Devotion.al

Tag: gift

  • 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 witness (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 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 . 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.

    Jesus 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 of water and of Spirit. Or we him grief 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 others may follow the path that leads to you. Amen.

  • Chosen

    Chosen

    Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22; Genesis 9:8–17; Ephesians 1:3–6

    I don’t elementary school sports very much. I do know that while I was never picked first, I was rarely picked last. I was neither particularly good nor bad at sports, hence being a middle pick. I did have preferences for whose team I wanted to be on, though. While I didn’t, therefore, have the angst of being picked last, I certainly didn’t want to be on just any team. I wanted to be on my choice of team.

    In some ways, I think of both passages as God saying, “I choose you!”

    God chose you, too!

    In team sports, there is some sort of of performance. Every year, professional teams hold a draft, competing with each other for the “next best” young player. Big- colleges will scout and try to recruit high school players.

    The difference between God’s selection and a draft is God isn’t looking at performance (we already blew it), God is looking at the . God calls everyone. However, just like a draft, one can refuse.

    We often try to justify ourselves. Sometimes we try to justify our very existence. God just said, “I chose you. I you. That is the justification of your existence.”

    ※Reflection※

    • What does being by God mean to you?
    • Why is it hard to understand why a person would not want to be chosen by God?
    • Is being chosen by God a , a , both?

    ※Prayer※

    Thank you, Lord, for choosing me. May I continue to strive to the gift. Amen.

  • Passing It Off

    Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16; Romans 4:13–25; Mark 8:31–38

    I grew up with Richard Scarry books. One of my favorite stories was about the Bunny going to bed. As Daddy Bunny put each child to bed, each child shared their “future” dream job. The last child said, “I’ll be what I’ll be,” and he dreamed to be a Daddy Bunny. Of course, my dad loved that I identified with that last child. One of my greatest honors is the fact that I am a dad.

    My wasn’t that my kids would be my (not the thought pattern of a child), but Abraham’s was. Culturally, a person without a legacy (and the legacy being children than other things) was close to worthless. Ishmael ( with a ) and Isaac (son with the wife) were it (at this point).  Not much of a legacy for the era.

    Yet, Abraham’s imputed was because he believed (trusted) God when God said that Abraham would be the of nations. This is why centers on our inheritance through .

    Paul notes that we are Abraham’s legacy. We are Abraham’s children through faith, not (necessarily) by blood. While Paul is here dealing with the “inheritance” aspect of Jew versus Gentile, there are other aspects that we can examine.

    An inheritance is not “earned”. An inheritance is given. It is given by the person whose it is to the person (or people) whose it isn’t. Even when dealing with the how (blood or faith) of the inheritance, Paul overrides it all with the of the inheritance.

    ※Reflection※

    • Have you ever had an inheritance? Were you surprised by it?
    • What does having an inheritance from God mean to you? How is an inheritance from God different from an inheritance from a family member or someone else?

    ※Prayer※

    Gracious God, may we never view the inheritance we’ve been given as something we’ve earned or deserve. Amen.

  • Is It Yours?

    Is It Yours?

    Genesis 16:1–6; Romans 4:1–12

    Abraham (Abram) did as his wife asked of him (the Hebrew translates to “beseech” or “pray”) and went to Hagar. Unlike Sarah (Sarai), Hagar becomes pregnant. As Sarah was focused on Abraham having children (perhaps more so than Abraham, it seems), you would think she would be satisfied. Of course, with a being the focus of the entire arrangement, it altered the relational structures. Now Sarah’s desires became in conflict with the implicit of Hagar and the son.

    Abraham would, of course, treat Hagar differently. He’d had intimate contact with her, and she was the mother of his son. Based on Abraham’s response to Sarah, though, there was still a recognition that this was still not alright.

    In many respects, Abraham (even though he was honoring his wife’s plea) was unrighteous in what he did, at least from our . It was common at the time, though the Scriptures do say, one man and one woman.

    Yet, Genesis records God considering Abraham as . brings it up, too. The key is that Abraham is credited as righteous (or as Paul states, made righteous). That doesn’t make Abraham righteous in one sense. God “made” or “considered” Abraham righteous, so Abraham was now righteous.

    Paul’s point is that we, like Abraham, are now righteous not because we are, but because we believe in Christ. It’s humbling—or it should be—that the righteousness that we (should) cling to is not ours. It is a of .

    ※Reflection※

    What is YOUR definition of righteousness? Is your definition of righteousness different for worldly “things” than it is for “Heavenly” things?

    ※Prayer※

    God, thank you for calling us righteous while we are still unrighteous. Thank you, , for working in us to make us more like we ought to be like…Jesus Christ. Amen.

  • Why So Serious?

    Why So Serious?

    Luke 18:15–17

    Faith is a serious business. It’s true. From an orthodox perspective, it has an eternal impact. So, it is serious.

    Serious, though, doesn’t mean solemn.

    A few years ago, I experienced a -changing question: what is your first experience of God? I was flummoxed. I had no idea. I knew my (relatively) more recent experiences, but my first?

    I was grateful that I would be answering the question last. I sat and prayed. “God, when was it the first time I encountered you?”

    God responded (to my /mind), “ the scar?”

    The scar is right below my right eyebrow. After so many years, it wasn’t important.

    God reintroduced me to the memory of a hike with my and some of his acquaintances.   I was 4 or 5, I think, and the only kid. We were walking up a hill on a trail/road. I had looked out to the valley below and “it” hit me. I then tripped and fell. I now had a bleeding gash. My dad cleaned me up, put a butterfly bandage on it, and off we went.

    The people in my group were a little puzzled. How could that possibly be a God encounter? Part of my spiritual wiring is trees and mountains. For me that’s almost an automatic response…God is here.

    That feeling of awe and isn’t so solemn. Thanks be to God!

    Awe and wonder are indeed a gift from God. The of children is that they can still have simple awe and wonder.

    If we cannot wonder, then what kind of relationship do we have with God? If we have no awe, we are often only filled with fear. That isn’t a good relationship either.

    This passage is often brought up as an encouragement to raise children in the faith. I wonder (I had to), though, if this was the first or only time this happened.

    Children often know a person who authentically loves them. They like hanging around such a person. Often, they are louder, more -filled, and just want to have fun!

    What if the adults were so solemn, they saw a prophet and were afraid? What if the children saw a friend, and were full of joy?

    ※Reflection※

    When was the last time you just wondered at, with, and about God?

    ※Prayer※

    God, may we wonder in your and see all of through your eyes. Amen.

  • Not Yours, But God’s

    Not Yours, But God’s

    Psalm 69:1–5, 30–36; Genesis 17:1–13; Romans 4:1–12

    “Abram” translates to “exalted ancestor”. “Abraham” translates to “ancestor of a multitude”. While Ismael was Abraham’s son (the son he had with Sarah’s servant), it didn’t quite connect with Abraham as Ishmael wasn’t a result of him and Sarah (his wife and love).Both names had their own sting. “Exalted ancestor” requires more than just the son of a servant, but grandchildren. “Ancestor of a multitude” probably stung worse, for that would seem to imply even more. He had only one.

    Yet, as Scriptures attest to (and Paul recapitulates) Abraham trusted God, and Paul notes that God “attributed” to Abraham . The strong implication for many commentators was that God “considered” Abraham righteous because of his faith/, not because of his actions. In addition, many infer that it also means that God viewed Abraham as righteous in spite of any possible failings or sins that Abraham had.

    Circumcision was the act that in some respects “remembered” the that God made with Abraham. One could view it as God choosing Abraham’s descendants, setting them aside, and treating them as righteous, even when they weren’t. The Israelites were for God. The males bore the mark.

    The similarity between circumcision and baptism are often drawn. Especially in the traditions that baptize infants, it is quite simple. Even in the traditions that perform believer’s baptism, the imputation of righteousness is still there.

    When we are baptized (as infant or believer), the righteousness we receive is that of Jesus. It isn’t ours. Just as in circumcision, or even infant baptism, the promise is performed before the child has a choice.

    The reality is that almost the entirety of our with God…the entirety of our becoming more like God…is because of God.

    Paul draws baptism and circumcision . Paul needed his Jewish brethren to understand that baptism was a valid entrance into the family of God. He also needed the to understand that baptism was part of tradition that went back in time, tying them to a tradition and people and God they were only beginning to understand.

    ※Reflection※

    • What traditions family, cultural, and/or religious tie you to the past? Why is being rooted in the past helpful when going forward?
    • The majority of church traditions/theology (there are outliers) believe in only one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Why do you think that is?

    ※Prayer※

    God, your word goes to a past we do not fully know. Your word also goes forward to a time we cannot see. Thank you for the guidance that your word provides us, and may we share the of your word to . Amen.

  • In Peace We Trust

    In Peace We Trust

    “ I leave with you; my peace I to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
    —John 14:27 (NRSV)

    Okay. I am just going to say it. This has been a very hard year. A year filled with heartache, uncertainty, , and more. All the emotions have hit and have hit very hard. There have been moments where I didn’t know what to think and had no words. There have been moments where I have been frustrated and unsettled. Maybe you feel the same?

    The world has given us, this year, a lot of crud. The world has not been kind to us this year. This has not been our year.

    But. Thankfully does not give to us as the world gives. Jesus gives us so much more. We don’t have to be afraid or troubled because God sent Jesus to make it so we can have right with Him. God sent Jesus to give us peace. I have not felt much peace this last year. Reading the news every day was hard and did not give me peace. Being a parent and making very hard decisions about my kids did not give me peace. Being a pastor—I have not felt peace.

    But lately. I have been praying for peace. I know that because of Jesus I can have peace. And you know what? I have been starting to feel it! Slowly. But it’s there. The more I let Jesus in and pray for peace the more I am able to be at peace. And you know what else? I have been praying for peace for you too! Because peace was our from Jesus. He desires for us to have peace especially in the moments where it seems impossible to have it.

    Do not let your be troubled, dear friend. Don’t be fearful of the things to come. Put your in Jesus knowing that He gives you the peace that you need.

  • 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 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 learn 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 relationship with God. In our case (the collective Christian 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 deformed useless 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. Freedom from the Law is how we are free to respond to God and to 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 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.