Why it Matters - Prayer

Readings for today: 1 Kings 7-8, Psalms 11

All Scripture is God-breathed. All Scripture is God’s Word. All Scripture carries divine weight and authority. However, I do believe there are some Scriptures worth coming back to time and again. Some Scriptures that are particularly useful and instructive for us as believers. The prayer of Solomon is one such Scripture. It is a powerful prayer combining themes of praise, petition, confession, mission, and hope for Israel’s future. It’s a model prayer worthy of emulation in our own lives. When I am struggling in prayer, I find myself coming back to Solomon’s words for inspiration and renewal. It keeps my prayers from becoming self-absorbed with anxiety and worry. It directs my attention upward and outward rather than purely inward. I commend to anyone seeking a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Solomon begins with praise. He praises God for His uniqueness. He praises God for His covenantal faithfulness. He praises God for His steadfast love in fulfilling His promises. God alone is worthy of our praise. He alone is worthy of all honor and glory. He deserves our full attention. He deserves our single-minded devotion. He alone is to be worshipped for He has created all things and He sustains all things and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. But He is not just transcendent. Not just a divine potentate. He is a loving Father who sits on the throne and who guards our lives and watches over us in love. This is why we praise Him.

Solomon continues with petition. He brings His requests before the Lord full of confidence. He knows God will deliver on His promises. He knows God is faithful. He is fully convinced God is able. There is nothing like petitioning God in full faith. Nothing like coming before the Lord with a confident heart, knowing we will find mercy and grace and help in our time of need. It may not come in the way we would expect. God may have greater plans than us. Different plans than us. But His lovingkindness never fails. His mercies are new every morning. And if we walk with open hands and an open heart before Him - as Solomon does - His promise is He will provide.

Solomon offers seven confessions and requests for forgiveness. He covers a range of topics. Everything from false accusations to military defeat to drought and famine to the general sins of God’s people as they turn from the Lord and go astray. The time will come. The time will come. The time will come. It’s a repeated refrain. An acknowledgement that God’s people are not perfect. They will fail and fall. They will need God’s forgiveness in the future. They will need God’s Spirit to move them to repentance. They will experience God’s discipline as He corrects them and draws them back to Himself. He calls on God to be just and righteous. He calls on God listen from heaven. He calls on God to forgive sin and heal their land.

Solomon turns the focus of his prayer outward in mission. He calls on God to recognize the foreigner who come seeking Him. Gentiles who are not part of God’s chosen people. Pagans who hear about God’s mighty deeds and God’s righteous reputation who will come to pray to Him. He calls on God to hear their prayers so that the nations of the earth will acknowledge His Lordship and turn to Him just as God’s people have turned to Him.

Finally, Solomon ends his prayer with hope. Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is not blind faith. Solomon grounds His hope in God’s faithfulness. He asks God to continue to be attentive to His people, hear their prayers and cries for help, and respond to them. He grounds His hope in God’s election of Israel. God chose them out of all the nations of the earth to bear His great name, to be His special possession, His chosen race, and a royal priesthood. Solomon knows His hope will not be in vain because it rests on God’s promises.

What an incredible model for us to follow! I would encourage you to begin using this framework for prayer in your own life and see what happens. God is still faithful, friends! He still answers prayer! He is with you and He longs to have the same relationship with you that He did with Solomon.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Chronicles 4-7, Psalms 134, 136

Why it Matters - Time and Place

Readings for today: 1 Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2-3

History matters to God. Time and place matter to God. The covenantal relationship God has with His people maps out in real historical events. This is what separates Judaism and Christianity from other ahistorical, human religions. It’s what separates the truths of Judaism and Christianity from the myths of other religions. We can actually look back to a real timeline, connected to real historical events that happened in real historical places. Places we can visit to this day.

“In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites left Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, during the month of Ziv (the second month), Solomon began building the Lord’s Temple.” (1 Kings 6:1 NET) The Temple is not just another one of Solomon’s many building projects. It is a unique building, representing the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Israel. In the Book of Exodus, God hears the cries of His people. He delivers them from slavery. He leads them and provides for them in the wilderness. He gives them victory after victory in their conquest of the Promised Land. And now He gives them a secure and permanent sanctuary where they will worship Him. As such, the Temple represents something bigger than Solomon and his ascension to the throne, it represents the culmination of God’s saving acts throughout Israel’s history.

“Solomon began building the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. This was the place that David prepared at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.” (2 Chronicles 3:1 NET) Mount Moriah was not just a random spot chosen by Solomon. It was deeply connected to Israel’s history. It was here that the plague was stopped when David built an altar and offered sacrifices in the wake of his sin. God had sent the plague in judgment because David had sinfully called for a census but David repented and God showed mercy. Traditionally, Mount Moriah is also the place where Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him but the angel of the Lord stayed his hand and provided a ram instead. These events associate the Temple with faith and obedience as well as repentance and sacrifice and it’s why Mount Moriah was the most appropriate place to build. God had chosen to reveal Himself on this very spot time and time again and would continue to do so into the future.

We cannot and should not overlook the times and places in our lives where God makes Himself known. God is a God who intervenes in human history because He is a God who desires to have a relationship with His people. The promise associated with the Temple is that this will be the location where God will place His name and fill with His presence in order to dwell with His people. Those same promises hold true for us today through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Every believer in Christ has now become a living Temple, God making Himself known to us and through us for the sake of His glory.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 7-8, Psalms 11

Why it Matters - The Way

Readings for today: Proverbs 21-24

Life is full of decisions and the outcome of a person’s life is largely based on those decisions. Yes, there is much beyond our control. Yes, there are things that happen that we cannot plan for or anticipate. Yes, time and chance happen to us all. But there is also a lot that is within our control. The little decisions we make every single day stack up over time. They shape us in profound ways and make us who we are. When we look in the mirror in the morning, we have to accept responsibility for the person staring back at us. That person is a product of the choices we’ve made along the way. This is one of the many lessons we learn from the Book of Proverbs.

“Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction. For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips. So that your confidence may be in the Lord, I am making them known to you today - even you.” (Proverbs 22:17-19 NET) God wants us to be wise because He knows the kind of people we become when we walk in wisdom. And how does God define wisdom? Fearing the Lord. Loving righteousness. Advocating for justice. Giving generously. Loving others. Acts of kindness. Demonstrating restraint. Self-discipline. Holding onto hope. All these things are hallmarks of wisdom. They are the kind of qualities that mark a person who would be wise. And if we walk in wisdom, we make God’s heart glad. “My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad; my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.” (Proverbs 23:15-16 NET)

So why don’t we do these things? What is it about us that eschews such wisdom? Why do we cling to folly? One would think humanity would have learned wisdom over the years. One would assume each generation would pass down their wisdom to the next. Tragically, we only seem to pass down our worst impulses. After tens of thousands of years on this planet, the human race still struggles with greed, lust, selfishness, injustice, oppression, drunkenness, gluttony, deceit, and violence. It’s why our world still feels so unstable. We cannot seem to get out of our own way.

Wisdom is the only way forward. “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; by knowledge its rooms are filled with all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures.” (Proverbs 24:3-4 NET) The world stands in desperate need of repair and God sends us - followers of Jesus Christ, made wise by His Spirit - out into the world to bring healing and hope. May we walk in wisdom and draw others along this same path.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2-3

Why it Matters - Truth

Readings for today: Proverbs 17-20

The truth is almost impossible to discern these days. Every news story has an angle. Every commentator has an agenda. Every social media post has a slant. All of them designed for a particular audience. Just about every day, I scan the headlines of the BBC, CNN, and FoxNews. Sometimes I add in MSNBC as well. I read the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. I scroll through Twitter where I intentionally follow a diverse group of people from across the social, political, and religious spectrum. And while my sample size isn’t all that big, it’s also not small and the thing I’ve learned over the years is never take anything at face value. Make sure you try to listen and understand all the perspectives in play on a particular issue before you draw any conclusions. Where did I learn this from? King Solomon. Listen to how he puts it,

“The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.” (Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭17‬ ‭NET‬‬‬‬)

We have a tendency to believe the first thing we hear especially if it comes from a member of our tribe. We have a tendency to rush to judgment especially if it involves the member of a different tribe. Democrats accuse Republicans and Republicans accuse Democrats. Conservatives accuse Progressives and Progressives accuse Conservatives. The list is almost endless. Each side assuming the worst of the other. Each side only considering the evidence that fits their particular narrative. Each side accusing the other of operating in bad faith. It’s a brutal, vicious cycle that can only end one way. The complete and total destruction of the “other.” It’s why we see violence and hatred and outrage ratcheting up to dangerous levels. Because there can be no compromise with the enemy. The only righteous and just thing to do is destroy them.

• The one who first states their case always seems so right until we get to hear the other side. As Christians, we are called to discern the truth. We must reject falsehoods or half-truths of any kind. We are not given the option to embrace that which supports our own personal tribal narrative. And we never operate in an underhanded, manipulative, deceitful way. We walk in the light as children of the light. We walk with complete honesty and transparency before the Lord and before the world. We listen before we speak. We make a complete investigation before we draw any conclusions. We never assume. And we always try to engage in good faith and with the best intentions. As of the writing of this blog, some 63% of Americans identity as Christians. That’s approximately 210 million people. Imagine the impact we could make if we would simply commit to follow Solomon’s advice from the Proverbs? Imagine how the spheres of politics, media, and mass culture would change if we would commit ourselves to seek the truth and speak the truth all in love?

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Leadership

Readings for today: Proverbs 13-16

I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership lately. Particularly the difference between good leadership and bad leadership. Recently, I was at a meeting where many leaders were present. The results of a survey were published. Many of those leaders self-reported feeling very effective in what they did. But then the results of the organizations they led were published. Sadly enough, the performance of the organizations did not match the self-reported performance of the leaders surveyed. What happened? Were the leaders not self-aware? Did the organization use the wrong metrics to measure performance? Why the disconnect? I wish I could say this was a rare case for me but it’s not. I often have found myself in these conversations over the years. Listening to leaders of churches and denominations attempt to justify the decline of the organizations they lead. Rarely does anyone take responsibility. Rarely does anyone attempt to make any substantial changes to the way things are done. Rarely does anyone actually “lead” anything at all. They simply are content to manage decline.

Perhaps that’s why these words from the Proverbs stuck out to me today. “A king’s glory is the abundance of people, but the lack of subjects is the ruin of a ruler.” (Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭28‬ ‭NET‬‬) Certainly I am not suggesting attendance as the only measure of success but the reality is when God’s leaders lead well, the Lord adds to their numbers those who are being saved. Professions of faith. Baptisms. Recommitments. All of these should be present in a church that is being led well. There is something to be said for the adage that unless people are actually following your leadership, you’re just a person going out for a walk. You’re not actually leading anything at all.

All of us are called into leadership on some level. We are called to lead ourselves. Called to lead in our homes. Called to lead professionally. Called to lead in our communities. Called to lead in our churches. The primary question that consumes godly leaders is what is happening in the lives under my leadership? Are they growing? Are they thriving? Are they becoming more like Jesus? Take some time today to reflect on your own answers to these questions and then ask God for the courage to make any changes you need to make.

Readings for tomorrow: Proverbs 17-20

Why it Matters - Wisdom and Folly

Readings for today: Proverbs 9-12

Proverbs 9 is a favorite of mine. Probably because it is so direct. The contrast between wisdom and folly could not be more clear. Live your life according to God’s wisdom and it will - generally speaking - head one direction. Live your life according to human wisdom, otherwise known as folly, and it will head a different direction. The first road leads to blessing. The second road leads to destruction. The first road is filled with all kinds of meaning and purpose. The second road is filled with sin and self-indulgence. The first road leads to a deep, intimate relationship with God. The second road leads down to the pit, down to Sheol.

Before I became a Christian, I dwelt in Folly’s house. I was foolish and gullible. I was enslaved to my desires. I was a drunk. I was lazy. I lived only for myself and only for the moment. The further down that road I went, the worse things got for me. I was depressed. Anxious and afraid. I could see my life was headed to down to the depths of Sheol. But I had no way out. Everywhere I turned, there was a dead end. Then I met Jesus. And I accepted His gracious invitation to become part of His family. He surrounded me with all kinds of people who prayed for me and ministered to me and mentored me. They taught me how to live according to God’s wisdom. They taught me how to be intentional about my life. They showed me what the “fear of the Lord” looked like in real, everyday life. I was hooked. My life began to turn around. My hopes and dreams returned. I humbly submitted to their teaching. I accepted their rebukes when I sinned. I gained wisdom slowly over time and my life became filled with blessing. I have never looked back. Not even for a moment. I have never longed to return to my old ways because the way of Jesus is so much more glorious and beautiful and true.

Both women in Proverbs 9 issue the same invitation. “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” They both call to the simple. To the one who lacks understanding. To the one who is searching. And both make the same promise. They promise satisfaction. They promise the fulfillment of all your desires. The difference is in the path they offer. Wisdom offers the path of self-discipline, correction, and instruction. She offers a life lived under the fear of the Lord. Folly, on the other hand, offers self-indulgence, instant gratification, and laziness. She offers a life lived under the power of sin. Take the first path and your days will be long and years will be added to your life and you will be blessed. Take the second path and your days will be short and years will be stolen from your life and you will be cursed.

Readings for tomorrow: Proverbs 13-16

Why it Matters - Work

Readings for today: Proverbs 5-8

Human beings are made in God’s image and, as such, are made to work. When God created the heavens and the earth, He worked for six days and rested on the seventh, enshrining a sacred rhythm to life that we ignore to our own peril. When God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in a garden to work and to keep it. When God gave human beings their first command, it was to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and exercise dominion over all He had made.

After the Fall, our relationship with work became corrupt. First of all, work became incredibly difficult. The ground began to fight us. Creation went to war with us and resisted our efforts to tame her. This makes sense, of course, because our concept of “dominion” now became exploitative and tyrannical rather than symbiotic and harmonious. Second, work became an idol. So did rest. So some in our world never seem to stop working and others in our world seem to never want to work at all. Some in our world love their work too much and others in our world see it as a necessary evil. Some in our world would choose to work while others would choose to never lift a hand.

This is why I love what Solomon has to say about work in today’s reading. “Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe its ways and be wise! It has no commander, overseer, or ruler, yet it prepares its food in the summer; it gathers at the harvest what it will eat. How long, you sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax, and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need like an armed man.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭11‬ ‭NET‬‬‬‬) The ant doesn’t need direction. It doesn’t need anyone to tell it what to do. It is discerning enough to gather food in the right season and store it for the days when food will be scarce. It knows when to rise and when to sleep. It knows when to work and to rest. It doesn’t grow slothful or lazy. It recognizes that the welfare of the entire community is dependent to some extent on its work.

Over the years, I have counseled men and women on both sides of the equation when it came to work. For some, I have counseled them to slow down. To take a Sabbath. To make sure they have one day out of every seven to rest and worship and spend time with those they love doing the things they love. For others, I have counseled them to ramp up. To work harder. To stop trying to get by on the least amount of work possible but instead dedicate themselves to the work God has put in front of them so they can not only live a rich and full life themselves but also bless others.

Culturally, we have a problem with work. Either we work too much or we work too little. Either we never turn it off or we are doing our best to get as many days off as possible. Either we never stop working or we try to retire as quickly as possible. Both of these betray God’s original design and lead only to heartbreak and pain. God’s command is clear. Six days shall you work and the seventh day you shall rest. Work as though you are working for the Lord rather than for yourself. Labor while you have strength in the right season and store up resources for yourself and those you love for when the seasons change and your strength fades. Commit yourself to God’s original mandate to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and be a good steward over all He has entrusted into your hands.

Readings for tomorrow: Proverbs 9-12

Why it Matters - The Path to Righteousness

Readings for today: Proverbs 1-4

“But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble.” (Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NET‬‬)

The older I get, the harder it is for me to sleep through the night. Some of it is biological. Some of it is spiritual. Yes, I often need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night but even more often I am up praying and processing my anxieties, fears, heartaches, and heartbreaks for those I love. My children. My extended family. The church I love and serve. My colleagues in ministry. The leaders I know in business, education, and politics. My friends around the world. I have to silence my notifications because I get them at all hours of the night. Texts. WhatsApp. Email. DM. I am blessed to have friendships across the globe and I consider it a privilege to bear their burdens with them. At the same time, I do sometimes feel overwhelmed. Weighed down by all I know and have experienced in my travels. Sadly, our world is full of darkness. Too many wicked people in too many positions of authority and power making too many unrighteous decisions, all of which causes so much pain and suffering.

Thankfully, there is hope. God is raising up righteous men and women all over the globe. They shine like lights in the darkness. Like stars in the nighttime sky. Their ways are pure and good and holy. They walk in integrity and their word is their bond. They keep their promises. They are consistent. They tell the truth no matter what the cost. And they love. They love unconditionally. They love sacrificially. You may never learn their names. They aren’t ones to seek the limelight. They are single parents raising multiple kids and working two to three jobs. They are teachers who stay after school to tutor students in their free time. They are first responders who give so much of themselves in some of the hardest circumstances. They are business people who are motivated by far more than profit. They are pastors who shepherd their congregations faithfully. They are church planters who take the gospel to places where the name of Jesus has never been heard. They are missionaries serving in closed countries at risk of their lives. They are government leaders who do all they can to make things work and solve real problems that impact real communities and people. I have met them. I have spent time with them. I have prayed with them. What they all have in common is they seek to embody the wisdom Solomon talks about in Proverbs.

“For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He stores up effective counsel for the upright, and is like a shield for those who live with integrity, to guard the paths of the righteous and to protect the way of his pious ones. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity – every good way.” (Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭NET‬‬) Our world longs for righteousness, justice, and equity. We just don’t know how to get from here to there. We’ve tried to find our own way to it. We’ve tried every idea under the sun. All to no avail. Communism won’t get us there. Capitalism won’t get us there. Democracy won’t get us there. Dictatorships won’t get us there. Secularism won’t get us there. Humanism won’t get us there. The only way to wisdom is the path God Himself lays out for us and the only way to find that path is to surrender our lives to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Proverbs 5-8

Why it Matters - Union

Readings for today: Song of Solomon 5:2-16, 6, 7, 8:14, Psalms 45

Union with Christ. According to John Murray it is the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation. John Owen called it the greatest and most honorable privilege of our lives. Martin Luther believed it was through our union with Christ that we actually become one with Him like a bride and a bridegroom. John Calvin believed that all the blessings God promises flow through our union with His Son. Clearly, theologians throughout the centuries believe this doctrine to be central to our faith. Where does it come from? Certainly all the passages in the New Testament where it talks about being “in Christ”, “with Christ”, and that Christ is “in” us. Then there is the imagery Jesus Himself uses of the vine and branches or how He describes our union with Him in His great high priestly prayer from John 17. However, I think one of the best expressions is from the Song of Solomon.

“Turn, turn, O Perfect One! Turn, turn, that I may stare at you! Why do you gaze upon the Perfect One like the dance of the Mahanaim?” (Song of Solomon 7:1 NET) The Dance of the Mahanaim is a difficult one to interpret. The first mention of “Mahanaim” is a place east of the Jordan River. In Genesis 32:2, Jacob encounters angels there and calls it “God’s camp.” The word Mahanaim literally means “two camps” so perhaps Jacob was referencing his camp and God’s camp being in the same place. The symbolism is that of union and communion. A harmony between God and His people that flows from His covenant love fur us. If the Song of Solomon truly is an allegory depicting the love of Christ for His church - and I believe it is - then the dance of the Mahanaim is suggestive of the beauty, joy, and mutual delight that is shared through our union with Him.

Tragically, not many Christians understand or even known what it means to have union with Christ. We tend to externalize Christ as if He exists apart from us. We tend to believe our relationship with Christ ebbs and flows depending on how we may be feeling or whether or not we’ve been walking in faithful obedience. We even wonder at times if Christ has walked away from us or if Christ has shut the door on us if He doesn’t answer our prayers. None of these things are true, of course, because when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, he literally comes to dwell inside us. He promises He will never leave us nor forsake us. He promises He will be with us until the end of the age. This is what union with Christ is all about. Christ dwelling inside us and transforming us from the inside out.

Readings for tomorrow: Proverbs 1-4

Why it Matters - Intimacy

Readings for today: Song of Solomon 1, 2, 3, 4, 5:1

The Song of Solomon isn’t an easy read for us. We feel uncomfortable with the graphic description of the passionate love between a man and a woman. Almost like we’re getting a glimpse of something deeply private and personal in another person’s life. We feel like an intruder as we read. An unwanted observer. It’s tough to see why this book is in the Bible or what God may be trying to teach us. Some believe this book is nothing but an ancient near east love poem. Some believe it describes the love between Solomon and one of his many brides. I think both of these interpretations flatten out what is a much richer, deeper understanding of the text. The ancient Jewish rabbis and early church all believed this book was an allegory describing the covenant love God has for His people. The Jews read this book during the Passover feast. Early Christians read this book as they celebrated the Lord’s Supper. They read this book devotionally as they reflected on the kind of deep, intimate love God has for us. They detected themes of deliverance and salvation within its chapters. And they sought the union with God that the book encourages. “My lover is mine and I am his.” (Song of Solomon 2:16 NET)

Do you search for God like the woman searches for her beloved? Do you long for God like the woman longs for her beloved? Do you rejoice when you see God like the woman rejoices when she sees her beloved? Do you seek the kind of intimacy with God that this book describes? If we’re completely honest, we are unsure we should even think of God in such terms and yet the Hebrew word for “know” suggests the kind of knowing that comes only from the deepest intimacy possible. A “knowing” not just intellectually but a knowledge that touches every part of a person. This is why Christians throughout the centuries have taken time to meditate on this book in particular as they sought to understand the depths of the relationship God desires to have with us. It’s why this book has had enormous influence in art, liturgy, sacred music, and worship. So while it may feel uncomfortable at first, I encourage you to pray through this book. Ask God to reveal the depths of His love for you. Embrace the intimacy God desires to have with you. Don’t resist Him. Let Him into your heart and soul.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Ends and Means

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 119:89-176

It’s tempting in our world to believe the ends justify the means. We use this line of thinking whenever we feel our worldview or way of life is under threat. I see it in politics. I see it in business. I see it in the personal decisions people make. I see it in the church. For example, the denomination I serve is facing a difficult decision. One over which there is significant disagreement. It’s a divisive topic and many have very strong opinions on both sides. Sadly, I have seen far too many of my friends and colleagues exhibit a lack of integrity as they promote fear, misinformation, and, in some extreme cases, question the character of others as they seek to sway opinion in their direction. They truly believe the future of our denomination is at stake and it therefore justifies any tactic they employ. I see the same dynamic in play in our political discourse in America today. We no longer hold our leaders to any kind of moral standard. We are locked in a race to the bottom. The moment our opponent strikes a low blow, we go lower. And sadly, this approach works. Voters seem motivated by all the anger and outrage and hate. They truly want to believe they are battling an existential threat to their way of life. Both sides are infected with it. Both sides believe democracy is at stake. It’s a cultural death-spiral.

Is there a way out? I’m often asked this question when I meet with people and the answer is unequivocally, “Yes!” But it requires us recommitment to God’s Word. It requires us to trust in God’s Word as a “lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.” It means making God’s Word our “hiding place and shield.” It means placing our faith in the commandments and statutes of God rather than human beings. It means fearing God more than anything else in our lives. More than failure. More than the future. More than our political opponents. More than those who disagree with us. We must hate all deceit. We must put to death all lusts. We must flee all sin. We can give no quarter to greed or selfishness or a desire for influence and power. We must live by grace and extend mercy and forgive freely and seek reconciliation and promote peace as a way of life. Most of all, we must submit ourselves to God’s Law. We must surrender ourselves to His judgment. We must humble ourselves before Him. I love how the Psalmist concludes Psalm 119. “Listen to my cry for help, O Lord! Give me insight by your word! Listen to my appeal for mercy! Deliver me, as you promised. May praise flow freely from my lips, for you teach me your statutes. May my tongue sing about your instructions, for all your commands are just. May your hand help me, for I choose to obey your precepts. I long for your deliverance, O Lord; I find delight in your law. May I love and praise you! May your regulations help me! I have wandered off like a lost sheep. Come looking for your servant, for I do not forget your commands.” (Psalms 119:169-176 NET)

Readings for tomorrow: Song of Solomon 1, 2, 3, 4, 5:1

Why it Matters - Discernment

Readings for today: 1 Kings 3-4, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalms 72

“So give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong.” ‭‭(1 Kings‬ ‭3:9a NET‬)

We suffer from a lack of discernment in our world today. We no longer seem able to discern right from wrong, good from evil. The ends almost always justify the means, no matter how corrupt. The influential and powerful can get away with just about anything because we lack a strong moral foundation. We live in a post-truth world. Truth is no longer objective. It gets twisted beyond all recognition. Rather than depend on facts and evidence, we only consider those things that support our pre-determined position. We seem to love half-truths and lies. We no longer seem bothered by all the deceit that runs rampant. Our political leaders are brazen in the way they mislead people. Social media throws gasoline on this fire. We are in real trouble.

One of the things we will see as we read through the Kings is how the character of a leader shapes the nation. The fortunes of Israel rise or fall largely on the godliness of the kings who serve her. When godly kings are in power. Kings who are wise. Discerning. Those who know right from wrong and good from evil. Israel flourishes. When ungodly kings are in power. Kings who are corrupt. Foolish. Narcissistic. Those who could care less about right or wrong as long as they acquire more power. Israel falls. That’s why Solomon’s request of God is so remarkable. Most people who inherit a throne would ask for riches and honor and power and authority. Most people would have asked God for great victories in battle and the expansion of their territory. Most people would have asked God for a long, prosperous, peaceful reign. But Solomon wasn’t focused on himself. He did not see himself as someone to be served but as someone called to serve so he asked for wisdom. Discernment. The ability to determine right from wrong so he could foster justice and righteousness among his people.

Imagine if our leaders believed the same. Imagine if their platitudes about public service were actually statements of faith. Imagine if, instead of using their offices to accumulate more power and enrich themselves, they made sacrifices for one another and for our nation. Imagine if, instead of greed and corruption, our leaders were marked by generosity and righteousness. Imagine if, instead of lies and deceit, our leaders were committed to telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth. In a democracy, you get the government you deserve which means change starts with us. Starts with each person and each vote. It means the electorate must hold our officials accountable and stop settling for the lesser of two evils. It means we must only support those leaders who exhibit the kind of godly character we need. Now, more than ever, we need godly leadership at the helm of our nation. Now, more than ever, the character of our leaders matters. May God raise up for us leaders like Solomon who know good from evil and can lead us with wisdom.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 119:89-176

Why it Matters - Blessing

Readings for today: Psalms 119:1-88

Many years ago, my father gave me some wise advice. He told me that once my children hit middle and high school, my time “parenting” them was over and I needed to move into more of a “coaching” role. I wasn’t sure at first. I still wanted to make a bunch of decisions for them because I didn’t trust they would make the wise choice all the time. But as they got older, I found that approach only led to conflict so I backed off. I began to wait for them to come to me. Yes, it meant watching them make mistakes and fail and fall but it also led to them asking questions and seeking advice. Now that they are adults, I still find myself wanting to tell them what to do and how to do it. I cringe at some of the decisions they make because I know it will lead them to pain and heartbreak. Sometimes it even feels like I’m watching a slow-motion train wreck. But more and more, they are coming to me. The lines of communication are open and strong. They know I have their back. They know I want what’s best for them. And when they finally seek out my advice and take it, life often goes so much better for them. They feel blessed.

I imagine God must feel the same way when He looks down on us. He is the perfect parent. He knows exactly what we need when we need it. He knows the plans He has for us. Plans to bless us and give us hope for a future. He has our back. He knows what’s best for us. And He even tells us in His Word exactly how we are to live our lives. But we are stubborn. We are prideful. We believe we know better. And yet, how many times do we find ourselves at a dead-end? In a cul-de-sac of our own making? I love Psalm 119 because of how it describes the Psalmist’s love for God’s Law. The Psalmist clearly sees and experiences the blessings of obedience. Blamelessness. Righteousness. Purity. Gratitude. Thanksgiving. Joy. Peace. It’s the kind of life we all want and all aspire to but there’s only one way to get from here to there. We must follow God’s Law. We must obey God’s commands. We must walk in God’s ways. We must love His Word.

Listen again to how the Psalmist describes His relationship with God’s Law and ask yourself if you feel the same way. “With all my heart I seek you.” “I rejoice in the lifestyle prescribed by your rules as if they were riches of all kinds.” “Yes, I find delight in your rules; they give me guidance.” “Turn my eyes away from what is worthless! Revive me with your Word!” “I find delight in your commands which I love.” Do these prayers sound familiar at all? Do you find yourself praying similar words to God? If not, do not despair. Follow the example of the Psalmist when he writes, “I am like a foreigner in this land. Do not hide your commands from me! I desperately long to know your regulations at all times.” (Psalms 119:19-20 NET) I believe the Lord will answer you if you pray this prayer and He will give you a deep love for His Word if you will but seek Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 3-4, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalms 72

Why it Matters - Transitions of Power

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 1-2, Psalms 37, 71, 94

When reading the Bible, it’s important to remember that some things are “descriptive” rather than “prescriptive.” While it is all God’s Word, that doesn’t mean God approves of everything human beings do. Even human beings like David who was a “man after God’s own heart.” As David ends his reign, he uses his final days to settle old scores. He encourages Solomon to “be strong and become a man.” In other words, take whatever steps are necessary to secure his throne. David encourages him to take revenge on Joab for his murders of Abner and Amasa. He singles out Shimei for judgment, signaling he never forgot how Shimei treated him while he was fleeing from Absalom. He also rewards the sons of Barzillai for their father’s help during the civil war. Solomon follows in his father’s footsteps. When his brother continues to conspire against him, he has him killed. He retires Abiathar and replaces him with Zadok. He fulfills his father’s wishes regarding Joab and replaces him with Benaiah. Shimei is also executed on the king’s command. The final verse of the chapter says it all. “So Solomon took firm control of the kingdom.” (1 Kings 2:46b NET) Note there is no mention of God in these chapters.

Sadly, these dynamics are all too familiar. I’ve seen them in many of places I go around the world. Leaders who achieve their power through military action. In order to secure their rule, they eliminate any political opposition. They make sure to reward those who follow them with position and wealth and power. They surround themselves with supporters and tolerate no dissent. They often rule for decades until they die or until they no longer have enough power to keep those underneath them under control. Peaceful transitions of power are impossible because their track record of violence eventually catches up to them.

It makes me thankful I live in the United States where we have a long track record of peaceful transitions of power. While there may be some irregularities, elections are largely secure and legitimate. The system created by our Founders remains strong and effective, protecting the interests of the minority over and against the will of the majority. Representative democracy continues to be a blessing for us even though we are currently straining it significantly by our extreme partisanship and gerrymandering. As always, our only hope is to turn to the Lord. To trust in Him and His ways. I love how Psalms 37 puts it, “The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently. The godly speak wise words and promote justice. The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip.” (Psalms 37:29-31 NET)

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 119:1-88

Why it Matters - Praise

Readings for today: Psalms 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118

The Lord deserves our praise. He deserves our praise for who He is and who He has revealed Himself to be. He deserves our praise for all He has made. He deserves our praise for all He has done. It’s why I love this section of the Psalms so much. The Psalmist almost runs out of words as he praises God. He praises Him for His faithfulness and mercy and compassion. He praises Him for His justice and righteousness. He praises Him for lifting up the poor and needy and making the barren the mother of many children. He praises Him for His transcendence over all other false gods. He praises Him for being Israel’s deliverer and protector. He praises Him for His loyal and steadfast love. Just reading these words opens my heart as the Holy Spirit reminds me of all God has done for me in my own life.

Yesterday, we worshipped on our hillside as a church family. We’ve been worshipping up there for over forty years. We gather there three or four times a year to praise God and it never gets old. Not for me. Every time I am up there, whether alone or with my church family, I think of the words of the ancient prophet Isaiah when he writes, “This is what the Lord says: “The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you will build for me? Where is the place where I will rest?” (Isaiah‬ ‭66‬:‭1‬ ‭NET) Creation itself is God’s Temple. Built by His hands so He might fill it with His glory as the waters fill the sea. When I look out over the front range and see Pikes Peak to the south and Longs Peak to the north and Mt. Blue Sky directly to the west, I am in awe. Awe of who God is and what God has done. And the only response I can give is praise. When I consider what God has done for our church over the last forty years. The hundreds, if not thousands, who have come to faith. The work the Lord has done through us locally and globally to advance His Kingdom. Again, I am in awe of who God is and what God has done and the only response I can give is praise. When I think about all God has done for me in my life. Saving me in college. Giving me the gift of a godly wife. Four wonderful children. A loving family. Great friendships. Meaningful work. The opportunity to preach, pastor, teach, lead, and travel the world to spread the gospel. I am in awe. Awe of who God is and what God has done and the only response I can give is praise.

What about you? Let me encourage you to take some time today to reflect on who God is and all God has done for you and for those you love and give Him praise.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 1-2, Psalms 37, 71, 94

Why it Matters - Chosen

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 27-29, Psalms 68

I recently added a new bookcase to my office. It required me to re-arrange everything. I removed a couch. Took down some pictures and hung up others. Changed the location of the chair where I sit most mornings as I spend time with the Lord. As I did so, a couple of thoughts hit me. First, I haven’t done a thorough cleaning in years. The build up of dust and dead moths underneath my furniture was embarrassing. In fact, things were so bad several of our office staff took a field trip down the hall to see it and take pictures! Second, my life should be a lot different than it is. Looking at my degree from college reminded me of the self-destructive path I was on when Christ first chose to save me. Looking at my degree from graduate school reminded me of how undeserved I was when God chose to send me to Princeton. Looking at my ordination certificate reminded me of how God chooses to use the unqualified and foolish things of this world for His glorious purposes. Looking at the signatures on my doctoral degree reminded me of how blessed I’ve been by the godly mentors God chose to bring into my life who took an interest in me long before I showed any promise. The fundamental reality of my life is I’ve been chosen. Chosen not for who I am or what I’ve done but simply by an act of God’s amazing grace.

The story of the Bible is the story of God choosing the most unlikely people through whom to accomplish His will. He chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He chose Moses and Joshua. He chose Deborah, Gideon, Samuel, and the rest of the Judges. None of them deserved it. None of them did anything to earn it. God simply set His heart on them. King David understood what it meant to be chosen. Listen to how he describes it. “The Lord God of Israel chose me out of my father’s entire family to become king over Israel and have a permanent dynasty. Indeed, he chose Judah as leader, and my father’s family within Judah, and then he picked me out from among my father’s sons and made me king over all Israel.” (1 Chronicles‬ ‭28‬:‭4‬ ‭NET‬‬) Notice how David takes no credit for all that has happened? He knows it is all from the Lord. Furthermore, He sees the same sovereign choice at work in Solomon’s life. “From all the many sons the Lord has given me, he chose Solomon my son to rule on his behalf over Israel. He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my temple and my courts, for I have chosen him to become my son and I will become his father. I will establish his kingdom permanently, if he remains committed to obeying my commands and regulations, as you are doing this day.’” (1 Chronicles‬ ‭28‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NET‬) David was a shepherd boy when God chose to send him against Goliath. Solomon was one of many sons God could have chosen and yet he would be the one through whom God would build His Temple.

So what is the human creature’s response to God’s elective purposes? We obey. We obey not out of coercion or obligation or shame but out of gratitude and thanksgiving. God is the potter. We are the clay. What can the clay say to the hands that shape it or make it? What can the creature say to the Creator? There is nothing we can say or do or think or give that would ever be enough to earn God’s favor. He simply gives it freely and generously to all who would receive it. Thanks be to God!

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Life

Readings for today: Psalms 131, 138, 139, 143, 144, 145

God is a god of the living not the dead. He is the Author and Creator of life. He is the Breath of Life. He is the Bread of Life. He is the Water of Life. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the Resurrection and the Life. His is the gift of Eternal Life. He sustains all life. He upholds all life. He is the giver of all life. He was there at life’s beginning and He will be there at life’s end. He conceives life and He concludes life. He alone knows the number of our days. He measured them out for us before time began. He shaped and formed us in the darkness of our mother’s womb for darkness is not dark to Him and nothing is hidden from His sight. His Spirit is always with us whether we ascend to heaven or descend into the depths of the earth. There is nowhere we can go to escape His presence.

This is what it means to be “pro-life.” It means we are for life from conception to our last breath. We stand against death. We treat him as an enemy. It doesn’t matter whether he is state-sanctioned or not. It doesn’t matter if he has been written into public policy or not. We refuse to bow the knee to him for he is our most ancient enemy. Abortion. Euthanasia. Death penalty. War. Violence. Famine. Disease. Poverty. Anything that would seek to steal life, we set ourselves against as followers of Jesus. He is the Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and End. The First and Last. In Him was life and that life was the light of all humankind and we are called to take His light, the light of life, to the world.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 27-29, Psalms 68

Why it Matters - Legacy

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 23-26

“When David was old and approaching the end of his life, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.” (1 Chronicles 23:1 NET) When we reach this point in David’s life each year in our Bible reading, my thoughts always turn to legacy. Succession. Passing leadership on to the next generation. David made sure to set his son up for success. He did all he could to get things organized. He organized the Levites and priests. He made sure their rotations were set by lot so that no one could accuse him of playing favorites and there would be no rivalries to plague his son after he was gone. He left no stone unturned. No detail was too small for him to address. Everything from the sacred bread to the sacred precincts to the sacred items were all taken care of. Every role carefully assigned. Every job carefully laid out. He will do the same with the army and royal officials in the next few chapters. It’s a testimony to how leaders should let go.

Legacy. It’s something all of us will leave. To our children. To our grandchildren. To those we work with. To those we serve. For many years, I’ve served my denomination as the chair of the Ministerial Committee of our presbytery and a member of our national Ministerial Vocation Committee. In those positions, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside several pastors as they made the transition into retirement. It wasn’t always easy. Some of those transitions were smooth. Some were rocky. Some were planned. Some were unplanned. Some felt affirmed on their way out. Others felt pushed out by the people they loved. My biggest takeaway? We either plan for the day when we will no longer be around or someone else will plan it for us.  

David made plans. A complete reorganization from top to bottom of the entire leadership structure of a nation. Imagine would might have happened had David left this to Solomon to figure out? Imagine the infighting. The jockeying for position. The currying for favor. Imagine the chaos that might have resulted as the sons of Eleazar fought with the sons of Ithamar for the power of the priesthood. Imagine the sons of Levi, set free from their obligations to carry and care for the Tabernacle, refusing to care for the sacred elements of the Lord. Imagine the gatekeepers and musicians each deciding to do their own thing. Solomon would have had a mess on his hands for sure! 

But David was faithful. He knew a significant part of his role was to finish well. To pass on a strong legacy to his son. Not just for Solomon’s sake but for the sake of Israel as a nation. Because of my experience walking alongside so many pastors, my wife and I talk a lot about our legacy. By the grace of God, I hope I have many years left but I also know they will pass quickly. How am I preparing to pass on what has been entrusted to me? Should the Lord tarry and give me a rich and full life on this earth, I might have fifteen to twenty good years of pastoring left. What will those years look like? How will I spend them? When will I know it is time to raise up my successor? How can I set them up for success? My children are leaving home and headed off in all kinds of directions. What kind of spiritual legacy have I given them? How have I prepared them to take on the roles and responsibilities of an adult? My dad has passed and my mom is getting older. Am I prepared to care for her? Assist her? Make sure she continues to live a rich and full and vital life alongside her grandkids? These are important questions to ask and ponder and pray over no matter what season of life you find yourself in.  

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 131, 138, 139, 143, 144, 145

Why it Matters - Suffering

Readings for today: Psalms 108-109

Suffering is a universal human experience. I have sat with couples suffering over the loss of a child. Spouses suffering over the loss of the one they love. Families suffering from all kinds of abuse and dysfunction. People suffering from cancer or some other terminal disease. I have traveled the world and seen the suffering of drought and famine and disease and war firsthand. I have seen the devasting impact of drugs like khat on an entire population of people. I have listened to the stories of those who have been raped and beaten. I have prayed over those broken by the violence of this world. It’s heartbreaking and overwhelming and it’s easy to feel so helpless and hopeless in the face of it all.

King David was familiar with suffering. Anyone who can write these words knows suffering intimately. “For I am oppressed and needy, my heart beats violently within me. I am fading away like a shadow at the end of the day; I am shaken off like a locust. I am so starved my knees shake; I have turned into skin and bones. I am disdained by them. When they see me, they shake their heads.” (Psalms 109:22-25 NET) David has experienced a lot of suffering over the course of his life. Despite being called a “man after God’s own heart”, his life was not always up and to the right. He didn’t jump from spiritual mountaintop to spiritual mountaintop. Quite the opposite. He suffered early in his reign. He suffered in the middle of his reign. And here he is at the end of his reign…suffering. He lived on the run when he first was anointed. Fleeing the wrath of Saul. He was betrayed by one of his own sons who launched a rebellion to try to take the kingdom from him. His own sinful pride and lust for power cost him dearly on more than one occasion. David suffers from external forces outside his control and he suffers from internal forces - also outside his control - that exist inside his own heart.

Does any of this sound or feel familiar? It should. This is the story of our lives as well. We are all subject to the principalities and powers of this world. Political forces that pass laws and public policy that impact us on a daily basis. Cultural and social forces that push against all forms of godliness. Economic forces that rise and fall according to the whims of the free market. Global forces that affect supply chains and deny us access to some of the basic staples of life. Not only that, we all suffer from a sinful human nature. The passions and desires that fill our hearts are naturally oriented away from God. It’s why we seem so susceptible to violence, deceit, greed, and selfishness. We are a broken people in desperate need of grace.

David agrees. “Help me, O Lord my God! Because you re faithful to me, deliver me!…I will thank the Lord profusely, in the middle of the crowd I will praise Him, because He stands at the right hand of the needy, to deliver Him from those who threaten his life.” (Psalms 109:26, 30-31 NET) May we look to God in the midst of our suffering and trust Him to stand at our right hand in our hour of need.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 23-26

Why it Matters - Numbers

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 24, 1 Chronicles 21-22, Psalms 30

I am blessed to lead a growing church. We are filling up our worship space on Sunday mornings. Our kids programming is bursting at the seems. Our student ministry is growing. Our ten year trends are up significantly. Our people are incredibly generous. We are engaged in all kinds of Kingdom work locally and globally. We also live in a community that is growing. We are getting younger as more families move into our area. We are getting more affluent as people build successful businesses and careers. We are getting more diverse ethnically and culturally. It’s amazing to be part of. But it’s also tempting. It’s tempting to place our hope in numbers. It’s tempting to place our confidence in our growth curve. It’s tempting to assume our trend lines will always be up and to the right. That’s why it’s good for me to remember the sin of David’s census.

David was tempted by Satan to measure his own strength. This is why he called for a census of the military men in his kingdom. He foolishly believed his power depended on the numbers he could call on. This is what happens when we forget the Lord. When we start to become complacent. When we lose sight of all God has done for us and try to preserve our own position and power. David’s kingship is coming apart on him. He’s allowing his anxiety and fears to get the best of him. The civil war with his son. The rebellion of men like Sheba. His rape of Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. I imagine these things haunted David so he does what many of us do when we give into fear. He looks for comfort. He looks for control. So he counts the number of men under his command with the hope it will help him feel more secure. Tragically, it has the opposite effect. A plague strikes, killing thousands. The lesson is clear. David is not in control. David has no power except that which God grants him. David’s only comfort must come from the Lord.

How do you respond when you feel under pressure? When you feel stress? Anxiety? Fear? Do you look to your own strength or do you look to Christ? Do you trust in your own ability to power through or do you humble yourself before God? Do you turn to temporary things to help you feel in control or do you keep your eyes fixed on what is eternal and unchanging? Times of testing reveal where our hope truly lies. Does it lie with the Lord?

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 108-109