Devotion.al

  • One Hundred and Twenty

    One Hundred and Twenty

    Genesis 6:1–13; Judges 2:8–23

    “The younger generation just doesn’t…”

    “The older generation just doesn’t…”

    The generational splits have grown. Much of that has to do with the acceleration of technology and the cultural changes that have gone along with it.

    Many times, the older generations say that they wouldn’t have behaved as the younger generation does. That older generation also says that “this” generation is so much more corrupt than “mine”.

    The reality is that generations have said that before. Generations will say that again.

    The generation ebb and flow seem to be common to history. When we read the versus about the time of Noah or the time after Joshua, it certainly doesn’t sound good. No matter how bad the “next” generation is, God isn’t flooding the earth.

    Yes, God made a not to. Yet, when we read the verses in Judges, we recognize that much of this is to temper us. This is all intended to make us better followers of God.

    What is also interesting is that there are certain similarities between separated generations. The Silent  Generation (those that were children during the Great Depression and fought in WWII) has many similarities with Generation Z (born late 90s–10s) who have experienced 2 major recessions as children, and whose lives have pretty much included the so-called War on Terror.

    In many respects, Generation Z may be a huge reset, though perhaps Generation Alpha as the first 21st Century generation (all born in the 21st Century) may be that reset. Regardless, human history shows that there is often some sort of reset. What was old becomes new.

    With 6 generations (with some extenuating people make 7), there are going to be large differences. That’s a spread of 120 years.

    In all likelihood, 3 of those generations will see the next century (assuming, of course, that doesn’t ). While many of us are concerned about the next generation, perhaps we ought to be more concerned about the next century.

    ※Reflection※

    What changes with your thinking about God and when you think about the next century rather than the next 20 years? Why might it be important to look that far ahead? What are the risks of looking that far ahead?

    ※Prayer※

    God, just as you have faithfully us and given us , may we be -filled and grace-filled for those who came before and those who will follow. Amen.

  • Circling Vultures

    Circling Vultures

    Matthew 24:36–42; Luke 17:11–37

    One of the most famous concepts in Times thinking is those “left behind”. Part of the was the “Left Behind” series. It was also the dramatic portrayals of how two people would walk together, and one would just disappear. As an unbeliever, that always sounded…strange (okay, maybe crazy).

    The problem with just that concept was, well, a deliberate misreading of the . If you’re feeling a little attacked by this, my apologies. The problem is that the trope of half of the world’s population disappearing became so ingrained, that it became difficult to separate ourselves from it (self included).

    Last week in Thieving Glory, we talked about the Day of the Lord. And here we are again. The Day of the Lord is the backdrop to these words of . In this case, the Day of the Lord is more specifically a day of judgment and destruction.

    Contrary to the standard “left behind” thinking, those left behind are those that survived. Those that are gone are those who have died. The words in Matthew imply a lack of by tying it in with the Flood of Noah’s time. The words in Luke are tied to Sodom and Gomorrah. Yet again, no salvation seems to be tied to those that are gone.

    There are other verses in the Scriptures about some sort of rapture. They are all in ‘s writings. Yet, it is these in Matthew and Luke that have garnered the most attention and are the least likely to draw the conclusion of a rapture event…when read in context.

    Sometimes God can use our misreading to actually draw deeper insights. We do have to be aware of misreading Scripture. What is often the case is that we get those “aha” moments when we’ve read a verse many times before, and either a different catches our attention, or we it read out loud. It’s times like this that we begin to grasp the that God’s word is still alive and still speaking.

    ※Reflection※

    When was the last time you were surprised by the Scriptures? How did it affect your understanding of that passage? Did it affect your understanding of God?

    ※Prayer※

    Jesus, you us to be . Help us to be ready for your return and insights from your Word. Amen.

  • Yieldingly Strong

    Yieldingly Strong

    Malachi 1:6–14; 1 Peter 2:1–10

    Many years ago, there was a Star Trek show called Voyager. Overall, I don’t remember much about it, but I do recall this scene between Neelix (guest alien onboard) and Tuvok (i.e., Vulcan, humorless, emotionless, kind of like a robot):

    NEELIX: These are Keela flowers. Beautiful, and remarkably strong. The stem is flexible, impossible to break. But occasionally on the same plant there’s a bloom whose stem is not so flexible. Ah, here’s one. And when the stem is brittle, it breaks.

    TUVOK: You’re saying that the Maquis crew is rigid and inflexible. That they will never adjust to Starfleet rules.

    NEELIX: No, Mister Vulcan, I’m saying that you are rigid and inflexible, but maybe if you’d to bend a little, you might have better luck with your class. Those Maquis aren’t Starfleet cadets. You can’t treat them the same way. Get to know them, try to find out what they’re like inside. You might discover a better teaching method.

    “Learning Curve”, Original Airdate: May 22, 1995 (Stardate -327613). Thanks to www.chakoteya.net for the transcript.

    The Maquis were an insurrection/guerilla group. Their methods of instruction and obedience were not the military-style of Starfleet. Tuvok learned one way. He taught one way. Rigidly.

    However, the Maquis were just as rigid. It was just that they rigidly didn’t want to be like Starfleet

    What on earth (or in space) does this have to do with these passages?

    According to Peter, we are the priesthood of all believers. I may have a certain role within that priesthood (as an ordained person). You have one too.

    The ultimate purpose of the priests is the be the intercessors between “the people” and God. For Christians, “the people” are the world that does not yet believe in Jesus Christ.

    The priests, however, have their own with God. In our case (the collective case), we are called to of ourselves: , time, talent, and so on. It’s too rigid to say it is “required”. On the other hand, it is a spiritual .

    When we do not give of ourselves, or we do it grudgingly, we are the ones called out by Malachi giving deformed useless sacrifice for the sake of a check box.

    In regard to our Christian , there is a rigidity in sacrifice. That is one of the aspects of a mature Christian, self-sacrifice. It’s odd to say it is not required; on the other hand, it is essential.

    The flexibility, however, is in how it works out. You could be gifted with teaching, encouragement, , or something else. from the Law is how we are free to to God and to others through love.

    ※Reflection※

     The question for you isn’t, are you gifted? The question is, what are you gifted in? The next question is like it; how will you use that gift for the community of believers around you?

    ※Prayer※

    Creator, you have made each of us different so that only together can reflect your infinite love. Amen.

  • Now’s The Time

    Now’s The Time

    Matthew 16:1–4; Matthew 13:1–9; Matthew 13:18–23; Titus 2:11–14

    Humanity has smashed the atom. Humanity has gone to the moon. Humanity can splice the fabric of (DNA). Humanity sill hates. Humanity still wars. Humanity still fears.

    A generation goes and a generation comes,
    but the earth remains forever.

    What has been is what will be,
    and what has been done is what will be done;
    there is nothing new under the sun

    Ecclesiastes 1:4,9 (CSB)

    When Jesus talks about the sower, we can look around us and see plenty of people who are in rocky ground and amongst thorns. The reality is that it may be that far too many so-called Christians are exactly those. In seemingly crazy and desperate times such as this, it is very easy to be overcome.

    Whether it is political , racial tensions, economic chaos, world tension, changes in how the body of Christ (the ) gathers, there are so many things that cause people to uproot their own faith. They also become easy victims to those who oppose the faith.

    The writer of Ecclesiastes didn’t see the coming. Really, though, the internet is just a faster form of communication. In other words, the mode changed, but that’s it. Ultimately, from the view of Ecclesiastes, the condition doesn’t change.

    Our fellow Christians, maybe even you, are struggling right now. The church is as divided as the US. The church, sadly, reflects the world. The (left, right, and everything from the middle to the extremes) of the world are not the church and should have no place there.

    This is hard for most of us, currently. Some are feeling persecuted for their faith. Others are wagging their tongues and figures regardless of whether “their” “side” won or lost the recent election (or have been perceived to). It is nothing new under the sun.

    Paul’s words to Titus provide some guidance. While the “present ” was Paul’s and Titus’ time, the Christians of the “present age” should be aggressively taking Paul’s words to heart.

    ※Questions※

    1) What do you think it means to “live in a sensible, righteous, and Godly way”? (Titus 2:12)

    2) How have you been like that in the current cultural/political environment?

    3) How were your more worldly than Godly?

    ※Prayer※

    Jesus, help us to walk in your footsteps. Amen.

  • Clear the Earth

    Clear the Earth

    Exodus 10:3–15; Joel 1:2–4; Mark 1:4–8

    We read the Little House on the Prairie series to our kids. Ingalls relates how locusts one annihilated their crops. A family that barely lived on a shoestring certainly couldn’t afford that . That same swarm swept much of the United States, causing horrendous loss of crops and farms.

    When we read the story of the plague of locusts in Exodus, we can be very clinical in our reading of it. We can also be judgmental (they got what they deserved). Most of the Egyptians were probably not as anti-Hebrew as the leadership, certainly Pharaoh. Many innocent people suffered as a result of disobedience to God.

    The story of the plagues was a story of victory to the Israelites for Generations. Even today, for both Jews and Christians, this story is still told as a victory for the of God.

    We must , though, that one of the biggest issues for the pharaoh (and the Egyptians) was pride. Pharaoh’s pride (with and without God’s hardening) was a key factor of the whole story. It was a person’s pride against God.

    By the time of Joel, the pride of Israel/Judah was the issue. It was their pride against God. Like other prophets, Joel was warning the descendants of Israel to turn to God. In parlance, we’d say “!”

    The devastation of locusts would directly affect any harvest festivals and . It threatens the lives of the people. It might well drive them to go outside of the lands of Israel to survive. It threatened the destruction of Israel by abandonment.

    Through advanced agricultural science (and serendipity, supposedly), locust swarms like that from the late 1800s are no more in the US. It seems, then, that it is pointless to talk about locusts. Except that there are two major things to reflect upon.

    The first thing is that the locusts are no longer six-legged creatures, but two-legged. Some are blatant despoilers of Creation. Others take advantage of others through perceived needs (politics and corporations both practice this).  The locusts of being like the Jones (or, I guess, the Kardashians) despoil families and futures by over-consuming the money, time, and energy of people.

    The second thing, and that which is, even more, the issue, is pride. Humans are full of pride. We are all too full of pride. Often the locusts are just the result of pride, seeking to consume everything at others’ expense.

    Often, we are unaware of our own pride and so sometimes become the locusts. We are quick to see such behavior in others; we always find it difficult to see in ourselves. As our culture (and the world’s) becomes more of a “throw-away” society, whether for convenience or the ability to reasonably fix something, the locust-effect increases in both potential and actual.

    As convenience and throw-away become a way of thinking, it doesn’t take that long before we start to think that way about people or God.

    ※Questions※

    1) How does pride “clear the earth” similar to locust swarms?

    2) How does this behavior damage or hinder our relationship with God and with others?

    3) How does John’s eating locusts us an image of God’s actions in the world?

    ※Prayer※

    Creator, you have created all things. Help us to look at all things to more deeply about you and your . Amen.

  • Neglection

    Neglection

    Proverbs 1:20–29; Hebrews 2:2–11; Hebrews 10:23–25

    It’s been pretty that there will be some dramatic (and probably horrific) story of neglect that will be in the news. Children and animals recovered from bad situations; situations where the health and well-being (including mental and spiritual) of children is neglected.

    Most of us usually respond with a feeling of horror and disappointment in our fellow humans.  It can be quite easy to look at the ways with neglect, for it can be easy to see.

    It could be that neighbor who doesn’t mow their lawn. It could be that neighbor whose car is a rusting rotting wreck in the driveway. It could be the neighbor whose house needs a serious paint job. That kind of neglect is visible.

    Then there is the neglect of a harried worker who spilled water on the floor, didn’t clean it up, and someone slipped and fell. It could be the chef who forgot a key ingredient in their signature dish.

    It could be you, who forgot to bring your facemask. Perhaps you forgot your wallet. Maybe you left your keys in the car. Maybe you didn’t polish your shoes before that critical meeting or job interview.

    Neglect takes many forms and guises. The reality is that many Christians have indeed neglected the of God and the of their salvation. Neglect could mean attending (online or in-person), but only so that you can check it off the to-do list.

    Neglect is easy. That is part of the great problem with it. Once one begins the walk down the road of neglect, it is often very hard to even to the starting point.

    ※Questions※

    1) In this time of COVID, what things are you finding easy to neglect regarding your life?

    2) How can you help others to not neglect their faith?

    ※Prayer※

    , help to not neglect the that you have given us. Amen.

  • Gather Where

    Gather Where

    Exodus 3:1–6; Ezra 3:8–13; Matthew 23:37–24:8

    I visited Rome many years ago. I have never been so overwhelmed by the sheer number of church buildings. It seemed that there wasn’t a block that didn’t have one. There is a Roman Catholic church building dedicated to every country in the world, and that’s not even half of the Roman Catholic church buildings in Rome. There are also plenty of non-Roman Catholic churches and house churches.

    If one based on the number of buildings, then Rome would be bursting with faith. It isn’t. This certainly isn’t just a Roman Catholic issue.

    There are plenty of communities in the US that have a high number of church buildings, but the number of Christians is just not significant (population-count-wise). Just as in Rome, all the church buildings could indicate a place bursting with faith. Instead, the buildings are just withering on the vine.

    Moses found a burning bush. God was there. The ground was .

    Think about it, though. Moses wasn’t the first herdsman of Israel. In fact, the lineage of Israel consisted of herdsmen. Did all the herdsmen not God while they were in the fields?

    Many people do, in fact, their greatest God connection when amid God’s unspoiled . For some, it might be mountains, or lakes, or seashores, or deserts. will find it in cathedrals build by man. It doesn’t matter. God is there.

    The new temple in the midst of its rebuild, and even after it was completed, was not the impressive piece of architecture as the original. In comparison, it was a block of wood in comparison to a shining jewel. Ultimately, though, it was a place to worship God, and to provide a focal point of faith practices.

    Despite the second temple being nothing in comparison to its predecessor, the people of ‘ day still viewed it as sacred. Jesus pointed out that it was only a building. It too would fall. While people took great offense at his statement, it was only truth. The world is perishing; so too would the temple.

    According to some recent numbers, 30% of churches pre-COVID will not to their building post-COVID. For them, the building is done. For some congregations, this means that the congregation is done, and the people will join other congregations or none at all. For others, this means a new expression of the gathering: Cafe Church, Circle Church, Church in a Bar (yes, this is a non-Nazarene thing), and who knows what else people will discover as they seek to be the gathered .

    How buildings of worship will change, remain, and how they will be part of our faith is still to be seen. Without question, place is very important. It can be under a tree (as many African Church of the Nazarene congregations do). It can be in a sheet metal building. It can be in a building of concrete. It can be in a house. It can be in a yard.

    ※Questions※

    1) Can you see yourself worshiping (well) in a “place” different than the “church” building? What “calls” to you?

    2) Do you think a “place” to gather in community is important? Why or why not?

    ※Prayer※

    God, you have called us to gather in community. Help us, as the world drastically changes, continue to seek ways to gather to build up one another and bring praise and worship to you. Amen.

  • Path Lighting

    Path Lighting

    Joshua 4:1–7; Joshua 8:30–35; Proverbs 27:17

    What do you ? What “traditions” or practices do you remember from your childhood? What did that teach you?

    Over the years, the universal developed many practices to teach the to its people. It often had a hard journey, as it had to teach people from varying walks of life to be one with each other. It often had to surmount the lack of general education for centuries.

    Many of these practices are no longer used. Many have lost the intent, and even the instruction that went with them. They became empty words. Valuable was lost because people failed to teach well.

    As we each go to church, whether online or in person, or whether we only listen to sermons or we add life groups, we each have a responsibility to learn and to teach. Often, we look to experts to train us. However, the experts are, well, experts. Experts often get lost in their expertise and then they can no longer translate their expertise to the non-expert.

    In many respects, from a personal , that may be part of the current state of the church. Perhaps we have left too much to the experts and not sharpened ourselves.

    Of course, there is danger in such freedom. There is a balance of some sort between expert and non. We may well be in a place and time where we need to discover together what that balance is.

    The passages from Joshua are just 2 passages where something was done to teach. The first was the pile of stones from the middle of the Jordan river. Yes, 12 stones pulled from the bottom of spring flood raging river. This pile of stones became a place of teaching.

    “Look at that river! God made it so our ancestors could cross it on dry land.” Imagine a young child with the of the waters being told the story of the stones while seeing that river. That would certainly be formative. This is the kind of thing ideal in the informal settings of Life Groups.

    The second passage is Joshua repeating the Law that they had been given. It was a reminder of who they were. The Law wasn’t just rules and regulations, it was their . In many respects, this is the more formal aspect of preaching and Sunday School.

    The question that we each need to ourselves: is our faith important enough to us to learn?

Devotion.al

One Hundred and Twenty

Genesis 6:1–13; Judges 2:8–23

“The younger generation just doesn’t…”

“The older generation just doesn’t…”

The generational splits have grown. Much of that has to do with the acceleration of technology and the cultural changes that have gone along with it.

Many times, the older generations say that they wouldn’t have behaved as the younger generation does. That older generation also says that “this” generation is so much more corrupt than “mine”.

The reality is that generations have said that before. Generations will say that again.

The generation ebb and flow seem to be common to history. When we read the versus about the time of Noah or the time after Joshua, it certainly doesn’t sound good. No matter how bad the “next” generation is, God isn’t flooding the earth.

Yes, God made a not to. Yet, when we read the verses in Judges, we recognize that much of this is to temper us. This is all intended to make us better followers of God.

What is also interesting is that there are certain similarities between separated generations. The Silent  Generation (those that were children during the Great Depression and fought in WWII) has many similarities with Generation Z (born late 90s–10s) who have experienced 2 major recessions as children, and whose lives have pretty much included the so-called War on Terror.

In many respects, Generation Z may be a huge reset, though perhaps Generation Alpha as the first 21st Century generation (all born in the 21st Century) may be that reset. Regardless, human history shows that there is often some sort of reset. What was old becomes new.

With 6 generations (with some extenuating people make 7), there are going to be large differences. That’s a spread of 120 years.

In all likelihood, 3 of those generations will see the next century (assuming, of course, that doesn’t ). While many of us are concerned about the next generation, perhaps we ought to be more concerned about the next century.

※Reflection※

What changes with your thinking about God and when you think about the next century rather than the next 20 years? Why might it be important to look that far ahead? What are the risks of looking that far ahead?

※Prayer※

God, just as you have faithfully us and given us , may we be -filled and grace-filled for those who came before and those who will follow. Amen.