Devotion.al

Tag: creation

  • Look Alive

    Look Alive

    Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24; Genesis 1:1–19; 1 Corinthians 15:35–49

    One of the biggest struggles that Christianity has in sharing about Jesus Christ the Resurrected Lord and Savior is…the . Our entire Enlightenment and scientific basis struggles with this concept. If we are honest with ourselves, we too struggle with it. If someone told us that a buried person rose from the dead, we’d question their sanity.

    That is one of the conflicts that we ourselves have with our faith. We take it as Truth (not just faith) that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. On the other hand, were it anyone else we’d question it. We do, of course, justify this conflict by calling Jesus (rightly) the of the God Most High.

    When we read the story of Lazarus (John 11:1-44) we may be overwhelmed with the story and the miracle (understandably). Our experience in , however, tells us that this is something we can never experience at least in the same way. How the whole resurrection thing works is a , which frustrates us when we try to be so logical.

    Lazarus, it would seem, was not a true resurrection, “merely” coming back to life (similar to medical techniques and equipment that we have). Jesus’ resurrection was something yet different still.

    Then there is ‘s understanding of each of our resurrection. Earthly bodies would be similar to the ones that were part of the Creation (perhaps) of Genesis. Heavenly bodies are those of the resurrection. They are different according to Paul, but perhaps it really is beyond our understanding.

    The question for each of us is do we truly believe in the Resurrection? It is easy to get lost in the drama of …the drama of Resurrection Sunday. It is easy to be drawn in the positive and hopeful message of Easter, especially after (and the last year).

    That is a great emotional lift. Emotions ebb and flow, however, and that is part of the problem. It is easy to believe in the Resurrection on Easter. That’s one day a year. We need to not just believe it. We need to live it out.

    ※Reflection※

    • What does it mean to be a person of the Resurrection?
    • Does the resurrection influence your daily life? If so, how?

    ※Prayer※

    Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with reverence the Paschal [Easter] feast may be made worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the , one God, now and for ever. Amen. [Monday of Easter week collect, Book of Common Prayer 2019]

  • Together Time

    Together Time

    Exodus 12:1–4, 5–10, 11–14; Psalm 116:1–2, 12–19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; John 13:1–17, 31b–35

    The tie between Passover and the Last Supper is obvious just based on the fact that the Last Supper was in the context of Passover. Part of the first Passover was the blood of the Lamb that was placed upon doorjambs in obedience to God so that the plague of the of the firstborn male would Passover the Jewish people. The for the firstborn remained part of the Law, insofar as a blood sacrifice being needed to atone for the firstborn son.

    The road that ends on the cross tomorrow is the sacrifice of the firstborn of God, God’s only Son.

    Just as it appears that the nation of Egypt was in the place of the sacrifice of the firstborn (many outweighing the few), so too was God (the infinite) in the place of his Creation (us).

    Maundy Thursday (as this day is called) is, for me, the second hardest day of the Christian Year. Meals are special. Especially as my kids are at the point of being so busy working and with activities and at school, meals together are even more special. For , this special meal may well have been the most important of his life. I cannot imagine having this high holy day overshadowed by , torture, and death. Then knowing that all but one would run away.

    Jesus still embraced the of that meal. Oddly, I think there was joy, too. Despite the human failings of the 11 that would remain, there is something comforting being with people that you care for deeply, especially when confronting the darkness head-on. The 11 would carry-on the that you and I have inherited.

    Paul reminds the Corinthians that they were inheritors, too. The Last Supper was really the first supper. Just as I treasure the time around the table with my , we should all treasure our time around the table of (the ). This is the place where the boundaries of time and space are thinned that all of the people of the Body of Christ can be joined together in this fateful and binding meal of love.

    ※Reflection※

    • What does Communion (the Eucharist) mean to you? If you missed it, would it bother you? Would you go without it? Why?
    • What is your favorite meal experience? A restaurant? Thanksgiving? New Year’s? St. Patrick’s Day? Are any of these traditions for you and/or your family? Why?

    ※Prayer※

    Almighty Father, whose most dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it in thankful remembrance of Jesus Christ our Savior, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of life; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. [Maundy Thursday Collect, Book of Common Prayer 2019]

  • Depths of Lent

    Depths of Lent

    Psalm 119:9–16; Isaiah 44:1–8; Acts 2:14–24

    has various aspects. The first is our mortality (“from dust you came; to dust you ”). The second is sin. Mortality and sin are connected. Without the original sin, there would be no death. Sin brought death to .

    From there, to some degree, sin is broken into original sin (that which brought death into Creation), and personal sin. Personal sin is often what we confront when it comes to Lent. This that sin which personally maintains separation from ourselves and God. More importantly, it is us through our sin that maintains that gap. The known end of Lent is , the commemoration of when God died to bridge the chasm of between God and man. This makes our personal sin all the more tragic.

    Lent will often include some sort of spiritual that is usually a “giving up” of something. There was a time when it was primarily meat (still is in Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic communities). As that was in a time where meat was in short supply already, there is some question as to how “sacrificial” it was. Now we think in terms of news, social media, phones (that would nice), , alcohol (for those who drink), a meal (not just meat). All this with the intent, though rarely practices, to instead use that time to approach the throne of God.

    Lent is really a time of pretend. That’s not mean in a bad way. In many respects, we blessed so much that it is hard to lament or mourn because we know what’s on the other side of Good Friday. Many of us have such a of ease, that we don’t understand just how important God’s words are to the broken.

    We are not just talking about the Christian-ese of the “lost” or the “wayward” or the “not-yet Christian” or the “cold to Christ”. We are talking about people abandoned and lost. As much as this may grate on you, this includes people fleeing to the US from their native country. While there are some who are truly not doing this to become a part of the US people, the majority are giving up (and gave up) everything for a sliver of a hope to become something new.

    That hope, as small as it often is, is that same sort of redemptive hope and life hope that God had promised to the Israelites for generations. That is the hope in the darkness that Lent exemplifies. Unless we have been in a dark place, any understanding of hope in the face of despair is an intellectual exercise lacking depth.

    To not take this as dismissive. This is coming from the depths of my own heart’s darkness these last few weeks. Certainly, not the darkest, but only by a few shades. As I look at that, I understand even then how much I cannot comprehend the depth and breadth and length of the despair of Israel, that was answered by the depth and breadth and length of God’s redemptive love.

    ※Reflection※

    What life experience can you use to relate to the hope in despair of Israel?

    ※Prayer※

    , thank you for walking the road of the cross for us. May we pick up our cross and follow you. Amen.

  • Given

    Given

    Psalm 51:1–12; Exodus 30:1–10; Hebrews 4:14–5:4

    Even if every single Israelite behaved completely within the bounds of Law, and thus no offerings were offered for an entire year…still Aaron would have to perform the ritual of . No matter how perfect every Israelite was, reconciliation was still needed.

    In the of the Nazarene (and similarly in other holiness denominations such as the Free Methodist, Wesleyan, Methodist, Church of God in Christ (Anderson), and others) we have a concept of Entire . This is not as universal in understanding as it could be, yet it is (ultimately) being like Jesus Christ insofar as we have been enabled by the (and, yes, this is far more complicated and much simpler). This is a high standard. Others have defined it as oneself wholly over to Christ through the power of the Spirit (different ways of explaining it).

    By the Law, even if every single human being were Entirely Sanctified, the purification offering for reconciliation would still be required. To many, Entire Sanctification is entirely impossible (and it is without the Holy Spirit). Yet, even were it possible to the many, the offering was still needed.

    That is the weight of the Law. It isn’t all the offerings needed to cover our sin. It isn’t all the festivals to celebrate and recognize God’s miracles and saving works. The weight is the Truth that we can do nothing to save ourselves.

    As the author of Hebrews is unknown (plenty of speculation), we don’t really have an idea of their or history. Yet, it seems that he (assumption) was a Jew. It wouldn’t surprise me, based upon sections like this, that he was from some sort of priestly background. As such, the Law and the symbols of the Temple would be significant to him.

    To the author of Hebrews, Jesus was the ultimate High Priest. Due to Jesus’ nature, Jesus was always acting as the reconciling sacrifice. Though only a sacrifice once, that sacrifice resounds throughout Creation.

    Like the earthly High Priest, Jesus was tempted and therefore understands our frailties. Unlike the High Priest, Jesus did not yield to the temptations, and thus does not need to offer sacrifices. Through Christ, then, the weight of the Law is removed, for the reconciliation is done and remains done for eternity.

     

    ※Reflection※

    • Most of us (as non-Jews) do not understand the weight of the Law. With your understanding, what “weight” would you come up with to explain this to another?
    • What is one thing you do every year that weighs you down or overwhelms you? How might that be similar to the “weight” of the Law and how might it be different?

     

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, we are unable to fully grasp the chasm between your holiness and our fallenness. Thank you for crossing the chasm for us and aiding us in being to you. May our hearts and lives reflect it. Amen.

  • Missed A Spot

    Missed A Spot

    Psalm 84; Ezra 6:1–16; Mark 11:15–19

    If you are unaccustomed to the lectionary (again, what is being used this year for the passages), it can seem odd, annoying, and definitely repetitious to see the same Psalm for multiple days. As I, too, am reading it each day, I try to glean something new from it each time. This time I thought of a mess.

    I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. There is a rail system there (that was supposed to be for Seattle) called BART. As it was close, I could walk to the BART station and get to many places in the area.

    One of the things I didn’t like was all the pigeons. They had found hard to reach (for humans) places to nest and congregate. BART did try to put up barbs to keep them from landing there, but it didn’t really work. So, it could be a hazardous trip to get your ticket or even wait for the train. You had to to look on the pavement for the telltale droppings of pigeons so that you could usually avoid being hit.

    Even the sparrow found a place in the . If you’ve seen sparrow colonies, they’re not much better than pigeons. The sparrow lays eggs beside the altar.

    We read about temple purity laws. They were significant and had severe penalties for violation. The laws were almost impossible to bear. Yet the sparrow found and security in the Temple of God.

    Jesus cleansed the Temple, not because of sparrow dropping, but because the hearts of humanity had turned from God to , and from God’s to humanity’s . Although, if we think about it, if they were selling animals in the temple, it was probably much worse than a few sparrows.

    Of course, the Psalmist might be taking some poetic liberty. On the other hand, if you read the Law, the rules almost all apply to people. This means that there may have not been a “purity” concern regarding sparrows in the Temple.

    Sometimes our house is a mess. It could be your house. It could be God’s house. Truly, all of us recognize that at least something in our is not as it should be, and it may be something completely out of our control…such as a sparrow in the Temple.

    This shouldn’t discourage us, however. We are called to come to God in good times and bad. We are called to come dirty and clean, with both being relative. Was there something about ritual purity? Yes. However, as Jesus displays through his actions, ritual purity is not necessarily the heart.

    ※Reflection※

    • What things/thoughts/so-called “dirtiness” keep you from approaching God?
    • How does being ritually pure (usually outside performance) differ from purity of heart regarding our with God? How do we confuse them?
    • What “sparrows” are nesting in your house?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, all of praises you. Let us not be distracted from praising you and seeking fellowship with you, no matter what the world throws at us. Amen.

  • Storms of Dust

    Storms of Dust

    Psalm 19; Exodus 19:16–25; Mark 9:2–8

    Heaven is declaring God’s glory;
    the sky is proclaiming his handiwork.
    One day gushes the news to the next,
    and one night informs another what needs to be known.
    Of course, there’s no , no words—
    their voices can’t be heard—
    but their sound extends throughout the world;
    their words reach the ends of the earth.

    Whether the story of God meeting the Israelites or the Transfiguration of , all of proclaims the handiwork of God. While we look at Psalm 19 (or Psalm 148) and see the work of God celebrating God, there is quite a dark side to it. The bittersweet truth is that all the Creation that praises God today will die.

    Part of Ash Wednesday includes, “From dust you came and to dust you ,” from Genesis 3:19. It also includes a small phrase spoken during many graveside funerals, “ to ashes; dust to dust.” Our mortality is central to , because sin is what led to , and sin was what Jesus’ death on the cross was to absolve.

    Sin leads to the death of Creation. Yes, Revelation expresses the concept of a new Heaven and a new Earth. New, however, indicates that the old is gone. The “old” Creation (the one in which we live) will go away.

    From an absolute sense, this isn’t a bad thing. No one in their right mind would want to bring into something new all the tattered, worn out, bloody, hateful stuff into something beautifully new. It’s good that the old will be gone.

    This long view of hope is unusual for the world. It is needed by the world. It is easy to conclude that much of the angst and anxiety of the world is that it does not have the hope that looks beyond the now and . The world knows it’s dying.

    ※Reflection※

    Scripture has humanity starting as dust. Why is it important to humanity’s to understand that, regardless of what science might say different?

    ※Prayer※

    You are the Lord of , Jesus. Help us to keep that in mind while we recall that we are dust. Amen.

  • To Live As Sacrifice

    To Live As Sacrifice

    Psalm 105:1–11, 37–45 Genesis 22:1–19; Hebrews 11:1–3, 13–19

    Post-traumatic stress is a real thing. There are many sources of trauma. We generally think of violence as the only source of trauma, but damaged are equally the source of trauma for many individuals. Just like other forms of emotional scars, trauma may take years to heal if it ever does.

    Some people have been miraculously cured of the various issues of trauma. They are not the norm. Many of those that still suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) don’t even recognize that they have it as they have not been taught how to perceive it.

    Often, we don’t recognize potential PTSD in the scriptures. We often put it aside or dismiss any possibilities because “they were real ‘men’” then. Reminds me of the stories of the ’50s, and how great everything was with families and gatherings. The dark side of that being the mass amount of alcohol that was consumed not so obviously. One could easily conclude that the mass consumption of alcohol was a “tool” to numb the pain of World War II’s PTSD.

    Imagine Isaac—the recipient of Abraham’s and —when his father ties him up and puts him on the woodpile intended for the . The sole inheritor of Abraham and Sarah must have been shocked. He must have also felt betrayed. We can only imagine the effects that had on Isaac’s and Abraham’s relationship.

    There may well have also been an impact on Isaac’s relationship with God. Many people feel betrayed by God because a one died, or because their isn’t what they want or imagined. Being a literal sacrifice to God didn’t seem to affect Isaac’s in God overall, but it’s hard to see how that didn’t color Isaac’s view of God either.

    Walking through life as “the almost sacrifice”. What a strange feeling, even at the end, that must have been.

    As Christians, we continually observe the sacrifice that Jesus Christ was for us and for all of humanity (and ). If Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for us, we too are almost a sacrifice.

    The Nation of Almost Sacrifices. What a fabulous ring it has to it! How could anyone not want to be part of that? Right? You just can’t wait to go there!

    Except the author of Hebrews notes that plenty of people died before the fulfillment of the Messiah. Many of them waited for the Messiah. Many of them were waiting for the first Nation of Israel. Others were waiting for the next Holy Nation of Israel. Some even today wait for the next Holy Nation of Israel.

    Waiting for God’s timing is indeed often a sacrifice. Sometimes it can be our pride (of nation, gender, profession, race, wealth) that needs to be sacrificed. Other times it is our assumptions that need to be sacrificed.

    The Walk often seems to be one of constant almost sacrifice. However, the almost isn’t one of, “I almost did it.” It is one of, “I surrendered it, and God gave it back.” So, no, we are not to be a nation of almost sacrifices. We are to be a nation that has sacrificed and sacrifices continually. This not a sacrifice of misery, but a sacrifice of response to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who sacrificed for us.

    ※Reflection※

    • What does sacrifice mean to you?
    • What does it mean to live as an almost sacrifice? What about an actual sacrifice? What about living a life of sacrifice?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, we often don’t know what it means to live sacrificially or to live a life of sacrifice. Help us to know the cross that is ours to pick up. Amen.

  • God and Relationships

    God and Relationships

    1 Corinthians 7:25–40

    God and Relationships is a pretty big topic. First of all, we have to set our starting point. God is a relational God. God created humanity in with God.

    The first was Adam. One thing to keep in mind with Adam is that according to some translators and some Jewish traditions was without gender upon initial . It wasn’t until the “rib” was removed from Adam that the division of gender came about. This flies in the face of much of the tradition, I understand, but it further emphasizes “two shall become one” and that it occurs (with the realm of Eden, before the fall) between man and woman.

    This seeming aside is also important as God declared that it was not good for humanity to be alone. This is peculiar in that if God is in a relationship with them, then the human wasn’t alone. Even at the point of Eden (again, before the Fall), God understood (even created) the situation that a human would need human fellowship. It’s odd to say that God wasn’t enough, yet human history shows that there is something fundamentally different in human-to-human relationship versus human-to-God relationship.

    Therefore, with all of this before us, there is a tension from the beginning of man and woman, their relationship with God, and their relationship with each other. The inherent need of humanity for relationship also extends, eventually, to fellow humans. God desires a relationship with humanity. Humanity needs relationship with humanity (even we strong introverts).

    This may seem to be a lot of preamble. Human relationships are at the core of ‘s message to the church.

    We primarily focus on marriage because it is culturally (and often personally) significant. There is good reason to focus on it. There is also good reason to ignore it in these verses.

    Paul makes it clear that while he is spiritually led regarding the church and the (more at the end of these verses), he also has no clear direction from the (at the beginning of the verses). This means that these verses, in particular, need to be viewed in context. Paul’s perspective is that Jesus would be returning shortly (days, weeks, months, maybe a year or so). Paul has an end-times view. Why, from Paul’s perspective, would you confuse the little remaining time in your with that kind of intimate and focused human relationship?

    Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, “All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in , 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” When we take context into consideration, we must also keep this passage in mind.

    Paul’s highest concern is the Corinthians’ (and our) relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Paul recognizes that often our human relationships hinder our relationship with God. This can be a result of trauma from childhood to the spouse who has changed (or us who changed). Even healthy relationships may distract or interfere with a relationship with God. An unhealthy relationship will hinder it even more.

    Our relationships with fellow humans really do deeply affect our relationship with God. One could even go so far as to say that if your relationships with humans are broken, so is your relationship with God. Yep, that one stings.

    ※Reflection※

    • What human relationships did you think of as being damaged? How might those relationships inhibit your relationship with God?
    • What human relationships can you think of that are good or great? How might they inhibit your relationship with God?

    ※Prayer※

     God, we often say you are first in our lives, but the human relationships in our lives sometimes say different. Grant us discernment, healing, and grace to make them be what is best regarding our relationship with you. Amen.