Be Transformed

Readings for today: Psalms 96-98, Romans 12

I recently came across this quote from one of my favorite pastors, “I more and more find the precious part of each day to be the thirty or forty minutes I spend each morning before breakfast with the Bible. All the rest of the day I am bombarded with the stories that the world is telling about itself. I am more and more skeptical about these stories. As I take time to immerse myself in the story that the Bible tells, my vision is cleared and I see things in another way. I see the day that lies ahead in its place in God’s story.” (Lesslie Newbigin) It reminded me of what Paul says in Romans 12 about not being conformed to the patterns of this world but instead be transformed by the renewal of the mind through Spirit.

What does such transformation look like? It looks like the life Paul describes at the end of chapter 12. “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans‬ ‭12:9-21‬)

This is the difference Christ makes in a person’s life. He changes us from the inside out. He shifts our outlook and understanding of the world. He transforms our thoughts and our attitudes as we surrender more and more of our hearts to Him. Because we are so deeply satisfied in Christ. Because Christ meets our every need. Because Christ is the object of all our devotion and affection, we are set free. Set free to love. Set free to do good. Set free to honor one another. To put one another’s needs above our own. We are patient in affliction knowing it is but a season. We are constant in prayer because we know our Father hears our every word. We are set free to be generous because money has no hold on us. We can bless those who attack us or seek to do us harm because Christ Himself is our defense and our reputation is secure in heaven. Christ gives us the confidence to grieve with those who grieve and celebrate the success of others. Because we rest in the forgiveness and grace of Christ, we can extend it out to others which leads to unity and harmony. Humility rather than pride is our constant companion. And we can release the need to get even or get back because we trust in the justice of God.

I get asked all the time, “What makes a Christian different?” Friends, this is it! When Paul talks about not being conformed to the patterns of this world, he means rejecting the way of hate. The way of outrage. The way of selfishness and pride. He means rejecting the ways of sin and evil for the ends never justify the means. He means rejecting any compromise with godlessness and instead living a life of unconditional love and grace. He means laying aside our desire for control. Our desire for power. Our desire for wealth and privilege and position and instead humbling ourselves before God. Christians understand our lives our not our own. We have been bought with a price. We have been purchased by God. We are slaves to Christ. We have no will of our own. No desires of our own. We exist to serve Christ and to bring Him glory. This is our highest calling. Our life’s passion. Our greatest priority. And it is the world’s most desperate need. Salt and light, friends. This is what you are in Christ. Believe this! And live your life for Him!

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 99-101, Romans 13

The Gift of the Psalms

Readings for today: Psalms 90-95, Romans 11

Every year as I make my way through the Psalms, I receive a great gift. The Psalmists lift my eyes above the hills. Above the horizons of my own life. Above my sinful tendency to “navel gaze” and focus on my own needs, wants, and desires. They direct me to God. They place Him in full view before me. They confront me with His character. They nourish me on His divine nature. They relentlessly remind me of His goodness and grace. They place words of praise in my mouth and in my heart and mind. They extol God’s infinite virtues. Righteousness. Justice. Grace. Mercy. Peace. Power. Love. The list is endless. Consider just a few of the verses we read today…

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”(Psalm‬ ‭90:1-2‬)

“I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm‬ ‭91:2, 9-11, 14-16‬)

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” (Psalm‬ ‭92:1-4‬)

“The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.” (Psalm‬ ‭93:1-2‬)

“O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!” (Psalm‬ ‭94:1-2‬)

“For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” (Psalm‬ ‭95:3-6‬)

Reflecting on these verses is deeply humbling which I believe is the Psalmist’s point. As we come face to face with God. As we gaze on Him in the beauty of His Holiness. As we experience the wonder of His love and grace, we should be brought to our knees. The fathomless depth of our sinful condition is revealed. All our secrets laid bare. God is God. We are not. God is good. We are not. God is righteous. We are not. God is faithful. We are not. God is love. We are not. As we come to grips with the utter brokenness of our condition, we are driven to helplessness and despair. We experience godly sorrow over all the ways we fall short of the glory God desires to reveal in us. As we grieve, we are being prepared by God’s Spirit for the transforming experience of His grace.

The reality is we have to come to the end of ourselves before we will turn to God. We have to be emptied of all our resources, all our strength, all our dependence on self if we are to be filled with God’s Spirit. And this is the heart of the gospel. Those who humble themselves will be exalted. The last shall be first. Those who sow generously and sacrificially will reap a harvest of righteousness. Those who lose their lives for Jesus’ sake will find them.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 96-98, Romans 12

Foundations of God’s Throne

Readings for today: Psalms 88-89, Romans 10:5-21

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” (Psalm‬ ‭89:14‬)

It is tempting when we look at the growing chaos of the world around us to give into fear and anxiety. To get stuck in the mire of sadness and deep grief. If you are like me, your heart breaks for the brokenness and the broken people of this world. In recent days, the Taliban have almost retaken all the territory they lost in Afghanistan. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be a woman or a Christian or even a moderate Muslim over there right now. The crisis at the southern border of the United States only deepens as thousands seek asylum from the violence and life-threatening poverty of their home countries in Latin and South America. Police officers are being targeted on a daily basis in some of our larger cities as violent crime increases. Ethnic and sexual minorities still feel the burden of discrimination in far too many places here at home and around the world. The Delta variant has rolled back much of the progress we made in dealing with the pandemic this past spring. Many of our children and teachers are facing the monumental challenge of making up for lost ground from the last year. It’s overwhelming to think about and there are few hopeful signs on the horizon. Why do such things happen? Why does humanity’s inhumanity seem set to play on an endless loop?

The Bible’s answer is clear. We have abandoned God. The only source of true life and light and love in this world. By His command the world was made and all that was in it. By His command human beings were shaped and formed in His image. By His command we were given a mandate to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Exercising dominion in His name. This was the pathway to true progress. This was the road to righteousness. This was the journey to justice. But we abandoned His ways long ago. We chose to blaze our own trail. Build our own road. Cut our own path through the wilderness. And where has that gotten us? A world full of hate and anger and fear. A world full of violence and suffering and pain. A world full of injustice and inequality. We have remade the world in our own broken image and are suffering the consequences of our actions.

God calls us to a different path. The path of righteousness. The path of justice. Psalm 89:14 teaches us that God’s throne rests on these two pillars. Righteousness is about our standing before God. Clothed in Christ, we seek to become who we already are in Him. We follow His commands. We conform our hearts and minds to His example. We speak His truth. We live for His glory. We surrender all that we have and all that we are to Him. Justice is about the systems and structures we live under. Government. Business. Education. Media. Arts. Church. Family. These are by definition unjust because they are human creations and each generation must engage in the work to align them and re-align them with God’s Kingdom. When righteous people are engaged in justice work, the cities and communities in which we live flourish. When unrighteous people engage in unjust work, the cities and communities in which we live burn. This is the power God entrusted to us from the beginning and it is responsibility He has given us as human beings.

The Bible is full of all kinds of wisdom regarding the righteousness and justice of God. All of us should be seeking to become more righteous individually AND all of us should be working for justice systemically and collectively. This unique gift the church offers the world is Jesus. Governments pass laws. Social policy can be re-written and reformed. Law enforcement can enforce a host of new regulations. But none of it will make a bit of difference without the transformation of the human heart. Friends, more than ever, the world needs Jesus. Who are you sharing Him with today?

Readings for tomorrow: None

The Challenge of Election

Readings for today: Psalms 85-87, Romans 9:1-10:4

Today’s reading is a challenging one. Paul is asking deep questions about the promises and purposes of God. So much of which is shrouded in mystery. So much of which we will never know this side of heaven. Has the Word of God failed? Is God unjust? How can God fault those whom He has not chosen? These questions are important. It is vital to wrestle with them honestly and vulnerably. True faith welcomes such challenges and doesn’t settle for easy answers. 

To begin, we must check our assumptions at the door. There are no standards of justice outside of God. God is not answerable to any human legal code nor does He subject Himself to human notions of universal fairness. God is the Potter. We are the clay. This fundamental principle undergirds everything Paul will say in these few chapters. The baseline for this discussion begins with God being God and human beings being human beings. The Creator is not the same as His creation. The creation is not the same as its Creator. There is a massive, ontological distinction between the two that must be maintained if we are to find our way through this quandary.  

Second, because God is God, He has every right to exercise His sovereign choice over all He has made. He chose Abraham and Sarah out of all the families on the face of the earth. He chose Jacob over Esau before they were born. He chose Israel over Egypt. Moses over Pharaoh. The full witness of Scripture makes it clear that God freely chooses some vessels for honor and some for dishonor. Scripture makes it clear that God endures with patience “vessels of wrath prepared for destruction” so that He might “make known the riches of glory for His vessels of mercy.” Over and over again, we see this played out in the Old Testament. There is simply no other way to honestly interpret it. 

Third, what are we then to make of what’s happening with Israel? God’s elect? God’s chosen? “To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all...” (Romans‬ ‭9:4-5‬) Furthermore, what are we to make of the Gentiles? God’s non-elect? The pagans who’ve rejected God all their lives? Though they have not pursued righteousness somehow they attained it by faith! Does this mean God’s elect have been rejected? By no means! “For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring...” (Romans‬ ‭9:6-7) So ethnicity no longer serves as a determining factor when it comes to membership in God’s covenant community. What matters is faith and God has maintained a remnant - of which the Apostle Paul is one - who have been saved by grace. 

Fourth, what should we conclude from Paul’s words? God isn’t done! God’s plan for Israel is not yet complete! The Gentiles who have been grafted into God’s family should not become prideful or take God’s grace for granted for as Paul will say in just a couple of chapters, “Remember it is not you who supports the root but the root that supports you.” (Romans 11:18) Instead, the Gentiles should wait and pray for the day when the partial hardening on Israel is softened because the full number of Gentiles have finally come in and God saves all of Israel.

How will this happen? Paul has no idea. He simply knows God is faithful. He will never abandon His people. His love is steadfast, loyal, and true. So at the end of all this deep wrestling there can only be an exclamation of praise. God is God. We are not. Thanks be to God!

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 88-89, Romans 10:5-21

Redemptive Suffering

Readings for today: Psalms 80-84, Romans 8

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans‬ ‭8:16-17‬)

What if I told you suffering was an essential part of the Christian life? Would it make you think twice about following Jesus? Would it cause you to re-evaluate what you believe? One of the great heresies of our time is prosperity preaching. It’s the idea that if you are faithful enough. If you are obedient enough. You will be blessed. God will grant you your heart’s desire. You will be wealthy. You will be healthy and strong. You will be successful. The television airways are filled with these messages. Prosperity preachers putting on a show and making bargains on your behalf with God. Implicitly or explicitly, they tie suffering to sin. They believe pain is a result of disobedience. They argue poverty and sickness is a result of a lack of faith. Such nonsense!

Paul makes it clear that those who follow Christ will share in His sufferings. Not because we seek suffering out. Not because Jesus demands His followers live in constant pain or poverty. But simply because the lives we lead put us at odds with the world around us. Our faith makes us aliens and strangers in our culture. It sets us apart. Makes us a target. Why? Because we serve a heavenly King. We belong to a heavenly Kingdom. Our primary allegiance is not to any earthly king or country. Not to flag or nation. Not to tribe or family. But to God Himself. By faith, we are adopted as His sons and daughters. By faith, we become part of His family. By faith, our citizenship is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

Jesus suffered. Jesus endured incredible pain. Jesus was tortured, falsely accused, and executed by the State because he posed a threat. His message subverted the kingdoms of this world. His preaching confronted the religious leaders of His day. He called them to repent. He called them to confess. He called them to lay down their wealth and power and position and authority for the sake of others. He called them to give their very lives away for the sake of the impure, unholy, rejected, and outcast. He upended social conventions. He tore down cultural taboos. Even the laws of nature obeyed Him! Disease disappeared. Demons were cast out. Death itself defeated. Watching Jesus work must have been awesome and frightening all at the same time.

Jesus followers - the people known as Christians - are called to the same way of life. Paul reminds us the suffering we endure for our faith is actually what makes us co-heirs with Christ! And we are not alone. All of creation suffers along with us under the curse of sin. Every single human being struggles under the weight of sin. The difference is that those who follow Christ have hope. We have the hope of an eternal life waiting for us when Christ returns to claim His own. On that great day, our adoption will be complete. Our sufferings will come to an end. Every tear will be wiped away. Every hurt healed. Every pain redressed. Every injustice set right. This is why our present sufferings aren’t worth comparing to the glory that will one day be revealed in us!

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 85-87, Romans 9:1-10:4

The Wonders of God

Readings for today: Psalm 77-79, Romans 7

One of the things I love most about the Bible is how it never runs from the ugly reality of human sin. It never whitewashes human history. It never attempts the paint the people of God in any kind of overly positive light. It simply tells the honest story of our successes and failures and frames them all in light of the faithfulness of God.

Take Psalm 78 for example. I love how the Psalmist begins in verse 1-4…“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. ‬‬We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” ‬‬If you’re reading this for the first time, you might find yourself a little confused. The Psalmist is going to utter “dark sayings from of old”, stories that his ancestors have passed down, tales that might otherwise be kept from children and yet these same stories will declare to the coming generation “the glorious deeds of the Lord?” This doesn’t make much sense to our 21st century, American Christian ears.

Things get only more confusing as we read the rest of the Psalm. In brief, it recounts all the ways the people of God have failed. All the ways they’ve sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. All the times they faced judgment for their disobedience.

“They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them.” (Psalm 78:10-11)

“Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.” (Psalm 78:17)

“They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel.” (Psalm 78:41)

“They provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols.” (Psalm 78:58)

One would think they would suffer terrible judgment for their sin. One would think they would rightfully earn death for the ways they abandoned God and His Law. One would think God’s justice would demand an account and they would be wiped from the face of the earth. Their destruction becoming a byword and warning to all who would hear. But that’s not what happens. Amazingly enough, God meets their sin with grace. Meets their crimes with pardon. Meets their transgressions with mercy.

“In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.” (Psalm 78:12-16)

“He commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.” (Psalm 78:23-27, 29)

“He, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.” (Psalm 78:38-39)

“He led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. And he brought them to his holy land, to the mountain which his right hand had won. He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.” (Psalm 78:52-55)

“He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance. With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.” (Psalm 78:70-72)

It’s an amazing read when we stop to think about it. It declares the goodness and graciousness of God’s character. It reminds us that though God will by no means pardon the guilty, His steadfast love will endure for a thousand generations. Most of all, this Psalm foreshadows the cross. It points forward to that unique event in human history where the overwhelming weight of human sin was carried on the shoulders of the Son of God. As He hung there between heaven and earth making atonement for all we had done and yet will do, the depth of our evil and suffering and sin was met by the wonder and glory of something even deeper still…God’s grace. Friends, the greatest miracle God has ever performed was our salvation.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 80-84, Romans 8

Repentance

Readings for today: Psalms 75-76, Romans 6

Boil everything down. Reduce all the problems in our world and all the problems in our lives to their root and you will find sin. Human sin is the most pervasive, corrupting force in the universe. It tears at the fabric of our lives. It weakens the bonds we have with God, with each other, and with the world around us. It isolates and alienates and incites chaos at every turn. The Bible teaches there is only one prescription for human sin and that is repentance. It is the intentional turning away from sin and turning towards Christ. Listen to how the Apostle Paul puts it in Romans 6…

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans‬ ‭6:12-14‬)

Repentance is more than feeling sorry for ourselves. It’s more than feeling guilt or remorse over what we have done. It is a decision to make a 180 degree turn in life and go in a different direction. I love the phrase Paul uses here…”present yourself.” Do not present yourselves to sin and allow it to use you as an instrument of unrighteousness. In other words, don’t show up at sin’s doorway looking for work. Don’t clock in. Don’t give sin your precious time or talent or treasure. Don’t give sin a foothold in your life. Instead, present yourself every day to God. Show up in His throne room each morning and let Him give you your marching orders for the day. Intentionally place yourself at His disposal and give Him permission to use you for His purposes.

Far too often, we make the mistake of thinking repentance is simply about what we have to give up. We think of it solely in terms of what we have to sacrifice. But that’s not the whole picture. Repentance is not just about what we have to give up but also what we do to fill up. I love the story Jesus tells in the gospels about the man who’s been possessed by demons. He tells His disciples it’s not enough to simply cast the demons out of the man’s life. It’s not enough for the man to even work hard to clean up his life. He has to fill himself up with something lest the demons return, find the “house” still empty, and take back over. True repentance involves both a “turning from” and a “turning to” if it is to be real and effective.

Repentance is one of the key marks of discipleship for a Christian. It’s not something we ever grow beyond or graduate from so where do you need to repent in your life today? What attitudes, thoughts, feelings, or actions do you need to turn away from as you turn towards Christ? How are you intentionally yourself before God today and giving Him permission to use you as an instrument of righteousness in our world?

Readings for tomorrow: Psalm 77-79, Romans 7

Escaping Envy

Readings for today: Psalms 73-74, Romans 5

“Envy rots the bones.” Ever heard that phrase? It comes right out of Scripture. Proverbs 14:30 if you want to look it up. It’s a great image. For me, it brings to mind an old oak tree I once saw when we lived in Alabama. Huge. Majestic. Beautiful. Branches reaching to the sky. Sadly, it was rotten at the core so when a hurricane blew through, it fell over, leaving destruction in it’s wake. This is what envy does to us and I have to confess I too often fall into its trap. I envy those who have more success than I do. I envy those who have more of a platform than I do. I envy those who have more wealth than I do. And I especially envy the wicked who seem to get ahead. I don’t know why. I don’t understand. I cannot fathom why God allows them to prosper.

As I’ve grown spiritually, I’ve learned to deal with my envy. At first, I tried to ignore the thoughts when they came. Refuse to entertain them in my head. Resist the urge to give them a foothold in my heart. But I failed. The thoughts were too persistent. The attacks too relentless. Ultimately my self-discipline failed and they would find a way in. Then I sought to do battle with them. I memorized Scripture. I prayed every time the envious feelings would enter my heart. I tried to take authority over them and cast them out in the name of Jesus. But again I failed. The thoughts were too strong for me to resist. Finally, I stumbled upon the prescription offered by the Psalmist in our reading for today.

“But when I thought how to understand (my envy of the wicked), it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” (Psalm‬ ‭73:16-28‬)

The root of envy is greed. Covetousness. My insatiable appetite for more. Why do I envy the wealthy? Because deep down, I want what they have. Why do I envy the successful? Because deep down, I believe I am better than them. Why do I envy the wicked who get ahead? Because deep down I believe I am more righteous and therefore deserve more of God’s material blessings. You see my problem? When I give envy a foothold, my soul becomes embittered. When my soul becomes embittered, I become brutish and ignorant and like a beast enslaved to my sinful instincts and desires. How do I dislodge envy from my soul? I look to Christ. I find my deepest satisfaction in Him alone. “Whom have I in heaven but you? There is nothing on earth I desire besides You. My flesh and heart may fail - and in fact often do! - but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” When I make Christ my supreme treasure, everything I might be tempted to envy in this world fades into the background. It loses its hold on my life. The temptation is robbed of its power.

All of us fall into the trap of envy. All of us tend to play the comparison game. We look at our neighbors and we envy what they have. We look at our boss and we envy their position. We look at those who are getting ahead and we envy their success. We look at other people at church who seem to have it altogether and we envy their lives. We look at social media and we envy the highlight reel our friends and family post. The only way to escape this trap is to look to Christ. To fix our eyes on Jesus. To find our only comfort, our only peace, our only hope in His life, death, and resurrection.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 75-76, Romans 6

Saving Faith

Readings for today: Psalms 70-72, Romans 4

One of the things I love to do when I read through the Bible in a year is to read the passages from different versions. My preferred version is the ESV. But I read from the NIV and the RSV and when I am looking for a more contemporary version, I might go to the CEV. Today I read Romans 4 from the Message version that Eugene Peterson wrote and I found his words incredibly compelling. Especially when he gets to verses 13-25.

“That famous promise God gave Abraham—that he and his children would possess the earth—was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God’s decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when he believed. If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an ironclad contract! That’s not a holy promise; that’s a business deal. A contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print only makes sure that you will never be able to collect. But if there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise—and God’s promise at that—you can’t break it. This is why the fulfillment of God’s promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God’s promise arrives as pure gift. That’s the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it, those who keep the religious traditions and those who have never heard of them. For Abraham is father of us all. He is not our racial father—that’s reading the story backward. He is our faith father. We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn’t that what we’ve always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, “I set you up as father of many peoples”? Abraham was first named “father” and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, “You’re going to have a big family, Abraham!” Abraham didn’t focus on his own impotence and say, “It’s hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child.” Nor did he survey Sarah’s decades of infertility and give up. He didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That’s why it is said, “Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right.” But it’s not just Abraham; it’s also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.”

You see, I struggle with faith. If I were Abraham, I am quite sure I would focused on my impotence or Sarah’s age and infertility and simply given up. I would have had a very hard time believing God would deliver on what He promised. This is what I love about Scripture. As I read about Abraham plunging “into the promise and coming up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what He had said”, the Holy Spirit goes to work inside my own heart. The Word of God - which is living and active - begins to stir up faith deep in my soul. I find myself inspired to follow Abraham’s example. I find myself remembering all the promises God has given me. Promises for my children. Promises for my church. Promises for my friends serving Christ around the world in some of the most dangerous places. The Holy Spirit keeps working, reminding me that faith is a gift and not something I muster up on my own. He keeps placing the gift in front of me, encouraging me simply to receive. To embrace. To believe. And every time my fears or doubts begin to creep in, the Holy Spirit plays the ultimate trump card…the resurrection of Christ. He takes me back to the most hopeless moment in human history when evil seemed to have finally gained the upper hand once and for all and He shows me an empty tomb. Resurrection is the promise we plunge into when we believe. Christ dying. Christ rising. Christ coming again. This is the gospel and it is what sets us right with God.

Readings for tomorrow: None

Learned Helplessness

Readings for today: Psalms 68-69, Romans 3

All of us live under the Law of God. All of us are accountable for every thought, word, and deed. All of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ where every part of our lives will be laid bare. Nothing will be hidden. Nothing held back. Nothing will escape God’s notice. For He sees all and knows all and judges all with righteousness. “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” (Romans‬ ‭3:19‬)

Reflecting on the Law of God produces humility. It brings us to our knees. It stops every mouth. It ends every rationalizing and self-justifying thought. The purpose of the Law is to show us the depths of our sin. It holds a mirror up to our soul. It reflects back to us the reality that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None are righteous. None understand. None truly seek God. All turn aside. All go their own way. All do what is right in their own eyes. Our thoughts are prone to deceit. Our lips prone to bitterness and curses. Our feet swift to shed blood, get revenge, take out our anger on those around us. Our paths are lined with the bodies of those we’ve hurt and wounded along the way. We do not fear God. We do not love God. We have no peace with God. This is the fundamental truth of our existence. We were conceived in sin. Born in iniquity. And there is no escape.

Many years ago, I took some classes in psychology. One of the experiments we studied had to do with learned helplessness. As I remember it, an animal was put in a box with the lid closed and given a shock. Because it could not escape, it eventually stopped trying. It simply endured. Even after the lid was removed, it would not jump out. It “learned helplessness.” In many ways, that is the intended purpose of the Law of God. To teach us how utterly helpless and hopeless we are to save ourselves. We live in a closed system. A world corrupted by sin. There is no escape. The lid is too tight. We cannot get out. Our only hope is that the Master will come and save us from our broken condition.

This is what Paul is pointing us to this morning. “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans‬ ‭3:21-26‬) The righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law? You mean I don’t have to work so hard to justify myself? The righteousness of God is available through faith to all who believe in Jesus Christ? You mean all I need to do is open my heart to Him and receive the gift of His grace? Yes to all of this and more! The righteousness of God is a gift, friends! It cannot be earned. It cannot achieved. It cannot be purchased. It can only be received. God knows the broken condition of our world. He sees the helplessness of His creatures. He understands our hopeless state. So He sends His Son to atone for our sin and to show forth His righteousness that God might both be just and the justifier of the one who believes.

Friends, the good news of the gospel is that God has done what we could not! He has achieved what we never could! He has kept the Law! He has fulfilled the Law! He has satisfied the Law with its demands! And now He simply calls us to believe. To trust in what He has accomplished on our behalf! Trust Jesus, friends! For your life! For your future! For our nation and for our world!

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 70-72, Romans 4

God of our Salvation

Readings for today: Psalms 65-67, Romans 2

I love the deep faith of the Psalmist. Life in the ancient world was incredibly hard. It was a daily grind. A person lived under constant threat of famine or plague or some other natural disaster. Each spring the armies would go off to war with the fate of the nation hanging in the balance. Disease and death were constant companions. And yet in the midst of it all, he looks to God for salvation. He knows he can trust in God’s character. He knows He can trust in God’s power. He knows He can trust God’s nature which is good and righteous and holy. This is what gives him hope. Not worldly success or comfort. Not earthly power or treasure. Not even his own physical well-being. God alone is the “hope of all the earth and of the farthest seas…” Listen to how he puts it…

“By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.” (Psalm‬ ‭65:5-8‬)

You and I live in much different times. Life in America in the 21st century could not be more different than life in ancient Israel and yet it doesn’t necessarily make it any easier. Yes, we live in relative comfort and ease. Yes, many of us do not need to worry about famine or plague or some other natural disaster. We can go to King Soopers if we are hungry. We can go to the doctor if we are sick. We live in homes specifically designed to withstand whatever Mother Nature may decide to throw at us. Sure, there are very real geo-political threats but we do not fear annual invasions by a foreign power. But life is still very much a daily grind. How many of us struggle with mental health issues? How many of us struggle with persistent physical pain? How many of us have suffered emotionally through the grief and losses of the last year? Death still stalks us whether we acknowledge it or not. Fear and anxiety seem like constant companions. The constant strain and stress takes a toll on our closest relationships and the relentless pressure to produce drives us into the ground. So where do we find hope? Where do we look for salvation?

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same God who provided hope for the Psalmist of the ancient world is the same God who provides hope for us today. We simply need to look to Him. We need to believe His promises. We need to trust His character. Trust His power. Trust His nature which is good and righteous and holy. God is still at work doing awesome deeds! He is making Himself known in the farthest corners of the earth! By His strength He raises mountains and stills the raging seas. By His might He calms the oceans and brings peace to the nations of the earth. He performs these miracles so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth will see and believe and be in awe of His signs and wonders.

Friends, whatever you may be facing today, look to God for hope. Whatever battles you may be fighting today, look to God for salvation. Whatever struggles or suffering you may be going through, look to God for deliverance. He loves you. He is with you. He will be faithful to bring you through the dark valley into beautiful green pastures where you can be refreshed by still waters and restore your soul.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 68-69, Romans 3

The Power of the Gospel

Readings for today: Psalms 62-64, Romans 1

You may have seen the news out of Europe about the Dutch man who tried to change his legal age. Biologically, he is in his sixties but he “feels” like he’s in his forties and his life is diminished because of the discrimination that happens the older one gets. You may have caught the news out of England about the man who believes passionately in “ethical veganism” and wants it to become legally protected as a religion so he can potentially force his former employer to give him his job back as well as change their investment practices so as not to violate his religious beliefs. You may have seen the opinion piece in the New York Times from the transgender woman who argues the medical ethical guildeline of “Do no harm” no longer should apply because no doctor should ever have the authority to determine what actually “harms” another person. “I also believe that surgery’s only prerequisite should be a simple demonstration of want. Beyond this, no amount of pain, anticipated or continuing, justifies its withholding.” (Andrea Long Chu, NYT, 11/24/2018) These may seem like isolated cases to you. Outliers we should dismiss. I disagree. 

I believe they are the prime examples of God giving us over to the “lusts of our hearts...dishonorable passions...debased minds.” Now please hear me. I am not being mean. I am not being judgmental. I am simply pointing out the reality of what happens when we turn away from God. We dis-integrate. Body, mind, heart, and soul are set in opposition to one another, resulting in skyrocketing rates of depression and suicide ideation. Dysphoria, once considered a mental illness, is now being celebrated and embraced. The Apostle Paul knew the tragic consequences of such thinking. It was celebrated in his own context as well. Human beings, created and designed to bring God glory and honor, turned from their sacred vocation and pursued their own pleasure. They did what was right in their own eyes. They forged their own path only to find it leading them over a cliff. The most heartbreaking part of reading the New York Times story mentioned above was Andrea’s willingness, even desire, to embrace depression and suicide. She admits taking hormones and having surgery will actually take her deeper into depression but she sees no alternative. She has no hope. 

This is why Paul’s stirring words in Romans 1:16 are so important! “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Make no mistake, Paul doesn’t believe the gospel is simply a good idea. One philosophy among many. One path among many to get to God. No, he truly believes the gospel provides the ONLY answer to the problem of pain and suffering of this world. He truly believes the gospel provides the ONLY hope we can possibly have for a better, richer, more integrated life. He truly believes the gospel ALONE has the power to save humanity from itself. 

Now I know this idea is very unpopular in our culture today. To suggest Christianity is somehow superior in any way to any other religious or philosophical idea is considered arrogant and condescending. Exclusive and intolerant. But let me put it another way. Imagine you develop a successful treatment for cancer. Imagine your success rate is 100% at curing the disease. Sure, there are a lot of other treatments out there. Some more successful than others but none of them provide the cure your treatment guarantees. Would it not be right to promote it as the better, more superior option? Paul believes the gospel is the power of God for salvation. He believes it actually delivers on what it promises. Is he not right then to promote it as the superior cure to what ails humanity? Namely, sin? Is he not right to promote it above Torah? Are we not right to promote it above Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism? If we truly believe Jesus is God then how can we NOT declare Him as superior in every way to Mohammed, Krishna, Buddha, even Moses? Friends, this is exactly the truth that changed Paul’s life on the road outside Damascus. When he realized Jesus had been raised from the dead, he knew He could be no ordinary prophet. Jesus must be God and therefore everything Jesus said or did must be true. And if everything Jesus said or did must be true then we must believe Him. And if we believe Him then we will surrender our lives to Him. And if we surrender our lives to Him then we will be submit all our thoughts, feelings, and actions to His Lordship. And if we submit to His Lordship, we will find ourselves a regenerated and re-integrated people living not for ourselves but for the honor and glory of God. This is the power of the gospel.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 65-67, Romans 2

Poured Out

Readings for today: Psalms 59-61, Acts 28:11-31

The Apostle Paul is one of my heroes. From the time he met the Risen Christ outside of Damascus until his death in Rome many years later, he never stopped preaching Christ. Never stopped proclaiming the gospel. It didn’t matter whether people agreed with him or not. Stones did not stop him. Riots didn’t stop him. Death threats didn’t stop him. Opponents from within the church didn’t stop him. Imprisonment didn’t stop him. Poverty, shipwreck, pain, suffering…none of it got in his way. He simply took each and every opportunity in each and every city he went to share Jesus with those who did not yet know him. Even at the end of his life here in Acts 28, we see him using his imprisonment and impending martyrdom to teach people about the Kingdom of God.

“He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts‬ ‭28:30-31)

It’s a powerful testimony to the strength and resilience of Paul’s faith. He never seemed to waver. Never seemed to doubt. Never seemed to question. Once he met the Risen Christ, it was like something clicked in Paul’s Pharisee brain. The hope of Israel had come. By raising Jesus from the dead, God had placed His divine stamp of approval on His life and ministry and mission. The vindication that Paul himself expected to receive at the end of time through resurrection had broken into history in the Person of Jesus. It was mind-blowing and life-altering and Paul never looked back. He devoted the rest of his life to sharing this good news with the world. Jew and Gentile alike. Any who would come and listen.

Perhaps you wonder about Paul’s state of mind here at the end of his life? Perhaps you wonder as death approached if he ever caved into fear or anxiety? Perhaps you wonder how he faced his death with such courage? Listen to the words he wrote to his young protege, Timothy, while he was imprisoned in Rome. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy‬ ‭4:6-8‬)

What was the source of Paul’s “boldness” at the end of his life? It was Christ. Paul kept his eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. He looked beyond the horizons of this life to the life to come where he knew his reward awaited him. He understood that those who give their lives in service to Christ - whether preachers or teachers, worship leaders or artists, business owners or line employees, CEO’s or sanitation workers, professional athletes or politicians - all will receive the crown of righteousness for the work they do in spreading the gospel. All will receive the reward they are due for the sacrifices they make to expand God’s Kingdom.

Friends, we can pour our lives out for many things in this world. We can chase our dreams. We can achieve our goals. We can pursue all sorts of influence, power, success, and wealth. But at the end of the day, the only thing truly worth giving your life for is Jesus. The only vision truly worth pursuing is the vision He casts of His Kingdom. The only race worth running is the one that finds it’s finish line in heaven.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 62-64, Romans 1

Defining Salvation

Readings for today: Psalms 53-58, Acts 27:27-28:10

What is salvation? Is it just fire insurance? A “Get out of Hell” free card? Getting our ticket punched to heaven? Is it raising a hand in a worship service? Is it walking the sawdust trail to pray the sinner’s prayer? Is it being baptized? What does it mean to be saved? What are we saved from? What are we saved for?

The Bible defines salvation as a wholistic, transformative experience whereby we are delivered from death and delivered to new life. We are delivered from slavery and we are delivered into a life of freedom. We are delivered from the kingdom of darkness and delivered into a kingdom of light. It’s literally a new birth. We are literally given a new heart. Our feet are literally set on a new path. Listen to how the Psalmist describes it from our reading today…“For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” (Psalm‬ ‭56:13‬)

Salvation, according to Scripture, is far more than simply securing our eternal destiny. It is far more than raising our hand or praying a prayer. It is far more than any sacramental act we participate in. It is nothing short of God miraculously interceding in human history to claim yet another soul for His very own. It is nothing short of God graciously choosing to adopt a new son or daughter into His family. It is nothing short of God expanding His Kingdom, one subject at a time. There is no such thing as being “called” without become His child. There is no such thing as being “delivered” without becoming His disciple. There is no such thing as being “saved” without becoming His subject. Jesus is either BOTH Lord and Savior or He is neither of those things.

Sadly, too many people believe they can experience deliverance without obedience. They naively believe they can be saved from bondage into some kind of neutral territory where they don’t have to be subject to God or the devil. They believe God will set them free but make no further claim on their lives. They want all the privileges that come with being a child of the King without any of the responsibilities. It’s why so many self-identified Christians live lives that look no different from their unbelieving neighbors. And it’s why the unbelieving world finds the Christian faith unbelievable.

The Psalmist teaches us a different way. Yes, God delivers our souls from death. Just as He did for Adam and Eve. Just as He did for Noah and his family. Just as He did for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Just as He did for Israel in Egypt. God is a God of deliverance. God is a God of salvation. God specializes in setting His people free from bondage to sin and death. But that’s only half the salvation equation. God not only delivers us from death and keeps our feet from falling, He does these things so we might walk in newness of life. He saves us so that we might walk before Him in the light of new life. Not only that but God saves us so our lives might become a credible testimony to the transforming power of the gospel to those around us. God’s great desire is that all should be saved. All should be delivered from death. All should have their feet kept from falling. All should walk before Him in newness of life. You and I are therefore called to live out our faith in very public ways so that those around us who do not yet believe might see and experience the difference salvation makes in a person’s life.

Friends, God desires a relationship with us. A deep, intimate walk with us. Just like He had with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Just as He will one day again have when New Jerusalem descends to earth. One of the many reasons why the gospel is “good news” is we don’t have to wait! We can begin this walk with God today. All we have to do is open the door of our hearts and let Him in.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 59-61, Acts 28:11-31

Preparing for Worship

Readings for today: Psalms 50-52, Acts 27:1-26

It’s important to prepare our hearts for worship. It’s important to understand the magnitude of the act we participate in on a Saturday evening or Sunday morning. Worship is not entertainment. Worship is not an experience. Worship is an encounter. An encounter with the Living God. In worship we enter into His Presence. We come into His house. His throne room. We find ourselves in His space which is governed by His terms. His will. His ways. As such, our will no longer matters. Our desires no longer reign. Our thoughts and attitudes no longer hold any importance. God is God and we are not. If we are not overwhelmingly confronted with that thought when we worship then we must question whether we have truly worshipped at all.

God doesn’t need us, friends. He doesn’t need our worship. He doesn’t need our gifts. He doesn’t need our attention. He is fully complete and whole in Himself. He is fully satisfied in Himself. He is fully sufficient in Himself. Listen to how the Psalmist puts it…“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?” (Psalm‬ ‭50:8-13‬) God is not like us. He is wholly other. He exists outside time and space. He has no need of anything we might bring. And yet, He extends His hand to us. He invites us to be in relationship with Him. Out of the overflow of the love that exists between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are invited to participate in the life of God in worship. It is the greatest privilege of our lives. The greatest honor we could ever receive. This is why we “offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform our vows to the Most High, and call upon Him in the day of trouble…” (Psalm 50:14-15) trusting Him to deliver us.

Such a monumental event requires intentional preparation. We would never attend a function at the White House without first thinking through what we will wear, what we will say, or what we might do. We would never attend a special event held in someone’s honor without preparing a gift. So how does one prepare oneself for worship? We pray the prayer King David prayed in Psalm 51. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” ‭(Psalm‬ ‭51:10-12‬) We ask God to do what we cannot. We cannot wash ourselves clean. We cannot remove the stain of sin. We cannot maintain a righteous spirit. These are things God must do for us and the great news of the gospel is He already has! Out of the deepest gratitude for all God has done in Christ, we bring the only sacrifice that is acceptable. The only sacrifice God values. The only sacrifice we can possibly offer which is “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, God will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

When we humble ourselves before God in worship. Offering Him the broken pieces of our lives. Asking Him to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God responds. God answers our prayers. God hears our cries. And He goes to work. We become like a green olive tree in His house. His steadfast love and faithfulness sustain us for all of life and all eternity. Our hearts overflow with gratitude and thanksgiving for all He has done. And we find ourselves longing more and more to join God’s people in worship around His throne.

Readings for tomorrow: None

God’s Politics

Readings for today: Psalms 47-49, Acts 26

We live in deeply divided political times. Not only here in America but around the world. The tribal impulse lying deep in the heart of every person is breaking out in violence across the globe. Democrats vs. Republicans. Progressives vs. conservatives. Left wing extremism vs. right-wing extremism. Fascism vs. communism. Authoritarian regimes vs. populist uprisings. The conflicts are often ethnic, religious, and socio-economic. Each class vying for power. Each tribe jockeying for control. Each party seeking to dominate the other. The rhetoric is heated and often hateful. Political opponents are often cast as traitors and enemies of the state. Violence is subtly or not so subtly encouraged. Fear has been weaponized. Anxiety has been conscripted. Shame has been employed to devastating effect in the cause of ideological purity.

What’s a Christian to do? How should a Christ-follower respond? Well, I love how the Apostle Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” What is Paul talking about here? He’s talking about using a gentle answer to turn away wrath. He’s talking about confronting violence by turning the other cheek. He’s talking about addressing hatred with love. He’s talking about overcoming hurt and pain with forgiveness and grace. Now some might call Paul naive. Some might consider him a Pollyanna. Some might argue you have to fight fire with fire lest you be consumed. But Paul’s no stranger to abuse. Paul’s no stranger to injustice. Paul’s no stranger to pain and suffering. Furthermore, even a cursory reading of the Book of Acts shows how politically savvy Paul could be whether it was arguing in front of the Sanhedrin or before the Areopagus in Athens or attempting to convince King Agrippa to place his faith in Christ or ultimately in his appeal to Rome. Paul used each and every trial to proclaim Jesus and he never resorted to underhanded or manipulative tactics to achieve his goals.

What shaped Paul’s approach? What gave him the confidence to stand fast when the temptation would be to use whatever means necessary to preserve his own life or the lives of those he loved? It was his confidence in God. Paul was a Pharisee. He had the Old Testament memorized. From birth, he had been raised to believe and to trust in the sovereignty of God. I imagine when Paul found himself on trial before political or religious authorities, he may have even recited the words from Psalm 47 to himself…

“Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!”

What would happen if we truly believed God ruled the nations of the earth? What would happen if we truly lived as if God were seated on His throne? How would it change the way we live, the way we interact, the way we engage politically if we had complete and utter confidence that though earthly kingdoms rise and fall, the Kingdom of God endures forever? Friends, love of country is a good thing, it simply cannot become an ultimate thing. Political engagement is a good thing, it simply cannot become a cage match to the death. Standing up for what you believe is a good thing but not if you are standing on the backs of those who may disagree with you. Ideological purity leads to idolatry when we forget that it is God who sits on the throne of the universe.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 50-52, Acts 27:1-26

Mental Health

Readings for today: Psalms 42-43, Acts 24

Recently, our awareness of the importance of mental health has been elevated by some of the top athletes in the world. It began with Naomi Osaka, the number one female tennis player in the world, skipping the French Open press conferences to take care of herself. It was highlighted again during the Olympics by arguably the greatest gymnast of all time, Simone Biles, withdrawing from both team and individual competitions. It reminded us of Michael Phelps and his struggles once he left the Olympic stage. This has sparked a conversation that is spreading rapidly as more and more athletes open up about their personal struggles to deal with the pressure that comes with competing at an elite level. This is not new, of course, but the openness to actually talking about it is new. The vulnerability displayed by these athletes is both courageous and inspiring and hopefully will lead to some necessary changes moving forward. Elite athletes are human beings just like all of us. They are subject to the same fears and anxieties that we all suffer from. Rather than dismiss their concerns or critique their decisions, we should thank them for casting a spotlight on what is rapidly - according to mental health professionals across the country - another, albeit more hidden, pandemic. Depression rates have tripled over the last year. Substance abuse rates have skyrocketed. More and more adults are reporting struggles with anxiety disorders. And we have yet to see the crest of the tide. Many of us are just beginning to come to grips with the losses we’ve suffered over the past year. Many of us are in the early stages of grief and are trying to find ways to cope even as coronavirus cases begin to rise and the specter of re-instated mandates loom. Many of us are teetering on the edge of burnout and feel like we cannot open up to those around us. As the tidal wave builds, I expect it to cost people jobs, churches, friendships, marriages, and families. In short, all we hold dear. So where do go for help?

As always, we turn to the Lord. I love how the Psalmist describes his own struggle with anxiety and fear in today’s reading…

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” We are living through a spiritual drought of historic proportions. We continue to turn to cracked cisterns of our own making rather than to the well of Living Water. The thirst we are feeling arises from the very depths of our being and can only be quenched by God Himself.

“When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” How many of us are tossing and turning at night? How many of us are struggling to sleep? Struggling to rest? Struggling to find peace? How many of us are wrestling with demons that threaten to overwhelm? How many of us are turning to alcohol or opioids or marijuana to calm our fears?

“These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.” Perhaps we can all look back and remember a more joyful time? A time when we seemed happy? Things seemed good? Maybe life was going great pre-pandemic and COVID has utterly wrecked whatever dreams you may have had? Maybe it’s been a long time since you felt safe and secure and like you could come into the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise?

The Psalmist gives us a prescription for our pain. Medicine for our mental health. Listen closely to what he says…

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

The Psalmist teaches us to do three things when we feel anxious and afraid. First, we remember. We remember the good things God has done. We remember what God has done for His people throughout history. How God met them in places like Jordan and Hermon. Second, we remember God’s character. He is a God of steadfast love and faithfulness. He walks beside us by day. He stands guard over us by night. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Third and finally, we engage in the act of praise. We praise God in both good times and bad. We praise God when the skies are clear or in the midst of the storm. We praise God when we feel great and we praise God when we feel weak. We praise God when we feel deeply connected to Him and we praise God when we feel like He’s distant or has forgotten us. The act of praise literally lifts our hearts. The act of praise re-orients our thoughts. The act of praise releases dopamine in the brain which provides a strong antidote to the anxiety we may be feeling.

Friends, it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to feel weak, fragile, and vulnerable. It’s okay to not have it altogether. It’s okay to admit you need help. God is with you. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you. He loves you with an everlasting love. And He has surrounded you with people and resources for help when you find yourself in need. Come to the well of Living Water and let Christ quench your thirsty soul.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 44-46, Acts 25

Life is Fleeting

Readings for today: Psalms 39-41, Acts 23:12-35

Life is fleeting. It comes and goes. It is here today and gone tomorrow. It’s full of ups and downs. We have moments when we feel like we are on top of the world. We have moments when we feel we are living in the depths of despair. Circumstances conspire to steal our joy. Situations are thrust upon us over which we have no control. Sacred moments rush in filling our souls with peace. We experience special moments of feeling deeply loved and accepted. But it’s messy. It’s a jumble. Life is not always up and to the right.

The Bible acknowledges all these things, of course. One of the things I love most about God’s Word is that it never shies away from real life. It embraces all that is good and bad and ugly about our experience in this world. It reminds us never to place our trust or hope in the things of this world. Instead, the Bible encourages us to store up our treasures in heaven. To look beyond the horizons of this earth to the world to come. The reality is we are eternal creatures. We are creatures made to live forever. Death is not the end for us but merely a doorway to another dimension of life. That dimension could be heaven. That dimension could be hell. Either way, we will find ourselves still very much alive. Conscious. Aware. And that should create a sense of perspective for us. It should right-size our expectations of life in this world.

I love how the Psalmist puts it in today’s reading…“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!” (Psalm‬ ‭39:4-6‬) It’s also good to read in the Message version…“Tell me, what’s going on, God? How long do I have to live? Give me the bad news! You’ve kept me on pretty short rations; my life is a string too short to be saved. Oh! we’re all puffs of air. Oh! we’re all shadows in a campfire. Oh! we’re just spit in the wind. We make our pile, and then we leave it.”(Psalm‬ ‭39:4-6‬)

It sounds pretty hopeless, doesn’t it? Sounds like the Psalmist is struggling to come to grips with meaning and purpose in the face of death. As he feels his own life potentially ebbing away, he wonders what the point of it all might be? Our days are indeed few. We spend quite a few of them in turmoil. Our lives are strings too short to be saved. We are but puffs of air on the wind. We are shadows in a campfire. Naked we came from the womb and naked we shall return to the dust. We can take nothing with us. All this is true and still the Psalmist declares, “My hope is in You.” (Psalms 39:7) Despite how he’s feeling. Despite what his lived experience is teaching him. Against all natural human instinct, he clings to hope as he clings to God. It’s a powerful testimony and one we all need to hear especially in this cultural moment.

There is so much about life right now that causes us to despair. People we love are getting sick or suffering or even dying. Friendships we once enjoyed are fracturing. Whatever work/life balance we had before the pandemic has been completely upended. Routines have been scrapped. Rhythms disrupted. Schedules shot. Layer onto that the increasing polarization of our country, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our schools, our churches, even our families, and it probably feels like nowhere is truly safe. The Psalmist knows how we feel. “I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned…” (Psalm‬ ‭39:2-3‬) So what did he do? Did he lash out? Did he burn everything to the ground? Did he let his despair get the best of him? No. He turned to the Lord. He cried out to God. He took a step back and tried to see things from God’s perspective. This is what gave him hope. Not that everything would turn out okay in the end or that he would live happily ever after but that God would hear his prayer. God would see his tears. God would meet him in his sojourning and cause him to smile again.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 42-43, Acts 24

Fixing our Eyes on Jesus

Readings for today: Psalms 34-38, Acts 21:37-23:11

One of my favorite verses is Hebrews 12:2 - “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” I believe it is the key to the Christian life. It is the pathway to all of God’s promises. Imagine a life filled with unspeakable joy, peace that passes all understanding, amazing grace, and unconditional love. All of that is accessed in Christ and through Christ. It is the glorious inheritance of the people of God. These are the riches God pours out on those who place their trust in His Beloved Son.

So why do so many Christians struggle? Why do so many Christians live with anxiety, doubt, suffering, pain, heartache, disappointment, discouragement, and fear? My experience as a pastor tells me that - at least in part - it’s because we take our eyes off of Jesus or we don’t know how to fix our eyes on Him in the first place. Too many of us want it both ways. We want to love the things of this world and love Jesus. We want to secure both an earthly and eternal inheritance. We want to be great in the eyes of our peers and in the eyes of God. We want to make a name for ourselves and a name for God. We want the position or platform and the power that comes with it without suffering the passion of Jesus. The Bible calls this double-mindedness. We’re trying to live in two worlds. Our loyalties are divided between two radically different kingdoms. Our allegiances are split. Our minds and hearts confused. Our thinking warped. And it’s why so many of us live “lives of quiet desperation” or we are full of “sound and fury signifying nothing.”

So what does it mean to fix our eyes on Jesus? What does that actually look like in practice? Think of Peter walking on water. He took steps of faith outside of the boat. Outside his comfort zone. Outside his normative experience. Peter was a fisherman. He knew boats inside and out. He knew the Sea of Galilee inside and out. He knew the laws of physics. He knew people didn’t walk on water. But when he fixed his eyes on Jesus, something that was impossible became possible. Something he would never have imagined suddenly became reality. He actually stepped out on the waves and only began to sink when he started to look around and allowed doubt to creep in. Think of Paul. Paul was the Jew of Jews. He was born into the tribe of Benjamin. Circumcised according to the Law on the eighth day. Studied under one of the greatest rabbi’s of his day. Advanced beyond his age and his peers. He was a brilliant Pharisee. According to the Law of God, he was blameless. His devotion to the Law of God made him the greatest heresy hunter of his time. But when he fixed his eyes on Jesus outside the city of Damascus, everything changed. All the accomplishments of his former life turned to dust. He counted everything now as loss for the sake of knowing Christ.

I thought about these two men when I read through the Psalms assigned for today. The language is poetic. The images are striking. The words make our hearts sing when we read them. I believe that’s because they are conveying the same deep truth that the author of the Book of Hebrews is pointing us to. Simply put, the Psalmist wants us to see Jesus. Wants us to fix our eyes on Him. Wants the treasures of this earth to grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Listen again. Take your time. Slow down. Savor each verse and the promise it contains. Let the Spirit stir your heart use these words to change your life…

“My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.” (Psalm 34:2)

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)

“Those who look to the Lord are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” (Psalm 34:5)

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8)

“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:15-19)

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” (Psalm 37:5-6)

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (Psalm 37:7)

“The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever…”(Psalm 37:18)

“Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.” (Psalm 37:34)

“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.” (Psalm 37:39-40)

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 39-41, Acts 23:12-35

People of the Truth

Readings for today: Psalms 31-33, Acts 21:17-36

“For God’s Word is solid to the core; everything he makes is sound inside and out. He loves it when everything fits, when his world is in plumb-line true. Earth is drenched in God’s affectionate satisfaction.” (Psalm‬ ‭33:4-5‬)

“Because the LORD’s word is right, his every act is done in good faith. He loves righteousness and justice; the LORD’s faithful love fills the whole earth.” (Psalms‬ ‭33:4-5‬)

“For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” (Psalm‬ ‭33:4-5‬)

One of the things I love doing is reading the same verses in different versions. It helps me grasp the depth and breadth of what God is trying to reveal to me. In today’s reading, we ran across these words speaking to the sufficiency of God’s Word. They highlight the truth of God’s Word. The trustworthiness of God’s Word. And what happens when human beings commit to following God’s Word. If we truly aligned our will with God’s will, the earth would be filled with righteousness and justice or as Eugene Peterson translated it, “Earth is drenched in God’s affectionate satisfaction.” I don’t know about you but I would love to live in such a world! I would love to live in a place flooded with God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. I would love to live a culture that reflects biblical values and the heart of the gospel. I would love to see all injustice end and all evil stopped and all sin cease. I would love to see everything “fit” according to God’s perfect plan.

Sadly, we don’t live in such a world. Even more tragically, we don’t live in such a church. The church is supposed to be the one place where God’s Word reigns supreme. It is the one community where God’s Word should hold ultimate authority. After all, we spend hours preaching God’s Word and teaching God’s Word and challenging people to follow God’s Word. But the influence of the world is powerful. Almost too hard to resist. Social media. Cable news. Talk radio. There is a cacophony of voices clamoring for our attention on a daily basis. It is chaotic. Noisy. Confusing. It’s easy to be drawn this way and that or tossed about like a ship on the waves of the sea. Across the country, churches are being torn apart by political divisions, ethnic divisions, social divisions, cultural divisions, and so much more. Add a dangerous pandemic to that mix and you have an incredibly toxic brew.

That’s why it’s so important to stay grounded in God’s Word. God’s people must remain tethered to God’s Truth. His Word is our lifeline in a world rapidly spinning out of control. His Word is our lifesaver in a sea of chaos. His Word is the bedrock which keeps us stable in the midst of all the storms.

Bonus: If you want a great example of what I’m talking about, check out these two sermons by Dr. Tony Evans. He is addressing the issue of Critical Race Theory (CRT) from a biblical perspective or what he calls Kingdom Race Theology (KRT). It’s a great illustration on how to bring biblical truth to bear on one of the most pressing cultural issues of our day.

Sermon #1

Sermon #2

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 34-38, Acts 21:37-23:11