Devotion.al

Tag: response

  • One of the Fam

    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. publicly equated non-blood relations as equal to familial relations.

    The was first in the culture. A good way to think of it is how a person is called in many Asian countries. The family comes before the personal/ 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 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 ) 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 that we are indeed family, despite our many differences. May our lives together be ones of 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 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 and its people?

  • Owed

    Owed

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

    is a powerful force. , envy, and 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 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 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.

    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 anything (including vengeance) except love. Sounds kind of strange.

    We often operate in 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 us. Amen.

    ※Question※

    Love as owed. What is your immediate to that?

  • Red or White?

    Red or White?

    Genesis 18:16–33; Jeremiah 5:1–9; Romans 3:5–24

    God hates me. God would/could never love me. God doesn’t care about me. No one can measure up to that standard.

    Any of those sound familiar?

    When we read stories such as Sodom and Gomorrah it is easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer immensity of destruction. Yet, there in the story there something important to read.

    Abraham’s questions about the 50, 45,40, 30, 20, 10 and the to the question gives us some insight. From all appearances, there was one man…Lot. Even Lot’s “” might have more to do with Abraham’s and not Lot’s (see Genesis 19:29).

    From our human perspective, what happened seems out of proportion. The ways of Sodom and Gomorrah were obviously long wrong.  God did not do this on a whim. Yet, in the middle of all the wrong, 10 righteous people would have prevented disaster.

    As the of the glory of Judah approached, there, too, was an opportunity to change everything. All it would have taken is one righteous person. As the show, however, that was not to be.

    What does this say about us? tells us that it is the very unrighteousness of humanity that displays the righteousness of God. Even in that, there is grace.

    There is a long list that is part of Paul’s words. It is a list (Romans 3:10–18) condemning humanity for its response to God. Why would God want such creatures?

    If you had someone who constantly said bad things to you, tossed your gifts at your feet (or the garbage), and gave credit everyone but you about the good things you’d done for them, what your response be?

    God’s answer was through the cross. Truth? We aren’t worthy by any measure of that sacrifice. Truth? God did it out of love.

    ※Prayer※

    , thank you for the cross. Father God, thank you for your on us. Spirit, thank you for drawing us to you. Amen.

    ※Questions※

    1) When you read Paul’s list, how does it feel? To you feel condemned or judged? Or, do you feel something else?

    2) How does grace and feel in the face of that list?

    3) What do you think your ongoing response should be as a result?

  • Wicks Asmoldering

    Wicks Asmoldering

    Isaiah 7:1–9; Philippians 4:4–9

    Ahaz received encouraging words from God through Jeremiah. Jeremiah, often called the weeping prophet, was not exactly known for positive words. Ahaz, not altogether faithful, received a positive message.

    In many respects, Christians in the States are like Ahaz. Far too many are lukewarm. They think they do “enough”.

    Ahaz wanted enough of God to be safe, at the moment. Over the long-haul, however, Ahaz wasn’t so faithful, and in fact, destroyed much of the temple to another God.

    In the passage from Isaiah, the two powers fighting over Jerusalem (the ones that terrified Ahaz and the of Jerusalem) were called smoldering wicks. This was not a phrase of respect. There was plenty of smoke (blustering) from the two, but no (power).

    Ahaz took it for the moment, but he, like the rest of us, was overwhelmed by his immediate surroundings. His faith was not based on the sureness of God’s faithful . His faith was rocked to and fro by the strongest winds.

    Whether it is political parties, the media, social networks, rumors, the latest social fad, Christians are just as likely as to listen and follow the blowing smoke. In times like these, looking to Christ FIRST before a particular thought stream must be our first .

    The fractures in US society in particular, but even the rest of the world, has come into focus with simultaneous events. There, sadly, has often been an immediate response based on our political beliefs or any other biases that we each have. And we all have them.

    The most saddening part is how this affects our Christian . When we respond to the social waves rather than to Christ, we diminish Christ. Even worse, by our actions, we say that Jesus Christ is less than a smoldering wick.

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, help us keep the peace that surpasses all understanding. As the powers of the world try to influence us to follow them, rather than you, may you, , keep us firmly grounded in the faithful love of God. Amen.

    ※Questions※

    1) Who (more than one) are the smoldering wicks of today?

    2) When we follow people as they want, who are we showing the world (and ourselves) who we really have forefront in our hearts and thoughts?

    3) How does being lukewarm allow for listening to the “smoking wicks” rather than Jesus?

  • There’s Lots More

    Matthew 13:1–23; 2 Corinthians 9:6–15; James 1:5–8

    One of the arguments against God and the saving work of Christ is that people can’t . And there isn’t much to say against that.

    What often goes along with that is seeing the “work” of God. This is ever present, and ever available. People are often blind to it.p>God’s flows over each and everyone of us. It is an amazing thing. It’s right there. You still have to be open to it and look for it.

    God is not just the sower. God is a generous sower. The kind of sowing presented in the parable is just plain nuts.

    No farmer, whether now or then, would cast good seed on bad ground. The farmer would prepare the ground, and not just leave it to chance.

    God doesn’t leave it to chance either, nor are we “just” the ground that receives God’s seeds of faith, , and . Our response is the kind of ground we are.

    Sometimes, bad ground requires extra work. The seed may be cast while the ground is poor, but overtime the ground can be changed to the point where the falling seed now falls on fertile ground.

    Beyond comprehension (and selfishness), God spreads the Word of God liberally, not only so that no one may claim that they received nothing; God is generous and does so being that way.

    As we walk in this world, we need to look for God’s generous sowing. Help to be God’s co-laborers in sowing the seeds of love, hope, and faith.

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, in our , help us be strong. Grant us the and endurance to be the same as you, generously sowing the word in love and generosity. Amen.

    ※※

    1) Do you view the world from a of scarcity or plenty?

    2) Why does God sowing generously everywhere matter? What does that tell you about God?

  • Time Alone

    Time Alone

    Matthew 14:1–23

    Jesus’ cousin and herald was dead. He was murdered. Why was he murdered? He called the powerful to account.

    Herod’s marriage to Herodias had some issues. Herod had visited Herodias while she was still married to Herod’s brother, Philip. They decided they like each other, so they decided to be married.

    However, Herodias didn’t want to share the house with Herod’s current wife who wisely read the writing on the wall and fled to her ‘s house. As a historical aside, this created bad feelings and ultimately led to the military defeat of Herod, eventual downfall and exile.

    So, Herod wasn’t really divorced or a widower. His brother was still alive. Yet Herod married his brother’s wife. The only time in Jewish law that was appropriate was when the brother had died with no son.

    John the Baptist condemned it. Herod, probably more to please Herodias than anything, put John in jail. Herodias wasn’t satisfied, and we read the of the story.

    Jesus’ first wasn’t to call Herod to account. Jesus made no public declaration at all. How different than our current age.

    Jesus’ first response was to withdraw. Just like the rest of us at times, Jesus was not going to just move on. It is easy to infer that Jesus needed time to grieve and spend the Father, even though the do not give a full explanation.

    Not that it’s bad to step away and grieve. It’s healthy, and there is a Jewish practice that goes with that (something that the needs to approach). 

    Even more so for Jesus, John was his herald, his baptizer, his cousin, and probably the one person that Jesus felt a spiritual kinship due to their tied- callings.

    What happened next is sad, but we see it today. A famous person has a bad (or good) event, and people clamor around them. Famous people today have PR people deliver a statement that often asks for personal and private space to grieve. How sad that it isn’t given automatically.

    Jesus may have intended such, but then see how he loved them. Jesus his needs for .

    However, there are a couple of pieces that need to be addressed. First, the amount of time spent was actually minimal. It also had an . Then once the people were satisfied, he sent the disciples away, the people away, and he had time between himself and God.

    Often the focus is that Jesus set his needs aside for others. He did. Jesus also still made sure his needs were met.

    In times of trial and trouble, such as caring for family that are ill, it is easy to set one’s needs aside. In the end, that breaks us unnecessarily. Not only are we hurt, but often we hurt others as our internal limits are broken.

    We are not machines that can go and go. Honestly, machines can’t either. Machines need maintenance. So do we. Make sure that you are finding time for yourself and finding time for God. This is not a waste of time. It is what makes the rest of the time sustainable.

    ※Prayer※

    Jesus, as we live in a high-performance culture, help us to keep the vital rhythm of care for ourselves and fellowship with you. Amen.

    ※Questions※

    1) What practices do you have to “maintain” yourself? Do you have any that involve doing nothing?

    2) Have you ever experience relief of anguish or pain because you were distracted by other needs? What happened to the anguish or pain?

  • Ready! Set!

    Ready! Set!

    Luke 5:1–11; Luke 6:12–16; Luke 9:1–6; Luke 9:28–36; Luke 24:44-49; Acts 2:14 (read online ⧉)

    What’s your 6-month plan? What’s your 12-month plan? What’s your 3-year plan? What’s your 10-year plan?

    Some variation of this question is often asked of high school students, college students, recent graduates, job interviewees. In this particular time of COVID-19, it seems a little far-fetched to even make a plan.

    Depending on your personality and training/learning, you may have a plan laid out for even 10- or 20-years. look at their past life and the future, and say why bother? Who knows what the next monkey-wrench will be.

    Businesses have begun to learn, thanks to the start-up culture, that rigid plans are deadly. There is a term for it, agile. Businesses are now called to be agile by their stockholders. It’s a necessity as the next technological disruption is just around the corner. Other disruptions, like COVID-19, are much harder to be agile toward, however, companies that already had some agility were better able to respond.

    If you look at the verses from Luke in sequence and ending with Acts, you see a change in plans. Peter is a major focal point as he moves from fisherman, to acquaintance, to follower (i.e., disciple), to inner-circle follower, to faith healer and herald, to an even smaller inner-circle, to transformed (by the Spirit), to preacher and leader. This was not part of Peter’s plan.

    At the point we Peter, his lifetime plan is fisherman. Three years later he’s the leader (of leaders) of a religious movement! Peter met , and the plan…it was gone.

    It’s not that plans are bad. Jesus even praised (Luke 14:28-32). However, we have to be and willing to toss out our plans when Jesus calls.

    Plans are our way to control our circumstances. This is why we have planning departments. This is even how we have modern agriculture. Planning is good.

    Planning still has to yield to Jesus’ . That’s where we often fail.

    There will be many churches, businesses, cities, and even families that will not recover from COVID-19. In many cases, no amount of planning will prevent that. On the other hand, churches (especially) chose to not be agile, because that is not the way we’ve done it before.

    Churches chose to die, rather than respond to Jesus Christ’s call for them to be agile in how they performed their mission. It could be, sadly, that they forgot the only mission that they had, “Go and make disciples…baptizing them…teaching them…”

    On a personal level, just like an organizational level, we need to be agile. Our plans (as much as we want them to be) cannot be rigid and inflexible.

    Whether it was the leaders (it was) or the people (it was) forgoing the mission for the sake of “the plan”, it means that “the plan” became the mission, and Jesus became a mascot.

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, us your plans. Help us to release our plans. May we be the salt of the earth that you have called us to be. Amen.

    ※※

    1) What would be your if God were to turn your plans upside down? What in your current life would you be willing to give up to follow God’s plan?

    2) What are your plans right now? If you have none, why not? Should you? If you do have plans when was your last time to renew/refresh it?

    3) Why do you think churches have a hard time changing plans?

  • How We Live

    How We Live

    Galatians 3:1–9; Galatians 5:16–18; James 2:18–26 (read online ⧉)

    Is it faith or works? What saves you? That’s a pretty important question.

    From a historical Jewish , it was works. The entire sacrificial system seemed to be about works. This meant that from their perspective, (and the Messiah) would only come through perfectly performing the Law.

    Christians tend toward the faith side. In fact, while Martin Luther struggled with this exact passage in James. He wanted to toss out the book of James because it seemed contrary to grace. Martin Luther chose to respect the “doctors” of the church and kept the book of James even in the first Lutheran bible.

    As the doctors of the church discerned that James was an inspired book of the Bible, we cannot ignore it, either. Nor should we fall into an extreme view of works.

    Martin Luther struggled with how the was often lived out among Roman Catholics. They would perform acts (such as penance) without . He saw a conflict there. It was a significant point to Luther as during his monastic years he was known for returning back to his confessor moments after he left due to some errant thought that might be a .

    Imagine that way! The reality is that many Christians did and do live that way. This even among those who would hold Roman Catholicism as a bad way to live, especially in Evangelical circles. The constant weight of guilt kills hearts and souls!

    Most of James’ concerns were with consistency between espoused faith (what we say) and a lived-out faith (what we do). In James’ time, some believed that they could have faith, but that works were unimportant. The private faith was what mattered. The public faith was nice, but not necessary.

    , however, was concerned with people trying to be like the Jews, and doing all these “things” to get their salvation. He drove the point with grace, not works. Paul’s constant push on it often causes the church, as a whole, to put it first (which it is) and only (which it isn’t).

    James didn’t want people to emulate the Jews, he wanted them to live out their faith. Live like your faith means something and has transformed you. Paul didn’t want actless Christians. In his letters, there was quite a lot about behavior. Works (or faith lived out) were important to Paul, too.

    For both Paul and James, works were lived out as a to God’s grace and movement in the lives of believers. Works were what got you saved. Works are a result of you being saved.

    ※Prayer※

    Lord, by grace you have called us into your family. By grace, we are called Childen of God. By grace, let us like it. Amen.

    ※Questions※

    1) What acts show the world that you are saved? How do they do so?

    2) If a person does not display (via acts) a so-called Christian life, are they saved? Why or why not?

    3) How do you balance question 1 and question 2?