Tag: respond

Prayer Signs
Psalm 65; Exodus 7:14–24; Acts 27:13–38

Do the right thing! Then, do the next right thing! If there is a question of what the right thing is? You’ll just know. Right? Sounds completely rational. You’ll just know.

Except it doesn’t always (or even often for many) work that way. Many times awe-inspiring stories are told of how God answered prayers or provided guidance. If it hasn’t worked for you, yes, perhaps your prayer life needs some work. On the other hand, perhaps God is expecting you to work it through yourself.

Moses and Paul are great examples to look at. They are also not.

Both Moses and Paul are powerfully connected to God. Although the Scriptures tell us all the high and powerful points. They also don’t tell us the times between.

Were Moses and Paul always deeply and intimately connected to God? No. While we can be sure that Moses learned about the God of the Israelites from his biological mother, his life in the court of the Pharaoh would have definitely tempered some of that (though likely there was some warmth for the faith of his mother).

Paul was a strict observer of the Jewish Law. So strictly did he follow the Law, that he vigorously attacked the fledgling faith community of the Way (that became later identified as Christian). We could easily say he was an observant Jew. However, his pre-conversion life would not have had the same connection to God based upon his conversion.

This is not to say that your relationship with God is not significant or deep. It is to say that each of us lives different lives, and how that affects our relationship with God may be significant.

What we can do is to temper ourselves by reading the Scriptures, prayer, and a group of fellow believers that we can be fully open with all our flaws and failures. As we become more shaped by the Scriptures, prayer, and the faithful lives of others, we can begin to expect to understand the guidance that God has been providing to this point, but we were unable to grasp it.

Lastly, though, is the hardest part…and it’s all ours. It is our free will. We can choose to pursue God and God’s will. We still may choose our own.

※Reflection※
- What is the one thing you are looking for an answer from God about?
- What about it is something that you cannot determine yourself?
- What have you done in finding wise Christian counsel to work through this?
※Prayer※

Lord, we pray and wait for answers. Yet, while we wait, you still call us to walk forward day by day trusting in you. Guide us into your will, and mold our hearts to respond to it.
2021-06-21
Defining Justice
Psalm 52; Jeremiah 21:11–14; Revelation 21:22–22:5

“This then is how you should live, begin your morning by administering justice. All those who know and follow the will of God will rescue people from their oppressor, particularly for those whose God promised gift has been stolen from them.” [A paraphrase by Ian]

There is no question that oppression, justice, and theft are phrases that are repeatedly thrown around right now. How they change from place to place and culture to culture also cannot be ignored. There is also a historical aspect to this as the time of Judah and Israel what was meant by this was pretty clear cut.

Today, it isn’t so clear-cut. There are several possible reasons: (1) we’ve made it too complicated, (2) our understanding has matured, (3) we are applying worldly concepts and understandings to Biblical ones. There are probably a couple of more.

In almost all societies in history, there is a gap between those who “have” and those who “have not”. How “having” is just or not is part of the question. For many, medical care is a matter of justice (and they have a lot of unjust things to point to). For others, medical care is a personal matter of responsibility (and they can point to a lot of unjust things, too).

Matters of justice include (depending on perspective) skin color, national origin, first language, career, order, social standing, economics. From the standpoint of the Law, what was oppression and stealing was very clear cut. That doesn’t mean that the Law was followed, hence Jeremiah’s statement about starting the morning with justice. Where it gets really difficult for many of us is beyond the Law version of justice. A great many Christians from the early church to today believe that Jesus went beyond the Law to Love God and Love Others. Yes, that is the summation of the Law and the Prophets provided by Jesus. Yet, Jesus also commands to not sin, and he expanded (yes, expanded) the concept of sin from actions to relations.

Administering justice is easy when it is written down and defined sharply, though some of the gymnastics lawyers and judges go to redefine things gets interesting at times. So, what happens when it is relationships? If you want a simple answer, I’m sure someone sells a book on it.

Justice is not the same across all situations. It would be nice. Different people, different contexts, different histories, create different justice. Yep, there. A different justice.

※Reflection※
- How do you emotionally respond to different justice issues?
- How do you think through the Law and Jesus when you think about justice issues?
- Why is it worth, and why is it essential, to wrestle with justice, especially in the light of the City of God from Revelation?
※Prayer※

Lord, help us to live, love, learn, heal, and reconcile all things and peoples justly; where you define just. Amen.
2021-06-15
Changing Diapers

Psalm 74; Isaiah 26:16–27:1; Luke 11:14–28

When Joni (my wife) was pregnant with our first (to be born) child, we had an odd conversation with another couple. They told us (almost mockingly) that soon our conversation would change to include the color and consistency of our child’s poop. We chuckled. That was ridiculous. Who would talk about poop so much that a couple would bring that up? A few months after our first was born, we had to laugh at ourselves when we realized that was exactly what had happened.

Before our first was born, we could read lots of books and received lots of advice. Nothing prepared us for being a parent. Conversing about poop was only a minor life change. A weird one, definitely, but only a minor one.

For those of us on the other side of pregnancy, we tend to forget what we were like before it. When Isaiah talks about pregnancy and childbirth, we envision that, but we neglect the before. Just like we could never imagine talking about baby poop as a topic of conversation, we couldn’t understand the life change of having a child…until it happened.

The same really can be said of Israel. They didn’t understand. There were a few who got it, but they were (it seems) very few indeed: Moses, Joshua (mostly), maybe a couple of judges (though most were a mess), Samuel, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and the other prophets (major and minor). To round up, that’s maybe 30 over 1500-ish years. Granted, these are the ones written about. So, if we round up even more to 300 people, every 5 years of Israel’s history (prior to Jesus), a single person gets it.

Before someone proverbially smacks me, most of the Israelites are followers (and, yes, the numbers are hyperbole). They followed where the leaders led (sometimes). Sounds kind of like us.

So, when we get to Jesus, we get the testing and questioning and just flat out not believing. Yes, we think we would respond better to Jesus than “those” people obviously did. Except, we are on the other side of the pregnancy.

We have the Holy Spirit. For us, looking back we see where God was moving. The Jews to this day also see where God was moving, as do the Muslims. We, however, see Jesus. That is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

That is the gift that people pre-Pentecost didn’t have (even the disciples). It is the gift of those who know Jesus or who have responded to the nudging of the Holy Spirit through prevenient (that which goes before salvation) grace.

Being aware and recalling what we were like before knowing Jesus through the Holy Spirit will help us reach the world. There is a caveat to this. For those who knew Jesus as a child, this may be very hard, unless there was a significant spiritual crisis of some sort in later years (based on my witness of this). So, if you don’t know the pre-pregnancy (i.e., pre-Holy Spirit) life, that’s okay. God will still use your life and story to reach others.

Many people will question our faith, not because it is unbelievable (though many will use that word), but because the Holy Spirit has not been ignited in them. We are to remember that almost all of humanity was like that. We were no different. We give them grace and love in this, for God did the same for us.

※Reflection※

If you were a teen or adult when you came to know Jesus, what life like before then? If you were a child when you came to know Jesus, what spiritual “desert” or “wilderness” did you experience that transformed your faith into something greater?

※Prayer※

Holy Spirit, help us to recall what transformed our relationship with God through you so that we are able to translate that into the lives of those yet unsaved. Amen.

2021-06-09
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
And Now What?

Psalm 98; Isaiah 42:5–9; Acts 10:34–43

It is not, by far, unique to American Christianity to be tied to a country. God fought for England, Scotland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia, and plenty of other places supposedly, as leaders quickly pulled God in their plans of military conquest (or defense). God, and in particular the brand (i.e., Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, etc.), was used to support the war (often against other Christians, sadly).

If historians and church critics were honest and while the church often was part of it, most of it was really about politics, power, jealousy, and wealth (maybe some honor). The Israelites were set apart as a nation of God-followers. They were unique as being the nation of God and the People of God. No human could take that away from them. It remained part of their self-identity even as they wandered from God.

Isaiah’s call was transformed from that of an Israelite to the Israelites, to that of an Israelite to the world. That this was in the midst of relocation, the threat of deportation, and the reality of being dominated makes it especially powerful. When one is assaulted, one tends to turn inward. If one turns outward, it is usually on the attack. Isaiah reached outward (in a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ) to restore, reconcile, and call the world to God.

Thus, Peter’s words are really nothing more than the conclusion to the stage that was set with Isaiah all the way back to Abraham. God is for the world to be reconciled to God!

The message of Christ—the message of God—seems to have been lost by the church, who is called to be the messenger, ambassador, and bride of God.

Many of us have not learned the basics of our faith. Many of us have not learned how to speak well of our faith. Many of us have not learned how to be brave in the face of those who do not believe.

We are called to reflect and respond. What God has called us to do, we should be doing, even though we may be very bad at it. While God will praise the results, God cherishes the hearts the pursues the aim of God…reconciliation of the world to the one who created it.

※Reflection※

What are your thoughts about how you will be responding and learning to respond to God’s call on your life?

※Prayer※

Jesus, we are called by your title—Christ. Help us to be called by your mission, that we bring the world to your embrace. Amen.

2021-05-07
A Different Movement
Psalm 22:25–31; Amos 8:11–13; Acts 8:9–25

The diminished place in American society that the American church is finally beginning to truly wrestle with is where the church was in many other Western countries many decades ago. As it processes what this means, the American church what it means when “its place” is not the one of honor nor power.

God, however, isn’t as concerned about the church, per se, but about its people. The people (e.g., the future descendants of Psalm 22:30) will still proclaim the glory, mercy, and love of God. How it’s done, however, will be changing rapidly over the next few years. This isn’t the first time.

Much of what Jesus opposed during his time of ministry developed when God was quiet (the time between Malachi and John the Baptist). God was very quiet. Yes, there were pious and spirit-led people during those times. They led the people and helped the people. Sadly, over that same time period, others developed ways to “meet the mark” that resulted in broken hearts and spirits, and not in a good way.

The Western church may be in such a place. On the other hand, some of the Western churches aren’t experiencing decline; they are experiencing revival! While they are the exception, it just shows that God is moving.

There are plenty of Simons in the world. They are successful. They have influence. They have money. Yet, there will be those who, like Simon, will find the message about Jesus to be irresistible and abandon it all.

Like Peter, though, we will still need to disciple them so that they understand what it means to follow Christ. Even in the church today, there are people who bargain with God. Some will give so that God will give them what they think they want. There are a lot of Simons even in the church.

How God will speak, how God will move, how people will respond are all in question at this point. We cannot make any assumptions. Nor can we remain comfortable or complacent. God will act, let’s hope we’re beside God as it happens.

※Reflection※
- What changes in church do you see?
- What changes in you do you see toward God’s movement?
- How do you see how you will share about Jesus changing?
- What are your expectations for how God will move?
※Prayer※

Lord, as we wait for your movement, help us to be aware of the little movements all around us, so that we may be present when the big movements come. Amen.
2021-04-30
At The Gates
Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29; Jeremiah 33:10–16; Mark 10:32–34, 46–52

When we read the word “barren” in Jeremiah, we often think it is talking about the land, in particular the environment. The barrenness is in regard to people, in particular, God’s people (and their herds). They will soon no longer reside in the Promised Land, praising and worshiping God.

Poor decisions made by the People of God led to the barrenness and their exile. In response to their despair of exile, God promises them restoration. They have not even repented and God already promises their return. God spoke hope into the darkness. God spoke hope in the face of the people’s fear.

Fear is often a response to the unknown. Fear is also a response when we think we know what bad will come to pass. Those that followed Jesus behind the Disciples likely presumed the demise of this Messiah (self-declared Messiahs weren’t unknown, and they all died). They weren’t wrong.

This particular journey of Jesus to Jerusalem would indeed end in Jesus’ death. Those that feared weren’t wrong. Without being too specific (we have to remember that we often read the end into Jesus’ words, and the Disciples weren’t there, yet), Jesus spoke hope to the fear. Even while describing what would happen to him, Jesus spoke hope into the darkness.

The story of blind Bartimaeus seems to be just one of those stories of Jesus, but don’t overlook its placement within the context of Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem. Bartimaeus was physically blind. Bartimaeus, on the other hand, had spiritual vision. We could just dismiss his cries to Jesus as pure desperation. Jesus, though, doesn’t seem to respond to sole desperation at other points in the Scriptures. Bartimaeus was something more. It seems quite reasonable that Bartimaeus’ place in the Gospel was to represent a counterpoint to the physically sighted who were spiritually blind.

The particularly glaring issue with the spiritually blind was how much vision they thought they had regarding spiritual issues, and definitely someone as significant as the Messiah. The so-called enlightened being compared to the least (a physically impaired person whose only source of income was through begging) would have been quite insulting.

Mark’s intent likely was that jarring comparison. As Mark wrote after the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, Mark (along with other followers of Jesus) would be striving to confront those that thought they were spiritually enlightened with the world-changing Jesus.

※Reflection※
- Which is your strongest tendency? (1) Seeing the bad that can/will happen and being overwhelmed with your fear of it (i.e., like those who followed the Disciples), (2) So consumed with the spectacle that your are blind to the darkness around or ahead of you (i.e., the Disciples), (3) Are sure you know that bad or darkness ahead but face it with the peace and strength of God (i.e., like Jesus)?
- Are you quick to assume you have Godly spiritual vision, or do you wonder if you are spiritually blind?
※Prayer※

Lord, each of us have different responses to the world and its struggles. Help us to build Godly responses to the darkness. Amen.
2021-03-27
Star Light Star Bright

Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29; Jeremiah 33:1–9; Philippians 2:12–18

I’m guilty. I’m guilty of not seeing God’s many blessings. God’s blessings have been more than I could count, granted, but I should count more of them. I was convicted by Jeremiah 33:9, “They will be in total awe at all the good and prosperity I provide for them.”

※ When was the last time you were awed by all the good and prosperity that God has provided? ※

If you’re like me, you could look at all our troubles and disagreements on race, (any) immigration, political party, president, COVID practices, and ask, “Good? Prosperity?” This is where we humans tend to get ourselves in trouble, especially when we evaluate God. Just saying “evaluate God” sounds unwise, doesn’t it? Yet, when we ask God, “why,” and don’t keep in mind the blessings, this is often exactly what we do.

※ Is your tendency to ask God, “Why”, before praising God?※

Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Do everything without grumbling and arguing.” We’ve been pretty awful at that lately, as a nation. People of all political stripes and persuasion have developed a habit of ad hominem attacks (attacking individuals, not policy). The “gridlock” of Washington, D.C., will get far worse because of it. That, brothers and sisters, is where we come in.

※ Imagine responding to attacks on people with a grace-filled commentary on a policy. What would the response be? ※

This is not a blind hope that a “gentle answer will turn away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). There actually isn’t much expectation that Christians will change the tenor of conversation (although we’ve been some of the most guilty). Changing the general tenor isn’t our job, nor is it our responsibility. It is our tenor that is our responsibility.

The reason for keeping the blessings and prosperity in mind is that is a good way to cultivate our hearts to be warm and full of love, which allows us to respond in a Christ-honoring way. As they are God’s blessings and prosperity, they are not ours. Another way of saying it is that since it is God’s, we shouldn’t be holding onto what isn’t ours so tightly. Our responses to others need to be inspired and driven by the generosity and grace of God.

Before someone asks, “I’m to be a doormat?” No. Turning the other cheek refers to being insulted. Going the extra mile is acting above and beyond the requirements. As Paul phrased it, “Among these people you shine like stars in the world because you hold on to the word of life.”

※ If someone with whom you have strongly disagreed were asked, would you be described as gasoline on a fire or as a star in the world? ※

※Prayer※

Lord, when you called Abraham to look at the stars, he saw a legacy of children. Help us, Lord, to not just to be a number amongst the stars, but to embody the light of the stars into a world darkened by sin. Amen.

2021-03-26
Wait and See
Psalm 110:1–4; Exodus 19:7–25; Hebrews 2:1–4

God tells the “master” (king) to “sit”. It is quite common today for rulers to sit while the armies go forth to wage war or defend the nation. When the Psalm was written, it was normal that kings/rulers went to war with the armies. So, for the ruler/master/king to sit was to say that the war/battle would be won without their presence. As it is God saying it, it’s more along the lines of, “I’ve got this.”

In our American thinking, we often think we have to do it ourselves. There is a reason why we think of “good” businesspeople having “pulled themselves up by their bootstraps.” If we analyze that phrase, we can see that it may have not been a positive statement, but a tongue-in-cheek quip that someone was quite arrogant in thinking they did by themselves.

As we read the Scriptures, it becomes apparent that often the call on God’s people is not to do great things, but to witness and testify to the great things that God has done. When God has done great things, the pressure is often taken off of us, because it is not by our strength of will. When we testify, often we have to testify to our weakness and testify to God’s strength in the face of our weakness.

When the people meet God at Mount Sinai, their actions are minimal. They are to prepare, listen and respond. You might think that “obey” would be part of that, but obedience would be lived out, and obedience would be part of their testimony to the world of what God has done.

The story of Exodus may have a lot of anecdotal stories of Moses, Aaron, and the people of Israel. However, most of the stories are witnesses of God’s glory and might. Even during the plagues, while Moses had his part, it was God who was the major actor.

Exodus was, along with the other books of the Pentateuch (Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) are formational to what it meant to be an Israelite. The books were not only a witness of God, they were also the witness to and for the Israelites.

As they were formational, they were core to being Israelite. Yet, it is amazing how people can be formed by something they do not know. We’d say that this couldn’t be, yet even being an “American” is often based upon far too many things we only think we know.

The author of Hebrews speaks of drifting away. Often, especially in a country as blessed as ours, it is very easy to quickly forget our salvation. Our lives are (despite a bad economy, COVID, and grace-less politics) blessed. This is not to diminish the hardships that people experience here. In fact, because of the blessedness, it makes such hardships an even greater travesty.

Drifting away is subtle. It takes time. A quick divergence (or apostasy) is easy to grasp. It is when it happens over time (years, decades, centuries) that it becomes the hardest to recognize. When it happens over time, it also becomes hard to determine Truth versus fact.

We are in such a time as this, if we’ve ever left it all. Perhaps this should be our greatest fear as the church…we have lost what should make us different than the world.

The deepest, darkest, and saddest aspect of this drifting away is that we cease being witnesses of God, and our lives ceasing being witnesses to God. While we are called to wait and see what will do, we are called to say what God has done.

※Reflection※
- What ways have you been tempted to “drift away” from faith?
- What kinds of “drifting away” damages our witness the most?
- What is the danger in not “waiting and see” what God does? What is the danger in “waiting and see”? How does discern when to be still and when to act?
※Prayer※

God, you have called us to witness what you have done, and to be witnesses. Help us to be faithful to that call. Amen.
2021-02-15
Off To Where
Psalm 46; Genesis 12:1–9; 1 Corinthians 7:17–24

A number of years ago, Randy Craker (our District Superintendent), shared a message with the college-aged students of our ministry. He talked about how their time, whether being in college or not, was their time before going out of the “land” they knew.

One of the hardest things about leading college ministry wasn’t the students. They were a joy. The frustration was with people who didn’t understand why we (whether us as leaders or the church in general) would invest time and effort in people who weren’t going to stay. It was hard to understand that the entire point of the ministry was to launch the students and to “take” God with them wherever God would take them.

DS Craker understood that these young people were already called out of the places they called home and would be headed into the world. Air Force Officer, teacher, nurse, pastor, mom, dad are some of the titles/responsibilities of these students. Who were we to question where God was sending them?

One of the misleading aspects of this is that the “calling out” is done at that point. Many people act as if the call will only come when we’re young. Abram wasn’t a young man. The call disrupted his life.

There is no “magic” age or place when God calls you. If we learn anything from the Old Testament, God will call a person regardless of age.

Often, we want God to call us out of the place we are in. At other times, we want God to keep us where we are at. Often, though, God calls us exactly where we are.

Imagine how those who heard Paul’s letter read out loud (that’s how these letters were originally shared) felt. “If you’re a slave, while you’re free in Christ, you’re still a slave. Be happy.” If you were a slave, celebrating your freedom in Christ, and then this.

The Greeks likely still felt a bit “second” to the Jews. They were probably relieved (especially the men) that circumcision was discouraged.

Paul’s comment to the Jews was interesting. Apparently, there were Jews that were now trying to be Greek (or Gentile). How that was happening is unclear. There is some mocking as it was, at that time, impossible to become uncircumcised (theoretically, it is possible with today’s medical technology).

Paul’s words are somewhat prescriptive. We should not expect that choosing to follow Jesus will change our circumstances, nor might it change the where and when of our lives. The biggest change, of course, is the perspective we take with us.

※Reflection※
- Why do you think that some people are called out of their circumstances/places, while others are called to remain?
- Why is it important to understand that both calls are equally valid?
- Looking at Paul’s letter, what is common among believers? Why is that important?
※Prayer※

Lord, may we follow your calling on our lives. Grant us the discernment whether we are called to stay or called to move. Regardless, give us the peace to know that we rest in your will. Amen.
2021-01-24