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Author Archives: John D. Willome

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About John D. Willome

I post a blog of daily devotions that are my prayer journals based on scripture.

Parable of the Yeast (Matthew 13:33)

15 Sep

33 Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Matthew 13:33

Dear God, this is one of those things that can be interpreted through multiple lenses. For example, I could read this and say, “Jesus is saying that the natural aspect of the yeast living out its life does amazing things, and the same is true for us. If we commit ourselves to discipleship, prayer, study, and worship then the fruit that grows out of us will do amazing things throughout the world.” Or I could say, “If we take our message of Jesus and God’s authority to the world then we can do great things.”

I was listening to a song this morning that I’ve journaled on before: “The Unmaking” by Nichole Nordeman. I think it’s worthwhile to put the lyrics here:

The Unmaking by Nichole Nordeman

This is where the walls gave way
This is demolition day
All the debris and all this dust
What is left of what once was
Sorting through what goes and what should stay
Every stone I laid for you
As if you had asked me to
Monument to holy things
Empty talk and circling
Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?
What happens now?
When all I’ve made is torn down
What happens next?
When all of you is all thats left

This is the unmaking
Beauty and the breaking
Had to lose myself to find out who you are
Before each beginning
There must be an ending
Sitting in the rubble
I can see the stars
This is the unmaking
This is the unmaking

The longer and the tighter that we move
Only makes it harder to let go
Love will not stay locked inside
A steeple or a tower high
Only when we’re broken are we whole
What happens now?
When all I’ve made is torn down
What happens next?
When all of you is all thats left

This is the unmaking
Beauty and the breaking
Had to lose myself to find out who you are
Before each beginning
There must be an ending
Sitting in the rubble
I can see the stars
This is the unmaking
This is the unmaking

I’ll gather the same stones where
Everything came crashing down
I’ll build you an altar there
On the same ground
Because what stood before
Was never yours

This is the unmaking
Beauty and the breaking
Had to lose myself to find out who you are
Before each beginning
There must be an ending
Sitting in the rubble
I can see the stars
This is the unmaking
This is the unmaking
Oh this is the unmaking
Had to lose myself
To find out who you are

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: David Hodges / Nichole Nordeman

This song is all about doing whatever I want to do in your name. Yes, I am guilty of this sometimes. Even now, I have some things happening that are really frustrating me. My temptation is to take control, go monster mode, and force some solutions. But that would be a huge mistake. I want to do it because I’ve made some things idols. Whether it’s relationships with coworkers or family, accomplishments, or whatever, I think my temptation is to try to get some of my security/peace needs met by trying to please people as opposed to just letting your Spirit work and leaning into your Spirit for my peace.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, help me to be yeasty today. Help me to lean into you for my peace. Help me to let go of the idols that I accidentally establish to make me feel better about myself. I’m sorry for all of it. I really am. Right now, in this moment, I just want to be with you.

I pray all of this submitted to your authority,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 15, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Matthew, Parables of the Bible

 

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Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32)

13 Sep

31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

Matthew 13:31-32

Dear God, I’ve never thought of this before, but what if it were the opposite? What if the Kingdom of Heaven is like an elephant. It is the largest of the animals and it sits wherever it wants? Sometimes it feels like that’s what the American church today wants. And you’re God. You could make it work that way. You could be the 800-lb. gorilla that sits wherever you want to sit. You could subdue us and make us do whatever you want. You could override our free will. In fact, I wonder how much the Israelites listening the Jesus at the time were disappointed by this parable.

But if I’m doing this series to get a feel for who you are then I need to really think about this. You work in such a loving, growing, organic way. A gentle way. You start with something small and infuse it with your presence. From there is grows from the bottom up until it grows into something that is a blessing to others.

I work in a place like that. You took a woman 31 years ago and inspired her to do one thing: start a one-night-a-week free clinic. She knew people needed help and you planted the seed of an idea within her and it found fertile soil. It grew. Now, 31 years later, we are a medical home for thousands. The come to us from miles around to find hope and help. Volunteers come to us to find a source of joy and serving. Donors join us to be part of your community. What a joy!

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I pray that I will be mindful of how you work. I pray that I will be patient as I see things that I want done, but want to take the elephant approach and not the mustard seed approach. You work through mustard seeds, not elephants. You work organically, not autocratically. Help me to remember that. Help me to remember the joy you have for all of us as we worship you and then till the soils in our own hearts so that the seeds you plant in them will have space to grow.

I pray all of this by your Holy Name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 13, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Matthew, Parables of the Bible

 

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Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

11 Sep

24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. 26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’

28 “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.

“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

29 “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”

…

36 Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

37 Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

40 “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Dear God, I have a couple of thoughts about this morning I don’t think I’ve ever had before. First, I think a lot of people who do not understand why there is suffering in the world would question why you let the devil plant the weeds in the first place. Is there a bigger purpose in that? Do we need this struggle between you and him to develop into your children? Would it be possible to be your child without this struggle?

Second, I wondered if I am here this morning because you didn’t pull out the weeds with the wheat generations before. My entire existence (birth) is dependent upon a very specific set of events happening. Essentially the right people had to conceive at the precisely the right time for me to be here. For any of us to be here. How much do I really owe my own life to your mercy?

So as I sit here this morning, I think about my life. Am I wheat or am I a weed? Does the way you see my life change at any given moment? And, for the sake of argument, let’s say I’m a wheat. How would you have me to live among the weeds? It feels like you want me, within my sphere of influence, to love on the weeds as much as possible to see if I can get them to be wheat. You also want me to do everything I can to support the other wheat around me. And finally, you want me to stay wheat and grow strong by tapping my roots into you. Into your living water. Into your Holy Spirit.

Father, I give all of this to you. I don’t understand your ways. I don’t understand why you have given Satan the leeway you’ve given him, but mine is not to ask why. I think of Job 38 when you ask him, “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?” (Job 38:2) I don’t dare question you. So my other choice is to simply submit to you. So Holy Spirit, Jesus, Father, “break me, melt me, mold me, fill me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.”

I pray this in your Holy Name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 11, 2023 in Matthew

 

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Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)

10 Sep

26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”

Dear God, but what if I want to force the seed to grow? What if I’m not patient enough for your timing and miraculous work? What if I see the ways to grow your kingdom and then just go out and get ‘er done? Of course, I’m being sarcastic, but it feels like the way some people are currently interpreting the Great Commissions – to make disciples of all nations.

As I put this parable in context and think about the next several hundred years of Christianity’s development, it does make me think about how painstakingly slow it was to develop. No one hearing Jesus’s words that day lived to see it. Thankfully Mark (from Peter?) recorded it for us, but Peter didn’t live to see it happen. Paul didn’t. Yes, they saw little “leave blade[s]” push through here and there, but they didn’t get to see the ripened grain. Nor did the next generation. In fact, nearly all of this first generation was martyred.

The reason I started doing this series on the parables is because of the book I heard about by Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Autobiography of God. He wrote a book looking into who you are by looking at the parables Jesus told about you. I don’t know each parable he used, but this feels like one that will give me an insight into who you are and how you work. What it tells me is that your timeline and the way you see humankind in the grand scheme of things is much different than how I see it. I see it from the perspective of one blade of grass in the forest. You have the unique ability to see everything from as high as the 30,000-ft view of the forest and then get down at the blade of grass level with me. It’s amazing, really. Well, of course it’s amazing. You’re amazing because you are God.

With all of this said, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, help me to trust in the process that I will never live to see. Help me to be at peace with serving you and then taking your presence into my little sphere of influence, ignoring the results, but simply keeping my eyes focused on you. That also goes for my relationships with family and seeing how they develop. It goes for my hopes and dreams for my children. My community. My work. I measure time in days, months, and years, but you measure it in decades, centuries, and millennia. So help me, Holy Spirit, to take my eyes off of the idols I’ve created that I think will give me the fruits of your Spirit that only you can give. I consider my life worth nothing to me. Help me to mean those words.

I pray all of this completely submitted to you through the blood of Jesus,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 10, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Mark, Parables of the Bible

 

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Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20)

07 Sep

13 Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. 2 A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. 3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables,

For they look, but they don’t really see.
    They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,

‘When you hear what I say,
    you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
    you will not comprehend.
15 For the hearts of these people are hardened,
    and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
    so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
    and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
    and let me heal them.’

16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Matthew 13:1-23

4 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

‘When they see what I do,
    they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
    they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
    and be forgiven.’”

13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Mark 4:1-20

Dear God, I think I might have some thorny soil. Why do I say that? Because I woke up several times last night and I was not at peace at all. I have some things on my heart that are burdening it. And I guess I’ll go ahead and say it. My temptation is to be coy and vague, knowing you know what I’m referring to, but what I kept thinking about was Christian Nationalism as it is impacting Christianity in the United States as a whole and my community in particular. It kind of reminds me of the COVID-19 pandemic when it first hit. We heard about it other places, but then all of a sudden people were in our hospital with it. People I knew had it. People I knew died from it. I mean, yes, it’s possible that your Holy Spirit is putting this on my heart so that He can use me in some way, but right now it doesn’t feel like my response is pure and of you. It feels full of fear, despair, and sorrow.

So that brings me to the thorny soil. I think it’s safe to say that my heart doesn’t fit the description of being the seed that fell on the path or among the rocks. I’ve been here with you too long for that to be true. Oh, but I can let some thorns come in. Some weeds. I can let “the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things” come in and rob your ability to grow the fruits of your Spirit in me. Some of the worries I’ve let in include worrying about money at work and if we will continue to have enough revenue to operate the programs we offer our patients. I still have a tendency to read too much news. I want to have a nice vacation with my wife next month. I have family relationships that are strained and make me ache. Yes, my soil is thorny. It needs some weeding.

I also want to go back and look at Matthew 13:12: 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. Am I a listener? Am I seeking you? Do I provide space for your still small voice to talk to me? Do I seek voices I trust who will speak to me with your authority? Do I stop and find you in the secular things in my life? I want to have an abundance of knowledge. If I have a little, I don’t want you to take it away from me.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I earnestly pray that you help me weed my soil. Help me to hear. Help me to seek. I believe. Help my unbelief. Help me to love with your love. When others call for you to rain fire down on Samaria, help me to just rest in your arms and walk with you to Jerusalem. I want your fruits, Holy Spirit. I want your comfort. And I want to be your vessel so that you might enter this world through me and my life. Here I am, Lord. Send me.

I pray all of this completely submitted to you,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 7, 2023 in Mark, Matthew

 

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Parable of the Divided Kingdom (Matthew 12:22-30, Mark 3:20-30)

05 Sep

22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”

24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.”

Matthew 12:22-30

20 One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.

22 But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan,[e] the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”

23 Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. 24 “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. 25 Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. 27 Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

28 “I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, 29 but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” 30 He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”

Mark 3:20-30

Dear God, I remember when I was a kid being freaked out by the idea of being irredeemable from blaspheming the Holy Spirit. I certainly hope I have never done this. I’m fascinated that there is a line drawn in the sand there. I can blaspheme against Jesus and it’s forgivable, but not the other. Oh, Lord, I simply lay myself before you and beg your mercy. Lord, have mercy. Jesus, have mercy. Holy Spirit, have mercy.

So we get the same parable/analogy from Jesus in two different settings here. I never thought about this before, but apparently he experienced this accusation more than once and was able to use the same concepts to teach and explain each time. It was one of his go-to defenses against accusations of being sent from Satan.

The question for me is, how do I keep from being your enemy? How do I keep from being the part of your kingdom that will sow dissension and make at least the little part that I touch weaker? No, I don’t think little ol’ me can make your kingdom fall, but I can certainly do damage to your kingdom. Do I represent you accurately? Do my actions cause anyone to not trust you?

Father, right now, there is something within our local pastoral collective that concerns me. In fact, there are a few things that concern me. We have normally been a pretty cohesive, supportive, constructive group, but I can see a few things that have sneaked in to divide us. I do not want to be part of that division. At the same time, I do not want to ignore those things and enable them to cause more division. Help me to know what to do. Help me to know what to say. Help me to also know what not to do and what not to say. All for your glory, oh Lord.

I pray this in the name of Jesus, my savior,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 5, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Mark, Matthew, Parables of the Bible

 

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Parable of New Cloth & Old Garment/Old & New Wineskins (Matthew 9:16-17, Mark 2:18-22)

04 Sep

14 One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?”

15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”

Matthew 9:14-17

18 Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?”

19 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. 20 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

21 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.”

Mark 2:18-22

Dear God, this has always been one of those vague parables/analogies of Jesus that I really could have used a later section where Jesus explains the parable like he did at other times. This seems like too big of a deal to just let it go with these two quick references.

Jesus had come to bring whole new thing. The old garment, the old wineskins, were not fit to handle his new Gospel. They weren’t fit to contain what we would eventually call Christianity. Did Jesus fast and pray? Yes. Did he tell his disciples that some things only come out through fasting and prayer? Sure. But what the Pharisees were doing and had taught no longer made sense in this new song Jesus was teaching.

A local pastor I respect put out an email to local pastors recently that he was about to lead a study on a book by an author whom I have heard is more along the lines of Christian nationalism. Not wanting to prejudge the book or the author, I downloaded the sample on my Kindle app and read the endorsements that come with the book along with the introduction. I was disappointed because it was definitely about the Christian church exerting power and influence over the government. Interestingly, it drew parallels to Dietrich Bonhoeffer from Germany in the 1930s and his call for the church to resist Hitler’s Nazi regime and ideals, but I saw key differences. Anyway, I don’t want to get into all of that except to say that this type of approach seems to be very “old wine skin” and “old garment.” It doesn’t feel to me like who Jesus is. As I read this book, I tried to imagine Jesus, or even any of the apostles reading the book and thinking it was the right message–even the bombastic, front-lobed Peter. It looked more like Israel of the Old Testament, taking the world by force in your name, rather than the Jesus who led with prayer, service, persuasion, and suffering. When we start striving for power and influence then we will lose sight of you and make that our idol, and we will do whatever it takes to achieve it. We will be more like James and John, asking Jesus if they can sit at your right and left or if they should call down fire on Samaria, rather than Paul considering his own life worth nothing to him or James, the brother of Jesus, saying we should take our suffering and consider it joy.

Father, I realize I am being very judgmental right now. I’m sorry for that. But I am truly trying to process how you want me to respond to this. The pastor who is promoting this study. I still love him very much. I respect him as well. I just want to know how to love him as you would have me love him. I want to also see the error in my own thinking. Am I too weak? Am I not courageously taking up my cross and following you? Speak to me. Holy Spirit, speak to me. Help me to know exactly how to get rid of my old wine skin for your new ones. Help me to pre-shrink my fabric to make it fill in the gaps for the old, torn covenant of the Old Testament. For the beautiful symphony of Christianity that Jesus wrote, help me to be an effective player.

I pray all of this in complete submission to you,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 4, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Mark, Matthew, Parables of the Bible

 

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Parable of the Speck and the Log (Matthew 7:1-5)

03 Sep

 1“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-5

Dear God, this is part of Matthew’s recording of the “Sermon on the Mount.” First, I’ll say that it hurts to be called a hypocrite by Jesus, but it fits. Sure I’m a hypocrite. Of course I am. I’m sorry that I am. I recognize that I am.

In the TV show Ted Lasso, one of the favorite quotes people will say from the show (which is actually attributed to Walt Whitman in the show, but is apparently not really from Whitman) is, “Be curious, not judgmental.” Here’s the scene:

It’s a different take on what Jesus taught here, and it doesn’t involve the self reflection that Jesus encourages in his statement, but it still makes me think of it. There are two parts of judging someone, I suppose. There’s the empathy and hypocritical nature of it that Jesus is pointing out, and then there is the lack of compassion that “Ted” points out in this scene.

There are some people who are really frustrating me right now. Some of them make me angry. And I’ve certainly judged some of them. But you are calling me to use that as an opportunity for self-reflection. When I see the speck in their eye, what is the log in my own? And then maybe when I identify my log I can turn around and figure out why it is I do what I do in that area? What is motivating me? And finally, I can maybe then take that knowledge and apply it to the person I’m judging. Did they wake up that morning wanting to do harm, or do they think they are doing the right thing based on their experience, hurts, and wounds?

Father, we can read over this little parable so quickly and easily. We can even watch this scene from Ted Lasso, enjoy Rupert getting beat at his own game, and then not stop to wonder if we aren’t more often the “Rupert” of the story than we are the “Ted” (see Disney Princess Theology by Erna Kim Hackett). I admit that I’m guilty of it. I probably watched that scene from Ted Lasso four or five times before I stopped to wonder about the real meaning of that quote, or if I am Rupert. So help me today, Holy Spirit. Help me to embrace you and hear you. Help me to listen to you and your still, small voice. Help me to turn loose of the ways I judge others to prop myself up, and to instead find ways in which I might impact your world through prayer, service, persuasion, and suffering.

I offer all of this to you through the gift of mercy you gave me through Jesus, my Lord,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 3, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Matthew, Parables of the Bible

 

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Parable of the Lamp (Matthew 5:14-16, Mark 4:21-25)

01 Sep

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Mark 4:21-25

Dear God, what am I a lamp for? Why am I a lamp? What’s the purpose of my lamp? Well, it’s right there at the end of each of these versions of this parable: …so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. It’s interesting that the words are exactly the same for each of the two versions. I wonder if the translators of the NLT paid attention to that when they wrote it down.

So here’s my problem. I live a life that is dedicated to you as much as I can. On a scale of 1-10, I’m probably a 5 or 6, but most are a 2 so it looks like I have this amazing relationship with you. My point is, people respect me. I had a woman in my office yesterday who probably really disagrees with me about some of the social/culture issues we are facing, but she said more than once she wanted to engage with me about it and understand my thoughts because I am someone she really respects. So I have earned integrity with those around me, and that’s great.

Oh yeah, I started that paragraph with “here’s my problem,” but then I didn’t say what the problem is. The problem is that I don’t seem to help people take the respect they have for me and turn it into a desire on their part to disciple with you and know you better. Yes, people can see that I know you and give you glory, but I don’t seem to be effective at helping them to take that next step in their journey with you.

Father, help me to be your light in the world. Help me to live a life that causes others to praise you, worship you, and commune with you. I received a letter a couple of days ago from an anonymous woman names Faye with a local PO box who wanted me to find you through being a Jehovah’s Witness. While that’s not going to happen, and I believe her letter (and being Jehovah’s Witness overall) was ill-conceived, I do admire her willingness to try to point people to the God she worships (not sure if I should do God with a little “g” or not since I do think she is trying to worship you). She is not just living a life dedicated to you, but she is trying to get others to live that same life. As I go through this day, help me to have that same kind of courage. I would be nothing without you. I have no idea what kind of shambles my life would be without you. Thank you. Thank you for breaking me, melting me, molding me, and filling me. Now, Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

I pray all of this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 1, 2023 in Jesus's Parables, Mark, Matthew

 

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How Would Jesus Fight the Culture War – Revisted

31 Aug

Dear God, I was in a culture war situation yesterday, so I thought it would be important for me to come back and look at the Holy Post Podcast Episode 532: How Would Jesus Fight the Culture War? I did a prayer journal on it last November, and I want to go back and be reminded of the things I learned then and see if there maybe isn’t something else you want to teach me this morning.

I just read through a lot of the prayer journal I did, and the thing you pointed out to me that I might have glossed over before is praying for those who concern me. Who worry me. Who I think are causing damage, maybe even in your name.

So Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I pray for the people who are on my heart this morning. I pray for their peace. I pray that they might find their peace in you. I pray that you will raise up voices in their lives that are from you that they can hear. That will speak with your authority to them. I pray that they might see the limits you placed on us as your ambassadors in the world: prayer, service, persuasion, and suffering. I pray that you will inspire them to take you into the world in a spirit of love. I pray that the fruits of your Holy Spirit will flow through them and out of them. I pray that you will create soil in their hearts that will help them to give your Spirit space to flourish. And lest I be self-righteous about this, I pray each of these things for myself too. I need your peace. I need to hear your voice through people around me. I need people who are from you to speak with authority into my life. I need to devote myself to prayer, service persuasion and suffering. I need to weed out the soil of my heart and give room for your Holy Spirit to grow your fruit in me. Jesus, thank you for your power and your example. Father, thank you for your ultimate love. And Holy Spirit, thank you for being with me now.

I pray all of this submitted to your authority in my life,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 31, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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