Devotion.al

Tag: questions

  • Living

    Living

    Deuteronomy 5:26–27; Ezekiel 33:11; Luke 20:34–40; John 5:39–40; John 8:56–58

    A living God? To many people today, God is just a fairy tale who belongs amongst the pages of Grimm’s fairy tales and folklore. For them, God is no different than the ancient Roman and Greek gods, and of no greater value (perhaps even less) than the Hindu gods.

    Yesterday’s devotional was about the we are called to make. While the devotional didn’t talk about our common failures in being good and witnesses, most of us realize that we have messed up more than a few times.

    Being faithful often means being humble when we fail, requiring us to be honest with ourselves and . That can be difficult. Being open (and thus vulnerable) about our flaws sometimes requires greater than we are capable of on our own.

    Our witness requires greater strength than it used to. Our witness requires greater vulnerability than it used to. Our witness requires greater transparency than it used to.

    The concept (our reality) of a living God allows us the to breathe in the pressure of the “greaters”. Our God is greater still than the greatest Created thing or person.

    When we understand that God is a God of the living it helps to put a few things into . It wasn’t a small thing that observed that God named Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph in the present tense. When we focus on the dead and what comes after, or even what came before, we don’t live in the fullness of the that has been given to us.

    This is, even more, the case when we talk about the . People dig into the Scriptures to know more about God. People dig into the Scriptures to deny God. Even those of Jesus’ day who knew the Scriptures well were unable to see the living God before them. While the Scriptures are living and active, they are living and active only because of the living God.

    A living God means that God is not sitting on the sidelines. God works in and among and through .

    ※Questions※

    1) How does God being living affect your daily walk with God?

    2) Especially when it comes to Jesus, but not only, why is “living” so important?

    3) Have you ever known someone who was “alive”, but who wasn’t living? Do you think they knew Jesus?

    ※Prayer※

    God of the living and breathing Creation, help to know to the depths of our souls that you are living and breathing in us. Amen.

  • Can God Get A Witness?

    Can God Get A Witness?

    Deuteronomy 9:25–9:29; Titus 2:1–15

    wit·ness: One who can give a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced.

    Deuteronomy is, in effect, the “Last Will and Testament of Moses”. Moses provides a contrasting snapshot of the Israelite and the Mosaic witness. The Israelite witness was unimpressive at best, worth destroying(?) at worse.

    What was their witness? Stubbornness, wickedness, and sin.

    The Mosaic witness? Yep, they are stubborn, wicked, and sinful. Please them, be gracious to them, and have mercy on them anyway. Do this for the of your name and to fulfill the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

    admonished Titus to teach those in his care “…so that God’s word will not be slandered.” Paul continues, “Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.” Even slaves were to be “demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything.”

    This passage in Titus can be used inappropriately. Paul’s focus isn’t explicitly behavior, but how God’s word, teaching, and message comes across to . All the behaviors weren’t a list of dos and don’ts so much as a be aware of the witness you are giving to others about God.

    ※Questions※

    What is your witness? How do you witness? Why do you witness?

    ※Part of the Post-Communion Prayer, 2019 Book of Common Prayer※

    And now, , send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and you as witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the , be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

  • You’re MINE

    You’re MINE

    Luke 9:49–56

    feuds can be long and painful. Some people are relieved that they won’t be traveling for the annual family gathering during Thanksgiving.

    The Jews and the Samaritans were family. They were at one point, at least. Over the generations, things continued to get worse, until they became enemies.

    Peculiarly, the Samaritans still retained some semblance of God . Even that created some tension, as both Jew and Samaritan viewed “their” understanding of God as right, and the other as wrong.

    That came to the Samaritans recognizes that they still had a place in God’s family. Jesus’ earthly ministry focused on the Jews, but the Samaritans were there in the margins.

    There was no question that the Samaritans viewed Jesus in a positive light. In this passage, though, we see that there is still some aspect of us versus them.

    The Samaritans were upset that Jesus would “abandon” them for Jerusalem. This was a problem of misunderstanding and . They had some view of Jesus as theirs, despite him being a Jew.

    Jealousy such as this isn’t all that uncommon. The problem is that we frame famous people with our own beliefs. We will often look at them and interpret everything they did or said through the lenses of our beliefs.

    Christians have done the same thing. We take our beliefs (communism, capitalism, , nationality, culture) and Jesus. We’ve seen that a lot this chaotic year.

    Yet, if we read the and the views of other people (especially from other cultures or theologies), it tends to shake our lenses a bit. Sometimes more than we like.

    We like our Jesus just like we like our politicians and celebrities: safe for us, but not for them. The Samaritans were much the same.

    However, at least with Jesus, if he is safe for everyone, then we can be sure that that’s a false view of Him.

    ※Questions※

    1) What false views of Jesus have you held?

    2) What are the dangers of false views of Jesus?

    3) What are the best ways to determine if we have false views of Jesus?

    ※Prayer※

    Jesus, help us to truly know you so that we are not lead astray from you, your salvation, or your message of and to the world. Amen.

  • Salvation Balance

    Salvation Balance

    Matthew 16:13–17; Romans 10:6–14

    In the US, individuality is all the rage, and it has been since at least 4 July 1776. Individuality is not a bad thing, automatically. While there are many aspects to our faith that are indeed communal (and must remain that way), there are that are certainly .

    The most significant aspect is our . US Evangelistic created almost a creed out it, “Do you know Christ as your personal savior?” It certainly isn’t a bad question.

    One of things it opposes, however, is a longer running of the church with is infant and child baptism. Infant and child baptism generally falls under the rubric of collective salvation. This is not to say it is invalid, quite the contrary. It is just a perspective that is different. Sadly, though, it was definitely a tactic use to divide certain traditions (Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist) from others (Baptist, Pentecostal, and non-denominational).

    However, once a person is able to right from wrong all traditions recognize that salvation has become individual. Whether by baptism or by confirmation, there is some recognition of the individual’s acceptance of Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

    There is a danger, though, in regard to individual salvation. The danger is a mental one. Many people can get to the point of intellectual assent. Others can get to the point of emotional assent.

    It is not to say that only having one means that you are not saved, for God works through all aspects of our personalities and can redeem them. It is to say that is only through both intellect and emotional that we “…may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s , and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge…” (Ephesians 3:18–19, CSB)

    ※Questions※

    1) Is it easier for you to intellectually understand God, or emotionally? Why do you think that is? Where else in your do you see that?

    2) Why do you think intellect and are needed in our relationship with God?

    3) How might a person maintain balance between intellect and emotion? What practices do you have to do so?

    ※Prayer※

    Jesus, to know you is to know God. May the knowledge of hearts be equal to the knowledge of our minds when it comes to relationship with you. Amen.

  • Get To Your Seats

    Get To Your Seats

    Luke 14:7–14

    When I was young, my insisted on making sure I was appropriately experienced in “high” culture. We went to ballet and opera. My dad said that we were sitting in the Grand Tier (still sounds a bit grandiose). This was the tier above the Opera (i.e.,floor) Seats, and below the Upper Tier, and certainly not the box seats. This would be so we had the best seats to see everything.

    He was right. We were just high enough that barring a really tall conductor (I one), our view of the stage allowed to see everything from the top of the sets to the artists’ feed (really important for ballet, not so much for opera). Oddly, the Opera seats were more expensive, and the crane-your-neck-uncomfortably-for-hours box seats were even more so.

    Which seats were the right seats? That depends on why you were there. For those in the box seats, sure there were those for the arts. There were those that were there to be seen. There were those who were there because it was expected of them.

    Depending on the and event, what seat a person might choose to in changes. For some people, going to a party is a high-stress environment, and they’ll gravitate toward a “safe” person (if there is one) or a dark corner or wall to “hide”.

    There’s also that person who will jump to the center of the room because they are the life of the party, or they will be.

    When Jesus talks about the seating at the banquet, it about a lot of things. What we often don’t talk about in this parable is the parallel to Gentile life. This may have been less about the “” seating, but more about how the “pure” “religious” “sanctified” Jews were emulating the behavior of those they despised and feared.

    This a jump for sure from the text to the context. However, when we see the behavior of the powerful or popular there is a strong tendency to emulate it. Romans were in charge. This is how the Romans behaved; therefore, it seems reasonable that the oppressed would copy it, not because they wanted to, but because it’s a natural to avoid gaining the wrong attention of those in .

    If this is indeed the case (again, which is reasonable), then we have a possible case of syncretism, a combining of two different (often competing) worldviews and/or religions.

    When a person was given the seat of honor due to their religious position in a non-religious setting or honor due to their secular position in a religious setting there is a mixing of two different worldviews that should be in tension with one another, and not in harmony.

    ※Questions※

    1) Where do you see your political and your religious worldview in harmony? Where do you see them in conflict?

    2) Are you comfortable where your politics influence your ? Does your religion affect your politics?

    3) Do you evaluate people’s religious affections based upon their politics? Do you assume a person’s politics based upon their religion?

    ※Prayer※

    Jesus, help us our will to you, that you are the Lord of our religion and our politics. Amen.

  • Work-Out Regimen

    Work-Out Regimen

    Luke 7:36–50; Philippians 2:12–16

    The scorn of the Pharisees toward Jesus was pretty easy to see. They were effectively declaring that Jesus could not be an actual true prophet, because he dared to accept the anointing by the woman. “If he only knew what she was like,” they said.

    Jesus did and her anyway. He didn’t her any less or any more because of her “unclean” state or status. He loved her because she was a person made in the image of God.

    A more recent way of that exact same thinking is, “when you get yourself cleaned up, come to church, and get to know Jesus.” Or (even sadder), “I’ll come to church when my act is cleaned up.” That was not Jesus’ attitude. THANKS, BE TO GOD!

    The woman came to Jesus. Jesus declared her sins pardoned. She never sinned after that. Oh, …

    For the vast majority of people, “getting clean” is a lifelong process. For a drug addict, “getting clean” from the drug is only step one. They then need to “get clean” from friend circles, ways of thinking, and sometimes the physical place they are at. It is not an easy road.

    Oddly enough, Jesus seems to forgive sins pretty easily. It’s not that the sins are minor. They are acts that separate us from God. The problem isn’t God, it’s us.

    We want to keep doing what we did because it is comfortable. Even those who seek and desire (and are even change-agents) like comfortable.

    calls on the Philippians not just to declare Jesus as Lord. Paul calls on the Philippians to be changed. Just like us, they needed to change their habits. They need to change thought processes. None of these things change . They change us.

    “…by holding firm to the of .” There is a play on words here, for the word is the message (salvation through Jesus), the word is the Scriptures, and Jesus is the word.

    The easy answer is to hold onto Jesus for dear life. The life answer is that holding onto Jesus allows us to him so that we are free in our hearts and minds to remove all in our life that separates us from wholeness in him.

    ※Questions※

    1) When was the last time you were like the Pharisees? Why is that the issue that causes this response?

    2) When was the last time you were like the woman? With what did you anoint Jesus’ feet (this can be a symbol)?

    3) How and with whom are you working through your salvation? How can you deepen that?

    ※Prayer※

    Jesus, as you have brought us into the light, help us to release our so that we can draw others to you. Amen.

  • Mindset

    Mindset

    Ephesians 1:17–19; Philippians 4:1–9

    There is a pernicious thought floating around that if Christians really believed what they say they do; they would all think similarly. Sadly, that often comes from Christians who perceive they are not being heard or perceive that someone with whom they disagree is being heard.

    In my immediate family, I am the person who hates tomatoes. Yes, they’re fine as ketchup and pizza sauce. Sometimes they’re okay as salsa (very rarely). Otherwise, no thank you. My wife, on the other hand, tomatoes. Out of 3 of our kids, 2 like tomatoes, 1 not so much. We’re related! How could we not like the same things?

    That is the same thought process required for all Christians to think the same.

    Not seeing things the same is quite . We are all the culmination of our experiences, the experiences of trusted , our hurts, our fears, our hopes, and our love. No one person is the same when you total all of that , even identical twins (though they’re probably the closest).

    How we disagree, however, is much bigger. If we could all disagree well, groupthink wouldn’t be an issue. When we disagree well, we each “feel” heard. When we disagree well, the decided path may not be ours, but because has been built, we are able to accept it.

    That would be a wonderful way to live. Instead, the is divided. It could be political lines. It could be music styles. It could be preaching styles.

    The trick often is not responding out of our emotions and trigger-responses. Often, it is thinking, talking, and working it out together over time. Why do we think one path will work better than another? If we don’t have the answer to our own path, we will often dismiss other perspectives out of unconscious .

    The other side effect is that our bonds are tested because people feel dismissed or ignored when there is no significant conversation. Without significant conversation, misunderstandings occur, feelings are hurt, and the church’s is damaged.

    One of the great tests of the community is how they love one another. How we with one another and discuss deeper things must be an outpouring of that exact same love.

    ※Questions※

    1) What is something that is bugging you regarding a Christian brother or sister? Have you talked about it with that person, why or why not?

    2) How do you dismiss the thoughts and perspectives of others (Christian or otherwise)? Think of the last time you disagreed with someone. Did you talk it through, or did you just do or command your way?

    3) How do you reconcile with someone you perceive dismisses you? How will you reconcile with someone whom you dismissed.?

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, you want and direct us to love one another. Help us to do that well, especially when we disagree. Amen.

  • A Small Project

    A Small Project

    2 Samuel 12:13–23; Ezra 8:21–23; Mark 2:18–22

    Fasting is an -old spiritual practice that has mostly lost its place in American Evangelical Christianity. Yes, there are some that practice it. Fasting remains strongly part of the Orthodox church and somewhat the Roman Catholic church.

    As American Evangelical Christianity has discovered and , fasting has become more prevalent. Fasting was originally fasting from life-giving things like water and food. American fasting is no , no Facebook, no chocolate, or other things that are of questionable value.

    This is not to trivialize what people choose to from, but more as a check against our desire to avoid significant self-sacrifice.

    You might be wondering why fasting, today? It’s not yet Advent (but it’s coming!), nor is it Lent. We are in a season of fasting right now, and it hasn’t been one of choice.

    This all comes to mind as the church as a body struggles with what it means to be the of God without the building. The building served its purpose and will again. It has been like the kitchen of many homes, the focus of family life. The church building has been the focus of church life. Yet, the church “kitchen” is now under serious remodeling.

    We are only starting to figure out what exactly the post-remodel might look like, and the plans keep getting revised. First, there was going to be a bar…now there’s not. There was going to be a pantry, but that didn’t work either. The double-sink was coming along…then…

    That’s pretty much what it feels like right now.

    Most fasts are self-directed, but this one isn’t. That doesn’t mean that it can’t and won’t be used by God to shape us.

    One of the biggest take-a-ways is that it really isn’t the building that is the church. It’s been said for a number of years. Yes, the building has been a place at which we have focused on gathering. Now, not only are we being encouraged to be at each other’s homes, we have to have church!

    We’re all tired of the “remodeling”. We want it to be over.

    ※Questions※

    1) What is changing about your view of church?

    2) How are you living and “doing” church with the kitchen closed?

    3) Place is important. How can we make the places we are in now be holy and be church?

    ※Prayer※

    , guide us through these trying times. May we be stirred to fulfill the mission in whatever new way you us to. Amen.