God Reigns!

Readings for today: Psalms 97-99

When I look at the world around me, I find it easy to get discouraged. My wife tells me it’s because I pay far too much attention to the news and I will readily admit I have a difficult time turning it off. The brutal invasion of Russia into Ukraine. Severe drought and famine in eastern Africa. Food insecurity and starvation in so many parts of the world. The impact of climate change on developing nations. Persecution of fellow Christians in countries where it is illegal to worship, much less share the good news of the gospel. The deeper the Spirit takes me into Christ, the more these things effect me. I am often troubled when I pray. I often find myself brooding over the chaos of the world. Wondering when God will finally put an end to it all.

I am just as troubled for events here at home. The mass shootings at local grocery stores and churches. The rise in white supremacy and other hate groups. The desperate plight of the poor as inflation continues to rise. The rage that seems to simmer under the surface of our society. The impotence of our political leadership who are more beholden to hyper-partisanship than they are the welfare of our nation. Even more locally, I am baffled by the ability of people to walk away from relationships they’ve cultivated for years. Troubled by our wide-spread lack of resiliency. Our inability to process disappointment and pain in healthy ways. The deeper the Spirit takes me into Christ, the more I realize how essential forgiveness and reconciliation are to the life of any community. Be it a family, church, school, business, town, etc. We simply cannot survive without it and yet fewer and fewer people seem capable of grace.

I am broken by the personal and pastoral experiences I’ve had recently. I recently officiated a memorial service for a 32 year old young man. Sitting with the family in their grief broke my heart. I have another dear friend who is a young dad potentially facing an uncertain future due to an unexpected diagnosis. I know several couples who are struggling to hold their marriages and families together. I know too many teenagers who are fighting depression and anxiety. Yes, I know this is part of what I signed up for but it doesn’t make it any easier. I certainly am no superman. My heart breaks on almost continual basis for those I love and have the privilege to serve.

So where do I go to find hope? I turn to the Psalms. Listen again to these glorious, encouraging words. “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.” (Psalm‬ ‭97:1-6‬) What a declaration of hope! God reigns! Not God will reign or God has reigned. No! God reigns in the present tense! He reigns in the here and now. He reigns over the chaos. He reigns over the pain. He reigns over disease and death. He reigns over it all. Globally. Domestically. Locally. Personally. God reigns! And because God reigns, I can be glad. Even in the midst of all my fears. Even as I stumble under the weight of all my burdens. Even when I am discouraged or troubled or broken. God reigns. I can rejoice. “Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.” (Psalm‬ ‭97:11-12‬)‬‬

Now I know many will argue this doesn’t change a thing. It’s not like war and violence and sickness and suffering are going away anytime soon. They will use world events as evidence to push back against the idea of a good and holy and righteous and sovereign God. They will argue it’s impossible for God to be all these things when there is so much wrong in the world. This leaves us with one of only two conclusions…so they say. Either God isn’t good. Isn’t holy. Isn’t righteous. And perhaps doesn’t care. Or God is not sovereign. He is not all-powerful. He doesn’t reign and is at the mercy of the same forces we are that operate with impunity in our world. To be honest, if I didn’t have faith. If I hadn’t encountered God personally. If I didn’t know God on an intimate level, I might be tempted to agree.

But I do believe. I do have faith. Even in the darkness, I trust the light will one day dawn. Even when the world is crashing down around me, I trust the One who holds all things in His hands. Even when the lives of those I love seem to be falling apart, I trust the One who holds all things together. God reigns! God is on His throne! God is sovereignly directing all things for His glorious purposes! So I will sing! I will “sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” (‭Psalm‬ ‭98:1-3‬)‬‬

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 24, 1 Chronicles 21-22, Psalms 30

Thy will or thy will?

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 22-23, Psalms 57

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done. ' All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it.” - C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

I thought about these words from Lewis when I read 2 Samuel 22:26-28 today. “With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless person you show yourself blameless; with the purified you deal purely, and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the proud to bring them down.” There is a reciprocity to our relationship with God. He promises to draw near those who draw near to Him. (James 4:8) This is not a “works-righteousness” philosophy. This isn’t about earning God’s favor or trying to win your way into heaven. It’s simply a recognition of the reality that those who truly seek God with all their heart will quite naturally find themselves longing to draw near to Him. Longing to be more like Him. Longing to take on the characteristics and qualities God has revealed about Himself. God is merciful and gracious so the “God-seeker” will naturally want to become merciful and gracious themselves. God is blameless and righteous so the God-seeker will naturally want to follow God’s law and obey His commands. God is pure and holy so the God-seeker will naturally separate themselves from anything resembling sin. And the key to becoming this kind of person is humility. Dying to self so that we might live for the glory of God alone.

Now here’s the really crazy thing. Through the wonders of neuroscience, we now know that the thoughts, attitudes, and actions we engage in literally shape and re-shape our brains. Myelin sheaths form along our neural pathways which, in turn, become self-reinforcing. It’s why it’s so hard the older we get, the harder it is for us to change. Some patterns have just become too ingrained. Hopefully, our parents helped us set godly patterns when we were young. Setting our feet on the path towards righteousness so that when we got older we didn’t depart from it. Sadly, far too many of us had sinful patterns of selfishness, greed, addiction, indulgence, etc. as our parents mowed down every potential obstacle, insulated us from every disappointment, and protected us against all hardship and pain. The result is not only a lack of resiliency and an unwillingness to grow up and take on responsibility but even more tragically, we have become proud and self-centered. We demand our own way and we refuse to submit even to God.

What do we expect will happen when we come before the judgment throne of God at the end of our lives? Do we really expect a person who has spent a lifetime pursuing their own ends and chasing their own dreams to suddenly do an about face? Do we really expect a person who has spent a lifetime accumulating great wealth and indulging every desire and pursuing every pleasure to suddenly surrender these things to God? Here’s the hard but honest truth. God will not force anyone to spend eternity with Him. No one ends up in a place they did not choose. Even now, we are charting a course towards heaven or hell. The thoughts, attitudes, and actions we engage in are shaping us and preparing us for where we will spend eternity. What kind of person are you? What kind of person are you in the process of becoming? Are you intentionally cultivating a way of life that says to God, “Thy will be done” or are you intentionally cultivating a way of life that says to God, “My will be done?” There is no middle ground. There is no neutral territory. You are either on the path towards heaven or the path towards hell. Let the Spirit set your feet on the narrow path that leads to salvation!

Readings for tomorrow: None

Division

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 19-21, Psalms 5, 38, 42

We are a fickle people by nature. Driven by our emotions, we struggle to forgive. Struggle to reconcile. Struggle to work past our pain. Our differences. Our jealousies. Our frustrations. Our failures. These struggles lead us to division as we each go our own way.  

• David grieves for his son Absalom and almost loses his kingdom a second time.

• The ten tribes of Israel grow jealous of the tribe of Judah and rebel a second time under the leadership of Sheba.

• Shimei comes before the king seeking forgiveness for his rash words when David was fleeing for his life. Abishai wants to execute him on the spot.

• Mephibosheth and Ziba both lay claim to the king’s favor.

• Joab kills Amasa in cold blood out of anger at being relieved of command.

• Israel suffers because of an ungodly act committed by King Saul against the Gibeonites and makes atonement through human sacrifice.

We humans have a tendency to make a mess of things. It is just so hard for us to take a step back and see the bigger picture. We are highly reactive creatures. Refusing to give others the benefit of the doubt. Refusing to extend grace to those who have hurt us or disappointed us or let us down. We would much rather hold onto our anger. Hold onto our pain. Keep a detailed record of wrongs that we can trot out anytime we feel threatened or afraid. We justify our actions or inactions and the cycle of division continues. 

Think about how we do life these days. Many jump from church to church to church, never really putting down roots. Just as soon as we are let down or disappointed, we move on. Always with a “godly” justification, of course. “I’m not being fed.” “I don’t feel connected.” “I don’t like this pastor or that leader or they didn’t meet my needs.” It’s just easier to move down the street to the next church rather than work through our issues. Think about the number of different denominations that exist today. While some diversity may be legitimate, the fact that we divide over such petty, non-essential issues is a stain on the Body of Christ. It is direct rebellion against the command of our Lord to be one, even as He and the Father are one.  

But it’s not just churches who have this issue. It is society as a whole. Republicans and Democrats can’t even exist in the same room anymore. Conservatives and liberals see themselves as mortal enemies. How many parents have I watched switch their kid to a different sports team rather than work through disappointment and conflict? How many schools and teachers have watched families walk out their door because of a bad experience rather than sit down and work through the issues? How many businesses lose long-time customers over the smallest of disappointments? The examples are legion in our culture today. 

Division leads to weakness. The inability to face our fears, admit our failures, and work through problems creates a lack of resiliency emotionally, physically, and spiritually in both the individual and society as a whole. We simply lack the capacity to process our pain and disappointment in a healthy way. We look for someone to blame. We attack. We accuse. We react. We rush in. And the results are often tragic. 

So what’s the answer? Confession. “For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me...I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning...I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.” (‭Psalms‬ ‭38:4, 6, 8-9‬) Humility. “But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.” (Psalms‬ ‭5:7-8‬) Seeking God. “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalms‬ ‭42:1-2‬)

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 22-23, Psalms 57

“40”

Readings for today: Psalms 26, 40-41, 58, 61-62, 64

It’s easy to forget that the Psalms were actually songs. They were set to music. They were meant to be sung not just read or spoken aloud. The people of Israel sang them when they gathered for worship. They sang them in their homes and villages. They sang them whenever they got together to give God praise.

One of my favorite rock groups of all time is U2. Many years ago, they put Psalm 40 to music. Gathered a crowd of thousands of people in 1983 at Red Rocks to sing it. Though I wasn’t present at that particular concert, the video of it is powerful and brings back memories of other concerts I attended where Bono belted out these biblical lyrics to a largely secular audience and they joined him in singing with all their hearts.

https://youtu.be/CMVghDg-ePc

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 19-21, Psalms 5, 8, 42

Failing to Forgive

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 16-18

There are consequences when we fail to forgive from the heart. Consequences when we fail to reconcile. Consequences when we fail to follow God’s will and seek to restore broken relationships. The impact of those consequences tend to be commensurate with the authority and power and influence we wield. So a parent who refuses to take this step with their child can impact future generations. An employer who refuses to take this step with employees can cost a company. A pastor who refuses to take this step with her/his congregation can split a church. 

David was a king. A man who held the power of life and death in his hands. A man whose authority was supreme and final. The impact of his decisions impacted not just him and his household but a nation. This is true not only in the Absalom narrative but also at other times in David’s life. There is a ripple effect to the decisions he makes. When he makes good and godly decisions, the nation is blessed. When he makes poor and ungodly decisions, the nation is cursed. As we read the other day, David’s refusal to execute justice when his daughter Tamar was raped creates a crisis in his family that eventually spreads to the nation. Absalom takes matters into his own hands leading to his exile. David brings him back but refuses to forgive him from the heart and restore him to his place. In his isolation, Absalom begins to conspire to steal the kingdom. David seems blissfully unaware as the Absalom’s influence grows. He’s almost caught completely by surprise when the news finally comes and he has to flee for his life. The ripples grow as allegiances shift and new alliances are formed. Ahithophel sides with Absalom. Hushai with David. Joab goes with David so Absalom makes Amasa his new general. Abiathar and Zadok stay in Jerusalem as priests but remain loyal to David. Shimei curses David. Ziba makes his move to take over what’s left of the household of Saul. Everyone, it seems, is looking out for themselves. Such is the chaos that happens when forgiveness and reconciliation are ignored. It leads to all kinds of brokenness, suffering, and pain. 

We’ve all probably had this experience. A friend says something or does something that hurts. We refuse to forgive. Now the rest of our friends feel forced to choose sides. A marriage breaks up. Divorce papers are signed. Once again, friends and family feel forced to take sides. A business deal goes south. Partners split up. Lawyers are called to divide up the assets. Clients and customers are pressured to declare their loyalties. Seasons of ministry come to an end. Pastors are let go. Forced out in some cases. Congregations split. Such experiences are painful and never easy. Too many of us take the path of least resistance which is avoidance. Abandoning the relationships we once enjoyed because forgiveness is too hard. Reconciliation too much. The way of Jesus too difficult.  

And yet, Jesus’ words continue to haunt us. Continue to push us. Continue to convict us. Forgiveness and reconciliation are essential to the Christian life. Coming to terms with our brothers and sisters is required by Jesus if we are to call ourselves His disciples. We are not given any other options. Jesus doesn’t leave us any other choices. Jesus wants His family to be unified not just in name but from the heart.  

“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us...For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭6:12, 14-15‬)

“Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew‬ ‭18:21-22‬)

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." (Mark‬ ‭11:25‬)

Think of the pain that could have been avoided had David listened to God. Think of the pain in our own lives that could be avoided if only we would listen to God. Who is Jesus calling you to forgive today?

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 26, 40-41, 58, 61-62, 64

The Lord is our Shield

Readings for today: Psalms 3-4, 13, 28, 55

”But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” (Ps. 3:3)

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Ps. 4:8)

“But I have trusted in Your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.” (Ps. 13:5-6)

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with song I give thanks to him. The Lord is the strength of His people; He is the saving refuge of His anointed.” (Ps. 28:7-8)

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Ps. 55:22)

These are some of my favorite verses in the Psalms. In the midst of civil war and exile and hardship, David sings of the goodness of God. He sings of the faithfulness of God. He sings of provision and protection of God. A careful reader will naturally ask “why?” Why would David rest on such promises when his entire kingdom has been upended? How can David be so confident when his own flesh and blood has betrayed him? Is David naive? Is David’s faith blind? Is he just putting spiritual platitudes and cliches to music? Not at all.

David is a man well acquainted with grief and sorrow. David is a man who’s seen violence and evil and suffering up close and personal. David is a man who’s grappled with his own demons. He is no innocent. He is no snowflake. He is no dilettante. He’s come by his faith honestly. He’s taken great risks over the course of his life and found God faithful. He’s met God on the mountaintops in his great victories. He’s met God at the bottom of the pit in his sin and despair. Through it all David has learned some things. He’s learned he’s a broken man. A man capable of great evil. A man who is as susceptible to pride and corruption as anyone. Perhaps more so because of the position he holds. He’s also learned God is steadfast and faithful. He will literally never let David go. This gives David comfort when times get hard which is why he’s able to pen the words above.

The great John Newton - author of Amazing Grace - once remarked towards the end of his life that he had learned two things. First, he was a great sinner. Second, Christ was an even greater Savior. Newton had been a slave ship captain for many years before becoming active in the abolitionist movement. I imagine he lived with much regret for the things he had done and the way he had helped perpetuate one of the great evils in human history. And yet, Newton also knew God’s love was greater and more faithful still! It’s why he could write, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”

What about you? How did it feel to read the Psalms today? We’re several months into our Bible reading plan and it’s easy to forget or just go through the motions. Let me encourage you to really take some time today and pray over the verses listed above. Let God’s Spirit impress them deep on your heart. Maybe even memorize them so you have them to hold onto when times get difficult as they invariably will. Life in this world is hard. Live for any length of time and you will become well acquainted with grief and sorrow. You will probably witness violence and evil and suffering. You may even experience it firsthand yourself. You will have to grapple with your own demons just like David and John Newton did. But as you bring yourself before the Lord each day authentically and honestly and transparently, you will find in Him a refuge. A shield. A comfort. A peace. This is His promise to all who would follow Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 16-18

Dysfunction

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 13-15

All families live with some level of dysfunction. Dysfunction occurs where unhealthy behavior (rage, addiction, abuse, neglect, etc.) is normalized, leading members of a family to make unhealthy accommodations rather than pursue repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Left unchecked, dysfunction leads destructive patterns of behavior that often impact generations as unhealthy coping skills are passed down from parent to child. Breaking generational cycles of sin is extremely difficult and requires incredible courage as well as sacrifice as dysfunctional family systems often violently resist change. The same is true in human societies as well. They are simply “family systems” at a macro level.

The family of King David is perhaps the pre-eminent Biblical example of the dysfunctional family system. Of course, his situation is made much more complex by the cultural practice of polygamy which led to many children by many different wives and concubines, all seeking to ascend the line of succession. Dynastic considerations complicate what we read today but many lessons can be drawn that are helpful in our own lives. Amnon is the oldest son of David and heir apparent to the throne. As such, he has grown accustomed to power and privilege and simply taking what he wants when he wants it. His treatment of Tamar, his half-sister, is horrific in its own right but probably emblematic of how Amnon lives his life. Absalom is not much better. What begins as a noble desire to protect his sister from public shame ends in murder and a coup attempt against his own father. Who knows what prompted Absalom’s move against David but it clearly was pre-meditated and even assisted by some of David’s closest confidants. David doesn’t help matters much. As king, he should have punished Amnon for his crime but instead appears to give him a pass. Once Absalom takes matters into his own hands, David appears both relieved and appalled. He refuses to forgive and reconcile with Absalom which only isolates him further and divides the royal household. David chooses to ignore the growing conspiracy until its almost too late and thus has to flee into exile. His family is shattered. His kingdom is divided. His country stands on the brink of civil war. 

I think of my own family system. Several years ago, we went to counseling together to try and break dysfunctional patterns in our own lives. I had to learn to deal more effectively with my anger issues. I had to wrestle with my fears and failures and disappointments. I had to face the fact that I caused my children pain through the choices I made in how I responded to the difference circumstances we faced as a family. I had to take a long hard look at myself through Christ’s eyes and repent. Ask for forgiveness. Pursue reconciliation. It wasn’t easy. It’s still not easy! It requires humility and sacrifice. I have to relinquish my need for control. My need to protect my kids from the consequences of the choices they make in life. My need to project “success” to the world around me. I’ve had to come to grips with the fact that my family is as broken as any and I am a major contributor to that brokenness because of my own sin issues. Honestly, it’s a painful journey. Then again, dying to self is always painful. 

What about your family system? If your family’s story was included in the Scriptures, what would others see? What failures? What successes? Would they see patterns of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation? Or would they see pride, neglect, abuse, addiction, and rampant conflict? Or perhaps a mixture of both? Where is Christ at work in your family right now? What areas do you need Christ to pay particular attention to in order to bring healing, wholeness, grace and peace? Are there particular family members you need to be praying specifically for? Who are they? What are the issues? How are you contributing to the pain? Ask Christ to help you chart a different path. One that leads to true transformation. 

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 3-4, 13, 28, 55

Confession

Readings for today: Psalms 32, 86, 102-103, 122

The more I spend time with people, the more I am convinced that so much of our pain and heartache and struggle is because we do not truly understand who we are. We have a distorted self-image. We look in the mirror and we are blind to the true nature of the person looking back at us. This is why reading and re-reading and re-reading Scripture is so important. Within the pages of this precious book, God teaches us the deepest truths about ourselves. The narrative runs something like this...

• “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis‬ ‭1:27‬) You and I were designed to live in a world of perfection. A paradise called Eden. We were made in the image of God so that we might show forth the glory of God. We were given dominion and authority and power to rule over all God has made as a kind of vice-regent or undershepherd.

• “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalms‬ ‭51:5‬) We abandoned our vocation. We rebelled against God. We aspired to be gods ourselves. In so doing, the image of God was marred. Corrupted. Poisoned. Every single human being since Adam and Eve’s fall has been born in brokenness. Born in sin. Conceived in iniquity. From the moment the sperm fertilizes the egg, we are lost.

• “Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John‬ ‭3:3‬) We are lost but we are not hopeless! Out of love, the Father sent His only Son into the world that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish in their sin. All who believe in Christ are born again. Born a second time. This time of the Spirit.

• “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬) Being born of the Spirit literally changes our DNA. Changes the fundamental reality of our existence. Gives us a new nature. A new heart. A heart of flesh sensitive to the leading of God to replace the heart of stone that was so rebellious and resistant. The image of God is now restored. Our vocation renewed. The commission re-issued. Go. Make disciples of all nations. Baptize. Teach. Fill the earth. Subdue. Have dominion. Share my glory with all of creation.

• “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:52‬) The final promise. Jesus will come again. On the last day, a trumpet shall sound. The heavens will open. The dead will rise. And we shall be changed from one degree of glory to another. The imperfect shall be made perfect. The perishable shall be made imperishable. Sin and death will be destroyed. Eternity sets in. We are home.

This is the fundamental worldview of the Psalmist. It’s the fundamental narrative they are singing about though the revelation of Jesus as Messiah still lies far off in the future. They trust in the steadfast love and faithfulness of the Father to bring about His will on the earth. They also understand this side of heaven that we are broken, sinful, corrupt creatures in desperate need of God’s grace. And grace only comes as we confess. As we repent. It’s more than feeling bad. More than feeling guilty. More than feeling ashamed. It’s about turning from our sin. Turning towards God. Making the necessary changes in our lives in response to all God has done for us. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered...I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” (Psalms‬ ‭32:1, 5‬)

What do you need to confess today? Where have you fallen short? Where do you feel enslaved? Afflicted? Ashamed? Guilty? In what areas of your life has the Spirit brought conviction? Is it your thoughts? Attitudes? Actions? Feelings? The life of a believer in Jesus is one of constant confession as we come before the Lord acknowledging our sin, receiving His grace, and learn to follow in His ways. Does this mean we should live our lives in constant guilt? Live our lives in constant shame? Absolutely not! God’s love is everlasting! And His promise is sure! “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalms‬ ‭103:11-12‬) Cling to the love of God, sinner! Let His love be the cornerstone of your life! Let His grace set you free! Trust in His faithfulness to save you from depths of your sin!

Readings for tomorrow: None

Abuse

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalms 51

The story of David and Bathsheba is perhaps the most well-know stories of abuse in Scripture. David, flush with his success on the battlefield and drunk on his own power, decides to stay home rather than head off to war. As he stands on the roof, proudly overlooking all he has accomplished, he catches a glimpse of the beautiful Bathsheba bathing beneath him. He heart fills with lust. He covets this beautiful woman and who’s around to stop him? The army is off at war. Her husband is one of David’s mighty men which means he’s probably on the front lines. There’s no one around to protect her. No one to plead her cause. Her husband’s close relationship with the king suggests Bathsheba and David probably knew each other. Who knows how long David’s been waiting for this chance? Perhaps this was a secret desire he’d been entertaining for years. So he calls for her. Commands her to come. With her life on the line, she obeys and conceives a child from the one night stand. Now comes the coverup. David sends for Uriah. He’s hoping Uriah will use his furlough to sleep with his wife. But Uriah holds fast to his integrity. He refuses to take the bait. So David orchestrates his murder. 

It’s a horrible story. One we cannot and should not try to explain away or gloss over or reduce to a morality tale. Bathsheba is raped. Uriah murdered. A child dies. All because of David’s insatiable lust and appetite for power. Left to his own devices, David might have gotten away with it. But God was watching. God is always watching. “For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭12:12‬) God sends Nathan the prophet, David’s own brother you’ll remember, to confront him. Nathan risks his life to stand up to David. Expose his sin. Call him out. And though David repents, the ripple effect of his sin will impact his family and his people for years to come.

Sadly, this story is all too familiar. I cannot tell you the number of pastors and ministry leaders (all men by the way) I’ve watched fall from grace. Drunk with their own success and power, they believe themselves to be untouchable. Beyond accountability. In their arrogance and pride, they take advantage of the weak and vulnerable. I’ve personally had to lead efforts to remove six such pastors over the years. When confronted, they use all kinds of justifications to defend their sexual and spiritual abuse. I’ve sat with their victims and listened to heart-rending stories of grooming, gaslighting, emotional manipulation, and blame-shifting. These local stories mirror the celebrity cases that have hit the news in recent years. And the ripple effect impacts families, churches, and organizations. In fact, it often destroys them.

God will not be mocked. What we try to do in secret, He will expose. He will not let sin go unpunished. He hates abuse of every kind. He stands with the victims against those who would use their power to wound, exploit, and oppress. He holds leaders especially accountable for the way they treat those under their care. Those Christians called to leadership inside the church or outside the church must hold themselves to a higher standard. We must constantly ask God to search our hearts and root out any sin that may have taken root lest it blossom into something destructive.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 32, 86, 102-103, 122

His Story

Readings for today: Psalms 65-67, 69-70

I still remember one of my professors in college walking to the board on the first day of class and writing in big block letters the word, “HISTORY.” “History”, she said, “is all about ‘his’ story and the first thing we need to do is reclaim this word for the rest of us.” She then took out an eraser and re-wrote “HISTORY” as “HERSTORY” or “HYSTORY.” Now, admittedly, this was a Women’s Studies course at the University of Colorado at Boulder. So perhaps I should have expected something like this. And my initial reaction was pretty sarcastic and dismissive. However, over the years, I have come to believe the professor was more right than she knew at the time. History truly is “HIS STORY.” Not a “male” story of course but the story of God’s engagement with His world and His people.

The Psalms express these deep theological truths so well. David writes about creation. “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.” (Psalms‬ ‭65:5-8‬) He writes about redemption. “Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let not the rebellious exalt themselves.” (Psalms‬ ‭66:5-7‬) He speaks to God’s sovereignty. “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.” (Psalms‬ ‭67:3-4‬) He speaks to God’s tenderness and comfort. “But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.” (Psalms‬ ‭69:13‬) The beauty of the Psalms is how they express the full range of human emotion and experience. They validate so much of what we feel and experience on a daily basis.

When you reflect on your own life, do you see God’s hand at work? Do you sense God’s abiding presence in times of crisis? Are you able to see God’s sovereign hand guiding and directing your steps? Where have you experienced God’s love? When did you encounter God’s grace? God is just as active in our personal histories as He is in human history. David was able to see God’s handiwork all around him from creation to salvation to the rise and fall of nations to the personal attention God pays to those he loves in times of struggle and heartbreak. David has been my teacher over the years. Helping me see the events of my life through God’s eternal lens. The more I spend time in the Psalms, the more I realize the closeness of God in every season of my life. Take some time today to reflect on the many, many ways God has been faithful to you.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalms 51

Soli Deo Gloria?

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalms 20, 53, 60, 75

I love these words of David from Psalms 20. “Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalms‬ ‭20:6-7‬) David has just won significant victories over the Ammonites and Syrians. He has subdued their lands. Defeated their armies. Killed their generals. Historians of this particular time tell us David was a powerful warlord who took advantage of a power vacuum in the region to carve out his kingdom. Egypt, the dominant power for so long, was weak. Assyria and Babylon had yet to rise. As David wins victory after victory, he steps up to the postgame mic to give God all the glory. 

It’s a good thing to ascribe to God all the glory for our successes in life. After all, He is the one who gave us our gifts and talents. He is the one who provides blessing and opportunity. We didn’t choose where we were born. We didn’t choose the family we were born into. So much of our success has nothing to do with us at all and so God rightly deserves all the praise. But what about when things go wrong? What about when tragedy strikes? What about the hard times that take us to the end of ourselves and beyond? David faced those times as well and still he praised God. Still he gave all the glory to God. Listen to what he writes in Psalm 60, “O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us…you have made your people see hard things; given us wine to drink that made us stagger…Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down our foes.”

Years ago, a favorite coach of mine was running off the field after a big victory. His team had struggled for years. The losses had piled up. Many were calling for his job. A reporter chased him down and asked him what the key was to the victory. I still remember the coach’s reply, “God was with us in the victory today but He was also with us through every single defeat leading up to this point.” Wow! That’s a man who understands God! He gave God the glory for both his victories and defeats. His successes and failures. His high times and low times. He knew God was with him no matter what. What about you? Do you feel the same way? You may be experiencing a season of great blessing in your life right now. A season of success. A season where everything you touch seems to turn to gold. Or you may be experiencing loss. Tragedy. Struggle. Heartbreak. No matter what season you find yourself in, give God the glory. Trust Him for the journey. Believe He is with you and for you and will deliver those He loves!

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 65-67, 69-70

Soli Deo Gloria

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18

Soli Deo Gloria. A fancy (Latin) way of saying, “To the glory of God alone.” If I were to ever get a tattoo, this would be it. I’d have it written across my heart. It is the North Star of the Christian life. It is our highest priority. Our greatest passion. Our deepest love. It is the principle that guides every other principle by which we live and move and have our being. Everything we think. Everything we feel. Everything we say. Everything we do. All of it directed towards the glory of God. All of it designed to bring honor to God. All of it offered freely and humbly in praise to God.

Soli Deo Gloria. This is immediately what I thought when I read these words from 2 Samuel 8:11-12, “These (articles of silver, gold, and bronze) also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalie, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehoboam, king of Zobah.” Think about how easy it would have been for David to believe his own hype. Think about how tempting it would have been for David to claim all the glory from all these victories for himself. I can imagine him in his tent looking over the map at the number of kings and tribes he had conquered and feeling pretty good about himself. How easy it would have been for him to simply reach out and claim it all. But David loved God. David knew he would still be keeping sheep if it weren’t for God. David knew he would have died long ago at the hands of Goliath if it hadn’t been for God. David knew his life up to this point was a testimony to the favor of God. So when the spoils of war start to flood into his camp, he dedicates the treasure to the Lord. This would have been a powerful sign to all who followed David - and probably to those who warred against David - as to who deserves the credit and the glory and the honor for all that has taken place. It’s not David. It’s God.

Soli Deo Gloria. It’s the phrase that comes to mind every time I reflect on all God has done for me in my life. The many different ministries I get to be involved in. As a pastor at PEPC, I’ve had a front row seat to hundreds of professions of faith over the last 12+ years. I’ve watched our church family make a huge impact in our community through our work with DC Oakes and Legend High School or the launch of Douglas County Christian Counseling or our partnerships with the Parker Task Force or the Chamber of Commerce at Parker Days. As a professor at Denver Seminary, I get to impact the next generation of church leaders and it’s one of the great joys of my life to follow them in their careers as they go forth to share the gospel in all sorts of settings and contexts. As a leader in our denomination, I get to work with struggling churches and pastors and do all I can to encourage and help them along the way. As a board member of the Petros Network, I get to train church planters and celebrate huge milestones like our 6,000th church plant and our 1,000,000th convert! It’s always tempting to claim some of the credit for myself. Always tempting to keep a bit of the glory for myself. But then I remember how far God has brought me. From the ash heap of my ministry career in Sun Prairie, WI with my marriage and family on the rocks to where I am today and all I can do is fall to my knees in gratitude. I don’t deserve any of this. I achieved none of this on my own. God gets all the glory for where I find myself in life.

Soli Deo Gloria. No matter where you find yourself in your spiritual journey, let me encourage you to make this your chief end. Your highest aim. Surrender all that you are and all that you have to Christ. Place all your resources of time and talent and treasure at His disposal. Give Him permission to use you as He sees fit. Then hold on for the ride! It will be the greatest, most exciting, most exhilarating adventure of your life! Trust me when I say God never disappoints!

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalms 20, 53, 60, 75

The Deep Work of the Spirit

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17, Psalms 1-2, 33, 127, 132

One of the things you notice when you read the Bible year after year is that some of the same issues tend to pop up. The Holy Spirit uses His Word to reveal deep character flaws that must be addressed. For example, every time I read Psalm 127, I am reminded of one of my greatest struggles which is my desire to be successful. To make my life count. To do something significant. To strive to be the best. These values were ingrained in me from an early age. They are not necessarily bad in and of themselves. The problem is I too often let these good things become ultimate things in my life. I start to pursue success at the expense of my relationship with God or those I love. I focus on the future rather than finding contentment in the present. I covet what I don’t have rather than be thankful for what I do have.  

Several years ago, the Lord spoke to me during a time of prayer. It wasn’t an audible voice or a lightning bolt from heaven or anything like that. It was simply an impression in my heart. A feeling in my gut. A few random thoughts in my head that suddenly coalesced into a message I needed to hear. It was a short message. Three simple words. Obscurity. Anonymity. Insignificance. I was journaling and these three words started ringing over and over again in my head. Obscurity. Anonymity. Insignificance. Over the years I’ve learned to pay attention to these kinds of things in my prayer time so I sat back from my keyboard and asked the Lord to give me further insight into what He was saying. God said, “I want you to labor in obscurity. Embrace anonymity. Pursue insignificance.” To be honest, my first thought was “No way!” However, after pondering the message for a few days, I realized what God was doing. The Holy Spirit was about to do some deep work in my heart. Work that would turn me around and inside out and upside down. It was life-changing work that would shift my perspective eternally.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” King David has a desire to build God a house. It’s a godly desire. A good desire. One that is affirmed by Nathan the prophet. But it is not the Lord’s will. “But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in?...'Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭7:4-5, 8-13‬) I love how God flips the tables on David here. It is not David who will build God a house but God who will build David a house! It is not David who will make His own name great but God who will make David’s name great! 

Unless God builds the house. Unless God builds David’s house. Unless God builds our house. We all labor in vain. This was essentially the message God was sending me during my devotional time. I was spending so much energy working so hard to be successful. To stand out among my peers. To be faithful to God. And all the while God was calling me to rest. To trust. To stand back and let Him do the “building” of my life. Let Him guide and direct my path. Let Him have the glory for the success I was seeking to achieve. 

I’ve learned a lot over the years about the meaning of those three, God-given words. They no longer feel unnatural. No longer feel like they’re cutting against the grain of my life. In fact, I not only have learned to accept them but to embrace them as a way of life for myself.

• Obscurity - I love where I am. I love the church family I get to serve. I love the team of leaders I get to serve alongside. We are gospel-centered. We bear Kingdom-fruit. We have a global reach. We are reaching the lost. We are serving the underserved. We truly are seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community and around the world. And yet we are obscure. We are not the biggest or fastest growing or most “successful” church around. We simply do the work God has called us to day in and day out. It’s awesome.

• Anonymity - No one knows my name. I have no platform. No influence. No power. I am simply a pastor. One beggar telling another where to find bread. I have no need to build a brand. I do not aspire to high position. My goal is simply to preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten.

• Insignificance - The reality is I will be completely forgotten within a generation or so of my death. My own family won’t remember who I was or what I did. All my accomplishments and achievements will quickly turn to dust. And that’s okay. Because my significance is not found in what I do but in who God is and I am content simply to serve Him in whatever way He sees fit.

Friends, I wish I could describe the blessings that flow when you truly let go of the need to build your own house and instead turn your plans over to God. I wish I could describe the joy and peace that I wake up with every morning because I no longer find myself striving so hard to make my own way in the world. I wish I could describe the intimacy of the relationships I’ve forged with my wife and children and church family. It’s truly incredible. All because I’ve surrendered my need to make a name for myself. God is at work and His plan for me is more than enough.  

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18

Our God is too Small

Readings for today: Psalms 89, 96, 100-101, 107

Our God is far too small. The human mind is simply too finite to fully comprehend the height and depth and breadth of His majesty and glory and splendor. His wisdom is higher than our wisdom. His ways are higher than our ways. His power is limitless. His knowledge unsearchable. His love unconditional. His grace knows no ends. There are no boundaries to God. No barriers. Nothing He cannot do. Nothing He cannot accomplish. Nothing stands outside His will. Nothing opposes Him. Nothing threatens Him. Nothing can move Him. “For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord...” (Psalms‬ ‭89:6‬)

Our God is far too small. In an effort to understand Him, we tend to cut Him down to our size. Reduce Him to a much more manageable state. We question His goodness. We question His omnipotence. We question His wisdom. Rather than stand on the truth that we are made in God’s image, we reverse engineer the process. We remake God in our image to our everlasting regret. For the god we “make” is an idol. Weak. Empty. Imperfect. A god who can do nothing, see nothing, accomplish nothing. A god who cannot be trusted or relied upon in the most difficult of circumstances. A god who is helpless in the face of our suffering. A few years back, a friend of mine rehashed an old argument on suffering. She wrote, “We have three options in the face of real suffering. 1) God is not good. 2) God is not loving. 3) God is not all-powerful.” Her argument is that surely a good and loving and all-powerful God would not allow suffering in the world therefore we must question either His goodness, His love, or His power. But this is a false premise. This is an argument made without all the facts. We see from such a limited perspective. Her god is too small.

Consider for a moment what my friend is really asking. If God had chosen to remove suffering and pain from the world at the beginning of time. If, even after Adam and Eve fell into disobedience, God would not allow human beings to suffer the consequences of the choices they made; what would that do to free will? What would that do to human agency? What would that do to human choices? It would destroy them. We would never grow into maturity. Never become the partners God created us to be. And even more fundamentally, it wrecks the whole purpose of the Cross. If suffering and pain is always evil and therefore always to be avoided and always wrong, then the suffering and pain and death of Jesus also falls into that category as well. Perhaps God is bigger than we realize?

Our God is far too small. And that is why we need to immerse ourselves in God’s Word. God’s Word clearly proclaims the goodness and love and power of God. “O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?...The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them....You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” This is our God! The Glory of Israel! He is mighty to save! Mighty to deliver! Faithful in love! Over and over again, our God declares His love for His people. Never leaving them. Never forsaking them. Even when we run from Him, He will relentlessly pursue. Even when we reject Him, He will never abandon us. “My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him. I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens...Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.” (Psalms‬ ‭89:8, 11, 13-14, 28-29, 52‬)

Friends, there is only one way to see God for who He truly is. Only one way to know God on His terms. First, we must trust His revelation of Himself. We must look to Jesus in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. He is the pre-eminent and unique and complete revelation of the One True God. Second, we must trust His Word. The Word of God is the unique and authoritative witness to the truth of God. We must trust God’s Word and lean not on our own limited understanding. We must trust God’s Word more than what we think or how we feel. We must believe God is who He declares Himself to be or we have so little hope. 

Readings for tomorrow: None

Integrity

Readings for today: Psalms 15, 23-25, 47

Recently, a friend of mine went through a job change. He was notified he would be let go because his company was “going in a different direction.” The news came out of the blue. All of his performance reviews had been exceptional. He hit every mark the company ever set for him and often exceeded them. None of that seemed to matter. The boss just wanted to make a change. As you can imagine, he went through a range of emotions. There was the initial shock when he first got the news. Shock gave way to anger as he wrestled with the injustice of it all. Anger turned to frustration as he processed the years he had given to this company. Frustration became hurt as he realized how deeply this decision wounded him. In the midst of his hurt, he felt fear and anxiety rise up as he pondered what he would do next. Starting a job search at his age and station in life was no easy task. Would he be able to replace his income? Would he be able to provide for his family? He was pretty close to retirement so how many years did he really have left? I imagine many of us have gone through these experiences ourselves or walked through them with those we love. It’s not easy.

The temptation, of course, is to retaliate. To get back at those who’ve hurt us. To justify our anger and frustration and lash out. We might work to undermine. We might spread rumors or gossip about those in positions above us. We might seek to recruit others to our cause and create all kinds of conflict in the office on our way out. Sow seeds of discontent. Exploit opportunities to create dissension. Those kinds of things. Some might even take things to an extreme and try to take the company or the person responsible down with them. It can get ugly.

“What would God have me do?” This is the question my friend asked me. I took him to some of the Psalms we read today. I pointed him beyond his circumstances and challenged him to think about the bigger picture. Do you want the blessing of God on your life? Do you want the favor of God to go before you? Do you want to walk before God with a clean conscience and a pure heart? Then walk as blamelessly as possible. Do what is right. Don’t give in to the temptation to slander or return evil for evil. Remain humble. Stay focused on Jesus. Trust God is sovereign over all things - including injustice - and nothing can stand in the way of His will for your life.

The ultimate test of faith is what happens when we come face to face with a circumstance that is unjust or unfair. In those moments, we are faced with a choice to either “walk our talk” or go our own way. If we can keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. If we can keep our minds set on eternal rewards. If our treasures are truly in heaven, we will find ourselves looking to please God rather than man and this is the essence of godly integrity.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 89, 96, 100-101, 107

Worship

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23, 1 Chronicles 13-16

What is true worship? It is the worship God both deserves and demands. Believe it or not, God cares deeply how He is worshipped. In 1 Chronicles 13, we see what happens when God’s people - with sincere and authentic devotion in their hearts - fail to worship God in the way He commands. The people have gathered. They’re excited to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. They call the priests. They call the Levites. They plan a huge celebration.  The whole nation is present to witness this incredible moment. They build a new cart to carry the ark in the procession. David and all of Israel are celebrating, singing, dancing before the Lord with all their might. But then an ox stumbles. Uzzah, seeking to protect the ark, puts out his hand to keep it steady. The Lord strikes him down. One can imagine the shock of the crowd. In an instant, all the music and dancing and celebration stops. Silence. Long, prolonged, awkward silence as the people come to grips with what’s just happened. David is angry. He pouts for three months, refusing to come to grips with the fact that he himself is somewhat responsible for what happened. His decision to do what was convenient (build a cart to carry the ark) rather than what God demanded (Levites carry the ark on their own shoulders) is ultimately what cost Uzzah his life. Fast forward to 1 Chronicles 15. A different picture emerges. David is ready. He is humble. He submits to God’s will. He decrees that “no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever.” (1 Chron. ‭15:2‬) Once again, the celebration commences. Singing. Dancing. Music. Right sacrifices. God is pleased. God accepts the worship David offers because it is singularly focused on honoring God. 

What does true worship look like in our context today? Obviously, none of us know where the Ark of the Covenant resides. (Except Indiana Jones, of course!) The ceremonial laws that governed Old Testament worship have been fulfilled in Christ. Does this set us free then to worship as we choose? To do what feels good? To set the needs of the worshipper above the clear, biblical command to worship God and Him alone? I don’t think so. So what then is true worship? Is it a feeling? A style? An experience? And how do we know if we’ve engaged in true worship? Is it because we leave feeling inspired? The preacher’s message warmed our hearts? We’ve eaten the bread and drunk of the cup? The music for the morning matched our musical tastes? What are the hallmarks of true worship? Authenticity? Sincerity? Sentimentality?

Sadly, worship in 21st century North America has turned largely inward. It is focused, evaluated, planned, and produced for the human experience. It caters to the preferences and tastes of the worshipper. It is designed primarily to make the human being feel inspired, motivated, and connected. This “inward turn” is as true for the small church as it is for the mega-church and every church in between. And it’s why we see so many Christians bounce from church to church to church over the course of their lives. Long gone are the days when one would invest their entire lives into one community come hell or high water. Long gone are the days when Christians would heed the biblical command to actually practice forgiveness and reconciliation when relationships get hard. Long gone are the days when Christians would die to self, laying aside the consumer tendencies of taste and personal preference. As a result, long gone are the days when the church produced robust, courageous, bold, self-sacrificing disciples of Jesus who would give their lives for the sake of the gospel and the Kingdom of God in this world. Not that it never happens, it is simply more of an exception than a rule. 

Today’s passage challenges all of us. It challenges me as a pastor to think deeply about the primary thrust of my worship planning. Am I seeking to bring God glory and honor or am I seeking to meet the needs of God’s people? When I evaluate worship, what do I measure? Attendance? The emotional engagement of God’s people? How many times they say amen? ;-) Or am I more focused on the clarity of the gospel message as it was proclaimed through music, Word, and sacrament? It challenges you as a worshipper to think deeply about your own goals in worship. Why do you come? Is it to get something out of the experience? Is it to feel emotionally uplifted and encouraged? Do you evaluate worship based on how much you liked the music or the preaching? Or do you come to bring God glory and honor? Do you come with a heart to offer yourself as a living sacrifice before Him? Friends, our primary duty in worship is clear…we are to worship God and enjoy Him forever. This, in fact, is the chief end of our existence. 

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 15, 23-25, 47

The Power of Unity

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11-12, Psalms 133

Psalm 133 is my favorite Psalm. Mainly because I have seen it in action. I have seen what happens when God’s people truly serve Him with one heart and mind. I have witnessed the miracles that take place when God’s people put aside their egos, their needs, their wants, their desires in favor of serving the Kingdom. I have watched God’s Spirit move when God’s people humble themselves. Deny themselves. Pursue forgiveness and reconciliation. Lay aside their need to be safe, both physically and emotionally. It is powerful. Life-changing. It transforms villages. Towns. Cities. Entire tribes, regions, and nations. 

We see this on display especially in our readings today about King David and his mighty men. It’s powerful to watch God unite the hearts of men as they gather around David. They defend him with their lives against overwhelming odds. They take great risks like invading an enemy camp to bring him a drink of water. They achieve incredible feats of valor in order to win David his kingdom. Over and over they declare their allegiance. “We are yours, O David!” “We are your bone and flesh!” “You are our shepherd and prince!” The result is a powerful wave of national unity. “All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.”

True biblical unity requires us to relinquish “self” in favor of others. It requires us to lose our individual identity in favor of the whole. It requires us to consider others more important than ourselves. It requires us to risk. Risk being hurt. Risk being wounded. Risk feeling rejected. It requires us to have courage. Courage to forgive. Courage to pursue reconciliation. No matter what the cost. No matter how many times we get burned. It requires honesty. Transparency. Self-reflection.

True biblical unity requires the church to lay aside it’s need to compete. Extend it’s brand. Criticize other parts of the Body as if “we have no need of them.” It requires leadership to get serious about working together. Working with and for one another. Willing to sacrifice our buildings, budgets, and attendance in order to expand God’s Kingdom into the communities where we serve. It requires mutual submission and accountability. A willingness to step aside and relinquish our platforms when we fall into sin. It requires a radical commitment to love God and neighbor at the expense of our organizations and institutions. Self-denial and picking up our cross is not just a call to the individual Christian but to the church as a community as well! 

True biblical unity requires a radical re-orientation of the heart. It is incredibly difficult and challenging which is why it happens so infrequently in Scripture. The unity David experiences as he builds his kingdom will soon give way to division as his own children betray him. We have to constantly be on guard because we are our own worst enemy. Our hearts naturally resist unity because it requires literal death to self. And we have such a strong instinct for self-preservation.  

Ultimately, unity is not something we can achieve through our own strength. It must be a movement of God’s Spirit. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Cor. ‭12:13‬) Have you drunk of the one Spirit? Have you tasted the goodness and glory of God? Are you walking with the Spirit? Keeping in step with Him in all your ways? Unity comes as we relinquish more and more of our lives to the Spirit’s control. Both as individuals and as churches gathered in His name. 

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23, 1 Chronicles 13-16

Cultural History and Identity

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 7-9

The key verse in today’s reading is 1 Chronicles 9:1, “So all Israel was recorded in genealogies, and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their breach of faith.” Why are all these names important? Why are the generations laid down with such detail and specificity? Why record Israel according to their respective tribes? What’s at stake here? Identity. Connection. History. Israel took their history seriously. Even after they were carted off to exile in Babylon and were faced with the temptation to intermarry and lose their connection to their past, Israel remained faithful. They knew God had set apart the Levites to serve Him as priests. So the Levites remained set apart as priests even in exile. They knew God had given authority to the tribe of Judah to reign and to rule. So the tribe of Judah continued to serve as princes and leaders for God’s people. They knew David and Samuel had set apart certain families as gatekeepers, guardians of the Lord’s treasury, etc. So they made sure these families retained those roles. And when Israel finally did return from exile, you see the descendents of these great men and women re-connecting to their glorious past. 

Most of us have never experienced exile. Most of us have not had our cultural identities wiped out. We’ve not had our history erased. We’ve not had our connection to our ancestors severed. At the same time, many among us have had this terrible and tragic experience. I think of the Native American men and women I have known. Their people lived on this continent for hundreds of years before the arrival of the first European explorers. They lost their land. They were forcibly relocated. They were forced to forgo the key rituals and give up the key rhythms that connected them to their history and their tribal identity. Their stories are terrible and heartbreaking. I think of the African-American men and women I have known. Their ancestors brought over on slave ships across the Atlantic. Their connection to their land severed. Their connection to their history erased. Their connection to their past lost. They were given new names. They were forced to take on new identities. They suffered in slavery for hundreds of years including economic slavery after officially being emancipated during the Civil War. Their stories are terrible and heartbreaking. 

It’s vital for those of us who have not suffered at the scale of others to humble ourselves and listen to those who have endured such pain and loss. It is important for us to become advocates for them as they seek to recover their cultural identity. We must become allies with them in their fight to re-connect to their cultural past. We must pluck up the courage to face the difficult and complex issues that often arise as a result.

I certainly don’t pretend to have all the answers. I know the way forward is difficult. But I have to believe as we work for the good of one another. As we celebrate the history and culture and diversity God has created among human beings on this planet. As we help each other re-connect to something deeper. A deeper identity. A deeper story. A deeper truth. I have to believe God will reveal Himself in that process in a powerful way because this “genealogical impulse” exists within all of us. In a very real sense, Israel’s story is our story for all of us can ultimately trace our lineage back to the same common source. Adam and Eve. The first man. The first woman. Made in the image of God by the hand of God for the glory of God. This is truly our heritage.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11-12, Psalms 133

The Dark Night of the Soul

Readings for today: Psalms 81, 88, 92-93

Spiritual crisis is real. The consistent witness of God’s people throughout history testifies to the fact that there will be seasons when God seems so distant. When our lives seem so dark. When the light of Christ is hard to find. When the comfort of Christ seems long in coming. During such seasons, we feel overwhelmed by fear. Doubt. The cares and worries of this world press in on us. We feel trapped. Alone. Unable to be consoled. 

St. John of the Cross, a 16th century Spanish Christian, famously coined the term, “The Dark Night of the Soul.” It refers to particular seasons in the Christian life where we feel stripped of God’s presence. It’s not true, of course. God is still very much present in our lives but we do not feel Him. We do not experience Him. We do not sense His tender mercies and affections. During such seasons, we feel a void. An absence. And it causes us to wrestle on a deep, foundational level with our faith. 

I experienced such a season for 19 months while living in Sun Prairie, WI. The ministry I had been called to was failing. My relationship with those I was accountable to was a disaster. I was struggling daily with fear and doubt and depression. So consumed was I by my own needs, I neglected my wife and children. Things got so bad that my wife gave me an ultimatum. It was either her or the ministry. I was at the end of my rope. I resigned. No idea what was next. No idea how I would feed my family. No idea how I would care for those I loved most in this world. I felt so alone. So afraid. For months I cried out to God. I would pace our living room most of the night praying. Begging. Frustrated. Angry. Where was God when I needed Him most? Where was God when things were at their worst? I was in spiritual crisis and it felt like God was not there.  

These experiences are not unusual. St. John of the Cross. St. Paul of the Cross. Mother Theresa. All testify to similar experiences, though their “dark nights” lasted decades. The author of Psalm 88 was clearly familiar with his own “dark night.” “O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you...For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol...You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep...Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?...O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me?...You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.” ‭(Psalms‬ ‭88:1, 3, 6, 11-12, 14, 18‬) It’s a depressing Psalm. One of the few with no resolution. No final ascription of praise. The psalmist seemingly feels God’s absence on a visceral level and is left all alone in darkness. 

So why does God allow the dark night of the soul? Why does God not rescue us from the depths of our spiritual crises? Why are such experiences seemingly so common and even necessary for the Christian? I believe it is how we learn the meaning of true faith. True faith must move from the head to the heart to the gut. To the depths of our being. It must become the fundamental reality of our existence. It must transcend what we think. It must transcend what we feel. It has to come from a place so deep within that it can never be overcome. 

Mother Theresa endured her “dark night” from 1948 until her death in 1997. She once wrote, “Where is my faith? Even deep down ... there is nothing but emptiness and darkness ... If there be God—please forgive me. When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul.” Some have suggested she lost her faith. Not true! In fact, her suffering was very much like that of Jesus on the cross who cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” In the end, Mother Theresa hoped her personal letters would be destroyed lest “people think more of me and less of Jesus.” 

I wouldn’t trade those 19 months of spiritual darkness in Wisconsin for anything. God had removed any sense of His affections. God had removed any sense of His abiding presence. Doubts and fears assailed my soul as I was stripped to the bone. In the depths of my despair, I was haunted by this one question...do I really believe? Do I believe in God when nothing makes sense? Do I believe in God when I cannot feel His presence? Do I believe in God when all is darkness all around me? Is God more real to me than my thoughts? My feelings? My fears? My doubts? 

There’s no way to know the answer to such deep questions unless one is willing to walk through the valley of the shadow of death to the other side. Thankfully, at the end of my own dark road, I found God waiting for me there. I found my faith renewed and strengthened in a way I could never have imagined. And I do not harbor any illusions that somehow my journey is at its end or that I won’t have to walk yet another dark road in the course of my life. What I do know is that God has driven my faith deep into my gut. Deep into the bedrock of my being. And though it can be shaken, it can never be destroyed because God is more real than my circumstances. God is more real than my feelings. God is more real than my thoughts. God is more real than my doubts. God is more real than my fears. God is the fundamental reality of my life and I am thankful. 

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 7-9

Evangelism

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 6, Psalms 36, 39, 77-78

I once worked for a denomination where evangelism was often referred to as the “E” word. It was a perjorative term. They didn’t like it. Didn’t want to do it. Didn’t really believe it necessary on some level. They would much rather focus on social issues and lobby for certain political progressive positions. But talk about Jesus? Share the gospel? That was a non-starter. Every few years, they would produce a survey and at least a few of the questions focused on whether or not belief in Jesus was required for salvation. A majority of pastors and denominational leaders voted “no.” When asked if they had shared their faith with a non-believer in the last year, most of the people sitting in the pew said “no.” Of course, things aren’t much different in my current denomination. While everyone acknowledges the call to evangelize, very few actually put it into practice. 80-85% of our churches have plateaued or are in decline. In a recent survey it was revealed that far too many pastors do not spend any time at all sharing the good news with lost people outside of Sunday mornings. Sure, we may have a better handle on our theology but we still seem to suffer from the same spiritual malaise.

Psalm 78 says, “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. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments...” (Psalms‬ ‭78:4-7‬) It is God’s greatest desire to be known. To be loved. To be in relationship with His people. It’s why He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. It’s why He revealed Himself to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It’s why He spoke to Moses from a burning bush. It’s why He delivered Israel with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. It’s why He sends prophets, raises up kings, and, in the fullness of time, sends His only begotten Son into the world. He wants to be known! 

The primary instrument He uses to make Himself known is us! His chosen people! His adopted sons and daughters! His bride! His body! His church. It’s why every gospel contains a Great Commission. It’s why the Book of Acts begins with a command to go to the ends of the earth with the message of the gospel. It’s good news! It’s great news! It’s the best news!  

Evangelism begins in the home. With our children. Our children’s children. One generation tells the next of the mighty and awesome wonders of God. One generation testifies to the next of all that God has done. Fathers and mothers sharing the good news with their children over dinner. Driving in the car to the next practice. Prayers before bedtime. Grandfathers and grandmothers sharing the good news with their grandchildren as they take them to the zoo. For a walk in the park. Playing with them on the playground. Families worshipping together. Reading Scripture together. Praying together. This is how the faith is passed on. But it doesn’t end in our homes. It extends outward to our neighbors as we engage in acts of service and selfless love. It extends to our co-workers as we connect over coffee breaks and at lunch. It extends to our classmates at recess or on off-periods together. It extends to those we encounter as we go about our daily lives. A smile. A kind word. Graciously letting someone go in front of us in the line at the grocery store. It extends even further as we engage cross-culturally both locally and abroad. As we serve the less fortunate. Speak for those who have no voice. Care for those who are hurting. Comfort those who are sick. Come alongside those who are lonely. All in the name of Jesus.  

A favorite theologian of mine once said, “Christians should all live questionable lives.” Not because we engage in sin but because our lives should be such models of grace and unconditional love that it will make people curious. It will make them want to ask us why we live the way we do. This should be true of our children as they grow up in our homes. True for our neighbors who live around us. True for our co-workers and classmates with whom we spend so much time. 

So who do you know who needs the gospel? What are you doing to share the good news with them? Are you praying for them? Are you looking for opportunities to engage in spiritual conversations with them? Are you serving them? Blessing them? Have you invited them to join you in worship? Or in small group? Or on a mission? God desires all should be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. And to accomplish this great mission, God has sent you. God has sent me. God has sent His people into the world.  

Readings for tomorrow: None