Devotion.al

Tag: questions

  • Chained or Unchained

    Chained or Unchained

    Deuteronomy 27:12–28:1; John 8:31–40; Galatians 3:7–14

    There are many wonderful things in life that begin well and then become dead weight. Buying a house is one of those. We are now in an era when people buy houses and pay against a large debt for 15–30 years. It doesn’t take too long for the of home “owning” to be faced with the frustrations of maintenance, flaws, age, vision changes, life changes, and so on. It doesn’t have to be a house. It could be a car. It could be student loans. It could be your job.

    The Law wasn’t intended to be life-. It was intended as God-oriented living protection. If you followed the law, there was a framework that guided one into a righteous life.

    Somehow this became twisted, and the Law became life.

    “Whoever does not put this law into practice is cursed.” (Deuteronomy 27:26)

    This does not say that the Law is life. It says that not following the Law results in bad consequences. Within the Law there were “resets” built in. Sins, errors in judgment could be dealt with. Life could move on.

    However, there is a difference when it is a lifestyle. This is not about ignorance. This is not about an unbeliever. This is about those who declare God their God and live in such a way that they have not put God first in their lives.

    What becomes the struggle is “proving” that God is first in our lives. Often, we “prove” it by living a more “” life. The of the Nazarene, for example, was long known for its stances against , smoking, and dancing. Not doing these things was the mark of “” but is what the areas of broken relationships where these things occurred that was the real issue.

    When holiness (or the appearance thereof) become chains rather than freedom, then holiness has become the Law. If that is the case, then that might make a lie out of, “who the Son sets free is free indeed,” because then, it seems, we want to find new chains to live in.

    ※Questions※

    1) What are some “rules” that you can think of? How do you think they became rules?

    2) What rules can you think of that were intended to “give” or “preserve” life, but ended up chaining it? Does that make the rule bad?

    3) What is a rule that you wish wasn’t a family rule? Why?

    ※Prayer※

    , you called us to a life of following you. Help up freedom from chains as we try to follow your way. Amen.

  • My Rules Not Yours

    My Rules Not Yours

    Mark 10:1–9; Luke 1:69–75; Galatians 3:1–5

    The rule of having to wear masks when going out into public (with some exceptions in the US and elsewhere) is grating. Really. Who wants to wear a mask all day? No one wants to.

    Many are concerned that we are being conditioned to wear masks and have our freedoms curtailed. That concern is reasonable, up to a point. What’s particularly interesting is the social experiment regarding rules.

    The political “right” is generally a law and order type of people. Yet, that group is resisting the mask rule. The political “left” is (theoretically) more of a “no rules” yet practices many rigid rules.

    This is not to pick on either, but to show that even in our “crystal clear” political bents, we are often not clear ourselves. Yet, one of the core pieces of theology, especially Protestant theology, is from the Law.

    Of course, someone will often that the Law is different than rules. Yes, the Law is a series of religious rules that defined appropriate behavior and a penalty for when that behavior was violated.

    The “trick” became that the people treated the Law as if it were the that mattered, rather than their relationship to God. That is also a simplification of it. Another way to say may be, they focused on the rules so much that they neglected the relationship.

    gets the rules of divorce question. Is that really the question, though? Is the question more along the lines of, “what can I do that I think makes me happy while still getting to Heaven?” The question of divorce is a question of relationship on one hand and what can be gotten away with. The way Pharisees brought this to Jesus was about the law. It wasn’t about a man looking for a younger wife or a prettier one, or even one the nagged him less. It was about using the Law to break relationship.

    When anyone becomes more concerned about the rules (whether to follow them or disobey them) than the that the rules are about, we lose of people. Zechariah’s (from Luke 1) is all about the relationship. Zechariah would have been one of those concerned about the rules (he was a priest). The relationship with God and God with God’s people mattered more.

    The other side of the rules, and a significant focus of the Protestant reformation, was the thought that one could earn their way into Heaven by following rules, rituals, or purchasing one’s way in. The last of these 3 is not ‘s concern in his letter to the Galatians. What concerned him was that the Galatians seemed to have tossed out grace and relationship and embraced rules.

    This is not to say rules are not important. They provide guidance and boundaries, which we seem to need to thrive. Yet, if we adhere to the rules (or oppose the rules) without understanding the why and the who that the rules are about we skip the people that we are called to .

    ※Questions※

    1) Thinking of relationships regarding authority, how do rules and relationships work with and against each other?

    2) What rules that bother you? Why? What relationships might those rules impact?

    ※Prayer※

    Jesus, you came to earth to show us the Way of Life. Help us to find both the freedom and constraints of following you. Amen.

  • Can You Relate?

    Can You Relate?

    1 Corinthians 3:5–9; Philippians 1:12–21

    “It can never happen here.”

    “No one respects God here.”

    “How could God move in this [horrible] place?”

    You can probably think of a number of questions or statements that give an excuse or justification for why you can’t be a missionary where you are. Let’s not devalue those statements. Let’s identify them for what they are…barriers to the .

    Missionaries have gone to foreign countries for generations. The Church of the Nazarene [the “umbrella” denomination for this devotional] has missionaries in “Creative Access” areas. The denomination does not publicly identify them. When they go home, they are not recorded or associated with their missional area. For many of them, martyrdom (killed because of faithfully the ) is a real possibility.

    In comparison, our hard to reach areas are not so hard.

    Paul wrote the letter to the church(es) in Philippi from jail. Through a confluence of circumstances, he was able to share about , both directly and indirectly. One could think that jail could be a pretty hard place.

    Yet, the Gospel is growing (yes, growing) in the prisons even today. Through methods such as Discovery Bible Study, cell groups (pun intended) are growing in the prisons. Some of the hardest prisons where the further inmates into pods are establishing groups.

    Did Paul start immediately preaching the Gospel to the guards? Probably not. He developed relationships with them over time. Then as the Holy guided, he shared.

    Where you are may be a place where you are called to only plant seeds. Perhaps you are in a place where you are called to water the seeds that planted. It might even be possible for you to be in a place where you plant and water. Depending on the people, each person may be in a different place.

    Relational Evangelism is the new buzz-phrase. It shouldn’t be. This is the most effective way, at this point in history, to reach people for Jesus and deepen their (and our) relationship with Jesus. Even 20 years ago, the most successful churches with the deepest were built on relationships.

    ※Questions※

    1) What relationship is the hardest for you at the moment? How could/might the Holy Spirit use that to bring Jesus into the picture?

    2) What kind of seeds are you planting right now? In whom are you planting them? What are some ways to plant seeds?

    3) What seeds/plants are you watering right now? How are you watering them? What are some ways to water the seeds of faith?

    4) How’s the weeding going? Are you having to pull some weeds in your or others’ lives? How might weeding work (or not) in the newly planted and/or watered relationships?

    ※Prayer※

    , from the beginning you have used the picture of planting and watering to convey deep truths to your . Please guide us into how planting, watering, and weeding needs to be lived out in our lives. Amen.

    A quick summary and methodology outline for the Discovery Bible Study can be downloaded here, or you can go to the Discovery Bible Study site (not all views are necessarily the views of this site.)

  • Circle Mission

    Circle Mission

    Acts 16:11–15; Acts 16:25–40

    Rob Wegner states that a missionary is an ordinary person who’s equipped to make new disciples in a new context, and that mission isn’t first an activity, it’s an identity. How does that apply to Lydia?

    She has three circles. The first circle is the (Gentile) God-fearing circle. The second is the weaving/ circle. The third circle is her household.

    Each of us has a few circles. Which one are we most passionate about? If, for example, you were totally into putting lipstick on pigs and you were friends with a bunch of about putting lipstick on pigs, then there is your circle.

    Lydia’s household circle followed her. Much of that was likely cultural and authority (not that it diminishes anyone’s ). Lydia’s God-fearing circle became a focal point, it seems, as it later has become a believers’ hub.

    That leaves the last circle…the weaver/dying circle. We don’t know what, if anything, she did to the members of this circle. As her position remained (owning a household as a woman), she likely continued her trade.

    She was a missionary to the weaver/dying circle. We all have a missionary circle. We must figure out what ours is. It’s easy to default to home or , but those are not, by definition, missionary circles.

    A family can be a missionary circle, especially if you are the only believer, or if there was a walkout from the faith. Church shouldn’t be a missionary circle, yet often the people who need the grace and and forgiveness of the most are in the church.

    Being a missionary is not optional. God is missional. Being a child of God means being missional, too. The more we reflect and model Jesus (the missional model), the more being on God’s mission means being a missionary.

    The pressure is on! However, you cannot be a successful missionary to everyone, nor every circle. You are not God. Which circle is God calling you to be a missionary to?

    ※Questions※

    1) If circles are better than rows (OOO>|||) what does this tell you about your life circles?

    2) Why is having a missionary focus (like a circle) helpful to being a missionary?

    3) Why do you think you are not a missionary?

    ※Prayer※

    Jesus, you came to earth on a mission to reconcile to you. Help us see our mission as the extension and continuation of yours. The same mission that brought us into your loving embrace. Amen.

  • Mercifully Faithful

    Mercifully Faithful

    Matthew 9:9–13; Luke 10:25–37; James 2:5–13

    “For I desire love and not ,
      the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
         — Hosea 6:6 (CSB)

    It’s interesting that the same translation, the CSB, translates Hosea 6:6 with faithful love, while in Matthew 9:13 it’s mercy. What makes it even more interesting is that the same word used for “faithful love” in Hebrew is also used for “mercy”.

    In the context of Hosea, “faithful love” makes sense for the wayward Israelites. One of the issues, though, for the Israelites was that they did not show mercy to the orphans and widows (or, it seems, anyone else).

    One could then conclude (reasonably) that the issue is that one of the ways that the Israelites did not show “faithful love” by not showing “mercy” to those who desperately needed it. It should not be lost on us that faithful love is mercy, and mercy is faithful love.

    The world could use a lot more mercy. Imagine being merciful to your enemies…any of your enemies. They could be political, , religious, national, tribal, even sports teams. Enemies aren’t just those we perceive as being our opposites.

    Sports teams are the perfect example. Some you know probably like a sports team that you don’t (if you’re into sports). There can be times when sports fan blends into tribal then into gang behavior. Football (i.e., soccer) had “hooligan” troubles for many years. Team fans would riot at games and after games, trying to harm each other. Troubling or harming a fan based on their team is certainly not merciful.

    As we delve into , everyone’s favorite topic, being merciful to people who seem to be on the opposite side of you is a Christian . They love their families, too. What if they love Jesus? Then it’s even more important in many ways.

    These days, being merciful means NOT responding to that social media statement, or too snarky comments made in the same tone that it was delivered. If you must (which may be necessary), it should be, “While I love you, we don’t see things in this area the same.” One would that this would be taken well. However, it’s not your responsibility for how they take a lovingly gentle response.

    ※Questions※

    1) What are your thoughts and feelings regarding faithful love as mercy, and mercy as faithful love?

    2) While it sounds strange, how might we show mercy to God?

    3) What are ways that you show and can show mercy to others (hint: think beyond “compassion”)?

    ※Prayer※

    Merciful , we thank you for your mercy, personified by the life, , and of Your Son Jesus. May we show that same spirit of mercy to the world through our faithful love. Amen.

  • Graveside Dancing

    Graveside Dancing

    Psalm 30; Hosea 13:4–14

    Yesterday was the birthday of my stepfather. He passed away years ago. For whatever reason, this year his birthday hit me kind of hard. He and I had our good moments. We had our bad moments. Just like any parent-child . I was his only child.

    At his burial, the priest spoke about his baptism sealing him to Jesus Christ. This was spoken pastorally to people grieving. However, scripturally it has some weaknesses. His life, and to my knowledge, and beliefs were not of Jesus Christ.

    On his death bed, my wife shared the Good News of Jesus Christ. He was in a “non-responsive” state. Yet, she felt a physical response to the invitation to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. Only in Heaven will I if the baptism was “sealing” as the priest said, or whether the physical response truly was an acceptance of Jesus. I can only and in God.

    Why share the angst? “I cried to you for help, and you healed me.” In our pain and sorrow, God is there to “turn [our] lament in dancing”. in Christ in the midst of the pains of life is the life we are called to.

    In lament and pain, it is easy for our in God to be shaken, while at the same time relying more firmly on God will help us through the pain.

    There are many kinds of loss. The verses of Hosea summarize loss. The people lost (walked away from) God. They had experienced blessing, then they lost it. The of loss sounds brutal. Think of it though from God’s anguished heart.

    “…like a bear robbed of her cubs.” Have you seen a momma bear (or many human mothers) separated from their children, with the feeling that the kids are threatened? I’ve seen a recorded version of one and lived the other. Don’t be the one that separates momma from the cubs. Just don’t.

    THAT’S GOD! Something is between momma (God) and the cubs (the children of God)! That is just not going to go well! It could be a that has the name Israel or Judah attached to it.

    THAT is the concept of ransom and redemption. Death and Sheol are not going to be forgiven for taking away the Children of God. The exact mechanism (despite a whole lot of theologians arguing over it for centuries) is unknown. All we know is that heart of God wants to turn our lament into dancing and our sorrow into joy.

    ※Questions※

    1) What’s do you think about dancing at the death of death?

    2) As Christians, why does death still frighten us? If we truly believe that a fellow Christian is in Heaven, why do we grieve?

    3) “Deathbed Conversions” will continue to decrease, as too many don’t know the basics of Jesus. How will you turn regular conversations into God conversations?

    ※Prayer※

    Father, thank you for redeeming us from death through the death and resurrection of your Son. May the guide our hearts to speak the words of Christ to the world. Amen.

  • Dancing in the Streets

    Dancing in the Streets

    Luke 10:17–24; Revelation 19:6–10

    One of the greatest joys a parent can have is the of their children. This isn’t necessarily financial nor even survival. The best times are watching them succeed when they do not think they are capable.

    That’s ‘ when the 72 disciples . They recognized that through Jesus they could now do amazing things. They went out with almost nothing. They came back changed.

    In his book, Rings of , Leonard Sweet says that, “Jesus celebrated, danced, prayed, and let the loose.” That’s the kind of rejoicing that Jesus did.

    This is the kind of rejoicing that occurs in Heaven when the and the . The same kind. This is the joy that Jesus had upon the return of the 72.

    In the days ahead, we will watch and experience friends, , and much of the US population apparently lose common sense as the US Presidential election looms. No one knows what will happen this year, as both political parties have already gathered their legal forces to challenge the results.

    There will be gatherings that mourn the electoral losses. There will be gatherings that celebrate the results. The political talking heads will have their day full of predicting what will happen.

    No matter the result of the election, we will still be able to be rejoicing as we are part of the party in Heaven. We cannot let the ways of the world get the party down.

    ※Questions※

    1) What’s your when you think of Jesus dancing or leaping for joy?

    2) How does Jesus’ joy for the 72 impact you? Does it matter?

    3) How will you keep your “dancing” joy over the next few months with the tension and animosity that will be building?

    ※Prayer※

    Jesus, thank you for giving us lives that rejoice. May we live in such a way that people see the joy of our hearts. Amen.

  • Veritas

    Veritas

    Acts 21:34–22:28

    Have there ever been times in your when you knew speaking the truth would, at best, keep things the way they were? And, at worst, make things horribly wrong? Or, have you had the experience that no matter how much you speak the truth, others only hear lies?

    These scenarios might seem far-fetched, yet, that was exactly what Paul experienced.

    “You speak Greek?”

    “Aren’t you the Assassin ?”

    “You speak Aramaic?”

    “You’re a Roman citizen?”

    Yes, one the first is a literal question. The other 3 are just summarizations of other verses. Yet, the entirety is that Paul was dismissed. He wasn’t .

    People could plenty of false information (that’s what started the riot, after all). Why bother to inspect the truth?

    We are in a weird time. Truth is questioned. Truth is questionable.

    Before you throw into this, understand that the Truth of our remains steadfast. It is the only Truth.

    Paul spoke the Truth. He did not speak the truth that people wanted to hear. This is the same thing that we are seeing now. It is place (schools, homes, churches, governments) agnostic.

    Many of you may have experienced those first questions when you think about spiritual/faith conversations you have had.

    Who are you? A child of God

    What is Truth? That God you so much that he sent his to die to reconcile God’s lost to himself.

    No, the Truth is not comfortable to many, or even most, people. Sharing the Truth will only become harder.

    ※Prayer※

    Father of all Truth, may we have the courage of our faith to share your Truth in with a world that does and doesn’t want to hear it. Amen.