The Danger of False Gods

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 5-7, John 6:1-21, Psalms 106:13-31, Proverbs 14:32-33

Imagine you are living in ancient Israel during the time of the judges. You have no Bible. You have no synagogue. You have no centralized system of government. Every now and again, a charismatic leader rises up and for a time you have peace. For a time you seek after God. But pretty soon you lapse back into your old ways. You live in a very tribal culture. Every tribe around you has its own gods and goddesses and its own way of worship that seems to have been working for them. As you build your house and plant your crops and grow your family, you grow complacent. The incredible miracles God worked on your behalf recede further and further. You are preoccupied with the present. What you will eat. What you will wear. Will your wife get pregnant this year? How many lambs will be born this spring? What will the harvest yield? Sure, you go up each year to Shiloh to make your sacrifices but then it’s back to normal. And “normal” doesn’t really include God.

It’s actually not hard to imagine, is it? This is familiar territory for all of us. How many of us own a Bible but rarely open it? How many of us belong to a church but rarely go to worship? We too live in a “tribal” culture whether it’s our family, social group, political party, etc. Everyone of those tribes has its own “gods” and “goddesses” and different ways of worship. And if we aren’t careful, we can get sucked in. We buy our homes. We grow our families. We work hard. We play hard. And we too can get complacent. The miracles and blessings of God can become commonplace in our lives as well. We too are preoccupied with the present. What we will eat. What we will wear. What kind of home we will live in. Will I get a raise this year? A promotion? Will my child make the team? Will I get into my dream college? Will I get my dream job? Will I meet the man or woman of my dreams? Sure, we go to worship on Christmas and Easter just in case but then it’s quickly back to normal. And “normal” doesn’t really include God.

Enter Samuel. A man sent by God to bring Israel back. To remind her of her covenant commitments. To have no other gods before God. To worship no idols. To honor God’s name and keep the Sabbath. “Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." (1 Samuel‬ ‭7:3‬) Samuel led Israel during a very difficult period in her history. She had suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Philistines. The ark of God had been captured. Her priests had been killed. All hope seemed lost. And then along came Samuel to remind her of God. To challenge her to return to God with her whole heart. To put aside all the other gods and goddesses. To cleanse herself of all the false worship she had engaged in. To come back to God and watch Him work yet another miracle on her behalf. This is exactly what happened. God brought them a great victory over their enemies. The Philistines were subdued. Territory was reclaimed. Hope was restored.

Enter the church of Jesus Christ. Sent by God to bring our world back. To remind humanity of her most sacred calling. To have no other gods before God. To worship no idols. To honor God’s name and keep the Sabbath holy. To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. The church of Jesus Christ in the 21st century is called to lead during a very challenging time. Persecution is on the rise across the globe while here in America the church is in steep decline as it struggles against the increasing secularism of our culture. Pastors are failing morally. Sexual abuse and financial infidelity seem rampant. Heresies like prosperity preaching bring shame to the name of Jesus. It does feel like we are facing a steep, uphill battle. Perhaps you even feel like all hope is lost. But God isn’t finished! The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe! Of all who place their trust in Christ! And the church is being sent out as lambs amidst the wolves to call people back to God. To stand up against the principalities and powers and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. We are being sent to challenge the people of our world to put aside all the false gods and goddesses that only deal in suffering and death. To cleanse themselves of false worship and re-commit their lives to Christ. As we do this, we can be confident. For we know we worship the only true and living God. All the false gods will bow before Him just as Dagon did that day in the temple. There is no weapon that’s formed against us that can stand for greater is He that is in us than is in the world!

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 8-9, John 6:22-42, Psalms 106:32-48, Proverbs 14:34-35

School Shootings

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22, John 5:24-47, Psalms 106:1-12, Proverbs 14:30-31

It’s been a very long day. Filled with lots of conversations, text messages, and emails regarding the latest school shooting in our area. Parents. Teenagers. Families. All reaching out. All needing comfort. All needing hope. And I have to admit, I don’t have much to offer. I am tired. Tired of the shootings. Tired of domestic terrorism. Tired of the senselessness of it all. Our culture has made a pact with death and we are reaping the whirlwind. Our obsession with violence too often ending in self-destruction. When will the cycle end? 

We have to come to grips with reality. The violence we are experiencing is a symptom of a deeper disease. One that has taken root in every human heart. We are sinful. We are selfish. We are narcissistic. Driven by our basest desires, we no longer seem able to moderate our reactions. Instead we give them full rein. We vent. We emote. We perpetuate hate. Social media throws gasoline on this dumpster fire exacerbating our worst tendencies. Disconnected from authentic relationships. Lonely and isolated. We feel we have no outlet other than unbridled rage. “If we’re going down, we’re going to take as many with us as possible.” Some of us do it with words. Others with guns. Either way, the root of the problem remains the same. A heart tormented by pain and suffering. Wracked by shame and guilt. Numb to the humanity of others.  

What happens when we use the very freedoms that make our nation great to indulge the very worst parts of our sinful nature? Freedom of speech used to defend the spread of hate, misinformation, and fake news. Freedom of expression used to defend the graphic depiction of violence in video games, television, and movies. Freedom of assembly used to defend the lunatic fringe. All the while, media outlets make millions fanning the flames of our national discontent. Can we really be surprised when angry, abused, bullied, and neglected adolescents/adults become emotionally unhinged, get their hands on easily obtainable firearms, and shoot up a school? I know, I know. “Guns don’t kill people...people kill people.” However, this seems dangerously naive sentiment in a culture where mental health issues continue to rise at an extraordinary rate and we consistently demonstrate an inability to mature or show any kind of capacity for emotional restraint.  

It’s time for a reality check. A national conversation around not just human rights but human responsibilities. A national commitment to the ethics of Jesus which involves self-denial for the sake of others, sacrifice for the greater good, and a dedication to the golden rule. Though all may not accept Christ’s divinity or believe in His name unto salvation; surely we can all agree practicing the way of Jesus would lead to a more just and gracious society? And we don’t need a theocracy to achieve it. Simply a willingness to be held to a higher standard personally, professionally, and politically. 

Sadly, our situation is not new. It is as old as Cain and Abel. There is a violent streak that runs through the heart of every human society which is why God sent His one and only Son. He sent Jesus to give us hope. He sent Jesus to give us peace. He sent Jesus to bring heaven to earth. Even in the midst of the violence and corruption of Eli’s time, we read these prophetic words about the coming of the Messiah, “And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭2:35‬) Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 5-7, John 6:1-21, Psalms 106:13-31, Proverbs 14:32-33

Spiritual Renewal

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21, John 5:1-23, Psalms 105:37-45, Proverbs 14:28-29

Today’s reading represents a transition point in salvation history. As we’ve already seen, things are really bad in Israel. The people do not honor God. They do not have leaders who honor God. They are simply going through the motions of worship. Saying all the right things. Making all the right sacrifices. But in their hearts, they reject God. The rebel against His Law. Their priests are a disaster, engaging in sexual immorality. Making a mockery of the sacrificial system. Abusing their spiritual authority. Eli and his sons are the last in the line of the judges. A corrupt time in Israel’s history that heartens back to the days of the Great Flood, the Tower of Babel, and slavery in Egypt. At each of these points, God raised up a new leader. A godly leader. Someone who sought Him with all their heart and was “blameless” (not perfect) in their generation.

Noah. Abraham. Moses. Now it’s Samuel’s turn to take up the mantle of leadership and lead Israel back to Yahweh. Samuel is really a bridge from the time of the Judges to the time of the Kings. He will oversee a major transition in the life of Israel as they go from a bunch of tribes, each with their own identity, to one nation under a strong, centralized monarchy. It’s also striking to note Samuel’s age when he receives this call. Noah, Abraham, and Moses were all old men. Well beyond their prime. Samuel is a young boy. Not yet come into his own. The message here? God can use anyone at anytime to accomplish His purposes. 

Admittedly, we are bleeding into tomorrow’s reading a bit but it’s worth getting the whole narrative in front of us. “Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭3:1-3‬)

Several things stand out in this passage. The Word of the Lord was rare. There was no vision. Eli, the current judge and spiritual leader of Israel, was going blind. All of these are connected. Israel was so mired in sin that God had gone almost silent. Throughout the Bible we see this dynamic in play. 

• “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
• “For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from Me, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes.” (Jeremiah 16:17)
• “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” ‭(Hebrews‬ ‭4:13‬)

God will not be mocked. When God’s people continue to turn to sin instead of turning to Him in faithfulness, He will withdraw His presence. He will withhold His Word. He will give “them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity...give them up to dishonorable passions...give them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:24, 26, 28) And that is exactly what had taken place in Israel and in Eli’s own family. Eli failed to discipline and restrain his sons. Hophni and Phineas are the very definition of corrupt religious leaders who manipulate the faith for their own benefit. And though things look okay on the outside - i.e. sacrifices are being made, prayers are being said, worship is taking place - the people of God are spiritually dying. (By the way, we see these same things happening in our world today. Think of the health and wealth preachers who speak to thousands every week. Or the Christian self-help gurus who masquerade as preachers. Or the many preachers who have fallen into sin, reject any kind of accountability or spiritual authority or process of repentance, and then get back into the pulpit. As incredible as it seems, faithlessness is often very popular and faithfulness unpopular.)

Thankfully, all hope is not lost! The lamp of God had not yet gone out! A young boy lies down in the temple of the Lord ready to receive His Word anew! Note the differences between Eli and Samuel. Eli is old. Infirm. Going blind. Samuel is young. Strong. His eyesight is clear. Eli is alone. Lying down in his own place. Samuel is also alone but makes his bed in the temple to be near the ark of God. Eli is associated in this passage with the rarity of God’s Word and a lack of vision. Samuel is associated with hope because light still flickered in the lamp of God. 

“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man (or woman) fully consecrated to him.” (Attributed to Dwight L. Moody) Spiritual revival always begins with one person fully devoting themselves to God. Samuel was set apart from conception to be such a man. His mother gave him to the Lord to be raised in the temple. He was open to hear God’s call when it came. As a result, revival did come to Israel. “And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭3:19-21‬)

Where do you find yourself in this story? Are you like Eli, Hophi, and Phineas? Enslaved to your sinful desires? Pursuing a life apart from God? Is the Word of the Lord rare in your life? Let me strongly encourage you to go before the Lord in honest, even ruthless, self-examination. Ask God to show you the areas of your life that need to be surrendered. Are you like Samuel? Do you have a heart for God? Let me encourage you to dig deep into His Word. Dedicate daily time in prayer. Listen for God’s voice as it comes to you through His Word or through other believers or through your own personal prayer time. And when He speaks, may you answer with Samuel, “Speak Lord! Your servant is listening.”

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22, John 5:24-47, Psalms 106:1-12, Proverbs 14:30-31

Ruth

Readings for today: Judges 21-Ruth 1, John 4:4-42, Psalms 105:1-15, Proverbs 14:25

I love the book of Ruth. It upends so many expectations and helps us understand the heart of God. Ruth is a Moabite. A foreigner. A sojourner. She married an Israelite named Chilion and became part of his extended family. This was forbidden by the Law of God but it took place during the time of the judges when everyone was doing right in their own eyes. Tragedy strikes. Her father-in-law, Elimelech, dies. Ten years later both her husband and his brother die as well. This puts the whole family in dire straights. There are no men to work. No men to protect them. So Naomi makes the decision to return home. She encourages her Moabite daughters-in-law to do the same. Start over. See if they have better luck with a new family because hers has brought them only grief. Ruth refuses. She makes this extraordinary declaration, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth‬ ‭1:16‬) So powerful is her statement that we often hear it read at weddings thousands of years later!

Ruth not only returns with Naomi to Bethlehem, she cares faithfully for her mother-in-law. She puts her life at risk by going out to the fields to glean what was left after the reapers had made their way through. It was backbreaking, painstaking work. Women who did this were often molested, harassed, and abused. They were the poorest of the poor in the land. Completely without hope. In the providence of God, the field she chose belonged to a man named Boaz. A righteous man. A man who left the gleanings for the poor as the Law of God demands. (Lev. 19:9-10) A man who protected her from the men who worked for him. A man who included her among his own young women so she woudn’t be alone. Even invited her to sit and eat at his table. Boaz is a man who clearly honors the Lord. I love what he says to Ruth when she asks him why she has found favor in his eyes. “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!" (Ruth‬ ‭2:12‬)

Naomi cannot believe their good fortune! Ruth has been led by God to the very fields of the man who can redeem them! (Lev. 25) A man who is a close enough relative to bring them into his family and continue the family line! Thus unfolds this beautiful courtship in chapter three where Ruth goes and lies at Boaz’s feet to ask him to take them in. Boaz is humbled by the request and makes the necessary arrangements to become their kinsman-redeemer. They get married. Conceive a son. The family line continues which is important since her great-grandson is King David! Furthermore, many generations hence, her descendent Joseph will marry a young pregnant woman named Mary and they will have a son named Jesus. The Great Redeemer who will save His people from their sins!

After all the bloodshed and violence and suffering and pain, it is nice to read that not all was lost in Israel. Even in the time of the judges, there were still faithful men and women who followed the Lord. It is a great reminder to us in our own time that the night is always darkest right before the dawn. God using ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary plans in a culture seemingly hell-bent on ruin. God is faithful and He has promised to the moral arc of this universe towards His Kingdom. Thanks be to God! 

Readings for tomorrow: Ruth 2-4, John 4:43-54, Psalms 105:16-36, Proverbs 14:26-27

Heart of Darkness

Readings for today: Judges 19-20, John 3:22-4:3, Psalms 104:24-35, Proverbs 14:22-24

Today we encounter some of the most difficult material in all of Scripture. We see Israel at one of her lowest points. She has forgotten Yahweh. She has become like all the pagan tribes around her. She is more focused on her own gratification than she is on serving and honoring the Lord. Her world is full of idols and sexual perversion and violence. Yes, she still goes through the motions. She still makes her sacrifices. She still prays. Fasts. Appears before the Lord at the appointed times. But it’s all empty at this point. Everyone is doing what seems right to them. They are all following their own ways. They are plumbing the depths of sin. They are pushing the boundaries of evil. Unspeakable atrocities are taking place in Israel such as the gang rape of a woman whose body is then dismembered resulting in a genocidal war that basically annihilates an entire tribe. It’s madness. 

One of my favorite books is the Heart of Darkness  by Joseph Conrad. With penetrating insight, he describes the nature of man. Given the right conditions. Given the right set of circumstances. We will all succumb to temptation. In the book, Kurtz sets himself up as a god to be worshipped. He exploits those around him. He uses them for his own personal gratification and enjoyment. He is evil and selfish and insane. Towards the end of the story, he finds himself dying as he “returns” to civilization. His life flashes before his eyes. He reflects back on all he has done. And his final words are, “The horror! The horror!”

Horror. It’s a good word to describe what we read today from the book of Judges. There simply is nothing redemptive in the story. Nothing good. Nothing godly. Man’s inhumanity to man is on full display. It’s dark. It’s evil. It’s terrifying. Horror. It’s a good word to describe what’s going on in our world today.  One only has to scroll through a Twitter newsfeed to see the hate that leads to violence that leads to death and then return the next day to watch the cycle repeat itself. Horror. If we’re totally honest, it’s a good word to describe what goes on in all of our hearts. All of us are perpetrators. All of us are victims. We are the Levite. We are the concubine. We’ve sacrificed others and we’ve been sacrificed for the sake of self-protection and self-gratification. In the Bible’s judgment, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans‬ ‭3:10-18‬)

So where can we find hope? Where can we find light in the midst of our darkness? Only in Jesus. On the cross, Jesus embraced our darkness. On the cross, Jesus walked into the valley of the shadow. On the cross, Jesus let evil have it’s day. The murder of God is the most horrific act in human history and it is worth our reflection. Reflect on the price Jesus paid. The blood He shed. The penalty He bore. Reflect on the suffering He endured. The pain He experienced. The heartbreak of betrayal. Reflect on the depth of our sin. The depravity of our nature. The darkness of our hearts. Reflect on the cost of our salvation. On what it took to redeem us from sin and death. To deliver us from evil.

But make sure to also reflect on our salvation! God plunging Himself into the horror of our condition! Plumbing the depth of our darkness! Immersing Himself in the breadth of our madness! And embracing us as His own! Today we declare there is hope for the Levite and his concubine! Today we declare there is hope for the Kurtz’s of our world! Today we declare there is hope even for us! And that hope is found in Jesus!

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 21-Ruth 1, John 4:4-42, Psalms 105:1-15, Proverbs 14:25

Identity

Readings for today: Judges 17-18, John 3:1-21, Psalms 104:1-23, Proverbs 14:20-21

 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John‬ ‭3:3‬)

Our culture is obsessed with identity. Gay, straight, bi. Black, brown, white. Republican, Democrat. Socialist, Libertarian. Male, female, tran. Boomer, Gen X, Millennial. Abled, disabled. Rich, middle class, poor. Religious. Non-religious. Everyone wanting to be part of a tribe. Part of a group. Part of a community who understands their needs. Everyone wants to be affirmed and accepted. Everyone wants to be validated and embraced. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with these desires. Human beings have an existential fear of loneliness that is hardwired into the deepest parts of our souls. We were not made to be alone. In fact, part and parcel of being made in the image of God means being made in the image of our Creator who exists eternally in community in Himself.  

Enter Nicodemus. A man who belonged to the tribe of the Pharisees. A leader among the Jews. A man who identified clearly with his people and his faith. But something is missing which is why he finds himself coming to Jesus. He’s nervous. He’s anxious. He’s afraid. He doesn’t want to cross his tribe. He doesn’t want to put his reputation at risk so he comes to Jesus at night. Under the cover of darkness. He wants to get in and out unseen. But Jesus - as he so often does - cuts right to the heart of his problem. It’s one of identity. 

“You must be born again.”  What a statement! You must ground your identity in Christ alone. You must take on a new name. Belong to a new family. One defined by love and devotion to God. It’s not new. It’s really the only way we can live out the first and second great commandments. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. The only way this happens is if we are first born again. Born to new life. Born to a new identity as a child of God. 

But how can we be born again? How can we lay hold of our new identity in Christ? By faith. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John‬ ‭3:16-18‬) We cannot make this happen on our own. We cannot climb back into our mother’s womb. And thankfully we don’t have to! All we have to do is believe. Receive the gift of God’s only begotten Son. Trust He came not to condemn but to save. 

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 19-20, John 3:22-4:3, Psalms 104:24-35, Proverbs 14:22-24

Meditating on Truth

Readings for today: Judges 15-16, John 2, Psalms 103, Proverbs 14:17-19

My wife and I were sitting down for dinner last week when one of our daughters came downstairs. She was in the middle of her homework. There were still dishes to do. A floor to sweep and mop. A lunch to be made. A room to clean. And it was getting late. She was tired. Frustrated. Upset. And I could tell by the look on her face that her internal critic was in overdrive. Telling her all kinds of lies. “You can’t get it all done.” “You are so far behind.” “You will flunk your assignment.” “You’ll never finish.” As we talked, her emotions escalated. Her voice raised. Tears came to her eyes. Her body language more animated. Now I will confess I used to escalate with her. I used to get angry. I too believed lies. “She’s just being disobedient.” “She’s trying to avoid work.” “She’s just wasting time.” My voice would raise. My body language would become animated. And we’d end up in a shouting match that just wrecked her spirit. 

Meditating on Psalms like the one we read today have been so helpful.  “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's...The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children...” (Psalms‬ ‭103:2-5, 8-17‬) You see, if God is merciful and gracious. If He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. If He does not deal with me according to my sin. If He removes my sin as far as the east is from the west or as high as the heavens are above the earth. How can I do the same for the people in my life? I know their frames. I know they are dust just like me. I know they are fragile and anxious and afraid. So how can I encourage and bless? How can I crown them with steadfast love and mercy? How can I satisfy them with good so their strength is renewed? 

So rather than yell, I simply held out my arms to my daughter. She resisted at first. I actually had to chase her around the kitchen for a full five minutes or so before she relented. She was so upset the last thing she wanted was a hug. But eventually she gave in. As I held her, her tears dried up. Her heart rate slowed down. You could feel her body relax. We started talking through everything she had to do. We identified the lies she was telling herself and I reminded her of the truth. “You have plenty of time.” “You are more than capable.” “Your mom and I are here to help.” She wrapped everything up in no time and was able to relax before bed.

Such a beautiful moment. And if I - a sinful, broken dad - can bless my children, how much more our Heavenly Father? I don’t know about you but I too often believe the lies. How can God forgive me? How can God love me? Where is God when I hurt? He must not care about my suffering? Psalm 103 teaches us the truth. Our Father forgives all our iniquity. He heals all our diseases. He lavishes all blessings on us. He removes our sin as far as the east is from the west and His steadfast love never fails. He is merciful. Gracious. Good. Compassionate. When we are anxious and afraid and find our emotions amping up, He simply holds out His arms to us. Inviting us into His embrace so He can give us peace.  

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 17-18, John 3:1-21, Psalms 104:1-23, Proverbs 14:20-21

Desire

Readings for today: Judges 13-14, John 1:29-51, Psalms 102, Proverbs 14:15-16

Samson is a cautionary tale. He is a man ruled by his appetites. Driven by his desires. An addict enslaved to the basest of emotions. His life is a study in contrasts. Miraculously conceived. Set apart from birth as a Nazarite. (No wine, cutting of the hair, or touching of dead bodies) He single-handedly delivers Israel from their enemies. At the same time, he despises his birthright. He intermarries with Philistines and sleeps with prostitutes. He eats honey from the carcass of a lion he’s killed. He tells Delilah (yet another Philistine) the supposed secret of his strength and she cuts his hair. He is imprisoned and tortured by exacts vengeance on his enemies in one final act of martyrdom. 

I have met Samson. Many times. I cannot tell you the number of people I have counseled over the years in my office who seemingly cannot control their desires. Sexual appetites. Drug and alcohol addiction. Co-dependence. Suicidal ideation. It’s heartbreaking. These are gifted people who have been blessed in every measure by God. They have families. They have friends. They have careers. They make good money and experience professional success. But their inner lives are a mess. Their souls are in turmoil. They feel trapped and enslaved and ruled by their passions. They buy into the lie that they were “made” this way and therefore have no choice. And it cripples them. 

I have met Samson. Every time I look in the mirror I am reminded I too was once driven by sinful desire. Enslaved to the flesh as the Apostle Paul might put it. Sexual desire drove me to pornography. My drinking habits bordered on alcohol addiction. I’ve struggled with depression and despair in my life. It’s been hard. At the same time, I’m blessed with an amazing family. A godly wife and four kids I love with all my heart. I’ve got great friends. A career I absolutely love. But my inner life has been a mess. I’ve too often believed the lie that I am at the mercy of what I feel. That I have no choice. Thankfully, I’ve received great counsel and a lot of therapy over the years. Mentors, counselors, friends who acted as a spiritual and emotional guides to help bring peace to my soul.  

Here’s the truth of the gospel...you have been set free! For freedom Christ has set you free so do not submit again to a yoke of slavery! Do not turn back to your former ways! Do not believe the lie that you are at the mercy of what you feel. You are not defined by your desires. You are not a slave to your emotions. Love the Lord with all your heart! Submit your desires to Him! Allow His Spirit to sanctify your emotions and your feelings. Keep in step with the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. In fact, you will find yourself beginning to desire what God desires. Holiness. Purity. Grace. Mercy. Compassion. These things flow from a heart surrendered to God.  

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 15-16, John 2, Psalms 103, Proverbs 14:17-19

Jephthah’s Sacrifice

Readings for today: Judges 11-12, John 1:1-28, Psalms 101, Proverbs 14:13-14

When we travel to Ethiopia, we often head into the rural areas to visit village churches. As we walk along the dirt paths, we pass home after home. Most of them are mud huts surrounded by a little brush fence. In the evenings, we see children driving whatever livestock (donkeys, chickens, goats, etc.) the family owns into the enclosure. This keeps the animals safe and the house warm. It’s a common custom all over the Middle East even to this day.

Hopefully, this places Jephthah’s tragic vow in context. He fully expected the first thing to greet him when he returned home to be a goat or a sheep or some other animal. He most certainly did NOT expect it to be his daughter! So when she comes dancing out of the home with her tambourine, he tears his clothes. He instantly regrets the vow he made. He feels trapped. And how does his daughter respond? Her reaction is perhaps the most surprising part of this story. She willingly lays down her life for her father! She faces her fate with courage and faith. Taking two full months to say goodbye and grieve with her friends. Two full months to weep over what could have been.

It’s a story that baffles us on a lot of levels. How could Jephthah sacrifice his own flesh and blood? How could Jephthah’s daughter willingly lay down her life? And where is God in all of this? Is He pleased? The cultural distance between this world and our own is almost insurmountable. However, one key to understanding is Judges 11:23-24, “So then the Lord, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel; and are you to take possession of them? Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And all that the Lord our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess.” Everyone in the ancient near east believed in the gods. Dagon for the Philistines. Chemosh for the Amorites. Molech for the Ammonites. Every tribe had their own deity. Make the right sacrifices and you were awarded with great wealth, military might, and political power. Make the wrong sacrifices and your deity would turn his face from you, resulting in defeat. One some level, the same held true for Israel. As they adopted the ways of the Canaanites, Yahweh ceased, on some level, to be the One True God and became just another tribal deity to be appeased. Thus, Jepthah’s tragic choice to sacrifice his daughter and her tragic choice to accept her fate. And the most important takeaway from the whole account is God’s silence. Nowhere does the Bible say God is pleased with Jephthah’s decision.

What about us? We claim to worship the supreme God of the universe. We claim to know the King of kings and Lord of lords. We claim to be heirs of His eternal Kingdom. But do our lives reflect this truth? How much have we accommodated to the ways of this world? Brought God down to our level? Limited Him to our tribe? Reduced Him to our personal deity?

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 13-14, John 1:29-51, Psalms 102, Proverbs 14:15-16

The Way of Death

Readings for today: Judges 9:22-10:18, Luke 24:13-53, Psalms 100, Proverbs 14:11-12

 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs‬ ‭14:12‬)

I was talking to a group of teenagers yesterday about the Christian life. We were looking at Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount where He talks about anger, lust, vengeance, and loving your enemies. It seems an impossible task. The students were honest enough to ask if God grades on a curve. They could not fathom a life without anger or anxiety or lust or revenge. We talked through a whole host of scenarios where these things crop up. Surely Jesus doesn’t expect us to actually put His sermon into practice, does He?  

I think a lot of Christians feel this way. They consider the Bible “aspirational” at best. A standard to aspire to rather than an actual way of life. They know their imperfections. They know how often they fall short. They know how challenging it is to follow Jesus so they settle. They lower their expectations. They reduce the horizon of their lives to something more manageable. And they hope God will cover the rest.  

Why do you think there is so much death in our world? So much depression? So much suffering? When we refuse to follow Christ. When we refuse to trust Christ’s wisdom for our lives. When we refuse to lean on Christ’s strength to resist temptation. When we reject Christ’s way, there are consequences. Someone crosses us. Betrays us. Wounds us. Instead of taking our pain to Christ for healing, we feed the anger as it wells up inside. Eventually it builds to the point where we lash out. We spend time looking at pornography, fantasizing about other human beings. The porn subtly and subconsciously begins to shape our sexual expectations. Instead of letting our sexual relationships be defined by Christ and His selfless love, now we treat the men and women we meet/date/marry as objects to be used to gratify our own desires. And if they cannot or will not, we are free to discard them and move on. Stress from work or school begins to pile up. Assignments. Tests. Papers to write. Projects to finish. Tasks to complete. Our to-do list is overwhelming. Instead of grounding our work in Christ and trusting Him to give us the energy and wisdom and motivation to take care of our responsibilities, we avoid. We play video games. We hang out with friends. We scroll through social media. Time is wasted. Deadlines draw near. Anxiety builds. Do you see a pattern emerging? 

There is a way that seems right to a person...but take a step back. What have we gained from the way of sexual freedom in our culture? Sexually transmitted disease. Unwanted pregnancies. Broken relationships. Sexual abuse and the #MeToo movement. What have we gained from the way of violence in our culture? School shootings. Domestic terrorism. A rise in racism and hate. What have we gained from the way of greed in our culture? A widening gap between rich and poor. Too much money centered in too few hands. Corporate welfare. A corrupt relationship between our political leaders and Wall Street. What have we gained from the way of exploitation when it comes to creation? Plastic filling our oceans. Greenhouse gases eroding our atmosphere. Climate change disproportionately impacting the global poor. These, friends, are the ways of death. 

Christ shows us the way of life. But to gain the life He offers, we must let go of our life in the world. Only the one who loses their life for Jesus’ sake will find it. Only by denying oneself and taking up a cross can we follow Jesus. Only by giving ourselves away will we gain all Christ has to offer. This, friends, is what it means to live the Christian life. This is what it means to follow the way of Jesus in our world.  

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 11-12, John 1:1-28, Psalms 101, Proverbs 14:13-14

People of the Resurrection

Readings for today: Judges 8:18-9:21, Luke 23:44-24:12, Psalms 99, Proverbs 14:9-10

Doubt. Fear. Astonishment. Confusion. Disbelief. This is the full range of emotions that swept the followers of Jesus that first Easter morning. No one - absolutely no one - was expecting a resurrection. They all believed it was over. Their hopes and dreams turned to dust. Some were returning home. Some were hiding out in fear. Some went to the tomb to mourn. All of them grieving in their own way.

It has been suggested over centuries that the disciples didn’t know a dead body when they saw one. It has been suggested that Joseph and Nicodemus didn’t realize Jesus was still alive. It has been suggested that Jesus merely swooned on the cross. Fainted. And in doing so, tricked the Roman soldiers - among the most brutal killers the world has ever known - into believing He was dead. It has been suggested that this same Jesus. Body broken. Incredibly weakened by blood loss. Was somehow able to roll the stone away from within the tomb and escape. That He then appeared to His followers and convinced them He was alive. Still others have repeated the fake news the chief priests tried to spread about Jesus’ disciples - fishermen and tax collectors - somehow stealing His body in the dead of night when the Roman guards were asleep. (Something that rarely happened by the way since the punishment for falling asleep on your watch was death.)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the seminal event in human history. It demands attention. It requires reflection. One cannot dismiss it or ignore it or pretend it didn’t happen. If Jesus was raised from the dead then we have to take Him seriously. We have to consider every word that He said. We have to grapple with the truth He proclaimed about a Kingdom not of this world and a God who loves the world and judges it with righteousness. We have to wrestle with what He has to say about the human condition. The sinful state of our hearts and our desperate need for forgiveness and grace. We have to listen to Him when He tells us how to live and repent of our stubborn, prideful, selfish ways. The resurrection validates everything about Jesus. His life. His teaching. His miracles. His suffering. His death. It is God’s stamp of approval on unique identity Jesus claimed for Himself as the Son of God.

This is the truth that confronted the disciples. Jesus, whom they saw die, was now alive. They got to see the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. And if Jesus was raised from the dead. If death could not hold Jesus. If the grave could not keep Jesus. Then what did that mean for their lives? How would that change their future? They realized there was now no going back. No returning back to life as they knew it. No more fishing boats and tax booths. God was on the move. This gospel must be proclaimed! They were being given a great commission to carry this news to the ends of the earth!

2000 years later, we are still engaged in this same mission, friends! God is still moving! The news of the resurrection has yet to be proclaimed to every tribe, tongue and nation! Each new generation must come face to face with the Risen Christ! They must deal with the truth of His resurrection! He simply cannot and will not be denied!

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 9:22-10:18, Luke 24:13-53, Psalms 100, Proverbs 14:11-12

The Art of Self-Forgetfulness

Readings for today: Judges 7:1-8:17, Luke 23:13-43, Psalms 97-98, Proverbs 14:7-8

Admittedly, I stole the title of this blog from Tim Keller but I love that phrase, “self-forgetfulness.” It is the key to godly living. Keller argues that true humility is not thinking more highly of yourself than you ought or less of yourself than you ought. It is thinking of your “self” less. Read that last sentence again. Thinking of your “self” less. 

If you want an example of what this looks like, consider Gideon. He’s just won an amazing victory over the Midianites. His fame is growing. His star is on the rise. His enemies are having nightmares about him. And as he returns from battle, he meets the Ephraimites. And they are angry. They felt left out. They felt dismissed. Shamed for having not been included. “Then the men of Ephraim said to him, "What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?" And they accused him fiercely.” (Judges 8:1) Now if I were Gideon, I don’t think I’d respond well. I wouldn’t appreciate being falsely accused. My pride would get the best of me. But look at how Gideon responds. “And he said to them, "What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger against him subsided when he said this.” (Judges‬ ‭8:2-3‬) Isn’t that amazing? Gideon is humble. He is more than willing to share the glory with his fellow Israelites. He recognizes this victory is the Lord’s alone. He doesn’t think more highly of himself than he ought. He doesn’t think less of himself of than he ought. He simply thinks of himself less.

Godly men and women understand our lives our not our own. Our achievements and success is not our own. Everything we accomplish in this life comes from the Lord above. I love how the Psalmist put it today, “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.” (Psalms‬ ‭97:1-6‬) When you keep your mind and heart fixed on who you serve - the Lord of the universe - you cannot help but think of your “self” less. 

Friends, you have been created by God. All that you are and all that you have come from Him alone. He is your Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. He gave you your gifts and talents and abilities. He provided opportunities for you to succeed. He is orchestrating things you cannot see and cannot control in order to make more into the image of His Son. This is your eternal destiny! To be conformed into the image of Christ! God is at work to get you to decrease so that He can increase in your life! So set aside your focus on “self” and train your mind and heart to focus on Christ! This is the secret to a godly life. 

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 8:18-9:21, Luke 23:44-23:12, Psalms 99, Proverbs 14:9-10

That Look...

Readings for today: Judges 6, Luke 22:54-23:12, Psalms 95-96, Proverbs 14:5-6

 “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." (Luke‬ ‭22:61‬)

I have often wondered what went through the mind of Peter the moment he locked eyes with Jesus after his three-fold denial. Shame. Grief. Heartbreak. Immediately after this he leaves the courtyard and weeps bitterly. But how long did these emotions stay with him? Did they fade in the days ahead? Did he begin to rationalize his behavior in his own mind? Justify himself? Or did the shame cling to him? Is that why he goes back to fishing? Is he trying to escape back to his former life before he met Jesus? 

I have often wondered what went through Jesus’ mind the moment He locked eyes with Peter. Disappointment? Anger? Judgment? Frustration? I told you so? Jesus isn’t given much time to dwell on it as He is almost immediately taken out to be beaten and tortured. His thoughts turning from Peter to the pain and suffering He’s going to endure. However, as soon as He is raised, He seeks Peter out. Finds him on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where everything began and restores him in a beautiful exchange about the love Peter has for his Lord. 

I think about the many times I have denied Jesus. The many moments in my life where I have betrayed my Lord. The sin that so easily entangles me. I am a broken man. I am a sheep who has gone astray. I have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I am hopeless and helpless. Alone and afraid. But then I lock eyes with Jesus. I can see His love. I can see His grace. I can see His forgiveness. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Nothing to fear from His perfect love. He went to the cross for me. He laid down His life in my stead. He shoulders the burden of my shame. He took my place.  

As I look back at Jesus, I find myself grateful. Thankful. Overwhelmed with gratitude for all He has done. I fall on my knees in awe. I stand in His presence amazed. I throw my arms and my heart wide open to His grace and forgiveness and mercy. I surrender all that I am to Him. When I fall - and I know I will...multiple times...everyday - I trust Him to restore me just as surely as He restored Peter. For I am His and He is mine. And He looks on me with love.  

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 7:1-8:17, Luke 23:13-43, Psalms 97-98, Proverbs 14:7-8

Life is Struggle

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 4-5, Luke 22:35-53, Psalms 94, Proverbs 14:3-4

“Life is pain, highness.” - Dred Pirate Roberts

I grew up in the 1980’s so the Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies and the line above is one that’s always stuck with me. The Dred Pirate Roberts has lived a life of incredible struggle and heartache and pain. He’s persevered through hardship and suffering. He’s overcome incredible obstacles. He’s survived impossible odds. The princess, on the other hand, has lived a life of privilege. Growing up amidst all kinds of wealth and splendor. Servants to meet her every need. At the same time, she too has suffered loss. Heartbreak. She grieves over the one she loves whom she believes is dead. I don’t want to spoil the ending for those who haven’t see it but suffice to say both characters have learned and grown and battled through life. It’s not been easy. 

“Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before...They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.” (Judges‬ ‭3:1-2, 4‬)

Israel failed. She lost her nerve. She took her eyes off of Yahweh and succumbed to fear. As a result, the Promised Land was not fully conquered. The pagan nations not fully driven out. They remained as a perpetual test to Israel’s faithfulness. Would they stay true to the commandments of the Lord or would they follow the ways of the Canaanites? The Book of Judges tells the tragic tale of Israel’s descent into darkness and evil. All the skeletons in Israel’s closet are exposed and put on display for generations to read. The moral character of many of the judges is suspect. Their conduct immoral. Their decisions unwise. It’s a story of compromise. A story that depicts what happens when we try to embrace the ways of God and the ways of the world. It’s a story where the faithfulness of God is revealed in His discipline and loving correction. Over and over again, He will give the people of Israel over into the hands of their enemies. He will withdraw His protective hand from them. He will allow the nations around them to conquer and pillage and destroy; all in order to bring Israel back to repentance. Back to faith. Back to Himself. 

Israel must learn to fight because life is a struggle. In the ancient near east, the struggle was literal. Real. It took place on battlefields and within cities. It was a violent, brutal, harsh world full of pain. Israel would need to know how to fight back and defend herself. In the 21st century, we still fight these battles. I think of our military men and women who go all over the world to defend the weak and oppressed. They fight against tyranny with such courage. I think of our police officers who put themselves in danger in the line of duty each and every day. Every call that comes in is a potentially violent situation they will be forced to handle. I think of our firefighters who are called to save lives, often at great cost. I think of so many in our world today who, day in and day out, see the suffering firsthand. They are well-acquainted with the pain. They know the heartache. And they fight.  But even more serious and pervasive are the battles we face on the inside. The battles with depression, anxiety, and fear. Despite the incredible wealth and privilege and blessing we live with, we have never been more stressed. More discontent. More anxious and afraid.

We are being tested, friends. Day in and day out. Will we keep the commands of the Lord? Will we devote time to Him every day? Will we worship Him as He deserves and demands each week? Will we take a Sabbath? Will we give sacrificially and generously? Will we allow our hearts to be shaped by deep reflection on His Word? Will we surrender to His Spirit? Life is struggle. Life is pain. Life is not safe or easy. Anyone who says differently is selling something. (Again with the Princess Bride lines...) Does this mean things are hopeless? Should we just throw in the towel? By no means! God promises He will bear His fruit in the lives of those who walk with Him! Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control. These are the gifts of God for the people of God. In the midst of all life is throwing your way, turn to Christ! Let Him be your strength and your hope! Your shield for the battles you fight!

Readings for today: Judges 6, Luke 22:54-23:12, Psalms 95-96, Proverbs 14:5-6

Deeper Prayers

Readings for today: Judges 2:10-3:31, Luke 22:14-34, Psalms 92-93, Proverbs 14:1-2

What is prayer? Communion with God. On our knees. Folded hands. Eyes closed. Forming thoughts in our minds and sending them upwards like sparks from a fire? Is it a conversation or more of a monologue? A task we have to complete each day if we want to stay on God’s good side? Something we do before meals or before bed? Is it the recitation of memorized words learned as a child and carried through to adulthood? “Now I lay me down to sleep...” “Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen." “God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for this food.” “Our Father, who art in heaven...” What is prayer?

The Psalms are the prayerbook of the Bible. 150 different prayers written by different people on different occasions as they wrestled with life. Readers of the Psalms are always struck by their raw honesty and transparency. The beautiful way they express the deepest emotions of the human heart. The vivid descriptions of God and His great faithfulness. They are marvelous and great teachers when it comes to prayer. 

One of the biggest things I’ve learned in the years I’ve spent meditating on the Psalms is that prayer comes more from the heart than the head. Prayer is less about me forming thoughts or saying words or reciting texts and more about laying before God the deepest emotions of my heart. Deep prayer doesn’t require much in the way of words. Just letting the feelings flow and trusting God is hearing what’s behind them. This is what makes David such a great Psalmist. He doesn’t seem to stop to think about the “appropriateness” of his feelings. He doesn’t seem to “judge” his emotions. He just lets them fly up to God and trusts God is big enough and great enough to make sense out of the chaos.

It’s why he can express contradictory emotions all in the same prayer. “The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever...” (Psalms‬ ‭92:6-7‬) And in the same breath, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night...” (Psalms‬ ‭92:1-2) He feels no need to try to make sense of it all. He trusts God to sort it out.

Ultimately, the Psalms give us permission to be real and authentic before God. To truly be ourselves. To put aside all pretense and performance and let drop the masks we so often wear.

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 4-5, Luke 22:35-53, Psalms 94, Proverbs 14:3-4

Living with the End in Mind

Readings for today: Judges 1:1-2:9, Luke 21:29-22:13, Psalms 90-91, Proverbs 13:24-25

The ancient Greeks believed there was a time when every human being knew the day of their own death. But then Prometheus gave humanity the gift of fire which completely transformed the way they lived. They began to aspire for more. Fire helped them develop technology which in turn helped them achieve their aspirations. And slowly but surely, they lost sight of their mortality and began to see themselves as gods. 

Not much has changed. Humanity still chases immortality. Still believes the original lie that we can be like God. In our pride and arrogance, we do what is right in our own eyes. We live largely for ourselves. Our goal is instant gratification. We’ve completely lost sight of our own mortality. We no longer live with our end in mind.  

The Psalmist writes, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalms 90:12) Remind us that from dust we came and to dust we shall return. Remind us how truly brief and insignificant the span of our lives are on this earth when compared with the sweep of eternity. Remind us of our limits. Our finitude. Our fragility. Humble us that we may gain a heart of wisdom. And what is wisdom according to Scripture? The fear of the Lord. 

When you look back at the end of your life, what do you hope to see? What do you hope to accomplish? What is your definition of a life “well-lived?” Does it have anything to do with Christ and His Kingdom? I engage these conversations all the time as a pastor. I cannot tell you the number of times I have sat at the bedside of someone who is dying only to have them share with me all their regrets. Too much time at the office. Too much time spent in trivial pursuits. Too much bitterness and anger towards those they love. Too much selfishness and greed. It is heartbreaking.  

But what if we lived with our end in mind? What if we approached every day like it were our last? What if we approached every conversation like it was the final one we may have with that person? What if we approached every situation like it was our last opportunity to bring blessing? What if we approached every dollar like it was the final one we would ever spend? I imagine it would create some dramatic change in our lives. So let me encourage you to ask God to teach you to number your days. To know your limits. To come to grips with your morality. To live with your end in mind. This is the path to wisdom. This is the path to life well-lived.  

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 2:10-3:31, Luke 22:14-34, Psalms 92-93, Proverbs 14:1-2

Easter Blues

Readings for today: Joshua 24, Luke 21:1-28, Psalms 89:38-52, Proverbs 13:20-23

Yesterday, someone I deeply love told me they were “done with Easter.” When I asked them why, they told they feel like they’d given God enough of a chance. For years they’ve prayed with no answers. Read their Bible but the stories never seemed to connect. They’ve tried attending churches here and there but never found community. Their heart’s desires always seemed to go unfulfilled. Reminded me of what we read in Proverbs 13:12 a few days back, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick...” And their heart is sick. They are grieving. They are hurting. They feel very lost and alone. 

Now I could argue with them. I could make the case that they never really did give God an honest chance. They never truly surrendered their life to Him. They never committed to walking in God’s ways. They always seemed less interested in a relationship with Jesus and far more interested in using God to serve their own ends. Get their own needs met. And while I believe these things to be true, I find this approach to be not only counter-productive but antithetical to the way of Jesus. 

The central message of Easter is God’s unconditional love. While were still sinners, Christ died for us. While we remained ungrateful, unrepentant, ignorant and unaware, Christ willingly laid down His life for us. After we stiff-armed God in Eden and went our own way. Each of us doing our own thing. Done with God and all His demands. Christ sacrificed Himself on our behalf. By rising from the dead, Jesus lets us know His love is relentless. His grace irresistible. His faithfulness eternal. There is literally nothing in all of creation that can separate us from His love. That’s Easter. And it’s as true for my friend as it is for me. 

So how did I respond to my friend? I simply listened. I told him how much I loved him. I told him how much of a blessing he was in my life. I shared with him the numerous ways God had used him in my life over the years. It reminded me a lot of what Joshua shares with Israel as he nears the end of his life. He wants this new generation to hear the story once again. To be reminded of God’s great faithfulness because of how easy it is for us to forget. The reality is my friend has forgotten God. He has forgotten all God has done for him over the years. He has forgotten the many ways God has used him over the years. But God has not forgotten him. God has not stopped loving him. God has not abandoned or walked away from him. And my role is not to judge. Not to argue. Not to twist his arm but simply to tell him the stories. Help him remember. Point him to powerful moments in his own life where God was clearly at work. 

Does this take the sting out of his current disappointments? No. Does it make him feel any less hurt by the silence? I don’t think so. Does it help him feel any better about his unrequited desires? Not so much. Those struggles are real. They are painful. They are hard. It’s not easy to accept God’s “no” or “not yet.” And I don’t feel compelled to have to defend God or protect God from the anger my friend carries in his heart. I simply need to be there for him as God is there for him. I need to sit and listen and love as unconditionally as I possibly can. And I trust God is not finished with him. I trust there will be a time when Easter will once again be a source of joy in my friend’s life. It may take years for that to happen but I know God is faithful and I know God is with him wherever he may go from here.  

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 1:1-2:9, Luke 21:29-22:13, Psalms 90-91, Proverbs 13:24-25

Resurrection

Readings for today: Joshua 22:21-23:16, Luke 20:27-47, Psalms 89:14-37, Proverbs 13:17-19

There is literally only one reason to believe. It has little to do with the sermons we hear, no matter how tightly and eloquently they are argued. It has little to do with the songs we sing, no matter how amazing the musicianship and special effects. It has little to do with the grandeur of the church buildings where we attend, be they soaring cathedrals or intimate sanctuaries. The only reason to believe is because a dead guy named Jesus literally got up on Easter morning two thousand years ago and walked out of the tomb. 

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. It is an otherworldly event. It defies all human categories. It cannot be grasped or understood using human logic. It cannot be explained away. It simply stands in history as a unique, unrepeatable miracle. It is the defeat of death. It is the defeat of sin. It is the defeat of evil and the great enemy of our souls. It represents a new world. Heaven come to earth. The advent of eternal life. As such, the rules that govern this world do not apply. All the complex scenarios that create headaches in this life - like a woman being married to seven different brothers - simply do not apply in the life to come. This is Jesus’ point. Resurrection changes everything. 

Today is Easter Sunday. Today Christians around the world gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So what’s changed for you? What difference does Jesus rising from the dead make for you? How is your life different as a result? The Bible says the same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead actually lives inside every believer. Surely that changes things? Surely it gives us a new outlook on life? Surely it influences our desires and ambitions? Surely it shapes our thoughts, attitudes, and actions? Martin Luther once famously remarked that it’s not enough to believe Jesus died and rose again. Even the demons believe this and shudder! No, you must believe He died and rose again for you. It’s got to be personal. So what difference does the resurrection make for you? 

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 24, Luke 21:1-28, Psalms 89:38-52, Proverbs 13:20-23

Can I get a Witness?

Readings for today: Joshua 21:1-22:20, Luke 20:1-26, Psalms 89:1-13, Proverbs 13:15-16

”The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, "For," they said, "it is a witness between us that the Lord is God." (Josh. ‭22:34‬)

I know we are bleeding a bit into tomorrow’s reading here but what does it mean to you to be a witness? To give a witness? To testify? For my friends in the African-American church, when the preacher asks for a “witness” it means it’s time for someone to stand and tell of all the Lord has done. In our readings for today and tomorrow, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh build an altar and name it “Witness” to remind all the tribes in the coming years that they are part of one large family. Deeply connected by their common kinship with Abraham and more importantly, their covenant with God Himself. The leaders of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were concerned that future generations of Israelitesmight forget this connection and start to see the Jordan River as the boundary between God’s people and the rest of the world. They didn’t want to be left out so before they crossed the Jordan to take possession of their inheritance, they built a monument of “imposing size.” Not for burnt offerings. Not for sacrifices. But as a witness to all of Israel that they were one people under Yahweh. Every time an Israelite would pass by the monument, it would “witness” to their shared history and deep connection.

In the Book of Acts, Jesus calls us “His witnesses.” We are witnesses in our neighborhoods, cities, nations, and to the very ends of the earth. In this way, we are living memorials to all God has done. We are living monuments to a shared history. A common heritage. The deep connection we share as God’s chosen people. We “witness” to the glory and goodness of God. We “witness” to the unity we share as the family of God. Anytime someone “passes us by” or interacts with us on any level, they should leave having “witnessed” the mercy and grace of God and having felt the deep love we have for one another.

The Bible itself is a “witness.” I love what Joshua 21:45 says, “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” The only reason we know this statement is true is because we have an accurate record of what took place. This is why we read the Old Testament. Within its pages, God “witnesses” to us over and over again of His great faithfulness and love. 

Ultimately, of course, the resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as God’s pre-eminent witness to all creation that He loves us too much to let us go. He will never stop pursuing us. Never stop chasing us. Never stop reaching out to us. He bridges the gap between heaven and earth to save us. He descends into the darkness of death and hell and God-forsakenness to deliver us. He rises once again, leading in victorious procession those who have died in faith. This is what we celebrate on Easter! God’s ultimate witness to His own steadfast love and faithfulness!

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 22:21-23:16, Luke 20:27-47, Psalms 89:14-37, Proverbs 13:17-19

Holy Week

Readings for today: Joshua 19-20, Luke 19:28-48, Psalms 88, Proverbs 13:12-14

“And when Jesus drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44)

In the midst of all the celebration and praise and palm branches waving, Jesus looks up and in his mind’s eye, sees a city in flames. He sees the Roman soldiers slaughtering His people. He sees the Temple being razed to the ground. He sees the siege engines and legions going street by street destroying everything in their path. All because the people of God refuse to choose peace. All because they refuse to follow the way of Jesus. They persist in their rebellion and the Romans will execute a terrible vengeance in 70 AD as a result. All this Jesus sees laid out before Him and He weeps. He knows they will cry out to Him. He knows they will ask Him why? Why will You not save? Why will You not deliver? Why will You not protect Your people, God?

Thankfully, God is faithful. He does not distance Himself from our pain. He is committed to join us in our suffering. He draws near the broken-hearted and those crushed in spirit. Over the centuries, He has reached out to us in so many ways, through so many people. Adam and Eve. Noah. Abraham and Sarah. Isaac and Rebekah. Jacob and Leah and Rachel. Moses. David. John. Mary and Joseph. It’s like their names are embedded in some sort of psychic or genetic memory that we cannot escape. All them called and set apart to show the world a different way. To show the world God’s way. And all of this was preamble, of course, to the greatest miracle the world has ever seen. And that brings us to the events of this Holy Week. Palm Sunday. Maundy Thursday. Good Friday. Easter Sunday. Billions the world over will gather in soaring cathedrals, beautiful sanctuaries, auditoriums like our own, or even on the dusty, drought-ridden plains of southern Ethiopia.

One of the mistakes we can make when we approach the events of this week is to think that somehow Jesus is being swept along by circumstances outside His control. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just a few chapters back in the gospel, Luke says, “Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem.” The idea there is Jesus is steeling His will for what’s to come. He’s preparing His heart and mind to suffer. He knows what will happen should He show up in Jerusalem at Passover. He knows the Father’s will is for Him to die. He knows His war with sin and death and evil and the devil is about to reach its final, dramatic conclusion on the Cross. All the fear and anxiety that will erupt from Him in Gethsemane as He cries out to the Father to let the cup pass is beginning to build. And one might think He would be tempted to turn aside. But rather than run from His fate, Jesus keeps His eyes focused on His mission. To draw near the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit. To save those who are afflicted and oppressed. One of my favorite authors puts it this way. “The Cross is not anyone’s failure. It is not the giving up of anything, not even of life. It is the achievement of something. Not a fate heroically endured, but a mission deliberately undertaken. A task finished. The issue of it, far from being tragic, is a shout! Christ does not sink into death. He mounts it…(like He mounted the donkey that first Palm Sunday)…and reaches His hand out for a scepter. He is not being blown about like a scrap of paper by the winds of circumstance and caught fast on a gallows; He is changing the whole face of the earth. This is no dismal route; it is an incredible conquest.” The triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem sets in motion the events of the most important week in world history. It is God’s definitive answer to humanity’s deepest question. What is God doing about all the sin and evil in our world? He is – according to Colossians 2:14-15 – wiping out the charges that were against us...He took them away and nailed them to the cross. There Christ defeated all the powers and forces arrayed against Him. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory. Friends, the suffering and death of Jesus is God’s “Yes” to this world’s “No.” It is God’s declaration to the world that there are no lengths to which He will not go. There are no heights to which He will not climb. There are no depths to which He will not plunge in order to save us. And on Palm Sunday, Jesus stands on the brink. You can almost see Him rein that donkey in for just a moment. Pausing before heading up the hill to Jerusalem. Tortured by the knowledge of what’s to come. And then a deep breath. A lifting of His head. His eyes rising above the hills to the One from whom His help will come. The maker of heaven and earth. Then He kicks his heels and rides forward. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out. And cry out the stones did! In the silence of Good Friday. As Jesus, from the Cross, gathers into His arms all the agony of a ruined creation. As He bears the full weight of humanity’s sin. Past. Present. Future. Literally laid upon His shoulders. As He suffers and struggles under the weight of that eternal burden, Jesus gives up His spirit. The earth quakes. The ground shakes. The rocks split apart. Creation itself cries out for her Creator.

What thoughts run through your head as you gaze at the Cross? What do you feel in your heart as you watch your Savior suffer? It’s tempting to turn away. Tempting to avoid. Tempting to do a flyover from Palm Sunday to Easter without pausing to reflect on why Jesus had to die. My encouragement for you today - on this Good Friday - is to ask the Lord for the courage to spend time at His feet. Ask Him to give you the strength to grieve at the foot of the Cross. This is not about guilt and shame but about the honest acknowledgement that it is my sin. Your sin. Our sin that put Him there. Take some time today and marvel at the great love of God! 

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 21:1-22:20, Luke 20:1-26, Psalms 89:1-13, Proverbs 13:15-16