Devotion.al

Tag: forward

  • A Different Movement

    A Different Movement

    Psalm 22:25–31; Amos 8:11–13; Acts 8:9–25

    The diminished place in American society that the American church is finally beginning to truly wrestle with is where the church was in many other Western countries many decades ago. As it processes what this means, the American church what it means when “its place” is not the one of nor .

    God, however, isn’t as concerned about the church, per se, but about its people. The people (e.g., the descendants of Psalm 22:30) will still proclaim the glory, mercy, and love of God. How it’s done, however, will be changing rapidly over the next few years. This isn’t the first time.

    Much of what opposed during his time of ministry developed when God was quiet (the time between Malachi and John the Baptist). God was very quiet. Yes, there were pious and spirit-led people during those times. They led the people and helped the people. Sadly, over that same time period, others developed ways to “ the mark” that resulted in broken hearts and spirits, and not in a good way.

    The Western church may be in such a place. On the other hand, some of the Western churches aren’t experiencing decline; they are experiencing revival! While they are the exception, it just shows that God is moving.

    There are plenty of Simons in the world. They are successful. They have influence. They have money. Yet, there will be those who, like Simon, will find the message about Jesus to be irresistible and abandon it all.

    Like Peter, though, we will still need to disciple them so that they understand what it means to follow Christ. Even in the church today, there are people who bargain with God. Some will so that God will give them what they think they want. There are a lot of Simons even in the church.

    How God will , how God will , how people will respond are all in question at this point. We cannot make any assumptions. Nor can we remain comfortable or complacent. God will act, let’s we’re beside God as it happens.

    ※Reflection※

    • What changes in church do you see?
    • What changes in you do you see toward God’s movement?
    • How do you see how you will share about Jesus changing?
    • What are your expectations for how God will move?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, as we for your movement, help us to be aware of the little movements all around us, so that we may be present when the big movements come. Amen.

  • Live in Love

    Live in Love

    Psalm 150; Hosea 5:15–6:6; 2 John 1–6

    The passage in 2 John ends with, “live in .” Even without the political insanity, COVID, a struggling economy, elevated racial tensions, and many other issues, we do not “live in love” very well. Bluntly, we’re awful at it. All too often we get in our own way of in love. We struggle with what that might even mean.

    Take many of the statements aimed at (then) President Trump and (now) President Biden. Most of the ones I see and have even heard were not a of love. I have friends on “the left” and “the right” who operate as if I am on “their side”. Therefore, I am “blessed” to it all. It is not that we cannot have different opinions on the best paths , but when we assail a person rather than an issue we are not living in love.

    The racial tension and bias with responses against them were overwhelmingly displayed to the entire world showed just how much we Christians need to live in love so as to reconcile the people of the world with one another and with God.

    There is also the even harder aspect, and that this living in love with God. Without question, God is love. We have the image of God in us. Therefore, we should be doing well by living in love. Except we don’t.

    We are not unique in that. The book of Hosea, along with far too many , shows that our selfishness, our twisted (sinful?) version of self-love keeps us from fully loving God.

    When summarized the Law with, “Love God. Love Others,” we often say that it’s easy to love God, and hard to love others. In some ways that is true, as long as we are talking about superficial love. Superficial love is, “God is awesome,” without “God, guide me into your will,” and doing it.

    The doing it part is the same difficulty we have with people. Loving people by raising flags or sharing posts “showing” our love is easy. Doing, however, is something completely different.

    Love God, yes. God for guidance, and then follow it. It seems reasonable that once that happens, loving people will become much easier, as God will our hearts so that we are better equipped to do so.

    ※Reflection※

    • What is God calling you to do? (Note: there isn’t a question of God calling to something.)
    • What is your honest self-assessment of how you are loving God?
    • What is your honest self-assessment of how you are loving others?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, you have called us to love. Take any part of our hearts that are stone, and turn them into flesh, that we may love you and others fully. Amen.

  • Take the Message Forward

    Take the Message Forward

    Psalm 150; Jeremiah 30:1–11a; 1 John 3:10–16

    We have a lot in front of us. The end of the COVID-era seems to be approaching. Although there seems to be a step back for every step , at least we are moving forward. This doesn’t mean we’ll be going back to normal. In fact, the normal we knew before is dead.

    Many of will grasp for the past looking for the comfortable. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, if the past we hold onto results in two steps back for every step forward, then that is not effective, nor does it fulfill our mission to Go and (p)Reach. The promise of restoration that we find in Jeremiah is indeed a message of . In it, though, is an underlying truth. The restoration is to the place of home/old with a new model.

    The exiles would certainly enter the Promised Land again. However, they wouldn’t return to either the ways that led them to exile, nor would they return to the glory years of David and Solomon. It would be something new.

    For those who remembered the old Temple, the new (to be built) temple would be a shadow of the old, and they would (understandably) mourn its loss while rejoicing with the new. would have only legends, dreams, and “when I was your age” stories. They would not be able to rely on the old ways. They would have to forge a new way of being in the midst of their ongoing identity.

    Part of our new way of being is the reality that Christians are a minority, and even the treasured word Evangelical is almost a at this point. It right and understandable to mourn and grieve. It is also expected that we will be in a mode of and repentance for a while, as we try to heal the rifts of our own brokenness, and the solidified because of it and the brokenness of others.

    John writes that we shouldn’t be surprised that people of the world hate us. Nor should we look for their hatred, which sometimes seems to be our default response. Nor are we to behave in a way that will solidify their hatred or their negative opinion of us. Of course, this does not mean we water down the message of reconciliation, repentance, change of heart, and .

    How we do it is in a state of flux. Relations are definitely a way to allow communicating the message. There will always be a place of action of the heart (i.e., compassionate ministries). There will also always be a place for preaching. There is no one way, anymore. In fact, there never was.

    We are in an awkward place where we need to be functioning in a reconciling, repenting, and heart-changing relationship with our fellow Christians. That may indeed need to come first, and only a united church will reach the world (and denominations have their place, too). Only when Christians aren’t ripping into each other and living the moral life that they are called will the world bother to listen to us. Maybe, just maybe, then they will be open to hearing about .

    The future is never fully in focus. The church may be a shell. It may be completely reinvented. It may return to the First Century. The church may change, but the message never will.

    ※Reflection※

    • What has been the hardest thing about interacting with people the last year or so? What has been the greatest thing?
    • What is the one thing you are holding onto from our pre-COVID era? What are you grieving about that we are losing from the pre-COVID era?
    • These things that we are holding onto, are they for the benefit of the mission to reach the world for Christ, or are they our place of ?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, the Giver of Life, we need to find the path that will lead us in such a way as to bring life and life- water to the world. Help us to be strong in the face of difficulties and change. Fill us with your grace and love so that we see others as bearers of the image of God, no matter about which we disagree. Amen.

  • Stingless

    Stingless

    Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24; Genesis 1:20–2:4a; 1 Corinthians 15:50–58

    God created humanity in God’s own image. When we read , it may be easy to conclude that this is only a spiritual image. In many respects, it is indeed a spiritual image. On the other hand, as God made us even our physical being is an expression of God.

    Through sin, however, death and decay were brought into the world. One could argue that Adam and Eve’s sin began the decay and from the decay came death. Decay and death…consequences of sin.

    Yet, before we decay and death all the “glory”, let us recall the real issue…sin. Decay and death are symbolic of what occurs with us spiritually in regard to our to God.

    The ways of the world are to draw everything to its decay and death. This includes, and often even focuses upon, our relationship with God. If the innocence of a newborn child was the starting point, then the decay would begin immediately. Just as with all things rates of decay depend on environment, nutrition, love, guidance.

    However, if we were to strictly rely on the world to reduce the rate of decay, then there still would be no for anything except death. That isn’t much to hope for.

    The hope we have is that death’s power has ultimately been broken. Thanks to the cross, we have something beyond to look to. While death causes us in the here and now, ultimately we understand that death is merely a stage for us. The pain we feel can be attributed to the “God-shaped” place in our beings that understands that death is not the way things ought to be. It is our reality that we will miss those we love. Our hope is the hope we in the midst of and in the face of what would otherwise be the hopelessness of death.

    ※Prayer※

    O God, who by the glorious of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his and rejoice in the hope of glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy , be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. [Tuesday of Easter week collect, Book of Common Prayer 2019]

  • Journey Essentials

    Journey Essentials

    Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22; Numbers 20:22–29; John 3:1–13

    Commentators have proposed many reasons why the event at Meribah warranted Aaron and Moses not making it into the Promised Land. The reason for the question probably has less to do with Moses than it does with Aaron. Aaron started making a golden calf when the Israelites were still fresh out of Egypt. Aaron rebelled against Moses. So, Aaron makes a little sense. It was Meribah, however, that was the deciding factor.

    Regardless, there seems something peculiar and special about Aaron’s . Moses and Eleazer (Aaron’s ) accompany Aaron to the place Aaron will die. Moses and Eleazer then (we can safely assume) Aaron’s death. The special aspect of this is the passing on of the . Aaron would see his son wear the high priest attire, be anointed, and then die. Aaron was able to see that what he and Moses had the next generation to take their place (and Moses would have Joshua).

    The passing off of the reigns as God intended is both a and a responsibility. There is a big drive to pass off the reigns to the “next generation” (and who that is depends on how old you are). This is indeed the goal. However, passing off a mess or a bad legacy is not fulfilling the responsibility that God has given us. Of course, blinding holding on is just as bad (and often worse).

    We see some of this with how the Jewish tradition was passed to the next generation. Then the next generation would build upon that. The generation after that would build on some more. Not to put too fine a point on it, but when the wrong stuff is passed on and built on, we get the Winchester House of theology and relationship. If you’re not familiar with Winchester House, it was continually expanded and built upon by Sarah Winchester to supposedly appease all the spirits of all those killed by her husband’s invention of the repeating rifle (i.e., the Winchester rifle). There are staircases that go nowhere, doors that are useless, and other oddities. Its only use is a tourist attraction.

    The purpose of a house is to provide protection and security, not to be an oddity whose only use is tourism. Religion and theology should be building up, improving, and understanding the relationship between humanity and God, not lead us into dead ends.

    takes the passed on Jewish theology and turns it over and breaks it apart. Poor Nicodemus was quite confused by Jesus’ answer. We often look down on Nicodemus because he didn’t understand the obvious (to us) connection between baptism of water and of Spirit. Or we give him that in his confusion he didn’t approach Jesus (in a learning way) in the day. Instead, perhaps we ought to think of Nicodemus who was making sure he understood and making sure that the legacy he would pass on was right.

    ※Reflection※

    • Of the /religion/theology that you have had passed you, what do you think needs to be stripped away to pass on a “cleaner” faith/religion/theology? Why?
    • Of the faith/religion/theology that you have had passed you, what do think needs to be certainly passed on? Why? Is it biblically sound?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, as we look , help us to determine, with you as our guide, the best path to take, so that may follow the path that leads to you. Amen.

  • Strange People

    Strange People

    Exodus 20:1–17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18–25; John 2:13–24

    ‘ “cleaning” of the Temple is often focused on how the Jews “corrupted” the House of God. There is in it. The scary part is that it often seems to be a, “look at them” moment, rather than what it should be, “look at us”. On top of that, the last 2 verses in this chapter of John are often skipped in the Lectionary (from which each day’s are determined). They, too, are “look at me”. In fact, these last 2 verses fit very well with the passage from 1 Corinthians, and even Exodus, so I added them to today’s readings.

    We usually look at the 10 Commandments as a list of don’ts. The 10 Commandments can also be looked at as a list that makes us different. Culturally, the commandments regarding the proper of God set the Israelites apart from those around them.

    This carried forward. What Jesus did? It was not totally outside of the norm for the Israelites, insofar as the history and heritage of prophets. The prophets were known to do odd and strange things, as we are told the disciples remembered.

    As notes, the oddness of Christianity then goes beyond the oddness of Judaism, to the point where Jews and Gentiles struggle with it. For anyone with a for those who don’t Jesus, this is a hard and brutal truth.

    We US Christians have a particular struggle with this. We were so accustomed to a cultural majority (almost superiority) that we are only slowly beginning to see our “strangeness”.  Many of us are negatively responding to what we believe was “the way” of “our” country.

    We had “all” the cards. We had the opportunity to plant the seeds that would develop into a Christian . Instead, we deceived ourselves with a masquerade. As we face our mortality in Lent, perhaps we should face the mortality of the Christian nation that we have held onto for so long.

    Also, it is hard to ignore the mortality of the as we have understood it for so long. The church—the bride of Christ—is just fine. Half of the US church is bedridden. The other half is prepping the fields for planting.

    ※Reflection※

    • What ways have you found being a Christian “strange” in comparison to non-Christians?
    • When you read the Scriptures, do you focus on “them” rather than “us”?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, you have called us to from working in submission to Spirit and being the Spirit-infused influencers of the world. Amen.

  • Wall Fall

    Wall Fall

    Jeremiah 19:1–15; Revelation 18:11–20

    Whether big or small, the demise of a city is no small thing. It could be because of failing to God, or if it’s because of mismanagement, or if it’s because of something out of the city’s control.

    A city is a home to many people, and its demise should never be glossed over. Often, especially in the , the fall of the city is the larger picture of the fall of humanity.

    Imagine Jeremiah prophesying the demise of Jerusalem, a city he loved if for no other reason it was the place God put God’s name. There is a reason why Jeremiah is often called the weeping prophet. He mourned the of Jerusalem.

    The heartbreaking part is that the loss and fall of Jerusalem meant that God was taking God’s name and blessing away. While Jeremiah foretold hope, it wouldn’t be for a long time. It is also quite possible that Jeremiah wondered if Israel would really .

    The fall of Jerusalem was because of the unfaithfulness of the people. That unfaithfulness was in the Promised Land and in the City of God! It is quite possible that he was afraid that they would fall so far when they were in exile, that they would defy God again.

    Babylon could be considered symbolic of that exact scenario. The time for possible had long since passed. Babylon had knowingly and willingly gone against God. It became a place of abandonment. Even those allied to it, and who benefitted from it stayed away as it fell.

    Those around Jerusalem would celebrate its fall as they looked forward to benefiting from its demise. On the other hand, Babylon was mourned as it fell, not because of the people, the depravity, or the lack of God, but because people would no longer benefit (especially make ) from it.

    The “death” of both cities was something mourned by God. God wants to seek redemption and . Eventually, Jerusalem (or those who descended from it) did. Babylon is in the last throes of the end of times. There is no turnaround for it.

    While time flows, there is always time for redemption and reconciliation. However, at some point, time will end, and redemption and reconciliation are no more.

    ※Reflection※

    • Just as people’s ability to reconcile to God has an end, so does our time on earth (death). Is there some reconciliation and redemption that you need to seek or grant?
    • With the painful throes of politics, economies, lives, and viruses, have perceived the end of time, yet? If so, what has changed in how you approach regarding the ? If not, why do you think you haven’t been impacted?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, may we see the end of things as imminent, no matter how far away they are. Help to feel the urgency and importance of sharing the Gospel. Help us to partner with you to reconcile and redeem the world. Amen.

  • Change of Plans

    Change of Plans

    Judges 2:16–23; Acts 13:16–25

    There is a saying that you are probably familiar with: repeating the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. When it comes to practice, that isn’t the case. When it comes to many other things in , though, it is very true.

    In manufacturing (where I work for pay), there is an that we will always strive for continuous improvement. Continuing the same process, material size, tooling size, program configuration will not result in improvements after the first few runs. It is only when one analyzes and changes things there are improvements (and plenty of failures, too).

    The Israelites, post-Joshua, were not continuously improving their with God. They were a wrecking crew. God’s grace, however, was significant.

    When things were really bad, God would send a judge. Just as when Joshua was alive, they would be “good” God-followers (somewhat)…until that judge died. The process repeated itself, again and again. Sounds a bit like insanity.

    God changed it up. He let them succumb to the external forces (and internal ones, too). He wasn’t done with them. He just let them be free.

    Then God called Samuel. Samuel was, in many respects, the next judge. However, his was definitely a different kind. There really wasn’t a military side to Samuel.

    This time, the people might have learned something. They seemed to understand that they needed someone. With Samuel’s , they would be right back to where they were.

    God was mad (and hurt). Yet, God used this tiny turn in the hearts of Israelites, to bring, ultimately, the line of David into preeminence. From that line of David, the Savior came.

    ※Reflection※

    Have you ever had a big struggle trying to solve a problem or meet a goal, and continued to fight it? And, then, taken a pause (even a nap!) and the solution came?

    The rudder of a ship is small in comparison to the ship. Yet, this small thing guides the ship’s direction. What small thing, that seemed so small in comparison to the big things, changed your life completely? If you can’t think of anything, pray to God for a revelation (it’s amazing what that little can do).

    Is there anything in your life right now that seems to be on an endless loop that’s driving you crazy? Have you asked God for clarity/wisdom in the situation? Have you sought wise and/or different council to ?

    ※Prayer※

    God, you have done big and small miracles in our lives, whether we see them or not. Even some of the smallest have changed our lives. Help us to be responsive to your nudge to be the agents of in the lives of . Amen.