John 6:52-59
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to assume it used to be easier. When I look at teenagers today, struggling with the weight of social media and the ease with which cyber bullies can haunt someone, I think about how much easier it was without any of that. It wasn't easy then, of course, but it's easy to gloss over hardships that occurred in the past.
It's also tempting to think that following Jesus was easier for the disciples. They saw all the miracles and heard him teach and watched him pray -- it must have been a no-brainer, right?
It sure doesn't seem like it. Jesus was challenging for anyone to follow. When he taught, he made people think, and he challenged their long-held beliefs, and it was a risk. Imagine hearing someone tell you that you needed to eat his flesh and drink his blood -- you'd raise an eye at such teaching. I certainly would. Would I walk away? It's easy now to say I'd follow no matter what, but in the moment -- this is a hard teaching.
The point is that Jesus makes us think. To follow Jesus is to be engaged spiritually and mentally. It's to grow, to ask big questions. Jesus assures us that he will never leave us and that he is the gate to eternal life, and so his every word is worth weighing as the treasure that it is. He did a new thing, and let us not take it for granted, but treasure him as the Savior and consider him as a wise teacher and bow before him as the King. The journey to freedom is worth it, but it's not easy, not today or ever. But the end -- the end is worth everything!
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
John 6:41-51
John 6:41-51
English Standard Version (ESV)
For forty years, the Israelites ate manna from heaven. My kids eat chicken twice a week and complain that it's all we ever eat. They wouldn't have made it very far in the wilderness journey. Forty years -- manna every day of the week, with an occasional side of quail. If you were born early in the journey, you might have never tasted anything other than those two things throughout your life.
Even though manna was miraculous, it couldn't prevent the Israelites from dying in the wilderness. Manna was able to sustain them on their journey, but it couldn't provide beyond the wilderness.
Jesus, however, is able to sustain us beyond our present journey. It's not just about getting us through today -- Jesus is strengthening us for an eternal life, and he's also sacrificing himself. Jesus is literally dying to feed us, so that we might eat and be sustained for everything that is to come, in this life and beyond.
Today, you've likely given some thought to what you'll eat for lunch, and maybe you've even planned dinner. You want to avoid hunger, so you think ahead.
Have you given thought to how you'll make time for Jesus to sustain and strengthen you? Are you planning to set aside time to eat, to take him in and let him change you? Plan for it.. Prepare for it. And you'll dine at the eternal feast.
English Standard Version (ESV)
For forty years, the Israelites ate manna from heaven. My kids eat chicken twice a week and complain that it's all we ever eat. They wouldn't have made it very far in the wilderness journey. Forty years -- manna every day of the week, with an occasional side of quail. If you were born early in the journey, you might have never tasted anything other than those two things throughout your life.
Even though manna was miraculous, it couldn't prevent the Israelites from dying in the wilderness. Manna was able to sustain them on their journey, but it couldn't provide beyond the wilderness.
Jesus, however, is able to sustain us beyond our present journey. It's not just about getting us through today -- Jesus is strengthening us for an eternal life, and he's also sacrificing himself. Jesus is literally dying to feed us, so that we might eat and be sustained for everything that is to come, in this life and beyond.
Today, you've likely given some thought to what you'll eat for lunch, and maybe you've even planned dinner. You want to avoid hunger, so you think ahead.
Have you given thought to how you'll make time for Jesus to sustain and strengthen you? Are you planning to set aside time to eat, to take him in and let him change you? Plan for it.. Prepare for it. And you'll dine at the eternal feast.
Monday, July 29, 2019
John 6:35-40
John 6:35-40
English Standard Version (ESV)
I was watching our 18 month old try and eat ice cream this evening and was amazed at her ability to get ice cream everywhere but her mouth. I tried to remove the lump of ice cream that was running down her neck, but she was insistent that she was saving it for later, which is a step up from her demands the other day that her shirt be removed after she spilled applesauce on it. She's learning to eat, and it's a messy process.
Which isn't that different from our attempts to learn how to eat the bread of life.
Jesus comes as the bread of life, and in so doing he reveals the will of God -- that everyone look upon the Son and be saved, raised on the last day from death and basking in eternal life through Jesus Christ. That's our destiny, and Jesus points out that he is not to lose anyone, which is a helpful point for the discussion about whether it's possible to lose our salvation. Jesus doesn't lose us, and he doesn't forget us like a set of car keys left behind somewhere -- he holds us tightly, now and forever.
But we still have to learn how to take in the bread of life, so that we learn how not to hunger. Our appetites convince us to hunger for many things in this life, and that hunger drives us to often do selfish and short-sighted things, things that can damage us or our relationships. Our hunger clouds our long term vision, so we learn, slowly, over a lifetime, how to consume the bread of life and allow Jesus to satiate our desires. We learn to feed daily, hourly even, so that the Spirit teaches and encourages us to focus on Jesus and allow him to fix our desires, so that we might understand what we truly need and what we do not.
So we're learning how to eat, and it can be messy and complicated, but over time, with patience, we grow into the people God is calling us to be.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I was watching our 18 month old try and eat ice cream this evening and was amazed at her ability to get ice cream everywhere but her mouth. I tried to remove the lump of ice cream that was running down her neck, but she was insistent that she was saving it for later, which is a step up from her demands the other day that her shirt be removed after she spilled applesauce on it. She's learning to eat, and it's a messy process.
Which isn't that different from our attempts to learn how to eat the bread of life.
Jesus comes as the bread of life, and in so doing he reveals the will of God -- that everyone look upon the Son and be saved, raised on the last day from death and basking in eternal life through Jesus Christ. That's our destiny, and Jesus points out that he is not to lose anyone, which is a helpful point for the discussion about whether it's possible to lose our salvation. Jesus doesn't lose us, and he doesn't forget us like a set of car keys left behind somewhere -- he holds us tightly, now and forever.
But we still have to learn how to take in the bread of life, so that we learn how not to hunger. Our appetites convince us to hunger for many things in this life, and that hunger drives us to often do selfish and short-sighted things, things that can damage us or our relationships. Our hunger clouds our long term vision, so we learn, slowly, over a lifetime, how to consume the bread of life and allow Jesus to satiate our desires. We learn to feed daily, hourly even, so that the Spirit teaches and encourages us to focus on Jesus and allow him to fix our desires, so that we might understand what we truly need and what we do not.
So we're learning how to eat, and it can be messy and complicated, but over time, with patience, we grow into the people God is calling us to be.
Friday, July 26, 2019
John 6:25-34
John 6:25-34
English Standard Version (ESV)
What do you fear losing most? Is it your job? Your savings? Your house? Your health?
However we answer that question, that's likely the food that we're working towards, the food that perishes. It doesn't mean that it's something bad -- it just means that we've lost sight of what is supposed to be our first work, which is to work, to strive, for a closer relationship with God. When we recognize how completely dependent we are on God and how much God is willing to sacrifice to be in a relationship with us, we dedicate our energy to putting God first, and then everything else falls into line. We can still love our job and our house and our health, but we see it through the lens of God, and so we are thankful for them as blessings and we can cope with losing them, because we know that we cannot lose the single most important thing in life.
Naturally, the followers asked what they should do to do the work of God. What did Jesus answer?
Our work is to believe.
There's a few ways to interpret this. One is to recognize that belief is hard -- it doesn't come easy or naturally. We are often skeptical, and to believe without certainty, without seeing the proof or evidence ourselves, can be challenging. It expects much of us as a thinking people -- so study the faith and learn the reasons why our faith is historically and intellectually reliable.
Secondly, we should approach our belief with as much importance as we approach a job. We shouldn't take faith for granted, squeezing it in to the open spots, but rather with the dedication and discipline that we would approach an important job. How we live out our faith matters.
All this means that belief can still be invigorating and exciting and alive and fun -- it isn't always, but it is and should be sometimes. We should get excited when we think about what God has done for us, and we should dream with wonder about what God has in store for us. Like Howard Carter peering into the tomb of King Tut, barely able to grasp what was before him, we should catch enough of a glimpse to say that we see wonderful things before us!
English Standard Version (ESV)
What do you fear losing most? Is it your job? Your savings? Your house? Your health?
However we answer that question, that's likely the food that we're working towards, the food that perishes. It doesn't mean that it's something bad -- it just means that we've lost sight of what is supposed to be our first work, which is to work, to strive, for a closer relationship with God. When we recognize how completely dependent we are on God and how much God is willing to sacrifice to be in a relationship with us, we dedicate our energy to putting God first, and then everything else falls into line. We can still love our job and our house and our health, but we see it through the lens of God, and so we are thankful for them as blessings and we can cope with losing them, because we know that we cannot lose the single most important thing in life.
Naturally, the followers asked what they should do to do the work of God. What did Jesus answer?
Our work is to believe.
There's a few ways to interpret this. One is to recognize that belief is hard -- it doesn't come easy or naturally. We are often skeptical, and to believe without certainty, without seeing the proof or evidence ourselves, can be challenging. It expects much of us as a thinking people -- so study the faith and learn the reasons why our faith is historically and intellectually reliable.
Secondly, we should approach our belief with as much importance as we approach a job. We shouldn't take faith for granted, squeezing it in to the open spots, but rather with the dedication and discipline that we would approach an important job. How we live out our faith matters.
All this means that belief can still be invigorating and exciting and alive and fun -- it isn't always, but it is and should be sometimes. We should get excited when we think about what God has done for us, and we should dream with wonder about what God has in store for us. Like Howard Carter peering into the tomb of King Tut, barely able to grasp what was before him, we should catch enough of a glimpse to say that we see wonderful things before us!
Thursday, July 25, 2019
John 6:22-24
John 6:22-24
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's the first thing you remember craving? I remember loving lasagna -- I couldn't get enough of it. That's got to be conflicting for a parent -- it's good that your child likes your cooking, but it would be nice if they choose to like something a little easier to cook, like pancakes. Once I had a little, I would just keep eating, and I'd want more.
Here's the crowd, having been fed miraculously by Jesus. They emerge the next day, craving more -- more of what, they're probably not sure. They followed him to hear him teach, but having been miraculously fed, they likely want more of that, too. They've been sustained, mind and body, and seek him out.
So Jesus cares about how we treat our minds and our bodies. It's important to respect both. Jesus provides for his followers' material needs, and he challenges them to think, too. That's part of what I love about being a Christian -- it requires intellectual activity. I don't mindlessly follow what some preacher says -- I think about it, and I can challenge it if I have an argument. There's room for debate and intellectual rigor.
May we recognize all the ways God provides for us, spiritually, physically and mentally, and may we have the wisdom to continue to seek him. The journey is rarely easy, but it is the most meaningful thing we can do in our lives -- seek the wise teacher, the selfless Savior, the King who reigns eternally. A preacher I respect advised the listener to repent for a lack of love for Jesus. It was an interesting phrase, and I think a wise one -- may we apologize for not loving Jesus fully, and may we seek him out, in all we do, that Christ may be above all else.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's the first thing you remember craving? I remember loving lasagna -- I couldn't get enough of it. That's got to be conflicting for a parent -- it's good that your child likes your cooking, but it would be nice if they choose to like something a little easier to cook, like pancakes. Once I had a little, I would just keep eating, and I'd want more.
Here's the crowd, having been fed miraculously by Jesus. They emerge the next day, craving more -- more of what, they're probably not sure. They followed him to hear him teach, but having been miraculously fed, they likely want more of that, too. They've been sustained, mind and body, and seek him out.
So Jesus cares about how we treat our minds and our bodies. It's important to respect both. Jesus provides for his followers' material needs, and he challenges them to think, too. That's part of what I love about being a Christian -- it requires intellectual activity. I don't mindlessly follow what some preacher says -- I think about it, and I can challenge it if I have an argument. There's room for debate and intellectual rigor.
May we recognize all the ways God provides for us, spiritually, physically and mentally, and may we have the wisdom to continue to seek him. The journey is rarely easy, but it is the most meaningful thing we can do in our lives -- seek the wise teacher, the selfless Savior, the King who reigns eternally. A preacher I respect advised the listener to repent for a lack of love for Jesus. It was an interesting phrase, and I think a wise one -- may we apologize for not loving Jesus fully, and may we seek him out, in all we do, that Christ may be above all else.
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
John 6:16-21
John 6:16-21
English Standard Version (ESV)
This part of the story always fascinates me. After the miraculous feeding, the crowds try to make Jesus king by force (can you imagine trying to force Jesus to do anything?), and he leaves to go up the mountain by himself. Rather than follow him, the disciples get into their boats and start rowing to Capernaum. Other Gospels tell us that Jesus compelled them to get into the boat. Either way, they are rowing away from him, while he is up on the mountain.
Raise your hand if you've ever felt that way -- that you're in the midst of turbulence but somehow still rowing away from God, while God feels distant, far removed from the chaos.
As Alexander Maclaren puts it, “He is on the mountain while we are on the sea. The stable eternity of the Heavens holds Him; we are tossed on the restless mutability of time, over which we toil at His command.”
This is the Gospel story -- we are in chaos and storms, and yet God leaves behind the security of the mountain to enter into our lives. God isn't afraid to enter into our lives -- there is no storm too great that will prevent God from drawing near. We are frightened, and God comes and identifies as the Savior, and in the midst of the storm we are glad to take someone stronger than ourselves into the boat.
If you are in the midst of the storm, remember that Jesus is praying for you. Isn't that remarkable -- the King and Savior of the world cares enough to pray for you. Your trials are not forgotten, and they are not too small for God's attention. Not only does God hear, but God comes to us, Emmanuel, God with Us, and brings us safely home. I don't understand how the disciples boat reached the shore immediately, and I don't understand how Jesus will ferry me safely home, through the threats and danger and death, but I trust that Jesus will shield me from the worst the devil can throw at me, and bring me into the Kingdom of God where light and life shall dwell forever.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This part of the story always fascinates me. After the miraculous feeding, the crowds try to make Jesus king by force (can you imagine trying to force Jesus to do anything?), and he leaves to go up the mountain by himself. Rather than follow him, the disciples get into their boats and start rowing to Capernaum. Other Gospels tell us that Jesus compelled them to get into the boat. Either way, they are rowing away from him, while he is up on the mountain.
Raise your hand if you've ever felt that way -- that you're in the midst of turbulence but somehow still rowing away from God, while God feels distant, far removed from the chaos.
As Alexander Maclaren puts it, “He is on the mountain while we are on the sea. The stable eternity of the Heavens holds Him; we are tossed on the restless mutability of time, over which we toil at His command.”
This is the Gospel story -- we are in chaos and storms, and yet God leaves behind the security of the mountain to enter into our lives. God isn't afraid to enter into our lives -- there is no storm too great that will prevent God from drawing near. We are frightened, and God comes and identifies as the Savior, and in the midst of the storm we are glad to take someone stronger than ourselves into the boat.
If you are in the midst of the storm, remember that Jesus is praying for you. Isn't that remarkable -- the King and Savior of the world cares enough to pray for you. Your trials are not forgotten, and they are not too small for God's attention. Not only does God hear, but God comes to us, Emmanuel, God with Us, and brings us safely home. I don't understand how the disciples boat reached the shore immediately, and I don't understand how Jesus will ferry me safely home, through the threats and danger and death, but I trust that Jesus will shield me from the worst the devil can throw at me, and bring me into the Kingdom of God where light and life shall dwell forever.
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
John 6:7-15
John 6:7-15
English Standard Version (ESV)
Sometimes, we feel like we're the boy -- we've shown up with our meager gifts, uncertain as to what God can do with them, but sure we've got something to contribute to God's efforts.
More often than not, if you're like me, you feel like you're one of the people in the crowd. I realize I've shown up unprepared, and while Jesus is at work doing something miraculous, I feel a bit guilty for not having thought ahead to bring my gifts and also uncertain as to exactly what Jesus is going to do or how God is going to provide. If I'd planned better, I'd have brought something to contribute, but it's too late and Jesus is already at work.
What's great about this passage is that it illustrates the options we have when we think about God's economy. In one mindset, we have the option of looking at the resources present and thinking that there is a limit as to what God can do. If we choose this path, we close our fists around our resources. The other option is to realize that God creates leftovers. Think about it -- Jesus knew exactly how much would be needed and therefore didn't need to create leftovers. Jesus was trying to show the abundance of God. There is enough grace and mercy in God for those we see and for those we do not. We can let go of our blessings because God multiplies, in the hopes that nothing will be lost. The boy who gave up his lunch did not go away hungry, and the people who showed up with nothing were fed to their satisfaction, not because they had the resources to purchase, but because God's grace overflowed to the point that there was an overabundance.
Jesus came to demonstrate abundance. There is grace and mercy enough for all, and it comes only through a gift. Do not fret over what you did not bring or prepare -- instead receive with open hands and hearts, so that what is given may flow through you into others. You will receive, and there will be abundance for all who come, given freely.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Sometimes, we feel like we're the boy -- we've shown up with our meager gifts, uncertain as to what God can do with them, but sure we've got something to contribute to God's efforts.
More often than not, if you're like me, you feel like you're one of the people in the crowd. I realize I've shown up unprepared, and while Jesus is at work doing something miraculous, I feel a bit guilty for not having thought ahead to bring my gifts and also uncertain as to exactly what Jesus is going to do or how God is going to provide. If I'd planned better, I'd have brought something to contribute, but it's too late and Jesus is already at work.
What's great about this passage is that it illustrates the options we have when we think about God's economy. In one mindset, we have the option of looking at the resources present and thinking that there is a limit as to what God can do. If we choose this path, we close our fists around our resources. The other option is to realize that God creates leftovers. Think about it -- Jesus knew exactly how much would be needed and therefore didn't need to create leftovers. Jesus was trying to show the abundance of God. There is enough grace and mercy in God for those we see and for those we do not. We can let go of our blessings because God multiplies, in the hopes that nothing will be lost. The boy who gave up his lunch did not go away hungry, and the people who showed up with nothing were fed to their satisfaction, not because they had the resources to purchase, but because God's grace overflowed to the point that there was an overabundance.
Jesus came to demonstrate abundance. There is grace and mercy enough for all, and it comes only through a gift. Do not fret over what you did not bring or prepare -- instead receive with open hands and hearts, so that what is given may flow through you into others. You will receive, and there will be abundance for all who come, given freely.
Monday, July 22, 2019
John 6:1-6
John 6:1-6
English Standard Version (ESV)
Often, I wish Jesus would just tell me the answers. Here, the crowds are coming and Jesus is going to miraculously feed them. Instead of telling the disciples what he was going to do, he asks Philip, seeing if Philip really believes that such miracles can occur (Remember -- God fed the Israelites with manna from heaven 6 days a week for 40 years while they wandered in the wilderness, so miraculous feedings of large crowds should be woven into the DNA of the Jewish community). Philip, though is focused on the present, not the possibilities, and so he misses the moment where Jesus is trying to lift his vision.
I'm the same way. I focus on the present, often on scarcity, wondering if I'll have enough, especially if anything changes. Rather than focus my vision on what God might do and make choices that might draw me into uncertainty, I try and think my own way forward, not leaving much room for God to do the miraculous. I basically try and figure it out for myself and then invite God to participate in my plan.
Jesus is trying to teach a lifestyle here. Jesus is trying to focus our hearts on a future where God is completely in control, and we're trusting that even though we can't see the way forward, Jesus is leading us into an abundant future, where the economic situation is completely different -- those with no money are invited to come, buy and eat, and a banquet table is prepared for all who come and dine with the King. We can't make this future, but God is at work, and we're invited to participate, assuming we can let God be in charge and have hearts caught up in a greater vision for what the new reality will be.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Often, I wish Jesus would just tell me the answers. Here, the crowds are coming and Jesus is going to miraculously feed them. Instead of telling the disciples what he was going to do, he asks Philip, seeing if Philip really believes that such miracles can occur (Remember -- God fed the Israelites with manna from heaven 6 days a week for 40 years while they wandered in the wilderness, so miraculous feedings of large crowds should be woven into the DNA of the Jewish community). Philip, though is focused on the present, not the possibilities, and so he misses the moment where Jesus is trying to lift his vision.
I'm the same way. I focus on the present, often on scarcity, wondering if I'll have enough, especially if anything changes. Rather than focus my vision on what God might do and make choices that might draw me into uncertainty, I try and think my own way forward, not leaving much room for God to do the miraculous. I basically try and figure it out for myself and then invite God to participate in my plan.
Jesus is trying to teach a lifestyle here. Jesus is trying to focus our hearts on a future where God is completely in control, and we're trusting that even though we can't see the way forward, Jesus is leading us into an abundant future, where the economic situation is completely different -- those with no money are invited to come, buy and eat, and a banquet table is prepared for all who come and dine with the King. We can't make this future, but God is at work, and we're invited to participate, assuming we can let God be in charge and have hearts caught up in a greater vision for what the new reality will be.
Friday, July 19, 2019
John 5:41-47
John 5:41-47
English Standard Version (ESV)
Lots of things in this world promise glory. Caleb had Nickelodeon on this morning and every toy promises to make everything wonderful. Every truck commercial assures the owner of a better, more rugged life. Magazines sell monetary success as the answer to all of life's problems, except for the magazines that make the lives of the rich and famous look terrible. Eat this, look like that, earn this, buy that, and life will be glorious. And if it's not, it's ok as long as your life on social media looks glorious, right?
All of these things are passing. Some of them can certainly enrich your life, but having more money only amplifies who you are -- it doesn't change it. If you're generous and kind when you have less money, you'll be so with more money, and if you're anxious and hoarding with a little money, you'll likely be so with more money.
God knows a glory that doesn't fade, that you really can carry beyond the grave. Jesus talks about joy in a way that helps us see that it's more than just a momentary thing that is caused by some external thing - joy is an internal sense, a peace that passes understanding, a confidence you we are infinitely loved and treasured and protected. Jesus spoke harshly to some because he wanted to break up their preconceived notions of God, and help them see that God was actively working to spread the Good News to all people through grace and mercy -- God isn't focused on excluding people because of the rules, but rather trying to include people through radical forgiveness that helps us see God's glory.
Ever driven through a cloud of bugs on a summer day? They obscure our ability to see through the windshield and recognize what's in front of us. Thank God for the grace that cleanses us from our sins and points to the glory of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Lots of things in this world promise glory. Caleb had Nickelodeon on this morning and every toy promises to make everything wonderful. Every truck commercial assures the owner of a better, more rugged life. Magazines sell monetary success as the answer to all of life's problems, except for the magazines that make the lives of the rich and famous look terrible. Eat this, look like that, earn this, buy that, and life will be glorious. And if it's not, it's ok as long as your life on social media looks glorious, right?
All of these things are passing. Some of them can certainly enrich your life, but having more money only amplifies who you are -- it doesn't change it. If you're generous and kind when you have less money, you'll be so with more money, and if you're anxious and hoarding with a little money, you'll likely be so with more money.
God knows a glory that doesn't fade, that you really can carry beyond the grave. Jesus talks about joy in a way that helps us see that it's more than just a momentary thing that is caused by some external thing - joy is an internal sense, a peace that passes understanding, a confidence you we are infinitely loved and treasured and protected. Jesus spoke harshly to some because he wanted to break up their preconceived notions of God, and help them see that God was actively working to spread the Good News to all people through grace and mercy -- God isn't focused on excluding people because of the rules, but rather trying to include people through radical forgiveness that helps us see God's glory.
Ever driven through a cloud of bugs on a summer day? They obscure our ability to see through the windshield and recognize what's in front of us. Thank God for the grace that cleanses us from our sins and points to the glory of God.
Thursday, July 18, 2019
John 5:36-40
John 5:36-40
English Standard Version (ESV)
Several years ago, Rachel and I were eating breakfast at an outdoor restaurant where the birds were rather aggressive. We watched in amazement as a couple sat down at their table -- the husband immediately got a plate, then went back for something else while the wife busied herself in her phone. She was oblivious to the birds that landed on their table and began to eat her husband's breakfast because she was so focused on her phone. She completely missed what was happening in front of her!
This passage is, in some regards, Jesus telling the Jewish leaders of the day to get their faces out of their phones and pay attention to the world in front of them. They're supposed to be leading the church, but they are so focused on the past that they can't see the fulfillment of their prophecies in front of them. They're driving a car at high speeds down the freeway but have their eyes glued to the rearview mirror.
Jesus came as the fulfillment of the prophecies. The Scriptures testify to the fullness of God's love, and in Jesus Christ, we see that love on full display. He came to save, to give life, and while many refused to hear the words that he spoke and refused to investigate the miracles he performed, we have the benefit of both the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament reports. We can compare and see if he is reliable, and we can also see the fullness of God's redemptive action.
What's just as important is that we pay attention to see what God is doing today. God is still at work, still challenging us and leading us forward. May we be focused on listening for God's Word today, and if we are comfortable, may we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into discomfort, and if we are afflicted, may we hear the comforting words of grace.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Several years ago, Rachel and I were eating breakfast at an outdoor restaurant where the birds were rather aggressive. We watched in amazement as a couple sat down at their table -- the husband immediately got a plate, then went back for something else while the wife busied herself in her phone. She was oblivious to the birds that landed on their table and began to eat her husband's breakfast because she was so focused on her phone. She completely missed what was happening in front of her!
This passage is, in some regards, Jesus telling the Jewish leaders of the day to get their faces out of their phones and pay attention to the world in front of them. They're supposed to be leading the church, but they are so focused on the past that they can't see the fulfillment of their prophecies in front of them. They're driving a car at high speeds down the freeway but have their eyes glued to the rearview mirror.
Jesus came as the fulfillment of the prophecies. The Scriptures testify to the fullness of God's love, and in Jesus Christ, we see that love on full display. He came to save, to give life, and while many refused to hear the words that he spoke and refused to investigate the miracles he performed, we have the benefit of both the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament reports. We can compare and see if he is reliable, and we can also see the fullness of God's redemptive action.
What's just as important is that we pay attention to see what God is doing today. God is still at work, still challenging us and leading us forward. May we be focused on listening for God's Word today, and if we are comfortable, may we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into discomfort, and if we are afflicted, may we hear the comforting words of grace.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
John 5:30-35
John 5:30-35
English Standard Version (ESV)
If the Savior of the world says he can't do anything on his own, maybe it's time you stopped trying to do everything on your own!
Everything Jesus did was in line with the will of God. The Trinity is challenging to wrap our minds around, but it is an interdependent loving relationship, constantly serving and being served. No one member acts independently.
Jesus Christ comes to us and invites us into the eternal kingdom. He invites us to journey with him, to share our burdens, to allow his strength to be our strength and to discover that we are made perfect through our weakness. Only when we acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves do we discover the wondrous generosity of God. Only when we realize that the sheer total of all the human wisdom falls short of God's wisdom do we begin to understand how the crucifixion and resurrection is the path into life. Only when we're willing to fall into grace do we learn how to trust God and live dependent on the Holy Spirit.
Jesus does all this so that we might be saved. God's will is that we be gathered in, like sheep to the shepherd, like chicks to the hen, so that we might be surrounded by the fullness of love.
English Standard Version (ESV)
If the Savior of the world says he can't do anything on his own, maybe it's time you stopped trying to do everything on your own!
Everything Jesus did was in line with the will of God. The Trinity is challenging to wrap our minds around, but it is an interdependent loving relationship, constantly serving and being served. No one member acts independently.
Jesus Christ comes to us and invites us into the eternal kingdom. He invites us to journey with him, to share our burdens, to allow his strength to be our strength and to discover that we are made perfect through our weakness. Only when we acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves do we discover the wondrous generosity of God. Only when we realize that the sheer total of all the human wisdom falls short of God's wisdom do we begin to understand how the crucifixion and resurrection is the path into life. Only when we're willing to fall into grace do we learn how to trust God and live dependent on the Holy Spirit.
Jesus does all this so that we might be saved. God's will is that we be gathered in, like sheep to the shepherd, like chicks to the hen, so that we might be surrounded by the fullness of love.
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
John 5:25-29
John 5:25-29
English Standard Version (ESV)
At some point, the sound of the voice of God will permeate all of space and time, declaring to ears long dead that there is still life to be lived, life unlike anything those eyes would have ever glimpsed in the past, life that dwells in unapproachable light and basks in the radiance of the glory of God. At some point, the majesty of Christ will shine like a thousand suns and the grave will give up the dead as death whimpers a final, plaintive cry before perishing before the conquering hero. At some point, the Holy Spirit will sweep across the chaos of the world and set things right, bringing order where there is discord and a peace that passes understanding will dwell in the hearts and minds of all people.
Unfortunately, that point is not today. But all who believe can hold fast in the firm and certain knowledge that no matter what, they will be included in the resurrection of the life because of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. We who believe are called, therefore, to proclaim the Gospel to the world, to our neighbors, those who dwell beside us and all others with whom we share our humanity, from those who inhabit the halls of power to the migrant desperate for a slice of peace. We are called to preach the Good News and tell the story of a God who will triumph over death and bring life where there once was death.
English Standard Version (ESV)
At some point, the sound of the voice of God will permeate all of space and time, declaring to ears long dead that there is still life to be lived, life unlike anything those eyes would have ever glimpsed in the past, life that dwells in unapproachable light and basks in the radiance of the glory of God. At some point, the majesty of Christ will shine like a thousand suns and the grave will give up the dead as death whimpers a final, plaintive cry before perishing before the conquering hero. At some point, the Holy Spirit will sweep across the chaos of the world and set things right, bringing order where there is discord and a peace that passes understanding will dwell in the hearts and minds of all people.
Unfortunately, that point is not today. But all who believe can hold fast in the firm and certain knowledge that no matter what, they will be included in the resurrection of the life because of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. We who believe are called, therefore, to proclaim the Gospel to the world, to our neighbors, those who dwell beside us and all others with whom we share our humanity, from those who inhabit the halls of power to the migrant desperate for a slice of peace. We are called to preach the Good News and tell the story of a God who will triumph over death and bring life where there once was death.
Monday, July 15, 2019
John 5:18-24
John 5:18-24
English Standard Version (ESV)
Lately, I've been listening to a number of podcasts discussing God's trinitarian nature. God is three, and this matters because it helps us see that even before creation, God was (and always has been) relating to another in perfect love. God was not idle or needy before God spoke the world into being -- God was perfectly fulfilled through the loving relationship that exists between the three persons of God.
This makes sense to us now, understanding God's relationship because we have the gift of looking backward, knowing about the resurrection, and we have time to study and reflect on how this worked. At the time, Jesus was trying to convince the Jews that he was God, which was challenging. Imagine someone coming into your house today and explaining how they are God. I imagine you'd be skeptical, maybe even if there were miracles to back it up. We have the luxury of knowing that Jesus fully establishes his divinity by predicting his own resurrection and then fulfilling that prediction before ascending into heaven in plain view of the disciples.
Truly, truly, I saw to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
May those words of Jesus Christ calm your soul today, and give you confidence in knowing that your belief in God has secured your eternal future. Knowing that future is secure, how will you love and serve your neighbor today?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Lately, I've been listening to a number of podcasts discussing God's trinitarian nature. God is three, and this matters because it helps us see that even before creation, God was (and always has been) relating to another in perfect love. God was not idle or needy before God spoke the world into being -- God was perfectly fulfilled through the loving relationship that exists between the three persons of God.
This makes sense to us now, understanding God's relationship because we have the gift of looking backward, knowing about the resurrection, and we have time to study and reflect on how this worked. At the time, Jesus was trying to convince the Jews that he was God, which was challenging. Imagine someone coming into your house today and explaining how they are God. I imagine you'd be skeptical, maybe even if there were miracles to back it up. We have the luxury of knowing that Jesus fully establishes his divinity by predicting his own resurrection and then fulfilling that prediction before ascending into heaven in plain view of the disciples.
Truly, truly, I saw to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
May those words of Jesus Christ calm your soul today, and give you confidence in knowing that your belief in God has secured your eternal future. Knowing that future is secure, how will you love and serve your neighbor today?
Friday, July 12, 2019
John 5:10-17
John 5:10-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
When I finally win hundreds of millions of dollars in the lottery, I doubt that I'm going to be that picky about exactly which game that I played -- whichever one wins, that'll be my favorite!
I love this man's innocence. He was looking to be healed, and I doubt he was incredibly concerned with who healed him. For 38 years he'd been paralyzed, and he was so busy celebrating that he didn't even catch the name of the guy who did it. Jesus disappeared into the crowd, but later reappears to find this healed man, hinting at the greater world than just the physical -- Jesus tells him that sin can have worse consequences than 38 years of paralyzation. This teaches us how important sin is to God, how incredible the gift of forgiveness is that we obtain for free, and it should shape our prayer lives as well -- we often get caught up in praying for physical needs for ourselves and others, and while these are important, let's not forget that the spiritual needs are more important.
So this man is healed, and only later finds out that it was Jesus who healed him. The actions of the church in the world may not yield immediate results. Like planting a seed, there may be a time when it appears that efforts are wasted, that the work of the church isn't recognized. But our job is to keep planting seeds, keep working in the world, serving for the sake of Christ, in the hopes that those seeds will grow and bear fruit and others will come to realize that it is Christ who heals, Christ who saves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
When I finally win hundreds of millions of dollars in the lottery, I doubt that I'm going to be that picky about exactly which game that I played -- whichever one wins, that'll be my favorite!
I love this man's innocence. He was looking to be healed, and I doubt he was incredibly concerned with who healed him. For 38 years he'd been paralyzed, and he was so busy celebrating that he didn't even catch the name of the guy who did it. Jesus disappeared into the crowd, but later reappears to find this healed man, hinting at the greater world than just the physical -- Jesus tells him that sin can have worse consequences than 38 years of paralyzation. This teaches us how important sin is to God, how incredible the gift of forgiveness is that we obtain for free, and it should shape our prayer lives as well -- we often get caught up in praying for physical needs for ourselves and others, and while these are important, let's not forget that the spiritual needs are more important.
So this man is healed, and only later finds out that it was Jesus who healed him. The actions of the church in the world may not yield immediate results. Like planting a seed, there may be a time when it appears that efforts are wasted, that the work of the church isn't recognized. But our job is to keep planting seeds, keep working in the world, serving for the sake of Christ, in the hopes that those seeds will grow and bear fruit and others will come to realize that it is Christ who heals, Christ who saves.
Thursday, July 11, 2019
John 5:1-9
John 5:1-9
English Standard Version (ESV)
So I did a little research on this particular pool. Apparently, it was doubted that such a pool existed for a long time, due to the fact that scholars thought the five colonnades mentioned made the text too odd to be true. You'll never guess what happened when the site was excavated in the 20th century! Lo and behold, a pool with fives colonnades was discovered at the site! People have been pushing on the Bible for thousands of years.
Some people will tell you that if you believe in God properly, all of your problems will be fixed. Well, I don't really agree with that. For starters, Jesus Christ had the best relationship with God of anyone who has ever lived, and that got him nailed to a cross. Here, we've got a paralytic who has been suffering for 38 years. He waits by this pool for the waters to be stirred up. The story is that when the waters are stirred up, there is an angel nearby, and that the first person in the water will be healed.
Well, this guy has been missing out for 38 years. Do you think he still has hope left? What's his future look like? He's seen the water be stirred up for decades, and yet he hasn't been healed. He and the remaining invalids surround the pool, waiting.
Do you remember when the internet first came out? If someone ever emailed you a picture, it took 30 minutes to download. Heaven help us if someone picked up the phone in the middle of the download. Now we get frustrated when the movie we're streaming skips a line. We don't wait very well -- so the idea of waiting 38 minutes, let alone 38 years, is hard to fathom.
Friends, this life we are living, this faith we are striving for, works on a different timeframe. You will join in the Kingdom of God one day. Your sins have been washed away, and all of your brokenness will be healed someday. You will dwell in the throneroom of heaven eternally. These promises of God are certain and reliable.
But the timing is not. God doesn't assure you a carefree life until then. God doesn't say things will be easy. There is no wisdom to tell you that any suffering in your life will pass quickly as you skip from mountaintop to mountaintop. Life is messy and real, joyous and painful, often at the same time. What God assures us is that healing is real and reliable and eternal and wondrous and worth waiting for.
So every day, choose to await the risen Christ with hope. Choose to persevere, trusting in Christ that life overwhelms the grave and hope will always shine in the darkest of nights. Life wins. Love wins. Christ wins. And because of all that, those of us who wait by the pool, wondering when suffering and pain will end, trust that we will one day pick up our mats and leave the paralysis behind.
English Standard Version (ESV)
So I did a little research on this particular pool. Apparently, it was doubted that such a pool existed for a long time, due to the fact that scholars thought the five colonnades mentioned made the text too odd to be true. You'll never guess what happened when the site was excavated in the 20th century! Lo and behold, a pool with fives colonnades was discovered at the site! People have been pushing on the Bible for thousands of years.
Some people will tell you that if you believe in God properly, all of your problems will be fixed. Well, I don't really agree with that. For starters, Jesus Christ had the best relationship with God of anyone who has ever lived, and that got him nailed to a cross. Here, we've got a paralytic who has been suffering for 38 years. He waits by this pool for the waters to be stirred up. The story is that when the waters are stirred up, there is an angel nearby, and that the first person in the water will be healed.
Well, this guy has been missing out for 38 years. Do you think he still has hope left? What's his future look like? He's seen the water be stirred up for decades, and yet he hasn't been healed. He and the remaining invalids surround the pool, waiting.
Do you remember when the internet first came out? If someone ever emailed you a picture, it took 30 minutes to download. Heaven help us if someone picked up the phone in the middle of the download. Now we get frustrated when the movie we're streaming skips a line. We don't wait very well -- so the idea of waiting 38 minutes, let alone 38 years, is hard to fathom.
Friends, this life we are living, this faith we are striving for, works on a different timeframe. You will join in the Kingdom of God one day. Your sins have been washed away, and all of your brokenness will be healed someday. You will dwell in the throneroom of heaven eternally. These promises of God are certain and reliable.
But the timing is not. God doesn't assure you a carefree life until then. God doesn't say things will be easy. There is no wisdom to tell you that any suffering in your life will pass quickly as you skip from mountaintop to mountaintop. Life is messy and real, joyous and painful, often at the same time. What God assures us is that healing is real and reliable and eternal and wondrous and worth waiting for.
So every day, choose to await the risen Christ with hope. Choose to persevere, trusting in Christ that life overwhelms the grave and hope will always shine in the darkest of nights. Life wins. Love wins. Christ wins. And because of all that, those of us who wait by the pool, wondering when suffering and pain will end, trust that we will one day pick up our mats and leave the paralysis behind.
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
John 4:46-54
John 4:46-54
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's Word has power. In the beginning, when there was just watery chaos, God spoke over the waters, and the power of God's Word caused night and day to begin, it set the universe in motion and eventually men and women were created, all by the power of God's Word. This same Word has continued to speak, and in the beginning of John we understand that God's Word enters into the world in the person of Jesus Christ, the literal Word made flesh, and continues to have power, showing here the ability to heal through a simple word.
Knowing that God's Word has the power to make things be, believe that God has spoken over you -- in Christ, you are forgiven and set free from the powers of sin and death. God has spoken and declared you righteous and redeemed, and just as God's Word has the power to make healings happen, God's Word has the power to redeem and ransom you. What God has said about you is true, and no other force in the world can change that.
Believing that you are free, may you go and speak love and grace into the lives of the people around you. While our words don't have the same power as God's Word, our words do matter, and what we say can transform the lives of those around us. I guarantee you that you wouldn't have to go far to find someone who remembers words of encouragement spoken over them decades ago, and conversely, there are countless others who felt something die inside of them long ago when someone spoke a discouraging word to them.
Speak wisely and with encouragement -- you never know how your words may change lives!
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's Word has power. In the beginning, when there was just watery chaos, God spoke over the waters, and the power of God's Word caused night and day to begin, it set the universe in motion and eventually men and women were created, all by the power of God's Word. This same Word has continued to speak, and in the beginning of John we understand that God's Word enters into the world in the person of Jesus Christ, the literal Word made flesh, and continues to have power, showing here the ability to heal through a simple word.
Knowing that God's Word has the power to make things be, believe that God has spoken over you -- in Christ, you are forgiven and set free from the powers of sin and death. God has spoken and declared you righteous and redeemed, and just as God's Word has the power to make healings happen, God's Word has the power to redeem and ransom you. What God has said about you is true, and no other force in the world can change that.
Believing that you are free, may you go and speak love and grace into the lives of the people around you. While our words don't have the same power as God's Word, our words do matter, and what we say can transform the lives of those around us. I guarantee you that you wouldn't have to go far to find someone who remembers words of encouragement spoken over them decades ago, and conversely, there are countless others who felt something die inside of them long ago when someone spoke a discouraging word to them.
Speak wisely and with encouragement -- you never know how your words may change lives!
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
John 4:39-45
John 4:39-45
English Standard Version (ESV)
I love the transformation that happens here. Remember from a few days ago -- the woman invited the Samaritans to learn more about Jesus through her questions. She didn't come to them with certainty, but rather invited them to learn more about him based on her experience. Then they go to Jesus, and from what they hear directly from Jesus, they come to a saving faith. They don't simply take the words of another for granted -- they take initiative and build a faith of their own based on their experience with Jesus.
Again, what this does is relieve the pressure we put on ourselves to be perfect. It's enough, like John, to point to Jesus. Jesus knows how to convert people. Jesus knows how to save people. We only need to point people to Jesus, which we can do in our own unique and often broken & messy ways, and pray that the grace of God shines in us and through us in such a way that encourages others to encounter the risen Lord in his wondrous and gracious ways.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I love the transformation that happens here. Remember from a few days ago -- the woman invited the Samaritans to learn more about Jesus through her questions. She didn't come to them with certainty, but rather invited them to learn more about him based on her experience. Then they go to Jesus, and from what they hear directly from Jesus, they come to a saving faith. They don't simply take the words of another for granted -- they take initiative and build a faith of their own based on their experience with Jesus.
Again, what this does is relieve the pressure we put on ourselves to be perfect. It's enough, like John, to point to Jesus. Jesus knows how to convert people. Jesus knows how to save people. We only need to point people to Jesus, which we can do in our own unique and often broken & messy ways, and pray that the grace of God shines in us and through us in such a way that encourages others to encounter the risen Lord in his wondrous and gracious ways.
Monday, July 8, 2019
John 4:31-38
John 4:31-38
English Standard Version (ESV)
When you stand at the grandest vista, looking out over the most beautiful landscape, even that is pointing beyond itself, reminding us that Creation didn't just happen -- it was designed with intent by an artist. There is more to the world than just the naked eye can see.
In the midst of Jesus' ministry, there is more than they can see and understand. The disciples often didn't grasp what Jesus was talking about -- they saw the surface things, but they didn't see into the depths where Jesus was at work. The disciples spent every waking moment with Jesus for three years, and they were often stumbling around in the dark, trying to grasp what Jesus really meant.
So friends, give yourself some grace when you don't completely understand how Jesus is calling you to live and serve. I promise you that Jesus is calling you to deeper ministry, to take your next step in faith, but if you're not sure exactly what that is, it's pretty common to have a hard time discerning what Jesus means. Only years of faithful following, combined with community that helps understand how Jesus is at work, is the path to knowing how best to follow and to serve.
English Standard Version (ESV)
When you stand at the grandest vista, looking out over the most beautiful landscape, even that is pointing beyond itself, reminding us that Creation didn't just happen -- it was designed with intent by an artist. There is more to the world than just the naked eye can see.
In the midst of Jesus' ministry, there is more than they can see and understand. The disciples often didn't grasp what Jesus was talking about -- they saw the surface things, but they didn't see into the depths where Jesus was at work. The disciples spent every waking moment with Jesus for three years, and they were often stumbling around in the dark, trying to grasp what Jesus really meant.
So friends, give yourself some grace when you don't completely understand how Jesus is calling you to live and serve. I promise you that Jesus is calling you to deeper ministry, to take your next step in faith, but if you're not sure exactly what that is, it's pretty common to have a hard time discerning what Jesus means. Only years of faithful following, combined with community that helps understand how Jesus is at work, is the path to knowing how best to follow and to serve.
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
John 4:27-30
John 4:27-30
English Standard Version (ESV)
When we talk about evangelism, most of us picture engaging speakers who seem to know the answer to every single question. I listen to a lot of Ravi Zacharias, a tremendously engaging speaker who seems to have no fear and an endless knowledge of how to respond to every skeptic. I wish I had such mastery of the faith.
Here, this woman goes forth not with certainty, but with a question. Later, we'll find out that she's tremendously effective with this question. She doesn't go to the people with a firm knowledge of exactly who Jesus is, but she's convinced that he's something extraordinary and that he is worth exploring on their own. Intrigued by her witness, they go to experience him for themselves.
This is our responsibility. The salvation of others doesn't depend on the cleverness of our words -- but rather it depends on their experience of the person and presence of Jesus Christ. If we can capture their attention and convince them that he is worth investigating, we can depend on the Holy Spirit to engage their hearts and minds. It is Christ who saves, not us.
So may we be transformed, and may we be invitational, inviting others to come and experience the one with infinite love and mercy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
When we talk about evangelism, most of us picture engaging speakers who seem to know the answer to every single question. I listen to a lot of Ravi Zacharias, a tremendously engaging speaker who seems to have no fear and an endless knowledge of how to respond to every skeptic. I wish I had such mastery of the faith.
Here, this woman goes forth not with certainty, but with a question. Later, we'll find out that she's tremendously effective with this question. She doesn't go to the people with a firm knowledge of exactly who Jesus is, but she's convinced that he's something extraordinary and that he is worth exploring on their own. Intrigued by her witness, they go to experience him for themselves.
This is our responsibility. The salvation of others doesn't depend on the cleverness of our words -- but rather it depends on their experience of the person and presence of Jesus Christ. If we can capture their attention and convince them that he is worth investigating, we can depend on the Holy Spirit to engage their hearts and minds. It is Christ who saves, not us.
So may we be transformed, and may we be invitational, inviting others to come and experience the one with infinite love and mercy.
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
John 4:16-26
John 4:16-26
English Standard Version (ESV)
I know how to hit a golf ball. I've got a set of clubs, and I can go to the golf course and perform a reasonable imitation of a golfer. Of course, there's a huge gap between where I'm at and a professional golfer -- my knowledge doesn't always translate into action.
In the same way, I know that certain foods are unhealthy. I know that having a second helping of dessert is bad, but that doesn't stop me from doing it sometimes. Knowledge doesn't always translate into action.
The woman at the well knows that the Messiah is coming, but she doesn't recognize that he is standing in front of her, offering her transformation through his saving grace. Her knowledge of the coming Messiah hasn't yet translated into anything. It will shortly, because Jesus has come to her despite all of the challenges life has thrown at her -- undeterred, he presses on, eager to rescue and transform and give hope.
In the same way, we stand before Christ. We know a lot of things about God and the Bible and Christianity. Does what you know transform your life? Has the hope of Christianity nestled into the depths of your soul to such an extent that the grace of God overwhelms you at times? Are joy and peace real things in your life? I don't mean that you have to be happy 100% of the time, but joy is deeper than happiness -- the knowledge of what God has done to save us should have a real impact on our lives, and should be a comfort in times of need and an inspiration in other times. The single most powerful man who ever lived chose to die the death of a criminal because of how deeply he loved you and because he wants to spend eternity with you. You are infinitely treasured and known, and the obstacles in your life will never separate you from God's love.
Know that, and pray for the Holy Spirit to let that knowledge change you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I know how to hit a golf ball. I've got a set of clubs, and I can go to the golf course and perform a reasonable imitation of a golfer. Of course, there's a huge gap between where I'm at and a professional golfer -- my knowledge doesn't always translate into action.
In the same way, I know that certain foods are unhealthy. I know that having a second helping of dessert is bad, but that doesn't stop me from doing it sometimes. Knowledge doesn't always translate into action.
The woman at the well knows that the Messiah is coming, but she doesn't recognize that he is standing in front of her, offering her transformation through his saving grace. Her knowledge of the coming Messiah hasn't yet translated into anything. It will shortly, because Jesus has come to her despite all of the challenges life has thrown at her -- undeterred, he presses on, eager to rescue and transform and give hope.
In the same way, we stand before Christ. We know a lot of things about God and the Bible and Christianity. Does what you know transform your life? Has the hope of Christianity nestled into the depths of your soul to such an extent that the grace of God overwhelms you at times? Are joy and peace real things in your life? I don't mean that you have to be happy 100% of the time, but joy is deeper than happiness -- the knowledge of what God has done to save us should have a real impact on our lives, and should be a comfort in times of need and an inspiration in other times. The single most powerful man who ever lived chose to die the death of a criminal because of how deeply he loved you and because he wants to spend eternity with you. You are infinitely treasured and known, and the obstacles in your life will never separate you from God's love.
Know that, and pray for the Holy Spirit to let that knowledge change you.
Monday, July 1, 2019
John 4:7-15
John 4:7-15
English Standard Version (ESV)
There are people who we don't fully see in society. The homeless people sitting on the sidewalk. Those who stand at the end of the freeway on and off ramps. So many of the urban poor, or those scraping by in other parts of town. And we don't see the wounds of mental illness, which can be devastatingly paralyzing for those who suffer it, but all can appear normal on the outside.
What's amazing is the tender way that Jesus sees, and validates, all people. Imagine the most marginalized people in society -- these are the ones to whom Jesus goes, and then he sends us to go and do likewise.
Here, Jesus is visiting a Samaritan woman who lives with a man she is not married to. She is surprised that Jesus even talks to her, and yet he not only talks to her but also puts himself in a position to be vulnerable to her. He asks her for a drink.
Following this, there is a long conversation about water, both physical and spiritual. Jesus is pointing to the eternal, but she cannot see beyond the physical.
Friends, God is at work around you. Our vision is also limited, and one of the prayers we can pray is for God to help us see the world the way God sees it, to love people the way God loves people. The Holy Spirit draws us together, into community, and it is there we discover that we are beloved by God. The needs we have are not so different than those around us. The wounds we carry, which we often assume (usually with shame) are unique to us, are common, for we are all hurting in often similar ways, and Jesus comes to us with humility, honoring our broken humanity and offering us healing that is greater than life.
English Standard Version (ESV)
There are people who we don't fully see in society. The homeless people sitting on the sidewalk. Those who stand at the end of the freeway on and off ramps. So many of the urban poor, or those scraping by in other parts of town. And we don't see the wounds of mental illness, which can be devastatingly paralyzing for those who suffer it, but all can appear normal on the outside.
What's amazing is the tender way that Jesus sees, and validates, all people. Imagine the most marginalized people in society -- these are the ones to whom Jesus goes, and then he sends us to go and do likewise.
Here, Jesus is visiting a Samaritan woman who lives with a man she is not married to. She is surprised that Jesus even talks to her, and yet he not only talks to her but also puts himself in a position to be vulnerable to her. He asks her for a drink.
Following this, there is a long conversation about water, both physical and spiritual. Jesus is pointing to the eternal, but she cannot see beyond the physical.
Friends, God is at work around you. Our vision is also limited, and one of the prayers we can pray is for God to help us see the world the way God sees it, to love people the way God loves people. The Holy Spirit draws us together, into community, and it is there we discover that we are beloved by God. The needs we have are not so different than those around us. The wounds we carry, which we often assume (usually with shame) are unique to us, are common, for we are all hurting in often similar ways, and Jesus comes to us with humility, honoring our broken humanity and offering us healing that is greater than life.
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