women were looked down upon because of the color of their skin and their gender. It took too much time for those in charge to recognize and respect the value they brought to the space program because people were caught up in how they looked. Progress was likely held back due to basic prejudices.
We cannot afford to miss opportunities because we cannot work together as a people of faith. It's vital that we find a way to work together to proclaim the glory of Jesus Christ. We need to proclaim it, and we need to live out the Good News, allowing our actions to join with our words and tell a story of love and grace.
What we're doing on this planet matters, because we have been invited by God to join in building the Kingdom. How we treat one another matters, and it's important that we invite others to taste and see that the Lord is good. May our words and actions be always inviting, never turning away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It matters deeply how we treat one another and how we work together. As someone once said, "We're all just walking each other home." We're in this together, and we all have issues & problems -- it's vital that we take seriously the responsibility to join together, with all humility, and figure out how to love and serve one another.
I was watching Hidden Figures this evening. It's the story of the NASA mathematicians who worked together to send men into space. A number of the pivotal figures in this effort were African-American women, and these women were looked down upon because of the color of their skin and their gender. It took too much time for those in charge to recognize and respect the value they brought to the space program because people were caught up in how they looked. Progress was likely held back due to basic prejudices.
We cannot afford to miss opportunities because we cannot work together as a people of faith. It's vital that we find a way to work together to proclaim the glory of Jesus Christ. We need to proclaim it, and we need to live out the Good News, allowing our actions to join with our words and tell a story of love and grace.
What we're doing on this planet matters, because we have been invited by God to join in building the Kingdom. How we treat one another matters, and it's important that we invite others to taste and see that the Lord is good. May our words and actions be always inviting, never turning away.
Saturday, July 7, 2018
Matthew 18:10-14
Matthew 18:10-14
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's truly incredible how the world has come to a halt to pay attention to this Thai soccer team that is trapped in a cave. Divers from England are headed to Thailand, and Elon Musk is working on a solution as well. 15 kids the world had never heard of have grabbed our attention, and we're not worried about the cost -- we're worried about saving these kids. They're lost, and we're trying to bring them home. The same happened with the miners in Chile a few years ago - the world came together to try and save some miners. It's humanity at our best -- we stop worrying about costs and borders and the things that divide us and collectively exert ourselves in efforts to save others. We notice when some are lost, and we seek them out. We don't worry about whether the boys can pay us back, and we don't calculate their future contributions to humanity -- they are valuable because they are human, and so we try to save them.
The best stories of humanity bring joy to us because they have echoes of the truest story ever told. They remind us of something that is true about us -- that we were lost, and rather than count the cost, God paid the most valuable price of all -- he sent his Son into a dark world so that we might be saved. Even though we haven't figured out how to be grateful, even though we rebel against God, we are deemed valuable enough because of who we are, and so God pays any price to save us.
You are infinitely loved, and God thinks you are valuable enough to pay any price so that you might not be lost. God rejoices over finding you, and invites you to tell the wondrous story -- that lost things shall be found, and God will seek them out and rejoice when they are found!
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's truly incredible how the world has come to a halt to pay attention to this Thai soccer team that is trapped in a cave. Divers from England are headed to Thailand, and Elon Musk is working on a solution as well. 15 kids the world had never heard of have grabbed our attention, and we're not worried about the cost -- we're worried about saving these kids. They're lost, and we're trying to bring them home. The same happened with the miners in Chile a few years ago - the world came together to try and save some miners. It's humanity at our best -- we stop worrying about costs and borders and the things that divide us and collectively exert ourselves in efforts to save others. We notice when some are lost, and we seek them out. We don't worry about whether the boys can pay us back, and we don't calculate their future contributions to humanity -- they are valuable because they are human, and so we try to save them.
The best stories of humanity bring joy to us because they have echoes of the truest story ever told. They remind us of something that is true about us -- that we were lost, and rather than count the cost, God paid the most valuable price of all -- he sent his Son into a dark world so that we might be saved. Even though we haven't figured out how to be grateful, even though we rebel against God, we are deemed valuable enough because of who we are, and so God pays any price to save us.
You are infinitely loved, and God thinks you are valuable enough to pay any price so that you might not be lost. God rejoices over finding you, and invites you to tell the wondrous story -- that lost things shall be found, and God will seek them out and rejoice when they are found!
Friday, July 6, 2018
Matthew 18:7-9
Matthew 18:7-9
English Standard Version (ESV)
There's an interesting article on Christianity Today about how international Christians see the church in the West. There are a number of interesting points made in the article, but the most intriguing to me is the thought about how independent we are in the West. We do so many things on our own, a reality that is amplified by our collective habit of burying our faces in our phones. Even when we are together, we are often on our own. The implications of this have been written about in many places, and I'm not going into that in depth here, but it connects with what Jesus is teaching us here in verse 7.
Jesus is warning us about bringing temptation to others. The point of the faithful life is not only to follow Christ faithfully, but also to do our part to help others follow Christ. It's not just about us -- we are part of a community, and we have a responsibility to others. We're to care for them, encourage them, instill hope in them, and ensure they don't fall into a snare.
I just finished reading Michael Punke's The Revenant, a harrowing tale about a man mauled by a bear who is then abandoned by those charged to care for him. They leave him for dead, but he pushes forward, fueled for the remainder of the book by the thought of revenge. (I won't spoil the ending. Leonardo DiCaprio starred in a 2015 movie by the same name. I will say that it's a fascinating tale, but one unlikely to be filled with laughter if that's what you're looking for.) The reality of his abandonment in an hour of need sparked a fire within him.
It's vital that we care for each other. Jesus charges us to care for the community around us, at whatever cost. We must do whatever we can to avoid sin, but we are also to assist one another in resisting sin. We're in this together, and may we seek faithfulness as a community. Who can you encourage today to remain strong in the face of temptation?
English Standard Version (ESV)
There's an interesting article on Christianity Today about how international Christians see the church in the West. There are a number of interesting points made in the article, but the most intriguing to me is the thought about how independent we are in the West. We do so many things on our own, a reality that is amplified by our collective habit of burying our faces in our phones. Even when we are together, we are often on our own. The implications of this have been written about in many places, and I'm not going into that in depth here, but it connects with what Jesus is teaching us here in verse 7.
Jesus is warning us about bringing temptation to others. The point of the faithful life is not only to follow Christ faithfully, but also to do our part to help others follow Christ. It's not just about us -- we are part of a community, and we have a responsibility to others. We're to care for them, encourage them, instill hope in them, and ensure they don't fall into a snare.
I just finished reading Michael Punke's The Revenant, a harrowing tale about a man mauled by a bear who is then abandoned by those charged to care for him. They leave him for dead, but he pushes forward, fueled for the remainder of the book by the thought of revenge. (I won't spoil the ending. Leonardo DiCaprio starred in a 2015 movie by the same name. I will say that it's a fascinating tale, but one unlikely to be filled with laughter if that's what you're looking for.) The reality of his abandonment in an hour of need sparked a fire within him.
It's vital that we care for each other. Jesus charges us to care for the community around us, at whatever cost. We must do whatever we can to avoid sin, but we are also to assist one another in resisting sin. We're in this together, and may we seek faithfulness as a community. Who can you encourage today to remain strong in the face of temptation?
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Matthew 18:1-6
Matthew 18:1-6
English Standard Version (ESV)
Imagine telling the CEO of Disney that he needs to go learn from the newest intern. Or telling Lebron James that there's a 5th grade basketball star, and she can teach Lebron a thing or two. Pick the thing you're best at -- how would you feel if I told you that there's someone who just started who can teach you a lot about that thing?
It's easy to get a certain sense of pride about things, and the Pharisees certainly had that when it came to faith. They believed they knew everything they needed to know, and that there wasn't anything else they needed, and even if there was, that certainly wouldn't come from a child. There was an arrogance, as though they were the masters.
When we come to Jesus, we need to come with a sense of emptiness. We are not the masters, and we don't come to Jesus based on how much we know or how much we have accomplished. Children are excellent in the way that they love -- they have a complete sense of trust, and they love fully, with exuberant hearts. Watch a child play with bubbles, and then find me an adult who loves in that same way -- kids possess something adults have lost, and we have much to learn from them about how we approach God. We need to come with trust and respect, expecting great things and knowing that we will be loved, just as we are.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Imagine telling the CEO of Disney that he needs to go learn from the newest intern. Or telling Lebron James that there's a 5th grade basketball star, and she can teach Lebron a thing or two. Pick the thing you're best at -- how would you feel if I told you that there's someone who just started who can teach you a lot about that thing?
It's easy to get a certain sense of pride about things, and the Pharisees certainly had that when it came to faith. They believed they knew everything they needed to know, and that there wasn't anything else they needed, and even if there was, that certainly wouldn't come from a child. There was an arrogance, as though they were the masters.
When we come to Jesus, we need to come with a sense of emptiness. We are not the masters, and we don't come to Jesus based on how much we know or how much we have accomplished. Children are excellent in the way that they love -- they have a complete sense of trust, and they love fully, with exuberant hearts. Watch a child play with bubbles, and then find me an adult who loves in that same way -- kids possess something adults have lost, and we have much to learn from them about how we approach God. We need to come with trust and respect, expecting great things and knowing that we will be loved, just as we are.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Matthew 17:22-27
Matthew 17:22-27
English Standard Version (ESV)
God provides.
We don't always quite understand how God works. Sometimes God works exactly like we expect or exactly like we pray. The image in our head is exactly the way it works out.
Other times... well, at other times God does the unexpected. God saves the people by dying on a cross. God pays the tax by having a disciple discover some money in the mouth of a fish. God does some unexpected things.
So when you pray, be careful not to hold too tightly onto an image of what an answer to that prayer looks like. God may do the unexpected. We spend a lot of time praying for healing, but not all healing is physical. It's a hard lesson to learn to trust God and see the bigger picture, especially when we are limited by time and space in ways that God is not. God promises that our futures are safe in God's hands, so let us pray and trust, trust and pray.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God provides.
We don't always quite understand how God works. Sometimes God works exactly like we expect or exactly like we pray. The image in our head is exactly the way it works out.
Other times... well, at other times God does the unexpected. God saves the people by dying on a cross. God pays the tax by having a disciple discover some money in the mouth of a fish. God does some unexpected things.
So when you pray, be careful not to hold too tightly onto an image of what an answer to that prayer looks like. God may do the unexpected. We spend a lot of time praying for healing, but not all healing is physical. It's a hard lesson to learn to trust God and see the bigger picture, especially when we are limited by time and space in ways that God is not. God promises that our futures are safe in God's hands, so let us pray and trust, trust and pray.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)