Devotion.al

Tag: kingdom

  • Message Over Mammon

    Message Over Mammon

    Luke 10:1–9; 2 Corinthians 12:1–14

    There are many people who attract attention naturally. Some do it with mere charisma. Some do it with . Others do it with the words (positive and negative).

    There are others that do it out of . Whether it is to gain the attention of people or to feel power, or (all still people-based, really), gaining attraction to puff oneself up isn’t Christ-like.

    When Jesus sent out the 72 disciples he gave an interesting direction: don’t houses. In other words, if you were invited into a house in a town, stay at that house until you leave the town. As they were representatives of the famous prophet, they would likely be treated well. It might even mean that people would compete for their .

    The concern with this is that the message would lose weight as the disciples would go from house to house. What gravitas would the “ of Heaven” have if its disciples (emissaries, ambassadors) traipsed from one place to another following the food and the sandal-licking (they didn’t have boots, then). If people competed over the fame and flattery of having one of the disciples, would they really care about the message?

    The next concern would be the effect upon the disciples. Being “wined and dined” could have a potentially huge negative effect on their spiritual growth and their . It could even lead to some of the same bullying behavior of the Jewish religious leaders. That would have been very bad.

    We see how it did evolve through ‘s letter to the Corinthians. The “super” apostles were, it seems, spiritual abusers. They guilt-tripped people to give more money. Based on Paul’s language, the super-apostles used language that implied that the Corinthians were being spiritually blessed by giving them (the super-apostles) so much money.

    When Paul apologizes that he didn’t for money or to be taken care of, there is a realization that the Corinthians had been hoodwinked. They had bought wholeheartedly into the swindle of the super-apostles. In so doing, they lost the vision of the .

    By succumbing to the words of these super-apostles, they reattached the chains of bondage. Paul was heartbroken. The heart of the message of freedom in Christ had been lost.

  • Say Grace

    Say Grace

    Matthew 5:20; Matthew 19:23–26; Romans 5:20–21

    As schools have begun, for high school junior and seniors this is when many start thinking about the next step…college, and if that is even for them. Colleges begin their paper and email storm of recruitment. Excitement builds as it seems everyone wants them.

    There are colleges that don’t recruit. They expect interested students to pursue them (the college). This is where dreams may be shattered.

    Students begin to learn that perfect GPAs are not everything. They learn that is hugely important, but still not everything. They learn that extracurricular activities only go so far.

    For many who want to go to the “best” schools, they learn that they (as near as they could tell) had done everything to get in to the college of their dreams, and it still wasn’t enough.

    ‘ words have pretty much the same impact. There is nothing you can do to earn you way into the .

    Jesus’ quip about exceeding the of the Pharisees and the scribes would have been depressing (if not horrifying) to his hearers. To their understanding the Pharisees and the scribes were the most of all. “If they can’t do it, how could I?”

    Jesus’ statement about the rich not making it in was incomprehensible, too! The rich were those blessed by God, it was thought (a false theology still alive today). If those who were so blessed by God couldn’t make it in, how could they?

    The larger understanding, which Jesus was undermining, was that entrance into the of God was transactional. You paid enough and/or you followed the rules enough, that you made it in. Many Christians today still struggle with this thinking.

    Granted, in a very limited way, there is a transaction: accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. It is that simple. Yes, it is profoundly deeper. It’s still simple.

    emphasis on is an attempt to wipe away the tendency to strive for goals of completion. By focusing on grace, Paul was trying to condition people to accept the freeing gift of God.

    It’s also this answer of grace that explains Jesus’ challenges. No one can earn their way into Heaven—into the Kingdom of God—it is an of God’s grace.

    ※Questions※

    1) What is grace? Why does grace matter to you and your salvation?

    2) How do you explain grace to someone who thinks they have to earn their way into Heaven?

    3) Do you struggle or know someone else who struggles with thinking they have to “earn” their way into Heaven? How did that thinking develop, do you think?

    ※Prayer※

    Heavenly Father, we thank you for the grace that you have shown to us. May we also show grace to others, especially your grace. Amen.

  • Solitudinal Gift

    Solitudinal Gift

    Mark 6:30–46

    The story of feeding 5000 people (or more, as many question if this 5000 was only counting the men, or everyone) is very impressive. Feeding the hungry is a good thing and should be celebrated. This story, though, is bookended by something that we often skip over so we can get to “the good stuff”.

    The disciples had come back. They had been sent. They preached. They healed. They shared the good news about and the Kingdom. They were probably really excited to .

    Jesus, however, knew they needed something they didn’t recognize they needed…solitude.

    In our day and , solitude is a struggle. Theoretically, the quietest spot in the continental US is in Olympic National Park in Washington. There is a place in the Hoh Min rain forest that one is unable to the sounds of humanity. To protect this space there have had to be discussions with the FAA, airlines, and even the Federal Government about keeping it that way. It has been a struggle.

    As humanity’s technology has evolved, it’s effect upon solitude has been significant. Many people will suffer measurable hearing earlier than in previous generations due to noise. As hearing is one of our senses, and often the one that senses danger first, our hearing is active. Any noise, therefore, may disrupt our quiet.

    Now, people buy technological devices to quiet the sound around them, so that they can simulate quiet.

    The disciples were probably feeling a “high” of experience. Many of us have had those spiritual highs. We want them. We pursue them. We miss the next step.

    Jesus wanted his disciples to be removed from the excitement. They needed time to (as we say) decompress. It may have been a good time to process with Jesus what they did in his name.

    Instead, people clamored and disturbed them. Out of , Jesus fed them.

    Jesus sent off the disciples. Not quite the same as being alone with them, but through that , a separation was made, and the disciples could be “off”. No one knows what they talked about (if anything) on the trip. It was away. Which is what mattered.

    There are ebbs and flow in . Jesus had his own ebbs and flows and wanted the same for his disciples. That applies to us, too.

    In an “age of distraction”, where even can be more full of noise that , we need to each take deliberate actions to seek God and to find our own solitude. Even the extroverts need solitude (maybe less than introverts, granted). You may not be able to go to the Hoh Min rain forest, but you can and should find a place, a way, and a time, to be alone with yourself (no matter how much that might disquiet you), and also find time to be alone with God.

  • Weak Win

    Weak Win

    1 Corinthians 9:19–23

    Kevin holds several Guinness World Records. One record is pulling three firetrucks weighing in at 109 tons across 100 feet in just 34 seconds. Another is pulling 15 cars at once. He made the record for the heaviest plane pulled.

    Kevin is immensely strong. In his job, he doesn’t talk much about his feats of strength. However, in powerlifting circles, people will come to him for advice. Why Kevin? Kevin is a Lutheran pastor.

    Kevin is strong. We admire the strong. Every four years people watch the strongest athletes in their field compete at the Olympics. Generally, every year there are professional athletes who compete for the Lombardi trophy (American Football), Lord Stanley’s Cup (Ice Hockey), the Commissioner’s Trophy (Baseball). We watch their feats with amazement and enjoy watching people at the peak of their field compete.

    If, however, we were asked to watch the weakest people on earth compete, would we bother? Sadly, the only ones who would are often those who seek to mock . If, on the other hand, we watch the weak improve themselves (whether it’s the Biggest Loser or The Worst Cook in America), we can celebrate their victories with them.

    Paul chose to be weak. We often skip over that one on the list. We like “all things” or “under the law” or “without the law”. We don’t like weak.

    The Paul speaks of is not physical weakness (granted, in comparison with Kevin Fast, all of us are weak). Paul is referring less about physical weakness more about those whose or trust in God is weak.

    We often look at others and see their strength, comparing ourselves to them. That isn’t particularly healthy. Paul took the self-less route and chose to appear to be like the weak. He suppressed his strengths so that the weak could be encouraged and not depressed.

    Being weak is not a strength, so the thinking goes. Yet, through weakness, is glorified. Through weakness, more people are brought into fellowship with God. Through weakness, none of us are alone.

    We all are weak in something, without exception. Others balance out our weaknesses. With one another in companionship, we are forever stronger than when we are alone, no matter how strong we think we are when we stand in solitude.

    ※Questions※

    1) What is your weakest skill? Where are you weak spiritually?

    2) What is your response when someone says to you, “you’re weak”?

    3) How does recognizing and embracing your weaknesses help to expand God’s ?

    ※Prayer※

    , guide our hearts to be -filled towards those we perceive as weak, and may they be grace-filled toward us in our weakness. Amen.

  • Substantial Character

    Substantial Character

    Daniel 6:1–24; Philippians 2:3–16

    Adventure! Drama! Let’s see the big scene!

    Daniel and the Lion’s Den is a dramatic story. No question about that. It’s a great one for kids.

    Daniel, himself, is a great character. Daniel has great character. If you read the story carefully, you’ll notice something interesting. Daniel only has spoken words at the when he assures Darius that all is well.

    This also speaks to Daniel’s character. As much as the Book of Daniel is Daniel’s story, the Book of Daniel is about God’s plan and redemptive action regarding the people of Judah in their time of exile.

    Daniel (along with others) was called to work for the they were in (for the Generations community, that was the topic of the last two sermons). He was called to work for the benefit of the kingdom. He was not called to gain power.

    ※ Why do we often think we must have “power” to things or make things better? ※

    Daniel did gain power. However, he did not act as if it was his to do with as he pleased. This contrasts with the two other administrators and all the satraps.* who sought greater power and control of their own. As Daniel was successful as a for the empire, pursuing their own success and power was then not working for the empire.

    As we watch the unfolding of political events around the world (not just the US), all too often people use the emotions of others to draw people it…to gain power and influence. Most of the bureaucrats that are often maligned are putting aside their gain to their best (as they understand it) for their .

    Does that mean there aren’t any “bad actors”? Of course not! It does mean there are likely as many “bad actors” as there are anywhere else, or as few. Yet, a cabal like the one portrayed here is really beyond the US system (despite the conspiracy theories, yes, I’m stepping in a minefield).

    However, culturally, it was normal. In fact, there are still examples of it today throughout the world. Thus, the best that Daniel could be (the one he was called to) was to serve God well through the place and time he was.

    ※What is the witness of this time and place for you? ※

    Daniel truly embodies the Christ-like characteristics of unselfish ambition looking to the benefits of Darius and the Median empire. His character was so resolute that even his adversaries recognized it.

    Daniel became a true and devout servant of the empire, even going so far as to submit to being setup. Daniel maintained his and his faithful witness, despite the efforts of those around him.

    While perhaps only for a brief time, Darius honored Daniel’s and the God Daniel served. All this building up to even a greater witness.

    Imagine that. Being quiet, gentle, unassuming, and working for the benefit of others was Daniel’s greatest witness.

    These same characteristics apply to Jesus. As Paul noted, Jesus being God to serve the created. While not literally exiled from Heaven (unlike others), Jesus was in exile. Jesus was now in one heart with the created.

    Jesus surrendered in grace and mercy to a system and peoples (Jews and Romans) that unjustly crucified him. Jesus did it for all people. He was looking out for everyone else’s interests.

    ※What does Paul’s ending words in this passage tell you about Paul’s heart? ※

    ※Prayer※

    Holy , shape and mold us to be humble people that seek the welfare of others so that we are a faithful witness of your work in our lives. Amen.

    * not including Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, more commonly called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

  • Criminal Christian

    Criminal Christian

    Luke 23:32–43; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

    A criminal is saved on the cross. Talk about a “bedside” or “execution” salvation! He was on the cross when he was saved.

    Look at the words the criminal stated. Look at the words that Jesus spoke. We often have longer phrases and understandings (even from Jesus’ own words) of what it takes to be saved. There probably is no quicker salvation story.

    That being said, it could be that the rumors and news about Jesus was so strong and flowing, that the criminal even from prison knew about Jesus. We don’t know what seeds had already be sown when the man sought salvation.

    However, we can say that by all appearances the criminal didn’t meet even the lowest standards of salvation as we often understand it. Does this diminish his salvation? No. It does show the amazing and of God.

    Do you want to be the criminal? All done. All saved. All good. Nothing more to do.

    The criminal is not the ideal follower of Jesus. Truly, to a select group the criminal is a beacon of . For the rest of us, though, the criminal is a criminal for something completely unrelated to the cross.

    He doesn’t live out his faith. He does, for a few hours, but it’s really not the same. Faith and salvation are tested and refined through the long and many trials of life.

    It can be reasonably argued, and has been by many, that salvation is only the beginning. Yes, in our salvation, we walk through the door to kingdom of God. It’s a big kingdom, though. Do you really only want to stay at the entrance?

    The fuller life, the rich life of God, is the full and complete promise of life with Jesus. We are often satisfied with so much less. Even more disturbing is that so many want salvation, but they don’t want the transformative live with Jesus.

    Some people call this being “on fire” for Jesus, except that it can devolve to being obnoxious in the name of Jesus. We don’t really want to be “on fire” for Jesus. We should want to be “on fire” by Jesus.

    For Jesus usually comes from our and emotion. By Jesus means that it is fully (and lovingly and..and…and…) reliant upon Jesus to do the work in us through the .

    Is this merely semantics? Perhaps. However, there are a lot of people out in the world trumpeting the church (the Body of Christ), but aren’t fully within it. Some show up on Sunday. Or, maybe they’ll show up digitally.

    Living the (truly) rich Christian live means living it in community. We must seek, foster, and grow that community. It won’t just come.

    Or we can just be a criminal on a cross.

    ※Prayer※

    Jesus, help us to want a full and complete life with you. Help us everything to the to form and shape us for your will. Amen.

    ※Questions※

    1) How’s your faith community? Not just church (though that too), but your daily faith community?

    2) How does one know whether one is living the Christian life of the criminal on the cross, or the fullness of the Kingdom come?

  • Internal Sweep

    Internal Sweep

    Judges 17:1–13; 1 Samuel 8:1–9; Ezekiel 14:1–11

    Judges 17:6 sums up the problem, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.”

    Not that long ago, the US would use the term “wild west.” Depending on the historian, the “wild west” lasted around 10-40 years. On the other hand, what was going on in Israel was over hundreds of years. Many generations learned to do things their way, and not God’s.

    Samuel was, in most respects, the last judge. Samuel may have been one of the few judges that lamented and was angry over the choice of the Israelites to have a king. While God understood that they were rejecting God as king, at the same time the Israelites seemed to recognize the pattern of the judges wasn’t working for them either.

    Despite all the burdens that having a king would bring, they perceived an advantage…stability. A king and the succession would seem to provide a greater stability than the judge system. They weren’t wrong, but they were focusing on the wrong thing.

    Even while complaining about Samuel’s sons doing their own thing, they were seeking their own thing. They could not see that their actions were the same.

    Much later, after all of that, the kings of Israel and Judah (the tribes had separated by the time of Ezekiel) had done far worse than the time of judges. In addition, they took the people with them on their journey away from God.

    Ezekiel was just before the total fall of Israel and its subsequent disappearance from history.* Despite his words, and the words of before and alongside him, the leaders (let alone the people) did not listen to the words from God.

    They chose to continue to go their own way. And yet, they approached Ezekiel to get something from God. God was pretty clear. They were estranged from God because of their idols.

    All the bad stuff that was coming would go away with repentant hearts that were determined not to .

    The question for us is are we like the mother who made an of silver coins, or are we the elders who despised her and yet put idols up in their hearts? There are far too many things that can become idols. In fact, in this unsettled time, it seems that there are even more idols today then there were last year.

    Who of us will acknowledge our idol ? That’s an extremely hard question to deal with. We often use the phrasing of an idol being something that you put before God, but that may actually be too narrow of a focus.

    Many of us don’t believe we put something before God in our lives, yet most of us do something that we put before God. What your idol may be could very well be different than another person’s. That is also what makes it hard.

    Only by have a deep abiding with God, and pursuing it, do we begin to see the idols that we have.

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, you told about graven images and idols of the . Help us to break those idols so that our relationship with you is pure. Amen.

    ※Questions※

    1) By changing the focus of what might be an idol, what thing or activity comes to mind?

    2) What do you think are the primary root issues that people “put up” idols?

    3) Do you think unsettled times or easy times “create” more idols?

    *The of Israel, or the Northern Kingdom consisted of 9 of the 12 tribes (the Levite tribe isn’t counted in either Northern or Southern Kingdoms). The Kingdom of Judah, or the Southern Kingdom, was primary of Judah, but also included the remnants of Simeon and Benjamin ( was of Benjamin lineage). The Levites were mixed into both kingdoms, and it gets hard to neatly define how many tribes and of how much were in each kingdom.

  • Speed Check

    Speed Check

    Isaiah 56:1–8; Ezekiel 2:1–10

    When you’re driving, do you continue to check your speed? What do you do when you check a speed limit sign?

    A speed limit sign cannot make you stop speeding. A speed limit sign cannot make you speed up. A speed limit sign can only tell what the authorities have set as the maximum speed for the area.

    The law enforcement agency in charge of that area may have some grace about being a little over. If a lot of people are going over, they might let it go. If a person is weaving in and out of traffic and going over the speed limit, they may likely up with a citation.

    While the are the word of God, they are also similar to speed limit signs. There is guidance and wisdom in the Scriptures. There are many warnings. People can (and do) choose to do their own thing.

    God is not looking for rote obedience, obedience for obedience’s sake, or obedience for a reward. God desires obedience out of love.

    Take the eunuchs. In Deuteronomy 23:1, eunuchs were banned from joining the assembly of God. That doesn’t mean that they could not (or did) not worship God, but that they could not participate in any aspect, including the sacrificial offerings.

    At the time, this was likely a response to the cultures (such as Egypt) that had eunuchs as ministers and in charge of harems. This would further separate the Israelites from other peoples.

    By the time of Isaiah, things hadn’t really changed in the surrounding cultures. Also, people would often seek power and influence or were sent (e.g., political hostages) to foreign powers and were made eunuchs. Isaiah overthrows the concept of Deuteronomy, insofar as with God is primary.

    In Jewish tradition, Isaiah is sometimes elevated over Moses and Isaiah (according to Jewish tradition) reduced the 10 Commandments to 2, and . A faithful eunuch who pursued justice and mercy would true life to others. The ability to produce children was outweighed by a faithful heart.

    The eunuchs, then, were those who saw the speed limit signs and obeyed, rather than those that Ezekiel (and Isaiah) spoke of/to that disregarded the ways of God.

    This is, in some small way, a foreshadow of the . The Gentiles could not add to the tribe of Israel (for they weren’t of the blood). However, they could add to the of God by living for God.

    ※Prayer※

    Holy Spirit, guide us into all . Especially guide and guard us in regard to justice and mercy. Amen.

    ※Questions※

    1) Take any issue (not a person or political party) right now. What would be just and merciful in that situation? If there is more than one side to that issue, what would be just and merciful all sides?

    2) Taking that same issue, trying (and it’s hard) to look at it from God’s perspective, what might God’s idea of justice and mercy be? Which “side” of the above does that match? Which “side” are you on?

    3) Why is the concept of giving Godly/spiritual life—rather than biological life—rated so important?