John 7:10-13
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's something you've made an argument for in the last few weeks? Maybe you've argued that robot umpires have no place in baseball. Maybe you've debated whether fake meat can replace animal-based meat. Maybe you've argued with someone over whether a hot dog is a sandwich or not. Whatever it was, you likely formed an argument out of a combination of facts and opinion, and the more important the subject was to you, the harder you likely fought for it. If you knew you were going to have the discussion ahead of time, I bet you prepared and came ready to persuade.
So when you're out and about, and someone, be it a friend or acquaintance, asks you if your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is leading you astray, how would you respond? What facts would you rely upon to rebut the argument that the Christian faith is not well-thought out? How would you explain that the faith can be reasonably defended in vigorous intellectual debates? What resources would you draw upon to explain the historical reliability of Scripture?
Plenty of people look upon faith with skepticism. They did when Jesus was alive, and they continue to now. As a people of faith, we don't have to get defensive and argumentative when confronted with these questions. Take comfort in knowing that there was skepticism when Jesus was alive and performing miracles and raising people from the dead, and that the skepticism will likely continue until Jesus returns. Until then, research the Christian faith and know you would answer skeptics when you are in conversation with them. Your answer should be your unique story, your understanding of faith, and it doesn't have to perfectly knit everything together -- we all have lingering questions and doubts, and that's ok -- we're human. Just know why you believe what it is that you believe, and continue to dig into faith as though it's the most important thing for us to understand.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Monday, August 5, 2019
John 7:1-9
John 7:1-9
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's hard to know what to say -- the world seems to be straining at the edges, threatening to fall into chaos so many days. There is so much senseless violence, anger that boils over and steals innocent lives, sending us scrambling in fear, afraid of what else there is to come. So much violence, and so few answers.
This world is the same world that turned on the Messiah sent to save and hung him from the cross. Our anger and violence is not new, but it is exhausting, and it is terrible. The disciples beg for Jesus to come and show his works, so that the world may know. The church today prays to Jesus for him to reveal his Lordship to the world, that sin and death may be banished and peace may reign. We pray for an end to the strife and struggle, to the tears and heartache. We pray for Jesus to lead us into a place where hatred fades and we can truly sit down together.
Jesus tells the disciples that his time has not come. Jesus had a larger understanding than they did, and on the first Easter morning, a bigger picture was revealed. In the same way, the answer to the church's prayer seems to be that the time for Jesus' return has not yet come. There is a bigger picture that we do not understand, so until we do, the church is called to stand in the gaps, to love those who are broken, to serve all, even our enemies, and to work for peace in a world in desperate need of it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's hard to know what to say -- the world seems to be straining at the edges, threatening to fall into chaos so many days. There is so much senseless violence, anger that boils over and steals innocent lives, sending us scrambling in fear, afraid of what else there is to come. So much violence, and so few answers.
This world is the same world that turned on the Messiah sent to save and hung him from the cross. Our anger and violence is not new, but it is exhausting, and it is terrible. The disciples beg for Jesus to come and show his works, so that the world may know. The church today prays to Jesus for him to reveal his Lordship to the world, that sin and death may be banished and peace may reign. We pray for an end to the strife and struggle, to the tears and heartache. We pray for Jesus to lead us into a place where hatred fades and we can truly sit down together.
Jesus tells the disciples that his time has not come. Jesus had a larger understanding than they did, and on the first Easter morning, a bigger picture was revealed. In the same way, the answer to the church's prayer seems to be that the time for Jesus' return has not yet come. There is a bigger picture that we do not understand, so until we do, the church is called to stand in the gaps, to love those who are broken, to serve all, even our enemies, and to work for peace in a world in desperate need of it.
Friday, August 2, 2019
John 6:66-71
John 6:66-71
English Standard Version (ESV)
Here's both the saddest and most wondrous stories, pressed against in each other in the same setting. The sharp edges of Jesus' teaching that he refuses to soften have driven some of his disciples away -- the sacrifice in this world was too much, and the reward in the next was too ethereal, too distant, to give them the ability to persevere.
The apostles, though, have seen and heard enough that they know that Christ, and Christ alone, has the words to eternal life, and that he is willing to share them with all who believe. Their hearts have led them to a place where there is no turning back, for the way forward is too alluring. No matter what besets them from any side, what they see before them is drawing them forward.
The church today needs to take this message to heart. How do we ensure that we communicate the truth and beauty of the Gospel in such language that it is so beautiful, so alluring that it's worth sacrificing everything for? Do we talk about God and God's Kingdom and the eternal life that awaits in such a way that people are captivated by the work of the Holy Spirit? And do we also recognize the challenges people face in this world, the difficultly of following the Gospel in our current context, and recognize how easy it is to walk away? May we ensure that we issue words of grace to invite those who have slipped out the back door to reconsider, for what they might sacrifice is something beautiful, something eternal that will outlast whatever seems to offer more appeal in the current day and age.
Christ alone has the words to eternal life. May our words and lives proclaim that this is worth giving up everything to follow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Here's both the saddest and most wondrous stories, pressed against in each other in the same setting. The sharp edges of Jesus' teaching that he refuses to soften have driven some of his disciples away -- the sacrifice in this world was too much, and the reward in the next was too ethereal, too distant, to give them the ability to persevere.
The apostles, though, have seen and heard enough that they know that Christ, and Christ alone, has the words to eternal life, and that he is willing to share them with all who believe. Their hearts have led them to a place where there is no turning back, for the way forward is too alluring. No matter what besets them from any side, what they see before them is drawing them forward.
The church today needs to take this message to heart. How do we ensure that we communicate the truth and beauty of the Gospel in such language that it is so beautiful, so alluring that it's worth sacrificing everything for? Do we talk about God and God's Kingdom and the eternal life that awaits in such a way that people are captivated by the work of the Holy Spirit? And do we also recognize the challenges people face in this world, the difficultly of following the Gospel in our current context, and recognize how easy it is to walk away? May we ensure that we issue words of grace to invite those who have slipped out the back door to reconsider, for what they might sacrifice is something beautiful, something eternal that will outlast whatever seems to offer more appeal in the current day and age.
Christ alone has the words to eternal life. May our words and lives proclaim that this is worth giving up everything to follow.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
John 6:60-65
John 6:60-65
English Standard Version (ESV)
I like to think of myself as having worked hard throughout school and my career, so I sometimes look back and think about where my work has taken me. Of course, I wouldn't be where I am without the support of countless teachers, my family and many others with whom I've shared this journey. I haven't made it on my own, as much as I may like to think so at times.
With faith, it's impossible for us to make it to heaven on our own. One transformation in society is that we no longer think or talk about sin. We like to think that we're mostly pretty nice and good people, and surely God wouldn't reject us since we're pretty good. But we're not good enough -- we never will be. We all have sin in our lives, and even smallest speck of sin is enough to keep us out of the Kingdom of God -- that's how supreme the holiness of God is. We're not worthy -- we can't be worthy. The only way we can enter the Kingdom is if Jesus Christ imputes his righteousness to us, which he does by taking the punishment of the sin of humanity on the cross. The penalty is paid, and we who were sinful are able to say that we are now worthy to stand before God. Not by our own efforts, but because of the gift of grace.
It's hard to accept that we cannot do this on our own, but it's also wondrously freeing, because then we can stop trying to earn our salvation and live as a grateful people. Some people grumbled because of how hard it is to accept what Jesus is teaching, but Jesus is trying to give life to a people shackled by rules who can no longer see God as loving and merciful.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I like to think of myself as having worked hard throughout school and my career, so I sometimes look back and think about where my work has taken me. Of course, I wouldn't be where I am without the support of countless teachers, my family and many others with whom I've shared this journey. I haven't made it on my own, as much as I may like to think so at times.
With faith, it's impossible for us to make it to heaven on our own. One transformation in society is that we no longer think or talk about sin. We like to think that we're mostly pretty nice and good people, and surely God wouldn't reject us since we're pretty good. But we're not good enough -- we never will be. We all have sin in our lives, and even smallest speck of sin is enough to keep us out of the Kingdom of God -- that's how supreme the holiness of God is. We're not worthy -- we can't be worthy. The only way we can enter the Kingdom is if Jesus Christ imputes his righteousness to us, which he does by taking the punishment of the sin of humanity on the cross. The penalty is paid, and we who were sinful are able to say that we are now worthy to stand before God. Not by our own efforts, but because of the gift of grace.
It's hard to accept that we cannot do this on our own, but it's also wondrously freeing, because then we can stop trying to earn our salvation and live as a grateful people. Some people grumbled because of how hard it is to accept what Jesus is teaching, but Jesus is trying to give life to a people shackled by rules who can no longer see God as loving and merciful.
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