Exodus chapter 13
When's the last time you set out on an adventure to someplace you've never been before?
Who were your travelling companions?
Adventures to foreign places offer a host of intrigue and excitement. It might be a vacation, or just a day-trip, but whatever the case an adventure is usually an event in which we would we prefer to have a companion or two. When discovering new places, we want to create new memories that we'll share with others, and remember with our travelling companions for years to come. There is also an added sense of security to exploring new places with someone else. Being alone in a strange place can be a bit threatening. By travelling with loved ones we actually find the freedom to explore a bit further because we feel a bit more secure.
God has just freed Israel from slavery in Egypt. They had been held captive in Egypt for more than 400 years. Even though their faith in God is informed by the promise of a land that is their own, they have never travelled outside of Egypt. Now they set off on an adventure to a very foreign place. But, they have one very important travelling companion, God. After witnessing the miracles that God did to free them, they are beginning to realize that God has been with them for a long time, as matter of fact they are beginning to believe that God was always there with them. Now, with Moses as intercessor, God is communicating to the Israelites that he intends to lead them into a very grand adventure that will end in the promised land. God did not only free His people. He now travels with them. God is their traveling companion, and he knows the way to the promised land.
Life can be an adventure. Too often we remain enslaved to the sinful tendencies of treating life as if it is only worth the work we do and the money we make. This kind of lifestyle isolates us by fear from exploring and enjoying all that God puts before us to appreciate and share. God offers His Son's forgiveness to free us from the sins of spending our lives on things that are not eternal, so that we can explore the things which are; love, charity, creativity, peace, joy etc. Life becomes an adventure when we allow Jesus to free us from our sinful lifestyles of slavery, and we begin to appreciate the travelling companions we have on the adventure of life. Spending quality time with loved ones can be an extraordinary adventure, especially if its something you haven't done in a long time. If you already spend good quality time with your loved ones, then try planning something creative, something adventurous.
We are all on an adventure. It leads us through all sorts of peaks and valleys of life. Along the way, we need companions with which to share it. God provides us with loved ones, and then He frees us from our sins by the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is his innocent death that helps us realize that life is precious, and that sin only destroys it and cuts it short of it's Godly intended purpose. The resurrection promises us forgiveness, and gives to us the power to try again. We get a re-do with God. This means we can give ourselves and the ones we love a re-do as well. As long as we have breath in this life, we have a travelling companion in God who continues to put opportunities for a new life adventure before us. Even more, God promises to travel with us our guide.
You have a travelling companion in God. He loves you and will never leave you no matter what you face in life.Who are your other travelling companions? Consider making today the beginning of a new adventure, one in which you will find new ways to enjoy and appreciate your loved ones.
Lord God, thank you for the adventure of life. Thank you for the companions you have given me to enjoy through life. Be my travelling companion and keep me heading in the direction that leads to the fulfillment of your promised land; your intended purpose for my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Morning Devotions: 4/4/10
Luke 24:1-12
Easter Sunday It's too good to be true!
When's the last time you said that?
Chances are, you've said it several times recently. Better yet, chances are that you've said it even a half-dozen times this week. You may not even realize you're saying it. We are inundated with propositions on a daily basis for products and ideas, and whatever else is the latest and greatest. Most of them present to us a proposal that is too good to be true. Ever watch an infomercial? How about most of that junk mail that fills our mail boxes and inboxes daily? So, you may not actually say it, but even without saying it, every time you drop that jump mail in the recycling bin, or turn the channel to something on the infomercial, you're saying it---"That's too good to be true" Such a daily, even constant filtering of information makes us pretty savvy at detecting what is worth paying attention to and what isn't.
On that first Easter morning, the women were presented with a proposition that seemed way too good to be true.They arrive at the tomb and find that the stone has been rolled away, essentially the tomb is standing wide open. They investigate and find not the body of Jesus, but two angels who say that Jesus is not here. He is risen and is alive! The women hear this, but at first they don't believe it. This sounds way too good to be true.
The Easter proclamation, "Christ is risen", means that the consequences of our sinful destructive behavior can no longer destroy us. It means that out of all the ugliness of our world, beauty will still rise again. It means that nothing, truly nothing, not even death, can separate us from the forgiving love of God. "Christ is risen"---not even death can keep God from us. "Christ is risen" means we Christians are never without a living, breathing image of an eternal hope. Too often, though, we fail to believe this proclamation, because it seems just too good to be true.
However, when we do believe it, it changes our world. There are times in life when the only thing we have left that keeps us moving forward is the eternal hope that Christ offers to us.
Steven Curtis Chapman, a very popular Contemporary Christian musician, wrote some of the most honest and beautiful lyrics a couple of years ago that speak about the power of this Easter hope. But, to appreciate the music, you have to know the story behind it. The Chapman's 5-year old daughter was tragically killed in an auto accident. The driver of the car that killed their little girl was their oldest son, he was 17 at the time. In the wake of such a devastating loss, Steven Curtis Chapman composed the music for the album "Beauty Will Rise". Each song on this album is written as a response to his grief, and it is powerfully hopeful. One particular song, entitled "See", is written from the perspective of his 5 year old daughter who is now in Heaven. The refrain echoes his pain as well as his joy and hope, as he sings about his daughter reminding him about the beauty of heaven, "Daddy, it's just the way you said it would be, just you wait and see."
The freedom to lament to God, and know that one day we will rise again, that is the power behind this proclamation, "Christ is risen!" And that message is certainly not junk mail. Its the best news the world could receive, and it is a gift from God to all of us who follow Christ.
Lord God, thank you for raising your Son from the grave so that we would be given the ability to believe that you offer an eternal hope to us. May this hope guide my life, shape my life, and give me a reason to carry on. Lord, you make beauty to rise out of ugliness. Make your beauty rise like your Son out of the ugly tomb of my heart. On this Easter day, let me proclaim and believe, "Christ is risen", and he is alive for me. In Jesus' name. Amen
Easter Sunday It's too good to be true!
When's the last time you said that?
Chances are, you've said it several times recently. Better yet, chances are that you've said it even a half-dozen times this week. You may not even realize you're saying it. We are inundated with propositions on a daily basis for products and ideas, and whatever else is the latest and greatest. Most of them present to us a proposal that is too good to be true. Ever watch an infomercial? How about most of that junk mail that fills our mail boxes and inboxes daily? So, you may not actually say it, but even without saying it, every time you drop that jump mail in the recycling bin, or turn the channel to something on the infomercial, you're saying it---"That's too good to be true" Such a daily, even constant filtering of information makes us pretty savvy at detecting what is worth paying attention to and what isn't.
On that first Easter morning, the women were presented with a proposition that seemed way too good to be true.They arrive at the tomb and find that the stone has been rolled away, essentially the tomb is standing wide open. They investigate and find not the body of Jesus, but two angels who say that Jesus is not here. He is risen and is alive! The women hear this, but at first they don't believe it. This sounds way too good to be true.
The Easter proclamation, "Christ is risen", means that the consequences of our sinful destructive behavior can no longer destroy us. It means that out of all the ugliness of our world, beauty will still rise again. It means that nothing, truly nothing, not even death, can separate us from the forgiving love of God. "Christ is risen"---not even death can keep God from us. "Christ is risen" means we Christians are never without a living, breathing image of an eternal hope. Too often, though, we fail to believe this proclamation, because it seems just too good to be true.
However, when we do believe it, it changes our world. There are times in life when the only thing we have left that keeps us moving forward is the eternal hope that Christ offers to us.
Steven Curtis Chapman, a very popular Contemporary Christian musician, wrote some of the most honest and beautiful lyrics a couple of years ago that speak about the power of this Easter hope. But, to appreciate the music, you have to know the story behind it. The Chapman's 5-year old daughter was tragically killed in an auto accident. The driver of the car that killed their little girl was their oldest son, he was 17 at the time. In the wake of such a devastating loss, Steven Curtis Chapman composed the music for the album "Beauty Will Rise". Each song on this album is written as a response to his grief, and it is powerfully hopeful. One particular song, entitled "See", is written from the perspective of his 5 year old daughter who is now in Heaven. The refrain echoes his pain as well as his joy and hope, as he sings about his daughter reminding him about the beauty of heaven, "Daddy, it's just the way you said it would be, just you wait and see."
The freedom to lament to God, and know that one day we will rise again, that is the power behind this proclamation, "Christ is risen!" And that message is certainly not junk mail. Its the best news the world could receive, and it is a gift from God to all of us who follow Christ.
Lord God, thank you for raising your Son from the grave so that we would be given the ability to believe that you offer an eternal hope to us. May this hope guide my life, shape my life, and give me a reason to carry on. Lord, you make beauty to rise out of ugliness. Make your beauty rise like your Son out of the ugly tomb of my heart. On this Easter day, let me proclaim and believe, "Christ is risen", and he is alive for me. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 4/3/10
Exodus chapters 11-12
Are you a morning person or a night person?
Science has proven that there are times of the day when we are at our peak, and times when we are off-peak. The tricky thing is that we are all different. I have learned that, even though I enjoy night-time activities, I am not very productive at night. I am at my best somewhere between the hours of 8 and 11am. I also think that I am at my worst between 2 and 5pm. Science suggests that if we were able to schedule our daily activities according to our peak and off-peak times we would become more productive, and generally less stressed about life.
We are made in the image of God. Do you think God has a peak time? It's kind of odd to consider, since we would naturally assume that God's omnipotence would preclude any possibility of a peak or off-peak time. But, if for no other reason than for fun, let's consider it for a moment.
Based upon scripture, I think we would have to say that God is at His peak in the night. Think about it. In Genesis, God creates all things out of darkness. In today's text, God sends the mightiest, and the final plague upon Egypt in the middle of the night. God establishes the tradition of Passover for His people and the Exodus begins in the middle of the night. Fast forward now, to the occasion of this day. Today is Holy Saturday. It is the day in which we remember that Jesus was dead in the darkness of a tomb as all of heaven awaited the miraculous event of his resurrection; witnessed in the dawn of Easter morning. This means that the resurrection of Jesus was also a night-time, or darkness event of God's power. The most significant things that God did, the things that still form the very identity of our faith, all happened when God acted in the darkness of night. God must be a night person. He is at his peak in the darkness of night. :-)
God still makes miracles happen in the darkness. Think about the darkest periods of your life. What kept you going, kept you hoping? It was God, doing His most miraculous work for you in your darkest time. God works through all sorts of ways; a friend, a book, a song, a prayer. Most importantly, so that all who seek Him may know where to find Him, He promises to work through his Word in scripture, and in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. I can tell you from my own personal experience that the darkest periods of my life were also times when I had neglected my own faith; when scripture reading, prayer, and genuine worship were taken for granted. On the other hand, I can tell you with equal experiential reference, that in those times the one thing that always brought me out of the darkness and into the light was when I would stop neglecting my faith; return to God through prayer, confession and most importantly, the disciplines of devotion to the Word and sacrament.
Is there a darkness you're enduring right now?
Here's the greatest news of all....God is at His very best when we give up trying to control the darkness and trust it to Him. God turns the darkness of a lonely painful night into the joy of a friendly morning. God turns the darkness of slavery to sins into the grace or forgiveness in the morning. God turns the darkness of grief and sorrow into the hope of eternal life in the morning. No matter how dark life becomes, with trust in God, the Son will rise to bring about the dawn of new life in our hearts.
Lord God, you reserve your greatest work for the darkness of our lives. Thank you for being present in my darkest times. Thank you for this new day. Thank you for your Son, who is our Passover lamb. Let me never take for granted your desire to guide my steps with your Word and sacrament, for your path is one of light, love and peace. Most of all, give me courage to let go of my darkness, give up control, and let you create a new day for me. Let your Son rise within me as I celebrate Easter. In Jesus' name. Amen
Are you a morning person or a night person?
Science has proven that there are times of the day when we are at our peak, and times when we are off-peak. The tricky thing is that we are all different. I have learned that, even though I enjoy night-time activities, I am not very productive at night. I am at my best somewhere between the hours of 8 and 11am. I also think that I am at my worst between 2 and 5pm. Science suggests that if we were able to schedule our daily activities according to our peak and off-peak times we would become more productive, and generally less stressed about life.
We are made in the image of God. Do you think God has a peak time? It's kind of odd to consider, since we would naturally assume that God's omnipotence would preclude any possibility of a peak or off-peak time. But, if for no other reason than for fun, let's consider it for a moment.
Based upon scripture, I think we would have to say that God is at His peak in the night. Think about it. In Genesis, God creates all things out of darkness. In today's text, God sends the mightiest, and the final plague upon Egypt in the middle of the night. God establishes the tradition of Passover for His people and the Exodus begins in the middle of the night. Fast forward now, to the occasion of this day. Today is Holy Saturday. It is the day in which we remember that Jesus was dead in the darkness of a tomb as all of heaven awaited the miraculous event of his resurrection; witnessed in the dawn of Easter morning. This means that the resurrection of Jesus was also a night-time, or darkness event of God's power. The most significant things that God did, the things that still form the very identity of our faith, all happened when God acted in the darkness of night. God must be a night person. He is at his peak in the darkness of night. :-)
God still makes miracles happen in the darkness. Think about the darkest periods of your life. What kept you going, kept you hoping? It was God, doing His most miraculous work for you in your darkest time. God works through all sorts of ways; a friend, a book, a song, a prayer. Most importantly, so that all who seek Him may know where to find Him, He promises to work through his Word in scripture, and in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. I can tell you from my own personal experience that the darkest periods of my life were also times when I had neglected my own faith; when scripture reading, prayer, and genuine worship were taken for granted. On the other hand, I can tell you with equal experiential reference, that in those times the one thing that always brought me out of the darkness and into the light was when I would stop neglecting my faith; return to God through prayer, confession and most importantly, the disciplines of devotion to the Word and sacrament.
Is there a darkness you're enduring right now?
Here's the greatest news of all....God is at His very best when we give up trying to control the darkness and trust it to Him. God turns the darkness of a lonely painful night into the joy of a friendly morning. God turns the darkness of slavery to sins into the grace or forgiveness in the morning. God turns the darkness of grief and sorrow into the hope of eternal life in the morning. No matter how dark life becomes, with trust in God, the Son will rise to bring about the dawn of new life in our hearts.
Lord God, you reserve your greatest work for the darkness of our lives. Thank you for being present in my darkest times. Thank you for this new day. Thank you for your Son, who is our Passover lamb. Let me never take for granted your desire to guide my steps with your Word and sacrament, for your path is one of light, love and peace. Most of all, give me courage to let go of my darkness, give up control, and let you create a new day for me. Let your Son rise within me as I celebrate Easter. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 4/2/10
Exodus chapter 10
Have you ever apologized for something when you knew inside that you weren't really sorry for what you did?
If you just said no to that question, go back and think about it a bit more. :-)
Pharaoh comes to Moses and seeks to confess his sinfulness. He wants a reprieve from God's plagues. But, his confession is more of a bargaining tool than a demonstration of sincere contrition. Confession is meant to be from a state of contrition, an honest feeling of remorse and guilt for a sin or a short-coming. A contrite person desires to correct his behaviors, "turn from his sinful ways". Without contrition our confessions are meaningless. Pharaoh makes no effort to change his ways, or to demonstrate any kind of true remorse. If so, he would have come to Moses and said something like this. "You're people can go, I am so sorry for the treatment you've received here in Egypt under my reign. I need to learn to use power without oppressing others." No, he just begs for Moses to ask God to make the plague stop. There are consequences to our sinful actions. Trying to bargain with God through false apologies does not work to remove even a moment of the suffering we cause ourselves. God knows what's in our hearts, and if we're honest, so do we.
We've all seen children, when learning to apologize, say their sorry merely because their parents forced to do so. Then, they often go right back to the same behavior. They confessed, but they weren't contrite about it. Furthermore, the very act of the apology becomes a means by which the child can continue to get his way. Early on, we learn the art of using an apology as a form of bargaining or compromising. As we get older, particularly in our teens, the act of apologizing as a tool for bargaining becomes a perfected craft. We've all seen the teenager apology with grand dramas of remorse; making promise after promise to never do it again...IF mom or dad let her have or do this one thing that she wants. As adults we're supposed to know better, but if we're honest with ourselves we all must confess that we've been rewarded for this little trick far too many times to ever let go of this tool in our bargaining/compromising tool belt.
Today is Good Friday. On this day, through the church, we are called upon to confess our sins. Granted, we are called to do this every day. But, Good Friday is a gift to us in that it is the one day when we are called upon to dig a little deeper, try to be a bit more honest with ourselves and God. The truth is, the ugliness and the sinfulness of the cross is all inside of each of us. It is only by the grace of God that it doesn't come out and destroy us. On this day, we can intentionally approach the cross, and boldly confess the truth. At Living God Church, we are given the opportunity to to physically do this very thing, by writing your sins down on a piece of paper and then literally nailing them into the cross. Each painful thrust of the hammer against the nail is a solemn reminder that Jesus is still willing to accept our piercing agony with the hope that we will leave our destructive sinful ways with him, and strive to sin no more. Today, on this solemn day, confess your sins with a state of contrition, not as a form of bargaining with yourself or God, but with a sincere desire to change and begin a new life, one without those sinful ways.
The first verse of a well known Good Friday hymn, which we will sing tonight is appropriate for this devotion.
"Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended that we to judge thee have in hate pretended?"
Ah, Holy Jesus, how can I thank you? You died so that I may live. Today, I offer my confession. I look upon your suffering, your shame, your agony, your dying, and I know that I am the one who should be up there on the cross....not you. But, you take this, my pain, my shame, my agony, and you put it to death with your dying, and you do this for me. Let my confession be sincere, no more bargaining for my own agenda, let me desire nothing more than to turn from my ways and live as you call me to live....as you call me to live......Lord.....I want to live! Amen
Have you ever apologized for something when you knew inside that you weren't really sorry for what you did?
If you just said no to that question, go back and think about it a bit more. :-)
Pharaoh comes to Moses and seeks to confess his sinfulness. He wants a reprieve from God's plagues. But, his confession is more of a bargaining tool than a demonstration of sincere contrition. Confession is meant to be from a state of contrition, an honest feeling of remorse and guilt for a sin or a short-coming. A contrite person desires to correct his behaviors, "turn from his sinful ways". Without contrition our confessions are meaningless. Pharaoh makes no effort to change his ways, or to demonstrate any kind of true remorse. If so, he would have come to Moses and said something like this. "You're people can go, I am so sorry for the treatment you've received here in Egypt under my reign. I need to learn to use power without oppressing others." No, he just begs for Moses to ask God to make the plague stop. There are consequences to our sinful actions. Trying to bargain with God through false apologies does not work to remove even a moment of the suffering we cause ourselves. God knows what's in our hearts, and if we're honest, so do we.
We've all seen children, when learning to apologize, say their sorry merely because their parents forced to do so. Then, they often go right back to the same behavior. They confessed, but they weren't contrite about it. Furthermore, the very act of the apology becomes a means by which the child can continue to get his way. Early on, we learn the art of using an apology as a form of bargaining or compromising. As we get older, particularly in our teens, the act of apologizing as a tool for bargaining becomes a perfected craft. We've all seen the teenager apology with grand dramas of remorse; making promise after promise to never do it again...IF mom or dad let her have or do this one thing that she wants. As adults we're supposed to know better, but if we're honest with ourselves we all must confess that we've been rewarded for this little trick far too many times to ever let go of this tool in our bargaining/compromising tool belt.
Today is Good Friday. On this day, through the church, we are called upon to confess our sins. Granted, we are called to do this every day. But, Good Friday is a gift to us in that it is the one day when we are called upon to dig a little deeper, try to be a bit more honest with ourselves and God. The truth is, the ugliness and the sinfulness of the cross is all inside of each of us. It is only by the grace of God that it doesn't come out and destroy us. On this day, we can intentionally approach the cross, and boldly confess the truth. At Living God Church, we are given the opportunity to to physically do this very thing, by writing your sins down on a piece of paper and then literally nailing them into the cross. Each painful thrust of the hammer against the nail is a solemn reminder that Jesus is still willing to accept our piercing agony with the hope that we will leave our destructive sinful ways with him, and strive to sin no more. Today, on this solemn day, confess your sins with a state of contrition, not as a form of bargaining with yourself or God, but with a sincere desire to change and begin a new life, one without those sinful ways.
The first verse of a well known Good Friday hymn, which we will sing tonight is appropriate for this devotion.
"Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended that we to judge thee have in hate pretended?"
Ah, Holy Jesus, how can I thank you? You died so that I may live. Today, I offer my confession. I look upon your suffering, your shame, your agony, your dying, and I know that I am the one who should be up there on the cross....not you. But, you take this, my pain, my shame, my agony, and you put it to death with your dying, and you do this for me. Let my confession be sincere, no more bargaining for my own agenda, let me desire nothing more than to turn from my ways and live as you call me to live....as you call me to live......Lord.....I want to live! Amen
Morning Devotions: 4/1/10
Exodus Chapters 8-9
Remember that first time at the public pool when you jumped off the high dive?I remember looking at it from the ground with this deep kind of unavoidable will to do this logic-defying thing. It was as if I knew that one day I would, and the only question was how long could I hold out before I absolutely had to. Then, one hot summer day, I mounted the ladder to make the terrifying climb to the top. I remember how each rung of that ladder intensified my anguish inside. Then, I remember standing on that perilously high board looking out over all the people. It seemed as though all eyes were on me. Suddenly, the fear I felt from the ground, and the anguish that intensified up the ladder turned into something worse---despair. All alone on the high dive; nothing below to catch me (or so it seemed), and nothing but humiliation to pay if I climb back down. Then, in my moment of despair, I remember a kind of calm courage---then I jumped. Looking back I realize that before I came up out of the water, something had washed over me that was more refreshing than the pool, faith.
Despair is the worst. It is what fear and anguish intensify into. Despair is a state of total hopelessness. It's that moment when everything you've tried, all of your best efforts still cant overcome what you face. Its that moment when all you have left to do is pray. So, you do, possibly for the first time in a long time. Despair leads us to faith.
Remember the last time you were in despair?
Remember how your despair caused you to turn towards God and and pray Jesus' Gethsemane Prayer "Not my will, but thine be done"?
That's what is happening with these plagues in Egypt that we are working through for the next few days. Yesterday we read about the Nile turning to blood (plague 1). Today we read about frogs and gnats (plagues 2 and 3). When Moses returned to Egypt and announced to Pharaoh that God is determined to free the Israelites, and that He requests that Pharaoh let His people go, that was the moment of fear, like that of realizing you must go off the high dive. Now, the plagues are coming, and Pharaoh has begun climbing up the ladder. With each plague the anguish of Egypt will intensify as the plagues reach higher and higher into God's authority over all things. The last plague is God's power over death. This one will finally break Pharaoh's heart from anguish into despair. Then, out of despair, Pharaoh will finally find the courage---even faith---to take the jump of believing in the God of Moses and the Israelites. So, while this story is clearly one about the deliverance of God's people. Can we not also see the other side, the untold story, of when Pharaoh first came to believe? There is even a bit of historical proof of this, for there is a brief period of Egyptian history when they turned away from paganism and believed in only one great and mighty God.
On this Holy Thursday, when we remember the way in which Jesus gave himself humbly away in service and sacrifice to us as he did to his disciples, we also remember Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane after sharing his last supper. There in the garden, we remember Jesus' despair as he prayed this most faithful prayer to the Father, "Not my will, but thine be done."
Let Jesus' faith in his moment of despair be an inspiration to you this day, and in every moment of despair that comes to you.
Lord Jesus, you were there when the Israelites cried out for deliverance, and you were also there when Pharaoh was in despair. Finally, you felt despair yourself in the Garden of Gethsemane. When despair brings us to faith, you are the saving arms that catch us when we leap. Thank you! In your name. Amen
Remember that first time at the public pool when you jumped off the high dive?I remember looking at it from the ground with this deep kind of unavoidable will to do this logic-defying thing. It was as if I knew that one day I would, and the only question was how long could I hold out before I absolutely had to. Then, one hot summer day, I mounted the ladder to make the terrifying climb to the top. I remember how each rung of that ladder intensified my anguish inside. Then, I remember standing on that perilously high board looking out over all the people. It seemed as though all eyes were on me. Suddenly, the fear I felt from the ground, and the anguish that intensified up the ladder turned into something worse---despair. All alone on the high dive; nothing below to catch me (or so it seemed), and nothing but humiliation to pay if I climb back down. Then, in my moment of despair, I remember a kind of calm courage---then I jumped. Looking back I realize that before I came up out of the water, something had washed over me that was more refreshing than the pool, faith.
Despair is the worst. It is what fear and anguish intensify into. Despair is a state of total hopelessness. It's that moment when everything you've tried, all of your best efforts still cant overcome what you face. Its that moment when all you have left to do is pray. So, you do, possibly for the first time in a long time. Despair leads us to faith.
Remember the last time you were in despair?
Remember how your despair caused you to turn towards God and and pray Jesus' Gethsemane Prayer "Not my will, but thine be done"?
That's what is happening with these plagues in Egypt that we are working through for the next few days. Yesterday we read about the Nile turning to blood (plague 1). Today we read about frogs and gnats (plagues 2 and 3). When Moses returned to Egypt and announced to Pharaoh that God is determined to free the Israelites, and that He requests that Pharaoh let His people go, that was the moment of fear, like that of realizing you must go off the high dive. Now, the plagues are coming, and Pharaoh has begun climbing up the ladder. With each plague the anguish of Egypt will intensify as the plagues reach higher and higher into God's authority over all things. The last plague is God's power over death. This one will finally break Pharaoh's heart from anguish into despair. Then, out of despair, Pharaoh will finally find the courage---even faith---to take the jump of believing in the God of Moses and the Israelites. So, while this story is clearly one about the deliverance of God's people. Can we not also see the other side, the untold story, of when Pharaoh first came to believe? There is even a bit of historical proof of this, for there is a brief period of Egyptian history when they turned away from paganism and believed in only one great and mighty God.
On this Holy Thursday, when we remember the way in which Jesus gave himself humbly away in service and sacrifice to us as he did to his disciples, we also remember Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane after sharing his last supper. There in the garden, we remember Jesus' despair as he prayed this most faithful prayer to the Father, "Not my will, but thine be done."
Let Jesus' faith in his moment of despair be an inspiration to you this day, and in every moment of despair that comes to you.
Lord Jesus, you were there when the Israelites cried out for deliverance, and you were also there when Pharaoh was in despair. Finally, you felt despair yourself in the Garden of Gethsemane. When despair brings us to faith, you are the saving arms that catch us when we leap. Thank you! In your name. Amen
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Morning Devotions: 3/31/10
Exodus chapter 7
Moses and his miraculous staff.
When the primary mode of transportation was walking, I can imagine people making good use of walking sticks. I enjoy hiking, and I used to have this walking stick that I made myself from a tree branch. After selecting a stick that was just the right length, I used a pocket knife to remove the bark, and carve my initials in the side. It was my staff. It was uniquely mine. I can imagine a similar kind of particularity that would be given to each person's walking stick back in Moses' time. Moses' staff would have been a unique kind of extension of his identity.
When God blesses Moses' staff with various miraculous traits, his staff took on an additional unique identity. It was the identity of God. When Moses would raise his staff or throw it down God's miracles would happen. Moses' identity was intertwined with God's when he used his staff. People learned to recognize the work of God when ever Moses would use his staff.
Today, people don't use walking sticks as much, but neither does God. :-) Today, God has given us different kinds of gifts that help us to intertwine our identity with God's. For instance, Moses didn't have the bible. We do. Bibles are very personalized. Like a walking stick, the more they are used the more they take on the unique particularity of their owners. Consider how your bible communicates your identity. Consider as well how people recognize the work of God when you use it.
There are other staff-like gifts that God has given us as well. There are ways in which each of us are very uniquely equipped with qualities and characteristics that are particular to our identity. When we use them for God's purposes, people begin to recognize the work of God when we do.
How are you uniquely talented?
How do you use this for God's purposes?
Jesus was raised with a unique talent that was part of his identity. He was a carpenter. Interesting, isn't it, that his crowning moment of glory came when he was hung on a cross--the handy work of some unknown carpenter. Like Moses, when he raised his (wooden) staff people recognized the work of God in him, Jesus was raised up on a wooden cross (staff) and people still recognize the work of God in Jesus.
Lord God, thank you for the ways you have uniquely created me. Thank you for the gift of the bible. Motivate me to make use of these special gifts for your purposes that my identity might become more closely intertwined with yours. In Jesus' name. Amen
Moses and his miraculous staff.
When the primary mode of transportation was walking, I can imagine people making good use of walking sticks. I enjoy hiking, and I used to have this walking stick that I made myself from a tree branch. After selecting a stick that was just the right length, I used a pocket knife to remove the bark, and carve my initials in the side. It was my staff. It was uniquely mine. I can imagine a similar kind of particularity that would be given to each person's walking stick back in Moses' time. Moses' staff would have been a unique kind of extension of his identity.
When God blesses Moses' staff with various miraculous traits, his staff took on an additional unique identity. It was the identity of God. When Moses would raise his staff or throw it down God's miracles would happen. Moses' identity was intertwined with God's when he used his staff. People learned to recognize the work of God when ever Moses would use his staff.
Today, people don't use walking sticks as much, but neither does God. :-) Today, God has given us different kinds of gifts that help us to intertwine our identity with God's. For instance, Moses didn't have the bible. We do. Bibles are very personalized. Like a walking stick, the more they are used the more they take on the unique particularity of their owners. Consider how your bible communicates your identity. Consider as well how people recognize the work of God when you use it.
There are other staff-like gifts that God has given us as well. There are ways in which each of us are very uniquely equipped with qualities and characteristics that are particular to our identity. When we use them for God's purposes, people begin to recognize the work of God when we do.
How are you uniquely talented?
How do you use this for God's purposes?
Jesus was raised with a unique talent that was part of his identity. He was a carpenter. Interesting, isn't it, that his crowning moment of glory came when he was hung on a cross--the handy work of some unknown carpenter. Like Moses, when he raised his (wooden) staff people recognized the work of God in him, Jesus was raised up on a wooden cross (staff) and people still recognize the work of God in Jesus.
Lord God, thank you for the ways you have uniquely created me. Thank you for the gift of the bible. Motivate me to make use of these special gifts for your purposes that my identity might become more closely intertwined with yours. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/30/10
Exodus chapter 5-6
Family--they can be our saving grace in times of trouble. Or, they can become an additional source of trouble. They can be our strongest supporters. Or, they can hold us back and give us their fears.
Moses, as a Levite, has deep connections among the Israelites through his family name. But, his family offered no support to him and his brother Aaron. In the end his family did more to hurt the cause of freedom that Moses presented to them. Unable to see beyond their own fears, they actually rallied the Israelites to turn against Moses and Aaron.
Not all of us are born into healthy family systems where good and supportive roles models help to shape our lives positively as we mature. Nevertheless, all of us need to find a healthy support system. Many of us have had to find other role models. Sometimes we find them by learning to rely more heavily on one or two positive ones within our family. Other times we may look outside the family to find the support we need.
Whatever the case, as we grow and mature, we come to understand our families and the systems of support or the lack thereof with a sense of grace. After all, they are our family.
Jesus' connection to God, and his friendships with the disciples provide for us a window through which we might see the hope of heaven for all of our families. Like the way Jesus loves his friends; may our families find long-suffering, joy-filled abiding love. Like the way Jesus gives himself to God the Father's will, even when it means dying on the cross; may our families find true security in loyal, sacrificial, selfless service.
Lord Jesus you are a role model that we can trust. Today, I give thanks for all those positive role models of love and hope that I look to as a source of inspiration. I pray for my family, and for families everywhere. Send your holy angels to watch over the little ones who are born into destructively dysfunctional homes. Awaken my awareness to the destructive things I do, and wash me with your grace to correct my ways. In Jesus' name. Amen
Family--they can be our saving grace in times of trouble. Or, they can become an additional source of trouble. They can be our strongest supporters. Or, they can hold us back and give us their fears.
Moses, as a Levite, has deep connections among the Israelites through his family name. But, his family offered no support to him and his brother Aaron. In the end his family did more to hurt the cause of freedom that Moses presented to them. Unable to see beyond their own fears, they actually rallied the Israelites to turn against Moses and Aaron.
Not all of us are born into healthy family systems where good and supportive roles models help to shape our lives positively as we mature. Nevertheless, all of us need to find a healthy support system. Many of us have had to find other role models. Sometimes we find them by learning to rely more heavily on one or two positive ones within our family. Other times we may look outside the family to find the support we need.
Whatever the case, as we grow and mature, we come to understand our families and the systems of support or the lack thereof with a sense of grace. After all, they are our family.
Jesus' connection to God, and his friendships with the disciples provide for us a window through which we might see the hope of heaven for all of our families. Like the way Jesus loves his friends; may our families find long-suffering, joy-filled abiding love. Like the way Jesus gives himself to God the Father's will, even when it means dying on the cross; may our families find true security in loyal, sacrificial, selfless service.
Lord Jesus you are a role model that we can trust. Today, I give thanks for all those positive role models of love and hope that I look to as a source of inspiration. I pray for my family, and for families everywhere. Send your holy angels to watch over the little ones who are born into destructively dysfunctional homes. Awaken my awareness to the destructive things I do, and wash me with your grace to correct my ways. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/29/10
This morning's bible reading: Exodus chapters 3-4
Moses has a holy ground experience.
For many of us, I think, holy ground refers to a physical, temporal place; a church, or a special place at the ocean or on a mountain top. For some it is possibly even a specific geography such as Jerusalem, or Mt. Sinai. I've come to believe that holy ground has far less to do with locations, and for more to do with spiritual experiences. Today's text confirms that with me. In the holy ground experience of Moses we find far less emphasis on the temporal location than on the spiritual ascent of Moses to God's purpose for him.
Moses begins his day as if it was like any other. He was a shepherd, and essentially he was at work. But, his holy ground experience makes a dramatic change in his life, one that will altar his existence from that of shepherding sheep to shepherding people. He begins the day with certain expectations, but by the end of the day he has a renewed sense of vision and expectation of a challenge before him that he must face. There is a challenging new path before him, but he is inspired and determined to see it through. His motivation comes from his faith that God will provide for him and lead him to the completion of this daunting challenge.
I've had moments like that in my life. They are few, but they are powerful. They are moments of clarity like that of finally finding the missing clue to a puzzle you've worked for a long time. Then, realizing it's that very piece which let's you see where everything else is supposed to go. These are holy ground moments. They are spiritual moments when God's passionate, life sustaining fire intervenes to provide renewed clarity to our very existence. They are often moments that are so profound and empowering that you can remember the details of the location, the weather, even the sounds and smells you were hearing at the moment.
There are a few of life's experiences that are common locations where holy ground often occurs. Falling in love, the birth of children, the loss of loved ones; these are all points within life when we might expect God to intervene with holy ground influence. But, I have found that the holy ground moments that occur when we least expect them can be the most profound.
When's the last time you sensed that you were standing on holy ground?
O God, thank you for intervening in my life over all these years. Thank you for those holy ground moments that leave me speechless at your amazing grace for me. Intervene in my life today, Lord, and set me on the path of your will. In Jesus' name. Amen
Moses has a holy ground experience.
For many of us, I think, holy ground refers to a physical, temporal place; a church, or a special place at the ocean or on a mountain top. For some it is possibly even a specific geography such as Jerusalem, or Mt. Sinai. I've come to believe that holy ground has far less to do with locations, and for more to do with spiritual experiences. Today's text confirms that with me. In the holy ground experience of Moses we find far less emphasis on the temporal location than on the spiritual ascent of Moses to God's purpose for him.
Moses begins his day as if it was like any other. He was a shepherd, and essentially he was at work. But, his holy ground experience makes a dramatic change in his life, one that will altar his existence from that of shepherding sheep to shepherding people. He begins the day with certain expectations, but by the end of the day he has a renewed sense of vision and expectation of a challenge before him that he must face. There is a challenging new path before him, but he is inspired and determined to see it through. His motivation comes from his faith that God will provide for him and lead him to the completion of this daunting challenge.
I've had moments like that in my life. They are few, but they are powerful. They are moments of clarity like that of finally finding the missing clue to a puzzle you've worked for a long time. Then, realizing it's that very piece which let's you see where everything else is supposed to go. These are holy ground moments. They are spiritual moments when God's passionate, life sustaining fire intervenes to provide renewed clarity to our very existence. They are often moments that are so profound and empowering that you can remember the details of the location, the weather, even the sounds and smells you were hearing at the moment.
There are a few of life's experiences that are common locations where holy ground often occurs. Falling in love, the birth of children, the loss of loved ones; these are all points within life when we might expect God to intervene with holy ground influence. But, I have found that the holy ground moments that occur when we least expect them can be the most profound.
When's the last time you sensed that you were standing on holy ground?
O God, thank you for intervening in my life over all these years. Thank you for those holy ground moments that leave me speechless at your amazing grace for me. Intervene in my life today, Lord, and set me on the path of your will. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/28/10
Palm Sunday
Luke 19:28-40
Jesus enters Jerusalem.....on a donkey?
This is certainly not the grand entrance we would have expected.
By this point in Jesus' life he had risen in status to that of a high ranking political figure. The rumors had spread that he was to be crowned the king of the Jews; that he was the long-awaited Messiah. His reputation preceded him to Jerusalem. The people surely would have expected a grand entrance. Pontius Pilate would have been seen traveling to and from Jerusalem on a mighty horse; one that would have been adorned with hints of armor and decorated with images of Caesar, the seal of Roman authority. Pilate would likely have been flanked by fully armed soldiers as security, communicating a sense of untouchable power. Surely if the Jews were anticipating their next king to make his first ever grand entrance into the most important city of all Judea, they would have been expecting some sort of similar show of power or a demonstration of royal stature. They would not have expected a donkey and a band of singing sinners.
Seldom is Jesus who or what we expect him to be.
We expect him to be the right arm of God, power, majesty etc. But then our most profound encounters with him, when we sense that we might just be standing on holy ground, are most often moments of humility, grace, love, peace.
We expect to see him in displays of power over our enemies. Yet, this very power is realized when we are on our knees encountering strength, courage and faith in our weakest moments.
We expect that he would be powerfully present with those "Christians"--you know the ones. They are always way better than everyone else around them because they like to put on air of righteousness. But, then he makes himself present even to the likes of you and me in small and unthreatening ways, like the subtlety of a message heard in church; a friendly greeting, in the water of a baptism, or in the bread and the wine.
Jesus enters on a donkey; humble, graceful, unthreatening; with subtle inward strength, courage, and faith.
Kings, presidents and all sorts of other political figures will come and go with grand displays of power and security for all the world to see. Meanwhile, we will continue to recognize Jesus' presence coming and going from us with subtle demonstrations of humility, grace, peace, love...the kinds of things that make us stronger, and better human beings on the inside where no one can see his profound power. Kings, presidents and others like them demonstrate their power on the outside because it is necessary to save themselves and secure the power of the office they hold.Jesus, on the other hand, isn't interested in saving himself or securing his own authority. He wants to save us, and keep us secure for all eternity.
Lord God, save me and secure me with your authority. Keep me within your humble, loving presence. Encourage me, and strengthen me to grow and change according to your will. In Jesus' name. Amen
Luke 19:28-40
Jesus enters Jerusalem.....on a donkey?
This is certainly not the grand entrance we would have expected.
By this point in Jesus' life he had risen in status to that of a high ranking political figure. The rumors had spread that he was to be crowned the king of the Jews; that he was the long-awaited Messiah. His reputation preceded him to Jerusalem. The people surely would have expected a grand entrance. Pontius Pilate would have been seen traveling to and from Jerusalem on a mighty horse; one that would have been adorned with hints of armor and decorated with images of Caesar, the seal of Roman authority. Pilate would likely have been flanked by fully armed soldiers as security, communicating a sense of untouchable power. Surely if the Jews were anticipating their next king to make his first ever grand entrance into the most important city of all Judea, they would have been expecting some sort of similar show of power or a demonstration of royal stature. They would not have expected a donkey and a band of singing sinners.
Seldom is Jesus who or what we expect him to be.
We expect him to be the right arm of God, power, majesty etc. But then our most profound encounters with him, when we sense that we might just be standing on holy ground, are most often moments of humility, grace, love, peace.
We expect to see him in displays of power over our enemies. Yet, this very power is realized when we are on our knees encountering strength, courage and faith in our weakest moments.
We expect that he would be powerfully present with those "Christians"--you know the ones. They are always way better than everyone else around them because they like to put on air of righteousness. But, then he makes himself present even to the likes of you and me in small and unthreatening ways, like the subtlety of a message heard in church; a friendly greeting, in the water of a baptism, or in the bread and the wine.
Jesus enters on a donkey; humble, graceful, unthreatening; with subtle inward strength, courage, and faith.
Kings, presidents and all sorts of other political figures will come and go with grand displays of power and security for all the world to see. Meanwhile, we will continue to recognize Jesus' presence coming and going from us with subtle demonstrations of humility, grace, peace, love...the kinds of things that make us stronger, and better human beings on the inside where no one can see his profound power. Kings, presidents and others like them demonstrate their power on the outside because it is necessary to save themselves and secure the power of the office they hold.Jesus, on the other hand, isn't interested in saving himself or securing his own authority. He wants to save us, and keep us secure for all eternity.
Lord God, save me and secure me with your authority. Keep me within your humble, loving presence. Encourage me, and strengthen me to grow and change according to your will. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/27/10
Exodus 2
God has invisible hands.
We don't see God's name mentioned anywhere in today's reading until the very end. But, the work of God's hands is very noticeable, because God's fingerprints are all over it.
Fingerprint 1: The text begins just following Pharaoh's orders to kill Hebrew children in an effort to thwart the prosperity of the Israelites. You might expect chapter two to begin with a description of the cries of fear, grief and anger at the death of innocent children. Instead, the chapter begins with the description of a marriage and the birth of a boy. Like a potter, God's hands mold and shape fear, grief and anger into the gifts of faith, hope and love.
Fingerprint 2: The rescue of Moses' from the river and his sister's suggestion of a woman to nurse him is simply miraculous. Such sacrificial love and faithfulness are quite noticeably the handy work of God.
Fingerprint 3: Moses grows up as an entitled, sovereign prince of Egypt. Once he realizes his roots, he takes pity on his people, but he is arrogant and foolish. He kills a man, and then must flee in desperation for his life into the desert. It's from despair that God so often molds his most beautiful work. In Moses' desperation God introduces him to Jethro. Jethro is a Midian priest. As descendants of Abraham, but not Jacob, the Midianites were relatives of the Israelites. They believed in the God of Abraham. Jethro was a priest. Jethro, like Abraham and his descendants, was also a shepherd. It was no coincidence that Moses winds up with Jethro in the desert. It was the work of God's leading and guiding hand. God took this arrogant, entitled Egyptian prince and with Jethro's mentoring, molded Moses into a humble Hebrew shepherd.
God's fingerprints are all over your life too. You may not be able to see Him, but he is there with you. Like a potter, with a loving, gentle touch he has been molding and shaping your life all along. You cant see his hands, but he does leave his fingerprints behind. Can you spot them in your life?
O Lord, my God, you are so awesome! The works of your hands are simply miraculous. Help me to trust you through all the events of my life. Lead me. Guide me. Mold me. Use me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God has invisible hands.
We don't see God's name mentioned anywhere in today's reading until the very end. But, the work of God's hands is very noticeable, because God's fingerprints are all over it.
Fingerprint 1: The text begins just following Pharaoh's orders to kill Hebrew children in an effort to thwart the prosperity of the Israelites. You might expect chapter two to begin with a description of the cries of fear, grief and anger at the death of innocent children. Instead, the chapter begins with the description of a marriage and the birth of a boy. Like a potter, God's hands mold and shape fear, grief and anger into the gifts of faith, hope and love.
Fingerprint 2: The rescue of Moses' from the river and his sister's suggestion of a woman to nurse him is simply miraculous. Such sacrificial love and faithfulness are quite noticeably the handy work of God.
Fingerprint 3: Moses grows up as an entitled, sovereign prince of Egypt. Once he realizes his roots, he takes pity on his people, but he is arrogant and foolish. He kills a man, and then must flee in desperation for his life into the desert. It's from despair that God so often molds his most beautiful work. In Moses' desperation God introduces him to Jethro. Jethro is a Midian priest. As descendants of Abraham, but not Jacob, the Midianites were relatives of the Israelites. They believed in the God of Abraham. Jethro was a priest. Jethro, like Abraham and his descendants, was also a shepherd. It was no coincidence that Moses winds up with Jethro in the desert. It was the work of God's leading and guiding hand. God took this arrogant, entitled Egyptian prince and with Jethro's mentoring, molded Moses into a humble Hebrew shepherd.
God's fingerprints are all over your life too. You may not be able to see Him, but he is there with you. Like a potter, with a loving, gentle touch he has been molding and shaping your life all along. You cant see his hands, but he does leave his fingerprints behind. Can you spot them in your life?
O Lord, my God, you are so awesome! The works of your hands are simply miraculous. Help me to trust you through all the events of my life. Lead me. Guide me. Mold me. Use me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Morning Devotions: 3/26/10
Exodus 1
Remember the Boogie-Man?
Who frightens you now?
Pharaoh is frightened by the Israelites. The text says that he was afraid because they have grown too numerous and might over-power Egypt and leave. But, this sounds more like an outward expression of the truth rather than the truth itself. It seems that the truth lies in the statement, "[He] did not know Joseph". What does Pharaoh have to fear if the people of Israel (Joseph's people) are well known and therefore are treated with the same dignity and grace as any other Egyptian? If the Israelites were welcomed, treated kindly, and "known" by the Egyptians would not the scenario of war that Pharaoh fears be a non-issue? Wouldn't the Israelites go to war with Pharaoh's army, not against them? After all, if the Israelites were living with dignity and grace in Egypt a threat of war to Egypt would be a threat to them as well. But, if the truth is that Egypt is not treating the Israelites kindly, then Egypt's very own actions have isolated the Israelites into a people that have become foreign to Egypt. These unknown people, these strangers, these Israelites are now clearly not Egyptians and they threaten Pharaoh's power. But, underneath it all is that same fear we all had when we were children of the Boogie-Man, it's a very basic fear of the unknown---the stranger.
My generation might have been the last to be taught at a very young age by our parents to say hello and be polite to strangers. Our culture has completely changed. Now, we raise our kids to be afraid of strangers. We teach them to never speak to strangers. We find good reason for this all over the news and TV. But, doesn't a question rise from within us as we do this? Is the stranger really dangerous? Or, can we adults say that we have some special talent that helps us determine which strangers are dangerous and which ones aren't? Or, thinking a bit more deeply, what if the stranger we avoid this day is actually someone harmless and lonely who could benefit greatly by a simple act of kindness?
Jesus didn't teach the fear of strangers. As a matter of fact he taught just the opposite. "Do to others what you would have them do to you." In other words, treat others the same way you wish to be treated. I don't think I'm going too far out on a limb here when I assume that none of us wants to be avoided, ignored, or feared by children? Nevertheless the seeds we sow become the harvest we reap. Walk into the grocery store and take notice of how many folks are willing to actually make eye contact with you, or who are willing to offer some sort of friendly greeting. It's funny how a busy grocery store can become such a lonely place. Meanwhile the number of people who are clinically depressed or even suicidal are higher here than any place else in the world.
Pharaoh feared the Israelites because he didn't know them. Had he gotten to know them he would have realized that they were gentle, kind, godly people. Instead, his fear of them turned the Israelites into a threat for him--they became his Boogie-Man. But, what we sow becomes what we reap. As he acted with fear toward them, he turned himself into the Boogie-Man in their eyes. As we treat others with a lack of kindness, as if the stranger is the Boogie-Man, we receive the same lack of kindness in return, and we become the Boogie-Man.
It's risky to reach out with kindness to strangers. It seems even more risky in our world. But, in small ways we can change the world around us. By sowing kindness we reap kindness.
Lord God, because of my sin I was once a stranger to you, and you were once a stranger to me. But you sent Jesus to reach out with kindness and on the cross you reached out with love. You risked everything to welcome me into your kingdom. You brought me in, and I am no longer a stranger to you, nor are you to me. Give me courage today to greet others with warmth and kindness. Protect me, and shield me from danger that by my faith in you I would be free from the fear of others so that I might act kindly to strangers rather than fearfully. Let me sow kindness, that kindness may be what I reap. In Jesus' name. Amen
Remember the Boogie-Man?
Who frightens you now?
Pharaoh is frightened by the Israelites. The text says that he was afraid because they have grown too numerous and might over-power Egypt and leave. But, this sounds more like an outward expression of the truth rather than the truth itself. It seems that the truth lies in the statement, "[He] did not know Joseph". What does Pharaoh have to fear if the people of Israel (Joseph's people) are well known and therefore are treated with the same dignity and grace as any other Egyptian? If the Israelites were welcomed, treated kindly, and "known" by the Egyptians would not the scenario of war that Pharaoh fears be a non-issue? Wouldn't the Israelites go to war with Pharaoh's army, not against them? After all, if the Israelites were living with dignity and grace in Egypt a threat of war to Egypt would be a threat to them as well. But, if the truth is that Egypt is not treating the Israelites kindly, then Egypt's very own actions have isolated the Israelites into a people that have become foreign to Egypt. These unknown people, these strangers, these Israelites are now clearly not Egyptians and they threaten Pharaoh's power. But, underneath it all is that same fear we all had when we were children of the Boogie-Man, it's a very basic fear of the unknown---the stranger.
My generation might have been the last to be taught at a very young age by our parents to say hello and be polite to strangers. Our culture has completely changed. Now, we raise our kids to be afraid of strangers. We teach them to never speak to strangers. We find good reason for this all over the news and TV. But, doesn't a question rise from within us as we do this? Is the stranger really dangerous? Or, can we adults say that we have some special talent that helps us determine which strangers are dangerous and which ones aren't? Or, thinking a bit more deeply, what if the stranger we avoid this day is actually someone harmless and lonely who could benefit greatly by a simple act of kindness?
Jesus didn't teach the fear of strangers. As a matter of fact he taught just the opposite. "Do to others what you would have them do to you." In other words, treat others the same way you wish to be treated. I don't think I'm going too far out on a limb here when I assume that none of us wants to be avoided, ignored, or feared by children? Nevertheless the seeds we sow become the harvest we reap. Walk into the grocery store and take notice of how many folks are willing to actually make eye contact with you, or who are willing to offer some sort of friendly greeting. It's funny how a busy grocery store can become such a lonely place. Meanwhile the number of people who are clinically depressed or even suicidal are higher here than any place else in the world.
Pharaoh feared the Israelites because he didn't know them. Had he gotten to know them he would have realized that they were gentle, kind, godly people. Instead, his fear of them turned the Israelites into a threat for him--they became his Boogie-Man. But, what we sow becomes what we reap. As he acted with fear toward them, he turned himself into the Boogie-Man in their eyes. As we treat others with a lack of kindness, as if the stranger is the Boogie-Man, we receive the same lack of kindness in return, and we become the Boogie-Man.
It's risky to reach out with kindness to strangers. It seems even more risky in our world. But, in small ways we can change the world around us. By sowing kindness we reap kindness.
Lord God, because of my sin I was once a stranger to you, and you were once a stranger to me. But you sent Jesus to reach out with kindness and on the cross you reached out with love. You risked everything to welcome me into your kingdom. You brought me in, and I am no longer a stranger to you, nor are you to me. Give me courage today to greet others with warmth and kindness. Protect me, and shield me from danger that by my faith in you I would be free from the fear of others so that I might act kindly to strangers rather than fearfully. Let me sow kindness, that kindness may be what I reap. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/25/10
Genesis 49-50
Endings are new beginnings.
The book of Genesis ends with a new beginning. Here we read of the death of the two main patriarchal characters at this point in the story, Jacob and Joseph, as well as their burial in the promised land. While those are indeed sad events, the reading of these final two chapters of Genesis are anything but sad. They are actually filled with anticipation and hope for God is about to do next. We don't close the book of Genesis with any sense of closure at all. On the contrary, it seems as though the book of Genesis was only the beginning of the story. Genesis closes with an enthusiasm to open the book of Exodus.
There's a saying: Whenever God closes one door, He'll open another. The book of Genesis closes in such a way that certainly affirms that saying. In times when doors are closing all around us, a statement such as this can help us muster up the faith to remain hopeful in what God has promised to do next. This is important because it is often in these times of transition when we lose patience with God, and wind up behaving unfaithfully.
When doors are closing, we can feel claustrophobic. Feelings of loss, failure, grief, shame, loneliness can close in upon us. Our own personal demons begin to close in and torment us in a way that brings to mind some of our nightmares. When things all around us are closing in like this, it can be very difficult to wait on the Lord to open a new door. We become more vulnerable than ever to giving up our faith and pushing open a door of our own choosing. Times like these are not times to act desperately, hastily. They are not times to bust open a new hole in the wall. They are times to be patient, and wait for the Lord. Rather than trying to force your own new opening, wait, and let God bring the right one to you. He will make a way.
When the book of Genesis ends we are eager to turn to the book of Exodus and find out how God will get Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. But, when we turn the page, the opening words of Exodus remind us that many generations passed before the time of the Exodus. Israel waited on the Lord, and the Lord made a way for them.
Are there doors that have closed around you? If so, wait for the Lord. Times of transition are not times for desperate, life changing decisions. They are times to wait for the Lord. This waiting time is a good time to take on those demons of yours that try to frighten you and make you anxious to behave unfaithfully. The fellowship of believers can be your support. Invite others to pray for you. Devote yourself more regularly to prayer than ever. Then wait, and watch for the new beginning that God will open up. He will make a way. Every ending is indeed a new beginning.
On Good Friday it seemed by all rationality that the doors of Jesus' mission had all been closed. As Jesus' body lay dead in a tomb, the disciples huddled in fear behind the locked doors of a closed room. But, then on that first Easter morning, God opened the tomb, and then Jesus opened the doors on the disciples.
Lord God, thank you for opening doors for me that I might never have dreamed possible. Thank you for opening the tomb on that first Easter morning. When endings come and doors are closed to me, help me gird up my faith so that I might wait patiently for you to make for me a new beginning. In Jesus' name. Amen
Endings are new beginnings.
The book of Genesis ends with a new beginning. Here we read of the death of the two main patriarchal characters at this point in the story, Jacob and Joseph, as well as their burial in the promised land. While those are indeed sad events, the reading of these final two chapters of Genesis are anything but sad. They are actually filled with anticipation and hope for God is about to do next. We don't close the book of Genesis with any sense of closure at all. On the contrary, it seems as though the book of Genesis was only the beginning of the story. Genesis closes with an enthusiasm to open the book of Exodus.
There's a saying: Whenever God closes one door, He'll open another. The book of Genesis closes in such a way that certainly affirms that saying. In times when doors are closing all around us, a statement such as this can help us muster up the faith to remain hopeful in what God has promised to do next. This is important because it is often in these times of transition when we lose patience with God, and wind up behaving unfaithfully.
When doors are closing, we can feel claustrophobic. Feelings of loss, failure, grief, shame, loneliness can close in upon us. Our own personal demons begin to close in and torment us in a way that brings to mind some of our nightmares. When things all around us are closing in like this, it can be very difficult to wait on the Lord to open a new door. We become more vulnerable than ever to giving up our faith and pushing open a door of our own choosing. Times like these are not times to act desperately, hastily. They are not times to bust open a new hole in the wall. They are times to be patient, and wait for the Lord. Rather than trying to force your own new opening, wait, and let God bring the right one to you. He will make a way.
When the book of Genesis ends we are eager to turn to the book of Exodus and find out how God will get Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. But, when we turn the page, the opening words of Exodus remind us that many generations passed before the time of the Exodus. Israel waited on the Lord, and the Lord made a way for them.
Are there doors that have closed around you? If so, wait for the Lord. Times of transition are not times for desperate, life changing decisions. They are times to wait for the Lord. This waiting time is a good time to take on those demons of yours that try to frighten you and make you anxious to behave unfaithfully. The fellowship of believers can be your support. Invite others to pray for you. Devote yourself more regularly to prayer than ever. Then wait, and watch for the new beginning that God will open up. He will make a way. Every ending is indeed a new beginning.
On Good Friday it seemed by all rationality that the doors of Jesus' mission had all been closed. As Jesus' body lay dead in a tomb, the disciples huddled in fear behind the locked doors of a closed room. But, then on that first Easter morning, God opened the tomb, and then Jesus opened the doors on the disciples.
Lord God, thank you for opening doors for me that I might never have dreamed possible. Thank you for opening the tomb on that first Easter morning. When endings come and doors are closed to me, help me gird up my faith so that I might wait patiently for you to make for me a new beginning. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/24/10
Genesis 47-48
Powerful, wealthy Pharaoh humbly receives a blessing from Jacob, a lowly Hebrew shepherd.
This must have been a very moving scene. The ruler of Egypt, the earth's super-power nation, Pharaoh, is humbled by an old man's blessing whose son is responsible for saving Egypt from the famine. What a humbling event for Pharaoh. He is a man of tremendous temporal blessings already. He has massive power, wealth, and thanks to Joseph his kingdom is growing larger and stronger through this share-cropping idea. A man of such stature kneeling to receive a blessing from a lowly Hebrew shepherd demonstrates one thing about Pharaoh that is worth lifting up. He is able to recognize the value of a spiritual blessing over that of all the temporal ones he already has. Spiritual blessings are the gifts of the soul, such as friendship, love, generosity etc. Pharaoh's actions before lowly Jacob is an example of a man who places greater value on spiritual blessings than he does on temporal blessings. The result is humbling.
What humbles you?
Think about that for a moment. Possibly, if you have time, make a list of 10-20 things. For example, you might list certain attributes of children, or possibly an act of charity from someone who is poor. Make your own list and then notice how many are moments in which you have been able to place spiritual blessings in higher regard than the temporal ones.
Like Pharaoh, we should realize that spiritual blessings take precedence over temporal ones. When we put earthly security and temporal blessings first, we end up taking desperate measures to keep things that death will ultimately take from us.
Just as spiritual blessing came to powerful, wealthy Pharaoh through a Hebrew shepherd, so also the Kingdom of God and His righteousness come to us in humble events--an infant in a manger--a man dying on a cross; words, water, bread, wine.
Lord of all, you humble me with your grace and mercy every day. Keep me, this day, from placing too great of an emphasis on temporal blessings. Instead, open my eyes to the many spiritual blessings you have given me, that I may not dread the loss of things temporal, but rejoice in things which are eternal. In Jesus' name. Amen
Powerful, wealthy Pharaoh humbly receives a blessing from Jacob, a lowly Hebrew shepherd.
This must have been a very moving scene. The ruler of Egypt, the earth's super-power nation, Pharaoh, is humbled by an old man's blessing whose son is responsible for saving Egypt from the famine. What a humbling event for Pharaoh. He is a man of tremendous temporal blessings already. He has massive power, wealth, and thanks to Joseph his kingdom is growing larger and stronger through this share-cropping idea. A man of such stature kneeling to receive a blessing from a lowly Hebrew shepherd demonstrates one thing about Pharaoh that is worth lifting up. He is able to recognize the value of a spiritual blessing over that of all the temporal ones he already has. Spiritual blessings are the gifts of the soul, such as friendship, love, generosity etc. Pharaoh's actions before lowly Jacob is an example of a man who places greater value on spiritual blessings than he does on temporal blessings. The result is humbling.
What humbles you?
Think about that for a moment. Possibly, if you have time, make a list of 10-20 things. For example, you might list certain attributes of children, or possibly an act of charity from someone who is poor. Make your own list and then notice how many are moments in which you have been able to place spiritual blessings in higher regard than the temporal ones.
Like Pharaoh, we should realize that spiritual blessings take precedence over temporal ones. When we put earthly security and temporal blessings first, we end up taking desperate measures to keep things that death will ultimately take from us.
Just as spiritual blessing came to powerful, wealthy Pharaoh through a Hebrew shepherd, so also the Kingdom of God and His righteousness come to us in humble events--an infant in a manger--a man dying on a cross; words, water, bread, wine.
Lord of all, you humble me with your grace and mercy every day. Keep me, this day, from placing too great of an emphasis on temporal blessings. Instead, open my eyes to the many spiritual blessings you have given me, that I may not dread the loss of things temporal, but rejoice in things which are eternal. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/23/10
Genesis 45-46
Doing the right thing is often not the popular thing. Have you ever done something that was against the popular opinion, but you just knew in your soul that it was the right thing to do?
Jacob went to Egypt. His entire life he has heard about the blessing which God promised to the descendants of his grandfather, Abraham. This blessing is actually a promise to make from the descendants of Abraham a mighty nation as numerous as the stars that will one day inhabit the land of Canaan--the promised land. God has spoken to Jacob and assured him that this blessing was his. God even sealed it with him by renaming him Israel. God showed his grandfather Abraham a vision of the promised land. His grandparents and his parents are all buried in the promised land as a sign of the family's faith that this dream of God will one day come to fulfillment. All of Jacob's family, his servants, and everyone in his clan; they were all surely aware that they were meant to dwell in the promised land where God would bless them with prosperity and fruitfulness as their numbers grew. When Jacob's son, Joseph, invites him to bring his clan and settle in Egypt where there will be plenty of food and security, this presented a dilemma. Should he leave the promised land, or stay? Surely the popular opinion would have been for him to stay. Everything he has known to be right and proper has been associated with remaining in the land of his father's father. But, on the other hand, his beloved son, Joseph, was in Egypt. In his confusion, Jacob finds the comfort he needs from God's Word. God speaks to Jacob and tells him that He will go with him to Egypt, and that there in Egypt God will make the Israelites prosper until the time is right to leave. Jacob went to Egypt, because God promised to remain with him.
God is not limited by geography. Many people in Jacob's period of time thought that gods' powers were limited to certain locations. God tells Jacob that He is not like these other Gods; He is not limited to certain locations. God is also not bound by the limits of our world. God is not bound by anything that forms our cultural popular popular opinion. God is not a Republican, or a Democrat. He is not a conservative or a liberal. God is not even, dare I say it, a Christian. God is not by any of our popular opinions. God is God.
The blessing for all of us in this, is that God is capable of being with us, "Emmanuel", wherever we are and calling us toward the fulfillment of His dream rather than the fulfillment of the popular dream. Whether we are embroiled in a political dilemma over healthcare, or we're struggling to make sense of our teenager's choice of music, God is able to be with us, and at the same time transcend all of it for us.
When we are faced with difficult decisions, decisions that are not popular, we can cal upon God in prayer, listen for God's Word in Scripture and worship, and find the comfort and shelter we seek from God to do what we believe is right. If you're worn out from trying to satisfy the popular opinions all around you, maybe today is a good day to turn back to God for the comfort to do what is right.
Oh God, you are an awesome God! You are able to be with me in everything, but you are also able to remain above it all so that you might continue to guide me toward you. Thank You for promising to me that I will one day join you in the promised land of your eternal kingdom. Until then, watch over all of my days. Lead me, guide me, and and encourage me to do what is right in your sight. In Jesus' name. Amen
Doing the right thing is often not the popular thing. Have you ever done something that was against the popular opinion, but you just knew in your soul that it was the right thing to do?
Jacob went to Egypt. His entire life he has heard about the blessing which God promised to the descendants of his grandfather, Abraham. This blessing is actually a promise to make from the descendants of Abraham a mighty nation as numerous as the stars that will one day inhabit the land of Canaan--the promised land. God has spoken to Jacob and assured him that this blessing was his. God even sealed it with him by renaming him Israel. God showed his grandfather Abraham a vision of the promised land. His grandparents and his parents are all buried in the promised land as a sign of the family's faith that this dream of God will one day come to fulfillment. All of Jacob's family, his servants, and everyone in his clan; they were all surely aware that they were meant to dwell in the promised land where God would bless them with prosperity and fruitfulness as their numbers grew. When Jacob's son, Joseph, invites him to bring his clan and settle in Egypt where there will be plenty of food and security, this presented a dilemma. Should he leave the promised land, or stay? Surely the popular opinion would have been for him to stay. Everything he has known to be right and proper has been associated with remaining in the land of his father's father. But, on the other hand, his beloved son, Joseph, was in Egypt. In his confusion, Jacob finds the comfort he needs from God's Word. God speaks to Jacob and tells him that He will go with him to Egypt, and that there in Egypt God will make the Israelites prosper until the time is right to leave. Jacob went to Egypt, because God promised to remain with him.
God is not limited by geography. Many people in Jacob's period of time thought that gods' powers were limited to certain locations. God tells Jacob that He is not like these other Gods; He is not limited to certain locations. God is also not bound by the limits of our world. God is not bound by anything that forms our cultural popular popular opinion. God is not a Republican, or a Democrat. He is not a conservative or a liberal. God is not even, dare I say it, a Christian. God is not by any of our popular opinions. God is God.
The blessing for all of us in this, is that God is capable of being with us, "Emmanuel", wherever we are and calling us toward the fulfillment of His dream rather than the fulfillment of the popular dream. Whether we are embroiled in a political dilemma over healthcare, or we're struggling to make sense of our teenager's choice of music, God is able to be with us, and at the same time transcend all of it for us.
When we are faced with difficult decisions, decisions that are not popular, we can cal upon God in prayer, listen for God's Word in Scripture and worship, and find the comfort and shelter we seek from God to do what we believe is right. If you're worn out from trying to satisfy the popular opinions all around you, maybe today is a good day to turn back to God for the comfort to do what is right.
Oh God, you are an awesome God! You are able to be with me in everything, but you are also able to remain above it all so that you might continue to guide me toward you. Thank You for promising to me that I will one day join you in the promised land of your eternal kingdom. Until then, watch over all of my days. Lead me, guide me, and and encourage me to do what is right in your sight. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/22/10
Genesis 42-44
When's the last time you were in one of those "I told you so" moments?
For Joseph, when his brothers bow before him begging for permission to buy food, this is one of those moments. Many years ago, when he was just a boy, he shared a dream with his brothers. The interpretation of his dream was that his brothers would one day bow before him. It was this dream that infuriated his brothers so much so that they sold him into slavery and told their father, Jacob, that his favored son had been killed by a wild animal. Now, after years of struggle, and God's continual divine intervention, Joseph has become the governor of Egypt's financial affairs during a long famine period, and his brothers are bowing before him. It's an "I told you so" moment.
Moments like these are moments when the balance of power is lost between people. If you're the person in the power position it feels really good, even victorious, to be proven right. But, if you're the person in the subordinate position you are powerless, humbled. Situations like these can become critical moments in relationships. How we manage through them can be the difference between making or breaking the bonds that hold us together. It's one thing to be right, but it's an altogether different thing to behave self-righteously. It's one thing to be wrong, even humbled, but its an altogether different thing to be humiliated. How the person in position to say "I told you so" handles this power makes all the difference.
How do you handle those "I told you so" moments?
Joseph handled his particular moment of righteousness with care for his family and with discretion for God's plan. In a climactic conclusion to a long story of justice and reconciliation, Joseph's choices opened up an opportunity for him and his brothers to be reunited. Joseph had faith in God's plan. He was able to see that God was using every event, both good and bad, to bring him and his brothers to this moment when he had the power and they were humbled before him. His faith enabled him to remain humble while in power, and trust in God to ultimately make all things come out right. Had he misused this moment, he would have seized it for his own vindication, and humiliated his brothers. This would have destroyed the chance to reconcile with them. But, in a demonstration of God's love, he remained humble while in power, and trusted God to make things work out right, and they did.
Likewise, on that first Easter morning, Jesus appeared to the disciples and could easily have humiliated them for their lack of faith. He told them numerous times that he would be crucified and on the third day rise again. But, in their unbelief, they were hiding with the door locked. Jesus' first words from his position of power to say "I told you so" was instead, "Peace be with you." His use of power offered peace, not self-righteous vindication, and instead of humiliation, reconciliation is the result.
Does your use of power tend to build up relationships, or do you find that it tends to tear them down?
Lord God, when I am right, keep the temptation to become self-righteous at bay for me. When I am in a position of power or authority use my faith in you to keep me humble that I may trust only in you to make things turn out right. When I am humiliated by others in power over me, be my courage, my patience, and my hope. In Jesus' name. Amen
When's the last time you were in one of those "I told you so" moments?
For Joseph, when his brothers bow before him begging for permission to buy food, this is one of those moments. Many years ago, when he was just a boy, he shared a dream with his brothers. The interpretation of his dream was that his brothers would one day bow before him. It was this dream that infuriated his brothers so much so that they sold him into slavery and told their father, Jacob, that his favored son had been killed by a wild animal. Now, after years of struggle, and God's continual divine intervention, Joseph has become the governor of Egypt's financial affairs during a long famine period, and his brothers are bowing before him. It's an "I told you so" moment.
Moments like these are moments when the balance of power is lost between people. If you're the person in the power position it feels really good, even victorious, to be proven right. But, if you're the person in the subordinate position you are powerless, humbled. Situations like these can become critical moments in relationships. How we manage through them can be the difference between making or breaking the bonds that hold us together. It's one thing to be right, but it's an altogether different thing to behave self-righteously. It's one thing to be wrong, even humbled, but its an altogether different thing to be humiliated. How the person in position to say "I told you so" handles this power makes all the difference.
How do you handle those "I told you so" moments?
Joseph handled his particular moment of righteousness with care for his family and with discretion for God's plan. In a climactic conclusion to a long story of justice and reconciliation, Joseph's choices opened up an opportunity for him and his brothers to be reunited. Joseph had faith in God's plan. He was able to see that God was using every event, both good and bad, to bring him and his brothers to this moment when he had the power and they were humbled before him. His faith enabled him to remain humble while in power, and trust in God to ultimately make all things come out right. Had he misused this moment, he would have seized it for his own vindication, and humiliated his brothers. This would have destroyed the chance to reconcile with them. But, in a demonstration of God's love, he remained humble while in power, and trusted God to make things work out right, and they did.
Likewise, on that first Easter morning, Jesus appeared to the disciples and could easily have humiliated them for their lack of faith. He told them numerous times that he would be crucified and on the third day rise again. But, in their unbelief, they were hiding with the door locked. Jesus' first words from his position of power to say "I told you so" was instead, "Peace be with you." His use of power offered peace, not self-righteous vindication, and instead of humiliation, reconciliation is the result.
Does your use of power tend to build up relationships, or do you find that it tends to tear them down?
Lord God, when I am right, keep the temptation to become self-righteous at bay for me. When I am in a position of power or authority use my faith in you to keep me humble that I may trust only in you to make things turn out right. When I am humiliated by others in power over me, be my courage, my patience, and my hope. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/21/10
Philippians 3:4b-14
New Beginnings
Spring is a time of new beginnings. Everywhere we look God is revealing His true nature, in nature. Winter must come like that of grief, sorrow, shame, and darkness. None of us can avoid the harshness of sin. But, God is a gracious God, full of love and kindness. He does not permit us to remain in the winter of life. As sure as new beginnings are breaking forth all around us in nature, God's Word, and Holy Spirit are working to break forth new beginnings in our hearts and minds.
In the reading for today, Paul envisions a kind of Spring-time event of new beginnings for the Christians in Phillippi. In chapter 1, Paul new life itself. He says in 1:21, "To live is Christ." Consider that for a moment. Paul is not saying that be alive is Christ. But, that to truly live is an expression of the very person of Christ. Are you truly alive? Are you truly living?
If you said no, don't be upset. When Paul brings this up in chapter one, he means to shake up his readers so that they are able to hear his appeal that they make for themselves a new beginning in Christ. Because the truth is, none of us can honestly admit that we are truly living as Christ would have us live. So, this brings us to the third chapter then where Paul encourages us to "forget what lies behind, and strain forward to what lies ahead." What is it that lies ahead?......Truly living, being truly alive, living in such a way that we are living examples of the very person of Christ.
Forgetting what lies behind.
Our past is filled with all sorts of things that hold us back. Like having a giant bungee chord attached to our backs, when we try to run forward our past continues to pull us back with increasing strength to harder we try. The pain and sorrowful events of our past can hold us back with the chords of fear. Our pedigree, or the way in which we were brought up can hold us back with the chords of self-righteousness. Our patterns of behaviors can hold us back with the chords of ignorance. There are lots of things behind us that can act as the chords that hold us back from making a new beginning. What's holding you back?
Straining forward to what lies ahead. Jesus' strained forward to secure for us the promise of new life. He strained forward against all that held him back. Against the fears of cross' pain and suffering he strained for what lies ahead. Against the self-righteousness of claiming his own authority, his own pedigree-earned glory he strained for what lies ahead. Against the poor choices of all humanity, the patterns of generations of destructive behaviors he strained for what lies ahead.
When we were baptized, we were baptized into Christ's death and life. His death was for us, so that His life might be ours. With him, in him, and through him, we can strain forward to seize a new beginning, a new life in Christ.
Our challenge will always be to let go of the past; past experiences, past lifestyles, past expectations. But, with the forgiveness of Christ, we are promised that each moment is secured for us an opportunity for forget what lies behind. With grace, then, each time we strain forward against the past for the life in Christ which lies ahead, we encounter our living Lord. He strains with us, in us, and through us. With Jesus, we never run out of new beginnings.
One day, we will break free of all that holds us back, and our Lord will welcome us home. Until then, we continue to strain forward for the promise of what lies ahead.
Lord Jesus, thank you for straining forward to secure the promise of new beginnings for all of us. Encourage me today to assess what it is of my past that is holding me back from seizing a life that is more like you. And, help me strain forward to the new life in you that lies ahead. In Jesus' name. Amen
New Beginnings
Spring is a time of new beginnings. Everywhere we look God is revealing His true nature, in nature. Winter must come like that of grief, sorrow, shame, and darkness. None of us can avoid the harshness of sin. But, God is a gracious God, full of love and kindness. He does not permit us to remain in the winter of life. As sure as new beginnings are breaking forth all around us in nature, God's Word, and Holy Spirit are working to break forth new beginnings in our hearts and minds.
In the reading for today, Paul envisions a kind of Spring-time event of new beginnings for the Christians in Phillippi. In chapter 1, Paul new life itself. He says in 1:21, "To live is Christ." Consider that for a moment. Paul is not saying that be alive is Christ. But, that to truly live is an expression of the very person of Christ. Are you truly alive? Are you truly living?
If you said no, don't be upset. When Paul brings this up in chapter one, he means to shake up his readers so that they are able to hear his appeal that they make for themselves a new beginning in Christ. Because the truth is, none of us can honestly admit that we are truly living as Christ would have us live. So, this brings us to the third chapter then where Paul encourages us to "forget what lies behind, and strain forward to what lies ahead." What is it that lies ahead?......Truly living, being truly alive, living in such a way that we are living examples of the very person of Christ.
Forgetting what lies behind.
Our past is filled with all sorts of things that hold us back. Like having a giant bungee chord attached to our backs, when we try to run forward our past continues to pull us back with increasing strength to harder we try. The pain and sorrowful events of our past can hold us back with the chords of fear. Our pedigree, or the way in which we were brought up can hold us back with the chords of self-righteousness. Our patterns of behaviors can hold us back with the chords of ignorance. There are lots of things behind us that can act as the chords that hold us back from making a new beginning. What's holding you back?
Straining forward to what lies ahead. Jesus' strained forward to secure for us the promise of new life. He strained forward against all that held him back. Against the fears of cross' pain and suffering he strained for what lies ahead. Against the self-righteousness of claiming his own authority, his own pedigree-earned glory he strained for what lies ahead. Against the poor choices of all humanity, the patterns of generations of destructive behaviors he strained for what lies ahead.
When we were baptized, we were baptized into Christ's death and life. His death was for us, so that His life might be ours. With him, in him, and through him, we can strain forward to seize a new beginning, a new life in Christ.
Our challenge will always be to let go of the past; past experiences, past lifestyles, past expectations. But, with the forgiveness of Christ, we are promised that each moment is secured for us an opportunity for forget what lies behind. With grace, then, each time we strain forward against the past for the life in Christ which lies ahead, we encounter our living Lord. He strains with us, in us, and through us. With Jesus, we never run out of new beginnings.
One day, we will break free of all that holds us back, and our Lord will welcome us home. Until then, we continue to strain forward for the promise of what lies ahead.
Lord Jesus, thank you for straining forward to secure the promise of new beginnings for all of us. Encourage me today to assess what it is of my past that is holding me back from seizing a life that is more like you. And, help me strain forward to the new life in you that lies ahead. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/20/10
Genesis 41:41-57
Joseph is put in charge of the financial affairs of Egypt. Anticipating a famine, Joseph stores away 20% from each of Egypt's 7 years of abundance, so that Egypt is financially prepared to face the famine years.
This text offfers to us a very practical lesson about good stewardship. The word "stewardship" refers to a very special kind of call that God gives to all us. The root word for stewardship, steward, means care-taker. From the very beginning of the bible, in the Garden of Eden, we hear that God desires to be in partnership with us as care-takers of all the gifts of His divine provision. We are called to be good stewards of the earth and all creation, of time and boundaries, of the talents that make us unique, and of the finanial treasures that provide our "daily bread". God encourages us toward better stewardship practices by forgiving our sins, (our debt to Him), and through His Word, in which we learn that God will always provide more than enough of all that we need for life, love, and happiness. God has already provided an abundance of all that is needed for every human being to be given their daily bread. On the macro level, world hunger is not a providence problem. It is a stewardship problem. Likewise, on the micro level, a poor retirement plan is not a providence problem, but a stewardship problem.
Joseph was chosen by the king to serve as his personal steward of all the gifts of the kingdom. What an honor! Likewise, when you were baptized, you were chosen by God to serve as His personal steward of all the gifts of His Kingdom. What an honor!
So, how well are you doing?
Do you share your abundance with those who have none?
Are you saving now to prepare for your famine years (retirement, disability, etc.)?
If you're feeling a little discouraged after assessing your own financial stewardship, you're not alone. Statistics show that most of us in this culture struggle with good stewardship practices. We live beyond our means, and we have little left at the end of the month to share with others who really need it. Fortunately, God is a good steward. His forgiveness is never in short supply, nor is His gift of daily bread.
If you'd like to be a better steward, then today is a good day to consider making some changes. Start by confessing to God your particular struggles with good stewardship, then ask Him for help and guidance to make some changes.
Heavenly Father, give us this day our daily bread, and deliver us from evil, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Joseph is put in charge of the financial affairs of Egypt. Anticipating a famine, Joseph stores away 20% from each of Egypt's 7 years of abundance, so that Egypt is financially prepared to face the famine years.
This text offfers to us a very practical lesson about good stewardship. The word "stewardship" refers to a very special kind of call that God gives to all us. The root word for stewardship, steward, means care-taker. From the very beginning of the bible, in the Garden of Eden, we hear that God desires to be in partnership with us as care-takers of all the gifts of His divine provision. We are called to be good stewards of the earth and all creation, of time and boundaries, of the talents that make us unique, and of the finanial treasures that provide our "daily bread". God encourages us toward better stewardship practices by forgiving our sins, (our debt to Him), and through His Word, in which we learn that God will always provide more than enough of all that we need for life, love, and happiness. God has already provided an abundance of all that is needed for every human being to be given their daily bread. On the macro level, world hunger is not a providence problem. It is a stewardship problem. Likewise, on the micro level, a poor retirement plan is not a providence problem, but a stewardship problem.
Joseph was chosen by the king to serve as his personal steward of all the gifts of the kingdom. What an honor! Likewise, when you were baptized, you were chosen by God to serve as His personal steward of all the gifts of His Kingdom. What an honor!
So, how well are you doing?
Do you share your abundance with those who have none?
Are you saving now to prepare for your famine years (retirement, disability, etc.)?
If you're feeling a little discouraged after assessing your own financial stewardship, you're not alone. Statistics show that most of us in this culture struggle with good stewardship practices. We live beyond our means, and we have little left at the end of the month to share with others who really need it. Fortunately, God is a good steward. His forgiveness is never in short supply, nor is His gift of daily bread.
If you'd like to be a better steward, then today is a good day to consider making some changes. Start by confessing to God your particular struggles with good stewardship, then ask Him for help and guidance to make some changes.
Heavenly Father, give us this day our daily bread, and deliver us from evil, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Morning Devotions: 3/19/10
Genesis 41:1-40
Many years have passed since Joseph was first sharing his dreams with his brothers. Now, he's interpreting dreams for the king of Egypt, and it seems that he has been humbled a bit by the envents of his life. Way back when he was sharing his dreams with his brothers one couldn't miss at least a twinge of arrogance or entitlement. I imagine him standing before them wearing his father's gifted, multi-colored coat as he tells his brothers his dream that one day they will all bow before him. Given the rivalry between he and his brothers, fostered by their father's favoritism, had Joseph behaved with a bit more humility back then his dreams might not have fanned the flames of jealousy and envy the way they did.
Now, we see Joseph much more mature in his faith, and much more humble in his emotion. He is summoned to interpret the King's troubling dreams. Humbly and faithfully, Joseph claims no power to do anything, but that God will reveal to the king what is meant by the dreams. The arrogance, and the sense of entitlement are gone from Joseph. In it's place are humility and faithfulness.
Life has a way of humbling us. When we look upon our lives and see all the mistakes we have made over time, we can become pretty discouraged with ourselves. Too much humilty and we become pretty down-trodden people. When life gets us down, we need the intervention of God to pick us back up. God works through His Word, the sacraments, prayer, and the gifts and talents of other people.
Think about all the times when you've been down on yourself, and the hand of God reached out to lift you up in some way.
God gives to us the gift of faith. With faith, we begin to see our lives in the light of what God has been doing with us throughout our lifetime. When we look at our lives through the lens of faith we see that God was with us offering much needed mercy, direction, and encouragement through everything. With faith, humility is buffetted by hope. However, faith without humility can becme intollerable. It comes across as arrogant, flighty and even judgmental. The two together, humility and faithfulness, provide balance to our lives as we mature.
Joseph demonstrates maturity by his humble, yet faithful response to the King's request.
Today, think about all the times in your life when God has been with you teaching humility, but all the while working through faith to keep you hopeful.
O God, you have been there with me through every poor decision, every act of poor judgment, every consequence I've had to endure. Thank you for your faithfulness in me. Keep me humble, but also keep me faithful that through all of life's challenges I will remain hopeful. In Jesus' name. Amen
Many years have passed since Joseph was first sharing his dreams with his brothers. Now, he's interpreting dreams for the king of Egypt, and it seems that he has been humbled a bit by the envents of his life. Way back when he was sharing his dreams with his brothers one couldn't miss at least a twinge of arrogance or entitlement. I imagine him standing before them wearing his father's gifted, multi-colored coat as he tells his brothers his dream that one day they will all bow before him. Given the rivalry between he and his brothers, fostered by their father's favoritism, had Joseph behaved with a bit more humility back then his dreams might not have fanned the flames of jealousy and envy the way they did.
Now, we see Joseph much more mature in his faith, and much more humble in his emotion. He is summoned to interpret the King's troubling dreams. Humbly and faithfully, Joseph claims no power to do anything, but that God will reveal to the king what is meant by the dreams. The arrogance, and the sense of entitlement are gone from Joseph. In it's place are humility and faithfulness.
Life has a way of humbling us. When we look upon our lives and see all the mistakes we have made over time, we can become pretty discouraged with ourselves. Too much humilty and we become pretty down-trodden people. When life gets us down, we need the intervention of God to pick us back up. God works through His Word, the sacraments, prayer, and the gifts and talents of other people.
Think about all the times when you've been down on yourself, and the hand of God reached out to lift you up in some way.
God gives to us the gift of faith. With faith, we begin to see our lives in the light of what God has been doing with us throughout our lifetime. When we look at our lives through the lens of faith we see that God was with us offering much needed mercy, direction, and encouragement through everything. With faith, humility is buffetted by hope. However, faith without humility can becme intollerable. It comes across as arrogant, flighty and even judgmental. The two together, humility and faithfulness, provide balance to our lives as we mature.
Joseph demonstrates maturity by his humble, yet faithful response to the King's request.
Today, think about all the times in your life when God has been with you teaching humility, but all the while working through faith to keep you hopeful.
O God, you have been there with me through every poor decision, every act of poor judgment, every consequence I've had to endure. Thank you for your faithfulness in me. Keep me humble, but also keep me faithful that through all of life's challenges I will remain hopeful. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/18/10
Genesis 40:1-23
While in prison, Joseph offers to help two other inmates by interpreting their dreams. The cupbearer's dream was interpreted very favorably, and the baker's dream was not so favorable. In three days the cupbearer would be removed from prison and restored to his place at the service of the king. But, also in three days the baker would be hanged. You can imagine the joy of the one, and the sorrow of the other. One is given life, the other sentenced to death. Still, Joseph did a favor for both. Its easy to see why the cupbearer would be thankful to hear the news, but its not easy to see any reason for thankfulness from the baker. However, there is a good reason for thankfulness from both the cupbearer and the baker. For even the baker now has three days with which he might prepare himself, make his peace, and say his goodbyes. The interpretation of his dismal dream is still a gift from Joseph. On the third day he will now be expecting the horrible truth. In any case, only the cupbearer will be around to tell the king of Joseph's ability to interpret dreams. So, Joseph offers both of them his gift of dream interpretation, and then asks the one who will live beyond the next three days to remember him. However, after the third day, once Joseph's prophecy is proven true, the text says the cupbearer did not remember Joseph.
Like the cupbearer, we often find ourselves forgetting the people who have been helpful to us.
In today's world it seems we are losing the social skill of maintaining friendships. Friends, once, were people to whom we had maintained a close enough relationship that they could be stop over uninvited and be treated like family. They could bear your joy and your sorrow with you and you would offer the same in return. Friends were once an extension of the family. Now, when I turn on Facebook, I learn that I have 178 "friends"---many of whom I barely know, or I know them through my work or some other shared special interest. I know that I do not have 178 friends, and I do not need to sign onto Facebook in order to maintain my friendships. Besides what kind of a friendship would that be, if indeed the only sharing of anything between us was that which is shared on Facebook....not much of one. It seems to me that Facebook should more appropriately call its relationships acquaintances, rather than friends. Don't rely on things such as Facebook to maintain good healthy friendships--they take much more work and effort than that.
Who are your friends?
Who has been there for you, and could trust that you'll be there for them?
Who are the people to whom you can tell your hurts, share your joys?
Who is welcome to just stop by your house anytime, as if they are family?
How well do you remember them?
Do you remember their birthdays, anniversaries?
When's the last time you thanked them?
Do you take them for granted?
You have a friend in Jesus---You know the song---
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and grief to bear!
What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit;
Oh, what needless pain we bear--all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
One of Jesus' final requests was when he said from the Last Supper, "Do this in remembrance of me." Jesus asks for us to remember him, remember what he has done for us. This remembrance is like the request from Joseph to the cupbearer. Once you are free and the Lord has saved you, remember....so that you don't take for granted what your friend, Jesus, has done for you. And, remember with thankfulness that you always have this friend in Jesus---and you wont find him on Facebook. :-)
There's another song that I'd like to quote here. It's by Michael W. Smith, and its called Friends.
Friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them,
And a friend will not say never"cause" the welcome will not end.
Now it's hard to let you go,
But, in the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends.
Lord Jesus, I have been given so many blessings from so many people. Let me never forget the people who passed in and out of my life with a bond of friendship. Likewise, help me to maintain good and healthy friendships today. Let me be thankful, helpful, and kind. Lord, you have befriended me with the most sincere and eternal friendship possible. You have promised to not forget me in your kingdom, let me never forget you. In Jesus' name. Amen
While in prison, Joseph offers to help two other inmates by interpreting their dreams. The cupbearer's dream was interpreted very favorably, and the baker's dream was not so favorable. In three days the cupbearer would be removed from prison and restored to his place at the service of the king. But, also in three days the baker would be hanged. You can imagine the joy of the one, and the sorrow of the other. One is given life, the other sentenced to death. Still, Joseph did a favor for both. Its easy to see why the cupbearer would be thankful to hear the news, but its not easy to see any reason for thankfulness from the baker. However, there is a good reason for thankfulness from both the cupbearer and the baker. For even the baker now has three days with which he might prepare himself, make his peace, and say his goodbyes. The interpretation of his dismal dream is still a gift from Joseph. On the third day he will now be expecting the horrible truth. In any case, only the cupbearer will be around to tell the king of Joseph's ability to interpret dreams. So, Joseph offers both of them his gift of dream interpretation, and then asks the one who will live beyond the next three days to remember him. However, after the third day, once Joseph's prophecy is proven true, the text says the cupbearer did not remember Joseph.
Like the cupbearer, we often find ourselves forgetting the people who have been helpful to us.
In today's world it seems we are losing the social skill of maintaining friendships. Friends, once, were people to whom we had maintained a close enough relationship that they could be stop over uninvited and be treated like family. They could bear your joy and your sorrow with you and you would offer the same in return. Friends were once an extension of the family. Now, when I turn on Facebook, I learn that I have 178 "friends"---many of whom I barely know, or I know them through my work or some other shared special interest. I know that I do not have 178 friends, and I do not need to sign onto Facebook in order to maintain my friendships. Besides what kind of a friendship would that be, if indeed the only sharing of anything between us was that which is shared on Facebook....not much of one. It seems to me that Facebook should more appropriately call its relationships acquaintances, rather than friends. Don't rely on things such as Facebook to maintain good healthy friendships--they take much more work and effort than that.
Who are your friends?
Who has been there for you, and could trust that you'll be there for them?
Who are the people to whom you can tell your hurts, share your joys?
Who is welcome to just stop by your house anytime, as if they are family?
How well do you remember them?
Do you remember their birthdays, anniversaries?
When's the last time you thanked them?
Do you take them for granted?
You have a friend in Jesus---You know the song---
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and grief to bear!
What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit;
Oh, what needless pain we bear--all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
One of Jesus' final requests was when he said from the Last Supper, "Do this in remembrance of me." Jesus asks for us to remember him, remember what he has done for us. This remembrance is like the request from Joseph to the cupbearer. Once you are free and the Lord has saved you, remember....so that you don't take for granted what your friend, Jesus, has done for you. And, remember with thankfulness that you always have this friend in Jesus---and you wont find him on Facebook. :-)
There's another song that I'd like to quote here. It's by Michael W. Smith, and its called Friends.
Friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them,
And a friend will not say never"cause" the welcome will not end.
Now it's hard to let you go,
But, in the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends.
Lord Jesus, I have been given so many blessings from so many people. Let me never forget the people who passed in and out of my life with a bond of friendship. Likewise, help me to maintain good and healthy friendships today. Let me be thankful, helpful, and kind. Lord, you have befriended me with the most sincere and eternal friendship possible. You have promised to not forget me in your kingdom, let me never forget you. In Jesus' name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/17/10
Genesis 38-39
Filled with incest, death, prostitution, sexual temptation, betrayal and a near execution these two chapters in Genesis are two of the most sordid in the whole bible. For those who think the bible is just a big boring book, these two chapters are about as spicy and dramatic as a TV sit-com.
Using a very broad stroke, these two chapters bring to mind the struggle we all share with trying to "be good". The reading puts four characters at opposing ends of a continuum of "goodness", and then throws at us, the readers, a dilemma. What is good? Those characters are: Judah, Tamar, Joseph, and Potiphar's wife. Here's how this is set up. On the one side we have Judah and Tamar. Judah's wife has died, and he seeks "comfort" in the form of sex from a prostitute. However, the prostitute is no prostitute. She is Judah's widowed daughter-in-law. Judah has broken a promise to her of marriage to his younger son, and she means to expose his betrayal and force the issue of delivering a male heir to redeem herself within Judah's household. So she poses as a prostitute and tempts the grieving Judah. Judah gives in. Tamar becomes pregnant and exposes Judah's immorality, while delivering to him a male heir, named Perez. Meanwhile, on the other side of the continuum, Joseph has become Potiphar's slave. Potiphar has a wife who behaves like that of a prostitute and tempts Joseph with sex. Joseph manages to say no, but then in her anger and to save her status as Potiphar's wife she accuses Joseph of attempting to rape her. Joseph lands in prison as a result.
Two women posing as prostitutes, one in an effort to deliver justice, and the other because she is promiscuous. Two men dealing with temptation, one gives in and justice comes to him, one resists and injustice comes to him. In the end, what is good? You could say Joseph is good, I suppose, but look what "good" that got him. He's accused of attempting to rape a man's wife and is thrown into prison. That's not good. So, what is good?
God is good! God brings goodness out of us and the events that unfold around us. We may not feel good, or our situation in life may seem far from good, but with faith and hope in God, goodness comes from God's work in the world and through us.
I read an interesting article about the dilemma that women face to "be good" in our society. While the article was specific to women and even a wee bit hostile toward men, I think the gist of the article is one that applies to all people. The message of the article was that being good can create a crisis of the self. In other words, when we try to be "good" all the time we end up simply trying to please all people, because that seems to us to the "good" thing to do. We can become too good for our own good. We can sacrifice too much, and fail to maintain boundaries around what is "good" for us in the attempt to be "good" for others. Essentially, in order to maintain a healthy balance of what is good for us and good for others we have to realize that sometimes others may not think so "good" of us when we say NO to their demand upon us.
Joseph said NO to Potiphar's wife. We could also say that Tamar said NO to the injustice of Judah. These two NOs bring about great risk for both characters. Joseph is thrown into prison, and Tamar is nearly executed. But, in the end, they both retain their honor. Furthermore, God rewards their NO. God turns Joseph's prison sentence into an opportunity for him to interpret Pharoah's dreams, which elevates him to a place of high regard and eventually positions him to rescue his family. Meanwhile, God turns the NO of Tamar into the birth of Perez, who would become the very bloodline which leads to King David and eventually to Jesus.
Are you trying to please everyone, unable to say NO even when you feel guilty for giving in to the demands of others?
Are you being too good for your own good?
Maybe its time to trust that God is the only real judge of what is good. When you say NO for good reasons, you are saying YES to God. Let God be your only judge.
In the end of Jesus' life on earth, as he died on the cross, his actions announced a resounding NO to sin, even the sins his disciples would tempt him toward. Judas would end up betraying him because Jesus said NO to his way of violence. Jesus said NO to sin in order to say YES to God.
Lord God, your goodness is revealed even in the most sordid parts of the bible. Thank you for inspiring goodness in me. Thank you for the courage of Jesus to say NO to my ways, and YES to your ways. Give me courage today to say NO for goodness sake. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Here is a link to the article mentioned above:http://socyberty.com/relationships/every-relationship-needs-a-limit/
Filled with incest, death, prostitution, sexual temptation, betrayal and a near execution these two chapters in Genesis are two of the most sordid in the whole bible. For those who think the bible is just a big boring book, these two chapters are about as spicy and dramatic as a TV sit-com.
Using a very broad stroke, these two chapters bring to mind the struggle we all share with trying to "be good". The reading puts four characters at opposing ends of a continuum of "goodness", and then throws at us, the readers, a dilemma. What is good? Those characters are: Judah, Tamar, Joseph, and Potiphar's wife. Here's how this is set up. On the one side we have Judah and Tamar. Judah's wife has died, and he seeks "comfort" in the form of sex from a prostitute. However, the prostitute is no prostitute. She is Judah's widowed daughter-in-law. Judah has broken a promise to her of marriage to his younger son, and she means to expose his betrayal and force the issue of delivering a male heir to redeem herself within Judah's household. So she poses as a prostitute and tempts the grieving Judah. Judah gives in. Tamar becomes pregnant and exposes Judah's immorality, while delivering to him a male heir, named Perez. Meanwhile, on the other side of the continuum, Joseph has become Potiphar's slave. Potiphar has a wife who behaves like that of a prostitute and tempts Joseph with sex. Joseph manages to say no, but then in her anger and to save her status as Potiphar's wife she accuses Joseph of attempting to rape her. Joseph lands in prison as a result.
Two women posing as prostitutes, one in an effort to deliver justice, and the other because she is promiscuous. Two men dealing with temptation, one gives in and justice comes to him, one resists and injustice comes to him. In the end, what is good? You could say Joseph is good, I suppose, but look what "good" that got him. He's accused of attempting to rape a man's wife and is thrown into prison. That's not good. So, what is good?
God is good! God brings goodness out of us and the events that unfold around us. We may not feel good, or our situation in life may seem far from good, but with faith and hope in God, goodness comes from God's work in the world and through us.
I read an interesting article about the dilemma that women face to "be good" in our society. While the article was specific to women and even a wee bit hostile toward men, I think the gist of the article is one that applies to all people. The message of the article was that being good can create a crisis of the self. In other words, when we try to be "good" all the time we end up simply trying to please all people, because that seems to us to the "good" thing to do. We can become too good for our own good. We can sacrifice too much, and fail to maintain boundaries around what is "good" for us in the attempt to be "good" for others. Essentially, in order to maintain a healthy balance of what is good for us and good for others we have to realize that sometimes others may not think so "good" of us when we say NO to their demand upon us.
Joseph said NO to Potiphar's wife. We could also say that Tamar said NO to the injustice of Judah. These two NOs bring about great risk for both characters. Joseph is thrown into prison, and Tamar is nearly executed. But, in the end, they both retain their honor. Furthermore, God rewards their NO. God turns Joseph's prison sentence into an opportunity for him to interpret Pharoah's dreams, which elevates him to a place of high regard and eventually positions him to rescue his family. Meanwhile, God turns the NO of Tamar into the birth of Perez, who would become the very bloodline which leads to King David and eventually to Jesus.
Are you trying to please everyone, unable to say NO even when you feel guilty for giving in to the demands of others?
Are you being too good for your own good?
Maybe its time to trust that God is the only real judge of what is good. When you say NO for good reasons, you are saying YES to God. Let God be your only judge.
In the end of Jesus' life on earth, as he died on the cross, his actions announced a resounding NO to sin, even the sins his disciples would tempt him toward. Judas would end up betraying him because Jesus said NO to his way of violence. Jesus said NO to sin in order to say YES to God.
Lord God, your goodness is revealed even in the most sordid parts of the bible. Thank you for inspiring goodness in me. Thank you for the courage of Jesus to say NO to my ways, and YES to your ways. Give me courage today to say NO for goodness sake. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Here is a link to the article mentioned above:http://socyberty.com/relationships/every-relationship-needs-a-limit/
Morning Devotions: 3/16/10
Genesis 36-37
Joseph was known as a dreamer. He had the ability to decipher the will of God by interpreting dreams. Now, before any of us go wondering if we can do the same thing, it's important to remember that, in the end, Joseph credits God's intervention for this gift of his. He is wise enough to recognize that God was communicating His will to him for a special purpose; to rescue his family from the famine into the security of Egypt. Today, God no longer intervenes through our dreams. Now, God intervenes through the Holy Spirit and the Bible. With these, we are able to discern God's Word for our lives today, and interpret God's promise for the future.
So, what about our dreams of today. Well, those confusing stories of entangled images of fear and mystery are probably best left alone, since God has given the much more trustworthy gifts of scripture and the Holy Spirit. But, the dreams that form out of our hope for the future can be very powerful inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Who can deny the power behind Martin Luther King's "I have a dream..." speech?
Some of our dreams encourage us to hope for a fairy tale ending, "And they lived happily ever after". This dream is likely for ourselves, or our children, or someone else we are close to. Other dreams might be for professional success, and prosperity...the American Dream.
What are your dreams?
One of mine is surely not unlike any other fathers' dream for his kids. I want to see my son grow up to find a genuine faith, hope, and love. With that in mind, let's turn to God's dream. That's right, God has a dream too. His dream is shared with us within the Bible. Essentially His dream is like that of any father, God dreams about a day when his children will find faith, hope and love. It is to restore and reconcile all of us back to Him, because He is the source of genuine faith, hope, and love. Jesus is God's "first fruit" of that dream coming true. Following Jesus is to share God's dream for ourselves and for everyone.
Do you dream God's dream?
Lord God, thank you for revealing your will for me in the Bible, and thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to intervene into my life to help me discern your will. Father, you have a beautiful dream for me; one of life filled eternally with genuine faith, hope, and love. Lord, where my dreams become selfish, or misguided in any way intervene to bend my dreams toward yours. Impassion me to dream your dream for my life as well as for all people. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Joseph was known as a dreamer. He had the ability to decipher the will of God by interpreting dreams. Now, before any of us go wondering if we can do the same thing, it's important to remember that, in the end, Joseph credits God's intervention for this gift of his. He is wise enough to recognize that God was communicating His will to him for a special purpose; to rescue his family from the famine into the security of Egypt. Today, God no longer intervenes through our dreams. Now, God intervenes through the Holy Spirit and the Bible. With these, we are able to discern God's Word for our lives today, and interpret God's promise for the future.
So, what about our dreams of today. Well, those confusing stories of entangled images of fear and mystery are probably best left alone, since God has given the much more trustworthy gifts of scripture and the Holy Spirit. But, the dreams that form out of our hope for the future can be very powerful inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Who can deny the power behind Martin Luther King's "I have a dream..." speech?
Some of our dreams encourage us to hope for a fairy tale ending, "And they lived happily ever after". This dream is likely for ourselves, or our children, or someone else we are close to. Other dreams might be for professional success, and prosperity...the American Dream.
What are your dreams?
One of mine is surely not unlike any other fathers' dream for his kids. I want to see my son grow up to find a genuine faith, hope, and love. With that in mind, let's turn to God's dream. That's right, God has a dream too. His dream is shared with us within the Bible. Essentially His dream is like that of any father, God dreams about a day when his children will find faith, hope and love. It is to restore and reconcile all of us back to Him, because He is the source of genuine faith, hope, and love. Jesus is God's "first fruit" of that dream coming true. Following Jesus is to share God's dream for ourselves and for everyone.
Do you dream God's dream?
Lord God, thank you for revealing your will for me in the Bible, and thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to intervene into my life to help me discern your will. Father, you have a beautiful dream for me; one of life filled eternally with genuine faith, hope, and love. Lord, where my dreams become selfish, or misguided in any way intervene to bend my dreams toward yours. Impassion me to dream your dream for my life as well as for all people. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Morning Devotions: 3/15/10
Genesis 34-35
I love roller coasters. Unfortunately, the older I become the more my body tells me that it's a bit wiser to keep my feet on the ground. Similarly, there's a maturity of faith that comes upon us in time as we grow with God. This mature faith keeps us grounded in the security of God when everything seems to be rushing dangerously through the more dramatic ups and downs of life.
This text for today has all the elements of a roller coaster. From Jacob's perspective, in just two chapters he has learned of the following dramatic lows:
The rape of his daughter, Dinah
The foolish retaliatory vengeance upon Shechem from his sons
The incest committed by his oldest son, Reuben
The death of his beloved wife, Rachel
The death of his father, Isaac
At the same time, however, this text has revealed to Jacob the following dramatic highs:
God speaks directly to Jacob for the first time.
God's protection from further retaliation from Shechem
God speaks to Jacob a second time
God passes to Jacob His most sacred blessing.
God renames Jacob and calls him Israel
The birth of his 12th son, Benjamin
As we read this text, we get the feeling that Jacob has moved through all these highs and lows at such a pace that our heads are dizzy at the end of reading it. But, there's one thing from beginning to end that keeps Jacob grounded---his faith in God. Jacob's faith, if you recall, has come a long way. He was once the opportunistic, self-centered, insecure youth that was flying through life by the seat of his pants. Now, we see him as the father who has learned much about himself and God from his past mistakes. He is older, wiser, more secure and his faith in God has grown much more mature. Now, it is his mature faith that keeps him grounded through all of these dramatic highs and lows.
Consider the highs and lows that you're facing right now, how is your faith keeping you grounded in God?
Lord God, thank you for remaining with me through all the highs and lows. Thank you for using the mistakes of my past to help grow my faith into something more mature today. Empower me to respond to life with the same patient security with which you have responded to me over the years. Let me face this day's high and lows with your grace. In Jesus' name...Amen
I love roller coasters. Unfortunately, the older I become the more my body tells me that it's a bit wiser to keep my feet on the ground. Similarly, there's a maturity of faith that comes upon us in time as we grow with God. This mature faith keeps us grounded in the security of God when everything seems to be rushing dangerously through the more dramatic ups and downs of life.
This text for today has all the elements of a roller coaster. From Jacob's perspective, in just two chapters he has learned of the following dramatic lows:
The rape of his daughter, Dinah
The foolish retaliatory vengeance upon Shechem from his sons
The incest committed by his oldest son, Reuben
The death of his beloved wife, Rachel
The death of his father, Isaac
At the same time, however, this text has revealed to Jacob the following dramatic highs:
God speaks directly to Jacob for the first time.
God's protection from further retaliation from Shechem
God speaks to Jacob a second time
God passes to Jacob His most sacred blessing.
God renames Jacob and calls him Israel
The birth of his 12th son, Benjamin
As we read this text, we get the feeling that Jacob has moved through all these highs and lows at such a pace that our heads are dizzy at the end of reading it. But, there's one thing from beginning to end that keeps Jacob grounded---his faith in God. Jacob's faith, if you recall, has come a long way. He was once the opportunistic, self-centered, insecure youth that was flying through life by the seat of his pants. Now, we see him as the father who has learned much about himself and God from his past mistakes. He is older, wiser, more secure and his faith in God has grown much more mature. Now, it is his mature faith that keeps him grounded through all of these dramatic highs and lows.
Consider the highs and lows that you're facing right now, how is your faith keeping you grounded in God?
Lord God, thank you for remaining with me through all the highs and lows. Thank you for using the mistakes of my past to help grow my faith into something more mature today. Empower me to respond to life with the same patient security with which you have responded to me over the years. Let me face this day's high and lows with your grace. In Jesus' name...Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/14/10
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Prodigal--An adjective that is used to characterize behavior that is lavishly wasteful, or extravagant.
Clearly, the younger of the two sons fits this characterization in Jesus' parable. He takes his father's financial gift (and I do mean gift here; just because it's an inheritance does not mean he was entitled to it--especially since his father hasn't yet died) and he goes off and lavishly wastes it in what the text calls dissolute living. Clearly this man is about as wasteful as they come with his father's financial gift. Notice, however, the text does not condemn him for wasting money on prostitutes--that's the older brother's statement of judgment against his brother. The text says that he wasted it in dissolute living. In other words, he lived indulgently beyond his means, without adequate maturity of restraint. So, if you are eager to condemn the younger brother, be prepared to face the same condemnation yourself. How's your credit card debt looking these days? Maybe it's time to return to the Father and pray for a little maturity of restraint.
But, then there's the older brother--the so-called good son, the one who stays away from dissolute living. In the parable his prodigal behavior is actually more insidious than his brother. Upon learning that his father is throwing a celebratory feast for his younger brother he is furious. His self-righteous judgment condemns his younger brother in a fit of anger that refuses to forgive his brother and declines his father's invitation to the feast. This brother is also a prodigal son. His younger brother may have been wasteful with the father's finances, but he is wasteful with the father's love. This action breaks the father's heart. The father desires that both of his sons reconcile and celebrate the feast with him. Instead, his elder son refuses to come. So, which of the two prodigals did the most damage? The one who wasted the Father's inheritance, or the one who wasted the Father's love?
Is there someone to whom you need to say "I'm sorry"?
Is there someone with whom you are so angry that you feel like you simply cant forgive them?
In what ways are you a prodigal?
Fortunately, there's a third prodigal character in this parable. It's the prodigal father. His lavish, even extravagant, offering of love and forgiveness--even before the son could say his rehearsed apology--is easily seen as wasteful. The prodigal father offers forgiveness and a feast of love without hearing his son even promise to change. When the older son becomes angry his father reminds him that he desires for him to come, and that the gifts of the father's house are always his. Neither of these sons deserve the feast, nor do they deserve the forgiveness that is showered upon them from the father.
In Twila Paris' song "Lamb of God" the second verse goes like this "Your gift of love we crucified. We laughed and scorned him as he died. The humble king we named a fraud and sacrificed the Lamb of God." Jesus is the Father's gift of amazing grace that we too often take for granted, and waste. But, to us and for us, he died. Because with Easter morning, our Father comes running back to us. Before we can utter our confessions, He embraces us with the undeserved renewing grace of his love that will not die. Then, he invites us to an eternal feast of celebration.
We are all prodigals in one way or another---but thanks be to our prodigal God, who continues to offer his grace even to the likes of us.
Lord God, thank you for your abundant grace. Help me to forgive others. Make me to see the err of my ways. Humble me, that I may apologize to those whom I have offended. Most of all, Lord, thank you for inviting me to join you in your eternal feast of celebration over sin and death. Through Jesus Christ I pray. Amen
Prodigal--An adjective that is used to characterize behavior that is lavishly wasteful, or extravagant.
Clearly, the younger of the two sons fits this characterization in Jesus' parable. He takes his father's financial gift (and I do mean gift here; just because it's an inheritance does not mean he was entitled to it--especially since his father hasn't yet died) and he goes off and lavishly wastes it in what the text calls dissolute living. Clearly this man is about as wasteful as they come with his father's financial gift. Notice, however, the text does not condemn him for wasting money on prostitutes--that's the older brother's statement of judgment against his brother. The text says that he wasted it in dissolute living. In other words, he lived indulgently beyond his means, without adequate maturity of restraint. So, if you are eager to condemn the younger brother, be prepared to face the same condemnation yourself. How's your credit card debt looking these days? Maybe it's time to return to the Father and pray for a little maturity of restraint.
But, then there's the older brother--the so-called good son, the one who stays away from dissolute living. In the parable his prodigal behavior is actually more insidious than his brother. Upon learning that his father is throwing a celebratory feast for his younger brother he is furious. His self-righteous judgment condemns his younger brother in a fit of anger that refuses to forgive his brother and declines his father's invitation to the feast. This brother is also a prodigal son. His younger brother may have been wasteful with the father's finances, but he is wasteful with the father's love. This action breaks the father's heart. The father desires that both of his sons reconcile and celebrate the feast with him. Instead, his elder son refuses to come. So, which of the two prodigals did the most damage? The one who wasted the Father's inheritance, or the one who wasted the Father's love?
Is there someone to whom you need to say "I'm sorry"?
Is there someone with whom you are so angry that you feel like you simply cant forgive them?
In what ways are you a prodigal?
Fortunately, there's a third prodigal character in this parable. It's the prodigal father. His lavish, even extravagant, offering of love and forgiveness--even before the son could say his rehearsed apology--is easily seen as wasteful. The prodigal father offers forgiveness and a feast of love without hearing his son even promise to change. When the older son becomes angry his father reminds him that he desires for him to come, and that the gifts of the father's house are always his. Neither of these sons deserve the feast, nor do they deserve the forgiveness that is showered upon them from the father.
In Twila Paris' song "Lamb of God" the second verse goes like this "Your gift of love we crucified. We laughed and scorned him as he died. The humble king we named a fraud and sacrificed the Lamb of God." Jesus is the Father's gift of amazing grace that we too often take for granted, and waste. But, to us and for us, he died. Because with Easter morning, our Father comes running back to us. Before we can utter our confessions, He embraces us with the undeserved renewing grace of his love that will not die. Then, he invites us to an eternal feast of celebration.
We are all prodigals in one way or another---but thanks be to our prodigal God, who continues to offer his grace even to the likes of us.
Lord God, thank you for your abundant grace. Help me to forgive others. Make me to see the err of my ways. Humble me, that I may apologize to those whom I have offended. Most of all, Lord, thank you for inviting me to join you in your eternal feast of celebration over sin and death. Through Jesus Christ I pray. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/13/10
Genesis 31-33
Inevitably our sins always come back to us. We can never truly escape them. No matter how far away we go from them in time, emotion or even actual geography there will always come a time when we have to face the truth. Time can be an amazing healer. It can provide enough distance that our perspective changes, allowing us to see the truth more clearly and possibly even come to accept the truth for what it is, but in the end that truth must still be faced. In the end, there really is no place for us to hide from our sins----except beneath the shelter of grace that God provides.Jacob deceived his brother, cheating him out of his birth-right. After running away to hide for 14 years away from his brother's wrath, he now realizes that he must face his brother in order to truly be at peace within himself. On the eve before this long awaited meeting, Jacob worries himself to sleep and ends up in a dream that turns to be much more than the usual dream. In this dream Jacob faces the truth of the very sin he used to deceive his brother. In a wrestling match with an angelic figure, Jacob essentially wrestles with God over the guilt and shame he feels of having deceived his brother. Jacob's sin was to lie about his identity. Jacob disguised himself as his brother in order to steal Esau's birth-right from their dying father. Jacob's sin was to say to his father, "I am Esau." Now, that sin has returned to him. In his wrestling match with God, Jacob begs for God's blessing. Just as he had wanted his father's blessing, he now begs for God's blessing. Only this time, Jacob must tell the truth. The angelic figure asks him, "What is your name?" The very question confronts Jacob with the truth about his sinful act, which has separated him from his brother and family for 14 years. This time, though, its not his father's patriarchal blessing, its God's blessing. God will not be deceived. Instead God uses the wrestling match with Jacob to bring Jacob to declare his true identity. Jacob answers, "I am Jacob." With this confession, Jacob's sin is forgiven, the wrestling with God ceases, and Jacob is blessed by God and claimed with a new name. He will be called Israel. His new name literally means "one who wrestles with God". As followers of Christ we are inheritors of a legacy in which wrestling with God is embedded within our very name. We are the ones who wrestle with God. We all have sins of our past, sins that have placed us on certain paths of life, sins which we've tried to hide from, sins that altar our very identity. Do you trust God enough that you could allow yourself to be completely vulnerable and exposed before Him? Have you ever really wrestled with God about who you are, and why you exist? If not, maybe its time to try. God is the only one who can take all the pain, all the shame, all the wounds from our past sins and point us toward a new articulation of what difference all that makes to our identity today. God is the only one who can help us make sense of our past, and at the same time present to us a perspective of how all of it fits into His extraordinary plan for the future. God is the only one who can take your past, and show you how all of it--even the sinful stuff--as the means with which God has re-created you and given you a purpose for today. God takes all of our actions, and gives it meaning and purpose. But, to see God's purpose for your life requires a bit of wrestling with God. Ask yourself---and then ask God, "Who am I?" What you'll hear, no matter how great or small are your sins of the past, is God respond, "You are my beloved in whom I am well pleased."
Lord God, thank you for helping me make sense of the sins of my past. Thank you for helping me reconcile with you and with others. Thank you for loving me and claiming me no matter what I've done in the past. Strengthen me today to trust you with my deepest, most difficult pain. Give me the grace necessary to wrestle with you when things make no sense, and encourage me trust in your sovereign ability to take all of my life and re-make it this day for your purposes. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Inevitably our sins always come back to us. We can never truly escape them. No matter how far away we go from them in time, emotion or even actual geography there will always come a time when we have to face the truth. Time can be an amazing healer. It can provide enough distance that our perspective changes, allowing us to see the truth more clearly and possibly even come to accept the truth for what it is, but in the end that truth must still be faced. In the end, there really is no place for us to hide from our sins----except beneath the shelter of grace that God provides.Jacob deceived his brother, cheating him out of his birth-right. After running away to hide for 14 years away from his brother's wrath, he now realizes that he must face his brother in order to truly be at peace within himself. On the eve before this long awaited meeting, Jacob worries himself to sleep and ends up in a dream that turns to be much more than the usual dream. In this dream Jacob faces the truth of the very sin he used to deceive his brother. In a wrestling match with an angelic figure, Jacob essentially wrestles with God over the guilt and shame he feels of having deceived his brother. Jacob's sin was to lie about his identity. Jacob disguised himself as his brother in order to steal Esau's birth-right from their dying father. Jacob's sin was to say to his father, "I am Esau." Now, that sin has returned to him. In his wrestling match with God, Jacob begs for God's blessing. Just as he had wanted his father's blessing, he now begs for God's blessing. Only this time, Jacob must tell the truth. The angelic figure asks him, "What is your name?" The very question confronts Jacob with the truth about his sinful act, which has separated him from his brother and family for 14 years. This time, though, its not his father's patriarchal blessing, its God's blessing. God will not be deceived. Instead God uses the wrestling match with Jacob to bring Jacob to declare his true identity. Jacob answers, "I am Jacob." With this confession, Jacob's sin is forgiven, the wrestling with God ceases, and Jacob is blessed by God and claimed with a new name. He will be called Israel. His new name literally means "one who wrestles with God". As followers of Christ we are inheritors of a legacy in which wrestling with God is embedded within our very name. We are the ones who wrestle with God. We all have sins of our past, sins that have placed us on certain paths of life, sins which we've tried to hide from, sins that altar our very identity. Do you trust God enough that you could allow yourself to be completely vulnerable and exposed before Him? Have you ever really wrestled with God about who you are, and why you exist? If not, maybe its time to try. God is the only one who can take all the pain, all the shame, all the wounds from our past sins and point us toward a new articulation of what difference all that makes to our identity today. God is the only one who can help us make sense of our past, and at the same time present to us a perspective of how all of it fits into His extraordinary plan for the future. God is the only one who can take your past, and show you how all of it--even the sinful stuff--as the means with which God has re-created you and given you a purpose for today. God takes all of our actions, and gives it meaning and purpose. But, to see God's purpose for your life requires a bit of wrestling with God. Ask yourself---and then ask God, "Who am I?" What you'll hear, no matter how great or small are your sins of the past, is God respond, "You are my beloved in whom I am well pleased."
Lord God, thank you for helping me make sense of the sins of my past. Thank you for helping me reconcile with you and with others. Thank you for loving me and claiming me no matter what I've done in the past. Strengthen me today to trust you with my deepest, most difficult pain. Give me the grace necessary to wrestle with you when things make no sense, and encourage me trust in your sovereign ability to take all of my life and re-make it this day for your purposes. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Morning Devotions: 3/12/10
Genesis 29-30
Sibling rivalries and power struggles mark the theme of this text. Beginning with the struggle for power between Jacob and Esau, then the sibling rivalry between Rachel and Leah, and finally the power struggle between Jacob and Laban. Back and forth the flow of power moves as each opposing side schemes and contrives to find new ways to outdo their rival. The competition for power and control will carry into the next generation as well, where the sons of Jacob will plot to kill their rival Joseph.
If we listen closely to this text, there is one thing we do not hear; one thing that has gone silent. It is the voice of God. Nowhere do we hear the characters call upon the Lord for guidance or support. Consequently, nowhere do we hear of God's intervention. And, consequently, the behaviors of these biblical characters is about is far from ideal that we can imagine. From dishonest business deals between Laban and Jacob, to brother's plotting to kill brothers, to women competing over who can have the most babies, to Jacob yielding to the Canaanite tradition of Polygamy this text is filled with misguided sinful attempts to live without regard to God's divine authority.
Imagine.... What might have been different about this text if any of these characters would have stopped just for one moment of prayer and asked for God to help and guide them before they reacted to their circumstances purely of their own perceived authority?
Our lives, our families, our work environments are not any different. Consider the flow of power and control within the dynamics of people all around you. Consider the people with whom you compete for power. Consider the list of mistakes you've made, the people you've offended, the times when you've gone too far. Imagine...what might have been different if you had paused for a moment of prayer and asked for God's help and guidance before you reacted to the circumstances purely out of your perceived authority?
Fortunately, God does not enter into our dynamics of power and control. God does not compete with us, and therefore we cannot compete with Him. God is in control of all things, and therefore is able to be our rock in times of trouble, our strength when times are weak. He is able to bring justice to those who push us too far. He is able to differentiate Himself from the perceived power of people, and the real power which is His and only His. Jesus broke the cycle of power by dying to the sinful misuse of power. In doing so, he brings to us the gift of forgiveness, grace sufficient enough for us to let go of our desire for power over others.
Lord God, thank you for dying for me. Thank you for all the times you have helped me and guided me, and been there for me as my rock in troubled times. Thank you for never forgetting me, even when I've gone off on my own away from you. As I go about my day, let me see with clear and open eyes the truth behind all of the power struggles that tempt me to betray my trust in you. Let me look upon others with the same forgiveness and grace that you look upon me from the cross. Give me grace sufficient enough to let go of my desire to win and secure power over others, and give me moments to pause and seek your help and guidance before I react. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sibling rivalries and power struggles mark the theme of this text. Beginning with the struggle for power between Jacob and Esau, then the sibling rivalry between Rachel and Leah, and finally the power struggle between Jacob and Laban. Back and forth the flow of power moves as each opposing side schemes and contrives to find new ways to outdo their rival. The competition for power and control will carry into the next generation as well, where the sons of Jacob will plot to kill their rival Joseph.
If we listen closely to this text, there is one thing we do not hear; one thing that has gone silent. It is the voice of God. Nowhere do we hear the characters call upon the Lord for guidance or support. Consequently, nowhere do we hear of God's intervention. And, consequently, the behaviors of these biblical characters is about is far from ideal that we can imagine. From dishonest business deals between Laban and Jacob, to brother's plotting to kill brothers, to women competing over who can have the most babies, to Jacob yielding to the Canaanite tradition of Polygamy this text is filled with misguided sinful attempts to live without regard to God's divine authority.
Imagine.... What might have been different about this text if any of these characters would have stopped just for one moment of prayer and asked for God to help and guide them before they reacted to their circumstances purely of their own perceived authority?
Our lives, our families, our work environments are not any different. Consider the flow of power and control within the dynamics of people all around you. Consider the people with whom you compete for power. Consider the list of mistakes you've made, the people you've offended, the times when you've gone too far. Imagine...what might have been different if you had paused for a moment of prayer and asked for God's help and guidance before you reacted to the circumstances purely out of your perceived authority?
Fortunately, God does not enter into our dynamics of power and control. God does not compete with us, and therefore we cannot compete with Him. God is in control of all things, and therefore is able to be our rock in times of trouble, our strength when times are weak. He is able to bring justice to those who push us too far. He is able to differentiate Himself from the perceived power of people, and the real power which is His and only His. Jesus broke the cycle of power by dying to the sinful misuse of power. In doing so, he brings to us the gift of forgiveness, grace sufficient enough for us to let go of our desire for power over others.
Lord God, thank you for dying for me. Thank you for all the times you have helped me and guided me, and been there for me as my rock in troubled times. Thank you for never forgetting me, even when I've gone off on my own away from you. As I go about my day, let me see with clear and open eyes the truth behind all of the power struggles that tempt me to betray my trust in you. Let me look upon others with the same forgiveness and grace that you look upon me from the cross. Give me grace sufficient enough to let go of my desire to win and secure power over others, and give me moments to pause and seek your help and guidance before I react. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Morning Devotions: 3/11/10
Genesis 27 - 28
What a dysfunctional family! Consider the characters. You've got Rebekah the manipulative mom who shows so little regard for her dying husband that she uses her son to literally blind side him just before his dies. You've got Isaac, the pushover, gullible dad who is so distant from his two sons that he cant even tell the difference between one son and the other wearing a disguise. Then, there's the twin sons. Jacob is a heartless, selfish, opportunist who will cheat and deceive his brother and his father out of birth-right and blessing. Esau, the underachieving elder son who thinks he's entitled to something just for being the first-born son. Yikes! What a mess.
I cant help but look at this story and compare these characters with that of my own family, my own up-bringing, my own relationships over the past. I had all of these charcters in my house, and even a few more. While each situation is different and unique with each household harboring its own unique characters and flaws, there's a kind of hope that this text gives to us. This crazy, mixed up, dysfunctional family is in the bible---even more, this family carries with it God's blessing of hope for all people. Jacob will later be blessed by God and re-named Israel, from which Jesus will come. The hope for all of us came out of this dysfunctional family.
God is so amazing like that! :-)
He takes sinfulness, pain, hurt, all the junk of dysfunctional families and weaves it into the tapestry of His eternal plan, giving us hope that is beyond our capacity to comprehend.
Today, let's consider all the junk inside us from our dysfunctional families. Then, let us commend these things into God's amazing grace; trusting that God has the ability to weave it into his eternal plan.
Lord God, thank you for this work you have done with me and my life. With practically nothing you have raised up gifts and talents from within me for your purpose and joy. You have blessed me and set me on the sure foundation of hope in the saving grace of your Son, my savior. Bless my family, bless all families with your sure confidence that comes from your love alone. As I go about my day, remind me that you have brought me to this day with all that I need to face whatever is in front of me, and keep me humble and hopeful in the faith that you are not yet finished with me. In Jesus name. Amen
What a dysfunctional family! Consider the characters. You've got Rebekah the manipulative mom who shows so little regard for her dying husband that she uses her son to literally blind side him just before his dies. You've got Isaac, the pushover, gullible dad who is so distant from his two sons that he cant even tell the difference between one son and the other wearing a disguise. Then, there's the twin sons. Jacob is a heartless, selfish, opportunist who will cheat and deceive his brother and his father out of birth-right and blessing. Esau, the underachieving elder son who thinks he's entitled to something just for being the first-born son. Yikes! What a mess.
I cant help but look at this story and compare these characters with that of my own family, my own up-bringing, my own relationships over the past. I had all of these charcters in my house, and even a few more. While each situation is different and unique with each household harboring its own unique characters and flaws, there's a kind of hope that this text gives to us. This crazy, mixed up, dysfunctional family is in the bible---even more, this family carries with it God's blessing of hope for all people. Jacob will later be blessed by God and re-named Israel, from which Jesus will come. The hope for all of us came out of this dysfunctional family.
God is so amazing like that! :-)
He takes sinfulness, pain, hurt, all the junk of dysfunctional families and weaves it into the tapestry of His eternal plan, giving us hope that is beyond our capacity to comprehend.
Today, let's consider all the junk inside us from our dysfunctional families. Then, let us commend these things into God's amazing grace; trusting that God has the ability to weave it into his eternal plan.
Lord God, thank you for this work you have done with me and my life. With practically nothing you have raised up gifts and talents from within me for your purpose and joy. You have blessed me and set me on the sure foundation of hope in the saving grace of your Son, my savior. Bless my family, bless all families with your sure confidence that comes from your love alone. As I go about my day, remind me that you have brought me to this day with all that I need to face whatever is in front of me, and keep me humble and hopeful in the faith that you are not yet finished with me. In Jesus name. Amen
Morning Devotions: 3/10/10
Genesis 25-26
Isaac heard God promise to bless his second son, Jacob, while his twin sons were still in the womb. God prepared Isaac for the role revearsal his twin sons would endure. Even so, Isaac prepared and intended to give his sacred blessing to Esau. For Isaac, this would have been perfectly normal. The ways of the world dictated to Isaac that the oldest son was to be the blessed one, and the younger son or sons would live in service to their older sibling. But, this was not God's plan. God's plan was to pass the sacred blessing onto Jacob, the second son.
Meanwhile, Jacob grew to become a man who would lie and cheat his own father. Esau was the first born, and by our ways of judgment, was much more deserving of God's blessing than his brother. Jacob didnt deserve this sacred blessing by birth-right or by virtue. Yet, God planned to give it to him before he was even born.
God's ways are not our ways.
Sometimes we look at the events of life unfolding around us and we ask the age-old question, "Why, God?"
I like to joke that one day when I get to heaven I am going to march up to God with my list of questions and demand answers. LOL All of these questions of mine are of this type: Why, Lord...?
If you think about it, we all have our list of questions.
To which our Lord Jesus, before we can even pull our list out of our pocket, reaches out to us with a loving, comforting embrace and as he reaches we see the holes from the nails. Then, in a flash of countless reminders of God's promises for us, the still small voice of God speaks His own rhetorical question, "Why did my only son have to die on the cross?" And the answer washes away the questions....."FOR ME!" He died this undeserving death, for us, so that we would recieve an undeserved life.
There is much that we do not understand about the ways of God. We are not asked to understand, only to trust. Jacob didn't deserve God's blessing. Yet, God wanted to give it, and by doing so, God raises up the man who would later become Father Israel. Like Jacob, we do not deserve the gift of Christ's life. Yet, God wants to give it to us. Who knows what God is up to, but let us be thankful that his ways are not our ways. If they were, we would all perish.
Lord God, you have chosen to bless us. Like Jacob, we dont deserve it. May our thankful hearts always respond to your call with an eagerness and appreciation for the gift you have given us. When you invite us to follow you into places where we would otherwise not prefer to go let us respond not with "Why me", but instead with "Why not me", because you have indeed blessed us with the life of your Son. Amen
Isaac heard God promise to bless his second son, Jacob, while his twin sons were still in the womb. God prepared Isaac for the role revearsal his twin sons would endure. Even so, Isaac prepared and intended to give his sacred blessing to Esau. For Isaac, this would have been perfectly normal. The ways of the world dictated to Isaac that the oldest son was to be the blessed one, and the younger son or sons would live in service to their older sibling. But, this was not God's plan. God's plan was to pass the sacred blessing onto Jacob, the second son.
Meanwhile, Jacob grew to become a man who would lie and cheat his own father. Esau was the first born, and by our ways of judgment, was much more deserving of God's blessing than his brother. Jacob didnt deserve this sacred blessing by birth-right or by virtue. Yet, God planned to give it to him before he was even born.
God's ways are not our ways.
Sometimes we look at the events of life unfolding around us and we ask the age-old question, "Why, God?"
I like to joke that one day when I get to heaven I am going to march up to God with my list of questions and demand answers. LOL All of these questions of mine are of this type: Why, Lord...?
If you think about it, we all have our list of questions.
To which our Lord Jesus, before we can even pull our list out of our pocket, reaches out to us with a loving, comforting embrace and as he reaches we see the holes from the nails. Then, in a flash of countless reminders of God's promises for us, the still small voice of God speaks His own rhetorical question, "Why did my only son have to die on the cross?" And the answer washes away the questions....."FOR ME!" He died this undeserving death, for us, so that we would recieve an undeserved life.
There is much that we do not understand about the ways of God. We are not asked to understand, only to trust. Jacob didn't deserve God's blessing. Yet, God wanted to give it, and by doing so, God raises up the man who would later become Father Israel. Like Jacob, we do not deserve the gift of Christ's life. Yet, God wants to give it to us. Who knows what God is up to, but let us be thankful that his ways are not our ways. If they were, we would all perish.
Lord God, you have chosen to bless us. Like Jacob, we dont deserve it. May our thankful hearts always respond to your call with an eagerness and appreciation for the gift you have given us. When you invite us to follow you into places where we would otherwise not prefer to go let us respond not with "Why me", but instead with "Why not me", because you have indeed blessed us with the life of your Son. Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Pastor Rich
