Psalm 119:89-96

Psalm 119:89-96
New International Version (NIV)

  I love this because it sets up the reality that life, true life, eternal life, exists only in God.  Death, even death that we don't realize, the spiritual death that can slowly creep up on us and take us by surprise, is lurking if we invest our lives in anything other than God.  Jesus tells the Pharisees that they are like whitewashed tombs -- beautiful on the outside, but filled with death.  When we invest ourselves in Jesus, he can turn death into life -- that's the news of Easter, and it's an invitation to us, not only to be resurrected but also to share that news, even with the enemies who are threatening our death.  When we live in such a way that we are clearly invested in the eternal Kingdom of God, we are demonstrating that God's strength is over everything, and our confidence in that is contagious.
  For while some may wait to destroy you, they will be disappointed, for life will overcome!

Psalm 119:81-88

Psalm 119:81-88 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  What do you long for?
  The world teaches us to long for a lot of things.  If I were to ask my kids, they'd probably tell you that they're longing for more legos or cookies, neither of which are necessarily bad.  I'd probably opt for a vacation to someplace tropical or at least a nice dinner out.  Again, nothing bad, but these things fall a bit short of eternal joy and peace.  When we think about what we're longing for, we tend to be a bit short-sighted and focused on the present.  If all I'm aiming for is a nice dinner and a new lego set for the kids, what happens once I achieve that?
  When we aim for the eternal things that only God can offer, we spend a lifetime building towards it, catching glimpses here and there, powered forward by hope and a community that encourages us to strive farther.  We are discouraged at times, but the goal is so much larger than ourselves that we are always pushing ourselves.  The Holy Spirit beckons us onward, and our lives are invested in something bigger than ourselves.
  So may we long for God, and in so doing find ourselves transformed.
 

Psalm 119:73-80

Psalm 119:73-80
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Throughout the entirety of the Psalm, there's an undercurrent of trust -- if the Psalmist but trusts in the Lord, all will be well.  The Psalmist trusts the intent of the Lord, trusts the future in the Lord's hands, trusts that enemies will not overwhelm due to the provision of the Lord. 
  So this week, I'm praying to trust God more, and to do more than just say it -- but put that trust into action.  I'm not sure exactly what that looks like, but I suspect that it entails less worrying and anxiety and more calm and peace, which sounds wonderful to me!  Probably less of a focus on money as well -- my tendency to try and secure my own future can interfere with trusting God with my future.
  God is good, and can care for me and my wife and my children and my family and friends and future far better than I can.  May God's mercy come to me and to you and to all!

Psalm 119:65-72

Psalm 119:65-72 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I don't know that I'll ever be in a place where I can say that it was good that I was afflicted, but I can certainly see how I have grown through some afflictions, both ones that happened to me and others that were a result of my poor decisions.  Is my understanding of God worth thousands of gold and silver pieces?  Well, all that gold and silver doesn't do me a thing when I'm dead, while the peace of God that passes all understanding will cling to me through the veil of death and into eternity, so if there is an opportunity to enrich my understanding now of how God is at work and transcending death, then that's worth whatever money there is.
  That's a message we all need to hear, those of us with some means, those without shoes on their feet, and those collecting billions like those will give them security.  Ultimately, we are charged to be stewards of what we have, and not a single dollar will pass with us beyond the grave, and so every single one of us needs to be guard against the temptation to hoard.  Good judgment and knowledge, both of God and our fellow brothers and sisters, helps us see the opportunities to share and to bless.  In giving, our heart moves to delight.

Psalm 119:57-64

Psalm 119:57-64 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  In the hardest nights, in the bleakest moments, in the most desperate times, what do you do?
  Most of us don't like to think about those.  When I look back on my darkest days, I can't say that I handled the stress well.  I got lost in fear and uncertainty, and the darkest clouds of mourning gathered so closely around my soul that I didn't bother to look for the light.  I'm not proud of my reactions, just honest.
  The Psalmist rises at midnight, in the darkest hour of the night, to praise God, because the Psalmist is certain of where his hope comes from.  Knowing that the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord, the Psalmist searches for it, even in the darkest hours, because he is confidant that the future is in God's hands.
  As for me, I've been through some dark valleys.  I've seen death linger at houses too soon, and I've seen brokenness erode relationships.  I've seen sin creep into the depths of my heart.  In the darkest hours, I've looked inward, and found myself lacking.
  The Psalmist looks to the hills, from where our help comes.  If I were wiser, I would do the same.  I know now what the answer to life's hardest questions is, and I pray that in your trials, when the cords of the wicked ensnare you, that the steadfast love of the Lord will be made real through the presence of the community of faith and the work of the Holy Spirit, that God might draw you closer and remind you of the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:49-56

Psalm 119:49-56 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  What do you take comfort in?
  There are a lot of comfortable options.  Rachel loves warm & fuzzy socks, and a bowl of warm soup helps as well.  I opt for a nice spot on the couch and a cup of hot tea.  I'd pick a hot tub if I could find one as well, but I don't want to push things. 
  There are also sorts of options for comfort.  Some of it is finding comfort in your place in society.  We get comfortable in our jobs or our neighborhoods.  A temptation is to look down on other people, or even to put them down so that you feel more comfortable.  Sometimes, unfamiliar people show up, and we have to decide whether to welcome them and risk being challenged, or to reject them as a way to pad our own comfort.  Christ makes enemies of the Pharisees when he challenges their places of comfort, because the Pharisees sought comfort at the expense of others.  Christ teaches us that when we place our ultimate trust in God, the comfort we receive there allows us to endure all sorts of worldly discomfort and not be troubled by it.
  The Psalmist is beset by enemies, but he continues to find comfort in God's promises and in God's rules.  He is derided by his foes, but rather than seeking his comfort in his place, he seeks his comfort in God.  Nothing can take this from us, whereas if we define our comfort in something worldly, we'll lose it eventually. 
  Cling first to God.  Seek God first, and everything else follows.  Seek everything else first, and our vision is obscured as to the things that truly matter.

Psalm 119:41-48

Psalm 119:41-48
English Standard Version (ESV)

  To be completely honest, I don't love all laws.  If it were up to me, I'd do away with the speed limit, and I'd love to not have to pay taxes.  There are probably others that I could come up with if forced to make a list, but I do understand the reason behind them -- they exist to help society function better.
  The Old Testament Law had a purpose as well.  It was a gift to the people, to help them live every part of life to honor God.  It provided a path back to righteousness as well, but the people couldn't keep it.  They continued to dwell in sin, condemned by the Law.
  But it was the Law that was along the path to salvation, because while the Law revealed to the people their sin, it also revealed their inability to save themselves, and their need for our Savior.  Our need for a Savior.  We cannot save ourselves, because we cannot perfectly obey the Law, and so we look to God, and it is God's steadfast love that provides salvation according to God's promises.  Not according to our works or our gifts, but according to God's promises.
  The path has always led to the cross, and the cross is where we see the fullness of God's plan -- there the violations of the Law were poured upon Christ, were he received them, paid the price, and liberated you and I for all of time.

Psalm 119:33-40

Psalm 119:33-40 
English Standard Version (ESV)
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  Martin Luther said the heart is a factory of idols.  Solzyneitsin said that the line between good and evil runs down the middle of every human heart.  Paul says that we cannot do the things we ought.  I once said that people are wonderfully flawed.
  This passage illustrates how flawed we can be.  The prayer of the Psalmist is for God to teach him, but also to give him understanding, that he may begin to keep the law and observe it with his whole heart.  This is what Jesus was pushing us towards -- it's not enough just to know the law, and it's not enough to keep it with only our actions -- but we are to keep it with the entirety of our hearts, which is what leads Jesus to teach us that hate is the same as murder in the depths of our hearts.
  And so we ask for God to keep our heart away from greed, and to keep our eyes away from tempting things that lead us astray.  We ask for assurance, for so many roads lead away from God, but the narrow way leads to God. 
  What's wondrous is to pair this with the message of the Gospels.  We know how hard it is to be faithful, but Christ teaches us, Christ shows us, that God comes to us and offers us the free gift of grace and love.  We are challenged to be faithful, but we are not called to earn our salvation -- it is enough to receive it as the gift that it is.

Psalm 119:25-32

Psalm 119:25-32
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Ever hear of the imposter syndrome?  It's where we feel like we're a fraud and completely unqualified, and we're just waiting for everyone else to discover how unqualified we are, at which point we'll be tossed from the room.  It's the same feeling that restrains us from asking questions in lecture halls, because we don't want to expose ourselves as knowing something that it seems like everyone else knows.
  In faith, as in the rest of life, we often beat ourselves up for not knowing the answers, for getting things wrong.  But here, the Psalmist asks God to graciously teach us the law.  This is how God approaches us -- in grace and truth, calling us forward into new life, not browbeating us for falling short.  When we confess our ways to God, God teaches us the statutes.  We can melt in sorrow, but God teaches to strengthen us.  Let us choose to cling to God, not to our shame, that we may meditate on God's works and rejoice in God's wisdom!

Psalm 119:17-24

Psalm 119:17-24 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  They say you can tell how tough someone really is by what happens when they walk through a spiderweb.
  In the same way, how do you react when enemies plot against you?  If I was perfectly faithful, I wouldn't be bothered by it, because I'd be so confident in God's provision that I would know that my enemies could not damage even a hair on my head.  In reality, I often am afraid and insecure, uncertain of how the opposition of others might mean for me and for my place in the world -- because I get hung up on my place in the world, my social standing and my position and my reputation.  These things matter to me, and for some good reasons, and some vain ones.
  May our eyes be opened, that we may behold wondrous things -- and some of those wondrous things will be a reminder that the riches of this world pale in comparison.  In growing our confidence and hope in the Lord, we lose our scorn and contempt for others, because we are so focused on God and the hope of heaven that all we have left is love.

Psalm 119:9-16

Psalm 119:9-16 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Martin Luther called the human heart a factory of idols, and he was certainly correct when speaking of my heart!  When our hearts tempt us to be proud of our humility, you know that we can find a way to sin almost anywhere.  Even in our best moments, temptation sneaks in and lures us away from the life Christ calls us to live.  It is so easy to be double-minded, to fixate on the things of this world or building our own kingdoms. 
  It's comforting to know that Christ called the disciples with the full knowledge that they would deny or betray or abandon him later on.  Christ called them first, loved them first, and Christ does the same to you and to me.  The grace of God is what makes our salvation possible, and the more we focus on God (and the less on ourselves), the better we are able to join the Psalmist in delighting in God's testimonies as much as in all riches.
  So store up the Word in your heart, and meditate on Scripture daily, that our delight may be rooted in God.

Psalm 119:1-8

Psalm 119:1-8 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I'm sure I've said it here before, but I once heard a preacher say that joy is the flag that you fly in the castle of your heart when the King is at home. 
  The Psalms are a complicated book, a book that is real with the sorrows and joys and trials of real life.  Here, in the beginning of the 119th Psalm, we get a glimpse of the joy of the faithful heart.  It leaps off the page, the contentment that the Psalmist has found after faithfully seeking the Lord.  I haven't used that many exclamation points all year!
  For those of us who are imperfect, there is a temptation to lament our failure to be blameless, but the more important message here is a goal.  To seek to follow God with all of our hearts leads to joy.  The Kingdom of God, where sin will be banished, will be a place of joy, of wonder, of rejoicing. 
  There is sacrifice in opting to follow Jesus' selfless example, but this is what it leads to -- joy and wonder!  So choose faithfulness, and know that the ultimate reward is far greater than any short term cost.

Lamentations 3:21-27

Lamentations 3:21-27 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  During an eclipse, the sun does not cease to shine -- it is merely obscured by some other planetary object, and while we could opt to despair in those moments when darkness reigns, we instead rely on the knowledge that it is a passing moment.
  In the same vein, the suffering and sin in the world does not prevent the Lord's love from continuing.  It may obscure the steadfast love of God, but the darkness does not shut out the light.  The mercies of the Lord are new this morning -- and God is faithful still.  For those who cling to hope, they will be rewarded by the faithfulness of God.  Those who choose despair will be surprised to discover that God's love will conquer darkness and continue to reign.
  The steadfast love of the Lord does not cease.  Great is God's faithfulness!

Extending Credit

  There are credit cycles -- over time, as the economy booms and contracts, banks will either tighten or loosen their credit requirements.  When the economy is strong, banks will loosen their requirements, lending money far and wide.  When the economy begins to contract and loans start to default, the purse strings are tightened and the requirements increase -- at that point, the only people who can borrow money are the ones who don't need it. 
  Rachel received a letter in the mail the other day offering her an easy loan.  This particular entity, which I had not heard of, promised not to do a credit check, a major red flag in my book.  The entire premise was how easy the loan would be to get, with little mention of qualifications.  As an underwriter, it seemed reckless to me.  Banks should have some concerns and be willing to do research before handing out money.
 
  This led me to think about God's willingness to extend credit.  God recklessly invites any and all to dine at the heavenly banquet table, unconcerned about the background of those invited.  Ability to pay isn't a qualifier, since none are able to pay the price necessary to sit at the table with God -- the price is too high, only Christ can pay.  The same offer is made to anyone, from the most derelict sinner in prison to the proud business owner who isn't aware of their need to the minister trying to get by on their own -- each is offered a seat at the table. 
  Such is the love of God.  A free offer is extended to all, with no concerns about the background.  It is powerful love, given regardless of merit or station, and all are eligible for a seat at God's table.

2 Corinthians 1:15-22

2 Corinthians 1:15-22 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I start my new job on Monday.  In the process of any job search, I have heard a lot of 'no's.  When I was in business school, I was up late almost every night writing cover letters for job applications to companies I usually never heard back from.  To finally hear a company say 'Yes' is refreshing news that brings joy.  (For those interested, I'll be working with Stonehenge Capital on their community development team).
  When we look to Christ, we see the 'Yes' to God's promises that have echoed throughout the ages.  All the hopes that we've based on the portrayals of the Kingdom of God are found to be solid because they are in Christ.  The longing of every human heart finds joy and refreshment in Christ. 
  In response, what does your 'Amen to God for his glory' sound like today? 
  And how are you listening to the Spirit of God in your hearts as God's guarantee that you are established in Christ?

Philippians 1:12-14

Philippians 1:12-14 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  My life, like yours and everyone else's, is not a series of leaps from mountaintop to mountaintop.  There is time in the valleys, where shadows stretch and the light can be harder to see, and there is time on the plain, wondering what the next chapter might be like.  Often, particularly in those valley experiences, it is all I can do to place one foot in front of the other, and it's easy to opt for self-pity.
  What Paul does remarkably is frame everything up through the lens of advancing the Gospel.  When he's in the dark valleys, he sees this as an opportunity to help others see how Christ's light shines in dark places.  He is imprisoned, but his mind is focused on declaring the Gospel, and so rather than fixate on what is wrong with his situation, he wonders instead how this situation might be an opportunity for others to come to know the grace and love of God.
  The glory of the Gospel is that our conditions do not alter God's love for us.  Christ is with us -- though we walk through the valley of death, we do not fear, because God is with us.  In Paul's imprisonment, the Gospel made him free.  May the wonder of Christ grant us that same freedom of spirit.

Ephesians 1:15-21

Ephesians 1:15-21 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Jesus heals the blind a number of times, and we tend to take some of these for granted, but there is something instructive for us.  We can marvel at Jesus' ability to heal the blind, but we can also take the next step and realize how blind we are.  Jesus tries teaching this to the Pharisees, but they are willfully blind, whereas I think we just stumble into our blindness  We get caught up in the cares of the world and don't nurture our sight, so we lose it, often without even realizing it.
  If you could have the eyes of your heart enlightened, how would your life change?
  If I could, I think I'd see more clearly the hope of the faithful.  If I could see with the eyes of my heart, I'd give thanks for the witness of the church, that is constantly praying for each of the saints of the church to run the race with endurance.  If I could see clearly, I'd have a better understanding of the immeasurable greatness of God's power and recognize that the most faithful thing I can do is bow the knee before the King of heaven.
  Sin clouds my vision, and so I repent of the fact that I stare too longingly at the things of this world, and pray for the wisdom and courage to see, to truly see, the people around me in the same way God sees them.  These are not people to pass by lightly, but rather they are beloved hand-crafted creations of the one true God -- I should treat them as such, with reverent love and humble hearts.  In so doing, I honor the one who created them, and discover my true self through acts of service, and in such a life, I am drawn closer to God, prepared for the eternal Kingdom.

Matthew 2:7-12

Matthew 2:7-12 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  The journey for the wise men would have been hard.  Travel was expensive in those days, and it was dangerous as well.  It was prudent to travel with a group so that you'd have strength in numbers to prevent thieves from striking your camp.  A journey like this would have taken a long time, but the vision in front of the wise men was so compelling that they were willing to undertake these risks, these hardships, because worship of the Christ child was worth it.
  What's important for us, as modern day Christians, is to continue to allow ourselves to be amazed by what God offers us that we're willing to undertake challenging sacrifices or great risks to honor Christ.  Contemplate what God has done -- taking on the form of a child, coming to earth in a vulnerable way, all to show God's great love for us.  This was a costly sacrifice by God, and it was done to lavish grace upon grace on us..  God is opening the door through death into eternal life, and nothing would stop God from carrying out this plan. 
  So realize how incredible it is that God would do this for you, for us, and pray about what you can risk to offer your praise back to God.

Isaiah 66:12-14

Isaiah 66:12-14 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Did you know that we're still in the Christmas season?  Once the calendar flips into the new year, Christmas is often forgotten amid the flurry of activity, as everyone filters back home and to work.  The engines of the economy start firing again, and gathering around the Christmas tree is but a memory.
  But we're in the 10th day of Christmas (10 Lord a leaping is the gift for today, I believe, if you're honoring the song), and we can still celebrate that Christ has come.  Today seems especially poignant for that given the activity in the middle east.  We are a world longing for peace, and since Cain slew Abel, we've been in conflict with one another.  Sin divides us, and we rely upon a Savior to liberate us, to grant us the true and lasting peace that Christ alone can bring.  Until Christ returns and the Lord extends peace like a river to us, we will be retaliating against one another.  In the day to come, our hearts can rejoice and we will be comforted.  Until that day, let us pray for peace, for those who only know conflict, and for those in service -- may all be able to live in peace, to catch glimpses of the coming Kingdom in their everyday lives.

Titus 2:11-14

Titus 2:11-14 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's January 2, and new year's resolutions around the world have already been broken.  Some made it a whole day, while others didn't even last until lunchtime.  These broken promises to ourselves are met with a combination of shame and resignation, and we promise ourselves that we'll try again next year. 
  Here in Titus, there are a few things to point out.  Yes, we are being trained to renounce ungodliness with the hopes that we'll live self-controlled and godly lives.  The process of sanctification is how God slowly helps us grow throughout our entire lives. 
  But who appears to train us?  It is the grace of God, the same grace that brings salvation.  It is Jesus Christ who has already given himself for our redemption.  We have been purchased, before the process of training and self-control even begins.  Jesus has purified us for his own possession, and so as a result, we have a zeal for good works.  Remember the order, friends, so that our failures may not discourage us, but rather be a reminder that we have been saved by the blood of the lamb.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Happy New Year!  As the calendar has switched from 2019 to 2020 and the old year is left behind, we, too, are changed, and we are new creations in Christ!  Christ reconciled himself to us -- it was God who acted, and we who receive the new.  Your sins are not counted against you, and you are white as snow. 
  May the new year bring hope, may it bring joy, may it bring peace.  Know that you are in Christ!!