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Matthew 6:24-34

06 Dec

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:24-34

Dear God, I heard someone say recently that “righteousness” or “righteously” can be translated as “justice” when it’s translated into different languages. So, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live justly, and he will give you everything you need.” I don’t know how accurate that is. I’ve read a lot of English translations of this and I’ve never heard that, but it certainly tweaks the meaning a bit.

I think it starts with seeking your kingdom. [Note: I’m picking this up after having started this particular prayer several months ago.] And now I’m at a point where money has caused so many problems. It’s why I look at this whole NIL thing with college players and I worry for the players–the ones who are getting the money. If they were getting used before, how much more are they getting used now? The money will be fleeting and, for most of them, gone quickly. What will they have learned? Will they have gotten any education?

Money is central to some problems I am experiencing right now with family. Personally, I wish it were gone. Entitlement and arrogance are ruling the day because of it, and somehow I’ve gotten caught in the middle.

Father, there’s so much more than this going on today. I have an aunt, uncle, and cousins who are in deep pain and mourning. I have patients who are scared and need your help. I have staff who are scared and need your help. I have so much personal pain, as does my wife. But this is an opportunity to make this pain count. Without pain, nothing moves. Do not let this pain be wasted for my aunt, uncle, and cousins. Do not let this pain be wasted for my family. Make it count. Guide me.

I pray this in Jesus’s name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 6, 2022 in Matthew

 

Hebrews 1:1-4

05 Dec

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
Hebrews 1:1-4

Dear God, as I read these verses this morning–especially verse 4–I was reminded of an old praise song by Gloria and Bill Gaither. “Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. There’s just something about that name. Master. Savior. Jesus. Like the fragrance after the rain. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about that name.”

I confess that sometimes I get a little muddled when I comes to my prayers and whom I am addressing. Am I addressing the Father? The Son? The Holy Spirit? My default is to address your Father nature, but I’ve been wondering over the last few months if I shouldn’t be mentally addressing the Holy Spirit more since He is the counselor the Father sent after Jesus ascended into heaven 2,000 years ago. But then there’s Jesus himself, the Son of God through whom I enter to approach the Father. Ah, and then that takes me back to addressing the Father. I could talk myself into five circles about this topic. At the end of the day, it probably doesn’t really matter since you are all three one God. I’m just here to worship you, submit myself to you, and learn from you.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I need you. I need you in my conversations today. I need you in my conversations tomorrow. I really, really need you. Please, don’t let me miss you.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 5, 2022 in Hebrews

 

John 6:24-40

03 Dec

 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 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.”

John 6:24-40

Dear God, there are all of these great nuggets in this story. Well, I guess there is just the main point of it. Jesus perceives they are impressed with the miracles and want to see more of them. He tells them to focus on you and their faith and they reply, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” Then Jesus says, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

We are such fools. “Show me this.” “Do that for me.” It reminds of of your words to Job in Job 38: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?” I have something coming up in my life that I’m not happy about. I talked with a friend about it at lunch yesterday. I want to gripe and complain about it. I want to blame you for it, even. But maybe–unfortunately–your words to Job and the people talking to Jesus are your words for me: “Who are you to question my wisdom with such ignorant words? I only want one work from you: Believe in Jesus.” All else is about loving others into doing the same. That’s it. That’s all. It’s that simple.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I am good at certain things, but it feels like I fail at the most important ones. Help me to simply worship and love you and till the soil of my heart so that the thorns (pursuit of money and cares of this world) are cleared away and your Holy Spirit has good soil with which to work in my life. I offer myself to you. Love through 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 December 3, 2022 in Job, John

 

2 Peter 3:15-16

01 Dec

And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.
2 Peter 3:15-16

Dear God, I love how Peter talked about Paul in this passage. This could have been a very polarizing situation between them. Frankly, it shocks me that it wasn’t. And I don’t give Paul a lot of the credit, although maybe I should. I perceive him to be a little more difficult to like as an individual. But Peter believed in him. You had somehow assured him through your Holy Spirit that Paul was genuine in his representation of you. He definitely takes sides between Paul and Paul’s detractors and has harsh words for the detractors.

I sometimes wonder how all of this would play out in our modern time. Is there a reason you did all of this 2,000 years ago–just so we would have it in its current form now? Because I can’t imagine Jesus in this day and age with our current media and ability to communicate. Well, maybe I can. I can certainly see how he would have ended up being killed, but I see it more as an assassination by an organized group than I see it as a government execution. But then the follow-up and the formation of these letters that form the new Testament. Maybe that’s where the model breaks down.

But I digress. I want to think about Peter and his attitude a little more. As a disciple, he was formed in the company of 11 other close confidants of Jesus. He was admonished by Jesus himself for trying to elevate himself as more important than the others. He then had to oversee the persecution of his friends and himself. This could have developed a bitter, chip-on-the-shoulder, hardness to him, but instead it helped him to identify with Jesus and become more Christ-like all the more. And now he could see what you were accomplishing through Paul and he had Paul’s back.

Father, even today I am traveling with a coworker to check out another nonprofit like ours and learn from how they do some things we want to do. Help me to be humble. Help me to see what they do that would work well with our patients and then to be willing to hear your Holy Spirit and hear from you on ways we might improve on or change their work. Help me be what my coworker needs as she does the same thing. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear. Speak to us in a still, small voice and guide us in our discussions both in the car on the way there and back and then while we are there. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the patient from yesterday who needs your healing. We are doing some things for her medically, but she is going to need you if she is to be healed. Oh, Father, please heal her. Oh, Father, please be in this situation. Oh, Father, please touch every person’s life who touches hers. Make this pain count. Don’t let one thing about this be wasted. And show all of us who are helping her what to do.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 1, 2022 in 2 Peter

 

Psalm 136:1

29 Nov

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1

Dear God, this is another moment for just some worship. This psalm is 26 verses and each one of them includes the line, “His faithful love endures forever.” That’s what I want to do right now. I just want to worship you. I do have some friends for whom I’m concerned. Some family. Some clients at our nonprofit. Some coworkers. I want your best for each of them. I want your powerful hand to move, heal, protect, grow, and guide. I want all of that. Please help all of that happen.

But now I just want to sit in your lap and be with you. I want to worship you. I have a dog who is incredibly needy. She came up to me this morning and wanted some loving. I’m never able to sit with this dog without having to pet her or she will go away. She never just wants to sit with me. It’s a very transactional relationship. But I tried something this morning. I put her in my lap when I started this and now she seems to be happy to just lie down while I type. She is content just to be in my lap. Not getting anything for herself except to know that she is a loved dog.

That’s what I want right now. I just want to sit in your lap and not ask for anything. I just want you to know that I am content just being your child. I know you love all of the people on my heart. I know you have them in your hands. So I can let all of that go for the moment and just be happy in your presence. Why? Because your faithful love endures forever.

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 November 29, 2022 in Psalms

 

1 Chronicles 16:8

28 Nov

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
    Let the whole world know what he has done.

1 Chronicles 16:8

Dear God, a friend sent me a Tik Tok today with an unnamed preacher saying that Isaiah says that worship is like a coat. I think the reference is Isaiah 61:3, but I’m not sure. Basically, the analogy is that when there is bad weather we put on a coat and the coat doesn’t change the weather, but it changes our body’s response to the weather. Worship, like the coat, when applied by us, does not change our circumstances, but it changes how we respond to our circumstances. That was pretty good.

This verse of the day from 1 Chronicles fits into that as well. Not that it makes that analogy, but it reminds me to give thanks to you. David is telling me (actually he wrote this song for the Levites to sing as they brought the Ark of the Covenant home) to worship you and give you thanks. To let the whole world know you are my God.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I cannot begin to give you adequate worship and praise. I simply cannot give you enough. Anything of offer isn’t even a drop in the ocean compared with what I owe you. You are You and me. Last week, you gave my wife two amazing divine appointments after a difficult event. You care about the small details. You see us in our need. I cannot count the times you have answered my prayers–both by saying yes for my good and by saying no for my good. I have no wisdom outside of you. I have no words outside of you. I am sorry for my sin. I am sorry for my selfishness. I am sorry for my lethargy. But even in my human frailty you make a way for me. You love me. It’s unfathomable. Thank you. I ask nothing of you except your presence. I want nothing from you but your peace. Use me as you will to bring yourself into this world.

I pray this only because you have benevolently allowed and enabled me to,

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 28, 2022 in 1 Chronicles

 

“Mara” (Ruth 1:20-21)

24 Nov

20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”

Ruth 1:20-21

Dear God, I was listening to one of my favorite Newsboys songs this morning that reminds me of Naomi’s situation. It’s called “Lord (I don’t know).” Here’s a link to the song:

The message of this song is wrapped up in the chorus: “Lord, I don’t know where all this is going or how it all works out. Lead me to peace that passes understanding. A peace beyond all doubt.” This could have been Naomi’s song to you. It is all of our songs–especially those in pain this morning.

What Naomi didn’t realize was you were there. You gave her Ruth. You had a plan for this pain. I’m not going to say you wanted her sons and husband to die, but you certainly used it for the benefit of Israel. You used it for the benefit of Ruth. Now, ultimately, it cost Naomi people–loved ones–she could never replace. But you made it count.

I know people today who are suffering. I know a family who just lost a relative in a terrible car accident one week ago this morning. I know of a woman who has a difficult cancer diagnosis and no funding or easy path to treatment. I know people who are recently widowed. I myself have some pain this morning–a metaphorical cloud over me. What am I to do? Am I to claim the name “Mara” and pronounce myself bitter to the world? Or am I to take a look around and acknowledge a few things. 1.) You have given me great love in this life. Love that is often beyond reason. 2.) You have given me a “Ruth” through a relationship with a relative that, well, if I didn’t have it I might be in total despair this morning. And 3.) you might just be using the pain I’m feeling to accomplish things I will never know or understand.

Father, help me to not miss you today. Help me to see you and your blessings all over the place. Please be a comfort to those I mentioned who are suffering and those I’ve forgotten are suffering. Show me the role you have for me to play in their lives. And please help the people in Ukraine. I don’t even know how to pray for the, but, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, please help these poor people. Provide for their needs. Make this stop. Please, make it stop. And use this for your ultimate glory.

I love you, and I thank you. I pray this by the name of Jesus,

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 24, 2022 in Hymns and Songs, Ruth

 

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“This World” by Caedmon’s Call

22 Nov

There’s tarnish on the golden rule
And I wanna jump from this ship of fools
Show me a place where hope is young
And a people who are not afraid to love

This world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could wanted
And nothing that I need

This world is making me drunk
On the spirit of fear
So when you say who will go
I am nowhere near

This world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could wanted
And nothing that I need

This world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could wanted
And (absolutely) nothing that I need

But the least of these look like criminals to me
So I leave Christ on the street

This world has held my hand
And has led me into intolerance
And now I’m waking up
And now I’m breaking up
And now I’m making up for lost time

This world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could wanted
And nothing that I need

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Aaron Tate

Dear God, this song has about 10 layers of truth to it, and I’m not sure where to start. My wife played it for me yesterday morning, and I thought, “I really need to spend some time with this.” In fact, I’m not sure I have enough time this morning to do it justice and really think through it with the Holy Spirit as my companion–revealing to me where I have embraced the things I want in the world that I don’t need.

In the first stanza, when the write says that there is tarnish on the golden rule and they want to jump from the ship of fools, I wonder if he (Aaron Tate) is referring to the church. Disillusionment with the people in the church. Frustration with the selfishness and grasps for power that we see. Disappointment in our failure to love our neighbor as ourselves. Is he looking for a place where “hope” has not yet been jaded by disillusionment, frustration, and disappointment? Where people are not yet afraid to love.

In the second verse, the idea of being drunk on the spirit of fear is real. And it comes with a hangover. Just ask anyone who watches too much news. Fear. Fear. Fear. Be afraid. Be afraid of the future. Be afraid of the present. Be afraid of the past. Be afraid. Come and consume my content. I will feed your fear until you are numb, and when you are done you will be in a stupor. As for me, I can certainly enjoy getting this itch scratched, but the itch is like poison ivy. The more you scratch it the more you must scratch it, all the while you are only making it worse. And then when you say, “Whom shall I send,” I’m either too afraid or too entrenched in my ideology, prejudices, and presuppositions to help anyone do anything.

In the bridge we get the allusion to Jesus saying we did not help him when we saw him (Matthew 25:31-46). They are too hard to help. I heard someone present at Rotary yesterday, and he laid out a scenario of seeing someone in need and asked what we would do in that situation. When I honestly asked myself what I would do, I didn’t live up to the standard Jesus set out here. I would probably have thought the problem was too big and moved on.

The final verse is ironic because the “world” thinks it teaches tolerance, but ultimately pursuing the things of the world–allowing the thorns to grow in my soil (Matthew 13:22)–just puts be further into my selfish World War I trench and keeps me from coming out to love all of your children. But if I can come to you in moments like this…if I can wake up, then I can start to be the man you call me to me.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, work in my heart today. Get me out of my trench. Be with me in my conversations. Bless the fruit of the work I do in your name and help me to be a steward of the things you give 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 November 22, 2022 in Hymns and Songs, Matthew

 

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Acts 4:13

21 Nov

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 

Acts 4:13

I was listening to the Bible in a Year Podcast from Ascension Press this morning and Father Mike highlighted this verse. I thought it would be a good prayer for me to pray over myself today. If I am to be bold, will they recognize me as an arrogant person who is foolish, or will they see that I am a man who has been with Jesus (you)?

Oh, Father. Oh, Jesus. Oh, Holy Spirit, please forgive me of my sin. Forgive me of my pride. My self-pity. My sense of independence. My need for approval from the world. My craving for things of this world. I am sorry. All of them get in the way of others seeing you in my life. They all get in the way of my branch being attached to your vine. When people look at me, I want them to simply see you and wonder what they might do to have the wonderful gift I’ve been given through Jesus’s life, death and resurrection. Through the Father’s love. Through the Holy Spirit’s presence with me. Help me to be all of those things.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 21, 2022 in Acts

 

Luke 20:27-40

19 Nov

27 Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. 28 They posed this question: “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name. 29 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. 30 So the second brother married the widow, but he also died. 31 Then the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them, who died without children. 32 Finally, the woman also died. 33 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her!”

34 Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth. 35 But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. 36 And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.

37 “But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 So he is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive to him.”

39 “Well said, Teacher!” remarked some of the teachers of religious law who were standing there. 40 And then no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Luke 20:27-40

Dear God, I’ve come across this passage several times over the last few weeks. Are you trying to tell me something? I talk a lot about idols and trying to identify the idols in my life. How much is my wife an idol for me? How much do I look to her to provide what the Holy Spirit should be providing in my life? How much do I get my sense of worth from her instead of you.

I heard someone recently describe the relationship we will have with our spouse in the next life as a “special relationship.” Much like we will know our children, parents, and other special people there, we will know our spouse. But what Jesus is saying is that we will have moved beyond the human needs that are met through marriage and into a new angel-like existence That exists around you. I have to tell you, the idea of existing on that reality plain is very appealing to me. I’m good here. I’m happy to live the life you’ve given me here on earth. Frankly, mine is very easy compared to most of the world. I’m happy to try to hear what you’ve called me to do and then follow your calling. But I also have a great hope that this is nothing compared to a pure existence in the timeless reality of your presence.

It makes me think of a Rich Mullins song called “Land Of My Sojourn.” There’s a line in the song that says, “So I’ll call you my country, but I’ll be lonely for my home.” Yeah. I’m happy to be an American, but I don’t find my peace in that. I’m happy to live in my community. I’m happy to be the husband you need me to be for my wife. I’m happy to do whatever it takes to be the father you need me to be for my children (although it feels like I’ve been a failure on many levels there). I’m happy to serve my community. But it feels like the closer I get to you the more loosely I hold onto all of it.

Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, show me even more today what it means to call you my God. Show me how to be my wife’s husband. Show me how to find my love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness faithfulness, kindness, self-control, etc. in you and not look to her to give me those things. Sharpen me through her. Make me into the man you need me to be through her and the other relationships in my life. Be glorified in all of this.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 19, 2022 in Luke

 
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