John 19:28-30

John 19:28-30 

English Standard Version 

  Most of us leave places when it's made clear that we're not welcome.  Have you ever been at someone's house past dinner and you've suddenly noticed they are becoming less and less subtle that it's time to go?  Or maybe you were at a restaurant and you looked up and noticed they were stacking chairs on tables.  It might be easy to miss the signs at first, but once they become clear, we usually head out.

  Jesus stayed.

  How hard it must have been.  He didn't have to hang there on that cross.  He could have left.  He could have noted that it was clear he was unwelcome and left us behind.  Humanity rejected him, but such was his love, such was his heartbreak, that he stayed.  He stayed because he knew we didn't fully realize the treasure we were giving up.  He stayed because he knew how broken we were, how powerful sin is, and so he stayed, because his beloved children were held under death's power, and he was unwilling to give us up.

  And so he stayed until the end, until it was finished, because there was work to be done, and he was unwilling to lose a single lost sheep.

  Thanks be to God.

Luke 22:7-13

Luke 22:7-13 

English Standard Version 

  We could forgive Jesus for being distracted on this day, the last day of his freedom before his arrest, but he was focused on spending Passover with the disciples.  He was focused on us.  It astounds me the depth of Jesus' love -- knowing the greatest trial of his life would soon be upon him, where he would be wrongfully convicted, tortured, and painfully killed, he thought of the disciples and how he could continue to teach them, strengthen them, love them.  His entire life was about others, to the end, and through the end.  

  How do we model this?  As the church, we're called to follow Jesus out into the world.  I'm often so wrapped up in various things that I'm going through, and I easily forget the needs of others around me.  How do we pray to have a heart like Jesus, who is always building community, no matter the stage of his life, no matter the crisis that may be unfolding within.  His heart is outside focused, and his life, as a result, draws others in.

James 4:1-5

James 4:1-5

English Standard Version 

  Augustine talks about our problem being primarily one of disordered loves.  We love the wrong things too much, and the right things too little.  The biggest sin we likely need to repent of is loving God too little.  We choose the world instead, because it's here and it's pressing in on us from all directions, and the pressure is unbearable.  We grow up surrounded by it, and it's what we know best, so we chase it.

  May we yearn for God with all we have.  Jesus calls us friend... may we pursue him like a friend, like a lover, like a soulmate, for it is he who made our souls, and we are made for him.  When we ask, may we start with asking for God to help us love God more -- it is the most worthy effort we can ever make.

James 3:13-18

James 3:13-18 

English Standard Version 

  Remember all those signs that tell you how everything you ever needed to know you learned in kindergarten?  This is somewhat similar -- it's telling us what wise and faithful behavior looks like.  We learn it here in Scripture, but we often forget it when we go into the world.  We get defensive and upset, often because we're afraid our self-image is being threatened or tarnished.  Scripture tells us to let go of our self-image and to let God define us.  Then we're not worried about defending ourself or protecting our reputation.  Then we let go of being jealous and selfishly ambitious.  When we're not worried about where we rank among others, then we don't get as angry.  We work for peace.  

  Sometimes, I think we have to get angry to pursue peace.  There are people in the world who will take advantage of others, particularly children, and when we see that happening, we should be angry, and to work for peace may mean we don't do peaceful things.  I don't know when and where to draw those lines, but I do know that Jesus got upset when he saw unrighteousness.  When we do get angry, we should test our anger, to ensure it's really about unrighteousness and we aren't somehow tied up in it.  It's a hard thing to do, but necessary -- it's part of pouring ourself out so that Christ can fill us.

James 3:6-12

James 3:6-12 

English Standard Version 

  You can feel James wrestling with the reality of our speech, which reflects our divided hearts.  Our words flow out of our hearts, and our hearts bounce back and forth -- we don't know how to perfectly pursue God, and so our idols get in the way.  We make time to pray and pursue God, but so often we're pursuing our own kingdoms, our own treasures, and when that pursuit is interrupted, we become angry or defensive or deceitful, doing whatever we can to build ourselves up, to try and save ourselves, when in reality, Christ is the only one who can save us, and Christ does so freely, without condition, inviting us to turn to God in praise and thanksgiving.

  May we pay attention to the words we use, to the way we use them, to the way we speak to those that are around us.  We can be so careless with our words -- let us attend to them, for they can build one another up or tear one another down.  It is our choice, I simply pray that we are mindful enough to choose wisely, to choose with intention, that we may love with our words as well as deeds.

James 3:1-5

James 3:1-5 

English Standard Version 

  Sometimes on the news, you'll hear about how social media erupted over a certain issue and a company or person responded due to the outrage.  I'm always skeptical how representative social media is of the larger population.  They're certainly more vocal, but a lot of people are simply too busy to spend all their time on social media, and they're probably not outraged, but because they don't voice their thoughts on the internet, their voice isn't heard.  The vocal minority is often seen as representative because they're the loudest.  

  Our tongues are a small part of the body, but they have an oversized impact.  What we say shapes a lot of our lives and our relationships.  We're called to pay attention to what we say, to how we use our words -- they can build one another up, or they can tear one another down.  How will you use your words?  Will you care for one another?  Will you build community?

James 2:18-26

James 2:18-26 

English Standard Version 

  If I tell you that I have a billion dollars, but I live in an old van and eat one meal a day, what would you think about me?  What would you think the impact of that billion dollars is on my life?

  If you learned that I loved baseball, but I never watched or listened or attended a single baseball game, would you believe me?  Or would you perhaps doubt that my love for baseball was authentic?  Maybe you'd suspect that I simply told people that to impress them.

  James is telling us that our faith should change our actions.  If our faith doesn't have any impact on our actions, what kind of faith is that?  How deeply rooted is it?  Are we keeping faith for convenience at that point?  Or truly allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us?  

  May we pray for faith to change us, to root us deeply in the work of God, and to send us into the world.

James 2:14-17

James 2:14-17 

English Standard Version 

  If I have two hamburgers and only need one, what kind of person am I if we share a meal and I let you go hungry?  The more time we spend in the Gospels, the more we see Jesus sending the church to share what blessings they have with one another.  We are transformed as a community.  The Holy Spirit works in us and between us, and when we entrust ourselves to God, we have to trust when God calls us to be part of a community and look for opportunities to share from places where we have enough.  When we care for one another, we are called to open our hearts to their needs -- not just their spiritual needs, but their physical needs as well.  We may not have the resources to help everyone... but we're called to care about their needs and pray and work for a world where all those needs are met.

Psalm 118:25-29

Psalm 118:25-29 

English Standard Version 

  Today is simply a reminder to rejoice in all that God has given us.  Monday mornings can be hectic and busy and rushed, and we too easily forget that life itself is a gift from God, whose steadfast love overflows into every corner of our lives.  May we drink deeply from the wellspring of joy, and have confidence that God is with us, no matter what today may hold.  The Lord has made the light to shine upon us, and as a result, we are never alone and the darkness is kept at bay.

James 2:8-13

James 2:8-13 

English Standard Version 

  Truly, it is harder to enter the kingdom of Heaven then for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle!  Imagine keeping the entire law and then missing one tiny point -- it invalidates the rest of your efforts.  Imagine driving from New York to Los Angeles and then driving 56 in a 55 mph speed limit near the destination, and realizing the entire trip was in vain.  You'd go nuts with that kind of pressure!

  Thanks be to God that Jesus wipes away our sin, that Jesus recognizes our weakness and take the punishment we rightly deserve.  We have broken the law, but in Christ, we receive the glory that is due to him, and he receives the punishment that is due to us.  What a priceless gift!

James 2:1-7

James 2:1-7 

English Standard Version 

  It's so hard to fight the innate tendency within us to gravitate towards the things of this world that are the most appealing.  I followed a car in to work yesterday that was very high end, and I paid attention to it over all the other cars.  I probably thought impure thoughts.  I made distinctions.  

  The world wires us this way, and we often don't even think about it.  We automatically show favoritism towards those who are dressed the best and appear the most successful.  Others... we pay less attention to.  

  But the Gospel invites us to think about the world and our relationships differently.  The Gospel invites us to join with God in understanding a different economy, one far truer than the economy of this world.  In God's economy, riches are not material, but they are lavished from God in heaven, and they do not accumulate in those with the largest houses, but rather with the most room in their hearts.  

  May we lean towards that economy and let God transform us, showing us the innate value in every human heart, treating each and every soul with gentleness and humility.

James 1:22-27

James 1:22-27 

English Standard Version 

  Mark Twain said that it wasn't the parts of the Bible that he didn't understand that worried him, it was the parts of the Bible he did understand that bothered him.  At times, the language is so high and lofty that it's hard to grasp.  At other times it is clear and direct.  This is one of those times.  We have a choice, James tells us -- we can opt to hear the Word, pray for it to transform us, and let it lead us into the world, or we can listen, think about how nice it is, and leave it at that.  Either is a choice.  One is faithful to the calling of Jesus Christ, which is meant to transform us and the community around us.  To be idle... is a different choice, a worse choice, for it means that the Word hasn't changed us.  To hear the Gospel is to be changed.  And if we are not changed, we must continue to listen and pray for the Holy Spirit to illumine us, to lead us out, for the Word always changes, always transforms, always challenges and comforts and brings new life.

James 1:19-21

James 1:19-21 

English Standard Version 

  It's fascinating to read verses like this in the midst of peak political silliness.  Imagine a world where we default to listening before speaking, where we aren't so quick to be angry but rather practice stillness and patience first.  Think of how our world might be different if run by the meek, guided by Scripture, which calls us to love and serve.  Imagine leaders that fled from anything that hinted at impropriety.  

  But that's not the world we have, so we have to do our best to create it.  May we seek to be examples in our community and in our congregations and in our neighborhoods.  May we live by this, and perhaps in doing so, we can influence one another, and change the world, little by little.  

James 1:16-18

James 1:16-18 

English Standard Version 

  We have a responsibility towards others.  We were designed that way -- not that we might shine for ourselves, but that God's light might shine through us into the world around us.  We don't exist for ourselves, but we exist to love and to serve.  Christ showed us this perfectly.  It's hard to remember this in a world that will besiege you with messages to care only for yourself, but the Gospel is here to correct -- we live for others, as God loves us.  

James 1:9-15

James 1:9-15 

English Standard Version

  Think of your priorities.  Where does the crown of life fall?  If it's first, then you'll steadfastly endure anything to obtain it.  If anything else is above it, then that will wither and perish.  Tim Keller talks about how we know what our true gods are when we consider what we think about when we have idle time.  Do we focus on the crown of life, on obtaining the promises of God?  Or do we think about lesser things?  

  The world will certainly tempt us away from God, luring us through our own desires, which give birth to sin, which leads us away from God.  May we pray for the wisdom to pursue God's crown of life rather than our own desires!

James 1:5-8

James 1:5-8 

English Standard Version 

  When I think of all the things I could ask God for, I'll confess that wisdom probably doesn't rise to the top of the list, which probably means that I need wisdom more than anything else!  I think of all the worldly treasures I could get... but they'd all fade away, right?  Watching the news will tell me that all the worldly treasure can't keep me healthy or away from relationship loss or other monetary loss.  Many celebrities and other rich and famous people don't seem very happy, despite having more money than they know what to do with.  So wisdom would be good, even if my heart dances more merrily at the thought of other things God might grant me.

  Of course, to come to God and ask for wisdom when you doubt that God can grant such wisdom is folly.  Who else might you be asking for wisdom?  Is God one of many?  If we believe that God created the earth and is stronger than death... why are we wasting time asking anyone else for wisdom?

  And if we don't believe that, then why ask God in the first place?

  To truly believe that God is bigger than the universe and capable of anything and chooses to love us -- should not such a thought drive us to our knees in prayer and praise every day?

James 1:2-4

James 1:2-4 

English Standard Version 

  Do you ever wonder if James lost all his listeners in the second verse of his book?  I wonder how many people got up and walked out upon hearing this verse read, knowing they could never relate to such an idea.  Who counts it as joy when they meet a trial?

  What a mindset that early church had.  With everything that happened, they were trying to determine how it brought them closer to Christ.  Their celebrations pointed ahead to the great celebration in heaven, and their trials helped them think about being purified for the kingdom.  Every single thing -- none of it was lost if there was an opportunity to grow in discipleship through it.  

  I would love to have this kind of mindset -- to see everything through the filter of growing in discipleship, to waste nothing but always be waiting for the Spirit to lead me closer to Christ.  May we find some semblance of this in our own lives, waiting and watching for God to work in the midst of it all!

Psalm 57:1-3

Psalm 57:1-3 

English Standard Version 

  The image of God as a mother hen is always comforting -- I love the thought of God spreading a wing over me in the midst of the storm, to be gathered up in the safety of the one who knows me and loves me completely.  The God who created hears my cry, and God will deliver me from every enemy through his steadfast love.  God is faithful, to and through the end.  There is nothing else that can be counted on in this same way, and thanks be to God that such love chooses to be for us!

Jude 1:20-25

Jude 1:20-25 

English Standard Version

  I believe this is my 17th year writing these devotionals, so I've probably written between four and five thousand, which is somewhat unbelievable, and as best I can tell, I don't think I've ever written one on Jude before.  I'm likely missing a few Old Testament prophets as well, so I'll have to go back through and see what books there are remaining.  Maybe I'll cover one of the genealogies :)  

  What stands out to me here is the call to have mercy on those who doubt.  There's a call to responsibility towards one another that is sorely lacking in today's world.  We are a community of people, each of us dealing with unique issues and challenges, each of us fearfully and wonderfully made.  That's a hard thing to remember sometimes, especially since much of the media seems prepared to stoke division between groups.  Fear sells better than unity, I suppose.

  May we look at one another with mercy.  That's how God looks at us -- God sees our failures, and yet God loves us with patience and grace, thankfully!  May we try and love one another in that same way, and do our part to restore peace in this world.