John 1:32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. (NIV)
For years, a pair of collared doves used to nest in a hanging basket outside my grandfather’s home. All day long, you could hear them cooing to one another, as if they were saying “I love you.” They were beautiful birds and my Granda Stuart really enjoyed watching them. He was also very proud that they had chosen to nest at his home and each year he watched them hatch and brood a new generation of collared doves. Eventually, there were collared doves all over the neighborhood and during summer when I visited him, it was beautiful to see and hear them.
My grandfather died a few weeks before our family was due to immigrate to America. His funeral was the last one I led before I left Scotland’s shores. When we eventually settled in East Tennessee, we all felt lonely and isolated from our Scottish friends and relatives. It was hard to adjust and at times we all just wanted to pack our bags and go back home.
The next spring, I hung up some baskets of red flowers to attract hummingbirds. One day, I was feeling sorry for myself and wishing I was back in Scotland. I went out onto the front porch to water the hanging baskets. As I started to pour the water, I heard a familiar sound. To my delight and surprise, I saw a collared dove sitting in the basket huddled over several eggs. She didn’t move and quietly I stepped back. She began cooing again and I felt at home. It was as if God had given me a sign that everything was going to work out just fine. It was as if He was telling me that East Tennessee could now become my home.
And, just like at my Granda’s house, over the years, collared doves settled all over the neighborhood. Each summer, it was beautiful to see and hear them.
When John sees the Spirit of God descending upon Jesus like a dove, it must have made him feel good. He had waited for years for that precious and sacred moment. When it came, it affirmed his ministry and made him feel that his work was complete. His part in God’s story of salvation was over. Now that Christ had come, John could hand over the reins of leadership to the Holy Son of God, who continued to preach a message of repentance and to tell the world, “God loves you.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for coming into our world to reassure us that we are not alone, and that there is an eternal hope that we can cling to, in the midst of all our worries and fears. Descend upon our spirits, like a dove, and grant us Your mercy, love, and peace. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Short daily devotions for busy Christians and Church meetings
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Proof
Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
There’s a report this morning that the director of the movie Titanic will announce the making of a new documentary about what happened to Jesus’ body after the Crucifixion. He claims to have found a group of tombs in Jerusalem, of the family of Mary and Joseph, and that Christ’s remains is in the midst of them. There are also claims that Mary Magdalene is buried there, along with a son.
Some people will be alarmed at all of this because if the true bones of Jesus are found, it will make a mockery of what Christians believe. We believe that Christ rose physically from the tomb, showed his wounds to His disciples, and that He physically ascended into heaven. It’s all a crucial part of having faith in Jesus. What will be interesting to see is whether or not the alleged bones of Christ have horrific wounds and dislocations all over them. Crucifixion was not only about bleeding to death – shoulders, knees, collar bones and knees would all dislocate in the grueling process.
I guess this is just another showbiz attempt to try to unsettle the faithful and raise a new generation of cynics amongst us. Having faith, especially Christian faith, is not easy to carry these days. To some people, we are superstitious nutters, who have no place in the post-modern world. To others, we are constantly the burrs beneath their saddles of complacency, affluence and decadence. Our existence as a community of faith constantly challenges the ways of the world because we believe in a Risen Lord, who is King of all creation and the Savior of our souls.
So, whatever is announced tomorrow, let’s be aware that it’s just another publicity stunt by a film maker who’s running out of good ideas. Let’s also pray for his soul so that in the midst of his quest, rather than finding ancient skeletons, he may come across the One, True & Living Lord – Jesus the Christ.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your life, death, and resurrection are mysteries that we desperately want to solve. Many want to believe You are who You say You are, but they want physical and tangible proof. Remind us that faith does not seek proof, but it is revealed inwardly to us, bringing us hope for the forgiveness of our sins, restoration to God’s favor, and an eternal life beyond the dust and shores of earth. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen
There’s a report this morning that the director of the movie Titanic will announce the making of a new documentary about what happened to Jesus’ body after the Crucifixion. He claims to have found a group of tombs in Jerusalem, of the family of Mary and Joseph, and that Christ’s remains is in the midst of them. There are also claims that Mary Magdalene is buried there, along with a son.
Some people will be alarmed at all of this because if the true bones of Jesus are found, it will make a mockery of what Christians believe. We believe that Christ rose physically from the tomb, showed his wounds to His disciples, and that He physically ascended into heaven. It’s all a crucial part of having faith in Jesus. What will be interesting to see is whether or not the alleged bones of Christ have horrific wounds and dislocations all over them. Crucifixion was not only about bleeding to death – shoulders, knees, collar bones and knees would all dislocate in the grueling process.
I guess this is just another showbiz attempt to try to unsettle the faithful and raise a new generation of cynics amongst us. Having faith, especially Christian faith, is not easy to carry these days. To some people, we are superstitious nutters, who have no place in the post-modern world. To others, we are constantly the burrs beneath their saddles of complacency, affluence and decadence. Our existence as a community of faith constantly challenges the ways of the world because we believe in a Risen Lord, who is King of all creation and the Savior of our souls.
So, whatever is announced tomorrow, let’s be aware that it’s just another publicity stunt by a film maker who’s running out of good ideas. Let’s also pray for his soul so that in the midst of his quest, rather than finding ancient skeletons, he may come across the One, True & Living Lord – Jesus the Christ.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your life, death, and resurrection are mysteries that we desperately want to solve. Many want to believe You are who You say You are, but they want physical and tangible proof. Remind us that faith does not seek proof, but it is revealed inwardly to us, bringing us hope for the forgiveness of our sins, restoration to God’s favor, and an eternal life beyond the dust and shores of earth. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Pilgrim's Release
An abstract of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress - the part when Christian finds freedom at Calvary, as his giant burden is released from his back, at the foot of the Cross.
Pilgrim's Progress is my favorite book
Pilgrim's Progress is my favorite book
Friday, February 23, 2007
Wilberforce
Hebrews 3:10 That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.'
There’s a new movie coming out today called “Amazing Grace.” It tells the story of William Wilberforce, an Englishman, who fought with the authorities for all of his adult life, trying to halt the slave trade in Britain. He was a remarkable man and, if the movie keeps to the truth, his story is one that will both inspire and challenge those who go to see it.
Wilberforce faced many years of derision from his own peers and he was treated as a religious fanatic who was meddling with the political system. He experienced a lot of hostility and humiliation, but he endured it because he knew that slavery was wrong and that his generation would be held accountable to God for this monstrous act of degradation against African people.
Just before he died, after decades of campaigning, Wilberforce won his battle. The slave trade was ended in Britain and throughout the British Empire, which at that time covered most of the globe. His success spurred on the hopes of another group of people across the Atlantic called Abolitionists, who would fight their own battles which ultimately led to Civil War in the United States.
Every generation has their own battles to fight against those things that lead us away from God. In Wilberforce’s time, it was the slave trade. A generation later, it was about the exploitation of children. A hundred years later, it was the Civil Rights movement.
In our generation, the biggest battle for the community of faith is how to remain effective and relevant, challenging and prophetic without being sucked in by our post-modern culture. We spend more time watching our favorite shows than worshipping God. We spend more money on pampering ourselves than we do supporting God’s work. And we waste more of our lives, energy, and strength on things that will eventually decay and die than we do on the eternal blessings of God.
We are slaves to our own success and we don’t want to be liberated. Perhaps God’s judgment upon our generation is that we will get what we want now and pay for it later – the trouble is that ‘later’ will be too late to rescue our souls.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, save us from ourselves. Open our eyes to our spiritual blindness and make us see how fruitless our faith has become. Confront our choices and challenge our ways, so that our souls may still be won for Your kingdom. Keep us from chaining ourselves to the slavery of sophistication and success, ambition and greed. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
There’s a new movie coming out today called “Amazing Grace.” It tells the story of William Wilberforce, an Englishman, who fought with the authorities for all of his adult life, trying to halt the slave trade in Britain. He was a remarkable man and, if the movie keeps to the truth, his story is one that will both inspire and challenge those who go to see it.
Wilberforce faced many years of derision from his own peers and he was treated as a religious fanatic who was meddling with the political system. He experienced a lot of hostility and humiliation, but he endured it because he knew that slavery was wrong and that his generation would be held accountable to God for this monstrous act of degradation against African people.
Just before he died, after decades of campaigning, Wilberforce won his battle. The slave trade was ended in Britain and throughout the British Empire, which at that time covered most of the globe. His success spurred on the hopes of another group of people across the Atlantic called Abolitionists, who would fight their own battles which ultimately led to Civil War in the United States.
Every generation has their own battles to fight against those things that lead us away from God. In Wilberforce’s time, it was the slave trade. A generation later, it was about the exploitation of children. A hundred years later, it was the Civil Rights movement.
In our generation, the biggest battle for the community of faith is how to remain effective and relevant, challenging and prophetic without being sucked in by our post-modern culture. We spend more time watching our favorite shows than worshipping God. We spend more money on pampering ourselves than we do supporting God’s work. And we waste more of our lives, energy, and strength on things that will eventually decay and die than we do on the eternal blessings of God.
We are slaves to our own success and we don’t want to be liberated. Perhaps God’s judgment upon our generation is that we will get what we want now and pay for it later – the trouble is that ‘later’ will be too late to rescue our souls.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, save us from ourselves. Open our eyes to our spiritual blindness and make us see how fruitless our faith has become. Confront our choices and challenge our ways, so that our souls may still be won for Your kingdom. Keep us from chaining ourselves to the slavery of sophistication and success, ambition and greed. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Competence
2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
There’s a great website at www.despair.com where all sorts of photographs are given humorous tag lines to act as de-motivational messages. It’s well worth a visit and it may cheer up your day, especially if everything you are trying to accomplish is going wrong today. One of the photographs that I like is of a skier who is falling through the snow, whose arms and legs and skis are flying all over the place. Beneath the photo, a caption reads:
INEPTITUDE: If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly.
In other words, it’s not a matter of competence – just make sure that your confidence is high.
When the apostle Paul writes about ‘competence’ in his letter, he’s talking about what we accomplish and achieve for God. We don’t do it for ourselves and we are not meant to seek any glory as Christians. Everything that we undertake, do, and fulfill in the Lord’s Name comes from God. His is the victory, we are just vessels. His is the glory, we are just servants. Our attitude should be one of humble gratitude – we are grateful to God that He has used us for His works, His ways, His ministries and missions. As Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church continually points out – it’s not about us – it’s about God.
Wherever you are and whatever you do today, do it for the Lord. And where you experience success, praise God for the gifts He has given you to accomplish your feats. Without those blessings, we would all be incompetent. So let’s learn to do things well for the Lord, and let’s learn to enjoy them humbly.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have called upon each of us to live our lives according to Your ways. You have blessed us with guidance, direction, and purpose. Anything that we accomplish is because of You. In everything that we experience success, You are the prime reason, mover, and motivator. Thank You for sharing Your gifts of goodness, faith, and love with us. May we all accomplish much for You and God’s Kingdom this day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
There’s a great website at www.despair.com where all sorts of photographs are given humorous tag lines to act as de-motivational messages. It’s well worth a visit and it may cheer up your day, especially if everything you are trying to accomplish is going wrong today. One of the photographs that I like is of a skier who is falling through the snow, whose arms and legs and skis are flying all over the place. Beneath the photo, a caption reads:
INEPTITUDE: If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly.
In other words, it’s not a matter of competence – just make sure that your confidence is high.
When the apostle Paul writes about ‘competence’ in his letter, he’s talking about what we accomplish and achieve for God. We don’t do it for ourselves and we are not meant to seek any glory as Christians. Everything that we undertake, do, and fulfill in the Lord’s Name comes from God. His is the victory, we are just vessels. His is the glory, we are just servants. Our attitude should be one of humble gratitude – we are grateful to God that He has used us for His works, His ways, His ministries and missions. As Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church continually points out – it’s not about us – it’s about God.
Wherever you are and whatever you do today, do it for the Lord. And where you experience success, praise God for the gifts He has given you to accomplish your feats. Without those blessings, we would all be incompetent. So let’s learn to do things well for the Lord, and let’s learn to enjoy them humbly.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have called upon each of us to live our lives according to Your ways. You have blessed us with guidance, direction, and purpose. Anything that we accomplish is because of You. In everything that we experience success, You are the prime reason, mover, and motivator. Thank You for sharing Your gifts of goodness, faith, and love with us. May we all accomplish much for You and God’s Kingdom this day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Shrove Tuesday
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Today is Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras as the French call it. It’s also known as Pancake Day in Britain, or more precisely “Shrove Tuesday.” It’s supposed to be the day that we all go to confession and have our sins ‘shriven’ or absolved by the priest, so that we can be better Christians throughout the six weeks of Lent.
Pancakes are part of the celebrations because Lent was traditionally a time of fasting, so fatty foods like meat and sausage were all used up during the Fat Tuesday feasting. The easiest way to prepare and eat was through the making of pancakes. This part of the celebrations probably pre-dates Christianity because communities all over the world would hold an end of winter feast to use up the last of their winter meat before it spoiled.
Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday weren’t originally celebrated in Reformed Presbyterian churches because of the strong connections to the Roman Catholic Church. These days, however, people are more interested and intrigued with mixing traditions rather than maintaining doctrinal standards. We’re more into what I term “Pancake Piety,” where we mix the best of the different strands of Christianity in order to be more inclusive in our community. There’s nothing wrong with doing that, because some of the oldest traditions on our Christian calendar were once a mixture of Biblical celebrations and pagan feasts.
So, today we gather to feast and have fun, to sing and party, to revel and relax. And whether or not we go to confession and have our sins shriven, we all understand that Jesus, and not the priest, is the Holy and Only One who absolves us from our past mistakes and justifies us before God. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but with Christ as our Savior, we can be forgiven and restored to God’s Kingdom.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, from what we read in the Gospels, You loved to feast and have fun with other people. We know that at the heart of our celebrations, You are in the midst of us. As we gather together to celebrate this day, we seek Your forgiveness and long for Your absolution from all of our sins. In Your Holy Name, we ask and pray. Amen.
Today is Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras as the French call it. It’s also known as Pancake Day in Britain, or more precisely “Shrove Tuesday.” It’s supposed to be the day that we all go to confession and have our sins ‘shriven’ or absolved by the priest, so that we can be better Christians throughout the six weeks of Lent.
Pancakes are part of the celebrations because Lent was traditionally a time of fasting, so fatty foods like meat and sausage were all used up during the Fat Tuesday feasting. The easiest way to prepare and eat was through the making of pancakes. This part of the celebrations probably pre-dates Christianity because communities all over the world would hold an end of winter feast to use up the last of their winter meat before it spoiled.
Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday weren’t originally celebrated in Reformed Presbyterian churches because of the strong connections to the Roman Catholic Church. These days, however, people are more interested and intrigued with mixing traditions rather than maintaining doctrinal standards. We’re more into what I term “Pancake Piety,” where we mix the best of the different strands of Christianity in order to be more inclusive in our community. There’s nothing wrong with doing that, because some of the oldest traditions on our Christian calendar were once a mixture of Biblical celebrations and pagan feasts.
So, today we gather to feast and have fun, to sing and party, to revel and relax. And whether or not we go to confession and have our sins shriven, we all understand that Jesus, and not the priest, is the Holy and Only One who absolves us from our past mistakes and justifies us before God. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but with Christ as our Savior, we can be forgiven and restored to God’s Kingdom.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, from what we read in the Gospels, You loved to feast and have fun with other people. We know that at the heart of our celebrations, You are in the midst of us. As we gather together to celebrate this day, we seek Your forgiveness and long for Your absolution from all of our sins. In Your Holy Name, we ask and pray. Amen.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Wood Gatherer
Numbers 15:35 Then the LORD said to Moses, "The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp."
It’s one of the hardest passages to understand in scripture (Numbers 15:32-41), and it’s equally hard to believe that God would call for the execution of one of His people just for picking up sticks.
I can remember when I first read this passage. It shocked me and I felt it was so unjust of God. It also made me afraid to do anything wrong on Sundays and, for a long time, I feared God’s retribution. The whole incident made me feel that instead of being a loving father, God actually was a supreme tyrant, whose darkest wishes and oppressive whims could never be challenged nor changed.
As the years have gone by and my knowledge of scripture has increased, I now understand that the man was defying God and causing the whole community to be tainted with sin. The act of gathering sticks on the Sabbath was a violation of the covenant God had made with the whole Israelite people. By collecting wood, the unfortunate man was publicly declaring that he was above God’s laws, God’s people, and God Himself. It was a simple act, but a terrible mistake, so the consequences were severe.
Sometimes, we all take God for granted and we are in danger of treating Him with familiarity and contempt. Through our own choices, we place ourselves in harms’ way by challenging God’s ways. That’s when the grace of Jesus Christ protects us, and shields us from God’s wrath. Without Jesus, we would be as guilty and as unfortunate as the Sabbath-breaking wood gatherer. Without Christ, we would be utterly destroyed by God.
It’s a hard lesson to face first thing on a Monday morning, but it should help us make better choices. And not because we fear God, but because we are truly thankful for Christ’s mercy and grace. We may make mistakes this week and face the consequences of our actions, but at least with Jesus as our Savior we will be forgiven, and we can be restored to God’s favor.
Prayer: Lord God, we confess that we fail to fulfill our faith-based obligations and our Christian responsibilities. We know that we are going to make mistakes every day, and that we will challenge Your ways by ignoring or disrespecting Your commands. We are sorry for being so human and weak at times. Forgive us through the power and authority of Your Son Jesus Christ, who carried wood on His back and turned it into a Cross of mercy and grace. In His Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
It’s one of the hardest passages to understand in scripture (Numbers 15:32-41), and it’s equally hard to believe that God would call for the execution of one of His people just for picking up sticks.
I can remember when I first read this passage. It shocked me and I felt it was so unjust of God. It also made me afraid to do anything wrong on Sundays and, for a long time, I feared God’s retribution. The whole incident made me feel that instead of being a loving father, God actually was a supreme tyrant, whose darkest wishes and oppressive whims could never be challenged nor changed.
As the years have gone by and my knowledge of scripture has increased, I now understand that the man was defying God and causing the whole community to be tainted with sin. The act of gathering sticks on the Sabbath was a violation of the covenant God had made with the whole Israelite people. By collecting wood, the unfortunate man was publicly declaring that he was above God’s laws, God’s people, and God Himself. It was a simple act, but a terrible mistake, so the consequences were severe.
Sometimes, we all take God for granted and we are in danger of treating Him with familiarity and contempt. Through our own choices, we place ourselves in harms’ way by challenging God’s ways. That’s when the grace of Jesus Christ protects us, and shields us from God’s wrath. Without Jesus, we would be as guilty and as unfortunate as the Sabbath-breaking wood gatherer. Without Christ, we would be utterly destroyed by God.
It’s a hard lesson to face first thing on a Monday morning, but it should help us make better choices. And not because we fear God, but because we are truly thankful for Christ’s mercy and grace. We may make mistakes this week and face the consequences of our actions, but at least with Jesus as our Savior we will be forgiven, and we can be restored to God’s favor.
Prayer: Lord God, we confess that we fail to fulfill our faith-based obligations and our Christian responsibilities. We know that we are going to make mistakes every day, and that we will challenge Your ways by ignoring or disrespecting Your commands. We are sorry for being so human and weak at times. Forgive us through the power and authority of Your Son Jesus Christ, who carried wood on His back and turned it into a Cross of mercy and grace. In His Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Cancer
2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Terminal cancer is a hard disease to understand. It hurts so many people – its victims and their relatives. It’s a process that is hard to endure, especially as it normally involves losing a lot of weight until the patient can no longer sustain their lives. It’s a sad sight to see and over the years, I’ve watched many of my best friends in church and from the communities that I have served, literally waste away. Being a pastor doesn’t protect or prevent you from feeling sad, hurt or even angry when cancer occurs in other people’s lives. You feel just as helpless as those around you.
It’s also a hard subject to talk or write about because all of us don’t want to mention it. I can remember when both my grandfathers suffered from cancer, twenty years apart. Grandpa McLay was diagnosed with lung cancer in his sixties when there were very limited resources or treatment. He died in excruciating pain. Granda Stuart was diagnosed with prostate cancer in his late eighties. He slept away gradually and peacefully.
These days, there are lots of resources, treatment, and support, which give many people a higher rate of surviving cancer. I’ve also seen a greater degree of spiritual growth occurring amongst cancer patients. The human soul is an amazing source of strength, especially when it is really connected to God. And I guess that’s part of what Paul is expressing in his own message from scripture today – that though outwardly people may seem to waste away, inwardly there is a sacred process of renewal and restoration going on, which prepares the soul for that ultimate journey into eternity, to be reunited with loved ones and to rest in the everlasting arms of God.
Prayer: Father God, we all know of people who are suffering from terminal cancer. We pray that You surround them with much love, faith, and constant support. Uphold them during bouts of depression and comfort them during times of fear. Grant their spirits a process of renewal and let them be completely assured of Your Holy presence and almighty peace. Be near to their loved ones and comfort them with Your compassionate care. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Terminal cancer is a hard disease to understand. It hurts so many people – its victims and their relatives. It’s a process that is hard to endure, especially as it normally involves losing a lot of weight until the patient can no longer sustain their lives. It’s a sad sight to see and over the years, I’ve watched many of my best friends in church and from the communities that I have served, literally waste away. Being a pastor doesn’t protect or prevent you from feeling sad, hurt or even angry when cancer occurs in other people’s lives. You feel just as helpless as those around you.
It’s also a hard subject to talk or write about because all of us don’t want to mention it. I can remember when both my grandfathers suffered from cancer, twenty years apart. Grandpa McLay was diagnosed with lung cancer in his sixties when there were very limited resources or treatment. He died in excruciating pain. Granda Stuart was diagnosed with prostate cancer in his late eighties. He slept away gradually and peacefully.
These days, there are lots of resources, treatment, and support, which give many people a higher rate of surviving cancer. I’ve also seen a greater degree of spiritual growth occurring amongst cancer patients. The human soul is an amazing source of strength, especially when it is really connected to God. And I guess that’s part of what Paul is expressing in his own message from scripture today – that though outwardly people may seem to waste away, inwardly there is a sacred process of renewal and restoration going on, which prepares the soul for that ultimate journey into eternity, to be reunited with loved ones and to rest in the everlasting arms of God.
Prayer: Father God, we all know of people who are suffering from terminal cancer. We pray that You surround them with much love, faith, and constant support. Uphold them during bouts of depression and comfort them during times of fear. Grant their spirits a process of renewal and let them be completely assured of Your Holy presence and almighty peace. Be near to their loved ones and comfort them with Your compassionate care. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Half Life
Jeremiah 17:11 Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool.
Having a mid-life crisis seems to be a common experience for people in their forties. It’s a time in life when you ponder over your past regrets, present purpose, and future plans. You begin to realize that the sands of time are running out and there is nothing you can do to halt them. The years are flying by and you recognize that everything you want to do cannot be accomplished. It’s a time to become selective as well as reflective. It’s a moment in life to stop, do an inventory of your gifts, and then concentrate on those things that are pleasing, satisfying, and self-fulfilling. It’s a time to understand at last why you were created and what God wants you to do.
Some people don’t want to be middle aged and do everything under the sun to keep them young. They undergo plastic surgery so that they can look good. They keep themselves superbly fit so that they can feel strong. They seek out new trends, foods, and diets to stop the aging process, but eventually time wins the race and getting old is part of the journey we call life. As the Bible says, ‘even the young grow old and weary; and young men stumble and fall.’
As Christians, we shouldn’t be afraid of time running out because it doesn’t mean that everything ends. The person that we are within ourselves, the soul that is surrounded by our body, is timeless. And if you don’t believe that, then ask yourself this question: do you still feel as if you are sixteen years old? Do you still experience the child within yourself? Of course you do – that’s why we are all called children of God.
I guess what I’m trying to express is that staying young comes from the heart that is connected to heaven, and not from the body that is linked to the earth. For some of us, our earthly life might be more than half gone, but we are still on the threshold of the eternal journey that has yet to come.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of Time and the Shepherd of our years. You give us guidance each day through our muddles and mazes, our meanderings and wanderings. Your plan is to extend what we learn, know, and experience by offering us the gift of everlasting life. In the midst of this journey on earth grant us the courage to accept Your conditions of humility, repentance and reverence, so that we can one day enter into Your eternal presence, peace and love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Having a mid-life crisis seems to be a common experience for people in their forties. It’s a time in life when you ponder over your past regrets, present purpose, and future plans. You begin to realize that the sands of time are running out and there is nothing you can do to halt them. The years are flying by and you recognize that everything you want to do cannot be accomplished. It’s a time to become selective as well as reflective. It’s a moment in life to stop, do an inventory of your gifts, and then concentrate on those things that are pleasing, satisfying, and self-fulfilling. It’s a time to understand at last why you were created and what God wants you to do.
Some people don’t want to be middle aged and do everything under the sun to keep them young. They undergo plastic surgery so that they can look good. They keep themselves superbly fit so that they can feel strong. They seek out new trends, foods, and diets to stop the aging process, but eventually time wins the race and getting old is part of the journey we call life. As the Bible says, ‘even the young grow old and weary; and young men stumble and fall.’
As Christians, we shouldn’t be afraid of time running out because it doesn’t mean that everything ends. The person that we are within ourselves, the soul that is surrounded by our body, is timeless. And if you don’t believe that, then ask yourself this question: do you still feel as if you are sixteen years old? Do you still experience the child within yourself? Of course you do – that’s why we are all called children of God.
I guess what I’m trying to express is that staying young comes from the heart that is connected to heaven, and not from the body that is linked to the earth. For some of us, our earthly life might be more than half gone, but we are still on the threshold of the eternal journey that has yet to come.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of Time and the Shepherd of our years. You give us guidance each day through our muddles and mazes, our meanderings and wanderings. Your plan is to extend what we learn, know, and experience by offering us the gift of everlasting life. In the midst of this journey on earth grant us the courage to accept Your conditions of humility, repentance and reverence, so that we can one day enter into Your eternal presence, peace and love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Champions
2 Corinthians 12: 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV)
When Peyton Manning won the Super Bowl for the Indianapolis Colts, he proved all of his critics wrong. Over the years, Peyton has taken a pounding from Sports Commentators because they believed that he couldn’t make a big-time win. I guess that they couldn’t stomach the thought that a quarterback from the University of Tennessee would ever produce a Super Bowl Champion.
Despite the insults and criticisms, Peyton persevered. He’s the hardest working quarterback in the NFL. During the game, he pores over photographs and game plays in order to come up with the right strategy to beat his opponents. It’s been a hard uphill battle to the top, but his focus, determination, and skills have triumphed. He’s become a symbol of the American Dream. He’s become a success because he has endured the insults and sharpened his leadership on and off the field.
Paul, the apostle, succeeded in a similar way. At first, people in the church couldn’t trust him because he had persecuted so many followers. He also had to endure criticisms that his ministry was too confrontational, stirring up fights across the Mediterranean in local synagogues as he sought to do the Lord’s work. He was a contentious character, but he was devoted to Christ. He created a lot of unease in the region, but he also built up a lot of churches. He wasn’t afraid to stand up for what was right and he overcame his enemies. And even if some people still didn’t accept him, his works spoke for his loyalty to God.
Sometimes we go through times where the road is rough and life is hard. Sometimes other people hinder us or problems become serious burdens on our backs. In those moments, when we are weak, Christ is our strength. With faith and perseverance, focus and determination, we can overcome those times and be successful in what we do – whether it’s for ourselves or for God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You never said that life, work, or ministry was ever going to be easy. In many ways and at various times, we all struggle with our faith, our purpose, and our reason for living. When we are weak and down-hearted, be our strength and inspiration. When we are beset with problems and issues, enable us to persevere, endure and overcome. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
When Peyton Manning won the Super Bowl for the Indianapolis Colts, he proved all of his critics wrong. Over the years, Peyton has taken a pounding from Sports Commentators because they believed that he couldn’t make a big-time win. I guess that they couldn’t stomach the thought that a quarterback from the University of Tennessee would ever produce a Super Bowl Champion.
Despite the insults and criticisms, Peyton persevered. He’s the hardest working quarterback in the NFL. During the game, he pores over photographs and game plays in order to come up with the right strategy to beat his opponents. It’s been a hard uphill battle to the top, but his focus, determination, and skills have triumphed. He’s become a symbol of the American Dream. He’s become a success because he has endured the insults and sharpened his leadership on and off the field.
Paul, the apostle, succeeded in a similar way. At first, people in the church couldn’t trust him because he had persecuted so many followers. He also had to endure criticisms that his ministry was too confrontational, stirring up fights across the Mediterranean in local synagogues as he sought to do the Lord’s work. He was a contentious character, but he was devoted to Christ. He created a lot of unease in the region, but he also built up a lot of churches. He wasn’t afraid to stand up for what was right and he overcame his enemies. And even if some people still didn’t accept him, his works spoke for his loyalty to God.
Sometimes we go through times where the road is rough and life is hard. Sometimes other people hinder us or problems become serious burdens on our backs. In those moments, when we are weak, Christ is our strength. With faith and perseverance, focus and determination, we can overcome those times and be successful in what we do – whether it’s for ourselves or for God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You never said that life, work, or ministry was ever going to be easy. In many ways and at various times, we all struggle with our faith, our purpose, and our reason for living. When we are weak and down-hearted, be our strength and inspiration. When we are beset with problems and issues, enable us to persevere, endure and overcome. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Warning: Pastor Disaster!
William Willimon is dean of the chapel and professor of Christian ministry at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
In a recent article, William Willimon says he worries when seminarians report that they are going into pastoral ministry because "I just love people. I want to work with people."
Willimon responds by asking, "Have you actually met any of these people?"
Food for thought,eh?
In a recent article, William Willimon says he worries when seminarians report that they are going into pastoral ministry because "I just love people. I want to work with people."
Willimon responds by asking, "Have you actually met any of these people?"
Food for thought,eh?
Good for Nothing
Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
I was listening to a preacher on the radio whilst driving to work this morning. He said something like: “It’s a lot easier to deal with God than it is to deal with God’s people.” I thought about that for a moment and then agreed. Faith would be a lot easier if we only had to relate to God. It’s only when we begin to share our faith, our beliefs, and our opinions with other people that problems arise.
I guess this is also what Paul was getting at when he confessed his mistakes and recognized that he was still a sinful person. Even although he had a dramatic and dynamic conversion experience, Paul still thought, said, and did things that were evil. He battled with his sinful nature time and time again, hoping to overcome his habitual mistakes. But, as Paul points out, what he ended up doing was the very thing he wanted to avoid.
From the outside, churches are supposed to be full of people who always get along, live in peace, and support one another. Every church that I know promotes itself as a friendly place where fellowship, fun, and faith are experienced. But the reality is that churches are full of people, from the preacher in the pulpit to the person in the pew, who themselves have sinful natures. It’s hard to get along all of the time, and it takes a great deal of patience and perseverance. Those churches that are growing seem to know how to celebrate the good times, whilst enduring the bad times.
There’s no such thing as a perfect Christian, pastor or church. As the radio preacher said this morning: “It’s a lot easier to deal with God than it is to deal with God’s people.” If we want perfection, we are never going to find it on earth. But if we learn to accept our imperfections, we’ll discover humility and contentment, tolerance and satisfaction.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Paul was one of Your greatest apostles and a giant amongst preachers of the Christian faith, and yet he had trouble with sin. His honesty about his battles with good and evil strangely gives us hope. We confess that we are not so good either, and that we constantly fall short of God’s standards. Forgive us when we surrender to temptation and restore us by Your grace. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
I was listening to a preacher on the radio whilst driving to work this morning. He said something like: “It’s a lot easier to deal with God than it is to deal with God’s people.” I thought about that for a moment and then agreed. Faith would be a lot easier if we only had to relate to God. It’s only when we begin to share our faith, our beliefs, and our opinions with other people that problems arise.
I guess this is also what Paul was getting at when he confessed his mistakes and recognized that he was still a sinful person. Even although he had a dramatic and dynamic conversion experience, Paul still thought, said, and did things that were evil. He battled with his sinful nature time and time again, hoping to overcome his habitual mistakes. But, as Paul points out, what he ended up doing was the very thing he wanted to avoid.
From the outside, churches are supposed to be full of people who always get along, live in peace, and support one another. Every church that I know promotes itself as a friendly place where fellowship, fun, and faith are experienced. But the reality is that churches are full of people, from the preacher in the pulpit to the person in the pew, who themselves have sinful natures. It’s hard to get along all of the time, and it takes a great deal of patience and perseverance. Those churches that are growing seem to know how to celebrate the good times, whilst enduring the bad times.
There’s no such thing as a perfect Christian, pastor or church. As the radio preacher said this morning: “It’s a lot easier to deal with God than it is to deal with God’s people.” If we want perfection, we are never going to find it on earth. But if we learn to accept our imperfections, we’ll discover humility and contentment, tolerance and satisfaction.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Paul was one of Your greatest apostles and a giant amongst preachers of the Christian faith, and yet he had trouble with sin. His honesty about his battles with good and evil strangely gives us hope. We confess that we are not so good either, and that we constantly fall short of God’s standards. Forgive us when we surrender to temptation and restore us by Your grace. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Coming Soon
Revelation 22:7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."
There’s a lot of disruption occurring in the Presbyterian Church, which is dividing our ability to witness effectively in the world. Different pastors and elders hold diverse views about what’s right and wrong for the church, and the people in the pews are being led like sheep to the slaughter on the altars of adversity and discontent. Congregations are leaving the denomination across the country, which is weakening our influence throughout many communities. Instead of being washed in the blood of Jesus, we’re hemorrhaging. Instead of bringing the good news of the Gospel to the world, we’ve actually become bad news.
I worry about what’s happening. I try to understand why people want to polarize their faith. Is it because we hate one another so much that we have no room for love? Is it because we’ve too much pride that we have forgotten to be humble? Are we so focused on currently making things right for ourselves that we’ve jettisoned the future of the Church? Are we so sure that we’re on the Lord’s side and not servants of Lucifer?
Christ is coming soon. If I live till I’m eighty, then for me He’s coming in the next thirty years. Time is running out for all of us, and He will judge us according to what we have done. Can we honestly say that He is more interested in the divisions we’ve created, or in the people we’ve attracted to Christ? Will Jesus commend us more for doctrinal purity or compassionate conversions?
In the end, Presbyterianism is just another thin branch of the whole Christian Church. Even if it breaks, the tree will survive.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are Your Church and we are Your people. None of us are perfect; not one of us is pure. Grant us wisdom and discernment, compassion and love. Keep us from dividing the body and diminishing our witness. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
There’s a lot of disruption occurring in the Presbyterian Church, which is dividing our ability to witness effectively in the world. Different pastors and elders hold diverse views about what’s right and wrong for the church, and the people in the pews are being led like sheep to the slaughter on the altars of adversity and discontent. Congregations are leaving the denomination across the country, which is weakening our influence throughout many communities. Instead of being washed in the blood of Jesus, we’re hemorrhaging. Instead of bringing the good news of the Gospel to the world, we’ve actually become bad news.
I worry about what’s happening. I try to understand why people want to polarize their faith. Is it because we hate one another so much that we have no room for love? Is it because we’ve too much pride that we have forgotten to be humble? Are we so focused on currently making things right for ourselves that we’ve jettisoned the future of the Church? Are we so sure that we’re on the Lord’s side and not servants of Lucifer?
Christ is coming soon. If I live till I’m eighty, then for me He’s coming in the next thirty years. Time is running out for all of us, and He will judge us according to what we have done. Can we honestly say that He is more interested in the divisions we’ve created, or in the people we’ve attracted to Christ? Will Jesus commend us more for doctrinal purity or compassionate conversions?
In the end, Presbyterianism is just another thin branch of the whole Christian Church. Even if it breaks, the tree will survive.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are Your Church and we are Your people. None of us are perfect; not one of us is pure. Grant us wisdom and discernment, compassion and love. Keep us from dividing the body and diminishing our witness. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Working on Walls
Nehemiah 6:9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed."
But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands." (NIV)
I served the Glen Kirk in Maybole, Scotland for just over nine years. Like Erin church, it was built on the side of a steep hill. On one side of the church a hedgerow and hickory fencing separated the church property from the local golf course. On the other side, the boundary for the church campus was set by a 150 year old stone wall.
One morning, I noticed that the church wall was bulging. Over the years, water, silt, and mud had built up behind the wall. As I looked down the street, I could see that other parts of the wall were bulging, too. It was ready to collapse and I had fears of it suddenly tumbling down on top of some cars or even pedestrians in the street below. It had to be fixed. It had to be taken down stone by stone and rebuilt.
The town council had just started a new community jobs project. This was a government scheme to help people who were unemployed learn some new skills or trades, so that they could become marketable again. It only paid minimum wages, but it maintained the dignity of those who were sustained by the projects.
Our bulging wall was an ideal project to work on. It took about three months to complete and involved stone masons, builders and local contractors. Several teams worked on the tearing down, clearing out, and re-building the wall. When it was completed, everyone involved took a great pride in what had been achieved. We had averted a collapsed wall and in its place was a better wall that witnessed to the effectiveness of the whole community project team.
When Nehemiah in the Bible sets out to rebuild the walls surrounding Jerusalem, he also had to deal with adverse conditions. His local rivals were bent on destroying his efforts and they resorted to blackmail and deceit. But Nehemiah’s strength came from the Lord and when he and his fellow workers felt weak or troubled, he prayed a simple, successful prayer, “Lord, strengthen my hands.”
Today, some of us may be facing an uphill task, a serious problem, or a painful issue. We may not feel strong enough to overcome our troubles because we are weakened by worry. During times like these, we look to the Lord to help us by simply praying for the strength to endure and overcome.
Prayer: Lord God, strengthen our hands and give us guidance. Whatever fears we are facing or troubles that we are experiencing, keep us from collapsing and build up our strength. Lead us through these trying times and help us to effectively overcome them. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands." (NIV)
I served the Glen Kirk in Maybole, Scotland for just over nine years. Like Erin church, it was built on the side of a steep hill. On one side of the church a hedgerow and hickory fencing separated the church property from the local golf course. On the other side, the boundary for the church campus was set by a 150 year old stone wall.
One morning, I noticed that the church wall was bulging. Over the years, water, silt, and mud had built up behind the wall. As I looked down the street, I could see that other parts of the wall were bulging, too. It was ready to collapse and I had fears of it suddenly tumbling down on top of some cars or even pedestrians in the street below. It had to be fixed. It had to be taken down stone by stone and rebuilt.
The town council had just started a new community jobs project. This was a government scheme to help people who were unemployed learn some new skills or trades, so that they could become marketable again. It only paid minimum wages, but it maintained the dignity of those who were sustained by the projects.
Our bulging wall was an ideal project to work on. It took about three months to complete and involved stone masons, builders and local contractors. Several teams worked on the tearing down, clearing out, and re-building the wall. When it was completed, everyone involved took a great pride in what had been achieved. We had averted a collapsed wall and in its place was a better wall that witnessed to the effectiveness of the whole community project team.
When Nehemiah in the Bible sets out to rebuild the walls surrounding Jerusalem, he also had to deal with adverse conditions. His local rivals were bent on destroying his efforts and they resorted to blackmail and deceit. But Nehemiah’s strength came from the Lord and when he and his fellow workers felt weak or troubled, he prayed a simple, successful prayer, “Lord, strengthen my hands.”
Today, some of us may be facing an uphill task, a serious problem, or a painful issue. We may not feel strong enough to overcome our troubles because we are weakened by worry. During times like these, we look to the Lord to help us by simply praying for the strength to endure and overcome.
Prayer: Lord God, strengthen our hands and give us guidance. Whatever fears we are facing or troubles that we are experiencing, keep us from collapsing and build up our strength. Lead us through these trying times and help us to effectively overcome them. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Emerald Fields
Deuteronomy 11:11 But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.
On each of the three Scottish coach tours that I have led, there came a time when someone said, “Everything is so green!” Scotland is covered with so many emerald hills and green fields that when you see them for the first time, it’s like being given eye candy. The richness of the colors is so beautiful that for many American tourists, it remains amongst the most vivid of their memories.
But why is everything so green? What causes the fields to brightly glisten like emerald patches across the landscape?
Rain. Lots and lots of rain. For most of the year Scotland drinks rain from the heavens; this in turn enriches the soil and allows grass to grow everywhere. Over here, we are so used to sprinkling our lawns in the height of summer to keep it growing. Over in Scotland, the rain constantly falls and so the land is blessed with an abundance of grassy meadows, fields, and hills. And that’s also why there are so many cattle and sheep in Scotland – there’s plenty of green grass to support the livestock.
To the ancient Israelites, God’s promises of a land overflowing with milk and honey, along with an abundance of rain, must have sounded like Paradise. They had spent 400 years working in the irrigated fields of the Nile, making bricks and growing feeble crops. God was not only taking them out of slavery, He was sending them to a fertile valley where they wouldn’t have to toil as hard to survive. Not only would He supply their needs, God was also willing to give them abundance beyond their wildest dreams. And that’s why it was called the Promised Land.
In our own lives, we go through some dry and empty times, when we can become discouraged and even depressed. That’s when we need to ‘stand on the promises of God,’ as the old hymn states. God never forsakes or abandons us to misery. He never lets go of us in the midst of despair. And He is able and willing to get us through desperate moments, in order to lead us to those promised times of abundance and everlasting love.
Prayer: Lord God, You act in mighty ways, leading nations from slavery and oppression into the light of abundance and prosperity. You also care deeply for Your people and Your promises are always fulfilled. Lord God, we look to You as the source of all our blessings and the sustainer of our lives. Bless us with Your abundant love and bring us to Your amazing place. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
On each of the three Scottish coach tours that I have led, there came a time when someone said, “Everything is so green!” Scotland is covered with so many emerald hills and green fields that when you see them for the first time, it’s like being given eye candy. The richness of the colors is so beautiful that for many American tourists, it remains amongst the most vivid of their memories.
But why is everything so green? What causes the fields to brightly glisten like emerald patches across the landscape?
Rain. Lots and lots of rain. For most of the year Scotland drinks rain from the heavens; this in turn enriches the soil and allows grass to grow everywhere. Over here, we are so used to sprinkling our lawns in the height of summer to keep it growing. Over in Scotland, the rain constantly falls and so the land is blessed with an abundance of grassy meadows, fields, and hills. And that’s also why there are so many cattle and sheep in Scotland – there’s plenty of green grass to support the livestock.
To the ancient Israelites, God’s promises of a land overflowing with milk and honey, along with an abundance of rain, must have sounded like Paradise. They had spent 400 years working in the irrigated fields of the Nile, making bricks and growing feeble crops. God was not only taking them out of slavery, He was sending them to a fertile valley where they wouldn’t have to toil as hard to survive. Not only would He supply their needs, God was also willing to give them abundance beyond their wildest dreams. And that’s why it was called the Promised Land.
In our own lives, we go through some dry and empty times, when we can become discouraged and even depressed. That’s when we need to ‘stand on the promises of God,’ as the old hymn states. God never forsakes or abandons us to misery. He never lets go of us in the midst of despair. And He is able and willing to get us through desperate moments, in order to lead us to those promised times of abundance and everlasting love.
Prayer: Lord God, You act in mighty ways, leading nations from slavery and oppression into the light of abundance and prosperity. You also care deeply for Your people and Your promises are always fulfilled. Lord God, we look to You as the source of all our blessings and the sustainer of our lives. Bless us with Your abundant love and bring us to Your amazing place. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
Monday, February 05, 2007
God Remembers
Exodus 2:24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.
Years ago, one of my best friends was diagnosed with a terminal condition. It was completely unexpected and the doctors told him that he had only months to live. I was shocked when I heard the news and couldn’t accept what was happening. For a whole weekend, I fervently prayed and wrestled with God, asking for healing and mercy, restoration and grace to be given to my friend. It was one of the most intense weekends of prayer that I have ever experienced.
In the middle of the night when I awoke, I got up to pray again. I was already fatigued and exhausted, but I felt that my friend needed more prayer. I can remember praying for about ten minutes and then a great feeling of peace came over me. It was as if God was saying, “I’ll take over from here. Go back to bed.”
The next day, I visited my friend in hospital. He was due to get some sort of surgery as a temporary relief from his cancer. When I went into his room, he was sitting up and smiling. He then told me that his surgery was no longer taking place and when I asked why, he told me that the cancer was gone. His doctors were amazed. That very morning, when they took an x-ray, they could not find any sign of the cancer. Ten years later, he is still cancer-free.
God remembers His people and He hears our prayers. For the Israelites, it took several generations to restore their freedom. God raised up a leader in Moses as the perfect answer to their groaning and prayers. The promises and covenants that He made with their forefathers were not forsaken; instead God fulfilled them and brought His people back to Canaan. He answered their prayers.
Perhaps we are struggling with something and are worried about the future. Perhaps we’ve tried everything we know to remedy the situation or to resolve our problems, but nothing seems to work. I think that the answer to what we need is found in how sincerely we pray, how much we focus on God, and how often we wrestle with Him. He hears our prayers and groaning; He remembers His promises.
Prayer: Lord God, You know our hearts and minds. You know all our anxieties and concerns. Help us to really bring our prayers to You. Enable us to wrestle with You. Empower us to boldly ask for help and healing, restoration and strength. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Years ago, one of my best friends was diagnosed with a terminal condition. It was completely unexpected and the doctors told him that he had only months to live. I was shocked when I heard the news and couldn’t accept what was happening. For a whole weekend, I fervently prayed and wrestled with God, asking for healing and mercy, restoration and grace to be given to my friend. It was one of the most intense weekends of prayer that I have ever experienced.
In the middle of the night when I awoke, I got up to pray again. I was already fatigued and exhausted, but I felt that my friend needed more prayer. I can remember praying for about ten minutes and then a great feeling of peace came over me. It was as if God was saying, “I’ll take over from here. Go back to bed.”
The next day, I visited my friend in hospital. He was due to get some sort of surgery as a temporary relief from his cancer. When I went into his room, he was sitting up and smiling. He then told me that his surgery was no longer taking place and when I asked why, he told me that the cancer was gone. His doctors were amazed. That very morning, when they took an x-ray, they could not find any sign of the cancer. Ten years later, he is still cancer-free.
God remembers His people and He hears our prayers. For the Israelites, it took several generations to restore their freedom. God raised up a leader in Moses as the perfect answer to their groaning and prayers. The promises and covenants that He made with their forefathers were not forsaken; instead God fulfilled them and brought His people back to Canaan. He answered their prayers.
Perhaps we are struggling with something and are worried about the future. Perhaps we’ve tried everything we know to remedy the situation or to resolve our problems, but nothing seems to work. I think that the answer to what we need is found in how sincerely we pray, how much we focus on God, and how often we wrestle with Him. He hears our prayers and groaning; He remembers His promises.
Prayer: Lord God, You know our hearts and minds. You know all our anxieties and concerns. Help us to really bring our prayers to You. Enable us to wrestle with You. Empower us to boldly ask for help and healing, restoration and strength. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Glory, glory
John 8: 54 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.
On Monday nights, one of our church groups has been studying different religions and cults from across the world. It’s a small group of about a dozen people, but we all feel welcome to share our ideas and opinions about other faiths and beliefs. Recently, we’ve been looking at some of the cults – Bahaism, Christian Science, Scientology, etc. We’ve noticed one common pattern – the founder of the faith declares his or her status to be incontrovertible, infallible, and inviolate. Whatever they have written is true; whatever they claim is absolute.
Jesus didn’t write anything down, as far as we know, so all of the claims about Him come to us from the Gospel writers. In today’s passage from John, Christ is confronted by the religious leaders over the opinions that other people have expressed. Instead of affirming what the people are saying, Jesus refuses to glorify Himself. Everything He is or does comes from God, so all of the glory belongs to His Heavenly Father. Jesus doesn’t make Himself out to be the Dream Messiah that everyone was expecting at the time; instead, He yields to God’s sovereignty and power, choosing to obey and abase Himself, rather than enhancing His esteem and building up His reputation.
As Christians, we sometimes find it hard to overcome the temptation of elitism. In being so certain about our faith, we can come across as narrow minded, arrogant, and self-assured believers. We need to step aside, just like Jesus, and let others see whom we serve. If only more people could see the Christ in everyone who claims to be a Christian, then the world would be a better place and our churches would be bursting at the seams.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of the World and the Holy Son of God. We make these claims as Christians because we believe in You, Your ways, and Your words. Help us to witness effectively to the power and positive values of the Gospel. Keep us from hindering Your influence throughout the world by our incapacity to be humble, or through our sinful need to be grandiose. In Your Sacred Name, we pray. Amen.
On Monday nights, one of our church groups has been studying different religions and cults from across the world. It’s a small group of about a dozen people, but we all feel welcome to share our ideas and opinions about other faiths and beliefs. Recently, we’ve been looking at some of the cults – Bahaism, Christian Science, Scientology, etc. We’ve noticed one common pattern – the founder of the faith declares his or her status to be incontrovertible, infallible, and inviolate. Whatever they have written is true; whatever they claim is absolute.
Jesus didn’t write anything down, as far as we know, so all of the claims about Him come to us from the Gospel writers. In today’s passage from John, Christ is confronted by the religious leaders over the opinions that other people have expressed. Instead of affirming what the people are saying, Jesus refuses to glorify Himself. Everything He is or does comes from God, so all of the glory belongs to His Heavenly Father. Jesus doesn’t make Himself out to be the Dream Messiah that everyone was expecting at the time; instead, He yields to God’s sovereignty and power, choosing to obey and abase Himself, rather than enhancing His esteem and building up His reputation.
As Christians, we sometimes find it hard to overcome the temptation of elitism. In being so certain about our faith, we can come across as narrow minded, arrogant, and self-assured believers. We need to step aside, just like Jesus, and let others see whom we serve. If only more people could see the Christ in everyone who claims to be a Christian, then the world would be a better place and our churches would be bursting at the seams.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of the World and the Holy Son of God. We make these claims as Christians because we believe in You, Your ways, and Your words. Help us to witness effectively to the power and positive values of the Gospel. Keep us from hindering Your influence throughout the world by our incapacity to be humble, or through our sinful need to be grandiose. In Your Sacred Name, we pray. Amen.
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