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Category Archives: John

Lent Day 3: Excerpts from Psalm 31,

16 Feb

Dear God, as I intentionally experience Lent this year and go through Day 3 for Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer, I’ve decided to do something a little different today. I want to read the passages and then call out the verses that resonate with me. But before I do, here are the passages that have for us to read today.

  • AM Psalms 31, 95
  • PM Psalms 35
  • Deuteronomy 7:12-16
  • John 1:35-42
  • Titus 2:1-15

Here we go:

Psalm 31: 6 – I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD

Idols have come to mean more to me over the last three and a half years. Ever since I heard Andy Stanley interview the couple where the pastor/husband barely survived COVID and he noted that we tend to make an idol out of “certainty,” and we find all kinds of tangible things to put our certainty in (spouse, children, economy, government, etc.) when you, God, are the only thing that is the same and never changes. It’s now easier to see the idols in my life that I must relinquish, and also see the idols others make. Right now, in election season, it feels like many people are worshipping their political party, counting on it to save them or else all will be lost. I hate those [including myself] who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD.

Psalm 31:11-13 – Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends–those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.

This is a psalm of David, and I cannot help but wonder if he wrote it during Absalom’s revolt. The idea that David would be the contempt of his neighbors and that those who see him would flee from him is shocking, but then again aren’t we all, as humans, shockingly fickle? Are there areas of my life where I foolishly abandon those I should support because it is the safe thing for me to do?

Psalm 95:6-7 – Come, let us bow down and worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

This is just a nice piece of worshiping you right here. Oh, Father, you are my Maker. You are my God. I am a lamb in your pasture. A lamb under your care. Thank you. I submit myself to your care.

Deuteronomy 7:12 – If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers.

Deuteronomy is where you are laying down the law, literally, for the Israelites. This whole passage is, frankly, a little simplistic in my mind. It says you will make good for the good and bad for the bad. All I ask right now is not for good, but that you will help me to be near to you.

John 1:37-38 – When the two disciples heard [John the Baptist] say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

What an interesting question. I wonder if they knew. I wonder if they had an idea of what they wanted but didn’t have the courage to say so they just asked where he was staying. In their heart of hearts, I would imagine they were looking for the same Messiah everyone else was looking for. They wanted to be lifted out of the mire of subjugation to Rome and restored to power. Had they known at that moment how things would play out over the next three years they might have stayed behind. What do I want from you, even this morning? Is it the right thing or is it selfish?

Titus 2:9-10 – Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teacher about God our Savior attractive

For this passage, I want to quote part of today’s reading from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer: “But reading the letter to Titus can be overwhelming. Planting and nurturing the church in Crete is not an easy matter. The culture is crude and in constant agitation. As part of the Roman Empire, it is subject to, among other things, the norms of slavery, the subjugation of women, and the abuse of alcohol. Sexual immorality is rampant, and hopelessness is widespread.\\Knowing and following Jesus, according to Paul, is the only adequate antidote to such a broken world.“

Father, I am still leaning into the word “patience” for this Lenten season. Help me to continue to die to myself and simply embrace everything Jesus was–and everything Jesus was is completely contradictory to who I am. Thank you for this amazing gesture on your part to come to earth and give us your example of how to behave and live. How to love and serve. How to give of ourselves, worship you, and love others. Help me to be that man today.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with the Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 16, 2024 in Deuteronomy, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Titus

 

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Lent Day 2: John 1:29-34

15 Feb

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”

John 1:29-34

Dear God, as I enter into this season of Lent, the word that keeps popping up for me over the last few days (even before Lent started) is “patience.” Going back to the parable of the wheat and the weeds, the farmer encourages patience. Today’s readings from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer also mention patience.

  • AM Psalm 37:1-18
  • PM Psalm 37:19-42
  • Deuteronomy 7:6-11
  • John 1:29-34
  • Titus 1:1-16

In the commentary about these passages, the author writes, “In the scriptures for today we are reminded that we must be patient with the long, slow, sometimes imperceptible movement of God on our behalf.” (Emphasis added) Several years ago, I had a revelation that I think still holds true: We measure time in days, weeks, and months; while God measures time in years, decades, and centuries. When I get in a hurry then I try to take the power away from you and put it upon myself. I stop listening to you and waiting for you. I start to despair when things don’t move as quickly as I want them to. And then I start to sin.

Father, the “Serenity Prayer” from AA comes to mind right now. Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. I will amend that prayer to ask that you will not let me try to change anything without you and your power. Even as we have a staff meeting today to sort some things out, help me to lean into you for wisdom, discernment, insight, and solutions. And, of course, there are the prayer requests that are always on my heart, and for which I can sometimes have very little patience. I give you those situations, and ask that you simply bring healing and wholeness where there is suffering and strife.

A pray all of this in Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 15, 2024 in John, Lent 2024

 

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Judas and Barabbas

10 Dec

Matthew

26 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

3 At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4 plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.

8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Matthew 26:1-16

27 Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. 2 Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”

“What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”

5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.

Matthew 27:1-5

15 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)

19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.”

20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?”

The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!”

22 Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”

But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

25 And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”

26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

Matthew 27:15-26

Mark

14 It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

3 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.

4 Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. 5 “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.

6 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? 7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Mark 14:1-11

6 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner—anyone the people requested. 7 One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in an uprising. 8 The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner as usual.

9 “Would you like me to release to you this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. 10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?”

13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

14 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”

But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

15 So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

Mark 15:6-15

Luke

22 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction.

3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.

Luke 22:1-6

13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. 16 So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”

18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”

23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. 25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.

Luke 23:13-25

John

12 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate[a] with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

John 12:1-8

2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

John 13:2

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. 39 But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?”

40 But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)

John 18:38-40

Dear God, so I started this because I was thinking about Judas and his disillusionment with Jesus and who he was turning out to be compared with who Judas wanted Jesus to be.

Last year, I was listening to a Catholic “Bible in a Year” podcast, and I remember a new thought coming to me when I was listening to Maccabees for the first time. The text referred to Judas Maccabeus. Now, I know his name was also pronounced Judah, so I might be making a reach here, but after realizing there were so many people in the New Testament names Judas, including another disciple, it made me wonder if Judas hadn’t been named for a revolutionary hero from 160 years before he was born.

Everyone in the New Testament was longing for a victorious Messiah who would triumph over Rome and make Israel great again. Even Zechariah’s prophecy over John the Baptist in Luke 1 shows that they were looking for a savior from Rome, not a savior from their own sins:

67 Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69 He has sent us a mighty Savior
    from the royal line of his servant David,
70 just as he promised
    through his holy prophets long ago.
71 Now we will be saved from our enemies
    and from all who hate us.
72 He has been merciful to our ancestors
    by remembering his sacred covenant—
73 the covenant he swore with an oath
    to our ancestor Abraham.
74 We have been rescued from our enemies
    so we can serve God without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
    for as long as we live.

76 “And you, my little son,
    will be called the prophet of the Most High,
    because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
77 You will tell his people how to find salvation
    through forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of God’s tender mercy,
    the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Luke 1:67-79

I think the other disciples had the same problem. Take this story about James and John:

51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 So they went on to another village.

Luke 9:51-56

Or when they put their mother up to asking for seats of honor in what they perceived to be the Kingdom Jesus would establish as Messiah:

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man[b] will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

Matthew 20:17-22

And then the other disciples got jealous and had to be rebuked by Jesus:

24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:24-28

My point is, no one could begin to fathom what your plan was. Judas was the weakest, most deceptive, and the one willing to act on his frustration that you weren’t living up to your “promise” as a Messiah, but everyone else figured you were there to take over our world at that time. But your plan was so amazing. So different.

And why do I bring Barabbas into this? Well, because he was the revolutionary the Pharisees stoked the crowd/mob to set free. He was the kind of leader they wanted. It was easy to get behind them. Earlier in the week, some of them saw what they perceived to be the “make Israel great again” Messiah triumphantly enter the down on the donkey to great fanfare, but not one of them knew what was happening or what would happen. They were thinking what everyone else was thinking: “This is it! It’s go time!” And even the Pharisees might have been down with that kind of Messiah had he not always turned his ire on them and not the Romans. But instead he angered them, made a scene at the Temple, and basically dared them to kill him. So by the end of the week, the Pharisees and those they were able to get in the crowd were sick of it. They wanted someone they perceived to be strong. They wanted someone who would fight for them because they were under siege. In the end, Barabbas will be remembered for all time not because of the actual things he did, but because he was the mob’s preference when they had to choose between your true Messiah and a person they thought would fight for them.

So what was it that Jesus did? What was his plan? It was actually remarkably simple: Teach us to love, serve, forgive, pray, and repent, and then show us how to do all of these things. He taught us to not make idols out of things and simply worship you. He showed us how miraculous you can be. He destroyed racism through the acceptance of not only Samaritans, but Gentiles too. He taught us that we should render unto the government what is the government’s. He didn’t show any interest in exerting power, but showing mercy instead. He prayed, served, persuaded and suffered. He exhibited how power. He taught us through his example. And then the most surprising things happened: he ascended to heaven and left us as his/your church to carry on.

Father, I can make idols out of the government. I can make idols out of my job. My wife. My children. I’m sorry for worrying about who will govern me–as if I have the power beyond one American vote in Texas to do anything about it. I’m sorry for worrying about the economy, or even where my next meal or paycheck will come from. What was it the people of Jesus’s time, including the disciples and even John the Baptist, who was disappointed with Jesus (18 The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples, 19 and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Luke 7:18-19), were wanting? They wanted power. The wanted peace. They wanted security. They wanted influence. But that is not what you came to give. So I am sorry for wanting those things too. What you have given me is a knowledge of you and an expectation that I worship you–and it’s actually to my benefit when I worship you. You have given me people to love–family, friends, and “neighbors” in my community. Basically, you have given me the two things you expect from me: to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love my neighbor as myself. That’s it. And the more I do those things, including my neighbors and my world within my small sphere of influence, the more I find that the fruits of your Spirit are growing in me. So help me to do that today. Oh, Lord, thank you for making me your child. Thank you for being here with me in this moment. And thank you for not being the kind of Messiah everyone around Jesus wanted.

I pray all of this in the name of your Messiah, Jesus,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 10, 2023 in John, Luke, Mark, Matthew

 

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John 10:1-21

05 Dec

10 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

19 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. 20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” 21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

John 10:1-21

Dear God, once again, this story gets taken out of context because of a chapter break. It actually appears to be a continuation of his conversation with the Pharisees in chapter 9 after they had gotten made at him for healing the blind man on the Sabbath. And once again I’m going to say that if I had been there I don’t think I would have believed.

One thing I like about John’s telling of the story is that Jesus is not a benign character. As C.S. Lewis put it, we are left with only one of three opinions about who Jesus was: Liar, Lunatic, or Lord.

John’s thesis for the book is in the opening verses of the book:

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it.

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:1-14

If I don’t believe these first 14 verses then my only choices are that he is a liar or a lunatic, but he cannot be Lord. But if I believe the first 14 verses then Lord is the only option.

So why do I believe these first 14 verses now, but I wouldn’t have believed them then? Well, there are a few reasons that I think are fairly objective, although I know I am influenced by what I’ve been taught over my lifetime.

  • This story has endured even though Christians have failed to live up to it.
  • It stands to reason you would reach out to us and proactively find a way to reconcile us to yourself.
  • When I follow you and let the Spirit work in me my life is better.
  • I’ve literally experienced you miraculously answering prayer.
  • But the most objective one that I think I can argue is that none of Jesus’s disciples recanted their testimony that Jesus rose again from the dead. They went through a lot of suffering for a lie with no upside for them if they were lying about it.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, you are my shepherd. I am dumb as a sheep, but I will follow you. I can do that. But please help me to do that. Love others through me. Help me to love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength and love my neighbor as myself. Give me this day my daily bread. Forgive me, and help me to forgive others. Come into this world through my life and the life of the Church body. And please help me through my temptations.

For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 5, 2023 in John

 

John 8:1-20

04 Dec

8 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

11 “No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

13 The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”

14 Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. 15 You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”

19 “Where is your father?” they asked.

Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20 Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.

John 8:1-20

Dear God, I’m trying to do my best lately to take stories and put them in their context. For example, today’s verse of the day from Bible Gateway was John 8:12:  Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” What we miss is what has the Pharisees to whom he is speaking at the moment upset is that he just made them look like fools over the woman caught in adultery. His last words to the woman are what he said right before he said this. Jesus was bringing light. He wasn’t excusing sin, but he was forgiving it. He wasn’t condoning it, but he was having mercy on it. And then he turns and reminds everyone that they are walking in darkness, but if they follow him they can walk in the light. It’s all part of the same story.

Again, I’ll admit that if I had been there I don’t think I would have even come close to believing that Jesus is the Messiah. And even though I know errant teaching has crept into what I think I know about scripture, I am grateful to at least have this foundation, flawed as it might be, to lean on and build on. Jesus goes on to claim things about himself that I wouldn’t have believed in the moment. It was too fantastic. But now it all makes sense.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, as I get ready to head into this day, I am going to have a lot of opportunities to love people and have mercy. I am also going to have opportunities to encourage them to you and to a higher standard. To go and sin no more. But first, let that start with me. I am sorry for my sin. I am sorry for the multiple areas I fail you. I am sorry for my thoughts and my words. For what I have done and what I have failed to do. Help me to carry the humility of that repentance into my day as I then encourage others to let go of their sin, turn from their ways, and embrace your mercy and a relationship with you.

I pray all of this under your authority,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 4, 2023 in John

 

John 6:22-71

03 Dec

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. 25 They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man[f] can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[g]”

32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. 37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

41 Then the people[h] began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43 But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. 44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. 45 As it is written in the Scriptures,[i] ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)

47 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”

61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.[j]”

70 Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.

John 6:22-71

Dear God, I was sitting in church this morning and the pastor was talking about how weird the Christmas story is. All of your decisions were peculiar. After he would tell us a different part of the story he would make us repeat, “Wow, that is so weird!” What I was sitting there thinking was, “Wow, if I had been there I’d never have believed any of this.”

So as I read this passage this evening (which John 6:35 was the verse of the day for Bible Gateway), can’t help but think that I would be one of the bad examples in this story. I’d have wanted a sign. I’d have been weirded out about eating the flesh. I’d have walked away, IF I had been attracted in the first place. Frankly, I’m the kind who probably wouldn’t have sought out Jesus in the first place if I had been there 2,000 years ago.

Honestly, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. For the small fraction of people who were there when you were on earth it would have been a bad thing, but for the rest of us I think it’s a good thing. I’m not looking for more than you. I’m not looking for someone who will claim to add something to my relationship with you that I don’t already have. I consider myself fortunate to have been introduced to you as an eight-year-old child and raised from there in a church. I’m grateful for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes conferences I’ve been to. I’m grateful for the people you put in my life like Henry Parish (the tennis coach who got me involved in FCA). I’m grateful for the youth minister who came to my church my senior year–right when I had a significant shift in my relationship with you. I’m grateful for the woman you introduced me to when I was 19 who would later become my wife and stretch me intellectually and theologically. I am grateful for the opportunity to work at a Christian music and book publisher which gave me access to all kinds of Christian music and reading/study materials. I am grateful for Laity Lodge, the adult retreat center where I got inspired over 23 years ago to start doing these prayer journals. I am grateful for Gary Thomas and the Sacred Marriage book that he wrote which gave me a new paradigm for loving my wife and accepting your formation of my life through her. I am grateful for the children you gave me, who have stretched me, formed me, and taught me to be more sacrificial. I am also grateful for how you have revealed at least a little of your perfect love for me through my imperfect love for them (So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. – Matthew 7:11). I am grateful for you giving me work to do in nonprofits so that I have learned more about people who are marginalized and live on the edges of our society. I am grateful that you have taught me to be aware that there is so much I don’t know and to accept that instead of being defensive and fighting against it. I am grateful for the friends you have given to me. I am grateful for what you have taught me through my parents–both the good examples they gave me and the bad. I am grateful you taught my wife and me how to give when we had very little and that you made that an important part of our lives. You know, I could go on and on. As I sit here, I am grateful for so much. I haven’t even mentioned how grateful I am for my job, the home I have, the middle-class American lifestyle my wife and I have, our health, or any of that.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I would have ignored you if I had been there 2,000 years ago, but I embrace you now. I am grateful. I am so grateful.

I offer you my worship in Jesus’s name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 3, 2023 in John

 

“In Christ Alone” Newsboys

13 Aug

“In Christ Alone” Newsboys

In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Donald A. Koch / Andrew Shawn Craig

Dear God, I was in church last night, and this song was one of the hymns we sang. I had a lot of thoughts going through my head while we sang it. I was thinking about political turmoil in our country and how some of your church has chosen to engage in it–wanting power and influence so that your kingdom can come and your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven from the top down. For whatever reason, I thought about the girl who was killed nearly 30 years ago at Columbine High School when the killer asked her if she believed in Jesus and she said yes. That made me think of the man who was healed by Jesus and was being asked by the Pharisees about who healed him and he asked, “Why, do you want to be his disciples too?” All of this was swirling in my head while I read the words Donald Koch and Andrew Craig wrote for this song.

When it comes to what I, as a Christian, am selling to this world, this is my answer. Not that I’m a good salesman, but this is my answer. This song. It’s not saving someone from the threat of hell, although maybe it should be. It’s really not even the opportunity to spend eternity with you, although that is my naivete talking and I’m sure if I really understood how amazing the next realm will be in your presence for eternity then I would only talk about that. But in my head, the message of this song is why I’m here, even in this moment.

So what is this song saying? Well, it’s mainly in the first and fourth verses. The first verse talks about the functionality of being a Christian and the help and peace in can bring me through relationship with and worship of you.

Verse 1:

In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

Verse 4:

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Then verses two and three explain who Jesus is and how he functionally made himself capable of saving me and reconciling me with you.

Verses 3 & 4

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

So what do I have in you, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit?

  • Hope
  • Light
  • Strength
  • Cornerstone (foundation)
  • Solid ground (build on the rock and not sand)
  • Love
  • Peace
  • Fears stilled
  • Strivings ceased
  • Comfort
  • No guilt in life
  • No fear in death

And finally, no power of hell or scheme of man can take me from you. One of two things is certain. I will either see you return in my lifetime, or, more likely, you will call me home before your return. Either way, What I’m selling while I am here is the list I just made from verses one and four.

Father, help me to be a better maker of disciples. Help me to know how to invite people into what I have found in you. I woke up with another song going in my head that I remember from the church I used to attend when I lived in a different city: I just want to be with you. So come here and put your arms around me. I just want to love you. So come close and look right at me. So I can look into your eyes. So I can see into your heart. So I can feel you by my side and know that you’re near. One of the things I’ve always liked about that song is that it can be seen as being sung by me or by you. I think you would have those words for me, and sometimes, not frequently enough, I have those words for you. Help me, Father, be exactly who you need me to be.

I pray all of this under your authority and in worship to you,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 13, 2023 in Hymns and Songs, John

 

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John 12:23-26

10 Aug

23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

John 12:23-26

Dear God, I have a few things on my mind this morning. First, I think I have slipped into an arrogance problem again. I think I’m taking credit for things that are not of me. I’m taking credit, even in my own mind and to myself, for good things I know are from you. I felt like your Holy Spirit nudged me and convicted me of this yesterday. I am truly sorry. And I thank you for the good things in my life. Thank you.

Second, I woke up this morning after a pretty unsettled night’s sleep. The dreams weren’t bad nightmares, but just full of angst and problems. Problems I was supposed to be solving but struggling to. I’ve experienced some of that this week. In fact, as I sit here now, I have thought hard about some problems, but I don’t think I ever once stopped and asked your guidance in finding the solutions you might have for us. I’m very sorry for that too.

Finally, when it comes to this verse, I am, well, I am so grateful that you did what you did, Jesus. I am so glad you gave it all for me. You gave it all so I can be here. You gave it all so I can also be a seed that metaphorically dies so that others might live. If I sacrifice my will then you can use me for them. I read an article this morning about how hot peppers are self-pollinating and bees help them cross pollinate so they can create more creative varieties. Whether I am the seed that needs to die or I am pollen that needs to be spread–whatever it is–Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, use me today.

I pray all of this in the name of the one true Triune God,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 10, 2023 in John

 

John 15:26-16:4

15 May

“But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.

“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.”
John 15:26-16:4

Dear God, here is the phrase of this that caught my attention this morning when I read it: “…and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.” We are such fools. I would love to say that this doesn’t still happen, but of course it does. And it’s often those who are most convinced they are doing it in your name who can be the most dogmatic and problematic. The most dangerous.

But instead of sitting here and pointing fingers at others right now, maybe I should examine my heart and figure out how I might be one who thinks I am doing a holy service for you when, in actuality, I am advancing my own agenda out of what I think is my own “wisdom.” I’ll tell you where I tend to judge people is when I think they aren’t doing enough. When I think they are too selfish and not sacrificial enough. As if I know enough about them to make that evaluation or judgment.

Father, make me a refuge for the unjustly persecuted, a resource for those who unjustly persecute others so that they might know you, and, most importantly, a follower of you who is more interested in loving others than finding fault in them. Sweet, Jesus. I need you. I need your forgiveness for my sin. I need your patience for my foolishness. I need your teaching for my ignorance. I need your love for my insecurity. I need your perspective for my self-pity. I need your correction for my mistakes. I need your comfort for my pain. Thank you for offering me all of this through your Holy Spirit.

I pray all of this in the name of the one, only Triune God,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 15, 2023 in John

 

John 4:4-42

12 Mar

4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.

Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”

21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”

27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32 But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”

33 “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.

34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”

39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” 40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, 41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. 42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Dear God, I listened to a really good homily this morning from Father Mike Schmitz on this passage. If there was an overall message to the homily, it was to see the person over seeing the group. Jesus didn’t see a Samaritan. He saw a woman. When the other Samaritans came, he didn’t see Samaritans, but individuals instead.

It reminded me of Hagar in Genesis 16:13 when she is pregnant with Ishmael, runs away, and you showed up to encourage her. From then on she called you the God who saw her. She was hopeless, but she knew you saw her and you gave her hope. The same is true for this woman at the well.

So there is a group of people right now who are frustrating me. And what frustrates me isn’t their hearts for doing what they think is right. I think, if asked why they are doing what they do they would give you a good reason. It’s the what they are doing that concerns me. Their tactics seem more destructive than constructive. It doesn’t feel like they are solving problems, but instead just creating more issues for good people. And what’s my response to them? Well, I tend to treat them as a group and resist them as a group instead of engaging them as individuals. But I’ve been feeling led by you to maybe engage with one of them as an individual and build a constructive relationship that can be about your mercy and love. Maybe we can find common ground and pursue making a difference in ways we can agree upon. It reminds me of the time you led me to reach out to someone else a few months ago. I was upset with you about the prompting, but I did it anyway and now I can see that it was a good thing.

Father, help me to overcome my pride, my sinfulness, and my judgmental attitude. Help me to see beyond the surface. Help me to know how to reach out to those whom I frustrate as well. I’m sure the group that frustrates me is frustrated by me and those who are likeminded with me. It’s all division. It’s all Satan’s plan. Father, let me be part of you thwarting Satan’s plan in whatever way you want to use me. And protect me in this. I know I’m setting myself up for attacks when I do this. Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, please be with me. Do it for the glory of your kingdom.

I pray all of this in your Holy Name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 12, 2023 in John

 

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