1 Peter 4:12-19

1 Peter 4:12-19 

English Standard Version 

  "Rejoice when you suffer" hasn't been a very popular recruiting line in the church.  Some churches out there will tell you that being a Christian will make you suffer less.  Some people will even say that if you're suffering, that means you're not a strong enough Christian.  Those people are wrong. If they were right, then how do you explain Jesus?  He was the most perfect Christian that ever lived, and he suffered more than anyone else.  He suffered more than all of humanity, and it wasn't because he wasn't a good enough Christian -- he did it because we fell short and because he loves us.  

  Suffering will always be hard.  There's never an easy way through it.  But when we suffer, it can be a reminder to us of God's tremendous love for us, and it can help us remember to give thanks for all that God has done for us.

1 Peter 4:7-11

1 Peter 4:7-11

English Standard Version 

  It's easy to despair.  There are plenty of reasons... the latest news of the latest tragedy.  It breaks your heart to read the news, to see what people go through.  Some things in the world simply make us angry, while others leave us at a loss for words.

  Scripture reminds us to be dedicated to a life of prayer.  If we keep at this, it reminds us to love one another and use our gifts for the good of the world.  To remain faithful, day by day, in the face of incredible adversity, is a tremendous gift to the world.  Be steadfast in the face of opposition, remembering constantly that it is the strength of God at work in us, moving through us and out into the world.  Only through God will the world be saved, so let us not grow weary of doing good but persevere for the glory of God!

1 Peter 4:1-6

1 Peter 4:1-6 

English Standard Version 

  When I was driving in Atlanta, it required a different way of thinking.  To follow the speed limit was to risk life and limb.  Obeying traffic laws could imperil you.  To drive the way that I drove in Cincinnati would've been futile.

  This letter is suggesting the same method to us.  When we convert to being a Christian, we can't keep living like we did beforehand.  We should see the world differently, and that should change the way we act.  Our suffering should no longer lead us to despair, but rather we abide always in hope, for the time in which the passions of the flesh reigned has past, and we now live with Gospel hope in the Kingdom of God entwined deep in our hearts.  Chasing worldly pleasures that lead us into places of division cannot satisfy, for we have heard whispered in the depths of our hearts the truth that will truly satisfy, and therefore the devil's empty promises ring hollow.  We know they are lies, and because we have heard the truth, our appetites have changed.  

  We watch the world and wonder if things are really fair.  They are not, fortunately, for we who deserve death are given life through Jesus Christ, thanks be to God.  God alone is the judge, and we must entrust that the God who comes as judge is the same God who comes as Savior.  What will happen to those who choose evil?  We cannot know.  Will they receive the blessed mercy that Christ offers?  Will they see the error of their ways and repent?  Will they know the truth and be set free by it?  Will they perish, clutching at their empty idols?  

  We don't know.  May we have the humility and wisdom to pray for all, and to trust in God.  

1 Peter 3:18-22

1 Peter 3:18-22 

English Standard Version 

  As we draw nearer to Christmas, a few things happen.  You start to feel like the season is racing by and you're not ready for Christmas, and the inundation from commercials becomes unbearable.  Maybe Christmas traditions help anchor the season by providing things to look forward to or celebrations that remind you of the connections we have, but it's so hard to stay focused during Christmas.  It always seems to me like the next thing is bearing down on me.

  Scripture has its ways of reminding us of the miracles of God's love.  The more we read, the more we listen, we see and hear God's promises appearing over and over.  They overlap and intersect, with Noah pointing ahead to Jesus and Jesus pointing back reminding us that God has been at work this entire time.  All of Scripture is a gift, sent to affirm our belief, to push us beyond our comfort level, and ultimately to treasure God's presence and seek out God's guidance.

1 Peter 3:13-17

1 Peter 3:13-17 

English Standard Version 

  It can be so challenging in life to do the right thing when no one is watching.  At those moments, the temptation is to slack off, to relax a little, and maybe to cut a corner or two.  

  But Scripture reminds us that it's so much easier to live in such a way that we consistently choose to do the right thing.  Align our hearts with God's holiness, and we'll be prepared to explain why we did something.  We don't have to worry about our conscious if we're not cutting corners in our private life.  It may cause suffering, Scripture warns us, but we're better off being persecuted for doing what is right than living a life that lacks integrity and pursuing the easy way out.  We will be blessed, we are told -- we'll have peace of mind, and that is a tremendous gift.

1 Peter 3:8-12

1 Peter 3:8-12 

English Standard Version 

  This may be the hardest part of being a Christian -- we're called to exercise love even in the face of evil.  I was reading about some of the problems the Columbus Zoo has with traffic when tens of thousands of people show up and then all try and leave at the same time.  Inevitably, fights break out in the parking lot as one person gets mad and then the next person gets mad in response.  We can't help but react in anger when others are doing the same.  

  But the Gospels tell us that it's not how we're made.  We are called to bless in the midst of such situations, as hard as that may seem.  In the midst of such situations, how can we pray for Holy Spirit wisdom to be a blessing to others, to seek ways to love, to exercise patience?  

1 Peter 2:18-25

1 Peter 2:18-25

English Standard Version 

  It's amazing how committed Christ is to us.  Despite having the power to escape painful torture and a gruesome death, he endured.  Such is the love that God has for us that even while we were still enemies of God, Christ pursued us at great cost to himself.  Hy his wounds, we're told, that we are healed.  

  So how do we embody that in the world?  

  Who are we willing to suffer for?  Jesus tells us that we ought to love others as we love ourselves, which sounds great, but is actually an impossible standard.  Imagine that every time you treat yourself, you find someone else, a stranger or friend, and do the same thing for them.  Imagine that every time you see someone, you think about what they deserve for all their hard work or the challenging path they've had to walk.  It's impossible to care for someone the same way we care for ourselves.  We do this for children, sacrificing much for them, but for strangers?  For enemies?  It's unthinkable.  And yet that is the challenge, and that is the example that Christ shows us.

  May we marvel at his love, and may it inspire us to care for others in this time and place, that our lives may be transformed by his sacrificial act.

1 Peter 2:13-17

1 Peter 2:13-17 

English Standard Version 

  Part of being Christians is being part of a larger society -- we don't isolate and live on our own, but we go out into the community and seek to influence it for good.  We believe that God loves all people and that God is working to reconcile all people back to himself, and so we partake in society.  Trying to overthrow society would paint us as power-hungry.  I do believe that we're called to speak up when we see things that are wrong, to represent the voices of the oppressed and downtrodden.  We're to be advocates for people who are otherwise silenced.  It's tempting to withdraw, to avoid many of the downsides of community, but just like the disciples, we are sent out into the world with a message of hope for a world weary from conflict.  May we proclaim that message and live that message.

1 Peter 2:11-12

1 Peter 2:11-12 

English Standard Version 

  Peter spends so much time reminding his readers how treasured they are, and he immediately moves to behavior.  Friends, it matters how we live and how we treat one another.  It matters that we restrain ourselves, as challenging as it is, especially in an age of indulgence.  It's so easy to indulge whatever desires we have, especially in a world where we're constantly told that everything is ok as long as you're not hurting anyone else.  Peter tells us that our behavior should point to God, that it should help others glorify God.  It matters how we live, for that tells a story that we treat ourselves and one another like we are the beloved of God.

1 Peter 2:9-10

1 Peter 2:9-10 

English Standard Version 

  I know, I know -- you don't feel like a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession.  You feel like people simply trying to get by, wondering if there's enough energy and money left over at the end of the day.  Sometimes, you think you're forgotten by the outside world, and sometimes, maybe you wonder if God is really there and paying attention.  

  All of this is merely evidence that our feelings can betray us.  What we feel can be in contrast with what we are.  Here is 1 Peter, we're being reminded of our true identity.  No, we may not always feel like a people for God's own possession, but we are.  God shows us God's love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, and so we have received mercy.  This is true, and though our feelings drift over the days and weeks and months, the truth of God's love never changes.

1 Peter 2:4-8

1 Peter 2:4-8 

English Standard Version 

  God is building something, a kingdom that will stand forever, and we are stones in that kingdom.  We rest upon Christ as the cornerstone, but we are crucial pieces in the kingdom -- the kingdom is comprised of people, brothers and sisters in Christ, handcrafted in the image of God, formed through the work of the Holy Spirit in discipleship so that we might participate in this kingdom.  We go through life often unaware of the kingdom that God is building -- we spend so much time and energy focused on our own little kingdoms, building small worlds that crumble with time, when we instead ought to be thinking about what God is doing, building something glorious with us that will stand for all of eternity.  That's where our hearts ought to focus -- to pray for God to help us see ourselves as part of something majestic, beautiful, and eternal.  God thinks we matter in that kingdom -- God thinks we matter enough to die for us!  So don't downplay your role in God's kingdom.  God thinks you're crucially important in what God is building, so let us live like we matter, and treat one another like each and every one of us are critical pieces of God's eternal kingdom.

1 Peter 2:1-3

1 Peter 2:1-3 

English Standard Version 

  Well, there goes the talk shows and political commentary!  Talk radio is probably also going by the wayside.  Social media may not have long in the world, either, and perhaps that is a gift to society!  

  Jesus amazed his listeners by telling them they needed to be like children.  We often think children are less than adults, but then I listen to adults talk to each other, and I spend time around children... and we could learn a lot from the youngest among us!  

  What we're learning here in 1 Peter is that we need to recognize how dependent we are on the Holy Spirit to grow into people made in the image of God.  If we follow the ways of the world, we'll end up filled with envy and deceit.  But if we let ourselves be let by God each and every day, following where God is leading and treating one another the way we know we should, then we grow into the people God wants us to be.  

  May we first taste that the Lord is good, and develop a craving for God's Word, so that we may drink of it each day, and be led, little by little, growing into the disciples we are called to be.

1 Peter 1:22-25

1 Peter 1:22-25 

English Standard Version 

  The way we treat one another is directly linked to our status as having been born again.  Once we hear the Gospel and our hearts are transformed by the Holy Spirit, we cannot help but love one another.  I think this is a vital point that the church needs to continue to emphasize -- Christianity isn't simply an individual act of dedicating one's life to Christ, but an ongoing practice in which we experience the love of Christ and invest our time and energy sharing that with one another.  Our hearts are purified due to Christ's sacrifice for us, therefore we are called to love one another.  May we pray for Holy Spirit wisdom to pursue that this Advent season.

1 Peter 1:17-21

1 Peter 1:17-21 

English Standard Version 

  This Black Friday, there will be lots of focus on reduced prices.  The idea is that you can get something of high value for lower price -- you're focused on the value you obtain for the price.  Something that was unappealing at higher cost is now far more interesting due to the lower cost.

  It's funny to think of God flipping through ads from the Sunday newspaper, each page displaying a different person, and God deciding what price to pay to ransom us.  Thankfully, that's not how the process went.  God didn't wait for us to go on sale.  God knew that the cost to ransom us was more than silver or gold, but God didn't hesitate, even though the cost was the life of Jesus Christ.  God was willing to pay any price, because God values you as worth it.  

  So this week, whenever you see an ad, think of God placing a supreme value on you, loving you enough to pay for you with the precious blood of Christ.  May the non-stop commercial bombardment of this season be a reminder to you of God's amazing love.

Entitlement

   I recently finished Entitlement by Rumaan Alam.  The review from the New York Times on the Amazon page calls it a 'psychological thriller'.  If you choose to read this book, I think the word 'thriller' is unlikely to be one of the words you use to describe it.  Given that it currently averages 3.3 stars out of 311 reviews, I'm guessing that it's unlikely you'll read this book.  I don't blame you.  There are plenty of other books out there that are actually thrilling.  I also finished Richard Osman's We Solve Murders, which was thrilling.  But if you want a book that makes you think, Entitlement will work for that, depending on how comfortable you are with subtle confrontation.  The book prods.

  It's a story about a woman, Brooke Orr, in New York who starts a new job in her mid-thirties working for a foundation.  The foundation is a newly formed effort by a billionaire who is looking to change the world.  Or manage his tax liabilities, depending on one's perspective.  What makes the book interesting is the way that being around the billionaire changes Brooke.  She begins to see the way wealth and power influences people, the way it changes the world they live in.  She begins to see herself as equally deserving of privilege and power.  She starts to demand things.

  It makes one think about how the Scriptures don't tell us that money is the root of all evil.  It's the love of money that is the root of all evil.  What we choose to love changes us.  As Tim Keller says, whether fundamentalism is good or bad depends on what your fundamental is.  If it's a self-giving God who pours himself out so that others may have life and have it abundantly, then that type of fundamentalism will drive you to fixate on serving others.  If we choose to love money and begin to expect the world to treat us differently based on the amount of it we have, then that changes us, too, and not in a good way.

  I also recently re-read C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce.  It's a tale of interactions between people choosing whether or not to go to heaven.  Those in heaven have come to implore them to choose heaven, to choose to grow into the people God has made them to be.  They talk about how the choices they make will color backwards, transforming the way they see all the choices beforehand.  If they choose grace and goodness, then that will trace its way back to the roots and everything before will be changed.

  The choices we make change us, often in subtle ways.  Our friends notice it, as Brooke's did in Entitlement.  But we often think it's our friends that have changed, not us.  We view it as part of maturation, and attribute things to our friends lack thereof.  But we're always changing, growing, picking up new things and setting others down.  Entitlement is a warning, in many ways, that the power and privileges that come along with money will twist the soul, despite our intentions and the thought that we can control it.  We must be careful around fire -- we cannot hold it without getting burned.  

1 Peter 1:13-16

1 Peter 1:13-16 

English Standard Version 

  I doubt that many of us think about God often enough.  We think about a lot of things -- the things we have to do, the things that are waiting once we are done with those, and sometimes we think about what we should have done or said.  I'm probably not the only one who often comes up with the perfect thing to say 10 minutes after the opportunity to say it arose.  What do you think about in your free time?  I heard a preacher once say that what you think about when you have nothing else to think about is your true god.  It's an interesting idea -- and one I try not to think about!

  Do you think about God as holy?  I imagine the elders gathered around the throne of grace, throwing their crowns down upon the ground and chanting holy, holy, holy.  They love to sing about the holiness of God.  The New Testament lays out the idea that the more we think about the holiness of God, we'll be inspired to live in a more holy way, because we're so grateful to God for giving us that holiness as a free gift through the grace of Jesus Christ.  

  God is holy.  Dwell on that for a time today.  Think of God on the throne, surrounded by unapproachable light.  Appreciate that for a time.  God is holy.  May that inspire us to make more holy choices in our lives.

Psalms 73:23-28

Psalm 73:23-28 

English Standard Version 

  I'm traveling for a bit, so I'll be taking the next two weeks off and will pick up later.  I'll leave you with these words of wisdom from the Psalms.  Whom in heaven do we have besides God?  Everything else around us may fail.  Everything else within us may fail.  But God will never fail nor forsake us.  God is faithful, and we can take comfort and peace knowing that God abides with us.  May we pray for the wisdom to make the Lord our refuge, that we may shelter in the grace of God and go forth to tell the world about the gracious God we worship.

1 Peter 1:10-12

1 Peter 1:10-12 

English Standard Version 

  I've always loved this concept in Scripture -- that we receive the good news into which angels long to look.  We take it for granted, because we've heard the good news proclaimed so many times, but it's a precious, precious gift, and we ought to treasure it each time we hear it.  It's not one taken lightly, for the prophets spent their time and energy inquiring carefully as to the heart of the message.  So may we receive it and give it the consideration it deserves -- to invest our time and attention into it, pondering it like Mary treasured the Good News that was delivered to her.

Endurance

  I'd heard about the exploration of Antartica in 1914 led by Shackleton, but I never had more than cursory knowledge of the trip.  I finished Alfred Lansing's Endurance last week, which is the full story of the incredible voyage, and it's one of the most remarkable true stories I've ever read.  I have absolutely zero interest in a polar expedition, due to my strong desire to not lose limbs to frostbite, but I admire the courage and determination of those who lead and participate in such journeys.  

  Shackleton's journey took a turn for the worse when he and the 27 members of his crew became stuck in the pack ice, drifting at the mercy of polar ice for months before their ship was eventually crushed by the ice.  Then they were left to try and hike as far as they could before taking to the boats, eventually landing on Elephant Island, an inhospitable spot in the midst of an angry sea.  Once there, 6 men set out in a small boat to navigate 800 miles across the violent Southern Sea, one of the most ambitious feats of navigation in recorded history.  Then, once they somehow landed on South Georgia Island, three of the six men had to hike 29 miles across mountainous/blizzard conditions to reach help.  

  Somehow, Shackleton didn't lose a single crew member.  Every time I turned the page, when I thought things were as bad as they could get, somehow they got worse, but the crew persevered.  It's amazing to think of the obstacles they overcame.  In the final voyage to South Georgia Island, it seemed like every minute brought potential calamity, but they solved each problem, one by one, and they were all rescued.

  It makes me think of Lamentations 3, when we're told that God's mercies are new every morning.  We so often have no idea what we'll face each day.  When they first got snared in the ice, if you'd told Shackleton and the crew what awaited them, they might have given up.  But they didn't know what awaited them, and they simply dealt with the challenges, day by day.  They found a way to manage.

  A very wise woman once told me that worry is negative prayer.  May we trust in God that we'll have the strength to manage what's in front of us, and let the future take care of itself.  We don't know what awaits and we'll only discover the resources when we get there.  

1 Peter 1:3-9

1 Peter 1:3-9 

English Standard Version 

  Our hope in Christ isn't simply static.  It's a living hope, which means that it's resilient.  No matter what happens in the world, our hope doesn't fall down in defeat -- it's alive, and it's adapting.  The despair you may face?  Our hope can adapt to that.  The fears you have in the world?  Our hope can show strength in the face of these.  

  Peter reminds the exiles that their inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.  No matter what the world threatens, the inheritance we have with Christ cannot be stolen away, even in the face of the gravest threats.  We often shrink back in fear, uncertain of what to do next.  In those moments, may we take a deep, deep breath and remember that we are guarded by God's power.

1 Peter 1:1-2

1 Peter 1:1-2

English Standard Version 

  Here we have Peter, writing to a number of exiles, spread across a region.  Imagine all these exiles have going through their minds,  everything they have going on in their lives... and the most important thing that Peter can remind them of is that they are the elect who have been sprinkled with the blood of Christ.  May the grace and peace of God fill them.

  In the same way, we as a country have a lot going on, and the people are very divided.  There will be countless emotions as America goes to the polls today.  People will be searching for their true identity.  In these times, may we remember that above all else, we have been sprinkled with the blood of Christ, claimed in the waters of baptism, and before anything else in the world, we belong to Christ.

Psalm 18:31-35

Psalm 18:31-35 

English Standard Version 

  The Psalmist gives us an image of God as protector, setting our feet secure on the heights, and teacher as well -- God prepares us and sends us out into the world to serve.  We don't go on our own, because it's God who supports us and God who protects us and God who enables us to take the next step.  

  So the question for each of us, the question for all of us -- do we make time to train with God?  Are we listening for the voice and guidance of God?  Are we intentional about thinking of building ourselves, of allowing God to guide as we grow?  I don't think this happens by accident, but rather by intent.  When we focus and dedicate ourselves to learn from God and grow in discipleship, then we draw closer to God and feel both the security and the sending of God.

Psalm 18:25-30

Psalm 18:25-30 

English Standard Version

  When I read this Psalm, which is my favorite, I always get pumped up.  I understand the Psalmist's words here -- with God, we can jump over walls and run against impossible odds.  We're so excited about who God is and what God is doing that it energizes our very souls.  God is perfect and true, and God opts to be for us.  God uses God's power and God's word to pave a path forward for us through opposition and through death.  There was a dead end, but God brought life, and it's all because God is pure love and grace.  None of it is deserved, and all of it is gift.  

  May we find our refuge in God, day after day after day, and let that powerful love be a shield around our weary and embattled souls.

Psalm 18:20-24

Psalm 18:20-24

English Standard Version 

  If I were making the rules, I'd just color over this part in magic marker and hope nobody noticed.  I certainly would not be qualified according to these rules.  I fail to keep all the ways of the Lord, and I'm certainly not blameless.  I have guilt.  

  The good news of the Gospel is that when Jesus Christ went to the cross for us, we are therefore eligible to claim his perfect righteousness as our own.  He accepted our shortcomings and sin, and therefore took the punishment.  For God to mete out additional punishment on us would be to have two punishments for the same sin, which would be unjust.  Therefore, our punishment is cleared because of what Christ has done, and we enjoy the benefit of his perfect righteousness.  

  All of this is a free gift, which enables us to boldly enjoy the goodness of God without guilt.

Psalm 18:13-19

Psalm 18:13-19 

English Standard Version 

 Why did God rescue the Psalmist?  Why did God open the foundations of the world so that there were no obstacles standing between God and God's beloved child?  Why did God deliver him from his strong enemy?  

  Not because the Psalmist had earned it.  Not because of anything the Psalmist did.

  Simply because God delighted in the Psalmist.  God's love is enough.

  God loves you the same way.

  God delights in you, and so God will deliver you from your strong enemy, from the death that hangs above you head, threatening to separate you from the God who created you.

  But God is stronger and will stop at nothing to save you.  Even at the price of God's own son, God will deliver you, simply because God delights in you.

Psalm 18:7-12

Psalm 18:7-12 

English Standard Version 

  They say you're only as happy as your least happy child.  The emotions of the parent roll along with the emotions of the child, and the pain of a child is felt intimately by the parent.

  What I love about Scripture is that it paints the love of God in such intimate terms.  God is a fiercely loving mother, a father who defends his children.  The Psalmist has previously painted himself as distressed, and so here is God, racing from the heavens on the wings of the wind, sending out fire from his mouth as God comes with ferocity to deliver his children from their place of distress.

  That's how God loves you.

Psalm 18:1-6

Psalm 18:1-6 

English Standard Version 

  The Psalmist cries out from a place of despair.  He's not idly praising the Lord -- he's anticipating the salvation that God will work in his life.  He's distressed, but there's not panic in his voice, because he has such trust, such confidence that God will deliver him.  

  Can you imagine what that looks like? There are lots of things that distress us, that cause us concern.  Sometimes, these fears in our heads run away out of control, and we feel a sense of panic and dread swirling around us.  We react this way to the coming election, to medical uncertainty.  We feel the walls closing in on us.  In these places, the Psalmist tells us to look to God and let our fears fall away.

  I'm not in that place -- I still worry about all sorts of things.  I have great concerns, and they weigh on me.  But hopefully I'm growing.  Hopefully we're all growing in our trust of God, and learning to let go of our sense of control.  May we all learn how to trust more deeply in God.  

1 Samuel 24:1-7

1 Samuel 24:1-7 

English Standard Version 

  We'll wrap up our series on Saul here.  Saul has been pursuing David at all costs, desperate to end this threat to what he considers to be his throne.  Saul is purely focused on power now, trying to retain his place.  There is no longer any illusion that he is serving God or working for God's kingdom.  Saul has eyes only for his own kingdom and legacy, to which David is a threat.

  At one point, Saul goes into a cave to relieve himself.  David is hiding in the same cave, and he cuts a corner or Saul's robe off to demonstrate that he could have killed Saul.  David will not kill Saul, however.  He is dedicated to the larger vision of God's kingdom, and he's willing to set aside whatever animosity he may have towards Saul.  He still gives honor to the position of king, even if the person doesn't do much to deserve that honor.  

  Imagine how hard that must have been.  But David is able to set his own emotions aside, because he is focused on the Kingdom of God.  It's not about David.  

  May we pursue the same single-minded devotion towards God.  

1 Samuel 18:20-22

1 Samuel 18:20-22 

English Standard Version

  At one point, Jesus tells the disciples to be wise as serpents.  He doesn't send us into the world to be destroyed.  He wants us to use all of our cunning and all of our wisdom so that we might find ways to serve God in the best ways possible.  

  Here, Saul's daughter is in love with David, but Saul only sees this as an opportunity to bring down David.  Everything is twisted in his mind and in his heart, and so he is constantly plotting and scheming to destroy David.  He's obsessed, fixated, all of it on breaking David.  Just imagine if he chose to use these skills and this wisdom and dedication in serving God.  

  May we choose wisely where we dedicate our efforts.  May we have people in our lives that can speak truth to us.  May we pursue truth, even at our own expense, even when it costs.

1 Samuel 18:12-16

1 Samuel 18:12-16 

English Standard Version 

  What would you do if you're Saul?  Saul had noticed the presence of the Lord departing from him, and he knows that it landed on David.  Saul sees the future is with David.  But Saul's pride cannot bring him to praise God for what God is doing with David.  Saul's pride cannot let him repent for his sins.  Saul's pride cannot mourn for what he has become.  Saul is stuck by his own choices, and he will not change

  Our lives are filled with these moments, opportunities to respond to another's ascension in power or prestige.  One option is the path that Saul took, which is resentment.  Another is encouragement, to attempt to discern how God is enlarging God's kingdom and try to join with that effort.  This is the harder path, but it's the one that focuses on God's kingdom and not our own.  

Psalm 1

Psalm 1

English Standard Version 

  I love to hike in the woods, and inevitably I see a tree growing in some place a tree should never grow.  It is perched atop a boulder with little soil, or clinging to the edge of a cliff, somehow hanging on for decades despite the lack of support.  I am always amazed by it.  To quote the great philosopher Dr. Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park, life finds a way.

  Trees find a way to grow in these environments, but these aren't the ideal circumstances.  They manage, but if you planted them next to a stream in a calm environment, they would thrive.  Just because something can survive doesn't mean that it's ideal.  

  The same is true with us.  There are plenty of places where we can survive.  But to truly thrive, we are best placed in the environment that perfectly suits us, which we were made for, which is to cling as closely to God as possible.  

1 Samuel 18:6-9

1 Samuel 18:6-9 

English Standard Version 

  Do you abide in scarcity or abundance?  When someone else receives, are you of the mindset that it automatically means that there is less for you?  Or are you of the mindset that there is a bigger pie?  It's a choice we all have to make when it comes to seeing others receive honor.

  Saul -- we see his choice.  Saul believes that David receiving honor for his achievements means that Saul will pale in comparison.  Saul sees it as a competition that he's losing, and he begins to countdown to the end of his own reign.  Saul doesn't think about how exciting David might be for God's Kingdom -- he's only worried about his own.  Saul lives in fear.  

  If we choose faith over fear, then the question we should continually ask ourselves is how God might use new circumstances for the growth of God's kingdom.  If we keep our eyes and hearts focused there, then we see ourselves as citizens of God's kingdom.  We already know how precious we are in God's eyes, and so we don't have to fear losing that status.   Worldly status will come and go.  But to dwell in God's Kingdom -- that is a gift, one that is freely given, not competed for.

1 Samuel 17:55-58

1 Samuel 17:55-58

English Standard Version 

  Often, people get ignored until it turns out they do something famous.  Perhaps people ignore someone, thinking they're not worth their time, but then they learn that the person is famous or noteworthy, and suddenly they're very interested, despite the fact that nothing has really changed.

  You'd think this was the first that Saul had heard of David.  But do you remember when, earlier this very chapter, Saul was trying to dress David in Saul's armor?  They'd met earlier, before David slew Goliath, but Saul wasn't interested in learning about David then.  It was only after David killed Goliath that Saul suddenly was interested in his heritage.

  May we be humble enough that we treat people equally, no matter how famous they may be.  They could do something remarkable in the future... or they might not.  Either way, may we treat each other like the precious sons and daughters of God that they are.  

1 Samuel 17:45-47

1 Samuel 17:45-47 

English Standard Version 

  I love this speech from David.  You can hear his passion for the Lord.  He will fight to defend the Lord's honor, and he has complete trust in God.  The battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand!  May that same spirit fill us and lead us in all we do!

1 Samuel 17:38-40

1 Samuel 17:38-40 

English Standard Version 

  Here is Saul, looking at David and amazed at his boldness, and then he gives David his armor, which overwhelms the boy.  David instead opts to go with just his staff in one hand and his sling in the other.  Saul's ways are not for David.  

  We can sense Saul fading away.  Saul is afraid, hiding from Goliath, and when David is ready to fight, Saul is giving away his armor.  Saul is the king and ought to be leading the charge, fighting Goliath himself, but he willingly hands his armor over to a boy.  Saul has no fight in him, only fear. 

  May we, like David, find out own path forward.  May we listen to where the Holy Spirit is calling us, and follow the individual path God sets before us.  Others may not understand it, others may not recommend it, but God has called us uniquely and equipped us in specific ways for the things that we will face.  Another's armor will not suit us.  We are each fearfully and wonderfully made.

1 Samuel 17:9-11

1 Samuel 17:9-11 

English Standard Version 

  The story of David and Goliath is always told from the perspective of David as the hero, but we forget that Saul was involved as well.  Saul was still king of Israel, and while David was dismayed that Goliath would insult Israel and their God, Saul was merely afraid.  As much as David succeeded, Saul failed, because he opted for fear rather than boldness.  Saul had seen what God could do, and yet he didn't trust in that, because he looked at himself rather than God, and because his eyes were focused on the wrong place, Saul was afraid.  Saul's fear paralyzed him, which created an opening for David, a man of faith after God's own heart, to choose action because he trusted in God.

  The warning here for us is to keep our eyes focused on God.  When we let our hearts hear the melodies of God's power and love, we are in tune with God and then are not afraid of the things that threaten us.  When we let our lives bend according to God's will, we find strength we didn't know we had, because it isn't our own -- it belongs to God, and God will sustain and support us.  When we rely on God, the words of Goliath do not cause us to fear, because we know who holds the heavens and earth.

1 Samuel 15:10-11

1 Samuel 15:10-11 

English Standard Version 

  There are situations that are simply tragic.  The people wanted a king, and so God reluctantly agreed to give them a king, despite warning them that it wouldn't end well.  Here we are, not much later, and it's not ending well.  Saul doesn't follow the commandments of God, and the people are suffering because of it.  What I appreciate is Samuel's devotion.  Samuel is the prophet, and he serves as the intermediary between the people and God.  Samuel sees the pain unfolding, and he weeps for the people, and he weeps for the brokenness in the people and in their relationship.  Samuel sees where things are going, and he weeps.

  When we see the heartbreak in the world, may we care enough to do the same.  It's easy to be callous, to stop seeing the ways the world is broken, to not notice how much pain there is.  We all have enough on our plate, we don't want to take on the suffering of others.

  But that's not the kind of life we are called into.  We're called to be in relationships with people around us, and to let the things of the world break our hearts the same way they break God's heart.  May we continue to care deeply about the people in the world, that we care enough to be involved, to pray for solutions, and to work for peace.

Psalm 33:1-5

Psalm 33:1-5 

English Standard Version 

  I do believe that God delights in creation -- we get that sense in Genesis, when God rests when it is complete, and we find that again in Job, when God is speaking of the wondrous things that God has made.  In Revelation, when creation has been renewed, there is an amazing claim that there will not need to be any light, for God himself will be the light of the people.  

  The reality of sin is working against God's order in creation, and we all have a choice as to where we want to direct the attention of our hearts.  We can choose to praise God and meditate on God's good works, or we can pursue false idols or a life of materialism.  The challenging thing about the choice is that it's rarely crystal clear -- I don't think people wake up and decide they're going to pursue an idol.  We drift into it, making choices unconsciously, doing what is easy or goes along with the mainstream.

  When we praise God, we make the intentional choice to focus on God's faithfulness, on God's righteousness, on God's justice.  In doing so, we let the steadfast love of God fill us, and then it flows through us into the lives of those around us, and we join with God in working towards the new creation.

In the Heart of the Sea

   Well, I finished Nathaniel Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea, the true story of the Essex, the ship that inspired Moby Dick.  It was... hard to read. It's hard to imagine what the whaling life was like -- captains and the crew would leave for two year voyages around Cape Horn to search for whales in the Pacific Ocean before returning to their Nantucket base.  And reading about the process for killing and disassembling a whale is somewhat stomach churning, even if I've read about it in other books.  I always end up feeling sorry for the whale.  

  Ultimately, what makes this so hard to read is the trial endured by the cast members after a whale rams the Essex and it sinks far from land.  They are initially divided up into 3 whaleboats, and the captain makes the wrong decision to sail for South America rather than Tahiti.  They were worried about rumors of cannibals in the Marquesas Islands, and Philbrick does a good job explaining how this incorrect information likely led to the death of several crewmembers who probably would have survived had they sailed west to the Islands rather than making the long journey east.  The harrowing accounts of life in a whaleboat for months with few resources and increasingly desperate crewmembers is sad and tragic.  

  Here's hoping for some lighter material in the next few books!

1 Samuel 13:8-12

1 Samuel 13:8-12 

English Standard Version 

  Saul was scared.  He wasn't allowed to offer the burnt offering, but he saw the people starting to waver, and in the heat of the moment, he decided to do what he thought made the most sense, ignoring the command from God.  Under pressure, he thought God was too distant, too hard to see, and so he chose to ignore God and follow his own senses.  

  Unfortunately, those senses led him astray.  He failed the test.  He was called to wait, to trust in God, to learn how to depend on God, despite worldly signs indicating trouble, but he couldn't.  He only could trust in his own abilities.

  This test lands in our lap from time to time.  Can we learn to trust in God, even if it looks like God won't come through.  God is ultimately reliable, and eternally dependable, even if God doesn't always answer our prayers the way that we want God to do so.  We still are called to trust in God.  Our own senses will fail and betray us... but God never will.

FOMO and the Gospel

1 Samuel 12:19-25

1 Samuel 12:19-25 

English Standard Version 

  So the people come to Samuel, and they realize that they've done wrong, and they implore Samuel to pray for them.  Samuel agrees to do so, because he feels an obligation to the people.  He warned them about the consequences of their actions, but he is still bound to them.  

  May we think of the people in our lives with the same spirit.  We see others make mistakes.  We see them go wrong, even when we warned them.  And yet, we are knit together.  We are one people, and we have an obligation to care for one another, to love one another, to serve one another.  May we continue to pray for God to lead us closer to one another, and may we have the humility to stay in community as we all continue to grow together.

1 Samuel 10:25-27

1 Samuel 10:25-27 

English Standard Version 

  This time of year, at the end of the baseball season, plenty of baseball managers may be fired.  The Reds have already fired their manager, although I don't think he's personally responsible for how bad the team was.  Ownership didn't exactly give him the team he needed.  But they needed someone to blame, even if it wasn't the right person.  

  Saul's reign is off to an auspicious beginning.  He's been caught hiding when he was about to be proclaimed king, and now there are some in the crowd wondering how Saul can save them.  

  Can Saul save them?  Did he ever possess that potential?  It's hard to say.  Saul's leadership goes so wrong, but I think there was a chance. 

  These fellows, however, are asking the wrong question.  Saul was never meant to be the deliverer.  That is God's role.  God is the one who could save Israel.  Unfortunately, the people had stopped looking to God.

  We often do as well.  We look to the world around us, looking for something else to deliver us, something visible, rather than turning to God.  It's much harder to trust in God some days, but God is the only truly reliable power in the universe that has power to transcend death.  Who else are you going to trust?

Sermon for Sept 29 -- Heaven as a Place of Worship

Psalm 84:1-2

Psalm 84:1-2 

English Standard Version 

  We feed our bodies all sorts of things that mimic natural foods.  We've made chemicals and flavors that mirror what the real world produces, but they don't provide the same nutritional value that the authentic food does, so we keep eating and eating, always hungry, never full.  Our bodies long for the real thing.

  In the same way, our hearts and souls long to be with God.  We're made for full communion with God, and until we dwell in the fullness of heaven, we'll remain restless, searching for God.  May we make the time every day, every week, to give our souls glimpses of worship, times of communion, that we may grow closer to God and let our hearts and flesh sing for joy.

How Dave & Busters Points to the Gospel

1 Samuel 10:17-24

1 Samuel 10:17-24

English Standard Version 

  This is a huge moment in the life of the people of Israel.  They have turned from having God as their king and opted for a human king.  God has Samuel remind the people of all that God has done for them, but that's old news to the people.  They're looking around at present circumstances, and the God who delivered them out of the bonds of slavery hasn't done anything dramatic enough recently, so they're looking to move along to something more secure.  It's wild to think about it -- the God who can carve a mountain with his mere words wasn't enough for the people, so they wanted a human instead to give them comfort.  

  So God grants them their wish, and then when it's time for Saul to be presented as king, where is Saul?

  He's hiding among the baggage.  The people have to go ask God where he is, and then they dig him out. When Samuel says that there is no one else like Saul, perhaps there is a bit of irony in his voice, but the people don't see it as a warning -- they merely shout, 'Long live the king.'  And so the madness of crowds continues...

  

 When you look to measure success in the world, how do you count it?  How do you take stock of your life, of what you have done, and what you have still to do?  

  There's countless ways to do this, and we all tend to measure ourselves against others.  

  When the people chose Saul, they opted to define success by having a leader who gave the people the appearance of having everything held together.  

  May we not judge so superficially, and may we strive for something deeper.  May we opt for a life well-lived before God, a life that seeks to glorify God and serve others, and may we define success by how well we pursue God and love one another.

Tides of War, New York, and other books

   I've read too many war books this year.  

  I started out the year by finishing Ian Toll's excellent trilogy on the war in the Pacific.  Later on, I read Erik Larson's In the Garden of Beasts, describing Berlin just before WWII.  Lately, I've read biography on Genghis Khan, Erik Larson's excellent new book around the events at Fort Sumter that led to active hostilities in the Civil War, and I just concluded Steven Pressfield's Tides of War, a bit of historical fiction around the Peloponnesian War.  Too much violence, I think, so I picked up Nathaniel Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea, the true story of the whaleship Essex that inspired Moby Dick.  Having read (and not enjoyed) Moby Dick, perhaps I'm simply looking for a more enjoyable read around ships and whales.  I may have completely turned Caleb off from ever reading Moby Dick by the way I described it to him, but I consider that a favor to the next generation.  I've never read a book that I considered in such desperate need of an editor.  

  Pressfield's Tides of War is a glimpse into an ancient war, at a time when Athens and Sparta were at war with one another.  It's told looking backwards, through the eyes of a soldier who fought endlessly for both sides, caught up as one individual in the midst of an ever-churning war.  That's the one thing I take away from all these books -- the human cost of war is tragic.  So many lives are thrown into the grinder, and I can't help but think on each man lost.  Each one had hopes and dreams, a family and a past, but his future was lost in the face of the war machine.  It opens my eyes to be grateful for those in the modern day who serve our country and put themselves in danger.  How do we properly thank them for their willingness to serve, to risk, to set aside their hopes and dreams to protect those of others?  

  I've clearly slacked in keeping up with the book reviews.  On Friday night, I finished my 33rd book of the year.  Edward Rutherford's New York was one that I recently enjoyed, as it tells the story of the great city through the story of one family, from generation to generation.  We see how the various social movements, as well as wars, impact the city and the people inside of it.  It's very well done.

  As was David McCullough's Path Between the Seas, the telling of the building of the Panama Canal.  I had no idea the French had tried earlier to build it.  It seems wild to have set off with as little data as they did, but they believed that if they threw enough people at it, eventually they would conquer.  The French underestimated the jungle! The personalities of some of the characters involved made the tale come alive, and the sheer audacity of the effort is well captured in this book.

1 Samuel 9:1-2

1 Samuel 9:1-2 

English Standard Version 

  So, what qualifies Saul to be king?

  He's really handsome.

  Also... very tall.

  Looking for any more substance?  Move right along.  

  The people wanted a king that would look like a king.  They wanted someone who might intimidate other kings, who would give the people credibility when they were comparing kings with people from other countries.  They hadn't had a king before, so they wanted someone who would provide no doubt that he was king-type material.

  They got someone who looked very much like a king.  No one would doubt that he qualified in a contest of who could be king based on body structure.

  In the modern world, may we learn this lesson well, and pursue following people of character and integrity, regardless of what they look like.  May we seek out Godly people who follow the Lord and treat others the way they ought to be treated.  May we value a person's actions and words above all else.

Sermon for September 22, 2024

This sermon, the third in a series on Heaven, is based in Isaiah and Revelation and describes heaven as a place of joy.

1 Samuel 8:19-22

1 Samuel 8:19-22 

English Standard Version 

  I thought it would be interesting to study the life of Saul, Israel's first King in the Old Testament.  The people have decided that they want a king so they can be like every other nation.  What's interesting is that the prophet Samuel then spends 9 verses telling them all the bad things that a King will do.  Samuel tells them that a king will tax their land and take their sons to war and that they will do all this extra work for the king.  The people, however, want a king.  God tells Samuel that the people are rejecting God, not Samuel.  For all these years, God had been the king of the people, but they wanted something easier to wrap their minds around, so they rejected God and opted for a regular king.  

  Ultimately, God gives them what they want.

  Which should be a warning to all of us -- may we be very, very careful about what we wish for, because we just might get it, and may we listen wisely when people offer us words of warning, for they are often looking out for our best interests, even if we may not realize it.

How the Check Engine Light Points to the Gospel

Psalm 150

Psalm 150 

English Standard Version 

  Do you ever hear the hype around a new restaurant or a new show and convince yourself that you need to try it?  Sometimes, the buzz wears off quickly, and before you make time to get there, the hype has faded.  Other times, that hype is sustained, and you go and discover something incredible, and you wonder why you took so long to try it for yourself.

  When I read the Psalms, I am often left wondering if I spend enough time praising God.  I make plenty of time to lift up my concerns to God, and I often have plenty of questions for God.

  But do I simply praise God for who God is?  Do I allow my whole self to praise God?  Do I get caught up in the creation-wide song that the rocks and trees are singing?  Or am I so inward-focused that I'm missing the opportunity to praise God with everything that I am?

Jonah 4:4-11

Jonah 4:4-11 

English Standard Version

  I like being comfortable.  It's nice.  Do I let myself get uncomfortable enough when I think about the sufferings of others?  Or do I keep that far enough away so that it doesn't impinge upon my comfort?

  When Jesus tells us that we should love others just as we love ourselves, it's a bit of an impossible command.  Can we really love others with the same focus and passion that we save for ourselves?  We treat ourselves when we can... can we treat others with the same excitement?

  Here, Jonah resents God's deliverance of the people of Nineveh.  He sets up camp outside of town, and God sends a plant for some shade.  When God sends a worm to devour the plant and Jonah loses his shade, he is furious, far more furious than he ever was at the thought of the people of Nineveh perishing.  He greatly favored his own comfort above the safety of others.

  So what do we do with this story?  In many ways, it's a wake up call for us.  Are we open to considering how much energy and resources we spend on ourselves, and how we might give up some of that comfort to serve others?  Do we recognize the suffering of others?  Do we love them enough?  Do we love ourselves too much?

Jonah 3:10-4:3

Jonah 3:10-4:3 

English Standard Version 

  How committed are you to your enemies that if God were to deliver them, would you be amazed at what God has done or upset that your enemies were delivered?  

  Jonah makes it clear what side of the fence he is on.  

  How do you pray for your enemies?  

Jonah 3:6-9

Jonah 3:6-9 

English Standard Version 

  I've watched enough Mel Brooks movies that whenever I read about a king, I can't help but think about the portrayal in The History of the World.  In summary, it's good to be the king.  Kings take liberties and have privileges.  Kings are rarely restrained.  Kings live at a different level than regular people.

  So what an incredible act here by the king in Nineveh.  He takes off his robe and sits in ashes, praying for God's mercy on behalf of his people.  He knows that it is not a guaranty of deliverance, but he hopes that if all people, including himself, repent from evil ways and violence, then perhaps God may relent.  

  The king could've ordered everyone else to repent.  Instead, he joined them in the midst of it.

  May we never grow too proud to resist humbling ourselves and acknowledging our wrongdoing.  May we be wise in looking for the fault within ourselves more eagerly than trying to find the fault in others.  May we be willing to repent and invite others to join us in this.  We don't control God, but it is wise to humble ourselves before God.

Jonah 3:4-5

Jonah 3:4-5 

English Standard Version 

  Jonah had a story to tell.  Imagine if Jonah had sat down and told his life story, revealing the journey he went on to get to Nineveh and the amazing ways God intervened in his life to bring him to that place.  It would've been a very compelling story.  I imagine the people of Nineveh would've been amazed.

  But they didn't hear that story.  They didn't hear about all that God had done in Jonah's life.  They received a simple sermon, but that was enough.  The Holy Spirit did an amazing thing, and that was enough.

  See, it doesn't depend on us.  We feel so unworthy much of the time, or we're nervous that we'll say or do the wrong thing.  Jonah shows us here that there doesn't need to be perfection.  God needed Jonah to show up and be a vessel for the message of repentance, and God did the rest.

  In the same way, God needs you to show up in times and places, and God will use you in the lives of people around you.

Psalm 98:4-9

Psalm 98:4-9 

English Standard Version 

  Plenty of movies have been made personifying animals.  Charlotte's Web and The Secret Life of Pets show us animals with personalities of their own.  

  What the Psalms reveal is that all of creation is made to worship God.  When we worship God, we aren't starting something unique -- we're joining a chorus comprised not only of the animals but also of nature itself.  Even the trees and the seas and the hills and the valleys lift up their voices to praise God.  When we praise God, we are aligning ourselves with the world around us, all of which is using the only language it has -- that of praise.

Jonah 3:1-3

Jonah 3:1-3

English Standard Version 

  Jonah didn't ask a lot of questions the second time that God told him to go to Nineveh.  He had learned his lesson well.  God didn't take the chance to remind Jonah, either.  I would've definitely said something along the lines of 'Seriously, Jonah.  To Nineveh.  Or else we'll do something worse than the fish...'

  Sometimes, God says no to us.  Sometimes, God needs us to learn a lesson.  But I believe that God continues to call us -- sometimes to the original plan, sometimes to a new one.  Hopefully, we learn from the times that God says no, and we are willing to follow God, having a richer sense of faith based on our prior experiences.  May we recognize that much of life is a learning opportunity, even the hardships, and that the character we gain along the way is a chance to share our struggles and experiences with others and point to God's glory throughout.

Jonah 2:10

Jonah 2:10 

English Standard Version 

  I read a quote once that said with enough information, all actions make sense.  

  Without context, this would be viewed as terrible.  

  Viewed as what Jonah had been through, this was great news -- he was saved from a terrible experience and suddenly had hope for what the next step of his life looked like.  

  When we see friends of loved ones going through something, let us remember that context matters.  So often, we don't know what else is going on in a person's life.  We react to their actions, but there's often so much else going on in the background.  May we learn to ask wise questions, and to listen patiently, that we may hear the full story.  Our lives are interwoven with one another, so the more we learn, the better we are able to serve one another.

Jonah 2:5-9

Jonah 2:5-9 

English Standard Version 

  When I golf, it's really frustrating to lose balls that are just off the fairway.  It seems like I ought to be able to find them, because I saw right about where they landed, but they disappeared right in plain sight.  Other golf balls, well... I hit them and immediately give up hope of ever finding them.  They're very, very lost.

  In the parable of the lost sheep, it never says how lost the sheep is.  It could've been just off the trail, but I somehow doubt it.  I get the impression that this was a sheep that was very lost, perhaps wandering the wrong way on the wrong trail for a long time, far from home.

  But it doesn't say how lost the sheep was because it doesn't matter.  The good shepherd goes to find it, no matter what.

  In the same way, God is teaching us through Jonah that there is no such place that is too far from God, no situation that is too far gone.  We can all be redeemed.

Jonah 2:1-4

Jonah 2:1-4 

English Standard Version 

  Have you ever driven through an area with bad cell phone service?  Even in the midst of it, you likely keep dialing, right?  You know there's a signal around there somewhere, so you don't give up, even though you doubt that your call will go through.  You keep dialing and dialing and dialing, and eventually it connects.

  That's what I think of when I read Jonah's prayer.  Jonah is in the midst of distress, in a fish sent by God to swallow him in the depths, but God still hears Jonah's cry.  Jonah keeps praying, despite his challenging circumstances.  It would be easy to think that God wouldn't hear Jonah, but Jonah still prays.  He's in despair, and the logical thing to do is pray, so he prays.  And Jonah's prayer is heard, just as our prayers are heard, even in the midst of our distress, even in challenging circumstances.  The waves and billows pass over us, and it feels as though we are driven from God's sight, and yet we can have hope because God hears our prayers, even in distress.

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 

English Standard Version 

  Do you ever go to the grocery store, buy a bunch of things, and then realize when you get home that you didn't buy anything for dinner?  I do this all the time, and it's so frustrating -- I was in the midst of so many great options, but missed the obvious reason for going to the store.

  When I read the 23rd Psalm, I often get hung up on the first verse. When the Lord is our Shepherd, we don't want for anything.  We find complete satisfaction in God.  That's the picture of what heaven will be like, and it's available to us now, but so often, we're putting so many other things in the cart that we completely miss that God will supply our needs.  

  Granted, sometimes we need to let God make us lie down in pastures.  We need to allow God to lead us to still waters.  We're often so busy trying to achieve these on our own that we miss what God wants to do for us.  

Jonah 1:17

Jonah 1:17 

English Standard Version 

  Ever think that things cannot get worse?  

  The first chapter of Jonah has gone as poorly as possible for Jonah.  He ran directly away from God's call, and then the boat was caught up in a storm that was sent for him.  Resigned to perishing in the storm, instead Jonah offers himself up as a sacrifice and is cast overboard.  Thinking this is likely the end, Jonah has surely given up by now... and instead he gets swallowed up by a giant fish.  

  If you're Jonah, each step is surely one more away from hope, right?

  God id still at work here.  God hasn't given up on Jonah.  God hasn't given up on God's people.  It's hard to believe, and surely from Jonah's perspective, you'd think this would be the end of the story... but God is only getting started.

  May we have the courage to believe the same when we see things going sideways in our own lives. 

Jonah 1:14-16

Jonah 1:14-16 

English Standard Version 

  Jonah's most effective evangelism may be the fact that the very sailors who throw Jonah overboard then immediately turn around and offer a sacrifice to God and make promises.  Jonah is able to convince them of God's power through sheer ineptitude.  It's not how one draws it up, but it seems to work here in the beginning of the story -- the sailors learn through Jonah as an example of what not to do, but still, God is able to use Jonah. 

  Jonah is certainly not an example we want to follow.  Jonah fails, time and time again, but the Word of the Lord will not be denied.  It reaches through Jonah's failure and touches the hearts of those interacting with Jonah.  It's a reminder to us all of God's ability to use any effort, no matter how small, to demonstrate the love and power of God.

Psalm 99:1-5

Psalm 99:1-5 

English Standard Version 

  God is pure holiness, and dwells completely separate from humanity.  

  It's easy to forget this -- we make God so common and end up forgetting how majestic God is.  It reminds me a little of the display of the crown jewels in the Tower of London.  They're so valuable and more heavily guarded than any other display that I can remember, and there is a moving floor so that the crowd doesn't clog things up by lingering near certain exhibits.  It's very clear from the moment that you draw near that you're viewing something valuable.  No one wanders in by mistake and doesn't realize that there is something special about what you are about to see.  

  In the same way, God sits in God's throne, and should be praised as holy and perfect, completely other than we are.  It is only through pure grace that God chooses to reveal himself to us.  We are to exalt God, and to fail to do so is pure folly.  May we choose to worship each and every day.

Jonah 1:11-13

Jonah 1:11-13

English Standard Version 

  It'd be fascinating to do a study about what this would look like in different cultures.  Were this 21st century America, with the declining social trust we have in many places, I think Jonah might be immediately thrown into the sea.  In this culture, however, the sailors know that Jonah is the cause of the storm, and he asks to be thrown into the sea... and yet the men row hard to try and save the ship.  They do not want to throw Jonah into the sea, despite the fact that Jonah brought this upon them.  They still want to save him, if possible.

  Perhaps these men are the heroes of the story?  

  Notice heroic actions in the world around us.  They're not often performed by people who are the center of attention, but are often done by those quietly laboring to make the world a better place.  May we see their example and celebrate that, rather than the social media post of a celebrity that may or may not be worth our emulation and adulation.  May we celebrate those who labor for others, and may we aspire to be the type of people who look a guilty person in the eye and do everything we can to save them, for that's exactly what Jesus Christ does for us.

Jonah 1:7-10

Jonah 1:7-10 

English Standard Version 

  I can't help but wonder at the seriousness with which the other sailors take Jonah's actions.  They realize at once that he has done something awful, which has brought great danger to them all.  But Jonah made the decision in a moment, without thinking, only selfishly wanting to avoid peril or embarrassment.

  I think this probably happens more than we like to think.  In a moment, we make snap decisions, afraid of one thing or motivated by another, without necessarily thinking it all the way through.  We often do this as children, because our brains aren't fully developed, but it's easy to do as adults, too.  We try to avoid punishment, and perhaps believe a little white lie won't be so bad, or that no one will notice if we cut a corner or two.  But others see, and they note the seriousness of our offenses.  

  What takes real humility, and real trust, is to let others speak into our lives in such a way that they can help us know where the risks are.  Do we let them speak honestly to us about our flaws and our poor decisions?  Do we consult with one another in such times, hoping for the wisdom of the community to guide us?  Are we open to correction?

Jonah 1:4-6

Jonah 1:4-6 

English Standard Version 

  So Jonah is sailing in the exact opposite direction that God has told him to go, hoping that God won't notice Jonah exiting stage right.  (Narrator's note:  God notices)  A giant storm is sent, and every sailor on the ship is crying out to their gods, hoping for salvation.  This reminds of Elijah and his duel with the false prophets of Baal, who are crying out in the same way, but Elijah mocks them because Elijah knows there is only one true God.  Elijah tells them to shout louder in case their god is in the bathroom or asleep.  

  Jonah knows their cries won't change things, because Jonah realizes the storm is for him.  Jonah has brought others to danger through his carelessness and selfishness.  Jonah is ready to give up -- that's the only way he could fall asleep in the midst of such a storm.  But the captain won't let Jonah give up.  

  I hope more of us can be like the captain.  Can we notice the people who are in despair, who are ready to give up?  Can we pay attention and see the people in the world who are in such pain that they want to curl up and let it all slip away?  

Jonah 1:1-3

Jonah 1:1-3 

English Standard Version 

  Jonah will forever be one of my favorite books in the Bible.  Not because Jonah is the leading and most Godly figure in the Bible, but because he's one of the most human people in there, and therefore one of the most relatable.  Jonah gets just about everything wrong.  We could spend months teaching people about what not to do based on Jonah's life, and yet it's included in the Bible.  Jonah is a prime example of the work that God can do through flawed people. It reminds me of the teaching in seminary when they tell us that the Holy Spirit transforms the words of the preacher into the Word of God, meaning that effective preaching doesn't depend on the worthiness of the preacher, but rather on the Holy Spirit, which is a far more dependable vehicle.  That relieves some stress!

  Now, this doesn't mean that we're not all called to do the best work possible.  All it means is that despite our failures, God can still use us and proclaim the Gospel through us.  We don't have to be afraid of where we fall short -- we can read the book of Jonah and give thanks for the ways that God uses broken people like us.

Psalm 105:41-43

Psalm 105:41-43 

English Standard Version

  Most people would tell you that water doesn't flow out of a rock.  They'd look at the chemical composition and tell you that's impossible.  They'd say that if you're in the desert and needed water, you'd have to go look elsewhere.  

  If your mindset is limited to what is possible based on this world, then that would be correct. But God has a habit of doing the impossible.  There are things God can do because God created the heavens and the earth.  God can make a way where there is no way, including through death itself -- God punched a hole through it and let light and life stream through for those of us who thirst for just that.

  I wish I could say that I knew exactly when and where God would do such things.  But a God who is powerful enough to bring water from a rock isn't a God we can control.  We can choose to submit, which means accepting God's will.  Sometimes, this will mean that we hear a 'No' from God.  If this same God has proven to be loving and gracious, then we can still worship a God like that because we can trust that this same God is working in our best interests consistently.

Psalm 31:23-24

Psalm 31:23-24 

English Standard Version

  I love the way the Psalmist speaks to the soul.  So often, we think we should just feel things.  We wait until we feel right, and if we don't feel a certain way, maybe we don't pray or serve or go out of our way.  We let our feelings dictate our actions.

  The Psalms are consistently telling us to lead our hearts.  They're reminding their heart and soul of God's promises and God's faithfulness, and leading their heart into a place where they trust God, and then they base their lives on that.  We can lead our hearts.  We can teach our souls.  If we consistently point ourselves towards God's faithfulness, then we'll find that we feel like pursuing God more than if we just passively wait for a feeling to lead us closer.

Psalm 31:21-22

Psalm 31:21-22 

English Standard Version 

  In the dark night of the soul, it's easy to think that we are alone, that no one hears our cry, that no one sees us suffer.  We wonder if God has forgotten us.

  But like Jonah sailing off in the wrong direction or Naomi in her suffering, God doesn't forget about us, even when we think God might.  God sees us when we weep, when life is broken, and God hears our cries.

  When the church is at its best, the church reaches out to those who are suffering, and reminds them of this.  Who can you reach out to today and let them know that you hear their cries?

Psalm 31:19-20

Psalm 31:19-20 

English Standard Version 

  The world seems to have a limit on goodness -- we find ways to fight and squabble about everything, from the way people drive to the biggest decisions we face.  The world is constantly caught up in conflict, each of us trying to claw our way to the top.

  God's goodness, however, isn't limited, so we don't have to be in conflict with one another.  There is abundance in God's goodness.  We can stop chasing whatever false gods we're pursuing, and we can stop measuring ourselves against one another.  There is enough.  Rest.  Let your soul breathe deeply in the goodness of God, and trust in God's abundant goodness.

  Do you remember when the prophet Elijah was running for his life into the wilderness, and God made him sleep?  I think God probably wants to do that with most of us.  We need to find some ways to stop our frenetic activity and simply lean into God.

Psalm 31:14-18

Psalm 31:14-18 

English Standard Version

  In the midst of peril, I love how the Psalmist is focused on the steadfast love of the Lord.  It's easy to try and figure out what we have to do to be saved.  It's much harder to remember that the character of God is that God wants to save us.  God chose to come and save us in Christ.  God opts to deliver us.  When we cry to God for salvation, we're simply crying out for God to do what is consistent with who God is -- God is a mission God, reaching out into the world to save God's beloved.  

  Thanks be to God that we worship a God of kindness and grace, and may that knowledge sustain us through hard times.

Psalm 31:11-13

Psalm 31:11-13 

English Standard Version 

  Suffering isolates.  The world can become very small when we suffer -- whether others intentionally avoid us or if they simply move on with life while we are stuck in one place.  It's often hard for others to understand our suffering, and so they simply go about their life while we are in a different place.  What a gift the mission and ministry of the church can be to those who suffer.  Deacons and caregivers are often willing to enter into another's suffering, to sit with them in the hard times, to wait in the terrifying ambiguity of medical uncertainty, or to weep in times of crushing heartbreak.  There may not be any answers, but there can be another person walking the journey with you, reminding you that you are not alone, pointing to the ultimate reality that God is with you, even in the midst of suffering and pain.

Psalm 31:9-10

Psalm 31:9-10 

English Standard Version 

  The Psalmist shows us faithfulness -- in the midst of sorrow, he continues to pray to God.  He asks for God's graciousness in turbulent times, buffeted by storms from every angle.  The Psalmist's strength is failing, his bones are wasting away, and whatever energy he has, he directs it towards a plea to God.  That is his only hope at this point.

  We learn how to pray in the midst of this, but we also learn that there's a Biblical role model for hardship.  The Psalmist is having a time of it.  How about Peter after he realizes that he has denied knowing Jesus?  Or Stephen when he was being martyred?  Imagine you're Isaac, set on an altar by Abraham?  Or David in the field, standing before Goliath.

  The Bible is filled with people who are in despair -- the prophets know this place well.  It doesn't mean that you're far from God -- it simply means that you are moving through a chapter, part of life, and to continue to hold onto hope in God.