Pray for Total Submission; Luke 21-24

May the mumbling commence!

Distress often brings us to our knees in prayer.  In the last day before his crucifixion, Jesus was brought to his knees in prayer.  Read from Luke chapter twenty-two:

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.  On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."  He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.  "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." 

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" 

When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?"  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 

But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him. 

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?  Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour – when darkness reigns." (Verses 39-53)

Pray not to fall into temptation.  That was Jesus’ message to the Twelve.  What temptation was most immediate?  The most immediate temptation was to try and alter the plans and commands of God – to try and fulfill God’s will in any other way.  We see this struggle in the prayer of Jesus.  “Take away this cup.  Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 

These words of submission were heart wrenchingly difficult.  Jesus sweated great drops of sweat – like drops of blood hitting the ground.  It is now scientifically known that when a person is in great duress, they can physically sweat blood.  Some people believe this was the case with Jesus.  Knowing what he did about what awaited him, I can understand why Jesus would be in such duress.  I could not stand with the knowledge that he had.  I would have fled for my life – and lost it.

I take some comfort in the disciples’ failure.  They caved into the temptation to try and fulfill God’s will in another way.  “Shall we strike with our swords?”  There is and never has been any force in our relationship with God.  You and I are free to choose.  So were the religious leaders of Jesus’ day free to choose.

We too often choose poorly.  We choose the easy path of hurt and destruction and violence.  That is not the God sanctioned way.  God seeks to heal and restore.  God dwells among us in easy reach.  Will we choose to embrace our Lord or hurt him with our own agendas and pettiness?

Help us, O God, to embrace a life of obedience to you.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

God, We Are Yours; Luke 17-20

May the mumbling commence!

How do you feel when you are paying the taxman?  Many of us feel unwanted obligation and reluctance.  Paying taxes often inspires thoughts of rebellion.  Rebellion over taxes is nothing new.  It did not start with the T.E.A. Party (Taxed Enough Already).  It didn’t start with the original Tea Party during the American Revolution. 

Rebellion and taxes comes far before these things.  Rebellion and taxes were old hat when Jesus walked the earth.  Indeed they were a ploy to bring him down.  The Jewish religious leadership tried to trap Jesus in his words so that we might run afoul of the Roman government.  Read a passage from Luke chapter twenty:

Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.  So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.  Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 

He saw through their duplicity and said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?" 

"Caesar's," they replied.

He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."  They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent. (Verses 20-26)

The questioners thought that they had Jesus cornered.  No matter what Jesus might say, he would alienate himself.  If Jesus were to claim that Jews were not to pay the taxes, then he would be subject to Roman law.  Rome would take care of this thorn in their side, for they would be sure to report such an answer to the Roman authorities.

On the other hand, if Jesus were to state that Jews were to pay taxes, Jesus would run afoul of the Jewish people who deeply resented Rome’s presence.  Jesus would lose a large part of his followers with this statement.  Jesus would be defused just as well this way.

But Jesus easily defused this potential bomb.  Jesus asked to see a denarius.  It is worth note that these religious leaders had a denarius at all.  The defiling image of Caesar would wrong to carry.  This mode of money was not acceptable in the Temple.  Jesus publically showed their duplicity.

What images are on our money, here in the United States?  Former presidents and important people from our country’s history grace our bills and coins.  Jesus said, “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.”  “Give unto the President what is the President’s.”  Money is not ours.  It belongs to the government.  They printed it.  They determine its value.  None of it has any real worth in God’s kingdom.  So do not cling to money.

That was the first part of Jesus’ answer.  This answer alone would have done well in keeping Jesus safe from Roman authorities.  The second part of the answer would satisfy his rebellion-minded followers.  “Give to God what is God’s.”  Indeed, what do we have that is not God’s?  We owe God everything that we have.  We owe God our ultimate allegiance.  There is no one or nothing that deserves our very best.

Jesus answered the question in truth without endangering his mission from God – obedience and allegiance.

Help us, O God, to live this statement.  To give our government its due – but not at the expense of our ultimate allegiance to the Lord who created us.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Giving the Poor a Name; Luke 13-16

May the mumbling commence!

How is true wealth defined in eternity?  Jesus speaks of such wealth when he tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.  Read it below from Luke chapter sixteen:

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 

The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.  In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 

But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 

He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 

Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 

'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 

He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" (Verses 19-31)

In a parable, it is unusual for a person to be named.  It is interesting that a person in this parable is named.  It is even more interesting that the one named is the poor diseased beggar and not the rich man.  Most people would have known the rich man’s name and envied him his luxuries. 

But we are not given the rich man’s name.  Instead we are given the poor man’s name, Lazarus.  Usually the poor are the anonymous ones – anonymous so that they are more easily ignored.  Jesus gave them a name and a face.  He promises the Lazarus’ of the world comfort in the next kingdom.

The rich man, though he could have, never lifted a finger to help Lazarus.  When Lazarus was at Abraham’s side, he could not help the rich man – even if he would have chosen to.  The rich man got the message loud a clear.

The rich man pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his rich brothers.  They already have their warning in the Scriptures.  So do we.

 Help us, O Holy Spirit, to give names, faces, and voices to the poor of our world.  Let us give these gifts to the poor at our doorstep.  Let us share our comfort and ease with someone less fortunate.  In this way, we can make a name for ourselves in heaven.  In this way, we can bring glory to God and to the way of Jesus the Christ.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Letting Go Defines Neighbor; Luke 9-12

May the mumbling commence!

How do we define neighbor?  It is an important question.  If we are to love God with all our being and love our neighbor as ourselves, it is important to know who are neighbors are.  A law expert asked Jesus this question – “Who is my neighbor?”  Read the parable that Jesus told in response to the question from Luke chapter ten:

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Verses 30-37)

The people who heard Jesus knew that the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was perilous.  It would have been no surprise to them that a lone man would be attacked and robbed.  The criminals even took his clothing.  Today, we speak of identity theft.  By taking his clothes, the criminals wiped cleanly away any indication of who the man was.  The thieves left him for dead.

To reach out and help this man would be a risk.  It could be a trap for a trusting and gullible traveler.  The thieves could have been waiting in hiding for a do-gooder.  This risk guided some of the pillars of the church to the other side of the road – a priest and a Levite.  Perhaps, they thought they had too much to risk – too much to lose.

Then along came the Samaritan.  Pity and compassion welled up in the Samaritan.  Maybe he had once been broken and bleeding on the roadside.   Whatever it was that moved the Samaritan, he helped him.  The Samaritan treated and bandaged the wounds.  The Samaritan took him to an innkeeper for care and paid for his keep.  The Samaritan promised to return and pay all accounts to “paid in full”.

Then, Jesus aimed a question at his questioner.  “Which of these three was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”  When we think about whom our neighbor is, the definition is not dependent upon what they do for us.  We define our neighbors by how we treat them.  Are you willing to risk your comfort and your errand to help someone who is obviously in need of help?  Jesus asks us to take this risk – “Go and do likewise.”

Yes, we are supposed to risk our possessions because they are not really ours to begin with.  Why try and hold onto something that is impossible to hold on to?  It is not even truly ours.  By holding our things loosely, we gain the kingdom of heaven.  Read a passage from Luke chapter twelve:

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Verses 32-34)

You and I cannot receive the kingdom of heaven if we are desperately clinging to our possessions.  Let it go.  Moths will eat our grandest clothes.  Here in Kansas, I’ve seen numerous moths (or millers) lately.  It almost seems to be at a plague-like level. 

Let your possessions go.  Define who your neighbor is by letting go.  God will care for our eternal needs when we let go.

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out

Judgment - the Road to Healing; Luke 6-8

May the mumbling commence!

Judging can be a sensitive topic.  Life minus judgment can be miserable.  That being said, life minus mercy and grace and love will not be worth living either.  The answer lies in a delicate balance.  Luke records Jesus’ “Sermon on the Plain” in chapter six.  Within his sermon, Jesus talks about this delicate balance.  Read a passage from Luke chapter six below:

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." 

He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?  A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. 

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” (Verses 37-42)

It would be easy to stop with the first paragraph.  It seems clear, doesn’t it?  We are neither to judge nor condemn.  Instead, we are to forgive and give of ourselves to others.  It is plain and simple.

But it is not so plain and simple when you are hurt by someone else.  We may hold our judgment for someone for a time; but, in our hearts, we condemn.  We condemn because we know wrong has been done.  We have felt the wrong personally.  That cannot be undone.

It is not so easy to forgive – to deny what we understand as justice for ourselves for the good of the offending party.  That is near impossible to give.  But, if we choose to take this path, we will receive a great reward.

A great reward?!?  What does that mean?!?  I will not be judged.  I am guilty and deserve a judgment.  Look to that last paragraph.  When I am most offended by someone else’s wrong doing, it is a sign that I personally struggle with that same thing.  I see the speck in someone else’s eye.  I see it for what it is because it is so evident in my life.  I have a plank in my own eye.

Wow!  That grants mercy and grace and love to judgment.  All of us are worthy of condemnation.  So forgive others and receive forgiveness for yourself.  In a race of human revenge and human vengeance, no one wins – even though everyone is desperately trying to win.  Let’s put righteous judgment into the capable hands of the Lord.

Yet, judgment needs to be there.  Judgment is meant to be the road to healing.  It removes both the planks and sawdust specks from our eyes.  Have you ever had a speck in your eye?  Doesn’t it seem huge?  Then you see the removed particle, and it is TINY.  Regardless of whether I have a speck or plank in my eye, they make it difficult to see clearly what needs to be done for healing.  Judgment rendered in this type of vision is precarious and destructively dangerous.

Yes, godly judgment needs to be in our lives.  Otherwise, we will follow blind leaders into a pit.  Help us, O Lord, to follow the only Teacher, Jesus.  From him, we will together learn the delicate balance of judgment in our lives.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Where is Our Child? Luke 1-4

May the mumbling commence!

Our next book to read in this regimen is the gospel according to Luke.  So, in the next half-dozen days we will read through Luke…

Do you know where your children are?  What if you only have one child?  Surely, one child would be relatively easy to keep track of, right?  It seems that Mary and Joseph were having trouble keeping track of Jesus, their precocious twelve-year-old.  Read from the end of Luke chapter two:

Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.  When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.  After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.  Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.  After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." 

"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"  But they did not understand what he was saying to them. 

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.  And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Verses 41-52)

Before I had a child, I looked with disdain at the parenting of Mary and Joseph.  How could they assume their child was somewhere in the group for an entire day?  We call that today child endangerment.  Jesus could have ended up in foster care if Mary and Joseph were caught at this today.

It took Mary and Joseph a day to begin wondering about Jesus.  “Have you seen him?”  They probably asked one another.  “No, I haven’t.”  Then the search began that led them all the way back to the temple.  It took three days to find Jesus.  That’s a total of four days without knowing where their child was!

But now that I have a child – a three-year-old son, named Micah – I can better understand.  Whenever my family is at a church event, there will be times where I will look at my wife, Anita, and ask her if she knows where Micah is.  Neither of us know for sure at that moment.  As a family, we feel safe in the context of the church setting that Micah will be cared for.  Someone will be keeping an eye or two on him at all times.

But the situation with Jesus was different in one significant way.  In Jewish tradition, Jesus would have been entering manhood.  At the age of thirteen, a boy would be considered a man of Israel.  This is marked by a Bar Mitzvah.

So, was Jesus showing the first signs of teenage rebellion?  Not so fast, my teen friends!  Jesus was honoring his Father in heaven.  That is what Jesus meant when he said that he had to be in his Father’s house.  But Jesus’ earthly parents just did not understand.  I can almost hear the “Amens” from the teens now.

Before you claim the high ground, teenagers, read the last two verses of the passage.  Jesus went home to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph and was obedient to them – despite their misunderstanding him.  Mary treasured these things in her heart.  And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature before God and people.  So, before we claim a right to rebel, we must fully understand the depth of Jesus’ obedience both to his earthly parents and his Father in heaven.

Parents: respect and love your children.  Teens: respect and obey your parents.  And above all obey God.  If we obey God, all other things will fall into place.

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out

Paying the Balance; Philemon

May the mumbling commence!

One concrete way to be Christ-like is to be willing to pay the debt of someone else.  Sometimes, I look at the debt that my family carries – mostly student loans at this point – and wonder how I will pay down my debt and supply the needs of my family.  I would guess there are many more families like mine.  When we go to pay the monthly bills, we pray for enough to make it through.

For this reason, I find it extraordinary to be willing to pay the debt of someone else.  Spiritually, we are all indebted to Christ Jesus.  Jesus paid the balance of our debt.  What celebration that would create!  In our newfound freedom from debt, do we ever see and act on opportunities to help others get their debt paid. 

There are many people weighed down by the depressing trajectory of their lives.  We can help others if we choose to.  The Apostle Paul made this choice for Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon.  Though Paul wished to keep Onesimus for help in his ministry, Paul returned Onesimus to his Christian Brother Philemon. 

Paul realized that Onesimus may be due for punishment for his runaway slave status – debt if you will.  Read a portion of what Paul wrote to Philemon (from the book Philemon).

So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.  If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.  I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back – not to mention that you owe me your very self.  I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.  Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. (Verses 17-21)

Treat Onesimus, your runaway slave, as you would treat me.  Paul and Philemon were brothers in Christ Jesus.  Being brothers in Christ means nothing less than a warm welcome.

But this warm welcome would come at a hefty price.  What would Philemon’s other slaves think about this treatment of a runaway slave?  Might they feel encouraged to take a risk of running away and trusting in the mercy, grace, and love that would be evident in Philemon welcoming Onesimus back as a brother in Christ?

What might typically await a captured runaway slave?  At the least, Onesimus would have been severely punished – even maimed for life.  At the worst, it could have meant death.  I wonder how Paul convinced Onesimus to return and face such possibilities.

Perhaps, Onesimus was satisfied by the oath that Paul took.  Whatever wrong or debt Onesimus has, charge it to me.  I will pay it back.  What a risk to face maiming or death for another person!  Paul understood the price that Philemon would have to pay to welcome Onesimus back as a brother.

Just give Onesimus a warm welcome back as a brother in Christ, and Philemon will refresh and encourage Paul in his walk with Christ.  We, too, can encourage one another by granting mercy and grace and love where the world calls for punishment and retribution.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Changing Together; Titus

May the mumbling commence!

The Christian life calls for change.  This simple fact cannot be avoided.  Every day is a day to seek change so that we may become more and more like Christ Jesus.  Please note that it is NOT just change for change sake.  Read from Titus chapter three.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. 

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.  Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.  You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Verses 3-11)

First off, we need to remember where we come from – not because where we come from defines us now but because where we came from will help us to be compassionate with people who are mired in the things we once found ourselves caught in. 

There are things we need to be sure that we leave behind – foolishness, disobedience and slavery to our passions and pleasures.  Instead we must pick up a transformed wisdom from the Word of God that results in complete obedience and slavery to the greatest Master possible, the Lord.

To accomplish this feat, we must seek deep change of attitude – no more malice or envy or hatred.  These things are covered with the grace, mercy and love of Christ Jesus.  And, in imitation of Christ, let’s pick up grace and mercy and love of the people around us.  These things are excellent and profitable, indeed!

Yet the church is made up of fallen humans.  There will be conflict.  What will we do about the controversies of our day – human sexuality, abortion, divorce, women leadership, and asset management to name a few?  Paul tells Titus to avoid the foolish controversies.  How do we tell which are foolish and which are not?  Read the Scriptures through the lens of Christ with a Christian community.

Too often issues drive us apart.  I am convinced that Satan laughs triumphantly when we are divided.  He pumps his fist in celebration.

We must not allow disagreements to drive us apart.  How do we stop these controversies from wedging us apart?  Paul tells Titus to warn a divisive person twice.  If the person does not respond, separate from the person.  I wish some of the divisive issues of our day could be whittled down to a few people causing division.  It does not seem so clear cut.

I propose that is why we remember our past (and current) sins.  It helps us to treat others with the kindness and love of God.  It helps us to extend the same mercy and grace that God first gave us to the people around us.  We are simply beggars who tell other beggars where to get mercy and grace and salvation.  And we walk together in our fallen and broken bodies and spirits to be transformed together into the image of Christ.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Give Thanks for Your Spiritual Family; Second Timothy

May the mumbling commence!

Give thanks this day for those people who have been faith pillars for you.  An appropriate way to give thanks to these people is to live a life worthy of Christ Jesus.  This call to give thanks is how the Apostle Paul begins his second letter to Timothy.  Read from Second Timothy chapter one:

I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.  Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.  I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (Verses 3-10)

I give thanks this day for the people who raised me up in the faith.  At first glance, I am concerned when I read about mothers and grandmothers being where sincere faith lives.  Don’t get me wrong – there have been wonderful women of the faith who have helped me to grow. 

I think about my next door neighbor, Minnie Early.  Though she did not have a biological relationship to me, she prayed me into a relationship with God from my earliest days – even when I was not aware of either God or her prayers.  Those people who are spiritual mothers and grandmothers need not be physically related to their children or grandchildren.  Minnie was a grandmother of the faith to me. 

So do not think just because you are not a biological mother (or father for that matter) do not make the mistake of assuming you cannot be a spiritual mother or father to someone else.  There a quite a number of children that I saw grow up in the church.  I remember teaching them in Sunday school and Bible school.  I currently am developing relationships to young people at camp in the summer months.

But let’s not forget our biological family!  I remember my biological Grandma Margaret; my mother, and my Aunt Rose.  All of them are great women of the faith! 

But where are the men of faith in my life?!?  They are there, too.  I remember my Grandpa Jess and my Uncle Al.  And there are many more in the church family.  I think specifically of Leonard Hershey, the pastor who helped lead me to a saving faith in Jesus.  I think of Myrl Nafziger, Myron Rohrer, and Ralph Kilmer.

How do I honor these people in my life?  How should you honor the people of faith in your life?  Honor God!  Fan into flame the gifts that the Holy Spirit breathed upon you.  Be self-disciplined and work for the Lord with all your might, but do not leave love behind. 

Love makes sense of all things – eventually.  Love is the final word of testimony about God.  We are fueled by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.  Love helps us endure suffering for the sake of the gospel.  And we do all these things in Christ’s name (Christ’s purpose). 

And we discover all these things in the context of our chosen faith communities as we read and meditate on the Scriptures together.  Read a passage from Second Timothy chapter three:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (Verses 14-15)

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

A Level Playing Field; First Timothy

May the mumbling commence!

We cannot change who we are.  But God can change us if we pray earnestly, listen, and obey.

There are certain factors in our lives that are set.  You may be young or old.  God can use you regardless if you are faithful to the call of the Spirit.

How does this pan out?  Relationships have a lot to do with it.  Read from First Timothy.

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.  Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.  Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 

Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. (4:12-5:2)

Do not allow anyone to look down on you if you are young (or old or middle-aged).  Make no mistake; there will be people who will look down their noses at you.  Do not internalize these sometimes hurtful stereotypes.  We do not receive our self image for the thoughts of other but from our relationship to God.

How do we defuse these hurtful people’s attacks?  Be an example – in speech, in love, in faith, and in purity.  Be above reproach.  Show the people around you that any personal attacks are without merit.  Our display must be built upon the attitudes of our hearts, the words of our mouths, the actions of our faith.  All things that we think, say and do must have pure motives.

That is a tall task!  How will we approach that?!?  Be devoted to a Christian community.  Read Scripture together.  Meditate on it.  Preach and listen to others preach.  Teach and listen to others teach.

Be diligent and persevere. That is the key to success when it comes to obedience to God’s Word.  God’s Word will not only save us but will also save those who listen to us.

Finally, be careful how you relate to one another.  If you are young, do not be harsh with your elders.  If you are old, do not dismiss the wisdom of a youth.  In this case, there is a father-and-son-like relationship.  Treat your peers as brothers and sisters.  Maintain that purity.  It is what God calls us to.

Change my heart, O God.  May my attitudes and thoughts be purified by listening and obeying Your Word in the context of Your family.  May I not neglect the gifts that God has given me and that the church has called forth from me.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Praying Through Trials; Sewcond Thessalonians

May the mumbling commence!

We can use Paul’s example to teach us how to pray in trying times.  Read from Second Thessalonians chapter one.

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.  Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 

All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.  God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.  He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. 

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.  We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Verses 3-12)

Trouble and woe come from those who do not know God and refuse to obey the gospel message of Jesus.  These people do not only bring trouble and woe upon themselves but they also bring trouble and woe on the people around them.  Just as blessing will come to others through the obedience of God’s people, so trouble and woe comes through those who reject the truth. 

And God will not stand idly by forever.  There will be judgment and punishment.

So, how do we pray in the midst of trouble and strife?  Thank God for your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Look for ways to grow your faith in the midst of trouble.  It is in times of trouble that we learn much about ourselves and our living God.

Trouble and strife can cause division.  So pray that even as your faith grows in leaps and bounds so too will your love grow for one another.  Love has the power to unite us in any circumstance.  May we be united in our trouble.

This unity takes constant prayer – always and constantly.  And together, we will be counted worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus.  Together, we will be empowered through Christ’s Holy Spirit for all good purposes. 

And, what is the best purpose of them all?  To glorify our Lord Jesus to the fullness of the grace that God has given us.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out