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Wolves among us

Another crazy week, with awful news in the headlines:  Gun violence at a baseball park, a shooter targeting people whose views are different than his, a child sent home in a coma after being sentenced to hard labor for expressing through his actions a view contrary to that of a foreign government, another shooting in a workplace by an employee who feels overworked.  When will it stop?

Tonight the Bible opened to one of Paul’s speeches in Acts:

“But now I know that none of you to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again.  And so I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God.  Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you overseers in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood.  I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.  And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them.  So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day, I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.  And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.  I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.  You know well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions.  In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 20:25-38

Paul warns us that there are wolves among us.  For more than 2000 years, there have been wolves among us who try to pervert the truth and pull us away from God.  I think we often feel like we are living in an era worse than the past, but maybe that is just because for the first time in history we see 24/7 all of the bad things that happen anywhere in the world.  Imagine if we instead focused on all of the good stories.

I believe we are becoming more faithful — or maybe I am just noticing it more because I am being more faithful.  I am thinking about God more.  I wear part of His prayer on a noticeable bracelet which reminds me and, hopefully, others of His plan and His will.   I notice others who are sharing their faith either by words or actions.  I notice God’s goodness.  It changes my perspective about the bad in the world.  I know it is still there, but I know there is a force more powerful.  There are so many good people in the world who are doing their part to spread God’s message, to help the weak and to live by his gracious word.  There is good — much more good than evil.  Let’s celebrate that!

Lord,

I know you have plans for us.  Thank you for giving us free choice.  I choose you.  I wish everyone would choose you.  Help me to serve others, to help the weak and to keep in mind your word.  Help me to share my faith so others can see the good in the world.

 

 

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A Revelation

I will admit the Book of Revelation scares me. So I thought about turning to another page when the Bible opened to Revelation tonight.  But, I decided to give it a chance:

Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”  I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“For this reason they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple.  The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.  They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them.  For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:13-17

Surprisingly,  this passage makes sense to me.  I want to be one of the ones wearing a white robe.  I want to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.  What do I have to do?  I have to survive the time of great distress.  It doesn’t say they did something great — they just survived — and then they washed in the blood of the Lamb.  I feel pretty certain that we all face times of great distress.  We have to survive and turn to Jesus to wash away our sins.  To fully wash we have to expose ourselves completely, we have to trust and release everything to God.  And we have to believe.  I believe Jesus died for me.  And I believe He died for you.

And then we will stand before God’s throne.  We will be able to worship Him day and night.  And we will not hunger or thirst anymore.  We will finally be satisfied and we will finally feel safe.  Jesus is the way — He leads us to springs of life-giving water — in it we can be cleansed, we can have ever lasting life — and we will have no more tears and no more times of great distress.

Lord,

You are great indeed! So loving and caring.  You lead me to all things that are good.  I know with you at my side, I can survive.  And with you leading me, I can accomplish all things.   I worship you!  I adore you!  You alone are my savior!  You alone are my Lord!

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Get back on the bike

Philippians is one of my favorite books of the Bible.  Like many of Paul’s writings, it provides the human perspective to Jesus’ teachings and describes what it is we are supposed to be doing.  Today the Bible opened here again:

It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity,* but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ [Jesus].  Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead,  I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.  Let us, then, who are “perfectly mature” adopt this attitude. And if you have a different attitude, this too God will reveal to you.  Only, with regard to what we have attained, continue on the same course.

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us.  For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.

Philippians 3:12-21

My eyes are drawn to this line:  “Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead,  I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.”  I have read this passage many times before, but I don’t think I ever paid attention to it.  What a great reminder of how we must live.  Every day we have to wake up and forget about what lies behind — the mistakes we have made, our sins and transgressions.  We have to put them behind us, because God does.  God forgives us.  Instead we must strain forward, lean in — all in — to what lies in front of us — God’s upward calling.  Just like we are all taught as children, we have to get back on the bike when we fall off (and we fall off daily).  Get back on and keep pedaling toward Christ.  We can do that.  Forget about the past and lean, strain, toward God.  Each day we can choose to wake up and do this — this is the attitude we need.  And each day, even though we fail, we will get a step closer to God.

Dear God,

I know you have great things planned for us.  Thank you for your grace and mercy when we fail.    Help us to let go of our transgressions and mistakes.  Help us to keep straining in the right direction.

 

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Be strong in Jesus

It has been one of those days. And now that I finally have time to sit down, God has this for me:

So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well.  Bear your share of hardship along with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  To satisfy the one who recruited him, a soldier does not become entangled in the business affairs of life.  Similarly, an athlete cannot receive the winner’s crown except by competing according to the rules.  The hardworking farmer ought to have the first share of the crop.  Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.  Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory.  This saying is trustworthy:

If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us.  If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

2 Timothy 2:1-13

The first sentence is so renewing! “So, you my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”  Not so thrilled about the idea of “Bear your share of hardship…”, but it is a good reminder that we all have hardship.  And our hardship is nothing compared to that suffered by Jesus for us.  And nothing compared to that suffered by God, who sent his only son to endure that suffering so that we could be free, so that we could come to know Him and overcome our sin.  No matter how hard life gets, how many disappointments we face, how many changes, uncertainties and challenges we endure, we always have hope in front of us.  The hope of joining Jesus Christ.  “If we have died with him we shall also live with him: if we persevere we shall also reign with him.”  I pray that we can all persevere, that no matter how dark the night seems, we can remember the sun that God provides each morning and the Son that God provides for our ultimate awakening on our final morning.  “So, you my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

God,

You are amazing!  Thank you for the grace that you provide!  Help me to bear my share of hardship so that I can be a proper witness to you.  I am sorry for the times that I have denied you by my words or actions.  Thank you for sending your son for us.  Thank you for taking the pain from our rejection, but continuing to love us.  I love you!

 

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Put the buts behind!

Today’s passage makes me sad.

When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him.  On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.  When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”  Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”  And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “[Lord,] let me go first and bury my father.”  But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead.  But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”  [To him] Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:51-62

“The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”  There was no room in the inn at the time of his birth, the Samaritans did not welcome Him, and how many times are we not welcoming, do we turn Him away?  How many times do we put other things in front of following Him?  How many times do we say through our actions: “I want to follow you, but now is just not a good time, can you come back tomorrow, or the next day? or maybe after summer is over?”  Unfortunately, it is easy to read this passage and feel like I am looking in a mirror.  I know I am not always welcoming.  And I know I put other things ahead of following God.

Urgh! I wish I could break that mirror and follow Jesus more fully, faithfully without looking back.  I want to follow Him without any buts!

So, as I read the passage and think about how it reflects on my own life, I am saddened and ashamed.  Then I read the part where Jesus rebukes the apostles who want to bring retribution to the Samaritans who won’t welcome Jesus.  Even when we turn our backs on Him, Jesus does not respond in kind.  Jesus does not punish those who turn away.   Jesus just keeps walking, He doesn’t rest.    He does not  force us to follow Him.  (Sometimes I think it might be easier if He did.)  We have to choose to follow Him.  We have to choose to put Him first.

God,

I want to follow you!  Help me put the buts behind me and keep you and only you in front of me.

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Best laid plans

The bible often brings me back to one recurring refrain: God’s plan, not my plan.  His will, not mine.  Tonight’s passage is no exception:

Plans are made in human hearts, but from the LORD comes the tongue’s response.  All one’s ways are pure in one’s own eyes, but the measurer of motives is the LORD.  Entrust your works to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.  The LORD has made everything for a purpose, even the wicked for the evil day.  Every proud heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured that none will go unpunished.  By steadfast loyalty guilt is expiated, and by the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.  When the LORD is pleased with someone’s ways, he makes even enemies be at peace with them.  Better a little with justice, than a large income with injustice.  The human heart plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps.

Proverbs 16:1-9

It is so easy to get lost in my own thoughts, my own plans, my own desires.  It is so easy to believe I know what I am doing, or to believe that what I am doing is all for good.  But if I am honest, almost all of my plans are selfishly driven.

Lord, open my heart to your plans.  Help me to trust my works to you.  Direct my steps because I want them to lead to you.  Allow me to let go, and to mean (and understand) with all my heart: Thy will be done.

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Come Holy Spirit

I know today is Pentecost, but the Bible opened to the Ascension and Jesus’ words about the timing of when we will receive the Holy Spirit:

When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them,  “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:6-8

As a control freak, it is hard to not know when the Holy Spirit will come.  I need a schedule, a date, a time.  I need to make plans… don’t I?  No — just one more reminder that it is not about my plans — I need to relinquish to God’s plans.  I need to trust and have patience.  I need to prepare myself for the Holy Spirit whenever the spirit comes.  I cannot procrastinate or put it off til tomorrow.  I need to be open and ready — and sometimes I just need to be quiet, so that I can listen.

Come Holy Spirit Come!  Renew my spirit!

 

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Perseverance in challenging times

We all face trials.  We all face struggles.  I know some of you are facing some right now:

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.  But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:2-8

Looking back, my biggest trials have also brought me my greatest joys.  They have also brought me closer to God.  Of course it is hard to see that when we are in the midst of them.  Perseverance can be hard.  God wants good for us.  We just don’t always choose it.

 Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.  No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one.  Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.   He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1:12-18

It is easy to say we have faith.  It is easy to say we love God.  Through our perseverance, through our faith, we discover that we actually do.

Dear God, help me to persevere.  Help me to follow your good path.  Help those who are facing challenges, new adventures and trials know that you are near.  Help them to persevere and follow the path that you have set forth for them.  You give us fresh starts, new birth, life.  Help us to live it in a way that leads us to you.

 

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Don’t Tempt Me!

It seems like I first heard the story of the devil tempting Jesus at a very young age.  And have heard it many times since:

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread. ”Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”

Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.  The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish.  All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’”

Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and:  ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”  Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”  When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Luke 4:3-13

Jesus gives us three pieces of advice when faced with temptation:

  1. “One does not live by bread alone.”  There is nothing on earth that can truly satisfy us.  Even if we are starving — the temporary satisfaction on earth is not what we need or truly want.  Remember the temptation, the good that we think will come from it or the harm that we think will otherwise befall, is temporary. Indeed everything that we eat here on earth eventually ends in the toilet.
  2. “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”  Focus on God.  We struggle when we take away that focus,  when we try to serve human wants and desires.  When we feel ourselves struggling, when we feel temptation, it is a reminder that it is time to turn back to God.  Worship Him.  Call out His name.
  3. “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” God is there.  He doesn’t have to prove it.  Faith is our greatest defense against temptation.  God has a plan — it may not always match up with ours — but I am certain it is better than mine (and better than satan’s plan).

Lord,

Help me to separate myself from worldly desires.  Help me to focus on you and stay strong in faith.  I wish not to be tempted,  But help me to be strong when I am.  Jesus, help me to follow your example.

 

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O Lord, you are my God!

Tonight I am taking in this passage from Isaiah:

O LORD, you are my God,

I extol you, I praise your name;  For you have carried out your wonderful plans of old, faithful and true.

For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin, The castle of the insolent, a city no more, not ever to be rebuilt.  Therefore a strong people will honor you, ruthless nations will fear you.

For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress; Shelter from the rain, shade from the heat.  When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rain, the roar of strangers like heat in the desert, You subdued the heat with the shade of a cloud, the rain of the tyrants was vanquished.

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples  A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.  On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples,  The web that is woven over all nations.  He will destroy death forever.  The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.  On that day it will be said: “Indeed, this is our God; we looked to him, and he saved us!  This is the LORD to whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”

Isaiah 25: 1-9

As it was foretold, God has provided for all of us.  He gave us the richest bread and wine.  He destroyed the veil and destroyed death’s power over us.  He will wipe away the tears from all faces.  His plans for us are indeed wonderful and beyond our human comprehension.

O Lord, you are my God!

I praise your name!  I want to be among the strong people who honor you! I rejoice in your plans!  Thank you for saving us!