Forgiveness

Readings for today: Matthew 17-18, Psalms 89

It’s the million dollar question. I get it all the time. It gets asked in some form or fashion by lots of different people as they navigate relationships in life. How many times must I forgive? The world’s answer is clear. Not very many if any at all. The world tells us that when we are hurt, when we’ve been betrayed, when we’ve been attacked, when we are disappointed or let down to cut that person out of our lives. We are to end the relationship. It could be with an organization. It could be with a church. It could be a friendship. It could be a marriage. Forgiveness is not something we should offer that other party unless they earn it. We withhold forgiveness until they confess their sin against us and work hard to regain our trust. We demand restitution and reparation and only then will we consider extending the grace of forgiveness. Where has that gotten us as a society? Not very far. Relationships are broken and fractured in all sorts of ways. People feel more isolated than ever. Marriages don’t last very long. Families break up as kids split their time between households. Churches and other organizations are weakened as people leave at the first sign of disappointment.

Jesus offers us a different way. A much harder and more difficult way to be sure but one that promises so much more in terms of relational benefit. The way of Jesus recognizes that every single human being is a sinner. Every single human being is broken. Every single human being is imperfect and therefore prone to anger and impatience and vulnerable to hurt and disappointment. However, rather than encouraging people to cut and run, Jesus challenges us to remain connected through forgiveness. How many times must we forgive? This was the question the Apostle Peter asked him along the way. Probably because he was struggling to forgive his fellow disciples! Jesus response is legendary. Seventy times seven. In other words, as often as it takes. Why? Because that’s what God does for us.

So what is forgiveness? Is it the resolution of every feeling? Is it the end of all conflict? Does it give the other person a pass? Does it mean the person will never again sin against you? Is it fundamentally unjust? Does it mean we have to forget what they’ve done or pretend it didn’t happen? Not at all. Forgiveness is honest. It acknowledges the depth of the hurt. Forgiveness is courageous. It never forgets but is a conscious decision not to hold the hurt against the person. Forgiveness is just. It never denies the pain. Most of all, forgiveness sets us free. We are no longer bound by our hurt. No longer held back by our pain. No longer locked a cycle of bitterness or anger or frustration. And this is why Jesus calls His followers to forgive freely and often and as many times as it takes. He wants us to live in freedom. No longer held back by what’s happened in the past. No longer paralyzed by fear of what might happen in the future. This is what makes forgiveness so powerful.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 19-20, Psalms 90 (No devotionals on Sundays)

The Fickle Nature of the Human Heart

Readings for today: Matthew 15-16, Psalms 88

In his book, The Righteous Mind, author Jonathan Haidt argues persuasively that human beings are not rational creatures but instead are driven by emotion and desire. He compares the head/heart relationship to that of a human rider on a large elephant. The brain relates to our heart much like a rider relates to the elephant. Yes, there are times when it seems like the rider is in control. He or she guides the elephant one way or another using reins or perhaps a stick of some kind. But if the elephant decides to go their own way, the rider has little choice but to hang on. The same is true for the brain’s relationship to the heart. Yes, there are plenty of time when it seems like the brain is guiding the decision-making process using rationality and logic. But if the heart decides to go its own way, the brain has very little power to get it to change direction. Perhaps this is why Jesus warns us about the folly of “following our hearts.”

You and I hear it all the time. We are inundated with the same messages day after day. Do what feels good. Do what feels right. Be true to yourself. These platitudes sound so promising until one actually decides to act on them. If one chooses to follow one’s heart, one quickly ends up in a ditch. Why? Our hearts are broken. Our hearts are corrupt. Our hearts are filled with all kinds of evil thoughts and intentions. Evil? Really? Perhaps you think “evil” is too strong of a word. Okay. Try selfish. I think most of us would agree that our natural way of operating is to take care of ourselves first. Make sure our own needs get met first. Fulfill our own desires before we give or serve others. Our culture reinforces this idea. Put yourself first. Take care of yourself. You deserve a break. Make yourself the first priority. Unfortunately, the American church too often uncritically blesses this mindset. I love what a Korean pastor, Jay Kim, recently wrote, “The uniquely American emphasis of the gospel is seeing faith as a means to personal benefit, rather than a sacrificing of personal benefits for eternal rewards.”

Jesus is clear. We are not the center of the universe. Our hearts are not pure. Our hands are not clean. Our desires are oriented inward rather than outward and result in a defilement that affects the whole person. This is why behavior management is no substitute for the gospel. We cannot work from the outside in. We must work from the inside out. Our hearts have to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Renewed and restored by the indwelling presence of God Himself. Only then will our lives begin to reflect His true glory. The reality is too many Christians are working far too hard at cleaning the outside of the cup. Making sure they live morally upright lives. They major in the minors. And it ends up crippling our witness. Christ wants our hearts. He will not settle for less. It doesn’t matter if you are a Pharisee, a disciple, or a Syrophoenician woman. It doesn’t matter whether you are sick or well. Free or oppressed. Rich or poor. Christ wants your heart. He wants to transform you from the inside out. He wants your love and devotion far more than your outward obedience to His commands.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 17-18, Psalms 89

The Importance of Rest

Readings for today: Matthew 11-12, Psalms 86

Medical professionals all agree that healthy adults need around 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Rest is an essential part of our overall health and well-being not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Sadly, we live in a society where rest seems to be in short supply. According to recent studies by the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, 70% of Americans reported insufficient sleep at least one night a month. 11% report insufficient sleep every night. Sleep-related problems impact some 50-70 million Americans of all ages and socio-economic classes and seem largely due to technology, anxiety, lifestyle demands, and the lack of education around the impact of sleep loss. As the “sleep debt” piles up, so do the consequences. It is estimated that our collective lack of sleep is costing us over 100 billion a year in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave, etc. Throw in the fear fostered by our culture and is it any wonder we see a marked rise in hate and outrage as sleep-deprived, chronically anxious people begin acting out in all sorts of ways?

Now listen to the words of Jesus. “All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭27‬-‭30‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

What a difference! What a contrast! All things have been given to Jesus by His Heavenly Father. All authority in heaven and on earth has been entrusted into His hands. All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that has been made. Jesus reigns. He rules. He sits on heaven’s throne. As such, He is the only one with the authority to set us free from our anxiety and restlessness. He is the only one with the power to grant us a peaceful sleep. Furthermore, this is His great desire. To grant us rest. He is no tyrant. No dictator. No abusive strongman. He is a gentle and humble King who loves His people dearly. His yoke is therefore easy. His burden is therefore light. He doesn’t seek to pile on. He is not like human rulers who seek to accumulate as much control over our lives as possible. His goal for us is “soul-rest.” The kind of rest that sinks deep into your bones. The kind of rest you can only get when you truly believe someone benevolent and good and righteous and faithful sits on the throne of eternity and is watching over your life.

Human beings were made to rest. Rest one day out of every seven. It’s what we call a Sabbath. We were made to rest one-third out of every day. It’s what we call sleep. We were made to rest in an intimate relationship with God that would relieve all the pressure that comes from life in this world. It’s why Jesus tells us not to be anxious. God is in control. It’s why Jesus tells us not to worry. God is in control. It’s why Jesus tells us not to be afraid when we see all the upheaval and turmoil in the world around us. God is in control. It is the sovereignty of God that gives rest to our souls.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 13-14, Psalms 87

God Doesn’t Live in a Box

Readings for today: Matthew 9-10, Psalms 85

I love theology. I went to one of the top theological schools in the world to get my degree. I received my doctorate from another top school. I continue to study theology for a living. I am passionate about the subject. Right theology is critically important because what we think about God matters. It matters here on earth as well as in eternity. Wrong theology can be abusive and terrorizing. Right theology can be incredibly freeing and life-giving. And of course, there’s a whole spectrum in between. And that’s why I’ve taken theological stands over the years that placed me at odds at times with the prevailing authorities in the denominations I’ve served.

In today’s reading we see what happens when theology gets in the way. When theological principle becomes more important than ministering to the needs of people. We see what happens when we desire to be right over the desire to be merciful. Jesus is attacked by the scribes for claiming to forgive sins. He is attacked by the Pharisees because of the company he kept. He is even questioned by the disciples of John the Baptist over a lack of fasting. The final insult comes when he is accused of casting out demons by the power of the devil himself. What did Jesus do to merit such treatment? He healed a paralytic. He ate a meal with a tax collector and his friends. He healed a woman with a serious medical issue and raised the dead. Finally, he cast out a demon from a demon-possessed man. One would think the scribes and Pharisees and other religious leaders of his day would rejoice over what Jesus was doing. His miracles were signs of the inbreaking power of the Kingdom of God. But their theology got in the way. They had used their knowledge of the Law and the Prophets to put God in a box and they expected Him to stay there. But God cannot be controlled. He is untamable. He is not safe. He continually breaks through the boundaries we set for Him through our limited understanding which is why we should always approach Him with deep humility.

Sadly, the spirit of Pharisaism is alive and well today. I have seen it and experienced it on any number of occasions. I have been accused over the years of any number of things simply because I don’t believe God can be limited to any human theological “system.” Now don’t get me wrong. I absolutely believe God will never contradict His Word but the Bible is not a systematic theology textbook. The God who reveals Himself through Jesus Christ and in the pages of the different books that make up the Old and New Testament is a wild God who proves over and over again that He simply will not allow us to fence Him in. It’s why Jesus’ words today are so important, “Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” If only we could learn how to embrace God’s love as well as God’s law! He would take us to places we’ve never dreamed and do things through us we never thought possible.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 11-12, Psalms 86

John the Baptist

Readings for today: Matthew 3-4, Psalms 82

John the Baptist is one of the most fascinating figures in all the Bible. He is Elijah reborn. The one whom Malachi prophesied would prefigure the coming of the Messiah. He is the messenger. The final Old Testament prophet. Like the prophets of old, he lives an ascetic lifestyle. He dwells in the desert. Survives on locusts and wild honey. Wears clothing made from wild camel hide. From birth, he was set apart as a Nazarite which meant no wine touched his lips nor would he cut his hair. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and he was sent to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. 

John preached a message of repentance. In keeping with his prophetic forebears, he pulled no punches. He showed no fear. In the face of political and religious opposition, he spoke the truth. He called out the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. He called out the immoral behavior of Herod the tetrarch. He called out the sins of the people as they came to be baptized. He called them to obedience. Called them to surrender. To sacrifice. To devote their lives to Yahweh. And revival began sweeping the region. 

God called John to serve a very special purpose. Though it meant prison. Though it would eventually cost him his life. John was called to prepare the way for Jesus. To make His path straight. To lift up every valley. To tear down every mountain. To straighten out the crooked and smooth the rough edges. He was called to lay the groundwork for the ministry of the Messiah so that all people might see the salvation of God. His calling was not to fame. Fortune. Safety. Security. Comfort. Peace. As soon as his ministry gets rolling, he hands it off. As soon as he is becoming popular, Jesus shows up on the scene. As soon as he really starts getting traction, he steps aside.

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John‬ ‭1:29‬) This is our calling as well. To step aside. To get out of the limelight. To do all we can to point everyone to Christ. It may not make us popular. It may not gain us fame or fortune or a good reputation. It may cost us some of our rights. Some of our freedoms. Some of us may indeed be put in prison. Some of us indeed may lose our lives. (Not necessarily here in America but certainly in many places around the world.) The calling John received from God has been given to the church. To preach the good news of the gospel to the ends of the earth. To call people to repentance before the Lord. To call people to surrender their lives to Jesus before it’s too late. Before the day of judgment comes. Before the ax is laid to the root of the tree and the wicked are cut off. We too must make straight the path for Jesus. We too must lift up every valley. Tear down every mountain. Straighten out the crooked and smooth over the rough edges. In short, we must do all we can to remove every barrier to Christ. We must ourselves get out of the way so that others will see Jesus. 

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 5-6, Psalms 83 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Prophetic Fulfillment

Readings for today: Matthew 1-2, Psalms 81

One of the things I look most forward to when I read the Bible every year is the transition between Old and New Testaments. To finish the Old Testament after months of being immersed in the history and story and struggles of God’s chosen people and then to see it fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ is powerful. It never gets old. It never fails to hit me. I love reading through the genealogy and reflecting on all the work it took to get from the call of Abram to the birth of Christ. I think about all the different ways God orchestrated His plan, bending their often sinful, selfish decisions to His perfect will. I think about all the times the plan of God seemingly comes under threat only to have God act miraculously and powerfully to protect the line of the Messiah. I think of the four hundred year enslavement in Egypt, the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the victories and defeats, the corruption of the kings, the scattering and exile of the nation, and the glorious, unexpected return. As I’ve often said, there is no greater miracle than the preservation of God’s chosen people.

Matthew clearly has a deep appreciation what has come before as well. He speaks often of the fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophets. Everything from the genealogy to the miraculous conception of Jesus in the womb of his virgin mother to the birthplace of the Messiah to the flight into Egypt to the massacre of the innocents and the eventual settlement in Nazareth was all foretold. It was all planned. It was all sovereignly decreed by the Lord in advance. It’s a powerful witness that highlights the inextricable relationship between the Old and New Testaments. One cannot study the life of Jesus in a vacuum. We can’t pretend He came on the scene out of nowhere. As confusing and challenging as it is at times to read, we simply cannot jettison the Old Testament because it shapes the world and cultural context into which Jesus was born. He was a Jew. Born to Jewish parents. Circumcised on the eighth day. Raised among God’s covenant people. Taught the Torah and the histories and the words of the prophets from a very young age. The Old Testament was Jesus’ Bible and He Himself is the fulfillment of all the Law and Prophets.

So as we make the turn into more familiar, more comfortable territory, I want to encourage to take time to thank God for all that you have read so far this year. Thank God for the Law and the Prophets. Thank God for the history of His people. Thank God for the men and women who came before us and came before Jesus who were used by God to further His great salvation plan. Thank God for the Jewish people and how God continues to use them to further His purposes in the world. Most of all, pray for our Jewish friends to recognize their Messiah and come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 3-4, Psalms 82

Resurrection

Readings for today: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21

Resurrection. It is the reason why I believe in Jesus Christ. It is what makes Him unique among the world’s great religious leaders. All of the rest of them died. He remains alive. The empty tomb cannot be explained away. It cannot be dismissed. It cannot be ignored. I know many people who still want God to “prove” Himself. Prove He exists. Prove He is who He says He is. My answer to them is what more can you want? He literally came to earth, died on a cross, and rose again from the grave. What other proof do you need? What other evidence could God possibly present to convince you? He rose bodily from the grave, showing us the wounds in His hands, His feet, and His sides. Again, what more do you want?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the seminal event in human history. It demands attention. It requires reflection. One simply cannot pretend it didn’t happen. If Jesus was raised from the dead then we have to take Him seriously. We have to consider every word that He said. We have to grapple with the truth He proclaimed about a Kingdom not of this world ruled by a God who loves the world despite it’s sin and who promises to come again to judge in righteousness. We have to wrestle with what He has to say about the human condition. The sinful state of our hearts and our desperate need for forgiveness and grace. We have to listen to Him when He tells us how to repent of our stubborn, prideful, selfish ways. The resurrection validates everything about Jesus. His life. His teaching. His miracles. His suffering. His death. It is God’s stamp of approval on the unique identity Jesus claimed for Himself as the Son of God. 

Because Jesus rose from the dead, everything He says about the world is true. Everything He says about humanity is true. Everything He says about heaven and hell is true. Everything He says about life and death is true. Everything He says about good and evil is true. Everything He says about me is true. I am loved and I am broken. I am accepted and I am convicted. I am a saint and I am a sinner. I am justified and I am being sanctified. God embraces me as I am but doesn’t leave me there. He has set me free from the power of sin and death and He is still setting me free each and every day. This is what it means to believe in and to follow the Risen Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 1-4, Psalm 110

Unimaginable Suffering

Readings for today: Matthew 27:32-66, Mark 15:21-47, Luke 23:26-56, John 19:17-42, Psalm 22

There is nothing beautiful about the Cross. It stands unparalleled in human history as a horror. A terror. An act of unspeakable evil. The Cross is where we hung God. The Cross is where we murdered God. The Cross is where we executed God. Creation despising and rejecting her Creator. Humanity lynching her Savior. Sin having it’s way. Satan rejoicing. His victory seemingly complete. 

Jesus’ suffering was unimaginable. After having been flogged and beaten. His flesh in tatters. His blood loss immense. Jesus is forced to shoulder a 300 lbs. Roman cross. (If He just carried the crossbeam - far more likely - it was still 100 lbs.) He carries it some two thousand feet up Golgotha where nails are driven into his hands and feet. They offer Him wine mixed with gall to numb the pain. He refuses. They strip Him naked so His humiliation and shame will be complete. Crowds gather to make a public spectacle of Him. Even the criminals being executed alongside Him take pleasure in His pain. Finally, He cries out, “My God, my God! Why have you forsaken Me?” Darkness falls. The ground shakes. The Temple curtain protecting the Holy of Holies is torn in two. Tombs are thrown open. The dead are raised. The natural order of things is thrown into chaos as the Author of Life dies.

Jesus didn’t just suffer physically. It was existential. Ontological. Impacting his heart, mind, and soul as well. His cry of God-forsakenness reveals the depths of His pain. His body torn. His mind shattered. His heart utterly broken. His soul rent asunder. There is nothing that can compare to the agony He endured as He bore the sin of the world on His shoulders. He hung there alone. Forsaken by all who knew Him. All who loved Him. Even His Heavenly Father. Jesus hung between heaven and earth, making atonement for humanity in the ugliness of all her sin and satisfying the holy justice of God in all it’s beautiful glory. A price had to be paid. God’s righteous wrath had to be turned away. And Jesus - fully God and fully Man - was the only one who could do it. 

What Jesus suffered on the Cross is a foretaste of hell. For those who wonder what hell is like, they need look no further than Jesus’ crucifixion. It is truly terrifying. There is no escape. There is no hope. There is nothing redemptive or beautiful or pleasurable about it. It is awful. It is brutal. It is horrible. And it is just. It is what we deserve. Human beings are born sinners. Born rebellious. Born treasonous and seditious. Our hearts naturally oriented away from God. Our desires naturally opposed to God. Our loves naturally self-centered. There is nothing beautiful about sin. Nothing beautiful about evil. We are foolish to think otherwise. 

God forbid we ever get comfortable with the Cross. God forbid we ever take for granted what Jesus had to endure. God forbid we despise His sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus suffered and died for my crimes. My wickedness. My sin. What He endured, I rightfully deserve. And it is good for my soul to sit and ponder the depth of my Savior’s pain. It is good for my soul to sit and reflect on the unfathomable cost of my salvation. It is good for my soul to sit and contemplate how truly fierce and loyal and steadfast and unshakable is the love of God for me. 

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21

Political Pressure

Readings for today: Matthew 27:1-31, Mark 15:1-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40, 19:1-16

Why did Jesus die? There are all kinds of answers. The most common answer is the theological one. Jesus died to take away the sins of the world. Jesus died in our place. Jesus died the death we deserved thus setting us free from the judgment of God. This is absolutely right and something every single Christian should affirm. However, it’s only part of the picture.

To the Jewish authorities of His day, Jesus died because of blasphemy. He committed the most serious religious offense one could possibly commit by setting Himself up as the Son of God. He claimed to forgive sin in addition to healing disease, casting out demons, and even raising the dead. He taught as one who had divine authority not as the other teachers of the Law. He even claimed to be equal to God. All of these things, plus His growing popularity, made Him a dangerous threat to the religious groups who were vying for public approval so they had Him killed.

To the Roman authorities of His day, Jesus died because of political expediency. It was simply easier to put Him to death than have to deal with the civic unrest caused by His arrest and secret trial. Pilate could find no fault with Him. Nothing that would require the death penalty. He even tries to pardon Jesus several times or appease the crowd by having Him scourged or release Him according to ancient custom. None of it will do. The crowd smells blood. The religious leaders threaten to report Pilate to Caesar. Herod is no help. So Pilate tries to wash his hands of the whole thing and give the people what they want. He makes the decision to have Jesus crucified.

To the disciples, Jesus died tragically. They didn’t know about the resurrection. They didn’t realize this was all part of God’s grand plan. All they knew was that their beloved rabbi was arrested at night, illegally tried and imprisoned, falsely accused, unjustly tortured and eventually executed. They were helpless to do anything about it. All they could do was stand by and watch as it all went down. Then they scattered in fear that the same thing might happen to them.

The death of Jesus is one of the clearest examples of how God uses everyday, ordinary means to accomplish His divine will. It was His will for Jesus to suffer and die on a cross. This was God’s plan from eternity. It’s foreshadowed in prophecy after prophecy from the Old Testament. There was nothing humanity could have done to delay or stop it from happening. At the same time, human beings made real choices along the way. We exercised our free will and God used the decisions we made to bring about His sovereign will. The Jewish leaders freely chose to accuse Jesus of blasphemy and bring political pressure to bear on Pilate. Pilate freely chose to cave to the pressure and condemn Jesus to death on a cross. The crowds freely chose to call for Jesus’ crucifixion. None of them were forced to make those decisions. None of them realized the gravity of their decisions until after the fact.

At the end of the day, Jesus had to die because God decreed it. And God decreed it because God’s great desire is to bring an end to the powers of sin and death. And God’s decree was necessary because humanity sinned and fell short of the glory God intended. So we are the ones who are ultimately responsible. It was our sin that put Him on the cross. It was for our sake that He died.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 27:32-66, Mark 15:21-47, Luke 23:26-56, John 19:17-42, Psalm 22

Gethsemane

Readings for today: Matthew 26:36-75, Mark 14:32-72, Luke 22:39-71, John 18:1-27

It’s important not to rush through these readings. As familiar as these stories may be, it’s important to read slowly. Savor each word. Let your heart connect to the deep emotions being expressed in the text. Jesus’ grief and anxiety over what’s to come. His heartfelt request to His Father to let the cup pass. His humble submission to the Father’s will. The temptation He faces to call down legions of angels in His defense. His disappointment with His disciples. Jesus is experiencing the full range of human emotion as He approaches the final hours of His life here on earth.

I will say it helps having been there. I’ve walked in the Garden of Gethsemane. I’ve seen the olive trees whose lineage may trace back to the first century. I’ve walked the road up to Caiaphas’ house where Jesus was taken after being arrested. I’ve stood in the courtyard where Peter denied Him. I’ve read Psalms of lament in the storage room where Jesus probably spent His final night. It’s a powerful experience. All of the events of the final hours of Jesus happen within a very small geographic area. The close proximity of Gethsemane to Caiaphas’ home to the Antonio Fortress to Golgotha and the empty tomb is striking. You can literally walk to all these places in the same day. You can touch the same stones. Breathe the same air. Taste the same dust.

Many theologians - myself among them - believe the agony Jesus began to feel in the Garden of Gethsemane was due to the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit. For the first time in His life, He was beginning to feel alone. The full weight of humanity’s sin was now being placed upon His back. He would bear this final burden to the cross alone. Bereft of His Father’s presence. Bereft of the Spirit’s power. Jesus now walked this final leg of the journey in existential isolation and this caused Him unimaginable suffering that far outstripped any physical pain He would endure. It’s impossible to get our minds around. It’s a mystery beyond our understanding. Somehow the Trinity experiences a rupture without being ruptured. A separation without every separating. Isolation without ever losing communion. And all this takes place so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled and the Triune God’s plan of salvation come to pass.

Jesus did all this for me. That’s perhaps the biggest reason to slow down and let these words sink in. Jesus wept in the Garden over what it would cost Him to save me. Jesus prayed in the Garden for another way to save me. Jesus submitted in the Garden to unimaginable suffering so that He might save me. My sin created these conditions. My crimes against God deserved His full wrath and judgment. My rebellion is what Jesus came to put down. Not with violence but with love. Can I not pray with Him one hour? Can I not walk with Him without rushing through the reading? Can I not sit with Him and let the magnitude of what He’s done sink in?

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 27:1-31, Mark 15:1-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40, 19:1-16

The Holy Spirit

Readings for today: John 14-17

I love the Holy Spirit. He is the literal gift of God from God to anyone who places their faith in God. He proceeds from the Father and the Son. He comes to transplant our souls. Regenerate our hearts. Renew our minds. He is the Guide, Comforter, and Friend. He comes to make Christ known to us. He comes to remind us of all Christ taught and how Christ lived and most of all, to show us the meaning behind Christ’s death and resurrection. He comes to give us peace. True shalom. He comes to make us whole and happy and fulfilled. He comes to expose the world’s sin. He comes to teach the world righteousness. He comes to bring judgment on the evil one and all his works. He comes to make sense of why the world is the way it is and what God is doing about it. The Holy Spirit doesn’t come to draw attention to Himself but to point beyond Himself to what God has done in Christ and what He will do in Christ to make all things new.

Sadly, the Holy Spirit is often misunderstood these days. Even by Christians. We perceive Him to be something like the “Force” from Star Wars or we think of Him like we think of ghosts and spirits. We talk about Him as if He is a power not a Person. We fail to recognize His Presence as the very Presence of God with us. We often overemphasize or underemphasize His gifts and we neglect His fruit. We do not seek to be filled with the Spirit. We do not know how to tune into the Spirit to hear what He is saying to us. We do not draw on the strength and wisdom of the Spirit to guide our everyday decisions in life. And the result of all this is a often a passionless, weak, impotent walk with Christ that doesn’t live up to the Biblical hype.

So what can we do? We begin by seeking the Spirit. We seek the Spirit when we intentionally spend time in His presence. We learn to listen to the Spirit’s voice by reading God’s Word, meditating on it’s meaning in silence and solitude, and waiting on Him to reveal His will to us. We learn to pay attention to the ways the Spirit speaks through Scripture to address our circumstances and we trust Him to lead us to godly decisions and godly actions. We learn to trust the Holy Spirit even when His will for us might run counter to what we might normally do or naturally feel. We ask the Spirit to bear His fruit in our hearts and to give us His gifts so that we might serve. As we practice these things, we learn to tune in more and more to the Spirit and become more attuned to His abiding Presence.

How are you being filled with the Spirit today? Where do you need the Spirit to move in your life today? Have you asked Him? Are you following Him? Are you seeking His guidance for your life?

Readings for tomorrow: None

The Pain of Betrayal

Readings for today: Matthew 26:1-5, 14-35, Mark 14:1-2, 10-31, Luke 22:1-38, John 13

Betrayal. None of us believe we are capable of it. All of us have probably experienced it on some level. It’s one of the most painful things we can experience in this life. I think of the people I know who have experienced betrayal in their marriages when their spouse steps out on them. I think of the people I know who have had a business partner make deals behind their backs. I think of pastors I know who feel like their congregations turn on them or vice versa. I’ve seen it happen to close friends, associates, family members, you name it. It’s brutal every time.

In our reading for today, Peter makes a bold claim. “Though the whole world walk away from you, I will never betray you, Jesus.” Famous last words. I still remember standing in the courtyard of Caiaphas’ house in Israel and thinking about Peter’s words. Just a short walk away in the upper room, Peter seems so courageous and yet when confronted by a servant girl, he caves. Just a stone’s throw where Peter makes his denial, Jesus will be confined to a basement storage room for the night before His crucifixion. It’s amazing how close everything is over in the Holy Land. All of the events of the final few days of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection happen within a small geographic area. It really drives home the pain Jesus must have felt when he heard Peter betray him.

If you’ve been tracking with us this year as we’ve read through the Bible, you know “betrayal” is something God experiences over and over again. By committing Himself to His people, He exposes Himself willingly and freely to the pain of repeated betrayal. It’s part of the cost God bears in order to remain faithful to His covenant. I can’t imagine the pain God must have endured throughout the centuries. I certainly cannot imagine the pain God must have endured by being betrayed by His closest friends. At the same time, the story of the Bible is not about me identifying with God’s pain as much as God identifying with my pain. He comes to us. He becomes one of us. He is with us. He never betrays us. Never forsakes us. Never abandons us. That’s the great news of the gospel. God is faithful.

Readings for tomorrow: John 14-17

Be Prepared

Readings for today: Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21:5-38

Be prepared. It’s the Boy Scout motto. As an Eagle Scout, it’s a message that was drilled into me from a very young age. Be prepared when you go camping. Be prepared when you go hiking. Be prepared when you start a project. Be prepared for just about anything life will throw your way. I’ve taken that motto to heart. It’s served me well over the years. Perhaps it’s why I resonate so deeply with the passages we read for today. Jesus is essentially telling us to be prepared. Be prepared to suffer. Be prepared for the trials and tribulations to come. Be prepared for rejection. Be prepared for wars and violence and suffering and pain. Be prepared for natural disasters and disease. Be prepared for people to love injustice and ungodliness and unrighteousness. Be prepared for them to call good “evil” and evil “good.” These are just the beginnings of the birth pangs of the new age.

In this confusing time, many will claim to speak for Jesus. They will claim to speak for God. They will push their own agendas. They will offer up their own ideas in place of God. They will promote selfishness and pride and narcissism. They will promote unrighteousness and lawlessness and unfettered freedom. They will sound so good that many will be led astray.

There will be abominations of desolation. Incredible acts of self-worship and idolatry that would make the ancient Canaanites blush. Worship will grow cold. Honoring God will become rare as people choose to do what feels good or what seems right in their own eyes. It will be like the days leading up to Noah. The days when the Judges reigned in Israel. Hatred. Rage. Violence. Injustice. All will become the norm as the world rebels against the authority of God.

Any of this sound familiar? Any of this feel familiar? What’s a Christian to do in the midst of it all? Endure to the end. Persevere in their faith. Cling to Jesus. The world may hate us. The world may seek to destroy us. The world may persecute us. Throw us into prison. Torture us and even kill us. They may restrict our rights. They may label the preaching of the gospel “hate speech.” They may make faithfulness to the law of God a hate crime. They may drag us into courts. They may put us on trial. They may do all they can to force us to abandon our faith. These things have certianly happened throughout history and are continuing to happen around the world today. And Jesus promises things will get so bad that if they weren’t cut short – if God somehow delayed His return – no one would be saved.

Things will get so bad even nature itself will feel the effect. The sun will darken. The moon refuse to shine. It will seem like the stars have fallen out of the sky. And just when it seems like we cannot go on, Jesus will appear. He will come on the clouds with great glory and power! A trumpet will sound and the angels will gather His family from the four corners of the earth. We do not know exactly when this day will come but we know it draws ever closer. Seemingly with every single breaking news story! Climate change. Political corruption. Racism and hatred. Economic upheaval globally. Terrorism and warfare. The world seemingly stands on the brink.

So what’s a Christian to do? Stay wise. Be prepared. Make sure we stay about the work God has assigned to us. Caring for the least among us. The hungry and thirsty. The naked and ashamed. The sick and imprisoned. As we care for them, we care for Jesus. Seek the lost. Fulfill the Great Commission. Take the gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation in the world. This is the work the Master has assigned to us and when He comes again, may He find us faithful!

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 26:1-5, 14-35, Mark 14:1-2, 10-31, Luke 22:1-38, John 13

Love God, Love Others

Readings for today: Matthew 22:15-46, 23:1-39, Mark 12:13-44, Luke 20:19-47, 21:1-4, 13:31-35

You can spend a lifetime learning to love and still never plumb her depths. You can spend years training yourself to scale the mountain of love and never reach the summit. You can work on love every hour of every day and still never reach the end. The love of God is infinite. It is boundless. It is eternal. It is steadfast, faithful, loyal, and true. I could preach every sermon from here to eternity about love and still not scratch the surface. That’s how I feel every time I get to this part of the Gospels and read the words of Jesus in response to the question about the greatest commandment.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” (Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭40‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

These two commands are the pegs on which hang not only the Law and the Prophets but all of life itself. From the beginning, we were created in love to love. We were created to love God first. To walk with God in the Garden in the cool of the day. At the end when Jesus returns again, we will walk before the Lord once more. We will see Him face to face. We will dwell in the light of His presence. We will live in the midst of His glory. We will worship and adore Him continually. We were also created to love one another. It is not good for human beings to be alone. It’s why loneliness creates an existential crisis. We were made for relationships. Made to relate to those around us. Made to relate to other human beings. We see this reflected in our biology. Male and female literally made to fit together. We see this reflected in our psychology as our emotions are specifically designed to help us engage with those around us. We see this reflected in our neurology as the brain literally fires up every time someone smiles at us or waves. God fearfully and wonderfully and specifically making us to live and move and have our being in love. Love is the foundation of all creation for God is love and He is the Creator. Love is what sustains all of life for God loves the world so much He will never let it go. Love is the antidote to our fear and anxiety because God’s perfect love casts those things out. Love is the basis for our foundation for it is love that drove Jesus to lay His life down on the cross. Love is power for it is love that conquered the grave and raised Jesus from the dead. It’s why Paul says to the Corinthians, “Love bears all things. Love believes all things. Love hopes all things. Love endures all things. Love never fails.”

How are you cultivating love in your life? Love for God? Love for those around you? Do you spend time with God each day, basking in His great love for you? Resting in His delight in you? Worshipping Him from a place of devotion and adoration? Do you worship God each week with God’s people? Loving those around you even though they may be different? Loving those around you even though they may be at a different stage in the journey? Loving them even as you express your love to God through music and prayer and self-offering? How are you intentionally loving those around you? Your family? Your friends? Even those you are in conflict with right now or your enemies? Love is the answer, friends. It is always the answer because it is God’s answer to the problem of human sin that corrupts everything in our world. Take courage today and press into love!

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21:5-38

By Whose Authority…

Readings for today: Matthew 21:23-46, 22:1-14, Mark 11:27-33, 12:1-12, Luke 20:1-18, John 12:37-50

I raised my kids to be independent thinkers. Strong-willed young men and women who can make their way in the world. I love how each of them is finding their place and it is a privilege to walk the journey with them. One of the many lessons I’ve tried to teach them is the difference between stewardship and ownership. When we grow up, we don’t own much. Everything from food to clothing to a roof over our heads is provided. Our job is to be good stewards. Clean our rooms. Follow the house rules. Take care of what we’ve been given. Then we get older. We graduate from high school. Become legally responsible. We start to become owners. We get a job. We pay the bills. We buy things like our own cars or cell phones. As a parent, I no longer have much authority over how my child takes care of their home or how much money they spend on gas or the number of apps they download on their phone.

All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. Mark’s Gospel, however, contains a very important nugget of information. When Jesus drives out the money-changers and turns over the tables of the loan sharks, the Jews ask Him an important question. “Who authorized you to speak and act like this?” In other words, by whose authority do you do these things? Who gave you the right to disrupt the Passover? Who told you to bring in the blind and the lame and begin healing? Will you not put a stop to the praises of the children? Jesus’ reply could not be more clear, My house shall be called a house of prayer but you make it a den of robbers. Jesus is claiming rightful ownership of the Temple. He is making it clear to the religious leaders that their stewardship of the sacred places has come to an end. The rightful owner is now on the scene and He will do with His house as He wills. And what is His will? His house shall be a place of prayer. A hospital for healing. A sanctuary for praise.  

Imagine how you would feel if someone lived in your home and trashed the place. I have a good friend who owns a rental house in the Denver area. Several years ago, a tenant used his house to grow weed and cook meth. After going to court to get his tenant evicted, my friend had to gut the house and start over. It cost him thousands of dollars not to mention the time and effort he had to put in to get his house back in working order so it could be rented again. Now put yourself in Jesus’ sandals. The people you’ve entrusted your home to have trashed the place. They have turned it into a den of robbers. Exploiting the pilgrims who come for Passover each year. They make hefty profits by price gouging the people, especially the poor. So He makes a whip of cords and drives them out. He turns over the tables and throws them out. Do you understand now why Jesus is so upset? Zeal for His own home has consumed Him and He will do whatever it takes to restore His house to it’s former glory.  

Now let me give you an even more radical take. Jesus doesn’t just assert His authority over His house, He asserts it over all of creation with the fig tree. Not only that but He tells His disciples that if they have faith and embrace the Kingdom life, they will be able to operate with His authority in the world. They will be able to do to the fig tree what Jesus did or throw mountains into the heart of the sea. Most importantly, whatever they ask for in prayer will be given to them. Why? They are no longer tenants in God’s Kingdom but sons and daughters! In a sense, we’ve been given an “ownership” stake in all of creation and God expects us to exercise dominion and authority and responsibility in His name and for His glory.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 22:15-46, 23:1-39, Mark 12:13-44, Luke 20:19-47, 21:1-4, 13:31-35

Making Room

Readings for today: Matthew 21:1-22, 26:6-13, Mark 11:1-26, 14:3-9, Luke 19:28-48, John 2:13-25, 11:55-57, 12:1-36

One of the things God continues to challenge me on in my life is making room for the hurting, the broken, the wounded, the suffering. Making room for the sinner as well as the saint. Making room for those who are going through all kinds of heartache and pain. Making room for those whom the world casts out. Making room for those the church often shuns. Making room for those who don’t have it altogether, don’t have it figured out, don’t seem to be on the road to success. It’s so easy to isolate people in these situations in the name of healthy boundaries and/or putting an end to toxic relationships. It’s so easy to justify cutting such folks out of our lives because walking with them is too hard, too awkward, too uncomfortable. It’s so easy to forget such people because we get so wrapped up in everything we want to do. But then we read these words from Jesus…

“Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this text: My house was designated a house of prayer; You have made it a hangout for thieves. Now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he healed them.” (Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

At first glance, we cheer Jesus on. Throw those bums out! But when we actually dig into the text, we realize all those moneychangers served an important purpose. They were making life easier for the Israelites as they came to the Temple to make their sacrifices. Instead of bringing their sacrifices with them and running the risk that they may get hurt or injured or blemished along the way, they could bring money and buy an animal at the Temple. It makes perfect sense except for the fact that the moneychangers charged exorbitant rates. Not only that but they were so focused on making sure the Temple economy ran smoothly and the “worship” of God went on uninterrupted that they lost sight of the meaning behind the whole enterprise! The whole point of the sacrificial system was to make a relationship with God possible! It opened the door into heaven where God heard their prayers, answered their cries, healed their hurts, and ministered to their every need.

The same purpose remains for us. When the church gathers in worship, it is like a field hospital in the midst of a war zone. People often come in, beaten and bruised and often bloodied, by life in this broken world. They often come in carrying heavy burdens and struggling under the weight of their sin. They often come in with doubts and fears and anxieties and questions. They often come in looking for healing. Looking for hope. Looking for love. And the question for us is…will we make room for them? Will we make room for the blind and crippled and hurting to get in? Will we throw our doors open wide so people could come in and meet Jesus? Will we do this not only at church but also in our personal lives as well?

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 21:23-46, 22:1-14, Mark 11:27-33, 12:1-12, Luke 20:1-18, John 12:37-50

The Call to Seek and to Serve

Readings for today: Matthew 20, Mark 10:32-52, Luke 18:31-43, 19:1-27

“This is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.” (Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭‭28‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

“For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.” (Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭10‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

I often wonder how different the world would look if followers of Jesus would take just these two verses literally. Can you imagine the impact we would make if we had the courage to serve as the Son of Man served and seek as the Son of Man sought? Perhaps that’s why I love going to places like Ethiopia or Uganda or South Sudan so much because I get to see such faithfulness in action on a fairly regular basis. At the same time, I also have seen such faithfulness in my own church family in Parker, CO. What God has assured me, even in times when I get discouraged, is that He is at work raising up believers who take the words of Jesus seriously and are changing the world as a result.

I think of Lydia. A 22 year old woman with two babies who ministers in a Muslim village outside of Dire Dawa. Everyday she travels the streets of her town on foot preaching the gospel in the open air. She suffers verbal and sometimes physical abuse. She has put her life and the lives of her family at risk. But she considers it a privilege to serve the least and seek the lost like Jesus. God has honored her faithfulness! Street women are coming to faith and leaving behind their former lives of prostitution. Her description of their desperation and the hope they find in Jesus is powerful.

I think of Marshall. A middle aged man in my own congregation who helps lead a Bible study every Friday morning for 30-40 guys, many of whom are seeking a relationship with Jesus Christ. He invites them out for lunch. He gets to know them personally. He makes sure to minister to their needs. He meets them where they are and does all he can to talk to them about Jesus. Fundamentally, they all know he loves them and it keeps them coming back week after week.

I think of Yitsgelu. A Somali man who converted to Christ out of Islam. His family publicly shamed him and drove him from their village. He came to Dire Dawa to serve the least and seek the lost like Jesus. His denomination sent him to a suburb of the city where he ministers among the Muslims, bringing many to Christ. It is not easy work as they suffer just like he suffered. Their families disown them. Their community abandons them. They often lose their jobs. But God is using Yitsgelu’s own story to bring redemption in the name of Jesus.

I think of Susan. A mom of teenagers in our church family who has an incredible gift of hospitality. The love and care she showers on students is amazing. She invites them into her home. She feeds them great food. She talks to them about their lives. She loves them so well. I know she’s become a second mother to many along the way. Why does she do it? She wants them to know the love of Jesus. She seeks to serve them because she knows that’s what Jesus would do.

These are just a few of the stories I could tell and there are so many more to share. One of the greatest gifts God has given me as a pastor is the number of people I’ve had the privilege to spend time with who love Jesus with all their hearts and seek to serve as He serves. Love as He loves. Reach the lost just like He seeks to reach the lost. God is moving, friends! All over the world! Thousands of churches are being planted in the Horn of Africa. Millions are hearing the gospel for the first time. Hundreds of thousands are coming to saving faith. All because Christians in that part of the world decided to take Jesus seriously. Like the Son of Man, they go to serve and seek those who are in desperate need. God is moving just as powerfully here at home. Millions hear the gospel for the first time each year as ordinary Christians make it their mission to share Christ with those around them. It happens in homes and neighborhoods, schools and workplaces, soccer fields and concert halls, homeless shelters and addiction recovery centers. All because Christians in our part of the world decided to take Jesus seriously. Like the Son of Man, they too have gone to seek and serve those who are in desperate need. What about you?

Readings for tomorrow: None

What Holds You?

Readings for today: Matthew 19, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 16-17, 18:1-30

I’ve often been struck by how Mark tells the story of the Rich Young Ruler. Here’s a man who is so earnest in his desire to serve God but he’s got a huge blind spot. Rather than look on him with judgment and condemnation, Mark makes it plain that Jesus looks on him with love. For years, I wondered if this was just a detail Mark kind of throws in there to soften Jesus’ words a bit. But then Jesus confronted me with something I was holding onto instead of Him. My children. I was so invested in making sure they were successful that I was losing them in the process. I was putting so much pressure on them to succeed at school, at sports, at music, at whatever they put their mind to that I was missing their hearts in the process. That’s when Jesus showed up through a counselor I was seeing to remind me of the power of His love.

Jesus looks on the rich young ruler with love. It’s so easy to overlook the power of that statement. Jesus is after our hearts and He knows that there are things that have a hold on us. It could be wealth or possessions. It could be achievement or performance or success. It could be our marriage or our children. It could be our career. It could be anything honestly because our hearts are like idol factories. And these idols hold great power over us which is why it is so difficult for us to relinquish them and walk away. That’s why the disciples respond in amazement to Jesus and ask if it’s impossible to enter the Kingdom of God. They knew the reality of their own sinful condition. Only God’s love is powerful enough to displace the idols of our hearts. Only God’s love is powerful enough to cast out all fear and bring an end to all anxiety. Only God’s love can break the hold the things of this world have on our hearts.

So back to my kids. Their success had become an idol for me. I had transferred my greatest fear onto them…the fear of failure. I was living in fear. And my fear caused me to respond to them primarily with anger. And my anger was destructive and breaking down the trust between us. So my counselor took me to James 1:20 which says, “The anger of man does not bring about the righteousness of God.” I was convicted to the core but it left me with a question. If my anger can’t bring about the righteousness I desire for my children, what can? Thankfully, my counselor had the answer. He took me to 1 John 4:18 which says, “Perfect love casts out all fear.” He then took me to 1 Corinthians 13:7-8 which says, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” That last part was the key. God’s love never fails. The very thing I was most afraid of - failure - was no longer in the picture if I would only learn to love my children the way God loves them. So I made the intentional choice - even when they struggled or made mistakes or walked dark roads - to always, always, always “look on them with love.” I pushed all my chips to the center on God’s love and the results have been amazing. I have watched my children - strengthened by the love of their Father as it flows through me - overcome anxiety and fear and depression. Overcome drug and alcohol abuse. Overcome sexual temptation and sin. Overcome defiance and anger and brokenness and pain. We have the most amazing relationships now and though the journey isn’t over and there are still struggles along the way, God’s love has proved more than sufficient.

So what holds you? What has a grasp on your heart? What idols are you holding onto? Trust in God’s love. Embrace God’s love. Let His love flow through you and release you from the bondage of sin and the things of this world.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 20, Mark 10:32-52, Luke 18:31-43, 19:1-27

A Life Parable

Readings for today: Luke 14-15

I used to be that guy. The one who would elbow his way to the highest place of honor no matter what the occasion. At work, I would weigh in on every matter whether I knew what I was talking about or not. At school, I would try to answer every question. On the athletic field, I did my best to stand out. My god was achievement. My goal was success. My greatest fear was failure. All because I wanted to be known. I wanted to be praised. I wanted to be the center of attention. This was true in my work as a pastor as well. When I went to seminary, I felt like I had something to prove so I did my best to outwork and outshine my classmates. After I graduated and started serving the church, I would look for opportunities to demonstrate I was more effective than my colleagues. I was constantly in competition with those around me. Constantly on the lookout for potential threats. It was exhausting. Then the Lord called me to plant a church in Wisconsin. It was the most painful, heartbreaking experience of my life. He crucified my ego. He broke me of my pride. He stripped my life down to the studs. I had nothing left. I was at the end of myself. I was a complete and utter failure.

Perhaps that’s why I resonate so much with the parable Jesus tells in Luke 14. I spent most of my life trying to claim the seat of highest honor only to have the Lord send me back to some of the lowest places over and over again. I was put in my place frequently by those with much more experience at work. My teachers stopped calling on me at school. My athletic career eventually ended as those better than me took my place. Even among my pastoral colleagues, I often made a fool of myself. Then, when things were falling apart in Wisconsin, I remember reading this story and thinking to myself, “Wow, God has sent me to the lowest possible place. Where do I go from here?” The answer comes at the end of the parable. Seek the lowest place. Don’t try to raise yourself up. Stop competing with those around you. Stop jockeying for position. Stop trying to prove yourself. Instead, embrace obscurity and anonymity and insignificance and let the Master raise you up.

Honestly, I’ve not looked back. My life from the fall of 2009 onward has been one grace after another. As soon as I relinquished my need to be successful, my need for achievement, and my need for attention, I became far more open to God. Instead of exhausting myself trying to show everyone how smart and capable I am, I was able to let go. God spoke to me very clearly, commanding me to labor in obscurity, embrace anonymity, and pursue insignificance. These three words have guided my life ever since. Not only that, but He made it clear to me that I am not to seek another position nor ask for another raise. Instead, I am simply to trust Him to take care of me. Every opportunity I’ve had professionally over the last fifteen years has come from the Lord. I have not pursued a single one. Every financial blessing I’ve received from my church has come from the Lord. I’ve not asked for a single raise. In fact, I’ve turned several down. These are not points of pride for me but rather examples of what it means to live out the parable of Jesus. What about you? Where do you need to relinquish and let go? Where do you need to stop your striving and rest in God? Where do you need to give up control so the Lord can raise you up in His time and according to His will?

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 19, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 16-17, 18:1-30

Generosity

Readings for today: Luke 12, 13:1-30

I love this line from the Message version this morning…“That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.” (Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭21‬ ‭MSG‬‬) It comes at the end of a story Jesus tells in response to a question he’s asked about dividing up an inheritance. A person in the crowd he’s addressing asks Jesus to become an arbitrator between himself and his brother. Rather than step into that role, Jesus responds by challenging the crowd to protect themselves against the sin of greed. Life is simply not defined by what you have even if you are a person of great wealth. Then he goes on to tell the story of a rich man who experienced a banner harvest. The yield was so great, his barns were not big enough to hold all the excess. So he makes the choice to build bigger barns to store all his grain so he can retire and take it easy. But what the man doesn’t realize is that his time had come and he would die that very night so what good then is all the wealth he’s stored up? This is what happens, Jesus says, when we fill our barns with Self rather than God. When we focus on serving Self rather than God.

What’s the problem in the story? Go back and read it again. It’s not that the man built bigger barns. No, what would have immediately been obvious to everyone listening that day was that the man said to himself, “I know what I shall do…” He didn’t consult the village elders. He didn’t think of the community around him. He didn’t consider giving anything to the poor. Instead, he focused entirely on himself. And though he was rich and had plenty, he didn’t try to share his blessings. In the first century, when a person experienced an unexpected windfall like this man, they would have headed down to the village gate to talk to the elders of the community. They would have asked for advice on what to do with all the extra grain. The elders might suggest giving to the priests, giving to the poor, or throwing a party for the whole community. If the man had done these things and still had some left over, then the whole village would probably come help him build his bigger barns. Sadly, the man let his greed override his responsibility to his community.

We face a similar dilemma today. Only our community is now global. For the first time in human history, we are able to hop on a plane and get anywhere in the world in less than a day. We are able to marshal resources and deliver them to those in need. We have the technological expertise to make sure every human being on the planet has access to clean water and basic food security. We have the ability to provide life-saving medication and treatment to eliminate some of the world’s nastiest diseases like malaria and polio. What stops us? Our greed. We all want more than we actually need. When we receive a windfall like an unexpected bonus or a big salary increase, do we think of how we can give back to God and to those around us? Or do we, as I suspect, start planning our next vacation or home improvement project?

I know I’m as guilty as the next person though my wife and I are committed to giving more and more away and are now giving well above 10% each year. Still, I know down deep it’s not enough. We have plenty if I’m honest. So we keep praying and we keep asking God how we can protect ourselves from greed. The same is true for the church I lead. We keep asking God to show us how we can give more and more away into our community and around the world and God keeps showing us. Last year, we gave over 26% of our church budget to local and global missions and I hope and pray for the day when we hit 50%. ;-) Wouldn’t that be glorious?

Readings for tomorrow: Luke 14-15