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Ruth 1:1-19a

24 Aug

1 In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. 2 The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there.

3 Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. 4 The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.

6 Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah.

8 But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. 9 May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.

10 “No,” they said. “We want to go with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? 12 No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? 13 Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord himself has raised his fist against me.”

14 And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. 15 “Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.”

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.

19 So the two of them continued on their journey.

Ruth 1:1-19a

Dear God, there’s actually so much here to see that it can be hard to keep up with. Questions that came to mind this morning as I read this story for the umpteenth time:

  • How did Elimelech’s people feel about him and his family leaving Bethlehem to find food and sustenance in Moab? My first thought was that they might see it as an act of betrayal and leaving when the going got tough, but I suppose it could also be seen as a kind act because there were four fewer mouths to feed in Bethlehem during the famine. And later in the rest of verse 19 the women seem to be happy to see Naomi and there’s never an indication that anyone bears her or Ruth ill will for having left.
  • The boys were married for about 10 years before they died. Why no children? Were they both sterile? Children, on the one hand, would have complicated the story. On the other hand, they might have given Naomi a male heir to return to Bethlehem with and not need Boaz as a kinsman redeemer later in the story. Then that would have kept Ruth from needing Boaz. That would have kept them from getting married. That would have kept them from having Obed. That would have kept Obed from having Jesse. Jesses having David. David being the lineage of Jesus. Did you keep them sterile and save Ruth as a mother for Boaz and Obed? I have no idea, but it’s interesting to consider.
  • Both Orpah and Ruth started the journey back to Bethlehem with Naomi. They were obviously close. I was talking with my wife over breakfast this morning about how they had probably bonded as Mahlon and Kilion died. Perhaps they worked together to care for the boys. Perhaps they were killed at the same time in a raid. Maybe they got the same disease and died. Regardless, it’s obvious the women were close and so they all packed up together and headed to Bethlehem.
  • Somewhere along the way Naomi has some sort of guilt about dragging these two women back to Judah/Bethlehem. Maybe it was something they said along the road. Maybe she started to get beyond the fog of grief she was in and started to just see how this would likely play out for these two young women, probably in their 20s. She tells them to go home and start new lives. She doesn’t only tell them that. She blesses them for their goodness. They all weep. It’s a very emotional scene if I allow myself to just sit with it a little bit.
  • They want to go with her. They must have a positive view of her people–the Jewish people from Judah. Maybe they had terrible home lives. Maybe they had complicated their futures by marrying men from Judah. Whatever it is, they both petition to go with Naomi.
  • Naomi makes a case for them to stay. She helps them play the tape to the end. The road ahead is likely difficult. The road behind has hope. Go with the road behind.
  • Verse 13 is the first time we get the view of Naomi’s anger and frustration towards you. She felt like you had raised your fist against her. Part of her argument to the young women was, “Save yourself. It’s me God is after.” I wonder if she thought there was some sin she had committed that had earned your wrath.
  • Orpah agrees to leave, but you can still feel her reluctance to go. These women have obviously bonded and they know they will never see each other again after this. Life can have pain like this. There are times when we see someone we love for the last time. All of these women had already lost husbands. There are some people I love still living that I wonder if I’ve seen for the last time. It’s heartbreaking. Oh, Father, reunite us in your kingdom. Make this wait worth the pain! Please!
  • When Ruth stays, Naomi makes an interesting argument to her. Not only does she encourage her to go back to her people, but to go back to her people’s gods. She doesn’t say, “Take the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with you.” Is Naomi ready to trade you in for another god too?
  • Ruth declares her intention to stay with Naomi no matter what. I’m going to assume this is out of pure love for Naomi. Ruth felt like she needed to care for her maybe? I don’t know. But Ruth was all in with this path, including worshipping a God Naomi was not making a good sales pitch for.
  • Naomi sees Ruth is unmovable and accepts her decision. Was Naomi relieved or more stressed in that moment? I think she was relieved. I’m sure she felt loved. On a much larger scale, it’s like when people fight over a check at a restaurant and one person finally relents and accepts the blessing. To much greater depths, that’s what this feels like.

Father, what I said about Ruth yesterday still fits this morning. It just doesn’t feel like she has any guile about her, and I like that so much. She has completely pure intentions and she lays them all out on the table. She’s not manipulating anyone. In fact, today’s gospel reading is about Jesus saying the way to salvation is to strive for the narrow path. Now that I think about it, that’s Ruth. Without even knowing she was doing it, she was striving for the narrow path because she was drawn to it by following love of her neighbor. I guess she would learn to love and worship you more personally as she assimilated into Bethlehem society. So help me to guilelessly settle into that path today. Help me to just be a man who strives for the narrow path. Help me to lead with love for you, love for my neighbor, and mercy for all.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 24, 2025 in Ruth

 

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Ruth 2:1-3

23 Aug

2 Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech.

2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.”

Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.” 3 So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.

Ruth 2:1-3

Dear God, I wonder if I don’t need to spend some time with Ruth. I’ve spent a lot of time with Naomi, but I don’t know how much I’ve thought about Ruth.

I think what I like about Ruth is that there is no guile in her. She doesn’t think about manipulating or scheming. She just got up and worked with earnestness. She loved Naomi with earnestness. She didn’t sign up to return to Bethlehem with Naomi so that she could have any material gain. If anything she was setting herself up for an even more difficult life. But she loved her and wanted to help care for her. Then she got to Bethlehem and she had a job to do. So she got up and did it. Then when it came time later to approach Boaz, she doesn’t seem comfortable with Naomi’s plan (scheme?) but she goes along with it in the most humble way possible. She’s simply a good woman who does the best thing she knows to do in the moment without much regard for what the next moment will hold.

Father, help me to be like that. Help me to not let what I think the future will hold impact my decisions now. Help me to solve the problems that exist in front of me, not the problems I fear later. Help me to make the best decision you are guiding me to now without worrying about what it might cost me later. I think I’ll spend the next few days with Ruth. Teach me through this amazing example from thousands of years ago. Thank you that her life and the decisions she made literally led to the lineage of Jesus.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 23, 2025 in Ruth

 

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Romans 8:26-32

22 Aug

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

Romans 8:26-32

Dear God, this is another example of the importance of context. The verse of the day from Bible Gateway was just verse 32. And that’s great, but what are we talking about here. We are talking about how good you are and how you answer our prayers even in our ignorance. You know better than to give us everything we ask for. You know more than our eyes can see or minds can comprehend. Your Holy Spirit is with us and he knows how to pray for us. He knows how to intercede for us. And what is he saying in his intercession? Groanings that communicate beyond words. It’s those things you just can’t put into words. It’s just beyond language. That’s how deeply the Holy Spirit is pairing with me even right now as I sit and attempt to put my prayer to you in typed out words on a laptop.

I’m praying in a limited language with a limited mind and limited vision. But my prayer goes through the Holy Spirit filter to you. I pray about my daily bread and the Holy Spirit knows more about what my daily bread need is. I pray that you will forgive me of my sins, but those are usually only just some of the ones of which I’m consciously aware. The Holy Spirit is turning that into deeper healing for me. I pray for my wife and children, but the Holy Spirit knows more about what they need than I do. I pray about my community, state, or country, but the Holy Spirit knows the depths of the need and more about what you are doing in the world that is so much bigger than the needs I can think of.

I wonder how Paul got this revelation. How did he get this knowledge of how the Holy Spirit prays for us? Did you meet with him more often than just on the road to Damascus? Did he get words of knowledge like prophets?

Father, I have relatives for whom I want to pray this morning. Some are struggling with life in general. Some are healing from medical conditions. Some are hurt and angry. Some are wounded and need healing. Some are just trying to serve you and need encouragement. Holy Spirit, you know each life I’m thinking about right now. Help me pray to the Father for them. My community, state, country, and world need you. Each of the 7 billion people on this planet right now needs you. I don’t know how your plan works or how this all works out, but I know you are working a plan. But I see suffering locally and overseas. Please be merciful and move the men and women with power to address the suffering. The horrendous things going on. I have some problems to solve at work. Please lead me to solutions. Lead me to your solutions. Holy Spirit, you know more about what we need and who we need than I do. Please pray for me. My family and community need you. Show me my role in being your presence to them. Holy Spirit, walk with me in every moment today.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 22, 2025 in Romans

 

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Acts 2:14-41

21 Aug

14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days,’ God says,
    ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
    Your young men will see visions,
    and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
    even on my servants—men and women alike—
    and they will prophesy.
19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below—
    blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will become dark,
    and the moon will turn blood red
    before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
    will be saved.’[c]

22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene[d] by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25 King David said this about him:

‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
26 No wonder my heart is glad,
    and my tongue shouts his praises!
    My body rests in hope.
27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead[e]
    or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
28 You have shown me the way of life,
    and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’[f]

29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. 31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
    “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
35 until I humble your enemies,
    making them a footstool under your feet.”’[g]

36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away[h]—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

  1. 2:17-21 Joel 2:28-32.
  2. 2:22 Or Jesus of Nazareth.
  3. 2:27 Greek in Hades; also in 2:31.
  4. 2:25-28 Ps 16:8-11 (Greek version).
  5. 2:34-35 Ps 110:1.
  6. 2:39 Or and to people far in the future, or and to the Gentiles.

Acts 2:14-41

Dear God, I have so many thoughts, but I want to start with quoting Psalm 16:8-11 because that’s why I’m here. I was praying about that psalm yesterday when I realized Peter quoted it as part of this powerful sermon in Jerusalem shortly after Jesus’s ascension. David is worshipping you, his powerful God. And that includes Jesus even if David maybe didn’t completely understand that in the moment. But Peter recalls it. I wonder if, for Peter, it was like when I pray to you and sometimes start quoting a hymn or song I know in the middle of the prayer. Was this a psalm/song he knew from church and the lyrics were buried in him and just came out? It’s kind of fun to think about.

Other thoughts.

  • Peter referred to his time as the last days by linking their present moment to Joel’s prophecy. Why is it that we always think our times are the “last days?” We have such recency bias.
  • Along those lines, Peter refers to the people in their time as a “crooked generation.” Were they really any more crooked that the generations before? Than we are now?
  • The message was simple. This dude was God’s Messiah and you killed him. God visited you and you rejected him. Now believe and follow what he taught. They started with a reverence for you and a knowledge that they needed to submit to you. They just had to be brought the extra step. Our situation is a little different now. I need to help people to see your love for them and the freedom you offer through the extension of mercy to them and them not only receiving that mercy but offering it to others.

Father, I have a relative right now who is struggling. I love that person. Help me to know my role in loving them and reaching out to them. Help me to know how to pray for them. Help me to know how to introduce them to you in a new way. Help me to know how to worship you as well. You are my God. I love you.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 21, 2025 in Acts

 

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Psalm 16

20 Aug

Psalm 16

A psalm of David.

1 Keep me safe, O God,
    for I have come to you for refuge.

2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
    Every good thing I have comes from you.”
3 The godly people in the land
    are my true heroes!
    I take pleasure in them!
4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
    I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
    or even speak the names of their gods.

5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
    You guard all that is mine.
6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
    What a wonderful inheritance!

7 I will bless the Lord who guides me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
    My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
    or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Dear God, I might need to come back to this tomorrow and approach it from a different angle because I just realized Peter references the last part of this psalm in his sermon in Acts 2 after the Holy Spirit falls on the disciples. I will spend some time with David today as he wrote it, but tomorrow I want to see what Peter was leaning into in his message.

With that said, I want to see what David has to say this morning. First, this is so worshipful. I can almost feel the state of David’s heart as he wrote this psalm. Focused on you. Worshipping you. Appreciating those who worship and love you. And I feel those things.

Next, thinking of verse 3, I have some people I know in our community whose faith I admire. I delight in them every time I see them or think of them. I had lunch with a man yesterday I admire. He loves you. He loves his wife and children. He serves his community. His life isn’t perfect. It’s stressful. It’s hard. He has challenges every day. But he faces them with earnestness, honor, and humility. He inspires me. Knowing him makes me better.

The rest of this psalm is just worshipping you, and I’m hear for it. It’s such a great joy to be able to sit here this morning and still my heart before you. And maybe typing this prayer to you isn’t quite making my heart still, but it keeps me focused on this moment with you. It keeps my mind from wandering off. It keeps me present in the present.

Father, I am about to participate in a discussion for a community forum about healthcare. I need your words for it. There might be one or two people in the room who can actually put their thumb on the scale from a national perspective. If there are words you can give me this morning that will move the needle in the direction you want it to move, please give them to me. I want to only bring glory to you this morning. I want to make this moment count for you and your love for others. I want to be used by you no matter what it costs me. You are God. I am just 1/7 billionth of the earth’s population. Use this little life however you will.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 20, 2025 in Psalms

 

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1 John 5:1-12

19 Aug

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

6 And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. 7 So we have these three witnesses[c]— 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. 9 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.

11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

1 John 5:1-12

Dear God, my wife and I were talking yesterday morning about how to reconcile the impetuous, sometimes selfish and vindictive John described in the gospels with the author of these later letters/books. I told her it was pretty easy in my mind: Age. The John in the gospels was young and he still didn’t really understand what Jesus was teaching them. I think he only began to understand it after the resurrection and ascension. He grew. He suffered. He lost (his brother was the first martyr). He lamented. He celebrated. He experienced life and had you, Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, to walk him through it all. It shaped him and he because an elder from whom we could learn.

So at this point he has lived a life and seen the difference in people when they come to really know Jesus. He has seen selfishness and self-pity lead to misery. He has also seen grace, mercy, worship, and service lead to life. He has seen the difference Jesus’s and the Holy Spirit’s presence makes in lives. In his own life. The verse of the day from Bible Gateway is actually verse 12. It sums up the argument made in the first 11 verses.

Father, the roots of my life need your living water. Help me to soak in your river this morning. I love you. I worship you. I thank you. You are my God, and I am very grateful for your love, your mercy, and the idea that you will use me however you will to accomplish what you want to accomplish. Help me to be the man you have for me to be.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 19, 2025 in 1 John

 

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Philippians 1:12-26

18 Aug

12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.

20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.

Philippians 1:12-26

Dear God, this passage makes me think about what impresses me most about Paul and I would love to be able to emulate, but I haven’t quite gotten there yet. At least verbally, he is able to say that his personal circumstances are irrelevant as long as whatever is happening to him is furthering your gospel. He’s in prison, but people are inspired and growing closer to you and sharing your gospel? Fine. He’s been beaten but people see how to live in service to you? Fine. He’d just as soon die and be with you in the new earth, but as long as you have a job for him to do he’ll do it.

I truly question how much I’d be willing to suffer for you. There is a book called Everything Sad is Untrue, and it is about an Iranian woman of Christian faith and her family. A good portion of the book is her life being in danger while she is in Iran simply because of her faith. As much as I love you, am I really willing to say (and mean it) that I am ready to sacrifice everything up to and including my life? I think it’s the physical pain and torture that would scare me the most. Firing squad where I die quickly? Okay. But flogging and torture? I hope not.

Not that following you hasn’t cost me nothing. My life has followed some of the patters of yesterday’s gospel reading on being separated from others due to faith in you. I’ve lost some relationships and I know that at least part of the charge against me is how seriously I try to live out my faith. I’ve wept over it. I’ve felt sorry for myself over it (which reveals to me how selfish I can really be). But you have also formed me through it. You’ve made me more loving towards those from whom I’m divided as well as other sojourners who are going through the same pain.

Father, if I can still be of use to you in this earth then use me. Use me however you will. Start with my wife. Bless her through me. Help me to know how to love my adult children, relatives, and friends. Help me to know how to serve them and serve my community. Help me to know how to share you with others. Help me to see into their hearts and what they need. Make my life a prayer to you.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 18, 2025 in Philippians

 

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Luke 12

17 Aug

12 Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!

4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.

6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. 9 But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. 10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Teaching about Money and Possessions

22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

27 “Look at the lilies 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. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming

35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”

42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.

47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Jesus Causes Division

49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! 50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. 51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! 52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.

53 ‘Father will be divided against son
    and son against father;
mother against daughter
    and daughter against mother;
and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law
    and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’”

54 Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. 55 When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. 56 You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.

57 “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? 58 When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. 59 And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.”

Luke 12

Dear God, it’s so important to put these stories in context. Sometimes the Bible is written so efficiently that we can miss how much is actually happening. In this case, the gospel reading for today isn’t until verses 49-53, but this whole scene starts back at verse 1. And I’ll give the translators credit here that they got the chapter break pretty accurately at this point. There is actually a change of scene here and this chapter can be a little independent of the previous one, although you do still need to know that we are coming on a conflict with the Pharisees in chapter 11 as we start chapter 12.

But there is so much here, I thought I would try to break it down by bullet points:

  • Talking directly to disciples: The first part of the chapter sets the stage where large crowds are gathering and Jesus sees them. He decides to take a moment to talk to his disciples and teach them
    • About the “yeast of the Pharisees–their hypocrisy.” There will be no tolerating of having a dual persona. Your public persona must be consistent with your private persona. Doing things only for show will be revealed.
    • That they might be killed, but don’t worry because they can’t do anything more to you after that (hardly an encouragement in that moment, but something that makes more sense outside of it). God is the one who must be respected and feared.
    • God cares for you as an individual more than you think he does.
    • That if they love Jesus and his teaching then he will have their backs.
    • There is the need to respect the Holy Spirit that they (and I) probably don’t appreciate enough.
    • They will be brought to trial and questioned, but the Holy Spirit will give them the words to say.
  • Talking to an individual in the crowd and then to those around: Someone seemingly interrupts and asks Jesus to play “Judge” like he is in the role of someone like Samuel, David, or Solomon (I’m thinking of how sometimes kings were judges like when Solomon ordered the baby be split in half to settle a dispute among two mothers).
    • Jesus doesn’t settle the dispute. He tries to teach the man an overarching lesson about earthly greed. It reminds me a little of the “You have heard it said _____, but I say _____” statements in the Sermon on the Mount.
  • Jesus turns back to the disciples (keeping in mind that all the people are still milling around) to extend the lesson to them: “Life is for more than food and your body more than clothing.” Don’t worry. It’s also reminiscent of the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus teaches on money (Matthew 6:19-34). I’ve heard the Sermon on the Mount kind of described as Jesus’s stump speech from town to town, and it feels like we are getting pieces of it here. At the end of the day, the teach is basically that, yes, your body might die, but if you are Jesus’s then you will ultimately live and be saved from the second death (going back to verse 5).
  • Be ready for the righteous thief: Where did I hear that recently? I’m sure I could look it up. But I liked the phrase of calling Jesus the “righteous thief.” Still talking to the disciples, this is what he was teaching them.
    • He’s obviously still mainly addressing the disciples because Peter interrupts and asks if this is just for the disciples or for everyone (verse 41). Jesus indicates that there are different expectations of different levels of leadership (verses 47 and 48).
  • Divisions!: This passage is so hard and the one that started me in Luke 12 this morning. It is the Gospel reading for a lot of denominations today. And what Jesus says (to the disciples) reminds me of the words Lin Manuel Miranda gave to George Washington in Hamilton: “Can I get real a second for just a millisecond? Lay down my guard and tell the people how I feel a second?”
    • Jesus tells of his suffering to come.
    • Jesus indicates it will be controversial and it will divide everyone, down to all levels of family.
  • Jesus turns to the crowd and gives a seemingly confusing statement: I can sit here now and interpret verses 57-59. Yield to Jesus now. I am accused and I am guilty. Settle with Jesus now while I can.

Father, I want to be ready. I want to have done what you’ve wanted me to do. Help me to know how to love you, worship you, and share that love with others. I was reading through a Christian Book Distributors catalog today and I saw all of these Bibles (half of a 64-page catalog was different times of Bibles) and study aids. I told my wife that people in the church really have no excuse to not be excellent worshippers of you. What we refuse to give is the time and discipline it takes to do it. We are fat and happy. We are comfortable. We are not desperate. So I lift up a couple of relatives right now with health issues. I beg for your healing for them so that their lives might be a living worship of you. And so that I can include their stories in the ones I tell about your mercy and power. You are amazing, God. Find me faithful. Find me worthy of your trust.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 17, 2025 in Luke

 

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2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

16 Aug

14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

“I will live in them
    and walk among them.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.
17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
    and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
    and I will welcome you.
18 And I will be your Father,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
    says the Lord Almighty.”

7 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

Dear God, it can be so hard to journal in chunks of scripture like this and get the full context. Much more so when we just look at one verse. For example, the verse of the day from Bible Gateway was just 2 Corinthians 7:1. But since it started with the word “because” I wanted to go back and see what the “because” referred to. And even going back to 6:14 isn’t really far enough because just before that Paul is complaining that they are withholding their love for him. The intimation is that they are more gladly partnering with the unholy than with those who are holy.

That’s when Paul goes into our bodies being temples and then brings it full circle in 7:1 when he says that we need to be about cleansing ourselves and not linking up with the unholy.

Defining the unholy in my current world can be tricky. For example, unholiness exists on any number of planes.

  • There is weird spiritualism unholiness for people who are looking for you in weird ways. I need to be loving but careful in my relationships with them.
  • There are people who are hostile towards you and ready to condemn anyone who believes in you. Again, I need to be your love to those people but also cautious in how much of myself I expose to them.
  • There are those who just blatantly disregard any limits your laws put on us and are totally seeking self and self-pleasure at any given moment. I would argue that they are looking for peace from you and self-medicating because they don’t have it, but they are still people for me to love but certainly not join in their revelry.

Those first three are pretty easy for me to identify. They are easy examples to identify the people and figure out who I will allow into my influential orbit and who I won’t. And I feel good about the people I have in my life. If I am the average of the five people I spend the most time with, I am comfortable with that list.

But there are other areas in my life where figuring out the gate for unholiness getting in is trickier.

  • The reaction videos I watch on YouTube. Young people watching old movies and enjoyed when I was younger or listening to music I grew up with. So yesterday I watched a young woman listen to Bob Seger’s “Night Moves” for the first time. I think this is a great song, but it’s not a holy song. It’s only about the singer hooking up with his girlfriend every chance he got in high school. Am I allowing past unholy memories back into my heart when I hear that song or reward her listening to it with my “click?”
  • The show Ted Lasso could probably be my best example. I think this show is absolutely excellent, but I have a love/frustration relationship with it. Notice I said “frustration” and not “hate” because I simply have a hard time having any negative feelings about this show. My love for it is around the fact that the main character, Ted Lasso, almost always exhibits the purest form of the fruits of the Spirit I’ve ever seen anyone portray in film, literature, or even in life. He’s amazing in that way. He has love, joy, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. And his way of life is infectious and slowly spreads to the other characters in the show over the three seasons of the original run. And the world loves it. I watch reaction videos to it and everyone is enthralled with Ted. “I need this!” they say. By the way. Notice I left one fruit of the Spirit out of my list: peace. Ted doesn’t have peace. It’s his Achilles heel that drives his character development. And that leads me to my frustration with the show. They never show the piece he’s missing is you. It’s an incredibly worldly show. There is no reverence for you. So am I doing a bad thing by watching it multiple times and enjoying the relationships and the characters? Is this the kind of thing Paul was talking about? If Paul were visiting me would he want to watch Ted Lasso with me?

Father, in some ways I am careful about what I expose myself to and in some ways I’m not. I’ll be frank. I’m not sure I am capable of only exposing myself to Christian podcasts, writings, and other sorts of media. It’s too much and it takes me out of a world that I do love. Not as much as you, but I love it. So be with me today, Holy Spirit. Speak with me, guide me, teach me, convict me, and forgive me for my foolishness. I’m sure this prayer is full of foolishness and you are just shaking your head at me even in this moment. Well, I get it. I offer all of me to you, warts, foolishness, and all.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 16, 2025 in 2 Corinthians

 

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Romans 14:6-9

15 Aug

6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

Romans 14:6-9

Dear God, do I honor you enough? For example, I’m not the best about thanking you for my food. I have it in my head to do it when I’m eating with other people. That’s kind of an ingrained habit. Even that, though, isn’t necessarily me being truly grateful for the food. I’ve always had plenty. So much so that I’ve battled my weight since I was 10 years old. No, I’m not really grateful for my food. In fact, there are times when I pray before a meal that I forget to mention the food.

It’s easy to say that I live for you and die for you, but am I honoring you enough in the living? Do I let selfishness dictate how much at risk I’m willing to put what I have? My possessions and my comfort? Oh, how I want to honor you. I want everything I do to honor you. How I worship and pray. How I interact with others. How I do my work. Right down to the little things. How I drive. How I order at a restaurant. How I react when I see a homeless person in need (I’m not good at that one at all–what’s appropriate and what’s not?).

Here’s a good example. I was really proud of something we were able to do with a patient at our clinic this week, and when I told people about it I don’t think I credited you enough for orchestrating what happened or the outcome.

Father, this is a good reminder to do everything I do in honor of you. I’m about to talk with a friend on the phone. Help me to honor you in it. I’m going to meet some men and move some heavy, awkward furniture for work. Help me to honor you in how I do that. I’m going to write thank you letters. Help me to honor you in those letters. I’m going to meet a friend for lunch and do them a favor. Help me to honor you in that time. I’ll spend the evening with my wife. Help me to thank you for her and honor you for how you bless me through her. I want to have you in my every breath today and be grateful for each breath. Help me to be mindful of that.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 15, 2025 in Romans

 

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