We Are What We Worship

Readings for today: 2 Kings 15-17, John 6:1-21

There are lots of forces in this world that shape a person. Genetics. The environment we grow up in. Family of origin. Socio-economic status. Level of education. Exposure to social media. Peer pressure. But there is one force we often neglect and that is worship. Worship has the power to shape us in profound ways. It can form and de-form. It can build up or tear down. It can purify or corrupt. It can straighten out or warp how we think about God, ourselves, and the world around us.

Throughout the books of the Kings and Chronicles, we read about the high places Israel refused to tear down. Sacred shrines where they often worshipped false gods. Baal. Asherah. Molech. The list goes on and on. Some of these false gods demanded child sacrifice. Some of them demanded sexual orgies. Some of them demanded cutting and self-harm like we saw with the prophets of Baal who Elijah confronted a few chapters back. These false gods and goddesses were capricious and arbitrary. They placed no value on human life. They didn’t care at all about the people. And this makes perfect sense because they were not real. They were simply a projection of humanity’s worst fears and corrupt fantasies.

Some might be tempted to assume that because such gods are not real that there can be no harm in worshipping them. Not true! Listen to what God says in 2 Kings 17:15, “The people of Israel went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.” You see, we can’t help ourselves. We become what we worship. When we worship something false, we become false. When we worship something evil, we justify all kinds of evil in our own hearts. When we worship like the pagan nations of the earth, we lost sight of our high calling to be a “chosen people, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a people for God’s own possession.”

A few years back I was talking to a friend of mine who grew up Hindu in India. He now lives and works in the U.S. and is functionally atheist. Over dinner, we talked about a wide range of topics. The state of the world today. The value of human life. Our goals and dreams and aspirations. What emerged was two very different visions of the “good life.” For my friend, human life held no intrinsic value in itself but only as one pursued “dharma” or the right way of living. Good and evil were relative terms depending on one’s station in life. The goal of existence is to leave the material body behind to join with Brahman. These beliefs shaped how my friend engaged politically, socially, and culturally. They shaped who he voted for, what public policies he supported, and how he perceived others. Especially those who disagreed with him. They even shaped how he understood himself on some level.

After listening to my friend, I had the opportunity to share what I believed. I shared with him my understanding that all human life has intrinsic value because every human being is made in the image of God. I shared with him how good and evil are immutable categories to a great extent because they are defined by God Himself. Finally, I shared with him how much God loves the world and all that is in it. In fact, He loved it so much He gave His life for it so the goal cannot be to escape this world but to redeem it. These beliefs shape how I engage politically, socially, and culturally. They shape who I vote for, what public policy I support, and how I perceive others. Especially those who disagree with me. They even shape how I understand myself on some level.

It was a rich and respectful conversation that validated a fundamental principle for me…we are what we worship. What we believe about God shapes everything. It shapes how we think about ourselves. It shapes how we think about others. It shapes how we think about the world. So who do you worship? Is it the God who revealed Himself fully and completely in Jesus Christ? Or is it a god of your own making? Is it the God who loved and valued you so much, He gave His only begotten Son for you? Or is it a false god on whom you project all your fears and fantasies? If we worship false gods, we become false ourselves. If we worship the true God, we become more truly ourselves. The people God created and calls us to be!

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 18-19, John 6:22-59

The Steadfast Love of God

Readings for today: 2 Kings 12-14, John 5:30-47

Every time I read through the histories of the Old Testament, I am struck by the same tragic pattern that seems forever stuck on repeat. Humanity has been singing the same sad song since the Fall. Cain and Abel. The state of the world just before the Flood. Tower of Babel. The time of the Judges. Left to her own devices, humanity inevitably descends into godlessness. Violence. Suffering. Pain. God grieves over all He has made and executes His righteous judgment. Humanity drowns. Languages are confused. People scatter. Enemies oppress and enslave. God using all of it to bring humanity to her knees. To bring humanity to repentance. To bring humanity back to a right relationship with Him.

The time of the kings is no different. Good kings turn their hearts towards God and the people are blessed. Evil kings do what is right in their own eyes and the people suffer. God sends prophets like Elijah and Elisha to call them to repentance but they are largely ignored. Finally, God sends judgment. He raises up adversaries both within and without Israel. Rebellion. War. Death. Kings are murdered. Families are decimated. God’s righteous wrath over sin on terrible display.

Humanity never changes. No matter how much “progress” we make technologically, scientifically, culturally, intellectually, you name it…we remain morally depraved. Our hearts are hard towards God. Our necks are stiff. We refuse to bend the knee. The world around us is still awash in injustice and violence. We simply cannot escape our corrupt human nature. Our will to power. Our lust for pleasure. Our craving for wealth. The Bible’s diagnosis is incisive and true. “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Romans‬ ‭3:10-12‬) And just when it seems like all is lost. The end is near. All hope is gone. God relents. God reaches out. God intervenes once more.

“But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and He turned toward them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has He cast them from His presence until now.” (2 Kings 13:23) No matter how far humanity falls. No matter how bad things may get. No matter how much violence and suffering and pain may be taking place. God is faithful. God is true. God is steadfast. He will not abandon us. He will not forsake His people. He loves us with an everlasting love. “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalms‬ ‭30:5‬)

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 15-17, John 6:1-21

Belief

Readings for today: 2 Kings 10-11, John 5:1-29

What is belief? All too often, this is an unexamined question. We simply assume we know what it means to believe. We accept uncritically that we all share the same definition of this word. And the result is that we often talk past each other when it comes to a discussion about our "beliefs." Perhaps if we sat down and carefully unpacked the layers of meaning that we are trying convey when we make a statement like, "I believe...", we might actually begin to get somewhere together. In fact, we may find new layers of meaning opening up to us that we hadn't considered before. Consider the following...

1. Layer #1: Facts - The first and most basic beliefs are ones based on historical or scientific facts. It is a fact that Julius Caesar existed. It is a fact that America was founded in 1776. Gravity is a fact. DNA is a fact. At this "layer of belief" one doesn't say much more than simply stating what is true. There are no judgments being made. No opinions being drawn. These are just historical or scientific facts that cannot be denied.

2. Layer #2: Convictions - Now we begin to get into more contested territory. We move beyond the simple statement of fact to conclusions one can draw by what we know about those facts, the historical context in which they took place, etc. Study the life of Julius Caesar and one should come to a conviction - good, bad, or mixed - about him. Study the founding of America and one will draw some conclusions based on those facts. Dedicate yourself to science and you will form hypotheses about gravity, DNA, evolution, etc. Based on the facts, one draws conclusions. And we often call those conclusions, "beliefs." I want to be quick to say that labeling such convictions "beliefs" in no way diminishes them but it does differentiate them from the first layer laid out above.

   1. It is important to note that at this layer, convictions can be tested. Some convictions are more true than others. Some convictions are more widely held than others. Some convictions are determined to be deficient when they are put to the test. Scientific hypotheses are tested through experiment. Historical convictions are tested by how well they match and explain the context of the events when they took place. Personal opinions are tested through life experience. We should hold onto our beliefs/convictions at this layer with open hands rather than clenched fists. Not because we believe any less fiercely but simply because we humbly acknowledge that in the course of human history, new facts come to light that force us to examine and even change our convictions.

3. Layer #3: Trust - Some convictions - through constant testing and self-examination - become so strong that we actually begin to trust in them. To order our lives accordingly. Gravity, for example, is such a conviction. It is based on fact. We know through testing that what goes up must come down. While we cannot see it, we can see the results of it all around us. There are few exceptions to this fact and most of them exist off-planet. As a result, we have ordered our lives accordingly. Or consider the alcoholic's journey to sobriety. It is a fact that alcoholics have certain genetic traits that make them more susceptible to addiction. The lifestyle of an alcoholic often has a negative impact on their physical bodies, their emotions, and takes a toll on those around them that they love. The resulting conviction is that alcoholism is a bad thing. This is a conclusion that has been tested and examined and found to be widely true. When an alcoholic comes to this realization and begins their journey to sobriety, they must order their life accordingly. They cannot drink. They cannot journey to sobriety alone. They must work backwards to make restitution. This is the foundational philosophy behind the 12 step programs. You have to trust your convictions enough to make a life change.

I am sure there are other layers one could tease out but here's the point I want to make. Throughout the gospels, Jesus Christ calls people to belief. He summons them to place their trust in Him and the One who sent Him. Consider what we read from John 5 today, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John‬ ‭5:19-24‬) What I find fascinating in passages like this is that Jesus is calling us to believe as He does! He’s not asking anything from us that He is unwilling to do Himself! Just as the Son must place His trust in the Father, doing only what He sees the Father doing, ordering His life after the pattern the Father has set, so we are to place our trust in the Son. Do only what we see Him do. Order our lives after the pattern He has set. As we do, we pass from death to life. From judgment to salvation.

So what does it mean to believe in Jesus? Running it through the grid above, let me suggest believing in Jesus happens in three general stages…

1. Belief in Jesus’ existence. I don't know many who seriously believe Jesus was a myth. Most will acknowledge that Jesus did indeed walk the earth, taught the Golden Rule, and in general, represented the best humanity has to offer. Most will acknowledge He was executed by the Romans on a cross. Most will acknowledge the tomb was empty after three days. Such beliefs do not require one to believe He was God or that He rose bodily from the grave or that He came to save us from our sins. These are simply statements of historical fact. There was a man named Jesus. He lived two thousand years ago. His manner of life was so compelling that we literally changed our calendars to mark his birth.

2. Believe what Jesus taught. A second level of belief in Jesus is to take what He said seriously. To believe that what He taught was true. To believe that following His teachings is a good way to live your life. To share Jesus' convictions and allow them to shape your worldview. This is, as far as I can tell, where most Christians I've encountered in my life prefer to live. I am not being judgmental here just sharing my own conviction which is based on observation and life experience after twenty plus years in full-time ministry.

3. Trust Jesus with your life. This is the deepest level of belief and ultimately what Jesus meant when he spoke those words in John 5. This is the layer where intellectual belief moves to saving faith. One actually believes Jesus came to die in our place. One actually believes when Jesus rose from the dead, he defeated death once and for all. One actually believes there are no other options that lead to the eternal life than the one Jesus offers. One seeks to order every facet of their life after Jesus. They find themselves loving their enemies, freely forgiving, pursuing reconciliation, and acting as peacemakers in the world. They discover new depths to love they never imagined. They experience a joy they cannot describe. They cannot help but seek to share this new belief with others. Far from being a "private" experience, it invades every corner of their existence.

So what do you believe? Everyone believes in something. Everyone is staking their lives on a certain set of convictions. What are yours? Are they open to examination and testing? Are they open to challenge and critique? I certainly hope mine continue to be and I am constantly seeking out relationships with those around me who will be honest with me and force me to examine my heart. I find it only deepens my belief in Jesus. 

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 12-14, John 5:30-47

Open our Eyes

Readings for today: 2 Kings 4-9, John 4

I have heard it said that the world has yet to see the power that would be unleashed through one man or woman who’s sold out to God. I disagree. I think we see such power all the time. Certainly in Scripture. Take the story of Elisha for instance. The dude is a one-man wrecking crew when it comes to Syria. Ben-hadad wanted to destroy Israel. Invaded time after time. He had the best generals. Mighty men of valor like Naaman. He had all the resources. All the men. All the horses and chariots. The odds were surely in his favor. But Israel had one advantage...Elisha. A man who loved God with all his heart. From Elisha’s deep faith sprung wisdom and insight and even prophetic utterances. He thwarted the plans of Ben-hadad to such an extent that his counselors believed it was like Elisha was hanging out in Ben-hadad’s bedroom! 

Elisha posed such a great threat that Ben-hadad sent his entire army on a seek and destroy mission. Find him. Kill him. Destroy whatever city is giving him refuge. So Elisha and his servant wake up one morning only to see the Syrian army arrayed before them in all its might. It must have been an intimidating sight. The servant is immediately afraid. What will we do? How will we survive? But Elisha doesn’t miss a beat. He asks God to open the eyes of his servant so that he can see what Elisha sees. Horses. Chariots. The mountains ringed with fire from the army of the Lord. 

This is one of my favorite stories in all of Scripture because of the reminder that though my circumstances may seem bleak. Though I may undergo all kinds of trials and tribulations. Though I may suffer and struggle and hurt. Though the enemy wage war against me. Though the government or culture or society grow increasingly hostile to the gospel. No matter what may come, my adversaries - as numerous as they may be - are no match for the armies of the Lord! His sovereign hand continues to lead and guide and protect. His power cannot be measured. His wisdom cannot be fathomed. And if I will simply lift my eyes above the hills, I will see where my true help comes! (Psalm 121) 

“Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9:11) I frequently find myself in positions where I am weak. I have no power. No authority. I am not strong or swift or wise or wealthy. In those moments, I am tempted to despair. And that’s when God has me right where He wants me! God does His best work when I come to the end of myself. God does His greatest work when I get out of the way. God is at His most glorious when I am weak and afraid and lonely and have nowhere else to turn. All I have to do is open my eyes. See the power He has brought to bear. Sit back and watch Him go to work. Trust Him for the victory. 

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 10-11, John 5:1-29

Streams in the Desert

Readings for today: 2 Kings 1-3, John 3:22-36

On one of my many trips to Ethiopia, we met with a group of denominational leaders in the southern region of the country to launch a new regional training center. The people in that part of Ethiopia are beautiful and industrious. They engage in backbreaking work every single day. They are mainly pastoralists who live a semi-nomadic lifestyle depending on the rains. They herd cattle and sheep. They raise camels and goats. They grow mouthwatering fruit. However, they are located pretty far from Addis Ababa which is the nation’s capital. Because of the distance, they do not get a lot of aid from their government or even their denominational leadership. In addition, their remote location and nomadic lifestyle makes it difficult for them to connect with NGO’s and Christian non-profits. Different church groups have come and gone over the years but the challenges are too much for them to overcome.

The leaders we met with that day shared all this with us as we talked about what a partnership might look like moving forward. One of them referenced the story we read today from 2 Kings 3. He told us it felt like they’ve been wandering in the wilderness for years with no water. Their people were tired. Their churches struggling. What little resources they did have were long gone. He said they had been praying for God to do what He did for Elisha and the kings. Fill the dry streambeds with water. Flood their valley and their land and their churches with resources so they could help their people and bring them to Christ. As he listened to us outline the details of our partnership agreement, tears came into his eyes. He let us know he truly believed the Petros Network was an answer to their prayers and he has been right. The partnership God led us to forge with these brothers and sisters is leading to incredible fruit as hundreds of churches are now being planted and thousands brought to Christ. Further plans for education and clean water access are also being made as we continue to pray for God to fill the dry steams with Living Water!

Where do you need Living Water in your life? The prophet Jeremiah warns us not to try to quench our thirst in the broken cisterns we tend to make for ourselves. Instead we are to quench our thirst in Christ! We are to come to Him and let Him refresh and renew us every day. Too often, we make our plans just like the kings did. We do not consult God. We do what we think is best. And we end up in the desert. Wandering in the wilderness. Struggling to survive. Today’s passage calls us to “inquire of the Lord” when we find ourselves in those spaces. To seek His will through His Word and in prayer. To engage in worship as we seek His presence. Intimacy with Christ is the only thing that can truly quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger. His abiding Presence is the source of Life itself and our connection to Him is vital if we are to flourish.

Engage in self-examination today. Ask Christ to reveal to you those areas of your life where you are trusting in your own wisdom and strength. Engage in prayer today. Ask Christ to give you a hunger and thirst for His Presence. Meditate on God’s Word today. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His will to you through the text. Most of all, trust Christ is for you. He loves you. Christ longs to become a spring inside you eternally flowing with Living Water so you will never be thirsty again.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 4-9, John 4

A God of the Hills and Valleys

Readings for today: 1 Kings 21-22, John 3:1-21

Do you know what God cares about most? His glory. Whenever anyone would diminish Him in any way, God responds. God acts. God reminds us who He is and what He’s all about. In yesterday’s reading, the Syrian king, Ben-hadad, invades Israel. He places his trust in his power. His military might. The 32 client kings who join him. His numbers are overwhelming. Israel has no chance. But Ben-hadad makes a fatal mistake. He underestimates God. Overconfident. Prideful. Arrogant. He defies God and suffers an embarrassing defeat. Licking his wounds, he prepares yet another invasion. Again he gathers his forces. Again his numbers are overwhelming. Again Israel has no chance. But once again, Ben-hadad underestimates God. His servants encourage him in his foolishness. “And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Israel’s gods are the gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” (1 Kings‬ ‭20:23) Once again, he is defeated. Not by Israel but by the Lord as God declares His authority over both hills and plains. 

You would think Ahab would learn from this experience. Sadly, he does not. He too underestimates God. He refuses to obey God and devote Ben-hadad to destruction. He compromises. He equivocates. He cuts a deal. But God doesn’t cut deals. God will never compromise. He is fiercely jealous for His name and for His fame. Ahab compounds his sin by concocting a scheme with his wife to steal Naboth’s vineyard. He not only has Naboth killed but he takes possession of his family inheritance. In all these things, Ahab shows himself to be selfish and petulant. Almost like a child. He pouts when he doesn’t get his way. He gets angry and offended easily. He refuses to listen to God until it is too late and he dooms his son in the process.

What do you believe about God? Is He only the God of the mountaintops of your life? Is He only present when you feel a spiritual high? Have a moving experience during a worship service? Do you only connect with Him when you are in worship on a Sunday morning? Or is He the God of your valleys as well? Those times when you feel like you’re walking in darkness? Those moments when depression and despair threaten to overwhelm? Those experiences which devastate and cause so much pain? Do you believe He is there with you? What do you believe about God? 

What you believe matters. What you believe drives how you think and feel and behave. If you believe God is limited or weak or not omnipresent or omnipotent, then you might act like Ben-hadad or Ahab. Believing God is confined to either the hills or the valleys of your life, you may believe you can get away with a certain level of sin. You may believe God helps those who help themselves. You may believe you can make it on your own. And you will fall into the trap of self-sufficiency. You will rely on your own wisdom and strength. And you will fall short of God’s glory. On the other hand, if you do believe God is all-powerful and ever-present, then you will act accordingly. You will submit every decision. Every action. Every thought to Christ. You will seek to bring all things under His Lordship. You will seek to align your will to His rather than the other way around. 

God cares about His glory. God cares about His great name. And God intends to fill the earth with His glory through the faithful obedience of His people. This was as true for Israel as it is for us today. This is why Jesus says to His disciples,  “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 1-3, John 3:22-36

God Still Speaks

Readings for today: 1 Kings 19-20, John 2

I love the story of Elijah. I love his faithfulness. I love his courage. I love his passion. I love his heart. What makes Elijah so great was his ability to listen to the Word of the Lord. His sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. His humble submission and willingness to sit in God’s presence in silence. As I mentioned in yesterday’s devotional, there was nothing great about Elijah. Nothing unusual. Nothing out of the ordinary. He was simply a human being. A human being like any other human being. A man just like any other man. But he was called to play a specific role in God’s Kingdom and the life of Israel.  

Elijah was a prophet. A man set apart to hear the Word of the Lord and deliver it to God’s people. The Word of the Lord came to Elijah, telling him there would be a famine in the land and to go and live by a brook where the ravens would feed him. When the brook ran dry, the Word of the Lord came to Elijah and told him to go to Zarephath where a widow would care for him. When the widow’s son died, the Word of the Lord came through Elijah to raise him the dead. The Word of Lord challenged Elijah to risk his life and confront King Arab. Queen Jezebel. 450 prophets of Baal. After a miraculous victory, the Word of the Lord opened Elijah’s eyes to see the coming rain. When Elijah ran for his life, the Word of the Lord again came to him bringing comfort and peace. 

This one of my favorite stories in all of Scripture. Elijah falling into a deep depression after his greatest victory. He must have wondered to himself, “What more can I do? I literally just called down fire from heaven and still it is not enough to bring Ahab and Jezebel to repentance.” But once again, Elijah leaned on the Word of the Lord. He traveled to the mountain of God. The same mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments. The same mountain where God revealed Himself to Israel in fire and smoke and great darkness. On this same mountain, Elijah meets with God. The wind howls. The earth shakes. Fire breaks out. Finally there is silence. God speaks. Whispering His will to His beloved prophet.

I have no idea what life is like for you right now. Perhaps you are feeling buffeted by hurricane force winds. Perhaps you feel the earth giving way beneath your feet. Perhaps fire has broken out threatening to burn everything you’ve built to the ground. Maybe you’ve just won an incredible victory. Achieved a lifelong dream. Found professional success. Perhaps you’re depressed and lonely and anxious and afraid. Maybe you’re even considering taking your life. Let the story of Elijah encourage you. God is not done with you! He meets you in every season of life! He is with you on the mountaintop when everything is going so well. He is with you in the valleys when it feels like you can barely go on. He is speaking to you. He has some things to say to you. You are His beloved and He will never leave you or forsake you.

How can you tune into what He’s saying? You have to do what Elijah did. You have to get quiet. You have to build time in your life for silence. Turn off the devices. Turn off the television. Turn off the ringer on your phone. Get by yourself. Find a spot to be alone. It could be in your home. Out on a trail somewhere. Even in your car. God speaks to us in whispers. He will not raise His voice to compete with the chaos of our lives. He will not talk over us. He will not interrupt us. He simply will wait until we are ready. Wait until we slow down. Wait until we get quiet. God wants you to hear Him today. He wants you to hear the things He has to say. Listen, friends. Give Him the space to speak and you will find the peace and comfort your soul craves.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 21-22, John 3:1-21

Elijah

Readings for today: 1 Kings 17-18, John 1

Elijah is one of my favorites. A powerful prophet in Israel. A man with the courage to stand up to kings and queens. A man of conviction who stakes his life on God. A man who has the faith to perform miracles. A man who literally lives not by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. But what makes Elijah truly great is his humility. He knows he is not the hero of this story. He knows he is not the center of attention. He knows his job is to point people beyond himself to the God he serves. The God who desires to make Himself known. The God who reveals Himself to those who love Him and fear Him.

Elijah is such a man. He’s a man who loves and fears God. Why else would he leave his home and family and community to obey when God tells him to live by a brook and be fed by ravens? Why else would he leave Israel to go to Sidon and live with a Gentile widow on the brink of starvation in a town called Zarephath? Why else would he have the faith to challenge the widow to trust the Lord for her food and for the life of her son? Why else would he leave Sidon and return to Israel to confront Ahab and Jezebel? Why else would he call for a public demonstration of divine power on the top of Mount Carmel in front of all Israel? Why else would he mock and taunt the prophets of Baal as they cried out to their god? “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” (1 Kings‬ ‭18:27‬) Why else would he leave no doubt by drenching his own sacrifice with water three times before calling out to God? Elijah is truly a man of deep and abiding and courageous faith.

The temptation, of course, is to assume Elijah was graced with special powers. It’s tempting to assume Elijah had some kind of special access to God not available to regular men and women. It’s tempting to think we could never live like Elijah. Believe like Elijah. Do the things Elijah did or say the things Elijah said. But nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve met men and women just like Elijah. No one knows their names. They will never go viral on social media. They will never be interviewed on cable news. They are men and women of deep faith just like Elijah who go to unnamed villages all over the Horn of Africa. Places that don’t show up on any map. God uses them to perform miracles of healing and resurrection and exorcism. They pray for rain and the rain comes. They pray for an end to pestilence and it ends. Their crops and herds flourish as God blesses them with His divine favor. Like Elijah before them, they call the people they serve to faith. They call them to place their trust in Jesus Christ rather than the pagan or tribal gods they worshipped before. It’s truly amazing.

And it begs the question…what about us? What does it look like to have the faith of Elijah in our lives? Here in America? In a place like Douglas County? Where we are blessed with so much and therefore are tempted to trust God with so little? First and foremost, I think it requires us to build space in our lives for quiet reflection. To sit in silence before the Lord and allow the noise of our lives to die down so we can hear from Him. I think it means creating unhurried space in our lives where we are not rushed. God is not on a clock. We aren’t expecting God to move according to our schedule. Second, I think it means cultivating a courageous spirit of obedience. Bravely walking in His ways in the midst of an increasingly hostile world. Faithfully clinging to the wisdom of God which will appear as foolishness to those around us. Much like John the Baptist - who is Elijah reborn according to Scripture - we too must be willing to “zig” when the world says “zag.” We must be willing to stick to the narrow path while the rest of the world chooses the six-lane highway. We must be willing to hold fast to our convictions in world where such convictions are now considered old-fashioned, out of date, even dangerous and oppressive. Ultimately, like Elijah. Like John the Baptist. Like so many saints who have gone before us. We must be willing to be a “lone voice crying in the wilderness…prepare the way of the Lord!”

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 19-20, John 2

Fear, Doubt, and Faith

Readings for today: 1 Kings 15-16, Luke 24:36-53

I love Jesus. I love how Jesus is not afraid to meet us in the midst of our fear. In the midst of our confusion. In the midst of our doubts. In the midst of real life. In our passage today, the Risen Christ is appearing to His disciples. He is making Himself known in all His resurrected glory. And the initial reaction of the disciples is disbelief. They simply cannot wrap their hearts and minds around the fact that Jesus is alive. They cannot believe their eyes. They cannot believe their ears. So Jesus encourages them to touch Him with their hands. “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Luke‬ ‭24:39‬) He encourages them to watch Him eat. “And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.” (Luke‬ ‭24:41-43‬) Jesus knows resurrection was the last thing anyone expected. Jesus knows they have no categories to help them process His rising from the grave. Jesus knows their weaknesses. Jesus knows their doubts. Jesus knows their fears. Jesus knows their disbelief. And rather than judge them or condemn them or dismiss them, He meets them where they are and helps them understand.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His compassion is the same. His love is the same. His tenderness is the same. He meets us in our fear. He meets us in our doubt. He meets us in our weakness. We are such fragile creatures. Yes, we are made in God’s image but that image has become defaced and deformed by sin. Yes, we are beloved by God but we struggle to accept that love, thinking it must be earned before it will be given. Yes, by faith we are adopted as God’s children but we wrestle to accept our new identity in Christ. It seems to good to be true. The grace of God too amazing. The love of God too wonderful. The idea of God dying and rising again in order to secure our salvation too mysterious for us to ever truly understand. So we doubt. We disbelieve. We wonder, down deep, if it’s all just a myth or fairy tale or something we made up to make ourselves feel better.

Thankfully Jesus is faithful. He meets us where we are. When you think about it, God could have saved us in any number of ways. God could have made Himself known through a vapor trail in the sky or some other miraculous manifestation of His presence. In fact, the Old Testament is littered with such appearances. The problem is we struggle to trust miracles. We struggle to trust anything outside our own experience. This is why God made Himself known in Jesus Christ. All of us can understand babies. All of us know what it’s like to grow up. All of us know what it’s like to experience hunger and thirst and heat and cold and pain and suffering. And God experienced it all and more. He came to be with us. He came to meet us. He came to help us cast out our fears, settle our doubts, answer our questions. We can actually walk where He walked. We can see the places He’s been. We know where He died. We can see where His body lay. These are facts of history not stories we make up. They are living reminders that the faith we cling to is not just another human philosophy or code of ethics. It isn’t based on rational thought or warm feelings. It is based on a real, living, breathing Person who became one of us.

So come to Jesus. Bring all your doubts and fears and anxieties and hopes and dreams and questions and frustrations. Jesus is not afraid of these things. He’s a big boy and can handle it! Let Him show you the wounds in His hands and feet and side. Let Him show you the proof of His great love.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 17-18, John 1

The Love of Money

Readings for today: 1 Kings 10-14, Luke 24:1-35

“Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs‬ ‭30:8-9‬) 

We tend to think of wealth as a blessing from God. We rejoice when our ship comes in. We are thankful to live in beautiful homes. Drive nice cars. Take nice vacations. Build plenty of wealth to retire on and enjoy the twilight years of life. What we fail to consider is the very real spiritual dangers that accompany such wealth.  

Solomon was fabulously wealthy. During his reign, Israel enjoyed a period of great peace and prosperity. The economy was strong. Unemployment was down. Silver was so plentiful it ceased to hold any value. His annual income was astronomical. 666 talents of gold equals almost 40,000 pounds of gold each year. An ounce of gold on the current market is almost $1,300 dollars and Solomon was bringing in 640,000 ounces of gold each year! In today’s numbers, his annual income would run into the hundreds of millions. Incredible! No wonder he overlaid everything with gold! No wonder he sat on an ivory throne! But with all that wealth came temptation. The temptation to become self-sufficient. The temptation to become self-reliant. The temptation to forget God as the One from whom all blessings flow. And that’s exactly what happened. Solomon forgot God. Influenced by his foreign wives, he began building shrines to different gods. Trusting in his own strength, he failed to see the danger before it was too late. Unlike his father David, there is no indication in Scripture that Solomon ever repented of his sin. And though he finished his reign in relative peace, the nation would fracture after his son came to the throne. 

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy‬ ‭6:10‬) It is often said that money itself is not evil but only the love of money. That is true. However, we are all sinners so when you place money in our hands, we naturally tend to fall in love with it. We simply can’t help ourselves. Our hearts - without Christ - are enslaved to our passions. The simple truth is we always want more. We always crave more. We all have an insatiable hunger inside us that is never satisfied.

Now consider where I live. Douglas County routinely ranks among the wealthiest counties in the country. The average household income is well above six figures. This places us in the top tenth of a percent of the world’s wealthiest people. Furthermore, when one considers the broad sweep of human history, we are richer than some of the greatest kings and queens the world has ever known. And while there are great blessings that come with such wealth, we have to acknowledge there is also great spiritual danger. We have a tendency to forget God. We have a tendency to be self-reliant. Self-sufficient. Is it any wonder then that our rates of addiction, depression, anxiety, fear, and suicide continue to climb? In our “affluenza”, we have lost sight of God. Our only hope is to repent and turn back to Him. To find our satisfaction only in Christ and be set free from the ravenous hunger that lurks deep inside. To sacrificially and generously give away our wealth so that it loosens its grip on us. We must heed the words of Jesus and seek to store up treasures in heaven for where our treasure is, so our heart will be also.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 15-16, Luke 24:36-53

The Reality of God

Readings for today: 1 Kings 8-9, Luke 23:44-56

“And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.” (1 Kings‬ ‭8:10-11‬)

The Christian faith is more than a philosophical idea. It’s more than a code of ethics. More than a list of moral rules and regulations. At its most fundamental level, it is an encounter with the Living God. The Maker of heaven and earth. The Lord of the universe. Our God is not made with human hands. He is not a cultural artifact. He is no empty idol. He is not make believe. He is no fantasy or fairy tale. He is no myth. He exists. He is real. In fact, He IS existence. He IS reality. More elementary than any quark or boson. More fundamental than any atom or protein. More foundational than any building block of life. Without Him, creation goes dark. The world grows cold. The universe collapses in on itself. Life shrivels up and dies.

Don’t rush by what’s taking place in our reading today. God is literally making His dwelling place on earth. God is literally showing up and showing out at the dedication of His Temple. His Holy place. A cloud descends. The glory of the Lord fills the Temple. The priests drop to their knees in wonder and awe. Solomon stands up to pray. He does so in full confidence that the One he addresses is actually present. He prays with the sure and certain knowledge that God sees and God hears and God responds to the heart cries of His people. “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart…” (1 Kings 8:22-23) There is only One God. All other gods are myths and legends. There is only One True God. All other gods are falsehoods and lies. There is only One True and Faithful God. All other gods are capricious and arbitrary and undependable. There is only One True and Faithful and Loving God. All other gods are selfish and greedy and evil. Solomon is making a statement here. A statement based on reality. A statement based on history. A statement based on the record of interactions between his God and his people.

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” (1 Kings‬ ‭8:27-30‬)

The Christian faith is the only faith whose God actually descends to earth. The Christian faith is the only faith whose God condescends to us. Speaks to us in language we can understand. Meets us where we are in the midst of our broken and messed up lives. For the ancient Israelites, God appeared as a glory cloud filling the Temple. For the first century Israelites, God appeared in the Person of Jesus Christ. His glory contained in a human being. His divine nature joined with a human nature, co-mingled in some mysterious way and yet distinct. For 21st century believers, God appears in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Indwelling the heart of each believer. Filling us with His glory so that we might bear it out to the world. As such, we become living testimonies to the reality of God. We are living stones being built into living temples so that those who do not yet know God might meet Him as He reveals Himself through us.

Will God indeed dwell on earth? It’s a crazy idea. Will God indeed dwell in us? Even crazier. Heaven and earth cannot contain Him and yet He lives in you. He lives in me. He will never leave us. He will never forsake us. He will never abandon us. He keeps His promises. He keeps His covenant. His love is steadfast and faithful and true. So walk before Him with all your heart today, friends! And know there is never a single moment when you walk alone!

Readings for tomorrow: None

Building with God

Readings for today: 1 Kings 6-7, Luke 23:26-43

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor, labor in vain. Unless the Lord establishes our steps, we will stumble and fall. Unless the Lord has commissioned our work, it will fall apart. Unless the Lord is with us, our ways can never be pure.

I think about this Psalm each year when I hit these chapters describing the ambitious building projects Solomon undertook. He spends seven years building the Temple of God. The glorious building that would become the beating heart of Israel for generations. Then he spends thirteen years building his own house which includes these different halls where he will conduct the business of the nation. The people labor for twenty long years to bring Solomon’s vision to pass. It is a mighty work. It is a hard work. On some level it is the Lord’s work. It would never have come to pass without the Lord’s resources and the Lord’s gifts and the Lord’s blessing.

Reading this passage always causes me to wonder…what work is God doing in my life? What “house” has He called my to build? I distinctly remember a period of time in my own life where I made my own plans. I tried to build my own house without the Lord’s blessing. I remember my mentor, Steve Hayner, telling me, “Doug, I want you to remember something as you go to Wisconsin. You are not going to plant a church. You are going to get involved in what God is doing. Whatever church comes out of it will simply be a byproduct of you joining the Lord in His work in your city. Don’t ever forget this!” Unfortunately, that’s exactly what I did. Steve was trying to keep me from making a massive mistake. He was trying to keep me from putting the cart before the horse. From getting out in front of God. But in my arrogance and pride, I thought I had it figured out. My way was pure in my eyes. How could it get any more pure than planting a church for Jesus? My heart had already put together a plan but I failed to grasp that it would be the Lord who would establish my steps. And when it came time for the Lord to weigh my spirit, I was found wanting.

It is so easy for us to fall into this trap. To “assume” because we are doing God’s work. Because we are engaged in ministry. Because we are taking care of our families. Because we are having success. Because everything we touch turns to gold that somehow God must be pleased. So we keep making plans. We keep dreaming dreams. We keep doing our thing and we forget all about God. We rarely consult Him. We rarely ask Him what He thinks. We rarely bring our plans before the Lord in prayer. Except when things go wrong, of course! When we run into barriers. Roadblocks. Failure. Then we cry out to God. What happened? Why me? What went wrong.

There’s a wonderful spiritual practice called the daily examen. It is the simple practice of bringing the details of our day before the Lord morning and night. Each morning when we wake up, we take our schedule of activities to God in prayer. We pay close attention to our hearts as we do. What makes us anxious today? What brings us peace? What are we excited about? What causes us fear? As we bring those things to God, we ask Him to bring consolation. To lead and guide us. To give us wisdom. And then at the end of each day, we repeat the exercise as we look back. What went well? What was hard? Where did we sense God’s abiding presence? Where did He feel absent? What did we learn? It doesn’t take that long and yet it can make a huge difference in helping us understand the difference between asking God for His plan or asking God to bless our plan for our lives.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 8-9, Luke 23:44-56

The Power of Wisdom

Readings for today: 1 Kings 4-5, Luke 23:1-25

“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." (1 Kings‬ ‭3:5‬)

Put yourself in Solomon’s shoes as you think about the readings from yesterday and today. You have a glorious vision of God. He literally bends the heavens to come down and enter your dreams as you sleep. He says to you, “What shall I give to you?” “What is it you want?” “Tell me your heart’s desire and I will make it happen.” What would you say? How would you respond? What would you ask for?  

Don’t let yourself respond too quickly. Let the Spirit search your heart as you ponder and reflect. As you think, let me encourage you to get in touch with your deepest fears. We all have them. Secret fears we harbor in our hearts that we spend a lifetime running from or protecting ourselves from. So much of how we choose to live our lives is in response to primordial fears we all carry inside. Fear of failure. Fear of not having enough. Fear of being unsafe. Fears for our children or our children’s children. Fear of insignificance. Fear of disease. Fear of death. What do you think Solomon was afraid of? As a young man, he had just inherited a powerful kingdom in the Middle East. (Not the safest or calmest place in the world, especially back then!) He was surrounded by powerful neighbors with powerful armies. He faced enemies both at home and abroad. As fabulous as his wealth was, it was fleeting in the ancient world. It could be here today and gone tomorrow. There was no FCC to guarantee his money. His people were looking to him for guidance and wisdom. What if he failed? What if he couldn’t live up to his father’s incredible legacy? All eyes turned to him as he ascended the throne. Would he be able to hold it? Would he preside over a period of peace and prosperity or would the nation crumble under his leadership? What if famine struck? What if the rains didn’t come? What if harvests failed? Plagues struck his livestock? So much responsibility at such a young age! 

I imagine Solomon’s dreams were often filled with anxiety and fear. The pressure to perform had to be enormous. So when the Lord came to him with this question - “What shall I give to you?” - Solomon responds from the depths of his heart. “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” ‭(1 Kings‬ ‭3:9‬) Centuries later, a man named James would encourage God’s people to pray a similar prayer. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James‬ ‭1:5‬) It’s a potent prayer. Transcending time and place and circumstance. Solomon is clearly not simply focused on the present or even the short-term. He knows the challenges he will face. He knows the years will weigh heavy. He knows there will be trials and tribulations and struggles and heartache. He knows all of this and so he asks for divine wisdom to make good decisions for the sake of God’s people. How selfless! How humble! How insightful! 

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches His disciples, saying, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew‬ ‭7:7‬) Isn’t that amazing? Essentially, Jesus is asking his disciples the same question He once asked Solomon. What is it you want? Ask and I will give it to you! Seek it out and I will show it to you! Be persistant in prayer and I will open the door for you. I will let you into my presence. I will answer all your questions. I will meet all your needs. I will give you what your heart desires. 

Wait a minute, you say! That cannot be true! We’ve all prayed lots of prayers that were never answered! We’ve all prayed lots of prayers that just seemed to bounce off the ceiling! We’ve all prayed lots of prayers and gotten the silent treatment - so we thought - from the Lord. So what’s really going on here?  What’s Jesus really saying? 

Jesus is no genie. We’re not Aladdin with a magic lamp. Expressing to God our deepest desires and deepest needs is not the same as making three wishes! God probes the deepest recesses of our hearts. Psalm 42:7 describes it like this, “Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.” The Apostle Paul says it like this in Romans 8:26-27, “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” This is why Paul can say with confidence that God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose! Because God responds to the deepest needs of the human heart. The needs we can’t give voice to. The needs we don’t want to admit to. The needs are most afraid to express. 

The most amazing thing about Solomon is that he’s in touch with his needs. He knows he is weak. He knows he is young. He knows he is immature. He knows he is unable to carry the burden that has been placed on his shoulders. He acknowledges all of this and his prayer therefore comes from that deep place within as he asks for divine wisdom to bear up under the challenges that will come. And God answers his prayers. “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore,”(1 Kings‬ ‭4:29‬) Are you in touch with your deepest needs? Have you spent time reflecting on your fears? Have you come face to face with your failure? Do you acknowledge your weakness and insignificance and are you willing to bring those needs before God? This, friends, is prayer. Humble. Heartfelt. Authentic. Real. Honest to goodness prayer. And such prayers God will NEVER dismiss or despise! Thanks be to God!

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 6-7, Luke 23:26-43

The Godfather

Readings for today: 1 Kings 2-3, Luke 22:39-71

Every time I read 1 Kings 2, I think of one of The Godfather. I picture Michael Corleone at the altar taking his baptismal vows as his henchmen settle score after score after score. Carlo. Tessio. Virgil Solozzo. Tattaglia. Cuneo. Stacci. Barzini. It’s a classic scene. At the end of David’s life, there is yet another struggle for power. His son, Adonijah, sees his opportunity to take the throne. He gathers some of David’s inner circle around him. He sacrifices sheep and oxen. He calls all the leaders of the nation to join him with a few notable exceptions. But he miscalculates. He moves too soon. David is not yet dead. The timing is not right. And the results are disastrous. 

Solomon is crowned king by David to the acclaim of all the people. But David’s not quite finished settling scores. He has a long memory. He knows who has wronged him. He knows who has betrayed him. And one gets the sense that he’s been waiting. Biding his time. Getting ready for the right moment to strike. Joab. Shimei. Abiathar. Adonijah. All fall to the sword or are exiled as Solomon works to secure his throne. This is real life in the real world and whereas we may not assassinate our political enemies anymore, we certainly do all we can to discredit them and “assassinate” their character. Things haven’t much changed since Solomon’s time. 

What do we take away from today’s reading? Well, the biblical authors make it clear that God is using broken, imperfect people to bring about His righteous judgment. Joab is executed for committing the cold-blooded murders of Abner and Amasa. Shimei is executed for the curse he put on David as he fled for his life. Abiathar is exiled for his treason, thus fulfilling a decades old prophecy about Eli’s family being expelled from service at the house of God. Adonijah is executed for his treason and sedition. Though it may make our modern sensibilities squirm, God’s righteous judgment is a critical component of His eternal character. 

A God without justice is a God who is powerless in the face of evil. A God without justice is soft and sentimental. A God without justice cannot stand against the violence and tyranny of this world. A God without justice is weak. But our God is a God of justice! And He executes His righteous judgment on sin and evil in this world! This is why the Psalmist can declare, “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!...For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land...The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming...For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous....But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.” (Psalms‬ ‭37:1, 9, 12-13, 17, 20‬) Though it may not happen in this life, the promise of God is sure! Evil will get its due! Evildoers will not inherit the Kingdom! Satan and his demonic horde will eventually be bound and thrown into the lake of fire! God will make His victory complete! His justice will reign upon the earth! 

Until that great day comes, what to make this reading in our own lives? God is a God of justice. He sees our sin. He sees the evil we commit not just with our hands but in our hearts and minds as well. Our evil thoughts. Our evil intentions. Our sinful and selfish ways. Sins of commission and sins of ommission. We cannot escape the justice of God! And this should bring us to our knees in worship before the Crucified and Risen Christ who literally stood in our place. Took our punishment. Bore the wrath we deserved. Satisfied God’s justice once and for all!  Thanks be to God for what He has done!

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 4-5, Luke 23:1-25

Pride, Power, and Popularity

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 24, 1 Kings 1, Luke 22:24-38

More and more studies are being conducted on the impact of social media on our mental health. The results are scary. It is becoming clear that prolonged social media use presents like addiction with similar accompanying symptoms. (Neglect of personal life, mental preoccupation, escapism, etc.) When people attempt to stop using social media, they go through something akin to withdrawal. The more we use social media, the less happy we seem to be and the more socially isolated we become. The comparisons social media invites between our lives and those with whom we are connected is not good for our well-being. Furthermore, social media (which includes all the different apps with a social component to it) is specifically designed to trigger dopamine “highs” in the brain. Dopamine release is triggered by unpredictability, small bits of information that can be digested quickly, and most importantly, reward cues. (i.e. number of “likes” on FB, number of “followers” on Instagram, number of “retweets” on Twitter, streaks on Snapchat, etc.)  

I think about the number of people I know who draw at least part of their self-worth off of the number of friends they have on Facebook. The number of times people hit the “heart” button on an Instagram pic. The number of retweets and likes a pithy phrase gets on Twitter or the amount of views on a YouTube video. Especially young people. Especially the young people in my own home. But it’s not just social media. I think of the number of pastors I know who draw their self-worth off the number of people who show up on a weekend for worship. I think of the drive there is in most churches for numerical growth. I know some pastors who seem to live or die based on whether they make OutReach Magazine’s  Top 100 list every year. I think of the uncritical assumptions too many Christians make that larger churches must be doing something “right” and smaller churches must be doing something “wrong.” Or the reverse. I once belonged to a denomination where the salaries of all the pastors in each region were published and voted on each year. I remember one older man who came from a very small church standing up to rail against large church pastors whose salaries were more than his entire church’s budget. Never mind the differences in scale or complexities of the job. He just didn’t like big churches and made his opinions known.  

Why are we so obsessed with numbers? It does seem to be an American phenomenon. I travel the world regularly. I’ve been to China, South Korea, Mexico, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, etc. I’ve interacted with pastors in all of those settings and in my experience, they just don’t seem as hung up as we are on numbers. I think of one young pastor in his early twenties who leads a house church of thousands in China or the village pastor in Ethiopia whose church numbers around 50 of the poorest people in the world. I think of the South Korean pastor whose church is largely made up of teenage refugees from North Korea or the Rwandan bishop whose primary flock is the aboriginal people of the forests near his home. Each of these pastors cares deeply about his people. None of them ignores the numbers. They pay attention to their flock. They evaluate how they are doing especially as it relates to reaching the lost in their communities. They are wise and discerning. But there isn’t the emotional attachment American Christians, and especially American pastors, seem to have with attendance, buildings, and budgets. It’s like we get a dopamine “high” every time the sanctuary’s full.  

It’s why I find this story about David in 2 Samuel 24 so convicting. David wants to number his people. He wants to know the size of his army. He wants to measure his power. His influence. His accomplishments. He wants to feel secure. Safe. In control. The images I have in my head are of third-world despots throwing military parades to show off their strength. David is clearly feeling insecure and in that moment, Satan strikes. He comes along and tempts David according to 1 Chronicles 21 and God allows it to happen according to 2 Samuel 24. The results are tragic. “The word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭24:11-14‬) God is going to teach David a lesson in humility. He is going to teach David where to find his true strength. He is going to teach David where true security lies. 

70,000 die from the plague. This is horrific and we cannot understand why God would do such a thing. At the same time, we have to remember that such events take place at the mysterious intersection of God’s will and human freedom. David’s decision has consequences and because David is king, the consequences impact his people. The same is true even for today. The decisions our politicians make impact real people in real life and can cause real pain and suffering. David decides to number his fighting men and around the same time, a plague begins. It is brutal. Virulent. And it kills. Somewhere in David’s mind. In the prophet Gad’s mind. Probably in Joab’s mind and the minds of so many others, these events are related. The plague is perceived as God’s punishment on Israel for David’s sinful choices. And perhaps it is. We cannot dismiss the possibility out of hand for God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. He has clearly told His people over and over again that there are consequences...real, life-threatening consequences...for sin. God’s justice and righteousness will not be mocked. 

So how do we respond? What does this mean for our lives? First and foremost, it leads us to confession. Repentance. It calls to mind all the times we too have placed our faith in numbers. Or our mental health and well-being in the number of likes we get from social media. I am not immune. Nor are you. So we confess our sin before God. Second, it leads us to the cross. To the place where the penalty for our sin was paid. To the place where God’s judgment was fully and completely and utterly satisfied by the death of our Lord. We am not condemned. We need not feel any shame. For God has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. Third, it inspires us to live for Him today. To live from that place of grace knowing God has torn down the dividing wall of hostility that exists between us and made peace with us by the blood of His Cross. We am forgiven so we can forgive others. Grace was extended to us so we can extend it to others. Love was shown to us so we can show love to others. We are secure in God’s hands.  

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 2-3, Luke 22:39-71

Human Nature

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 17-18, Luke 21:1-19

In my devotional reading recently, I came across these words, “Deep in every human life there is somehow that which defiles it.” Written in 1943 in the midst of World War 2 by a prominent pastor in New York City. He saw firsthand the impact “crisis” made on people. He came of age during World War 1. He began his ministry in the Roaring Twenties. He served through the Great Depression until the end of World War 2. He was a national voice. He helped our nation process their pain. And the one thing he kept coming back to over and over again was how all these different crises revealed the “de-formation” of humanity’s soul. We just can’t get out of our own way. We keep striving in our own strength. We keep turning to our own wisdom. But it was clear to Rev. Scherer that the world’s resources were now played out. The highest ideals of secularism had descended into the horrors of the Holocaust. Science produced fearful and terrifying weapons of mass destruction. Set free from the shackles of religion, humanity pursued it’s own end with tragic consequences. All that was left was what Nietzsche called, “the will to power.” Millions died as a result. Millions experienced systematic abuse and oppression. Millions suffered the consequences of our collective anger and hate.

Tragically, humanity just seems to hit the “repeat” button every generation. The people of Israel abandon David. The once-great hero is now on the run for his life. All the power dynamics of this particular ancient near east society are thrown up in the air. Allegiances change overnight. Everyone casting their lot with the person they believe will eventually prevail. Ziba makes a play for his master’s wealth. Shimei takes the opportunity to take out all his frustrations. Abishai reverts to type, thinking he can solve every problem with violence. Ahithophel is so ashamed when his advice isn’t taken, he goes home and takes his own life. Joab seizes the opportunity to kill Absalom against specific orders from his king. David weeps over the death of his son. Israel will return to David but nothing will ever again be the same. Violence and suffering and warfare will mark the rest of David’s reign. There is just something dark and deep in our nature that continues to defile us.

Now consider our own situation. A pandemic still rages all over the world. The recent photos of the funeral pyres in India serve as a sobering reminder of the danger so many remain in. Yes, vaccinations are largely available but only in those countries that can afford it. Only in those nations who have the logistical infrastructure to transport and store them safely. And even after COVID fades, the deep political and social divisions it exposed remain. We are more polarized than ever. Those on the other side of the aisle are no longer colleagues with whom we respectfully disagree but enemies we must crush. Those who take a different position socially are no longer friends with whom we can respectfully disagree but hate-filled bigots who must be cut out of our lives. We are all looking for someone to blame. Someone to attack. Someone to degrade. But the sad reality is there is no win here. No way out. We’re engaged in a zero sum game. There is just something dark and deep in our nature that continues to defile us.

So where do we find hope? Only in Christ. Christ gives us the compassion to walk in another person’s shoes. Christ gives us the grace to allow people to make mistakes. Christ gives us love for those with whom we disagree or those who we call our enemies. Christ gives us joy even in the midst of our trials. Christ gives us strength to persevere through our suffering. Christ gives us the humility to ask for help. Christ gives us peace in the midst of the storm. Friends, we have reached the horizon of our lives. We have reached the end of our resources. No amount of government intervention or social engineering can possibly save any of us from ourselves. Only Christ can deliver us. Only Christ can save us. Only Christ can set us free.

Readings for tomorrow: None

The Tragedy of Unforgiveness

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 15-16, Luke 20:27-47

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 disrupt a congregation. 

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 or 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 yesterday, 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’s bitterness grows and it leads him to conspire to steal the kingdom. David seems blissfully unaware as Absalom executes his carefully laid plans. 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 us. We refuse to forgive. Now the rest of our friends are 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 shift 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…“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)

Friends, 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. Any other choices. Jesus wants His family to be unified not just in name but from the heart. 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: 2 Samuel 17-18, Luke 21:1-19

Hypocrisy

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 12-14, Luke 20:1-26

Hypocrisy killed my grandmother. Her life was one for the history books. Literally. Widowed at a very young age with three young children, she moved them all from a small farming town in western Nebraska to Switzerland to live for two years. She traveled all over Europe during that time. Her kids learned multiple languages as well as how to ski in the Alps. When they came back home, she settled back in. Ran the family farm. Eventually remarried and added three more kids to the mix. One of them died at age 18. She lost her second husband during open heart surgery. Once the kids were out of the house, she pursued her nurses’ license. Studied a foreign language herself. She literally never stopped moving. However, the grief in her life eventually caught up to her and she looked for a way to ease her pain and guilt. Tragically, she got caught up in a cult. They convinced her to give them her land and her wealth. They convinced her to move to California. Her relationships with her children became strained. Right before the end of her life, the cult leader died. His successors publicly repented of their ways. They let all their followers know they intentionally been deceitful. My grandmother’s heart broke. She realized what she had done. She had acted against some of her most deeply held convictions. She literally spent hours writing in every book she owned, “Esther is a hypocrite.” I remember talking to her towards the end of her life, attempting to win her back to Christ. She and I talked about forgiveness. We talked about unconditional love. We talked about God dying for all our sin and guilt and shame. We talked about the power of the Holy Spirit to renew and cleanse and make us whole again. I still remember the day she called the house. I picked up the phone. All she said was, “Doug, you’re right.” (She had significant dementia by this point.) And then she hung up. It was the last time I spoke to her. I will remain forever grateful to the Lord for those final words because I know she had finally let go of the shame she felt over her hypocrisy and accepted the grace of God into her life.

Hypocrisy always leads to death. For David, it led to the tragic death of his infant child. It led the death of the peace and prosperity and unity of his reign. David was nothing before he met God. He was a shepherd in a field of a small backwater town that barely appeared on a map. Everything David achieved was because of God. Everything David now owned came from God’s own hand. All his victories. All his success. All his wealth and power and privilege. All of it came from God. But it wasn’t enough. David betrayed his deepest convictions when he raped Bathsheba. He compounded his crimes when he ordered the murder of Uriah. He sealed his fate when he attempted to cover up his sin. So God sends him a prophet. Nathan confronts David. Forces him to face the consequences of his hypocrisy. Thankfully, David repents. “For thus says the Lord…you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭12:12-13‬) But it is too late for his household. He has sown the wind and will reap the whirlwind. Civil war. Exile. The death of so many of his children.

Hypocrisy is the reason our nation is dying. I forced myself to watch all the speeches last night from both parties. Once again, I was bitterly disappointed. It’s astounding to me how many of our political leaders twist one another’s words to further their own agendas. They refuse to share any credit. They assume the absolute worst of those on the other side of the aisle. They do not act in good faith. In some cases, they simply outright lie. And the lack of integrity is tragically bipartisan. As such, they betray the very oaths they took when they raised their right hand and promised to do what is best for our country.

Hypocrisy is the reason the church in America is dying. Far too many priests and pastors abuse their positions of spiritual authority in all sorts of ways. The widespread scandal of sexual abuse of the most vulnerable in congregations is horrifying. The spiritual abuse of the people they serve is more subtle but just as destructive. The lure of celebrity is seemingly too hard to resist. The opportunity to leverage one’s position to accumulate great wealth and power and cultural influence is too tempting for many. Add to that an inability to humbly confront our own sinful legacies of pride and hate and is it any wonder so many are leaving the faith?

Hypocrisy is the reason I am dying on some level. Every time I betray my own deeply held convictions, I reminded of how easy it is for me to play the hypocrite. Every time I fail to serve my wife. Fail to honor my children. Fail to listen to those who are hurting in my own congregation. Every time I fail to assume the best of my critics. Fail to love those who are hard for me to love. Fail to pray for my enemies. I too am “that man” that Nathan talks about. And I would be lost indeed without my Savior Jesus Christ. He alone is faithful. He alone is steadfast. He alone is true. He is my Rock and my Redeemer. And His grace is enough. It was enough for my grandmother. It was enough for King David. It is enough for you. It is enough for me. It is enough for the church. It is enough for our nation. It is even enough for the world. Thanks be to God.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 15-16, Luke 20:27-47

Amazing Grace

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 9-11, Luke 19:28-48

There’s a famous story told about John Knox, the founder of Presbyterianism in Scotland. He had a nightmare as he lay dying. When he awoke, he told all his friends that he had just been tempted to believe he had earned heaven through the faithfulness of his life and ministry. But he quickly followed that up with these words, “Blessed be God who enabled me to quench the fiery dart, by suggesting to me such passages of Scripture as these; “What hast thou that thou didst not receive?” (1 Cor. 4:7) “By the grace of God I am what I am.” (1 Cor. 15:10a) “Not I but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Cor. 15:10b)

It is so easy to think we deserve God’s grace. It’s so easy to believe we’ve done enough. We’re good enough. We’re strong enough. We’ve worked hard enough. Yes, most of know the dictionary definition of grace - “unmerited favor” - but if we’re honest, deep down we like to think we deserve it. If you don’t believe me, take a moment and consider how much we tend to take God’s grace for granted. How little we value our time with Him. How easy it is for us to prioritize other things. Think about how hard it is for us to forgive those who hurt us. Reconcile broken relationships. Extend grace to others. Think about how easy it is for us to play the critic. To assume the worst rather than the best of others. Become angry or dismissive toward those with whom we disagree politically, socially, or spiritually. Yes, grace is a hard concept for us to grasp much less live out on a daily basis.

In today’s reading, we come face to face with a marvelous example of grace in the story of David and Mephibosheth. David is now king. He has the nation firmly united behind him. He is winning battle after battle. Expanding their territory. Gaining tribute. Philistines. Moabites. Syrians. Edomites. All fall before him. Most ancient near east kings, in their efforts to consolidate power, would seek out the last surviving members of the former royal family and have them put to death. After all, you do not want to give any of your enemies a potential rival to rally behind. Not David. David remembers his covenant with Jonathan. David remembers his promise to Saul. He seeks out the last surviving members of Saul’s family in order to honor them. Bless them. Extend grace to them.

Enter Mephibosheth. Crippled. Weak. Broken. Living in abject poverty - Lo-debar literally means “no pasture” - where he has fled to hide. For years, he has eked out an existence hoping to escape the notice of the new king. He knows what would likely happen should he be found out. But now he’s been betrayed. His location is known. The king’s soldiers show up to bring him before David. One can imagine his fear. One can imagine all the nightmare scenarios running through his head. He comes before David and bows his face to the floor at his feet. He begs for mercy though he knows he doesn’t deserve it. And what’s David’s response? Grace. 

Friends, we are Mephibosheth. We are crippled. Weak. Broken. We too live in abject spiritual poverty. We too have fled to hide from the King. Many of us have lived this way for years. Putting our heads down and barely eking out an existence. Enslaved to our sin, we tried as best we could to escape God’s notice. But the Holy Spirit sees all and knows all. He found us out! He sought us out! He brought us before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Perhaps you remember the day that happened? The first day you actually humbled yourself before Jesus? I remember it well. I remember the exact spot I was standing on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder. I remember feeling the full weight of my sin for the first time. I remember the sense of despair I felt at the way my life was going. I remember how unworthy I felt before the Lord as I prayed to accept Him into my life. And what I remember most of all is feeling utterly overwhelmed as His grace washed over me. For the first time in my life, I knew things would be okay. I knew I was loved with an everlasting love. I knew I was not alone. My heart, once so dry and empty, was immediately filled with joy and peace. It was amazing.

Friends, grace has nothing to do with us. Nothing to do with what we’ve done. Nothing to do with how good we think ourselves to be. It has everything to do with God. By showering us with grace, God is being faithful to Himself. Faithful to the covenant promises He has made. Grace takes the wounded, crippled, and broken and sets a place for them at God’s table. Grace seeks out the spiritually disabled, those lost and wandering in darkness, enslaved to sin, dead in their trespasses and presents them before God. Grace goes to the most barren places, rescues the spiritually poor, and brings them to a place of plenty, where we are fed with the richest of fare. Most of all, grace takes those orphaned by sin and adopts them into God’s own family! 

Now here’s what we most often miss about grace. It doesn’t take away our brokenness. Mephibosheth remained crippled for the rest of his life. In the same way, we too remain crippled by our sinful nature. Why does God allow this? Again, the answer is grace. As Mephibosheth limped around the palace, leaning on his crutches, he was reminded over and over again of the amazing grace of the king. As you and I continue our struggle with sin. Tempted. Afflicted. Oppressed. We are being reminded over and over again of the amazing grace of our own King. That takes a wretch like me. Once lost. Now found. Once blind but now can see. 

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 12-14, Luke 20:1-26

Unless the Lord builds the house…

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 6-8, Luke 19:11-27

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalms‬ ‭127:1‬)

One of the things I struggle with the most 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 find 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, “Wait a minute! That doesn’t sound right! That’s not who I am! Frankly, it sounds unAmerican!” God’s answer? “Exactly.” :-)  

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” King David had a desire to build God a house. It was a godly desire. A good desire. One affirmed by Nathan the prophet. But it was 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 the message God was sending me during my devotional time. I was spending so much energy working 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. 

Since that time, I’ve continued to learn. Continued to grow. Continued to grasp on ever-deepening levels the meaning of those God-given words for my life.  

• Obscurity - I labor in a small town overshadowed by a big city. I work in a church on the eastern edge of that town off the beaten track. The church I serve is growing but we’ll never top the Outreach 100 list. We’re making an impact locally and globally but no one will ever write us up in the history books. We’re just an ordinary group of people seeking to serve God and love each other well.

• Anonymity - I am released from the pressure to perform. To succceed. To self-promote. No one knows my name. This work isn’t about me. I love the fact that I don’t always have to be up front. Don’t always have to preach. Don’t always have to be in charge. I am simply one of God’s many servants at my church.

• Insignificance - I am deeply aware of how truly insignificant my contributions to the Kingdom of God are in the grand scheme of things. 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.

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Where do you need to step back and let God build in your life? In what areas do you need to hand over the tools, stop working so hard, and let God take over? Whose blueprint are you operating from? Yours or God’s? 

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 9-11, Luke 19:28-48