Devotion.al

  • Joy to Tears

    Joy to Tears

    Psalm 22:25–31; Amos 8:1–7; Acts 8:1b–8

    For many people, singing in of God is a significant part of their life of . They the joy-filled worship of God.

    The image provided in Amos takes those joy-filled songs and turns them into songs of pain, sorrow, and lament. The misery of the people of Israel (as conveyed by Amos) is that even their praise and worship had become crying and wailing. Think of a service where all the joy was gone.

    In many respects, after a number of incidents (9/11, Oklahoma City, and ) people would come to the church and grieve. Their feelings of pride and courage buried in the of . Yet, now, people don’t. We’ve had horrific things happen in our society and people aren’t looking to the church.

    Perhaps we need a Saul. Perhaps COVID or Trump or Biden is our Saul. Perhaps it will be something else.

    Saul persecuted the church. The members of the church left Jerusalem. The faith spread. The number of people who came to Christ grew.

    We are in a state of discomfort. We, the church, are no longer sure of where we belong. We look at ourselves (the church) and what’s wrong. We look at the world and wonder what’s wrong.

    ※Reflection※

    • It can be hard to in the dark, when we want to be in the of Jesus. Why is part of our purpose to be in (not of) the dark?
    • What can the darkness teach us about the light?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, you called from the darkness into your light. You sent us back into the darkness to share your light. May we do your will. Amen.

  • Restoration

    Restoration

    Psalm 95; Micah 7:8–20; Mark 14:26–31

    In this passage in Micah, Zion is the personification of Jerusalem and the Promised Land. Zion also takes on the aspect of the people themselves. What is interesting is that Zion proclaims in regards to God, but the actual people weren’t open to that way of thinking.

    The recognition that the consequences of destruction are well-earned is also something many of the people would not understand. If we are honest with ourselves, none of us like the negative consequences of our actions. We only want the positive ones.

    The poetic hyperbole of the rebuilding of Zion is about the speed of versus the speed of falling into one’s own mire. God gave the descendents of Israel plenty of time to allow themselves to descend into the mess of their own making. God also gave them plenty of time to . They chose not to.

    God still them, though, just as God still loves us even when continue to do things that God does not want us to do. That is the beauty and the in the poetic rebuilding of Zion. In many respects, we can see a resemblance to what occurs when a person first truly gives their to Christ. Restoration! Restoration of our relationship with God is always there waiting for our .

    When the disciples made such sure and quick promises to Jesus that they would never betray him, their words were honest to the best of their understanding. However, once the hard times came, they quickly ran away (granted, after today’s verses). They were truly overwhelmed by the (physical, religious, cultural, and political) that came to take Jesus.

    They made a rash proclamation and broke it quickly after. Jesus still came and restored the relationship. Restoration is always around the corner.

    ※Reflection※

    • How has God restored you? Can you recall how many times? What lessons were learned from them? What person or people were common in any of these experiences (whether individuals or roles)?
    • What does this tell you about God? What does it tell you about yourself?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, under your grace and , we are always under construction. Thank you for working on us. Help us to surrender each wall, door, or room of our hearts that is not like you. Amen.

  • Throne Encirclement

    Throne Encirclement

    Psalm 95; 1 Chronicles 11:1–9; Revelation 7:13–17

    Thrones are attractive. The concept of a throne involves , wealth, and influence. Depending on “the throne”, it might also have religious and cultural ramifications as well.

    Thrones, or their facsimiles, often draw those who are weak, yet seek . Thrones also draw those who crave power and control over . There, too, are those that seek to use the throne for their own wealth.

    King Saul was dead. The man all these elders surrounded Saul and likely helped keep David away from the throne that God had upon David. To their credit, they recognized that God had indeed bestowed the seat of Israel to David. However, based upon their remarks, they had understood prior to this moment that David was God’s choice, yet it was only now that they approached David.

    We can see similar behavior in our state (or provincial) capitals and our national capitols. While the US (for example) has no throne, Congress and Executive branches have plenty of people surrounding them, brown-nosing and seeking . Washington, D.C., has become the throne.

    This is not to say that all who are around the throne (whether David’s or Washington, D.C.) are bad. In fact, there are more positive, effective, well-meaning, and loyal people than bad ones. It’s just that the bad ones are more capable of doing harm, solely because those that are good don’t even think that way.

    The “throne” of God also attracts many of the same bad kind. Many of these will see their gain through God, but not recognize that their gain is nothing but vapor.

    On the other hand, those shown in the to John were not that kind. Some were likely martyrs. Some had hard lives that brought to God through blood sweat and tears. Others did work where they saw no glory at all, but were and trusted God with their endeavors.

    ※Reflection※

    • What are good reasons to surround the throne of God?
    • What are good reasons to surround the thrones of humanity?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, may we view your throne with hearts of , and may we the thrones of our hearts, souls, and minds to you. Amen.

  • A Matter of Age

    A Matter of Age

    Psalm 95; 1 Samuel 16:1–13; 1 Peter 5:1–5

    Are you old, or are you young? It might seem to be an easy answer. Even with twins (or other multiples), there is always one who is older. Except, that far too often, we focus on chronological, rather than contextual .

    There are stories after stories in the where youth isn’t the issue, but rather faithfulness to God. To be sure, some of the most faithful showed their faithfulness from their youth (Samuel and David, for example).

    David and Samuel were both young when God called them to amazing things. What we often don’t discuss is that these two, for example, were surrounded by those older than themselves. Whether it was David’s (or later counselors) or the priests and seers around Samuel, there was bound to be someone older who spoke into their lives. We know that even Eli (Samuel’s mentor) spoke into Samuel’s in a God-filled way, despite having fallen away from God in other ways.

    While Peter’s letter is generally assumed to be by chronological age, there is another . While age was still a factor, in particular, it was age of faith. Peter’s calling to the leaders was as leader, elder, and age. There is something to be said about long and deep experience in the faith (rather than a short time or any length of time in shallow faith).

    This gets particularly interesting for us in regards to people who are older who then come to faith. There are many situations where a person comes to saving faith in Jesus Christ as an adult. Logically, we can understand that they may be less wise and educated in the faith than a (for example) teenager that came to faith as a child, but a life of experience can make a great , too.

    It is a both/and situation. It is both chronological age (and theoretically experience in the world) and duration of faith. There is also the factor of .

    In the of the Nazarene, we hold baptism and moral responsibility at the point of accountability. Just like the preceding words regarding elders of age and faith, there is a lot of discernment and grace that goes into it. We often don’t really know who is accountable according to God. We often just have to guess.

    This is the same as who is “the elder” of the church. It isn’t only a title. It is also a way of being. You may find that others discern that you have greater spiritual wisdom than you think you should (by the grace of God). On the other hand, you find yourself thinking yourself much more of a elder than everyone else finds you.

    ※Reflection※

    • To whom might you be a spiritual elder? Why might that be?
    • Who is a spiritual elder to you? Why?
    • What makes someone a spiritual elder?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, may the guide us into all Truth, including the truth of ourselves, so that we look for spiritual elders and so that we may become God-honoring spiritual elders to others. Amen.

  • We Maybe Sheep

    We Maybe Sheep

    Psalm 23; Genesis 48:8–19; Mark 6:30–34

    “They’re running around like chickens with their heads cut off!”

    For someone who wasn’t raised on a farm (me), it is probably a bad phrase to use, though I understand the concept. I’m sure it’s different were one to experience it. Oddly, that phrase comes to mind when has on the crowd because “they were like without a .”

    Add that to another phrase I’ve heard, “we the sheep, but sheep bite,” and it all sounds very similar to the current reactive culture that surrounds us. It also sounds like far too many people who themselves .

    “We have our shepherd…Jesus.” Christians should, but Jesus says that His sheep will know the sound of his . Look around you. Does it seem as if people are hearing the voice of Jesus? This may sound harsh, yet one of the biggest accusations thrown at Christians is that they are hypocrites.

    If people who call themselves Christians are not listening for and to God, then hypocrite is pretty accurate. I’ve heard many people (of varying political/economic/ cultural/career/personality types) say that the world is so angry, harsh, judgmental that they want nothing to do with it. We are called to be salt and light.

    The world around us needs to figure out how to have conversations again. The church has the Great Shepherd to guide us. We should probably figure out how to guide the world, but first, we must allow ourselves to be guided.

    ※Reflection※

    Is there one “voice” that you listen to above all ? Whose? How do you deal with that voice when it leads you into apparent conflict with your dreams, family, or other relationships? How do you test that “voice”?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, helps to develop ears that you and hearts that follow you. Amen.

  • Alien Calling

    Alien Calling

    Psalm 23; Genesis 46:28–47:6; Acts 4:1–4

    I have moved around 15 times in 25 years. I have told that to even some military families and they look at me in shock. That is, honestly, a stupid number of moves. Some were big. Some were small. All were disruptive. My childhood was somewhat similar. My biological parents had divorced by the time I was 2. I went to my dad’s on weekends and spent the week with my mom. As a child, where home was, well, questionable. Many of us have some part of us that is unsettled. Whether it is dissatisfaction at home (I pray not, but it is reality), work, school, or even , we may not feel welcome or whole or as if we belong. It can be spiritual, emotional, financial, or even something else.

    We shouldn’t be particularly surprised by this. We have the image of God () in us. This world, as the saying goes, is not our home.

    Jacob (Israel) and his settled in Goshen. Goshen became (for all intents and purposes) the home of the Hebrews. Yet, even while there, from beginning to , it was not really their home. The Promised Land was to be their home. The place their children’s children’s…children would be.

    Those that joined the Way (one of the original names for Christians) both joined a new place of belonging and alienated their origin belonging (whether Jew or Greek). They became aliens in their own land.

    Being (or strangers) in one’s own land can seem to be peculiar. That is actually one of the issues that American Christians have (or perhaps should have). American Christians are often that…Americans that happen to be Christians. That isn’t quite as strange as Christians that happen to be American. Seems the same? Except the primacy is different. first; American second.

    And I lost some people right there. None of us want to be strangers in the country in which we were born. Perhaps, though, we are called to be strangers more than familiar.

    ※Reflection※

    • Why might it be more important for a Christian to be a stranger in rather than a citizen of the country in which they live (even if born there)?
    • What can a stranger often see that the comfortable cannot?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, we are ambassadors of your . Thus, we are not of this world. Help us to realize this in the depths of our souls. Amen.

  • Blessing of Blessings

    Blessing of Blessings

    Psalm 23; Genesis 30:25–43; Acts 3:17–26

    “You’ve been such a in my life!”

    Hopefully, you have said that to at least one person in your life. Even more so, would be for someone to say that to you. In both cases…and mean it.

    Laban and Jacob were the perfect foils for one another. Both seemed to have issues with straightforwardness (Jacob has been nicknamed the usurper and trickster, with some justification). It’s hard to believe that the first issue pops up more than 7 years into their when Laban deceives Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel. If personality issues such as this only show up every seven years, then that’s not too bad (though, really, over marriage?). It seems unlikely.

    Through a parable, said that a person who could be trusted with a small task could be trusted with a larger one. There are people who can be trusted with big things but need a lot of people around them to keep from failing with all the little things. There was just something (okay, a lot of things) wrong in this .

    Throughout this, Laban seemed to care little for his daughters, other than how to tie Jacob to him. It is not unreasonable that if it hadn’t have been Jacob, Laban would have tried to hoodwink someone else. The only time Laban appeared to care for his daughters was when Jacob left (Genesis 31), but as Jacob may have been the sharer of the story, he may have left out the positive sides of Laban. Maybe.

    The reason Laban’s care (or lack thereof) for his daughters is important is that this was his justification to chase after Jacob when he left after the events of today’s passage in Genesis. However, If we look at Laban’s words, was Laban really worried about his daughters, or was he concerned about the lost blessing.

    That Laban felt this so powerfully indicates that the blessing was huge, and Laban knew it. It would just like someone who bought Apple stock during its first IPO ($22) and then threw it in the shredder (valued at more than $15,000) today. Laban wanted to seize the blessing, and it makes sense.

    Except the purpose of true blessing isn’t to be seized or owned by one person. True blessing is to be shared with others, so that they may be blessed.

    When Peter talks about Abraham’s blessing there is a difference. The Jews didn’t really try to hold onto the blessing, per se, they merely thought that their bloodline along with the Law was the blessing. Some scholars point to Israel’s location in ancient times. Much of the commerce of that part of the world went through it. They had the opportunity to be a blessing to others by sharing God’s .

    One of the easiest ways to think of blessings and blessing is to think of water in a cup and in a pipe. A cup is a fixed point with a fixed volume. A pipe carries the water to others. A cup of water either evaporates or stagnates.

    ※Reflection※

    • What does it mean to be a blessing?
    • What qualifies something or someone as a blessing?
    • Why do people seize blessings and not let go?
    • Why might a blessing be greater when it is given away rather than held?

    ※Prayer※

    With the blessings we have received we bless the Lord.
    With the gifts in our hands we his ;
    with our hearts and hands and voices we thanks to the Lord,
    calling on all his creation to bless and praise his name. Amen.

    Clowes, David. 500 More Prayers for All Occasions. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2015. Print.
  • Be Sent

    Be Sent

    Psalm 150; Proverbs 9:1–6; Mark 16:9–18

    One of the great truisms of the faith is, “ loves me, this I know; for the bible tells me so.” It is that simple. It is, however, much more than that.

    It would be nice were it only that, and it was that simple. As most of us understand, yes, Jesus us loves us, and Jesus showed it through his sinless and his . That isn’t it, though.

    We like to keep our faith simple. Simple is good. Often, though, we keep our faith simply . The foolishness is not presenting the love of Christ first. Nor is it foolish to be authentic and transparent about your failings.

    The “woman of ” sends people out to call and invite people into a feast. She calls on people to walk in , leaving the simplistic ways they know.

    We could say that the “woman of wisdom” is talking about our faith maturing, and that isn’t a bad thing. However, the biggest danger is making our faith so complicated that we cannot it, while still make sure that we don’t make it so simple that get a false understanding of what it means to call Jesus Lord and Savior.

    Despite the oddity of the verses in Mark, there is an obvious message of going out into the world, evangelizing, and discipling. This is part of our . This is where we are called to be the servants of the “woman of wisdom” calling and inviting others to the feast at the table.

    ※Reflection※

    • What are your thoughts about the “woman of wisdom”? Who might the “woman of wisdom” be?
    • What does it mean to you to call and invite people to the table? Which table or tables?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, send us. Amen.

Devotion.al

Joy to Tears

Psalm 22:25–31; Amos 8:1–7; Acts 8:1b–8

For many people, singing in of God is a significant part of their life of . They love the joy-filled worship of God.

The image provided in Amos takes those joy-filled songs and turns them into songs of , sorrow, and lament. The misery of the people of Israel (as conveyed by Amos) is that even their and worship had become crying and wailing. Think of a service where all the joy was gone.

In many respects, after a number of incidents (9/11, Oklahoma City, and others) people would come to the church and . Their feelings of pride and courage buried in the ashes of . Yet, now, people don’t. We’ve had horrific things happen in our society and people aren’t looking to the church.

Perhaps we need a Saul. Perhaps COVID or Trump or Biden is our Saul. Perhaps it will be something else.

Saul persecuted the church. The members of the church left Jerusalem. The faith spread. The number of people who came to Christ grew.

We are in a state of discomfort. We, the church, are no longer sure of where we belong. We look at ourselves (the church) and wonder what’s wrong. We look at the world and wonder what’s wrong.

※Reflection※

  • It can be hard to sit in the dark, when we want to be in the of Jesus. Why is part of our purpose to be in (not of) the dark?
  • What can the teach us about the light?

※Prayer※

Lord, you called from the darkness into your light. You sent us back into the darkness to your light. May we do your will. Amen.