Tag: kingdom

Hand Power
Psalm 115; Numbers 8:5–22; Titus 1:1–9

In Numbers, the outline for priestly behavior is pretty minimal. Do your job. They also have an end date, 50. Yes, there were other concerns (as the children of Eli showed in 1 Samuel). By and large, though, the duties of the priests were what set them apart, not their character. However, there is an aspect of their installation (i.e., becoming priests) that is well worth looking at. The people laid their hands on the priests.

This might sound kind of strange, and even unrelated, to us. In “priestly” circles, laying on of hands has long been a tradition. In non-Evangelical circles, it is an expected rite and theologically necessary. Traditions such as the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican hold to an unbroken chain of laying on of hands since Peter. Based upon the tradition of Levitical priests and the laying on of hands, it actually is pretty reasonable from a Jewish and Christian perspective.

The Church of the Nazarene doesn’t particularly hold to the “unbreakable” aspect of the laying on of hands, but it does hold on to the tradition itself, as each ordained person has hands laid on them during their ordination by both the presiding Superintendent, but also all those who are ordained within the confines of the district (except in weird times as now).

When a pastor is called to a church, during the installation, the Church board will lay hands (and often the congregation). Often, when a board is elected by the membership of church, hands are laid upon them by the congregation.

There are multiple meanings within the laying on of hands. For the Israelites, there was an aspect of confession and there was an aspect of commission. The priests were set apart for the direct ministerial work of God on behalf of all of Israel. They were God’s “portion” (or “tithe”) of the people of Israel. So, the laying on of hands was integral to their mission for the people.

With ordination, it is different. This is in recognition of the laying on of hands in the New Testament which would be accompanied by the imbuing of the Holy Spirit (correlation, not causation). While it is important both as legacy and ceremony, it really is an “inside” thing.

However, the interaction between the pastor, board, and congregation is significant. What it isn’t is an abdication of responsibility. What it is is a bestowal of authority and a recognition of submission to the designated (bestowed upon) authority.

And it is that last piece that is the rub for so many. We all are more than willing to give all the “grunt” work to others, but we often don’t want to recognize the submission aspect. Of course, coming from a pastor this may seem self-centered. Honestly, I have others do “my” grunt work, too. We all do, to some degree.

As fellow members of the kingdom and family of God, we all need to be willing to dig in for others, for the benefit of others and not ourselves, and ultimately produce fruit worthy of God’s children.

※Reflection※
- Have you ever experienced have hands laid on you? Why? What was your feeling resulting from it?
- Have you ever laid your hands on someone? Why? What was your takeaway from participating in that?
※Prayer※

Lord, we minister to each other through touch. We cannot always answer how or why, but we know that the Holy Spirit is present. May our touch bring others closer to you. Amen.
2021-05-18
How We Wait

Psalm 1; John 17:6–19; 1 John 5:9–13; Acts 1:15–17; Acts 1:21–26

One of the most heart- and eye-opening realizations for me was when I recognized that the Scriptures provide didn’t provide all the answers of life, but did provide a framework from which to operate. Some call this a worldview, but the reality is that worldviews may be slightly different among the same group.

When we look at the selection of Matthias, we can question the wisdom of selecting a disciple by casting lots. Though in this case, it’s really a toss-up (pun intended). The disciples had narrowed it down to two, which is pretty amazing. While we elevate the original 12 disciples (though it’s funny that we seem to remove Judas Iscariot automatically without thinking about there only being 11), Acts tells us that there were a total of 14 that spent the greatest amount of time with Jesus. Barnabas went on to be a successful evangelist and is closely associated with Paul (the “13th Apostle”). In other words, the events that followed seem to validate the result of the lots.

Every Jew would understand the significance of there being 12. They would understand that this was a symbol to them; this was part of their legacy.

The stage is being set. The Disciples are getting ready. Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem. They didn’t wait in a state of inaction. They readied what they believed was right and in such a way that they could respond. Then they waited for the fulfillment of the promise Jesus made.

※Reflection※

When have you waited for God passively? When have you waited for God while preparing? How did God move in those different situations? How did you respond in those different situations?

※Prayer※

Jesus, we know that something is coming, for your kingdom is never still. Help our hearts and minds be prepared and looking for where you are moving. Amen.

2021-05-16
The Next
Psalm 47; Deuteronomy 34:1–9; John 16:4–11

Who will come next is part of the “calculation” of many things. Psalm 78:4 speaks of telling the next generation about God. Proverbs 13:22 tells of leaving an inheritance for grandchildren. In 1 Timothy 1:2, Paul tells Timothy that he (Timothy) is his (Paul’s) true child in the faith.

The last chapter of Deuteronomy reminds Moses (and the Israelites) that God did marvelous things from the beginning (before the Israelites became the Israelites), and that the next step is coming. It also reminds us that while God worked miracles through Moses, there was a consequence for certain behaviors, even though their relationship seems not to have otherwise changed.

The person to follow Moses (the “next”) was Joshua. While Joshua is often raised up almost to Moses’ level, Joshua missed the biggest lesson that Moses taught him, the next. This, of course, is inferred from the lack of Scriptural mention of a successor to Joshua, and the Scriptural mention that everyone forgets with the next generation. The next is really a form of individualized, focused, mentoring, and discipleship. Part of the whole process is further illustrated by Jesus. When we realize that all we have for him covers 3 years of his ministry (yes, plus a few childhood vignettes), he really did spend most of his time with the 12 that would train them to walk in his ways and footsteps. It is these words that we should pay particular attention to, as these were the words that struck his disciples as important.

This is deeply illustrated by John 16:4. He flat out tells them that he didn’t tell them everything in the beginning. It may well have taken years to get the ground (the disciples) ready for the entirety of Jesus’ message. It was revolutionary, after all.

We live in a world that wants everything now. We may not be looking for instantaneous, but certainly quickly. In comparison, the early church would usually wait 3 YEARS to baptize a convert (this is after Paul). Yes, there was probably some filtering out of bad apples. There was also theology that was deeply placed on hearts.

Our baptize them now thought process—and this is only one of many such things in general, not just Christianity—would not be able to withstand waiting. Truly, not only would the person being baptized likely not have the patience, but many of the leaders, elders, pastors don’t either.

Perhaps being more like Jesus means leading 12 others for 3 years to a deeper with Christ.

※Reflection※
- What do you think makes a discipling relationship?
- Why might mentoring be different than discipline?
- Who is discipling you?
- Who are you discipling?
※Prayer※

Lord, help us find those who will disciple us, and help us find others to disciple. For we know that we must be purposeful in both to bring your kingdom here on earth. Amen.
2021-05-15
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 church, 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 (Imago Dei) in us. This world, as the saying goes, is not our home.

Jacob (Israel) and his family settled in Goshen. Goshen became (for all intents and purposes) the home of the Hebrews. Yet, even while there, from beginning to end, 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 alien (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. Christian 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 Kingdom. Thus, we are not of this world. Help us to realize this in the depths of our souls. Amen.
2021-04-23
Living Speech
Psalm 133; Daniel 2:24–49; John 12:44–50

One of the gifts of being human is speech. One of the curses of being human is speech.

Perhaps the whole reason for the King of Babylon’s test of all the magi and wise men was that they all talked too much. Perhaps (as many paid consultants today) they were more than happy to share all their words (with some being wise, maybe) with the king. Perhaps the king was done with all the words and just wanted an answer.

Of course, his demand for the wise men and magi to know the dream without being told it was pretty harsh. Yet, perhaps the desire to no longer having to listen to empty words created the opportunity to hear words of weight. Daniel spoke God’s word to the King of Babylon. By faithfully delivering God’s word to the King of Babylon, Daniel was obedient. Daniel also used the human gift of speech as a vector of grace and blessing. This doesn’t mean that it would be listened to, or that it would be transformative in any long-term way. That wasn’t Daniel’s responsibility.

Even as the Son of God—part of the Trinity—Jesus spoke as God directed. Jesus spoke with Truth, grace, and love. Jesus’ summary of his words (no judgment, not his words, people won’t necessarily listen).

What is interesting is how Jesus says all this is really just a result of God’s commanded speech, which is eternal life.

Eternal life. Jesus’ speaking was eternal life.

※Reflection※
- Is your speech of God? Is your speech produce eternal life?
- As a follower of Jesus, how do you temper your speech so that is more of God and less of you?
- What makes human speech of “eternal life”
※Prayer※

Heavenly Father, you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death, and brought us into the kingdom of your beloved Son: Grant that, as by his death he has called us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. [Easter Saturday Collect, Book of Common Prayer 2019]
2021-04-10
Can’t Wait to Wait
Job 14:1–14; Lamentations 3:1–9, 19–24; Psalm 31:1–4, 15–16

“Jesus, 33, son of Joseph and Mary, was crucified and died yesterday. Survived by mother Mary. Wandering prophet who proclaimed the Kingdom of God was near. Performed miracles. Challenged the status quo. Caused the leaders heartache.”

Even in our days, dying in one’s 30s is sad, but doesn’t have the same resonance as dying in one’s 20s or younger. There is something about age that leads us to directly evaluate a person’s death. If they lived to 90 or 100 or beyond, no one really questions it. As our modern lifespan increases, we may begin to push at that, but not by much.

By measurements such as children (Jesus had none), wealth (Jesus had none), or influence (he was crucified), Jesus was a failure. It’s jarring to think that way. We look beyond Good Friday and Holy Saturday. We know what is next.

In many respects, Holy Saturday is the hardest day of waiting in the Christian year. The tragedy and horror of Good Friday. The promise and glory of Resurrection Sunday. No one wants to sit in the in-between time and wait. On Holy Saturday, our lives are often filled with activity. It is a “standard” day off from the 5-day work week. It is also the day we prepare for Easter celebrations. We don’t wait very well.

Even the lectionary (the set of Scripture readings for each day) doesn’t wait very well. In there are 3 readings that were skipped as part of today’s devotional (1 Peter 4:1–8; Matthew 27:57–66; John 19:38–42) as there couldn’t “rest” between Good Friday and Easter when one includes them. In particular, is the shock, grieving, despair, and even the feeling of abandonment that is so central to Holy Saturday.

I wish that the Church (and even I) could treat Holy Saturday as a pre-Sabbath. Saturday for Jesus’ followers was a rest day, no matter how much they had to do to complete Jesus’ burial rites and process. Perhaps it may be time to have a 2-day Holy Day time, each with its own purpose.

The one unique part of Holy Saturday that I have personally continued to come back to is how much it resembles our lives right now. We have been saved and reconciled to God: Good Friday and Salvation (no matter when our salvation occurred). We are in a state of hopeful expectation: Easter, the return of the Messiah, our resurrection, and eternal life. Our lives, our very living, are between the two.

※Reflection※
- We are all waiting for something in our lives, often in different aspects. What are you waiting for in regards to career, education, faith, family, or other areas?
- What your reflections on waiting? Are you good about waiting? What do you do with your waiting time?
※Prayer※

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[Holy Saturday Collect, Book of Common Prayer 2019]
2021-04-03
Beyond Sight/Site
Psalm 119:9–16; Haggai 2:1–9, 20–23; John 12:34–50

Haggai and Zechariah were the two prophets that accompanied the Israelites from exile to home. Their primary focus was the restoration of Israel, not so much as a powerhouse, but as a people and nation of God, including both temple worship and the Davidic kingly line. Later on down the chronological line (beyond today’s readings), the temple is completed. However, the temple that was completed did not have the glory of the old one in physical status.

As Haggai’s words are considered canonical (i.e., verified as the action of God), then the Jews saw something much different than the literal word (often our temptation when we are reading). From a Jewish standpoint (especially Haggai’s traditionalist perspective), the temple isn’t so much the point as a people faithfully pursuing God with one of the signs being faithful worship as prescribed in the Old Testament. What does it matter what it looked like today (remember the original Temple was David’s plan, inspired by God, but not prescribed) when faithful worship and a God-fearing king were what was required?

That Haggai was seeing beyond the immediate temple and even beyond the immediate kingly line tells us that Jesus’ words were not without historical precedence (as some have claimed). As we look beyond Jesus’ time on earth, we can see the fulfillment of Haggai’s words, as faith in Jesus Christ has changed the world. Though, sadly, many of those who cried, “Lord, Lord,” were liars, murderers, and power-grabbers beyond the average struggling Christian.

Haggai’s understanding of a God-honoring relationship revolved around the temple. That is what tradition and the Scriptures taught. Haggai understood quite well, as he was coming from exile, that empty actions were not what was needed. It was actions that were firmly grounded in who God is, and that the Israelites were God’s chosen people.

While Jesus’ words may have seemed revolutionary at the time, Jesus did answer the “Christ will be with us forever” in a way unexpected, though by pure reason, it probably should have been an idea. The Christ was with the Children of God forever…in their souls, their temple to God. Thus a relationship through the temple was now very personal, and the Christ was with them.

Would Haggai have been able to recognize that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of his prophecy in only a way that God could make it happen? Perhaps. We can only look at Haggai’s words and see Christ in retrospect.

※Reflection※
- What practices do you fulfill in relationship with God? How about in regards to the temple, both body and church?
- What do you think is comparable to the Davidic kingly line in regards to lively rightly before God?
- When was the last time you evaluated your habits through the lens of habit or “because you need to”? Why is it important?
※Prayer※

Lord, guide us ever deeper into meaningful and life-changing relationship with you. Amen.
2021-03-24
Seeing Well
Psalm 50:1–6; 1 Kings 16:1–7; Luke 19:41–44

“If only I had known…”

We often will look back on our decisions as if we could have fixed them, or even with the assumption that we are wiser now than we were then. “Hindsight is 20/20,” is a pithy saying, but even our hindsight may only be slightly better than our foresight.

Baasha had hindsight. God’s word had come true about Jeroboam’s fall. Baasha, therefore, had foresight of what was expected. Baasha maintained the false worship set up by Jeroboam (and continued by his son, Nadab). This was after assassinating Nadab.

Jehu was sent to announce the consequences. Baasha had a chance and still went his own way, and his family died out as consequence. Baasha had foresight and hindsight…and still, he made the decision of false worship.

While the false worship of idols and such from Jeroboam to Baasha is certainly large and significant, the false worship that Jesus confronts is different. Jerusalem, from a Jewish perspective, was the City of God. It had a special place. One would think that the exile would have dealt with some of that, but it is quite likely that the Maccabean revolution restored much of that perspective.

Along with that was the inability of people to see God moving among them. We’re not just talking about Jesus, but the entire era. The Jewish world was unsettled, with and without Roman oversight. God was shaking things up.

Jesus’ words were aimed at two things. The first was the false idol of Jerusalem. It sounds almost blasphemous. However, transforming, “I will meet you there,” and “I will put my name there,” into only meeting God there is a problem.

The other issue is being unable to see the Kingdom of God when it is right next to you. The phrasing here in Luke is distinct as it is about peace. This contrasts with the imagery of Jerusalem falling in conquest. Seeing (and accepting) the Kingdom of God (peace) is the opposite of the world (conflict).

We often view these words in Luke as a kind of end times prophecy, especially as Jerusalem did indeed fall a few decades later. God, though, isn’t so concerned about a place (not that God isn’t), as God is concerned about the people. It may be that Jesus was looking for people to see the disruption of God’s Kingdom on earth when in the middle of the corrupt world.

※Reflection※
- What do you have the greatest hindsight regret for? What do you have the greatest hindsight appreciation for?
- How do you see God moving today in comparison to the story around Baasha, and in comparison, to Jesus going through Jerusalem?
※Prayer※

Lord, as you transform us, may we transform the world around us. Help us to look for your hand in the past and look for your grace in the future. Amen.
2021-02-13
Help Me Understand
Psalm 102:12–28; Job 6:1–13; Mark 3:7–12

The recent Super Bowl reminded me of the first Super Bowl victory of the Seattle Seahawks. Having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area and experiencing the 49ers and the Raiders, a Super Bowl championship was exciting, but not region-stopping. Super Bowl XLVIII was a disappointment in gameplay, but the Puget Sound and much of the Pacific Northwest was ecstatic with the Seahawks victory.

The reason to bring this up isn’t the victory itself, but the aftermath. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the area, the areas outside of Seattle proper like to avoid Seattle proper. Yet, people took vacation days and pulled their children from school to go to the Seahawk victory parade. This was a seriously happy occasion.

That’s kind of the image that we have here in Mark. People from the surrounding area came to the area to find Jesus. Can you imagine the ruckus that went with that? All those people! Imagine a small town that suddenly had a huge influx of people from everywhere else (Sturgis is another example of that).

Amidst all that chaos, all that overwhelming number of people. God moved. People were healed. The Kingdom of God wasn’t just near…it was at hand!

Then Mark just seems to toss in a quick mention about the evil spirits. Yep, nothing to see here. Just move along.

Yet, there is something strange here.
1. These evil spirits, if they were really in control, would they have gotten anywhere near the Son of God?
2. Were the evil spirits drawn to the Light, even as we are, despite their nature?
3. Did, perhaps, they seek redemption even when told to be silent?
The Scriptures don’t say why. That really isn’t the point of the Scriptures. It’s in the presence of the whys, though, that we exist.
We shouldn’t avoid the whys. The whys are where most people live. We should be present with others in the whys so that they know they are not alone.

※Prayer※

Lord, we always have more questions. Meet us in our questions, and help us to meet others in theirs. Amen.
2021-02-10
Wolves Invisible
Psalm 62:5–12; Jeremiah 20:14–18; Luke 10:13–16

Do you know the story of “The Boy Who Cried, Wolf”? The shepherd boy who falsely cried “wolf” so many times that after some time no one would come to his aid. Of course, as the case with moral tales, the real wolves came, he cried “wolf”, and no one came. He died.

This could be a tale of bearing false witness (the 9th Commandment). It also could be because not everyone has the same vision.

We see that all the time from politics, to businesses, to churches, to families. Each person has a slightly different “vision” of the future. Often, we criticize, minimize, denigrate, and insult those that have a different vision. It can be hard, especially if they’re family, yet those differences are the “spice” and “flavor” of life.

The 11 Apostles (remember, one of the original 12 died) received their commission, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” [Matthew 28:18–20, CEB]

Go into the [whole] world. Such a small thing. It’s kind of like a commencement address, full of a huge concept that sounds awesome and inspiring, then (just like commencement) on the other side, reality hits.

It is what is on the other side that reveals the foundation of our life.

The Psalmist that God is “rock and salvation”, a “stronghold”. If indeed humans are nothing but a breath, nothing but lies, and don’t even register on a scale (all from an “absolutist” infinite deity perspective), what little remains of a human’s worth is based upon their foundation.

Jeremiah mourned the event of his birth. His grief was based on a couple of things. First, he was a “messenger of doom” for Israel. That was pretty rough.

Second, he mourned the hardness of heart of the Israelites. He couldn’t understand how the Israelites could be so heart- and faith-less toward God. The entirety of the story of Israel revolved around what God did!

Jesus’ reprimands to Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum echo what Jeremiah said. “Doom is coming. The consequences of your decision to harden your hearts and reveling in that hardness is coming.” (Ian’s summation)

The reprimand is a result of cities not welcoming the harbingers of the Kingdom of God (it’s more of an advance warning for when it happens). The disciples of Jesus were to be completely dependent upon the towns and people they would come to.

They were not sent with massive amounts of money, food, clothing, or protection (no weapons). They were sent as they were. They might have had a drachma or denarius or a few. They had a pair of sandals (which they were wearing). They had the clothes (again, that they were wearing). That’s it.

And off they went, the commencement of the first missionary event.

Most of us are uncomfortable with being missionaries. Regardless, the Great Commission is still our mission. You are a missionary right where and when you are now.

If you think there is no one that you are and are to be a missionary to, pray that God gives you the spiritual eyes to see who is before you. Perhaps why the church is so weak right now isn’t because we are “set aside” or are “unimportant”. Perhaps we have long forgotten that we are to not just be missionaries to the world; we are also to be missionaries to each other (the “bible-ish” word is edify).

Many of us are looking for that special answer or that perfect argument. Others of us want to be an example yet realize that compared to Jesus we are not much to look at.

We are called to cry, “wolf”, and the world doesn’t believe us. It’s hard to explain the wolves coming that they cannot see.

※Reflection※
- When we looking for the special answer, perfect argument, or being the example, what is the real foundation of that?
- Why is it necessary to be missionaries to one another (to edify)?
- The example of the disciples’ first missionary journey is not burdened with “stuff”. How can that be an example of our journey? What could be a wrong application of this lesson?
※Prayer※

Lord Jesus, you have called us to go into the world. Help us be the encouragers of others, that all your church—your bride—will reach the world for your name’s sake. Amen.
2021-01-22