Tag: love

Grudge Walker

Genesis 33:1–9; Numbers 20:14–21; Psalm 137; Lamentations 5:1–22

How much of your extended family do you know? Second cousins, third cousins, and so on. Imagine knowing the descendants of your ancestors (approximately 20 generations gap).

The brothers Jacob and Esau seemed to have been reconciled (though it was a strange one). They certainly didn’t go after each other after this. Yet, something carried over.

The Israelites came out of Egypt after around 500 years after this reconciliation. So, what happens after that? Esau’s descendants want nothing to do with Jacob’s descendants. In fact, they seem to want to make life difficult for their relatives.

As the history of the Israelites continues, the animosity also continues. The Edomites were joyful and mocking at the demise and exile of the Jews. The fall of Jerusalem was a celebration.

It apparently made such an impression that we read in Lamentations about the mocking. The descendants of Esau will soon switch places with the Jews as the disgraced ones.

It can be amazing what a family can do to each other. A place that is supposed to be built on love that destroys spirits and hearts. It seems that on the surface Esau and Jacob were reconciled, but that the discord was passed down to future generations.

When we look at the world around us, we ought to be asking, what kind of relations are we passing down? In the US, we often look at tribal conflicts that are generations old. We even mock (mostly) the historic rivalry between the Hatfields and the McCoy.

We don’t define ourselves that way and certainly not violently. Is that changing? Black- and Blue-Lives Matters, Antifa, Neo-Nazis are all creating their own brand of chaos, and there are a number of others. In fact, at this point, there are so many that it’s almost impossible to keep track of except by the experts.

It wasn’t that long ago that most people would snicker at someone’s assertion that the US was headed toward a new violent internal conflict. Yet, now both people on the left and the right are openly brandishing weapons (as provocation), and the more peaceful pundits of the left and right are starting to show concern.

And, while this is starting to sound like something on constant repeat, the church is experiencing this as well. Fellowship is being broken. The body of Christ is being broken.

The first call of the church is to heal itself, and there is a lot of work there. It is family after all. Once the church begins the real healing journey, then—and only then—will the church be able to help heal the world.

※Prayer※

Father God, Father of our church family, guide us to be your loving family. Amen.

※Questions※

1) Have you ever experienced a family grudge that strained family occasions? Was it a significant issue, or was it something small that was made big?

2) Why do you think family squabbles are often the worst and longest lasting?

2020-08-14
I Hate You

Luke 14:25–35; 1 John 3:14–18

So, who do YOU hate? Your mom, dad, husband, wife, significant other, son, daughter, brother, sister, cousin, aunt, uncle…Really, who do you hate?

Trump, Clinton, Bin Laden, and many others have been (or are) hated. It could be because of politics. It could be because they murdered people. It might be something that you think they may have done.

This passage in Luke is a hard passage for many. Except in cases of abuse or other mistreatment, hating one’s family is out of the question. A religion that has long considered itself (especially in the West) a “family-centered” religion will struggle that which it says it is based upon. “Family values”, a decades-old purportedly Christian value, are questionable if we are to hate our family.

Then John, a disciple of writes that we are to love our brothers and sisters, and that anyone who hates their brother or system is a murderer (even if said brother or sister still lives), and because of that they don’t have eternal life. Confused, yet?

So, how does this work, exactly? Well, we’re back to the age-old problem of English versus Greek. Just like there are more words for love in Greek than in English, there’s the same problem with hate. Hate isn’t quite hate, sort of.

When Jesus talks about hate, it refers more to loyalty that like, dislike, love, or hate. Jesus sought to shock people into an understanding that they may have to choose where their loyalty lay. Was their loyalty with family, or was their loyalty with Jesus?

Hate may seem overly dramatic, however, in the cultural context, hate was the understanding. Only a hateful child, parent, spouse, and so forth would choose Jesus over family. In that time, the time shortly thereafter, and it appears now, family loyalty is against Jesus.

Which brings us to John’s words. His hate is more along the lines of what we think of when we hear the word hate. The kind of hate that blindly rages and cares more about hurting another than blessing the enemy. This is the context of John’s hate.

We are called to pray for the blessings of our adversaries. Even more so are we to seek the benefit of our brothers and sisters in Christ. John’s primary concern is not the family ties of blood and culture that Jesus brought to light. John’s concern was what we at Generations call framily (friends who are like family).

This framily is found within the body of Christ. Because of its place within the body of Christ, it should not have divided loyalties. Of course, when it comes to human frailty, we all know that isn’t the case.

As we work through our hopes and fears of COVID and elections, we will often be tempted to hate our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must strive against that, for a house divided against itself will not stand, and then what would we say to Jesus?

※Prayer※

Jesus, you prayed to the Father that we would be one. Help us to be united in you, while we yet still remain individuals with different thoughts and experiences. Amen.

※Questions※

1) Is there someone in the body of Christ with whom you are angry? Pray for them. Ask for the peace of the Holy Spirit to fall upon and fill both them and you.

2) How can you work to be one with your brothers and sisters in Christ while you have differing opinions?

3) How does the concept of Jesus before family still cause you and others trials?

2020-08-13
Whose Crown?

1 Samuel 8:1–22; Mark 10:35–45; 1 Corinthians 1:20–25

One cannot say the beginning of the fall of Israel was at the point they demanded a king. God pointed this out to disappointed Samuel. Israel’s “desire” for a king showed that Israel’s heart continued to not focus on God.

Samuel’s sons were a mess. In no way did they honor God or their father. Just like many of us, and the world, the Israelites were looking at humanity rather than God.

The failure of the Israelites wasn’t that they didn’t want Samuel’s sons in charge. That was actually wisdom. What they didn’t want, apparently, was a spiritual leader like Samuel. They wanted a “normal” king.

When God tells Samuel that the Israelites were against God, God makes it clear that it isn’t Samuel’s fault. The hearts of the Israelites are at fault. What happens, though, is that while they get want, they want, it does eventually become a “be careful what you wish for.”

The path of king never really ends for the Israelites. Eventually, the kingdom splits into 2. The Northern Kingdom (confusingly also called, Israel) eventually disappears. The Southern Kingdom (called Judah) remains, but over the years of exile and conquest never really stops having a king.

By the time of Jesus, the “king” (Herod) really is just a governmental flunky of Rome. The Gentiles and their quests for power (a constant theme of the Roman Empire) are what Jesus is likely referring to when he talks to the disciples. His point being who wants to live like that. Jesus had a better way.

The better way was the way of God’s love (not just generic human love) of both sacrifice and discipline. What need of worldly government and power would such a person have?

When we focus too much on worldly power, we miss the reality that Jesus turned power upside down. If we focus on the world’s ways, we succumb to the foolishness of the world, rather than living in and through the wisdom of God.

When we rely on the world, we make the same mistake the Israelites did…we choose a king (even if it’s only for 4 years).

※Prayer※

Lord Jesus, as we try to live out being faithful citizens of this world, help us to remember our deeper and truer citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

※Questions※

1) What are some reasons you think the Israelites wanted a king “like the other nations”?

2) In what ways does the US political scene look at the president as King? What does that teach us about our (and our nation’s) heart?

3) How might you live out the upside-down kingdom that Jesus brought to us?

2020-08-10
Cause and Effect

1 Kings 16:29–33; 1 Kings 17:1–5; 1 Kings 18:10–18

Ahab blamed Elijah for the ongoing drought in Israel. Or, at least he could blame Elijah for the drought.

Ahab knew that Elijah had declared that no rain would fall on Israel. Sounds like a pretty good reason to blame Elijah. Except, the real reason was Ahab.

He had gotten to a point where whatever he wanted was reasonable, even if it was unreasonable from anyone else’s perspective. His wife, Jezebel, encouraged and enabled such behavior. Between the two of them, Israel was in a bad situation.

Ahab had the dubious distinction of being the worst king so far in not following God. Depending on how you read it, either Ahab was worse than any of the kings before him or was worse than all of them combined.

From our perspective of Jesus as the Living Water, the drought can be a symbol of life without God. It certainly fits the narrative. Israel was without God, and Ahab can be symbolic of Israel.

It is often important to look beyond the surface story and see the deeper meaning. For example, Ahab was blaming Elijah for “holding back” the blessing of water. Yet, the blessings were withdrawn as a result of behavior.

The goal wasn’t punishment, but repentance and reconciliation. Ahab looked at it as someone else’s fault, and couldn’t see anything but someone else.

※Prayer※

Father, help us to see your love even when we struggle. Amen.

※Questions※

1) How do you recognize something as your fault? How about responsibility?

2) What is the difference between fault and responsibility?

3) What is the difference between a spiritual drought and a spiritual wilderness? How can you tell the difference?

2020-08-06
Calling One; Calling All

Luke 3:7–16; 2 Peter 1:3–15

What is calling? For pastors, their calling is…being a pastor. Even how “being a pastor” changes depending on character, passions, and context.

However, due to the influence of the Roman Catholic church (statement not fault-finding), most Protestant traditions (there are some exceptions) use the word “calling” for only one “calling”…being a pastor.

There was some famous person who once wrote that a butcher lovingly caring for his customers (including not swindling them and giving them quality) was a greater giver of grace and love than a pastor (supposedly, this was Martin Luther, but no quote could be found).

A butcher as a greater herald of grace than a pastor? Yes. Now, in earlier ages, apprenticeship to one’s father or to another usually meant that one’s career was set for life. Farms and herds were passed down generation to generation. For a time, businesses were the same.

In that context, calling was to something “greater” than one’s apprenticeship and it was usually to the church. However, in our context, that is no longer the case. One’s career isn’t limited. While it is still uncommon, people do regularly change trades or careers. Thus, re-examining “calling” has become essential.

The soldiers and tax collectors that John spoke to were likely in the habit of extorting extra money due to their power. John told them to be satisfied with their set (i.e., official) wages. In such a place, a soldier or tax collector doing such would be a powerful witness.

When Peter talks about calling, he is more referring to the call to follow Christ, yet the concept of “calling” still fits. Calling indeed refers to following Jesus and in Jesus’ steps. Yet, at the same time, each of us has our own path to walk.

Where you are is where you are called. How that works for you and anyone is between you (or them) and God. What isn’t a question is that you are called to bear witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the reconciliation between humanity and God through that.

Sometimes it will be speaking into their pain. Sometimes it will be not doing something others do. Sometimes it will be encouragement. Sometimes (though less often and with great care) it will even be goading them.

You are called to bear witness. You are called to testify. You are called to lead others to Jesus. You are called to do this where and when you are right now.

※Prayer※

God, give us wisdom and discernment to see our calling and to faithfully fulfill it. Amen.

※Prayer※

1) Where are called right now? Is that different than it was a year ago?

2) How do you know you are called right now to where you are? What does that mean in regards to how you live your life?

3) Why is it critical that all Christians understand their calling? Why is it critical to understand where “pastors” and “spiritual leaders” are not called in your life?

2020-08-05
Want

Exodus 20:1–21; 1 Kings 3:16–28; 1 Corinthians 13:1–13

The tale of envy and spite in the story relayed in 1 Kings is abominable to most of us. How could any person ever do that, even if it is not their child?

Yet, there are far too many tragic stories of people treating their children—their legacy—with something beyond contempt. The children don’t meet a “need”, or even worse, the death of the child meets the “need”.

The amazing depravity of humanity is often overwhelming.

In the story in 1 Kings, there is probably much more than the visible story. Why it was significant to the writer that the women were prostitutes was significant is a matter of conjecture. With something like that we can only guess what else might have been going on.

One possibility is that the “wise men” didn’t want to deal with the “dirty” prostitutes on a case with no evidence or witnesses (like those who might have been present at the birth or circumcision). So, they handed it off to the new king to test him. This would be well within the norm even today when new figures come into power, they are tested by ally and enemy alike.

To our ears, Solomon’s solution is over the top. Kill the child? However, some commentators believe that Solomon had discerned who the real mother was and was looking for a justifiable pretext of giving her son to her.

The story also shines a light on one of the big human issues: envy. There is a reason that this was on the list of Commandments. It can often be one of the most destructive emotions in human relationships.

Envy drove a grieving woman to grasp for another’s baby and then be open to the child’s death instead of “losing”. Envy drove a person to sacrifice a child to hurt another person.

Envy drives people to do things that are often not rational. Sometimes people will put themselves into so much debt so that they can be just like others. Other times they will hurt themselves, as long as they can hurt others.

No one is immune to the pull of envy. We often think envy is only for big things, but envy is even more dangerous regarding small things. It is easy to excuse or justify the envy of little things. However, once we succumb, envy gains momentum, and our hearts turn toward darkness, and away from love.

—prayer—

Holy Spirit, guard our hearts against envy. If the shadow of envy had taken hold, we ask for your saving work to preserve your love in our hearts. Amen.

—questions—

1) What is the first “don’t” of love, according to Paul? Why do you think Paul mentioned that first?

2) What was the strongest feeling of envy you’ve ever had? What happened?

3) What is the “flip” side of envy? Or, how is one driven to envy? (hint: see Paul’s list)

2020-07-27
Always the Same

Jeremiah 16:10–15; Malachi 3:1–7

Many years ago, in a bible study, an older woman said to the study leaders, “I do not believe in the God of the Old Testament. That God is cruel and unjust. I only believe in the loving God of the New Testament.”

Many people walked away from the church and/or were deeply scarred and hurt by the church by the incessant drumming of hellfire and brimstone. Far too often, judgmentalism, legalism, and ostracism came with it.

In response to this, and to such people like the woman in the beginning, there has been an overreaction, perhaps even over-emphasis on the love of God. Instead of good theology and analysis, it continues (even to this day) to be an overreaction to a time when the church Hell and condemnation at every turn.

What can become frustrating and also deceiving is that God is only love. God is love. The love of God is a good thing to think about and focus on.

However, God doesn’t let a good crisis go to waste. Sounds kind of harsh, doesn’t it? As many parents and teachers can tell you, sometimes you can only explain something so many times until pain teaches a child.

Most lifelong lessons are gained through pain of some sort. It is, sadly, the way we are. This is also why confronting a false view of the God of the Old Testament is crucial to our Christian walk and to our ability to evangelize.

As the impending doom approaches Jerusalem, and the people ask why, God in many more words says, “because you didn’t listen the first thousand times I told you!” Yet, that isn’t the end!

God tells Jerusalem that this exile will be as (or more) defining for them than the Exodus was for all of Israel. That’s a big order! It just so happens to have occurred that way, too.

Some would call this the carrot and stick method, yet it really isn’t. The opportunity for the carrot is gone. In many respects, this is no longer a stick. For the donkey (or mule) that this method is supposedly used on, there is required to be a hostler doing it.

The hostler (God) left the animal (Jerusalem) on its own to fend for itself in the wilderness. The time for carrots and sticks was passed.

This does not mean God didn’t love them. Quite the contrary! God knew that they had to learn on their own.

For God’s own sake, God put hope in front of them. For God’s own sake, Judah would not be lost forever. For God’s own sake, he would bring a tempered people home.

From the opening story, the study leaders stopped the study and gently taught her, “God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament.”

God has not changed.

※Prayer※

Lord, help us to recognize your discipline as love, as much as we don’t like it. Help us to look at our pains and trials as something through which you are teaching us and others. Amen.

※Questions※

1) Do you tend more toward the “God of Punishment” or the “God of Love”? Why do you think that is?

2) Do you really learn better or for longer-term through pain or pleasure?

3) How would you respond to someone like the woman in the story? How would you guide her through thinking about God being unchanging?

2020-07-24
Wholly New or Newly Whole

2 Corinthians 5:14–21; Titus 1:1–3

The “new creation” is an often-quoted phrase. Like many verses in the Scriptures, it can stand on its own. However (you knew that was coming), in context its meaning is so much more important than a mere new creation. It is a creation with a purpose.

While it is accurate to say that we are new creations through Jesus Christ, it also leaves too much interpretation to the speaker and the hearer as to what exactly that means. The common first response is (along the lines of), no longer a sinner, or, reconciled to God, or a child of God.

All of these are theologically accurate. The problem is they are also very selfish and self-centered. These statements are about us. Being a new creation is about us. It also about God.

In particular, what is our purpose? Why are we a new creation? Why does being a new creation even matter?

The answer comes earlier, “…so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.”

Let’s be honest with ourselves, we still live for ourselves. We often make decisions based on our desires or through seemingly logical decisions. Sometimes we’ll even “pray” about them. Are the results really about Jesus Christ?

Now, this really could go down a road that Paul did not intend. Paul didn’t mean for a blacksmith (for example) to stop being a blacksmith and stop making blacksmith decisions. Nor did Paul mean that one stops being a parent (adopted or biological). Yes, both of those are possibilities, but that isn’t the point.

Really, the new creation is more along the lines of thinking of others for their benefit because Jesus Christ thought of your benefit, even while you were estranged from God.

In this comes the question, is the new creation a completely (wholly) new thing or is it the old thing made whole. Either answer still ultimately results in something new, it’s just the emphasis that has changed.

Once the “new” has come into its fullness, then this new creation seeks to draw people to Christ by loving them, thinking well of, and for them, even if it gains no worldly benefit. The new creation is to bring the not-yet-made-new to a point in their lives to be made new.

Bringing along the not-yet-made-new may take a while. Even God, as Paul tells Titus, took time to reveal the fullness of God’s saving message. It will take time for us to reveal it to others, too.

We are called, as new creations, to be faithful in bringing more people into the fold of God’s family, no matter how long it may take and how many setbacks there are.

We are called to love all in their hate, their fear, their jealousy, their ignorance. We also do this knowing that we still have hate, fear, jealousy, and ignorance in us, too.

※Prayer※

Lord, make us new every day. Help us to put yesterday in its place, and step into today in the fullness of your grace, mercy, and love. Amen.

※Questions※

1) If you have saving faith in Jesus Christ, what was your first “symptom” of being made new? If you do not yet have such a saving faith, what might (or should) someone look like who has given their life to Jesus Christ? Why?

2) Why does it matter if we are wholly new or newly whole? What is the difference?

3) What was the last decision you prayed about? What makes you think the answer was the Jesus answer?

2020-07-21
One of the Fam

Matthew 12:46–50; John 14:18–26

The passage from John would have created a rather large stir in the culture. Jesus publicly equated non-blood relations as equal to familial relations.

The family was first in the culture. A good way to think of it is how a person is called in many Asian countries. The family name comes before the personal/individual name. One only calls another by their individual name by permission (accepted into a close relational circle) or by blood.

Americans and other Western cultures might tend to equate this with Mr., Mrs., and Ms. However, that is not the same, nor are they intended to be. Modern Western cultures (except for the remaining nobility, perhaps) do not hold the family in the same way. That is not a knock against Western Culture, just merely a reflection of differences.

It should was highly likely that mom and brothers had one of two responses, 1) there goes the crazy kid again, 2) WE are his family, not THESE people.

It’s not that Jesus was disrespecting his family, and certainly not his mother. Jesus was redefining what it meant to be a member of his family, which was not exclusive to his mother (and father) and brothers. This new family included them; it just included a bunch of others (like you and me).

As Jesus was completing his final discourse with his disciples, he told them that they were not orphans, nor were they abandoned. This is, again, family language. How severe their separation was from their families at that point or later is conjecture.

The use of the family language tells us that something was happening there. The concept of what is family was changing. The boundaries of familial blood were replaced with the boundaries of God’s saving work on the cross.

※Prayer※

Lord, we thank you that you have called us into a family larger than we can imagine. Help us remember that we are indeed family, despite our many differences. May our lives together be ones of love that draw more into your family. Amen.

※Questions※

1) Have you ever been party to the breaking of family bonds (either by you or others)? What were the various reactions?

2) If you were Mary or Jesus’ brothers, what would your response have been, especially as Jesus’ response was so public?

3) Why is the concept of family (not the stereotypical “nuclear” family) so critical to the church and its people?

2020-07-20
Owed

Luke 4:14–30; John 7:1–9; Romans 13:8–10

Love is a powerful force. Jealousy, envy, and fear are also powerful forces.

Over time, love does win over jealousy and envy, but it often takes a lot of time, and the hurt and pain can take a long time to heal (if it ever does). It’s the short term where the effects are quick and brutal.

When Jesus returns to Galilee, he’s home. Like all homecomings, it was full of joy-filled laughs, parties. You know, the new prophet preaching the coming kingdom would be welcome to town. Except, as we know (and as we read), that wasn’t the case at all.

And it didn’t get any better. His brothers piled on. For those with siblings (or are parents of them), they probably understand. Brothers are brothers.

Family wounds or wounds of friends that are like family can be awful.

However, this is where Paul’s words come in. We don’t owe others anything (including vengeance) except love. Sounds kind of strange.

We often operate in life as we owe people something. That may be true. That is what Paul wants to reset in our hearts.

If we do things for others because we love them—truly, selflessly—that is revolutionary.

What about owing them? That seems rather odd. Why would we “owe” them? Perhaps it is because of whose we are.

※Prayer※

Lord Jesus, help us be people of love, because you first loved us. Amen.

※Question※

Love as owed. What is your immediate response to that?

2020-07-19