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2 Corinthians 3:6-18

04 Nov

He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever! Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

2 Corinthians 3:6-18

Dear God, it seems like I say this all of the time, but I really underestimate the Holy Spirit, and I really don’t think about or lean on the Holy Spirit enough. In all of the arguments over the law vs grace and all of that, the thing I tend to forget is letting go of all of that and just leaning on the presence, comfort, and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Even now, as I sit here this evening and type this prayer to you, how much am I talking to the Father in heaven and ignoring the Father’s Holy Spirit living in me. Are my prayers focused up or in? When I pray for my friends/family who are facing serious challenges, or when I pray for myself and the decisions or circumstances facing me, why do I forget about the counselor and comforter that Jesus sent us after he ascended to heaven?]

Father (and Holy Spirit), help me to be so in tune with you in every moment that your glory will shine off of me. If people around me see my life as “goals,” then let them see the path to the shine they see on me be a relationship with you. Be glorified in their lives. Be glorified through me. Use my life as you will–for your glory and not mine.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 4, 2020 in 2 Corinthians

 

Romans 13:1-5

03 Nov

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

Romans 13:1-5

Dear God, I’m just not sure how I feel about this. I mean, sure, I get submitting to authority, but Paul takes this to an interesting place when he starts talking about leaders supporting good actions and punishing bad actions. Logically, this makes sense, but there are a lot of leaders who are not logical. They will put down good people because they see them as a threat. And I’m not talking about our government. I’m talking about countries like Russia, North Korea, Venezuela, etc. What do I do when the leader is a despot?

Well, I think I still do what I do and then submit to the consequences. No one said that the person in charge harming me for doing what’s right isn’t part of your will as well. If I lived in North Korea and was found to be talking about things with which I disagree with the leader and was put to death for it, then I could accept that because, for whatever your reason, he is the person you have put in charge of that area of the world.

Obviously, this is the “verse of the day” on Bible Gateway because it is election day in our country. Everyone is very torqued up about it. Well, not everyone, but a lot of people are torqued up about it. They are fearful of the outcome, but I would posit that they (and I) should be submitted to and at peace with this outcome as much as we should submit to the authorities that Paul mentions above.

Father, I pray for our elections today. I pray that they will bring about the outcome that fits within your will for our world. Not only our country, but also our world. Bring glory to yourself through what happens. Bring peace. Make me an instrument of your peace to the people around me. Help me to simply live in your kingdom regardless of whether my physical home is here or I am in the place to come.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 3, 2020 in Romans

 

1 Peter 2:9-10

02 Nov

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:9-10

Dear God, I guess it’s hard for an American to recognize that we are not your chosen people. We are not Jewish/Israelites. We are Gentiles. In biblical history, we would bear more resemblance with one of the nations that made a treaty with Israel than we would with Israel.

But this passage is one of the reasons Christians feel this way. You had/have mercy on us. Because of Jesus, we were not a people, but now we are the people of God. We have received your mercy. “Mercy.” What a great word! What a beautiful word and beautiful sentiment. You offer us mercy. You welcome us into your family. We can now consider ourselves your special possession. You called us out of darkness into your wonderful light, and we can declare our praises to you. It’s how we are able to read the Old Testament and find our identity in the Israelites more than the Philistines. 

I went back and listened to Andy Stanley’s “Not In It To Win It” sermon again tonight. I think it’s the fourth time I’ve heard it. I wanted an inoculation before tomorrow’s election. I needed a booster shot of biblical, Godly wisdom and I think this sermon has it. One of the things he said is that it wasn’t the Democratic or Republican Parties that shaped Western civilization over the last several hundred years. It was Christianity. So we need to not find our identity in a political party that is motivated by winning and exercising power, but by simply loving others. He said that the church is at its worst and looks like the world when it is defending its own rights and at its best and most Christlike when it is defending the rights of others. 

Father, as I sit here quietly in bed and prepare to go to sleep for the night, my prayer for tomorrow’s election is that you will allow it to be mercifully decisive. I pray that we will know one way or another who won the presidential race by night’s end. I pray for graciousness on the parts of the winners and the losers. I pray that you will somehow use all of this to bring us, bring me, to repentance. I don’t know what you are doing in the grand scheme of things, but I know that this world is older than I can imagine and history will continue to unfold in ways I cannot imagine. But you know it all–past, present, and future–and you are in control. That’s all I need to know.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 2, 2020 in 1 Peter

 

Ephesians 1:17-23

01 Nov

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1:17-23

Dear God, I am not sure that I have seen this before, but, at least in this instance, Paul isn’t saying need wisdom and revelation to understand what is going on around us. He wants us you to give us (me) the Spirit (Holy Spirit) of wisdom and revelation so that I can know you better. That’s it. To know you better. That’s what it’s all about. I don’t have to understand what is happening around me any further than to know what you would have me do in any given moment to respond to it. But I don’t have to understand the big picture of what is happening. I will know how to respond if I know you and internalize that knowledge of you. If I have the Holy Spirit speaking into my heart and nudging me.

So what are the different parts of you I should know? Well, Paul gives those to me in this passage:

  1. The hope to which you have called me
  2. The riches of your inheritance
  3. Your incomparably great power unleashed for me

My wife and I have been watching The Good Place. I’m still not sure whether or not it is sacrilegious, but it probably is. We are two seasons into a four-season series and, so far, it is all about performance. It puts the power of my ability to get to “the good place” when I die into my hands through a purely performance-based system. Maybe our need for your mercy will be addressed by the end. In fact, I have a feeling I might end up doing a specific prayer journal on the show when I’ve finished the series, but for now there is this incredible emptiness to it. Even the good feeling I get from doing a good thing is nothing when it’s not tied to the peace of knowing I’m not doing it for a reward.

I love my children. There really isn’t anything that either of them can do to earn or lose my love–and those boundaries have certainly been tested. In fact, I had something yesterday that hurt my feelings. But at the end of the day–or even in that moment–it didn’t affect how much I love that child. It impacts relationship, but it doesn’t impact love. I think the biggest thing you have done for me through parenthood was give me just a glimpse of how you see me. I can’t even put into words what I know of your love for me because of the love I have for them.

Father, I am sorry I hurt you. I am sorry I allow my selfishness to get in the way of me knowing you better. Help me to be at rest in you. When my children are with me, I just want them to know they are loved and in a safe place. Help me to know that in my relationship with you as well.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on November 1, 2020 in Ephesians

 

1 Peter 5:8-11

31 Oct

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:8-11

Dear God, I was having my weekly phone call with a friend yesterday morning and I told him I had been pretty inconsistent with you this week. I have not been “alert and sober of mind.” I haven’t been “stand[ing] firm in the faith.” I kind of took you for granted this week. Frankly, I spent a lot more time thinking about college football than I spent thinking about you. Why? No good answer. I guess the truth is, I found it more interesting.

I am simply nothing without you. When will I really get that through my head? Without you there is no peace. There is no joy. Without you I am a selfish, fearful, needy, insecure, foolish man. But with you I can truly love others because you love me so much. With you I can see above the cares of this world and be at peace in you. You’re amazing. You are GOD!! Why did I find college football more interesting than you this week? Frankly, probably because it plays to my vanities and resentments. Hmm. I’ve never thought of that before. That’s a thought to ponder (as I watch my team play this afternoon).

Father, in this moment, I want to be alert and sober of mind. I want to stand firm in my faith. I know I cannot live up to that. I know that I will follow selfish desires and let them consume me at some point. Help me to see that those moments are fewer and farther between as you work on me and I learn to stay alert and stand firm.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 31, 2020 in 1 Peter

 

Romans 11:30-32, 12:1-2

31 Oct

Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 11:30-32,12:1-2

Dear God, the verse of the day from Bible Gateway is The famous Romans 12:1, but it starts with “Therefore.” So what thought is Paul completing with this verse. Why am I offering my body as a living sacrifice? Well, if you go before the doxology at the end of Romans 11, verses 30-32 give us the answer. We offer our bodies as living sacrifices because of your mercy. We offer ourselves as purely as we can because we are incapable of offering ourselves as holy.

I was thinking this week about what I do, if anything, that is evangelical. How do I help bring anyone closer to you? Do I ever encourage someone who is living a Godless life to turn loose of themselves and submit to you? The answer is pretty much no. The best I offer to the people around me is a life of example. I think everyone with whom I work knows how important you are to me, but I don’t really do anything that then reaches out and invites them into a life that is permeated by the fruits of the Spirit.

Father, help me to be more sensitive to offering the amazing gift you gave me to others. Help me to be an example and then to offer that example to those who know me. Even when someone comes to me with a problem, help me to remember to first pray to you for guidance and to then encourage them to first approach you. I don’t want my short time on earth to be wasted.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 31, 2020 in Romans

 

1 Peter 1:23-24

28 Oct

For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:23-25

Dear God, I wonder what Peter meant by your “word.” It obviously wasn’t the New Testament. It might have been what we call the Old Testament, but that doesn’t feel likely. I think calling what we consider to be the Bible “God’s Word” is a more recent phenomenon. So what did Peter mean here?

Well, John called Jesus your “Word.” It was a unique way for you to enter the world, and Jesus’s actual words are not only your “Word,” but his actions would be too. His entire life is you speaking to us through the generations. Of course, now we consider what these first apostles and disciples wrote and left for us as the New Testament to be you speaking to us, along with what they knew as your scripture. But again, I don’t necessarily think this is what Peter is talking about here. I think Peter’s usage of this term is pretty basic–Jesus came, Jesus died, and Jesus rose again so that we might be rightly related to you.

Father, thank you for this word…your word. Thank you that Jesus did this so that I might be rightly related to you. I’m a Gentile and I have no claim to be yours except that you chose to claim me. I am sorry for taking that for granted as much as I do.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 28, 2020 in 1 Peter

 

New Roots

24 Oct

Inspired by a Brené Brown interview with Bishop Michael Curry.

Dear God, I’m taking this one small comment from Bishop Michael Curry as I pray to you this morning. But first, I’m not sure what happened to me yesterday, but I’m sorry for just kind of shutting down. I had just had a week off, and it was my last Sunday before going back to work, and I just went almost into a hibernation. And I’m not totally sure it was the wrong thing to do as I get ready to start a very busy season at work, but I know I could have done more to spend some time with you, at the very least. So I am sorry for not spending some time with you yesterday.

Now, on to this concept from Bishop Curry. Basically, he was saying that as it relates to a lot of things in our lives during this pandemic–from church, to social activities, to family, to work, to school, etc.–we are like a plant/tree that has had its water source taken away or dry up. We now need to do what they do–develop new roots that will find the water we need. That starts with you. I need to figure out how to ensure I am still getting the balance of spiritual nourishment, prayer, and worship that I need. The same is true for other areas of my life as well, but let me just focus on you this morning.

It is important that I continue to tap into you. I need to be intentional and creative. I need to be innovative and self-disciplined. Otherwise, my spiritual life can wither and die just like anyone else’s. I haven’t achieved anything in life to the level that I can face all of this on my own. In fact, I never will achieve that level because I need you. I need you. I need you today as I go back to work. I need you as I meet challenges. I need you as I love my wife and family. I need you as I figure out how to respond to the world around me. I need you. And if I don’t keep my roots tapped into you then I will fail.

Father, hep me to be intentional about my pursuit of you. Help me to be exactly what you need me to be, but I know you can only do that if I a plugged into you, and I have a lot of responsibility in that. So I am sorry for not doing more yesterday to be one with you, and I commit to you that I will sacrifice myself today in an effort to be one with you. Holy Spirit, please help me.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 24, 2020 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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Galatians 6:1-3

23 Oct

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Galatians 6:1-3

Dear God, the verse of the day was verse 2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” But it’s another one that can be completely taken out of context. Verses 1 and 3 totally change the meaning of it. It’s one thing to think of my friend facing a partial leg amputation and how I might help to bear his burden. It’s a completely different thing to think about the person I’ve seen do a lot of wrong to others as well as to myself and think about how I might bear his burdens.

For privacy’s sake, I won’t get too specific about this, but it’s probably something I need to think about. For the ma I am particularly thinking about, what does bearing his burden look like? As I sit here and think about it, I think it starts with caring about his restoration and being willing to expose myself to him even though he is really angry with me. I don’t know. This is a really tricky one. In this case, because of complicating factors, I just don’t know that I am the person for the job on this one. I see that he needs to be approached, but I can also see that there is too much baggage with me for him to be able to hear anything I would have to say I just don’t think I am a voice he can hear.

This passage does, however, make me wonder how many others there are in my sphere that I need to think about bearing their burden and helping them. I wonder what/who Paul was thinking of when he wrote these words. What was the situation? How as it resolved?

Father, I do want to pray for a couple of things today. There are actually three on my heart. On the biggest level, I want to pray about the election. I know there was a debate last night, although I didn’t watch it. I’ve even done my best to stay away from the news this week. But I know that certainly something is happening in our country–and it’s even greater than who wins the election. People are angry and distrustful of one another. Satan is attacking our unity and it is working. Please guide us as a nation. Show us your path forwards. I don’t know how far down you will have to break us to bring us to unity again. The answer to that question scares me. But please help us. Then I’d like to pray for the people in the fires in California and Colorado. Home are being evacuated. Businesses destroyed. Please be sovereign in all of these situations. Provide for the firefighters and first responders. Keep them safe. Take care of the wildlife involved. And then I pray for my friend who might lose part of his leg. I pray against the infection in his leg. I know he is widowed and lives alone. Provide for him. But please spare is leg if you can. He is such a nice man. Everything I know about his is lovely. Please be a great and powerful God to him. And I guess I have one more. For the family about whom I’m thinking that needs some financial help while they face a health crisis. Please help them and love them. Show my wife and me what role you have for us to play in their lives.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 23, 2020 in Galatians

 

Psalm 25:14

21 Oct

The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.

Psalm 25:14

Dear God, this sermon from Tim Keller was all about friendship with you. I have to say that this week has surprised me. It seems you keep pointing me to one of my least favorite books of the Bible–Psalms. Yesterday, you sent me to Psalm 88. Today, I was searching for Tim Keller sermons on YouTube and the first one that came up was this one. So okay. I get it.

Basically, the story of this sermon was friendship with you. Keller said that the concept of friendship with God is unique to Christianity (and I would imagine Judaism as well). David, in this psalm, talks in verse 14 about a unique relationship with you. You make known your covenant to us. Even the fact that you have a covenant with us is remarkable.

With that said, here were the five points of Keller’s sermon today (the italicized parts are not quotes, but my paraphrase of the concept):

  • 13:30 Obedience necessary for friendship. Only through obedience do we become closer to the type of being Jesus is. He said that friendships between people make each person better by sharpening us against each other. Well, you cannot be made better, so the sharpening happens one way. That makes sense. There was a man who is now dead who mentored many young men. One of my criticisms of him was that he would say he wanted to be your friend, but the friendship was certainly one way. He was the dominant person in the friendship and I wasn’t interested in that kind of a relationship. But with you it’s different. First, you already have said I am good enough for you through the sacrifice you/Jesus made. And second, you are much more patient with me than I could ever imagine would be possible.
  • 17:00 Justification by faith alone. If you don’t believe this then God cannot be your friend, he has to be your boss. It will be a mercenary relationship. Service for pay. 21:00 If the sermon on the mount is true then I have no hope. God saved me from the Sermon on the Mount. I had a conversation with a Catholic friend about the doctrine of once saved always saved and saved by faith vs. saved by faith and works. I was arguing the once saved always saved/faith alone side of the coin. Keller didn’t address the once saved always saved part here, but basically he said something that makes a lot of sense to me. If your friendship with me is contingent on my actions/behavior, then there is no way we can be friends. Grace is the only thing that bridges the gap between you and me. He said that he heard someone say one time that you don’t need to be a Christian to be saved, but you just need to follow the Sermon on the Mount. Keller’s response to that is, “Have you ever read the Sermon on the Mount?” There is no way I could ever live up to that sermon. As Keller put it, you saved me from the Sermon on the Mount.
  • 22:15 Dynamic two-way communication. 24:45 If you want to KNOW god is speaking to you you have to go to the Bible. 26:30 Eugene Peterson said you can’t just read God’s Word, but you must respond to it. This part actually affirmed these journals I do through scripture. It started with the importance of prayer and communicating with you, but he also cautioned that if we are just doing it in our head then we can be fooled into thinking our own words are yours. He gave an example of a man who felt he heard from you that his son would grow up and be a great preacher. After his son died at a young age, he realized what he had heard wasn’t from you, but was just the pride of a father for his son. Then Keller brought out something Eugene Peterson said about responding to God’s Word. It’s not enough just to read it, but we have to process it and respond to it. I think I do that through these journals and it certainly had changed my life and my relationship with you.
  • 29:00 Seeking his face. Sometimes you’ve got to feel him. 31:00 it’s one thing to know god is holy with your mind but it’s another thing to sense it and let it change you. It’s one thing to know God is love and it’s another to actually feel it in your heart. It’s not enough to have this just be an intellectual exercise. I need to make space to feel you. To worship you. To open my emotions to you. This is probably the area where I am weakest in our friendship. There’s a fine line to walk between letting emotion drive my relationship with you and controlling my emotions so that what you and I have is real. Over the last few years–especially as I have gone to more traditional churches–I have not been nearly as emotional as I should be.
  • 34:00 meditate on Jesus’s death as an act of friendship. Keller opened the sermon talking about the different types of love that C.S. Lewis talked about. Eros. Agape. Philia. Storge. The friendship one, philia, is one thing you achieved with us through becoming human and living as we live. You came alongside us and saw the world from our perspective. Then you died so that there could be room for me to be who I am.

Father, thank you for your friendship. Thank you that I can even sit here on this sofa this morning and talk with you. Thank you that you care. I’ve been amazed at your attention to detail over these last 9 months (basically, this calendar year). You have shown up in the little things time and time again. Thank you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 21, 2020 in Psalms

 

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