Forgiveness

Readings for today: Psalms 32, 86, 102, 103, 122

This morning I found myself so thankful for the forgiveness and grace of God. It’s overwhelming. Reading the Psalms, especially Psalm 103, touched my heart. Perhaps it’s because I know the depths of my own sin. I know how my mind wanders. I know how my heart fails. I know how self-indulgent I can be. Selfish and self-absorbed. I know my cynicism. I know how easy it is for me to catastrophize. I know how quick I am to assume the worst about people and the worst about life. I have to battle these things on a regular basis. Thankfully, not every day. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has sanctified me to a certain point but that work is clearly ongoing.

At the same time, I believe. My faith in Christ has never been stronger. My trust in God never greater. My gratitude for all God has done for me is daily at the forefront of my mind. It’s why I love reading and re-reading the Psalms. They keep my focus where it needs to be. God is faithful. God is good. God is gracious. God is merciful. God is loving. God is forgiving. God never fails. He forgives all my sin. He heals all my diseases, if not in this life then in the next. He redeems me from the grave. He sets me at His side and crowns me with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies me completely. He renews my strength every single day. God’s faithful love cannot be measured. It is as high as the heavens are above the earth. His forgiveness has no limits. It is as far as the east is from the west. The gift of His righteousness is infinite. It is from eternity to eternity. And this is why I bless the Lord. I cannot begin to count up all His benefits for me.

Many feel like they have to hide their sin. Many go through life weighed down by a burden of guilt and shame. Many feel they can’t be honest with themselves much less those they love much less God. But the words of the Psalmist reminds us there is no end to God’s love and grace and mercy and compassion. And this provides a deep sense of safety and security when we come before the Lord for He sees us. He knows us. And He loves us. There is nothing that can make Him love us any more or any less than He does right now, in this moment, even as you read these words. We can tell Him anything. There is nothing that will make Him turn His face away. We can share the deepest, darkest Let his Spirit sanctify you, heal you, strengthen you, and make you whole.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Power

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalms 51

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” - Lord Acton

He might as well have been talking about King David. David who had so much going for him. David whom God raised from a shepherd’s field to a palace. David who went from fighting off wild animals to protect his sheep to fighting giants to protect the people of Israel. David who killed his “ten thousands.” David who was the bane of the Philistines. David who seemingly could not lose a battle. David who was a man after God’s own heart. David who refused to kill the Lord’s anointed. David who trusted God on so many occasions. This same David was also subject to weakness. Vulnerable to temptation. And the higher he rose, the more precarious his position became. The more authority and power he accumulated, the more it went to his head. As the prophet Nathan’s story makes clear, what happened with David was not a moment of weakness. He didn’t just slip up. He didn’t just fall into sin. He believed he had every right to Bathsheba just as the rich man believed he had every right to the poor man’s lamb.

Human beings don’t handle power well. It corrupts us from the inside out. It twists our way thinking. It perverts how we see those around us. It makes us feel entitled. It deadens our sense of right and wrong. We start to believe we know better than others because, deep down, we believe we are better than others. And because we are better than others, we deserve what we can get. Think of the politicians who have become incredibly wealthy as they’ve served our country. They believe, deep down, they deserve it. Think of those in the highest economic classes who commit egregious crimes or exploit those who work for them or who take advantage of unjust laws in other countries to grow their companies. They believe, deep down, they are above the law. Think of those who exercise great spiritual authority like pastors and priests who take advantage of those who are hurting and struggling. They believe, deep down, they are immune from any consequences. But God sees them. God judges them. God will hold them accountable just like He did King David.

How do we avoid falling into this trap? How do we resist the temptation to use whatever influence, power, or authority we have in our lives for ourselves? We give it away. We seek to serve rather than be served. We intentionally lay it down for the sake of others. This is the way of Jesus.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 32, 86, 102, 103, 122

Provision

Readings for today: Psalms 65, 66, 67, 69, 70

I have seen plenty and I have seen want in my life. I’ve had seasons where my bank account was full and times where it was empty. I’ve had years where I made plenty of money and was able to provide abundantly for my family and years where I’ve needed public assistance to feed them. I’ve seen both ends of the economic spectrum. I’ve moved up and down the levels of our economic system. Here’s what I’ve discovered to be true…God provides. He provides what we need in the time we need it. Maybe not more than we need but never less than what we need. Maybe not what we want or desire but enough for us to make it through another day.

Ancient Israel was an agrarian society. As such, they depended on the harvests each year to provide them with food. They worked hard. They were faithful to till the ground. Plant the fields. Do what they could to tear up the weeds or chase away the animals who might steal their crop. But as any farmer knows, there’s only so much one can do. Ultimately, there are so many things outside our control. The sun. The rain. The health of the soil. These things can only come from God. This is why David sings Psalm 65. It’s a song celebrating the bountiful harvest. It’s a song of praise to God the provider. It’s a song declaring the goodness of God the creator.

“You answer us in righteousness with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the distant seas. You establish the mountains by your power; you are robed with strength. You silence the roars of the seas, the roar of their waves, and the tumult of the nations. Those who live far away are awed by your sings; you make the east and west shout for joy.” (Psalms 65:5-8 CSB)

“You visit the earth and water it abundantly, enriching it greatly. God’s stream is filled with water, for you prepare the earth in this way, providing people with grain. You soften it with showers and bless its growth, soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges. You crown the year with your goodness; your carts overflow with plenty. The wilderness pastures overflow, and the hills are robed with joy. The pastures are clothed with flocks and the valleys covered with grain. They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.” (Psalms‬ ‭65‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

“God’s stream is filled with water.” I love that line. Perhaps because my family has been in farming for generations. I know the importance of abundant water. In fact, my mom is about ready to replace a well on our land up in Nebraska because the old well is failing and the crops can’t survive without the water it provides. I also know the importance of Living Water. The kind of water Jesus talks about to the woman at the well in John 4. I’ve experienced it in my own life. No matter how much I’ve struggled or how far I’ve fallen or how little I may have, God always provides. His river is always flowing, providing what I need. Sometimes it feels like a trickle but it gets me through. Sometimes it feels like a torrent and I am overwhelmed by its abundance. Most of the time, I find it to be a slow, meandering stream constantly refreshing my soul.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalms 51

Honor and Shame

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalms 20, 53, 60, 75

One of the big challenges in reading the Bible, especially the Old Testament histories, is the cultural gap between their world and our world today. The ancient world viewed all of life through the lens of honor and shame. The goal in life was to accrue as much honor as possible and one would do this by honoring those around them and protecting the honor of those in their family, clan, tribe, and community. When the king of the Ammonites dies, David seeks to honor his son by sending emissaries to console and bless the family. The goal here was to strengthen the relationships between their two nations. However, Hanun shames David’s messengers by cutting off their beards and exposing their nakedness and sending them away. It was a dramatic of humiliation meant to humiliate David and Israel as much as the emissaries themselves. David responds by protecting the honor of the men. He tells them to remain in Jericho until their beards grow back so no one will see their shame. However, the shame cannot go unaddressed. The Ammonites know their actions are effectively an act of war. They know David will hav eat respond or the other nations who are watching will take advantage of his shame. So they form an army and attack Israel, hoping to catch David before he is prepared. David devises a strategy that not only defeats the Ammonites but also their allies, the Arameans. His victory is so complete the two tribes are afraid to ever join forces against Israel ever again.

Our culture is built on a guilt/innocence paradigm rather than honor/shame. A significant reason for this difference is how we understand ourselves. We see ourselves as individuals first and members of a community second. The opposite was true in the ancient world. We also privilege being “right” over being in “relationship” whereas those in the ancient world always privilege the relationship over everything else. We go to war if we feel it is the “right” thing to do and that’s why we tend to describe our conflicts as a battle between “good and evil.” In the ancient world, wars were fought over insults and perceived slights to members of a family or clan or tribe. Another layer to this dynamic is how the ancient writers described their victories. Hyperbole was a tool they often employed in order to increase the “honor” of their nation. So when the Bible describes these battles where tens of thousands are killed, it is highly unlikely it is using a literal number. The intent of the author is to convey a sense of overwhelming victory over their enemies. This is yet another significant cultural difference. Whereas we are concerned with getting the facts right and want a specific tally of the number killed, the ancient authors were more concerned with upholding the honor of their king and their nation as they reported out.

Interestingly enough, most of the world still runs on an honor/shame paradigm. When I travel to different nations in Africa or Asia or Central and South America or when I interact with immigrants domestically from these countries, I am always struck by how important honor is to building strong, healthy partnerships. Understanding this dynamic is the key to cross-cultural relationships and is becoming more and more important as the world gets smaller and our communities become more diverse.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 65, 66, 67, 69, 70

Dedication

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18

What often gets lost in the stories of David’s victories is what he did with the spoils. The tribute from the Arameans. The gold shields from Hadadezer. The bronze captured from different cities. The gifts from the king of Hamath. He dedicates all of it to the Lord along with all the gold and silver captured from the nations he subdued. It’s a powerful testimony to David’s faith and humility. David understood his victories came from the Lord. He understood it was the Lord who had gone before him and won the battles. David gave the Lord all the honor and glory for his success. He walked humbly before the Lord never claiming any honor for himself. And the result? “The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.” (‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Not only that but the Lord established David’s reign over all Israel and he ruled with righteousness and justice.

I think about the “victories” I’ve won in my own life. The successes I’ve had in ministry. The achievements I’ve been able to accomplish. Do I give the credit to the Lord or do I take some of the credit for myself? What do I do with all the blessings that come my way? Do I seek to bless others in the name of the Lord? Do I give all the honor and glory to God? Do I dedicate my time and energy and attention and resources back to the Lord in tangible ways? Give more generously? Serve more sacrificially? Am I committed to walking in faith and humility? One of the secrets I have learned over the course of my life and ministry is to always give God the credit. Remind myself I am nothing without Him. Everything I have and everything I’ve achieved over the course of my life is due to Him. He determined where I would be born and what family I would be born into and I have been blessed. He gave me the gifts and talents and abilities I enjoy. He created all kinds of opportunities for me that I did not deserve. He opened doors that should have remained shut. He called me to the church I serve. He raised me into positions of influence. All I did was walk with open hands. And that’s why all the credit goes to God for any success I’ve had over the course of my life and ministry. And it’s why I continue to dedicate more and more of my time, energy, and resources to His mission.

What about you? Do you see God’s hand at work in similar ways in your own life? Do you give God the credit He deserves for the success you’ve been able to achieve? Do you look for tangible ways to dedicate your time, energy, and resources to Him? What would that look like for you today? Where do you start? What’s the next step? Go to the Lord in prayer and ask the Spirit to lead you.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalms 20, 53, 60, 75

The Builder

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17, Psalms 1, 2, 33, 127, 132

“Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.” (Psalms 127:1 CSB) This verse hits me almost every year. Especially when juxtaposed with David’s desire to build the Lord a temple. A permanent home. A sacred place where Israel could come and go before the Lord. It’s not a bad desire. It’s not a sinful desire. In fact, the prophet Nathan initially affirms David’s heart. God Himself agrees with David though David will not be the one to build God His home. However, the bigger lesson God wants us to grasp here is that He is the master builder. He is the great architect of our lives. We may think we are builders, doers, planners, achievers but it is God who wills and who works according to His good pleasure.

It’s so tempting to look at the work of our hands and take credit. It’s so tempting to look at what we have done or what we have accomplished in our lives or what we have achieved and think we are the author of our success. But God makes it clear through the life of David that He is the one who builds and grows and grants success. God plucked David from obscurity in a shepherd’s field. Gave Him a name. Gave Him victory after victory. Anointed Him king. Built his household so he would have successors who will sit on the throne after him. David doesn’t bless God, God blesses David. David doesn’t provide for God, God provides for David. It’s not David who is making God’s name great, it is God who is making David’s name great. And the same dynamic is true for us. I think about my marriage and my family. We are close. We love each other deeply. We serve each other. We have great relationships and conversations and the future is so bright for all our kids. All of it is because of God. I think about the church God called me to serve. It is growing. It is thriving. There is so much life and joy here. All of it because of God. I think about the many ways I’ve been able to serve students at Denver Seminary or our denomination nationally or the Petros Network internationally. All of it because of God.

The problem, of course, is I start to think it’s because of me. I start to pat myself on the back. I start to believe my own hype. I start to look at everything and think “I did this” or “I’m the essential part of this story.” Nothing could be further from the truth. God doesn’t need me but graciously chooses to use me. God doesn’t depend on me but graciously invites me in to share in His blessings. God can easily do all this without me but graciously includes me. This is the lesson David needed to learn. It’s the lesson I need to still learn. It’s the lesson all of us need to learn and hold onto in life.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18

Filling a Need

Readings for today: Psalms 89, 96, 100, 101, 107

I love the Psalms. They give expression to so much of what I feel on a day to day basis. They give me the words to pray as I navigate the ups and downs of life. Last week was one of the best weeks of my life. I’ve been a pastor for over twenty years but Holy Week hit different for me this year. Perhaps it was the intentionality and brilliance of our team as they planned and executed some of the most incredible worship services. Perhaps it was the overwhelming success of an Indian outreach event that’s been in the works for some time now. Perhaps it was seeing all the people I know and love at PEPC coming to worship on a beautiful Easter morning. Perhaps it was all of the above. And it’s why I found myself reciting the opening line of Psalms 89 on Sunday afternoon when everything was over. “I will sing about the Lord’s faithful love forever; I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations with my mouth.” (Psalms‬ ‭89‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Of course, another possibility is the state of my soul this year. It’s been a very good year but a very challenging one with lots of changes. My wife and I put our youngest daughters on a plane to Australia in late January/February and officially entered the “empty nest” phase of life. While we’ve enjoyed the transition and are proud of all four of our children, it has resulted in a significantly different rhythm for us. My dad passed away last year and my mom is needing more and more of my attention which I am more than happy to give. She is one of the most amazing people I know but getting older is not easy. The demands on my time are growing. I have been leading a national team for our denomination to revise standards for ordination and our recommendations were due April 15. I am heading to Ethiopia in May and my teaching outlines were due April 18. I am teaching a class at Denver Seminary and papers needed to be graded the first week of April. I am the chair of the board for a mission agency and we are writing two key policies that were due April 29. Not to mention preaching Palm Sunday and Easter for PEPC and our Indian Outreach Ministry. So lots going on! Ha! I love every bit of it. I feel called to every part of it. But I have been stretched during this season more than normal. Perhaps running on fumes also opens me up to the message of the Psalms in new and fresh ways and I found myself turning to Psalms 107 and finding comfort in these words, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity. For he has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things.” (Psalms‬ ‭107‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

What about you? Do you find yourself full or empty or somewhere in between? Do you find yourself stretched, stressed, or relaxed? Are you joining the Psalmist in praise or looking to him for hope? What do you need from the Lord during this season? Let the words of the Psalms meet you in your point of need and direct your attention back to the Lord.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Walking with Integrity

Readings for today: Psalms 15, 23-25, 47

Recently, a friend of mine went through a job change. He was notified he would be let go because his company was “going in a different direction.” The news came out of the blue. All of his performance reviews had been exceptional. He hit every mark the company ever set for him and often exceeded them. None of that seemed to matter. The boss just wanted to make a change. As you can imagine, he went through a range of emotions. There was the initial shock when he first got the news. Shock gave way to anger as he wrestled with the injustice of it all. Anger turned to frustration as he processed the years he had given to this company. Frustration became hurt as he realized how deeply this decision wounded him. In the midst of his hurt, he felt fear and anxiety rise up as he pondered what he would do next. Starting a job search at his age and station in life was no easy task. Would he be able to replace his income? Would he be able to provide for his family? He was pretty close to retirement so how many years did he really have left? I imagine many of us have gone through these experiences ourselves or walked through them with those we love. It’s not easy.

The temptation, of course, is to retaliate. To get back at those who’ve hurt us. To justify our anger and frustration and lash out. We might work to undermine. We might spread rumors or gossip about those in positions above us. We might seek to recruit others to our cause and create all kinds of conflict in the office on our way out. Sow seeds of discontent. Exploit opportunities to create dissension. Those kinds of things. Some might even take things to an extreme and try to take the company or the person responsible down with them. It can get ugly.

“What would God have me do?” This is the question my friend asked me. I took him to some of the Psalms we read today. I pointed him beyond his circumstances and challenged him to think about the bigger picture. Do you want the blessing of God on your life? Do you want the favor of God to go before you? Do you want to walk before God with a clean conscience and a pure heart? Then walk as blamelessly as possible. Do what is right. Don’t give in to the temptation to slander or return evil for evil. Remain humble. Stay focused on Jesus. Trust God is sovereign over all things - including injustice - and nothing can stand in the way of His will for your life.

The ultimate test of faith is what happens when we come face to face with a circumstance that is unjust or unfair. In those moments, we are faced with a choice to either “walk our talk” or go our own way. If we can keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. If we can keep our minds set on eternal rewards. If our treasures are truly in heaven, we will find ourselves looking to please God rather than man and this is the essence of godly integrity.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 89, 96, 100, 101, 107

Audience of One

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 5:11-25, 2 Samuel 6, 1 Chronicles 13-16

Many years ago, a therapist challenged me with this question, “Who are you trying to impress?” I was a young pastor serving my first church. The church was struggling when I first arrived and I felt it was my job to “save” her. I worked long hours. I got involved in everything. We launched new programs. The schedule filled up. More people came. By all outward appearances, the work I was doing was bearing fruit. But I was burning out. I was trying to do too much. And I was motivated by my fear of failure rather than my faith in God. I was worried about what my colleagues would say about me. Worried about my reputation in the community. Worried that the people I loved and served might think less of me. Worried that my family might lose faith in me. I was so worried about what others thought and believed and it was driving me crazy. So I went to see a counselor. A therapist who specialized in treating pastors. He cracked open my head and heart and helped me to see that I was performing for the wrong audience. My true audience was the Lord. He was the only one whose opinion I needed to worry about and He had already declared me justified. Already declared me righteous. Already set His great love on me. Not because of anything I had done but because of what Christ had done for me. It’s hard to describe the freedom I felt once I processed this gospel truth once again. It was transformative and has shaped my life and ministry ever since.

King David understood his true audience. It wasn’t his people. It wasn’t his enemies. It wasn’t even his wife. David performed for the Lord. David served at the Lord’s good pleasure. David became king not through his own effort or ability or achievements or accomplishments but through the grace of God. This was why he was more than willing to strip down and dance for the Lord. It was why he was more than willing to humble himself and dishonor himself before all the people. He didn’t care. He only had eyes for God. His heart was completely devoted to God. And while he would make incredible mistakes in the future and even commit terrible crimes that would put his kingship in jeopardy, right now, in this moment, he was as free as a person could be. All because he understood his true audience was God.

Who do you work for? Who do you perform for? Who are you living your life for? Is it for the cheers and affirmation of those around you? Is it to gain status and favor and influence in our world? Is it to secure a good reputation with your family or the community? What drives you? What motivates you? Is it fear of failure? Fear of letting others down? Fear of not being recognized? What would it look like for you to shift your focus and begin playing for an audience of One? What would it take for you to shift your heartset and mindset and begin doing “everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him?” (Col. 3:17)

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 15, 23-25, 47

Unity

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11-12, Psalms 133

Psalm 133 is one of my favorite Psalms. Mainly because I have seen it in action. I have seen what happens when God’s people truly serve Him with one heart and mind. I have witnessed the miracles that take place when God’s people put aside their egos, their needs, their wants, their desires in favor of serving the Kingdom. I have watched God’s Spirit move when God’s people humble themselves. Deny themselves. Pursue forgiveness and reconciliation. Lay aside their need to be safe, both physically and emotionally, and chase after God. It is powerful. Life-changing. It transforms churches. Communities. Villages. Towns. Cities. Entire tribes, regions, and nations.  

True biblical unity requires us to relinquish “self” in favor of others. It requires us to lose our individual identity in favor of the whole. It requires us to consider others more important than ourselves. It requires us to risk. Risk being hurt. Risk being wounded. Risk feeling rejected. It requires us to have courage. Courage to forgive. Courage to pursue reconciliation. No matter what the cost. No matter how many times we get burned. Like Jesus told Peter, we must be willing to forgive “seventy times seven.” It requires honesty. Transparency. Self-reflection. We must constantly seek to take the log out of our own eyes before we look to take the speck out of someone else’s eye.

True biblical unity requires the church to lay aside it’s need to compete. Extend it’s brand. Criticize other parts of the Body as if “we have no need of them.” It requires leadership to get serious about working together. Working with and for one another. Willing to sacrifice our buildings, budgets, and attendance in order to expand God’s Kingdom in the communities where we serve. It requires mutual submission and accountability. A willingness to step aside and relinquish our platforms when we fall into sin. It requires a radical commitment to love God and neighbor at the expense of our organizations and institutions. Self-denial and picking up our cross is not just a call to the individual Christian but to the church as a community as well! 

True biblical unity requires a radical re-orientation of the heart. It requires laying aside our personal preferences for the sake of those around us. It requires laying aside our cultural preferences for the sake of those who may be different than us. It is incredibly difficult and challenging which is why it happens so infrequently in Scripture. Even the unity King David experiences as he builds his kingdom will soon give way to division as his own children betray him. We have to constantly be on guard because we are our own worst enemy. Our hearts naturally resist unity because it requires literal death to self. And we have such a strong instinct for self-preservation.  

Ultimately, unity is not something we can achieve through our own strength. It’s not about us being the same but coming together across our differences, even allowing those difference to enrich our life together. And this is why it is a work of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can bring the kind of deep, spiritual unity Psalm 133 talks about. And the first step towards unity is surrender. Surrender to the Holy Spirit and all He wants to do in our lives.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 5:11-25, 2 Samuel 6, 1 Chronicles 13-16

Small Things

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 7-9

Easter weekend is a big one for any pastor. This one was no different. I spent a great deal of time after all the services connecting with different people. Different ages. Different cultures. Different languages. Different life experiences. Many of them asked me a variation of the same question…what now? Where do we go from here? How do we live the resurrection life that we celebrate on Easter Sunday? Honestly, it’s not rocket science. It’s the small decisions we make every single day. It’s paying attention to the little details in life that matter. The words we say. The way we listen to those we live with and work with and interact with every single day. Keeping our priorities straight. God first. Others second. Ourselves third. It’s watching how we spend our time and energy and resources and making sure they serve God’s purposes.

The thing that always strikes me about this section of the Jewish Histories is how important the little details are to God. He designates some of his people to be doorkeepers. Think greeters on a Sunday morning or a life safety team member who keeps everyone safe. He designates others to care for the utensils used in worship. Think of a deacon team who prepares the communion elements, makes the coffee, or serves the donuts and then cleans up and takes out the trash afterwards. Think of the facilities team who cares for the property and keeps things in working order. Then there are the singers. The worship teams. The volunteers who dedicate so much of their time and energy to practicing the music we sing week over week. The worship leadership who plans and executes each service with such intentionality. The audio and production team who spends late nights getting everything set up and torn down for each service. None of these may seem like big things. In fact, I’ve often heard people dismiss them as unnecessary or even distractions to “true worship” whatever that means. But these things matter to God so they should matter to us. The people involved matter to God so they should matter to us. We should appreciate them and honor their calling just as David and Samuel did in their own time.

Before we get too far away from Easter, I would encourage you to find a way to reach out to those who served this past weekend. Thank them for helping with the parking, the greeting, and the kids ministry. Thank them for serving the food and the coffee and preparing the communion elements. Thank them for leading us from the platform in music or from the sound booth in production. Thank the life safety team and the facility team for all their hard work setting up and tearing down. Thank the prayer team and the elders and deacons and staff who gave so much of their time and energy. None of them do it for the recognition, of course, but I know they will appreciate it. Even more, I believe God loves it when we honor His people for serving Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11-12, Psalms 133

Easter

Readings for today: Psalms 81, 88, 92, 93

Holy Week is always powerful for me. It drains me emotionally, spiritually, and physically and not just because there is more activity on the schedule than normal. Yes, there are multiple services and multiple rehearsals and multiple things to do to mark this sacred week. Our teams run hard to pull it all off. There are a lot of late nights. But I find the emotional and spiritual demands of this week far more taxing than the physical ones. Closely walking with Jesus through His final days and hours opens my heart up to all kinds of emotions, many of them expressed so well in Psalm 88 from our reading today. Crying out to God. Feeling the weight of my sin. The loneliness of my journey at times. The rejection I’ve experienced in my life. The despair, weakness, and isolation. I know what it’s like to feel like darkness is my only friend. This is the experience of Holy Saturday and by the time I get there every year, I feel exhausted and spent.

Then comes Easter Sunday. A new day. Another day. An additional day. A bonus day. You see, Holy Saturday is not the end of Holy Week! Though Holy Saturday is the seventh day, the last day, the Sabbath day; the resurrection of Jesus Christ changes things. Changes how we mark time. Changes how we look at our calendars. By raising His Son from the dead, God moves us beyond the old Sabbath into the new Sabbath. An eternal Sabbath. A Sabbath not bound by hours or minutes or seconds. A Sabbath not bound by the cycles of evening and morning. A Sabbath not made for this world but for the world to come. A Sabbath not made for earth but for heaven. And without fail, as each Easter morning dawns, I find my strength renewed. I find my heart lifted. I find my joy restored. I lift my eyes above the hills to see from where my true help comes! My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth! As Psalm 93 puts it, “The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, enveloped in strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. Your throne has been established from the beginning; you are from eternity.” (Psalms 93:1-2 CSB) Yes, the floods have lifted up. The world has done all it can to rid itself of God. To throw off all restraint. But the Lord rides the waves like a chariot. His voice is lifted high above the tumult of the seas. He will not be subject to His creation. He will not be ignored by the creatures made in His own image. By dying and rising again, He has declared His Word to be completely reliable, trustworthy, and true.

For Christians, Easter Sunday is not just a day on a calendar. It is not just an occasion to celebrate. It is a lived reality. We are an Easter people, shaped and formed by the Easter experience. Once you’ve tasted the new life Easter has to offer, the eternal life Easter has to offer, there’s no going back. And why would you want to? The old life is drab and boring by comparison. Nothing attractive about it all. Certainly not worth comparing to the glory that has now been revealed in us through the Risen Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 7-9

Singing

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 6, Psalms 36, 39, 77, 78

Music has always been a part of the worship of God. We sing about the character and nature of God. We sing about God’s mighty acts in human history. We sing about God’s power over creation and over the creatures of the earth. We sing of our redemption. The song book of the people of God is the Psalms. They set their prayers to music. Music allows them to express the full range of emotion. I imagine some of the songs they sang were slow and reflective. Others were fast-paced and joyful. Still others were confessional and melancholy. Still others were focused on praise. We don’t necessarily know the style of music they played or the different instruments they used. In my experience, both in Israel and the Middle East, it probably varied based on what was available to them and the quality of the leader. But those things were secondary. What mattered most was their heart and how they expressed themselves to God.

In 1 Chronicles six, King David sets apart a certain group of people to be in charge of musical worship. They will lead God’s people in song. They will lead God’s people when they come before Him to make their sacrifices. They will lead God’s people during the prescribed feasts and festivals. They were not only in charge of leading God’s people but I imagine they were also charged to create new songs for them to sing. New songs to describe the wonder and glory of God. New ways to describe all He had done for Israel throughout her history. I have to believe it was an amazing job. To spend your life pondering and reflecting and creating music for the people of God to sing as they come to worship. It’s why I admire those I serve alongside at my own church for the many ways they create and design and shape our worship services week over week. Introducing new music to go alongside the classic hymns from our past that we all love. Introducing new liturgical elements through prayer and testimony to draw us all closer to the Lord. It is a great privilege to work alongside such gifted and talented people.

Ultimately, however, the excellence of the music doesn’t matter if our hearts aren’t right before the Lord. If we harbor sin. If we hold onto bitterness or resentment. If we refuse to extend forgiveness and seek reconciliation with others in our community. If we enter into worship with pride, seeking only to serve ourselves. God wants our hearts. He wants us to approach Him with humility and open hands. An authentically contrite heart, He will never despise or reject. As we gather for worship this Easter weekend, my prayer for all of us is that we come open and expectant and ready to meet the Lord. My prayer is we come honestly and authentically before Him. My prayer is we come in humility as we approach the throne of grace to receive the help we need. Most of all, my prayer is we come with a desire to worship the Lord. To make worship about Him and not us. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! May the miracle of His resurrection bring us to our knees in awe and wonder yet again!

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Righteous Prayer

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 3-5

Over twenty years ago, a best-selling book was published on the prayer offered by a rather obscure Old Testament figure named Jabez. He shows up in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 but no specific mention is made of how he fits into the family tree of Judah. He is described as a man of honor who was birthed in pain by his mother and who prayed a prayer God answered. That’s it. Two verses total. Not much to go on. Not much to draw any conclusions from and yet the book written about him became an instant best-seller, selling millions of copies, launching an entire cottage industry.

Why the popularity? I think it has to do with the fact that Jabez’ prayer fits the prevailing self-centered, “health and wealth” theology of so many Americans, Christian or not. “Jabez  was more honored than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez and said, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only you would bless me, extend my border, let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not experience pain.” And God granted his request.” (‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Fundamentally, we believe we are worthy of God’s blessing. Fundamentally, we believe we have earned the right to have our territory expanded. Fundamentally, we believe we should never experience evil or pain or suffering. Fundamentally, we believe life is about us and our comfort and the prayer of Jabez only reinforces this idea.

I was in seminary when the book came out and I remember church after church teaching on it. All kinds of miracles were attributed to this prayer. Entire congregations would commit to praying this prayer for thirty, sixty, or ninety days and then report back on the ways God answered their prayers. Preachers, even from evangelical and mainline church contexts, would preach entire sermon series on this prayer and encourage people to memorize it and pray it daily. It seemed utterly crazy to me. After all, this was a verse ripped completely out of it’s Old Testament context. It comes from a figure in the Old Testament we know almost nothing about. If we’re going to memorize one prayer from the Bible and pray it fervently and daily, shouldn’t it be the Lord’s Prayer?

This highlights a danger for us as we read through the Scriptures. The Bible is not a magic book. It is not a book full of mantras that we can pray to get what we want. The Bible is not a self-help book meant to teach us how to have a better life. The Bible has one primary purpose and that is to reveal the character and nature of God. It tells the story of God’s mission to reach His people with the gospel. As one rabbi famously put it, “The Bible is not the story of humanity’s search for God but God’s search for humanity.” God is on a rescue mission to deliver us from the powers of sin and death and evil. His goals are far greater than material blessings or expanding our territory or giving us more influence in this world. He wants to save a people for Himself. He is growing His family through the conversion of women and men. He is building His Kingdom here on earth through His church made up of Jews and Gentiles together. This is His plan and this is what should be the focus of our prayers.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 6, Psalms 36, 39, 77, 78

Faith under Pressure

Readings for today: Psalms 49, 84, 85, 87

“Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people.” (Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

There is nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. No place we can go to be safe. The world is full of sin and corruption. Injustice and oppression come in all kinds of forms. Human beings pursue power and pleasure at all costs. We say in our hearts, “there is no God.” Each of us does what is right in our own eyes. All of us are like sheep who have gone astray. Recently, I had a conversation with a good friend. They are looking to relocate out of our state. They simply cannot fathom the depths to which we have fallen. We are a haven for abortion on demand. We are considering criminalizing any dissent against the transgender movement. We are overspending to the tune of billions and are looking to reform, or perhaps even take away, the main guardrail (TABOR) that restrains the state government. As our state continues to move further and further left politically, many people of faith (not just Christians) feel they are being forgotten, left behind, left out, and marginalized. And I understand those feelings. It’s why I can’t in good faith discourage my friend from leaving, especially as they look to raise their children in a safer place. At the same time, I am not sure there is a “safer” place. I’ve lived all over the United States and, in my experience, every place has it’s issues. Every place deals with injustice, corruption, unrighteousness, and oppression. Every place faces the same root challenge of sin.

Israel faced these same challenges. It’s why they looked beyond the horizons of this world to the Lord. They understood they would not find a refuge in this world. They would not find a sanctuary in this world. There was no safe place to run to from sin. There only home was with God. He would be their protector. He would be their provider. No matter where they lived, He would be with them. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.” (Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭11‬ ‭CSB‬) At the end of the day, Israel understood herself to be an “alien and stranger” in this world. A people just passing through. They did not cling to the things of this world but instead sought to live open-heartedly and open-handedly. They didn’t expect the ungodly people who surrounded them to act in godly ways. Instead, they sought to live as faithfully as they could. They trusted God to use them as light to pierce the darkness. The world may make our faith illegal. They may seek to harass and persecute us for what we believe. The world may make it difficult to live as Christians. But at the end of the day, the government can’t legislate what happens in the heart. They can’t govern what we think, do, or say. Yes, it may become more costly to be a Christian in the years ahead. My friends around the globe would say, “welcome to the club.” They would point us to Jesus, who was crucified for what He believed in and stood for and humbly call us to follow His example. As we look to Him, we will discover the truth that the Psalmist sings about, “Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace. Truth will spring up from the earth, and righteousness will look down from heaven. Also, the Lord will provide what is good, and our land will yield its crops. Righteousness will go before him to prepare the way for his steps.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭85‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬)

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 3-5

Story

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 1-2, Psalms 43-44

Many years ago, a friend of mine introduced me to the “Three Story” method of evangelism. It’s simple and natural and easy to use. Basically, you start by asking another person about their story. By showing genuine curiosity in who they are and how they got here and where they feel they are headed, you get to learn all about another human being. Another creature made in God’s own image. You get to hear all about their hopes and dreams and, depending on their level of vulnerability, their heartbreaks and pain. It’s incredible what people will tell you if you are willing to listen. After sharing their story, the most natural thing for them to do is ask you about your story. I don’t know about you but I can’t share my story without sharing about the day Jesus Christ saved me. He literally changed the course of my life. And this brings us into the final story…God’s story…which is the story all of us are wrapped up in on some level. I have to tell you I’ve probably had thousands of conversations about Jesus over the years. I’ve not had one negative reaction when I used this method to tell His story. It doesn’t mean everyone gave their life to Jesus. Far from it. But it does get people thinking in new ways about the story of their life and what role God may have to play in it.

I thought about this method when I read through the genealogies at the beginning of Chronicles. It’s easy to brush past all these names. They don’t mean much to us because we don’t feel any kind of connection to them. They are names of people and places we have never encountered which is why they feel so distant to us. Irrelevant to our lives. But what if we engaged the reading using the “Three Story” method I shared above? What if this is Israel telling us her story? Telling us how she got to where she is today? Telling us about all the important people and places in her life? What if instead of just reading through the chapters, we envisioned a person telling us all about their family tree and what it meant to them? Would that change how we received it? I think it would. Now imagine that same person asking us about our family tree. What would we share? Could we point to names and places where our family had been? Do we see all the different connections that brought us to where we are today? Now think about God’s story. Where’s His hand in all of this? Where do we see Him at work in the lives of those who are listed? What story is God working out in and through His people for the world?

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 49, 84, 85, 87

Humanity

Readings for today: Psalms 6, 9, 10, 14, 16, 21

The good news of the gospel is that God became a human being. He took on human flesh. He took on human nature. He experienced everything you and I experience. He knows hunger and thirst. He knows hardship and poverty. He knows pain and suffering. He knows what it’s like to feel tired and overwhelmed. He knows what it’s like to be abandoned, betrayed, and denied. He has suffered injustice. He has been falsely accused and falsely tried and falsely convicted and falsely condemned. He knows what death feels like. He knows what it’s like to be laid to rest in on a cold slab in a tomb.

I try to read the Psalms backwards. In fact, I try to read the entire Old Testament backwards. What do I mean by that? What I mean is I try to read it through the lens of Jesus Christ. With Jesus as my “hermeneutical key” - as my professors in seminary might have said - it all makes sense. A whole new world of meaning opens up. My understanding deepens. My connection to the people of the Old Testament becomes stronger. Take King David. Imagine all he must be experiencing as he expresses himself through prayer set to music. “Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am weak; heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking; my whole being is shaken with terror. And you, Lord, how long?” (Psalms‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Is he suffering from disease? Depression? Adverse life circumstances? Is he fearful of the future? Afraid of his enemies? Is he having a hard time being patient for God’s will to come about? Or the flip side, what happened that caused David to write, “When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before you. For you have upheld my just cause; you are seated on your throne as a righteous judge. You have rebuked the nations: You have destroyed the wicked; you have erased their name forever and ever. The enemy has come to eternal ruin; you have uprooted the cities, and the very memory of them has perished.” (Psalms‬ ‭9‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Had he just won another victory? Had he just put his enemies to flight? Is he referring here to the Philistines or to the people who were still following the house of Saul in Israel? Can he sense the fulfillment of God’s promises are near? And as always, I love David’s honesty and transparency...“Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide in times of trouble?” (Psalms‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬) He’s not afraid to cry out to God from the depths of his heart. 

Throughout history, the people of God have returned over and over again to the Psalms to learn how to pray. They have used them as a guide for prayer. They have prayed these words back to God. Made them their own. Prayer can be difficult. It’s challenging to move beyond the rote prayers we learned in our youth. It’s challenging to be honest and real with God. Frequently it can feel like our words are inadequate. Self-centered. Foolish. Like they bounce off the ceiling back into our laps. So many Christians I know and love struggle with prayer. Often when they ask me how they should pray, I will point them to the Psalms. Not just to repeat the words but to reflect on them and make them their own. Reflect on the feelings and emotions. Reflect on the heart of what David is saying. Let his heart’s cry resonate with your heart’s cry and lead you to express your deepest thoughts to God. And most of all, remember God has felt every feeling you feel as well.

Our God is safe. He is a refuge. A stronghold. Our deliverer. We are the apple of His eye and He hides us in the shadow of His wings. He is our protector. Our comforter. Our friend. We can tell Him anything. The deepest desires of our hearts are not hidden from Him. Nor are the wounds. The hurts. The disappointments. The fears. The failures. God rejoices with us when we experience success. When the victories come in our lives. God weeps with us when we struggle. When we grieve. God fights our battles for us. We may not always understand His ways. We may not always agree with His timing. His answer can be “No” just as easily as it can be “Yes.” It can even be “Not Yet.” Through it all, God is God and we are not and prayer reminds us the best place to be is at His feet. 

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 1-2, Psalms 43-44

Wilderness

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 1-4

In my sermon yesterday, I said, “Humanity has always wandered in a moral and ethical wilderness.” Despite all the technological and medical and scientific advances, we have no idea of where we’re going or why or what we’d do when we get there. We are ethical and moral adolescents, constantly fighting against God’s created order. I think the root of the problem is that we want to be gods ourselves but that’s probably another post for another day. However, today’s reading felt very familiar to me. Probably because I see many of the same dynamics playing out in our world today. Humanity seems just as prone to violence, greed, power, selfishness, hatred, and anger as ever.

Today’s reading includes political intrigue, civil war, and assassinations. Israel was in chaos as different parties jockeyed for influence and power. An Amalekite lies about killing Saul in order to curry favor with David and ends up being executed. Abner tries to preserve Saul’s legacy by marshaling Israel on Ish-Bosheth’s behalf only to split with his master over a perceived offense. Joab and his brothers have it out for Abner, perhaps seeing him as a potential rival for position and power in the new kingdom. The sons of Rimmon take matters into their own hands to bring about the end of the civil war and gain favor with David only to suffer the same result as the Amalekite who killed Saul. It’s a brutally honest account of the politics of the day and the only silver lining is that God is using even this sinful raw material to fashion His will for His people.

Our politics aren’t much different. The intrigue and jockeying for power and influence and position continues. The civil war between Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and progressives is as brutal and hateful as it has ever been. Thankfully, mass violence has yet to break out in our country but we certainly see it in different parts of the world. About a year ago, I was supposed to board a plane for Ethiopia. We were heading to a northern region of the country to a city called Dessie to train church planters but violent protests broke out as one particular tribe pushed back against the decisions of the national government. Two aid workers were killed. All US State Department personnel were evacuated from the area as fears of a resumption of hostilities in the area grew. It was so heartbreaking. And yet, it served as a great reminder that our only hope is the same God who was at work in ancient Israel bringing about His will through the sinful choices of human beings was still at work in our world today.

I love the line from Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬) All things. The good. The bad. The ugliness of life. God uses it all according to His sovereign power and wisdom to bring about His will for you, for me, for the world in which we live. No matter what circumstances you find yourself in. No matter what choices you made that brought you to this place. No matter what forces you find arrayed against you. No matter what lies in your control or outside your control. Trust that God is taking the raw material of your life to make you more and more into the image of His Son and prepare you to spend eternity with Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 6, 9, 10, 14, 16, 21

Intimacy with God

Readings for today: Psalms 121, 123-125, 128-130

Most people I talk to experience a significant, if not insurmountable, gap between themselves and God. They believe God is distant. Far away. Looking down from heaven “up there” somewhere. When I probe a little, I usually find it’s because they also experience a significant, perhaps equally insurmountable, gap between the people they are and the people they believe God has created and called them to be. They read passages like “be holy as I am holy” and immediately assume it is impossible. They read the stories of the faith of people like Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Joshua, Deborah, etc. and immediately assume “that could never be me.” They believe they have to reach a certain level - always left undefined - of “goodness” in their life to be accepted by God. But the lack of definition always keeps them guessing and the doubt gnaws at their soul. They read the Psalms and they marvel at the intimacy displayed by David and the other writers. They can’t fathom what that might feel like or look like in their lives.

What if I told you that the gap between us and God was a myth? What if I further told you that the gap between the person you are and the person God created you to be was a lie? What if, by God’s grace, He has already closed the gap that once existed between us? What if what we’re feeling is echoes of a time and a reality that no longer exists? This is what the ancients understood. Our forefathers and foremothers in the faith truly believed God when He said, “I have become your God and you have become my people.” They believed God closed the gap between heaven and earth to come to dwell with them. First in a Tabernacle. Later in a Temple. Furthermore, what if, by God’s grace, the gap we all feel between the person we are and the person God has called us to be is a lie? What if, by God’s grace, we already are who God created us to be and are simply learning to live it out? Yes, we will make mistakes. Yes, we will sin and fall short. But what if, by God’s grace, the gap has been closed by the death of Jesus Christ on a cross? What if we already are righteous in God’s sight and are just learning to live in light of this new reality?

I think one of the devil’s greatest schemes is to get us to believe in a “gap.” And not just any gap but a chasm that is insurmountable, unbridgeable, uncrossable, inaccessible. And this makes God seem so distant and unreachable which makes intimacy with Him impossible. But this is not true! This is a lie! There is no gap between us and God. Not anymore. Not with the Word becoming flesh and making His dwelling place among us. Not with the Holy Spirit coming to take up residence in our hearts when we come to saving faith. There is no gap because God has closed the gap. God bridged the gap. God crossed the divide. God tore down the dividing wall that separated us from Him. And we are now set free to live as children of light. Children of joy. Children of love and mercy and blessing. Saved by grace, we get to live by grace. Saved by unconditional love, we get to extend that love out to others. Saved by God’s unending mercy, we get to be merciful ourselves to those around us. This is the beauty and the glory of the gospel. Will we do it perfectly? Of course not. But that’s not the point. God has not left it up to us to bridge the gap. God has not put the burden of creating intimacy with Him on our shoulders. He doesn’t expect us to make our way to Him. He comes to us. Just like He did to all those who came before us.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Fear

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 28-31, 1 Chronicles 10

Fear does funny things to people. It closes doors that otherwise remain open. It limits options unnecessarily. It puts blinders on our eyes and gives us tunnel vision so we see the worst case scenarios. A few months ago, I was talking to my daughter about her college choices. I encouraged her to apply to several different colleges so we could have as many options as possible. She received it as a lack of support for the one college she wanted to go to. Her fear caused her to think the worst of me rather than the best. After we talked it out, she understood and more doors have opened for her. A friend of mine is trying to kick an addiction. The biggest challenge he faces is how to manage his anxiety and fear. He’s gotten so used to numbing himself on marijuana that he doesn’t know how he’ll be able to cope. We’ve talked about a lot of healthier options like exercise, taking a walk outside, hanging out with friends, etc. but he can’t seem to take the blinders off. It’s making an already difficult situation even more challenging. I think about what’s happening in the stock market over the last week or so. Fear and anxiety and uncertainty are creating all kinds of volatility. People are responding to worst case scenarios rather than remaining calm and looking at all their options.

Saul too experienced fear. Fear is what drove him to seek out the help of a medium. Fear is what drove him to try to call up the dead. Fear is what drove him to abandon God and try to find a way out of the mess he’d made on his own. However, the more he tried, the worse things got. All because of fear. Fear is what drove the Philistine leaders to kick David out of their army. Their fear of what he might do, given the right opportunity, cost them a valuable ally. Fear is what drove Saul to take his own life. He was afraid of what might happen to him should he be captured. He was afraid of the torture and the shame. But when his armor-bearer refused to take his life, he fell on his own sword. Fear is what caused Israel to run from battle. After the death of Saul and his sons, Israel lost the will to fight and fled to the countryside.

What is the antidote to fear? It’s not courage. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage doesn’t prevent you from being afraid. Courage is working through the fear to do what needs to be done. Courage is moving forward despite the fear. Courage is facing your fears and not letting them limit you in any way. Courage is important but it’s not the antidote to fear. Faith is the only thing that can protect us from fear. Faith in God. Faith in those we love. Faith gives us the ability to believe God is more than able to do all we ask for or imagine. Faith is the confidence that God will deliver on His promises. Faith is assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. When we walk by faith, we don’t need to walk by sight. When we live by faith, we won’t place our trust in the temporary things of this world. Faith gives us the eyes to see beyond the horizon of this world to the world to come. It opens our eyes to all the options that lie before us, including the ones that only God can see right now. As powerful as motivator as fear can be, faith is even more powerful.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 121, 123-125, 128-130