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1 Corinthians 10:12-13

18 Jan

12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Dear God, I was talking with my wife last night about this generation and how the perspectives of a 20-year-old now seem so different that how a 20-year-old would have seen the world 20 years ago. But then, hasn’t that been true with every generation? Rounding off to even numbers, I am sure a 20-year-old in 2020 sees the world very differently and has a much different philosophy of life than did a 20-year-old in 2000. The same would be true for the 20-year-old in 1980, 1960, 1940, 1920, and 1900. The 20-year old in 1960 saw the world much differently than did the 20-year-old in 1940.

So, while I might want to scoff at Paul’s comment that the temptations we experience are no different than the temptations others have experienced, the truth is, they all have the same root. The temptation delivery system might be different. Porn, alcohol, and illicit drugs might be more accessible now, but there is also much less privacy and it’s harder to hide our bad actions. It still comes down to the fact that we allow selfishness, self-gratification, and a need to escape reality to take us away from you and from the life you intended us to have.

Back in September, I made a list of the things that I need to do, as a minimum, to maintain my relationship with you. Here is what I came up with:

  • The prayer journals. Spending 15-30 minutes a day in a concentrated time of prayer like this has become a “have to” for me. And it didn’t used to be that way. A year ago I would have said that I need to do it 4-5 times a week. But since Lent I haven’t missed a day because I know I need this time meditating on you, listening to your Holy Spirit, and learning from the bazaar thing you left us called Scripture.
  • Giving. Ten percent of our gross is a minimum. Not that we are giving away even 20%, but we try to be generous when we see needs arise. Giving 10% is a floor.
  • Intentional time in conversation with my wife at least once a day is a floor. If we are available around each other at a meal, we each make it a priority to sit with each other, even if one of us isn’t eating at the time.
  • At least one sermon/Bible teaching a week. I need to hear someone else I trust teaching me the Bible in a way I wouldn’t see on my own (this homily is a perfect example of that).
  • Communication and contact with at least one of the two male friends I have. It doesn’t even have to be a conversation, but I need to touch their lives in some way–even if it is to text about sports.
  • Avoiding sexual temptation/lust. This has to be a floor. When you look at the lists of sins Jesus and Paul talk about, it’s always on there. I must do this.
  • Exercising at least four times a week. I am mentally better when I am taking care of myself physically. I should probably make better eating habits a floor, but I haven’t chosen to do that yet. Perhaps it will be one day.
  • Doing the things I know bless my wife like fixing things around the house, managing our money and then sharing with her what our status is, doing my laundry, making the bed, etc. Even listening to things I like but I know she doesn’t care for on my headphones instead of subjecting her to it. There’s a whole set of “floor” issues for my relationship with her that are important for her to feel loved.

Then I came up with kind of a bonus list of things that are good if I add to it:

  • Church. A lot of Christians would probably disagree with me on this one. While I feel like it is important to have a church you belong to and to be involved in that church, I don’t feel like the foundation in my life is cracking if I miss a week.
  • My extra writing projects. I get joy from writing and thinking about how to bless others, but it’s a “get” to and not a “have” to.
  • Teaching. Similarly, I enjoy taking what I get from you during my prayer journal time and sharing it with others through preaching or teaching, but those occasions happen infrequently, and, while they help me and teach me, they aren’t the floor.
  • Engaging healthily through prayer and action in my community. This is close to a “have” to because it is part of me loving others as I love myself, but it’s not something that is foundational. Well, maybe it is. It actually might belong in the “have” to list.
  • Listening to Christian music. I mix it in during the week, but I also listen to secular as well.
  • Listening to Christian podcasts. Similar to music, I mix it in, but it’s a “get” to.

Father, lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. The temptations are different now, but their delivery system is. I can do so much in the privacy of my home that people might never know about. Save me from that. Help me to maintain the boundaries of my “floor” and then build on that floor with walls a roof made up of the other things I added to the list later. And do all of this so that I might fully experience you in my life–at least as fully as humanly possible on this side of the death divide. I want to experience the fruit of your Holy Spirit now as much as possible because you are the only true source of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Help me to live into that.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 18, 2025 in 1 Corinthians

 

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Prayers of Supplication

15 Jan 
Is war the only 
language you think 
Yahweh speaks?

Anna Friedrich

Dear God, I read this poem this morning by Anna Friedrich that was inspired by a story in 2 Kings 13 with Elisha. The poem is much longer than this, but these are the first words of it, and they really struck me. We can be very specific about the prayers we bring to you. I could take the word “war” and replace it with any number of words that would describe the kinds of prayers we bring to you.

  • Is war the only language you think Yahweh speaks?
  • Is medicine the only language you think Yahweh speaks?
  • Is poverty the only language you think Yahweh speaks?
  • Is parenting the only language you think Yahweh speaks?
  • Is marriage the only language you think Yahweh speaks?

I think all of us are guilty of not bringing all of our lives to you. The successes. The failures. The concerns. The hopes and dreams. A lot of these things I think I can handle myself. I was listening to two different podcasts this week wonder out loud about our response to the Los Angeles wild fires. What is our response as Christians. If we pray, what do we pray? What should we pray? What actions should accompany our prayer.

My wife and I spend a lot of time talking together. People ask what we talk about. I couldn’t tell you. We just talk. Is my relationship with you the same, or do I just bring you the big things?

Father, you are interested in all of me. Help me to know how to make all of me available to you. You are my God and my king. You are my savior and redeemer. You are my teacher and counselor. You are my confidant and my confessor. You are my friend. It’s weird, but you love me. And I love you. Help me to know how to love you better.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 15, 2025 in 2 Kings

 

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2 Corinthians 5:16-21

13 Jan

16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Dear God, we have done such a bad job of preaching the Gospel. I have done such a bad job of preaching the Gospel. Over the last 150-200 years in America, we focused on “fire insurance.” “If you died tonight, do you know where you would go?” It’s still so “me” focused. It’s not about being in a loving relationship with you. Communing with you like we did in the garden. It’s about making a deal with you: Okay, God. If I jump through the hoops you prescribed then I get my get out of jail free card, right?

Paul never seemed to go there. Paul was all about this relationship with you. Communing with you as when Eve and Adam were in the garden. Before the fall. In these moments when I’m in prayer. Even right now. I have the same access to you they did. Yes, the world crowds in. Yes, my heart is corrupt. Yes, my theology isn’t 100% accurate. Yes, I don’t have complete understanding. BUT I am here with you in this moment. Communing with you. Praying to you. Loving you. My wife and I were talking about the Catholic Rosary last night. She is listening to a Rosary in a Year podcast that with Fr. Mark Mary Ames, and he was talking about entering this space that Eve and Adam occupied. Pre-fall. You created us good. The good is still in there. And this pre-fall space Eve and Adam occupied is available to me right now.

I have found a pearl of great price, but I don’t have to be selfish about it. I don’t have to hide it from anyone. It is available to all of us. My job is supposed to be to let others know about the pearl I found and offer it to them. And the pearl isn’t heaven. The pearl is relationship. The pearl is entering that pre-fall space on earth and then continuing it in heaven. The pearl is pursuing you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, loving my neighbor as myself, and then experiencing amazing fruit that comes from communing with you. Frankly, the portrait we’ve been given of heaven, with streets of gold and mansions, is so small and insignificant compared to that.

Father, help me to share my pearl with others. Help me to know how to pursue you throughout the day. Help me to be completely with you in moments like this. Thank you for what Jesus did to recreate this sacred space between you and me through his life, death, and resurrection. I give you all my worship and all my praise.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 13, 2025 in 2 Corinthians

 

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Luke 3:15-22

12 Jan

Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.

John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he had done. So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others.

One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
Luke 3:15-22

Dear God, there is so much here. I think I want to just do a bullet-point list of what I see:

  • “They were eagerly expecting the Messiah to come soon.” Aren’t we all? Isn’t it interesting that we are always looking towards what hasn’t happened yet instead of living our lives in the moment today? What we don’t realize is that we are waiting for the wrong things. In their case, they were waiting for a conquering, killing machine who would eliminate their enemy and restore their power. In our case, we are looking to leave the pains and frustrations of our current situation so we can have it easier. I would posit that we don’t want to be with you. We just want to get out of here and to a place that is easier for us. It isn’t about longing for you. It is about our comfort. I’m sorry for that.
  • The chaff and wheat analogy by John reminds me of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13. Don’t tear up the weeds now. It’s too late (or too early). They’ve been sown. It’s too late to stop them. It’s too early because we will destroy some good wheat accidentally. Since it is different Gospel writers who make this reference and in different ways, it makes me wonder if this was a common analogy/parable that was used in the later church when talking about evangelizing in the world. They were both written decades after Jesus. Was this just a metaphor everyone knew?
  • There’s a bit of editorializing here from Luke when it comes to Herod: “…adding this to his many other sins.” There was a lot of blame towards Herod. He participated in killing Jesus, after all. But he was a corrupt king. Marrying his brother’s wife. Ultimately killing John. Killing Jesus. And the “many other wrong things he had done.” This is just occurring to me, but I think it might be one of the few times we get some “voice” from a Gospel author.
  • I can’t even begin to describe how you must have felt through this. You broke your personal silence after 400+ years and audibly spoke to the crowd. Not to a prophet. Not to Jesus individually. Not through angels. You showed up to the crowd. I don’t have time to look it up now, but it seems like one of the other Gospels records this as the crowd only hearing what sounded like thunder. But I kind of like this image of the crowd hearing you speak. But you had to. You loved him. And maybe he needed your encouragement in that moment.

Father, as I sit here this morning, I just simply love you. I’m not waiting for tomorrow. I love you now. I have some challenges in front of me. Be with me and make my path straight. For your glory, oh, Lord.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 12, 2025 in Luke

 

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Psalm 118:1-9

11 Jan

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

2 Let all Israel repeat:
    “His faithful love endures forever.”
3 Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat:
    “His faithful love endures forever.”
4 Let all who fear the Lord repeat:
    “His faithful love endures forever.”

5 In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
    and the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?
7 Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
    I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in people.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.

Psalm 118:1-9

Dear God, pain and trials cause us to call on you in ways that are wholly unique. Yesterday morning, I was calling on you and your power in unique ways. I was calling on the Holy Spirit. I was calling on angels. There are no foxhole atheists, and, at that moment, there was no theology beyond what I was willing to consider or avail myself of. DISORIENTATION. The stress was about helping a relative through a difficult time, but I was at the end of my physical, mental, and emotional abilities. I was completely disoriented. So was everyone else in the room. But I called on you and you chose to answer our prayers. I know you might not always. I know there are times when it is not within your design to do my bidding. I’m not sitting here this morning thinking about what I expect of you. I’m thinking about my faith and how different situations reveal the depths it can go to, and how shallowly I might normally operate.

So, sitting here now, I am “reoriented.” In Brueggemann’s psalm categorization system of “orientation,” “disorientation,” and “reorientation,” I was disoriented yesterday morning, but I am reoriented right now. So why don’t I call on you and really plunge into the depths of my faith here? Is it too fatiguing to let myself go that deep and that desperate continuously? Are you working all of this for my good? Are you taking the difficult situations and not wasting them by “reorienting” everyone involved?

Father, show me what to do today. I’m still with that relative and they still need my help, although it’s not as dire as it was. Help me to be what they need. Give me the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual strength to walk the path you have for me today. Use this situation to heal all of us who are involved. Use it to teach us. To draw each of us closer to you. To refine us. If there must be fire, Father, at least use its flame to refine me. Don’t let it be wasted.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 11, 2025 in Psalms

 

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Luke 6:20-23

09 Jan

20 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,

“God blesses you who are poor,
    for the Kingdom of God is yours.
21 God blesses you who are hungry now,
    for you will be satisfied.
God blesses you who weep now,
    for in due time you will laugh.

22 What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. 23 When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.

Luke 6:20-23

Dear God, I was recently talking with a pastor friend who is leading a Bible study through Luke, and we talked about this other “sermon” in Luke that is similar to Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount in Matthew. This one is shorter, but I suspect, when put side by side, will hit a lot of the same beats. So I thought I would at least start with the beginning of Luke’s version today and see where you take me with it.

In this case, I obviously notice there are fewer beatitudes here, and they are a little more succinct. But the part about being hated and persecuted for following Jesus is there. What a weird thing to emphasize to the crowds. Was it Jesus’s way of making people count the cost in following him? And how were they interpreting it? Did they think people would hate them because they were on the road to revolution? Did they have any idea Jesus would be hated because he was too merciful and loving?

We all live in such a fog day to day. We have no idea what is going on at any given time. It’s amazing that we struggle so hard to figure it out, when, in actuality, I cannot tell you what will happen in this room in the next second. Even as I typed that sentence, the grandfather clock tried to chime to let me know it’s 7:45. I didn’t know that would happen.

Father, I don’t know what suffering for you looks like in this day and age. Especially in my community where faith in you is rewarded. But I know that you lay convictions on my heart, and ask me to stand up or represent you in ways that even some who are faithful might not like. The hard part is that I know sometimes I might be wrong and they might be right. Or it might be okay for us to disagree. The biggest thing, I suppose, is that I need to carry your love into every situation regardless. That is what Jesus did. He challenged. But he also loved. Help me to have the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. All for your kingdom, your power, and your glory, forever!

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 9, 2025 in Luke

 

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Amos 5:1-6a

08 Jan

5 Listen, you people of Israel! Listen to this funeral song I am singing:

2 “The virgin Israel has fallen,
    never to rise again!
She lies abandoned on the ground,
    with no one to help her up.”

3 The Sovereign Lord says:

“When a city sends a thousand men to battle,
    only a hundred will return.
When a town sends a hundred,
    only ten will come back alive.”

4 Now this is what the Lord says to the family of Israel:

“Come back to me and live!
5 Don’t worship at the pagan altars at Bethel;
    don’t go to the shrines at Gilgal or Beersheba.
For the people of Gilgal will be dragged off into exile,
    and the people of Bethel will be reduced to nothing.”
6 Come back to the Lord and live!

Amos 5:1-6a

Dear God, I was emailing with some friends who are pastors yesterday about a new statistic from Barna that, in 2000, 45% of Americans professed to be “practicing Christians, ” and that number has now dropped to 20%. They defined “practicing Christian” as they self identified as Christians who value their faith and attend church at least monthly. While some will object that “you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian,” it’s still a striking shift for this many people to now be out of Christian community. It makes me wonder what has replaced that community. News? Social media? YouTube? Straight up loneliness?

The pastors and I exchanged emails about the solutions to Americans’ drift away from you. What idols have we pursued and cherished? How do we get them back?

As I’ve thought about this since those emails, more questions have come to my mind: For the remnant that is left, are even we being faithful? What percentage of that 20% is actually pleasing to you in our worship and service? In our discipleship and growth? And which side of that cut line do I fall?

Before I went to bed last night, I was reminded of a question that has burned in my mind since last summer when Pope Francis found himself in some controversy when Christians did not like how he answered a question on 60 Minutes: “When you look at the world today, what gives you hope?” His answer was actually very fitting with Catholic theology and, when that theology is understood by the hearer, wasn’t wrong. But those without context were critical. But it left me to answer the question for myself: “When I look at the world today, what gives me hope?”

My best answer: You put something in all of our hearts that makes us long for you. We know we need something bigger than ourselves. We know we need something to worship. We know we need something to put our certainty in. The problem is we will be rebellious and Satan will offer us all kinds of idols that promise but fail to deliver that certainty. And he knows that we will suffer in that disappointment and it delights him. And when we are disappointed in an idol, we get angry. He loves it when we are angry because a lot of the time we will take that anger and lash out which causes division. Our hearts can be so dark! My heart can be so dark!

I’ve referenced this before, but the movie Jesus Revolution had this great scene between the old-school pastor and the hippie evangelist. The hippie tells the pastor that the other hippies are looking for the right answers (God), but they do not know they are looking for God. So they look in drugs, sex, or even just longing for a society that will reflect their values of love and peace. But they are always disappointed by these gods. Then when some of them find the real God–YOU–they are amazed.

Father, help me to know how to take the people in my immediate sphere who are looking for you but they do not know they are looking for you. Help me to know how to introduce them to you. Help your church to know how to introduce them to you as well. And when I say “church,” I don’t mean just the pastors and staff, but your people. Help that 20% of Americans who are self-professed “practicing Christians” to legitimately be discipling under your Lordship (that includes me), and help us to know how to offer you to our neighbors. Revival will not come from the top down. We cannot mandate revival. But your Spirit can stir and move. And it can grow like wildfire. Help us, Father, to grow in you so that your glory might be realized in all the earth and so that your kingdom will come and your will might be done on earth as it is in heaven. In short, to paraphrase Amos, help us to come back to you and live!

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 8, 2025 in Amos

 

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Ephesians 5:1-14

07 Jan

5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

Dear God, I was reading an editorial yesterday a friend sent me about Jimmy Carter. It is from Good Faith Media and is called “Good Christians Make Bad Politicians: The Legacy Of Jimmy Carter” by Josh Carney. It’s what I thought of this morning when I read these words from Paul. There was one line in the piece that stands out to me: “While Jesus is an admirable sage that we love to quote as an antidote for our personal problems, his politics are too impractical for real American problems. It might be impossible for an American president to enact the politics of Jesus. The very idea of the nation-state carries implications that are at odds with the kingdom of God.” It’s sad but true.

I think a comparison would be the difference between me being a civilian and being in the army. As a member of society, I am willing (or I should be willing) to sacrifice myself for others. As a member of the army, I would be willing (or I should be willing) to take another person’s life for the sake of my country. Just that last sentence that I bolded about the idea of a nation-state being at odds with your kingdom. It reminds me of what someone said about your actions in the Old Testament. None of it was how you designed it, but you are just constantly triaging the situation and working with what you have with the Israelites. Are we any different.

But I’m not in the army. I’m not a politician. I’m just one of however many billions of people are on this earth. I’m just one of however many hundreds of millions of people who live in this country. I’m just a husband, father, son, brother, boss, employee, community member, and friend who has work to do today. How will I choose to do it? Will I seek myself and my own gratification, or will I work to help and love others? Will I be what Paul calls people to be in verses 1 and 2 of Ephesians 5, or will be be what Paul describes in verses 3-5?

Father, to quote the end of the Nicene Creed, I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Until then, I pledge myself to you as best I can.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 7, 2025 in Ephesians

 

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1 Peter 1:10-12

06 Jan

10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

1 Peter 1:10-12

Dear God, if I’ve ever noticed these verses before I do not remember them. They are totally new to me now, but I love them. I love Peter’s description of the Old Testament Prophets’ confusion and lack of knowledge over the very prophecies Jesus was giving them. How or why would this Christ suffer? That didn’t make sense to them.

Then to say that they were told that the prophecies weren’t for them for for us. For me. What an interesting thing for them to experience. What a disappointing thing for them. What a sad thing for them.

When I sat down here this morning, I was really feeling sorry for myself. In fact, I sat down and tried to think of a passage that would make me feel better, but nothing came to mind. So I went to my standard way of doing by going to Bible Gateway and looking to see their verse of the day. Interestingly, the verse was verse 13, the one right after these three verses. But it starts with the word “so,” and whenever I see that I always go back to look for the context of the “so.” So, I looked back and the preceding verses, and I found this wonderful encouragement through the ignorance and lack of participation in the good things of your plan by the very prophets who were so close to you they spoke your words to the people. Isaiah. Jeremiah. Micah. I could list them all. My point is, although they were prophets, they were not given full understanding. And many of them suffered for your message. So who am I to think I deserve any better.

Father, thank you for these prophets of old. I know they are enjoying their eternity with you right now. I know they love and worship you in this moment. And they are in the midst of your complete joy. I too will one day experience your joy in the afterlife. But in this moment, there are so many things for which I can be and should be grateful. You have given me so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you for answering my heartfelt prayers yesterday. I have more prayers to offer you. You know what they are. I pray them in the silence of my heart right now. I give it all to you.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 6, 2025 in 1 Peter

 

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Micah 6:6-8

04 Jan

6 What can we bring to the Lord?
    Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
    with offerings of yearling calves?
7 Should we offer him thousands of rams
    and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
    to pay for our sins?

8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
    and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
    and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:6-8

Dear God, I was talking with a pastor friend the other day about theology and how errant mine (and everyone’s) probably is. I mean, really, how can we know you? How can we think we can begin to understand you and what makes you tick? How to ensure we have your favor? It’s ridiculous. So while I have my thoughts about you, I tend to hold them loosely with the understanding that I can’t begin to understand how little I understand you. As far as I am concerned, you are un-understandable.

So why do I walk in faith. Because I am a believer in the two great commandments: Love you with everything I have and love my neighbor as myself. I told my pastor friend that when I am on the other side of life and you are considering whether or not my soul is worthy of eternity in your presence, I envision you patting me on the head and saying, “You know what? You had a lot wrong about your so-called “theology,” but you loved me and you loved others. That’s what I needed you to do.”

That’s kind of what Micah is saying here. Do what is right. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God. I can contrive all of these things I should do and sacrifice to be with you, but in the end it’s about simply doing these things.

Father, help me to do that today. Help me to do what is right. I mean, really right. Help me to show incredible mercy because you have show me incredible mercy. And help me to simply walk humbly in your presence. Holy Spirit, walk with me and speak to me. Jesus, advocate for me to the Father and teach me. And Father, well, all I want is your love. Thank you for giving it to me so freely.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 4, 2025 in Micah

 

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