I have a friend in heaven
Jesus is his name.
A friend who never changes,
Every day the same.
This friend I have in heaven's land
Is rich beyond degree.
He owns the greatest bank of all
And signs my checks for me.
They never say in Jesus' bank
No funds to pay on hand.
The wealth of all the universe
Is under his command.
By C. H. Jack Linn in So You Want a Mountain by Ford Philpot
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Fascism: Everything old is new again
My wife, Beth, reads aloud to me when we travel. Our current read is Eric Metaxas’ Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. The book has set me to thinking.
Metaxas describes Germany between two world wars. The allied victors applied crushing terms to a defeated Germany at World War I’s Treaty of Versailles. These terms led to national foment, civil unrest, revolution, and factions vying for political power and dominance.
Communism was yet in its Bolshevik infancy. The pro-Russian German communists opposed the National Socialist Party, the Nazis, in a quest to control Germany’s future. The Nazi propaganda smeared the communists as Jews who were bent on destroying the German fatherland. Jewish owned businesses were fined, boycotted, and labeled for their ethnic ownership. When war erupted yet again on the European continent, the final solution was enacted, exterminating over six million European Jews in unprecedented genocide.
Listening to Beth read Bonhoeffer’s story triggered a series of observations to parallels we are experiencing in twenty-first century American life and culture.
America celebrates a class of powerful elitists who control politics and media. These powerful elitists promote cultural and moral relativism, simultaneously contradicting themselves, by making "truth" claims as to what they declare to be right and wrong.
Traditionalists who cling to historically patriotic along with traditional religious values based in the Holy Bible and the Judeo-Christian ethic, are declared to be wrong. Such values are targeted by the cultural progressive elitists as bigotry, hate-speech, intolerance, and deserving a punitive response.
The jack boots are thumping on the cobble-stone.
The punitive response is harsh, swift, and aggressive. Progressivists dominate the nation’s courts, legislative values, and government’s executive decisions. Businesses must cater to the progressive agenda. Churches must adopt the progressive agenda. Schools must bow to the progressive "truth." Government issues its edicts demanding conformity. Media declaims non-conformists as radical fundamentalists--ugly labels!
The Schutzstaffel (Nazi SS) is at the door.
Bakers and businesses are ordered to serve all comers, especially those who are advancing a progressive agenda. Any deviation against the received politically correct view is offensive.
"Hate speech (dissent) must be silenced."
"Divergent views must be suppressed!"
Progressives demand that political and religious views be homogenized into a shared, media-approved, politically-acceptable, and conformist view of reality!
The rainbow-hued swastikas of fascism are unfurled and waving their call to silence non-conformance.
Who will stand? Who will be principled non-conformists? Who will volunteer to think in an age that commands thoughtlessness? Who will have the courage to speak? Will you? Will I?
Metaxas describes Germany between two world wars. The allied victors applied crushing terms to a defeated Germany at World War I’s Treaty of Versailles. These terms led to national foment, civil unrest, revolution, and factions vying for political power and dominance.
Communism was yet in its Bolshevik infancy. The pro-Russian German communists opposed the National Socialist Party, the Nazis, in a quest to control Germany’s future. The Nazi propaganda smeared the communists as Jews who were bent on destroying the German fatherland. Jewish owned businesses were fined, boycotted, and labeled for their ethnic ownership. When war erupted yet again on the European continent, the final solution was enacted, exterminating over six million European Jews in unprecedented genocide.
Listening to Beth read Bonhoeffer’s story triggered a series of observations to parallels we are experiencing in twenty-first century American life and culture.
America celebrates a class of powerful elitists who control politics and media. These powerful elitists promote cultural and moral relativism, simultaneously contradicting themselves, by making "truth" claims as to what they declare to be right and wrong.
Traditionalists who cling to historically patriotic along with traditional religious values based in the Holy Bible and the Judeo-Christian ethic, are declared to be wrong. Such values are targeted by the cultural progressive elitists as bigotry, hate-speech, intolerance, and deserving a punitive response.
The jack boots are thumping on the cobble-stone.
The punitive response is harsh, swift, and aggressive. Progressivists dominate the nation’s courts, legislative values, and government’s executive decisions. Businesses must cater to the progressive agenda. Churches must adopt the progressive agenda. Schools must bow to the progressive "truth." Government issues its edicts demanding conformity. Media declaims non-conformists as radical fundamentalists--ugly labels!
The Schutzstaffel (Nazi SS) is at the door.
Bakers and businesses are ordered to serve all comers, especially those who are advancing a progressive agenda. Any deviation against the received politically correct view is offensive.
"Hate speech (dissent) must be silenced."
"Divergent views must be suppressed!"
Progressives demand that political and religious views be homogenized into a shared, media-approved, politically-acceptable, and conformist view of reality!
The rainbow-hued swastikas of fascism are unfurled and waving their call to silence non-conformance.
Who will stand? Who will be principled non-conformists? Who will volunteer to think in an age that commands thoughtlessness? Who will have the courage to speak? Will you? Will I?
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Miley's really not smiling
I just left a medical office where the Today Show was blaring. Miley Cyrus had a guest appearance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Show last night. Miley’s most recent self-destructive escapades include parading herself topless in public settings. She told a story of a recent opportunity to meet the legendary musician, Paul McCartney. Miley, bare-breasted in the conversation with the former Beatle, boasted that her naked bosom was a great equalizer. She was nervous meeting the rock and roll music legend. Her exhibitionism made McCartney even more nervous. Miley boasted that she had trumped McCartney in the conversation.
The Today Show hosts were giggling with celebratory sensationalism as they discussed Miley’s most recent immodest scandal. The waffling weaklings of television celebrated Miley’s "right" to self-expression with relativistic prattle about Miley’s doing "what’s right for Miley."
Jordin Sparks, the 2007 winner of American Idol, followed the Miley story with a live interview promoting her most recent project. The conversation inevitably turned to the "Miley" storyline. Sparks, who rocketed to stardom with a squeaky clean teen idol image, echoed the hosts’ relativism with her own nonsensical version of "You’ve gotta do what’s best for you!"
I sat in the waiting room saddened by the brokenness of youth, plagued by sin, and Hell-bound for personal self-destruction.
Miley Cyrus has been exploited since childhood. Childhood stardom is a curse that one should never wish upon one's own child in our media age. Undoubtedly, her exploitation included adults using and abusing her to the point that she views herself almost exclusively as a sex object to be exhibited in one shocking portrait after another. Such a whoredom is inevitably based in this young woman’s having been victimized as a child. Our voyeurism perpetuates her victimization.
How must I respond?
I cannot respond with relativistic, nonsensical prattle that rattles nihilistic emptiness: "You’ve gotta do what’s best for you!" Miley’s exhibitionism isn’t good for Miley! It’s a scream for help from someone who doesn’t even know how to scream! It’s a cry for deliverance and hope from someone who has no hope beyond the shock value of the moment.
I cannot respond with voyeurism. Our entertainment culture howls at us to gaze at people’s private pleasure and private pain. Curiosity wins! I just looked.
Wrong.
I must respond with compassion. Surely, Miley’s behavior is wrong in every way. Such a conviction does not label me a hater! It labels me as compassionate and caring. The media celebrate her painful exploits, making money hand over fist at Miley’s exploitation. At some point, you and I must cry, "NO! STOP!"
Compassion requires concern for a fellow human being who is hurting, broken, shattered, and crying out for a little bit of attention in a desperate quest to mean something to somebody! Compassion requires human decency. Compassion demands that you and I care for broken, hurting people of all shapes and sizes, both beautiful and appalling.
Dear God, I am praying for a shattered young person right now. Her name might be Miley, or Susan, or Keesha, or Becky, or... She is crying out to be noticed. Her unhealthy cries come from a place inside of her that has been corroded by sin--others’ sins against her, and her own against herself. I cannot help but be reminded of Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan. Bring her to a place of repentance, redemption, and wholeness. Extend hope. Give her a new identity. Define her through right relationship with Yourself, Creator God. And, oh yes, help me to care enough to show compassion to my neighbor. Amen.
The Today Show hosts were giggling with celebratory sensationalism as they discussed Miley’s most recent immodest scandal. The waffling weaklings of television celebrated Miley’s "right" to self-expression with relativistic prattle about Miley’s doing "what’s right for Miley."
Jordin Sparks, the 2007 winner of American Idol, followed the Miley story with a live interview promoting her most recent project. The conversation inevitably turned to the "Miley" storyline. Sparks, who rocketed to stardom with a squeaky clean teen idol image, echoed the hosts’ relativism with her own nonsensical version of "You’ve gotta do what’s best for you!"
I sat in the waiting room saddened by the brokenness of youth, plagued by sin, and Hell-bound for personal self-destruction.
Miley Cyrus has been exploited since childhood. Childhood stardom is a curse that one should never wish upon one's own child in our media age. Undoubtedly, her exploitation included adults using and abusing her to the point that she views herself almost exclusively as a sex object to be exhibited in one shocking portrait after another. Such a whoredom is inevitably based in this young woman’s having been victimized as a child. Our voyeurism perpetuates her victimization.
How must I respond?
I cannot respond with relativistic, nonsensical prattle that rattles nihilistic emptiness: "You’ve gotta do what’s best for you!" Miley’s exhibitionism isn’t good for Miley! It’s a scream for help from someone who doesn’t even know how to scream! It’s a cry for deliverance and hope from someone who has no hope beyond the shock value of the moment.
I cannot respond with voyeurism. Our entertainment culture howls at us to gaze at people’s private pleasure and private pain. Curiosity wins! I just looked.
Wrong.
I must respond with compassion. Surely, Miley’s behavior is wrong in every way. Such a conviction does not label me a hater! It labels me as compassionate and caring. The media celebrate her painful exploits, making money hand over fist at Miley’s exploitation. At some point, you and I must cry, "NO! STOP!"
Compassion requires concern for a fellow human being who is hurting, broken, shattered, and crying out for a little bit of attention in a desperate quest to mean something to somebody! Compassion requires human decency. Compassion demands that you and I care for broken, hurting people of all shapes and sizes, both beautiful and appalling.
Dear God, I am praying for a shattered young person right now. Her name might be Miley, or Susan, or Keesha, or Becky, or... She is crying out to be noticed. Her unhealthy cries come from a place inside of her that has been corroded by sin--others’ sins against her, and her own against herself. I cannot help but be reminded of Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan. Bring her to a place of repentance, redemption, and wholeness. Extend hope. Give her a new identity. Define her through right relationship with Yourself, Creator God. And, oh yes, help me to care enough to show compassion to my neighbor. Amen.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Ashley Madison, et. al.
Ephesians 5:1-7 NKJV
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Dear God,
I sat down for a quick look at the names on the list of Ashley Madison customers in my state--four thousand in all. I am sad that so many married people are promoting themselves as looking to cheat on their spouse. Someone told me that the male customers outnumber the female 9 to 1.
Lust and adultery come in all shapes and sizes. Sin is packaged in every profession. Prurient desire spans all classes and colors. A friend studying the list with me noticed a number of ministers in our community. I grieve their failure.
A counselor friend tells me, "If statistics are to be trusted, up to half of them are considering two things: An affair and leaving their ministry for someone other than their wives." He goes on to say that " Some of these men are caught in a damnable doctrine, and the end result is an acceptance of even this sin, though they know it is wrong. So, they just confess it every night and go about their lives as though nothing needs to change... It’s a diabolical doctrine, a rejection of the effectiveness of Christ’s cross and his blood, and a general damning of biblical redemption all balled into one package. And to think, they say they do this to bring glory to God? Seems preposterous to me. And, I think, to God as well."
Throughout the years, I have loved the fallen in the faith. I have tried to provide spiritual
care and protection, and guide them to repentance and wholeness. Often, leaders who fall into lust and pornography can only truly repent if they initiate the repentance on their own. Rarely have I witnessed true and thorough repentance from someone who was caught in their own sexual sin.
I pray for the thousands of men who are now caught. I pray for their true repentance. I pray for the ministers and spiritual leaders caught up in a sinful trap of their own setting. I pray that Your conviction will bring them to a repentance that transcends parsing and excusing what they did or thought about doing. Lead them to complete repentance, faith, and restoration.
I pray for their wives who are suffering at this moment. Some of these women are simply crushed and broken. Others are raging. Keep their hearts clean. Keep their minds on You. Protect them from themselves and the harmful effects of the very legitimate emotions they feel right now.
I pray for their children. Some of the kids are internet savvy enough to see what their fathers, and perhaps even their mothers, have done. You alone know what these children and teens are facing and feeling. Be their security when parents and family fail to provide them with the security and protection so essential to their well-being.
In the midst of brokenness, You are the "Repairer of the breach" (Isaiah 58:12).
In the Name of our only Restorer and Redeemer,
Amen.
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Dear God,
I sat down for a quick look at the names on the list of Ashley Madison customers in my state--four thousand in all. I am sad that so many married people are promoting themselves as looking to cheat on their spouse. Someone told me that the male customers outnumber the female 9 to 1.
Lust and adultery come in all shapes and sizes. Sin is packaged in every profession. Prurient desire spans all classes and colors. A friend studying the list with me noticed a number of ministers in our community. I grieve their failure.
A counselor friend tells me, "If statistics are to be trusted, up to half of them are considering two things: An affair and leaving their ministry for someone other than their wives." He goes on to say that " Some of these men are caught in a damnable doctrine, and the end result is an acceptance of even this sin, though they know it is wrong. So, they just confess it every night and go about their lives as though nothing needs to change... It’s a diabolical doctrine, a rejection of the effectiveness of Christ’s cross and his blood, and a general damning of biblical redemption all balled into one package. And to think, they say they do this to bring glory to God? Seems preposterous to me. And, I think, to God as well."
Throughout the years, I have loved the fallen in the faith. I have tried to provide spiritual
care and protection, and guide them to repentance and wholeness. Often, leaders who fall into lust and pornography can only truly repent if they initiate the repentance on their own. Rarely have I witnessed true and thorough repentance from someone who was caught in their own sexual sin.
I pray for the thousands of men who are now caught. I pray for their true repentance. I pray for the ministers and spiritual leaders caught up in a sinful trap of their own setting. I pray that Your conviction will bring them to a repentance that transcends parsing and excusing what they did or thought about doing. Lead them to complete repentance, faith, and restoration.
I pray for their wives who are suffering at this moment. Some of these women are simply crushed and broken. Others are raging. Keep their hearts clean. Keep their minds on You. Protect them from themselves and the harmful effects of the very legitimate emotions they feel right now.
I pray for their children. Some of the kids are internet savvy enough to see what their fathers, and perhaps even their mothers, have done. You alone know what these children and teens are facing and feeling. Be their security when parents and family fail to provide them with the security and protection so essential to their well-being.
In the midst of brokenness, You are the "Repairer of the breach" (Isaiah 58:12).
In the Name of our only Restorer and Redeemer,
Amen.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Love Him or Hate Him?
Matthew 10:34-39
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who
loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."
Mark 8:38
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Luke 12:49-53
49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Acts 4:12
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Dear Jesus,
Your radical Gospel certainly draws a line in the sand. Your exclusive Messianic claims leave no doubt as to the choices that face me.
Either You are the Savior of the World or You are a fraud and an imposter.
Either You are the Son of God or the son of Satan.
Either You are the "Way, the Truth, and the Life," or You are the greatest liar who ever lived.
Either You are the Creator of the World, or You are a fabricator of myths.
What will I do with You? Will I love You or hate You?
William Barclay writes: "To this day the fact remains that when a man is brought face to face with Jesus Christ, he must either hate Him or love Him; he must either submit to Him, or desire to destroy Him. No man who realizes what Jesus Christ demands can possibly be neutral. He must either be his lover or His foe." (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, p. 393).
Pilate asked the crowd of Jews at Jesus' trial, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22).
The question demands an answer! "What will I do with Jesus?"
I choose to embrace You by faith. I choose to believe the claims of Your gospel, Your character, Your Divinity, and Your Truth. On this side of the line I stake my claim. I take my stand with You. Grant me courage to embrace all that You are and all that You mean for my life.
In the Name of the Son of God and Savior of the World, Jesus,
Amen.
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who
loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."
Mark 8:38
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Luke 12:49-53
49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Acts 4:12
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Dear Jesus,
Your radical Gospel certainly draws a line in the sand. Your exclusive Messianic claims leave no doubt as to the choices that face me.
Either You are the Savior of the World or You are a fraud and an imposter.
Either You are the Son of God or the son of Satan.
Either You are the "Way, the Truth, and the Life," or You are the greatest liar who ever lived.
Either You are the Creator of the World, or You are a fabricator of myths.
What will I do with You? Will I love You or hate You?
William Barclay writes: "To this day the fact remains that when a man is brought face to face with Jesus Christ, he must either hate Him or love Him; he must either submit to Him, or desire to destroy Him. No man who realizes what Jesus Christ demands can possibly be neutral. He must either be his lover or His foe." (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, p. 393).
Pilate asked the crowd of Jews at Jesus' trial, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22).
The question demands an answer! "What will I do with Jesus?"
I choose to embrace You by faith. I choose to believe the claims of Your gospel, Your character, Your Divinity, and Your Truth. On this side of the line I stake my claim. I take my stand with You. Grant me courage to embrace all that You are and all that You mean for my life.
In the Name of the Son of God and Savior of the World, Jesus,
Amen.
Friday, August 21, 2015
Marriage or Mockery?
Jeremiah 16:9 "For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will cause to cease from this place, before your eyes and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.'"
Jeremiah 33:10-11 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Again there shall be heard in this place—of which you say, 'It is desolate, without man and without beast”—in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, 11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say:
'Praise the Lord of hosts,Jeremiah 33:10-11 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Again there shall be heard in this place—of which you say, 'It is desolate, without man and without beast”—in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, 11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say:
For the Lord is good,
For His mercy endures forever”—
and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,’ says the Lord."
Dear God,
The blessings of Your restoration of Your people to spiritual hope and opportunity are thrilling. Jeremiah saw hope to come for the Hebrew remnant even before there was a remnant. Jeremiah saw hope to come for the Hebrew remnant even in the midst of Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. That is genuine faith!
But destruction would precede restoration.
Destruction would be characterized by many tragedies. But one tragedy Jeremiah names explicitly is that the voice of the bridegroom and the bride would be silenced. However, Jeremiah also prophesies a day of repatriation of Your holy remnant from Babylonian captivity; and he writes that Your remnant would be blessed with weddings--brides and grooms!
John, the Revelator, prophesies the destruction of Babylon yet again in John 18. Babylon is described as Your arch enemy--a bloody whore. Babylon's end includes the cessation of weddings between bride and groom.
Your Word clearly teaches that blessed nations are nations that practice weddings between a bridegroom and a bride! Holy marriage is both a cause and an effect of Your blessing! The end of Your design for marriage is clearly prophesied throughout Scripture as a curse to a nation. It is accompanied by witchcraft, assassinations of prophets, and martyrdom of the saints.
I pray for my friends and family who are ensnared by sinful substitutes for Your design, holy marriage. Your plan is for one man to marry one woman and remain in holy union for a lifetime. Divorce mocks Your design. Co-habitation mocks Your design. Same-sex marriages mock Your design.
But after all of the prophesied tragedy, You continue to extend hope--hope in the form of another wedding--a Bride and a Groom! "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife" (Revelation 21:9). Heaven's glory begins with a wedding! A holy Bride, the Church, and Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God and Bridegroom!
Thank You, Jesus, for bringing hope out of devastation, a remnant out of captivity, holiness out of horror, and the blessing of holy marriage out of civilizations where marital joy has been cursed into silence.
In the Name of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Thankful Communion--Part 2
I Corinthians 10:14-17
"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread."
November 29, 2013 I flew to Kenya, Africa. My purpose was to speak to the pastors of the Africa Gospel Church in Kenya at their annual pastors conference. The conference was held at the Tenwek Africa Gospel Church. The church could seat about 800 in America, and about 1000 in Kenya.
The AGC has 1700 churches and nearly 1400 pastors. Church plants begin under trees!
The final service on Friday morning was the ordination service. Bishop Rev. Dr. Robert Lang’at, a WBS alumnus, ordained 38 pastors into the AGC. The ordinands knelt on the cold concrete floor for 30 to 40 minutes. The ordinands were from various Kenyan tribes ranging from Kipsigis to Maasai. The ordinands age range spanned from 30 somethings to 60 somethings. The Bishop walked from one ordinand to the next, praying for each, ordaining them to preach the Gospel and shepherd the flock of God. It was a stirring moment.
Once the Bishop concluded ordination, the new reverends took part in their first holy communion as ordained elders. The bread and the wine were distributed to the ordinands. I thought the distribution of the elements complete. The 1200 or so onlookers had not been administered, just the ordinands, their sponsoring ministers, and the bishop. I was astonished by what happened next. The elements were brought to me! Broken, humbled, I partook.
That day, thousands of miles from home and everything I know and love, I partook of the symbols of the Body and Blood of our Lord with brothers and sisters of another land and language.
Immediately, my mind flashed forward to that day Paul described in Philippians 2: "9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Holy Communion ushered me into the Presence of God where someday we shall hear the sleepless angels proclaim"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8). And we will join the entire created order to "give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever (Revelation 4:9). And we shall cast our crown of faithfulness before the throne of Jesus, crying out with the faithful who have believed in Jesus: "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power!" (Revelation 4:11).
"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread."
November 29, 2013 I flew to Kenya, Africa. My purpose was to speak to the pastors of the Africa Gospel Church in Kenya at their annual pastors conference. The conference was held at the Tenwek Africa Gospel Church. The church could seat about 800 in America, and about 1000 in Kenya.
The AGC has 1700 churches and nearly 1400 pastors. Church plants begin under trees!
The final service on Friday morning was the ordination service. Bishop Rev. Dr. Robert Lang’at, a WBS alumnus, ordained 38 pastors into the AGC. The ordinands knelt on the cold concrete floor for 30 to 40 minutes. The ordinands were from various Kenyan tribes ranging from Kipsigis to Maasai. The ordinands age range spanned from 30 somethings to 60 somethings. The Bishop walked from one ordinand to the next, praying for each, ordaining them to preach the Gospel and shepherd the flock of God. It was a stirring moment.
Once the Bishop concluded ordination, the new reverends took part in their first holy communion as ordained elders. The bread and the wine were distributed to the ordinands. I thought the distribution of the elements complete. The 1200 or so onlookers had not been administered, just the ordinands, their sponsoring ministers, and the bishop. I was astonished by what happened next. The elements were brought to me! Broken, humbled, I partook.
That day, thousands of miles from home and everything I know and love, I partook of the symbols of the Body and Blood of our Lord with brothers and sisters of another land and language.
Immediately, my mind flashed forward to that day Paul described in Philippians 2: "9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Holy Communion ushered me into the Presence of God where someday we shall hear the sleepless angels proclaim"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8). And we will join the entire created order to "give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever (Revelation 4:9). And we shall cast our crown of faithfulness before the throne of Jesus, crying out with the faithful who have believed in Jesus: "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power!" (Revelation 4:11).
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Thankful Communion--Part 1
Matthew 26:26-30
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Starting in 2000, I began making my way to Bentleyville Holiness Camp Meeting in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania. There, I served as youth evangelist for seven years. One of the highlights of working with those 30-50 middle school and high school age campers came on their final night of the camp–Saturday night, the ninth day of camp meeting.
Throughout the week, I loved those young people. I prayed with them, wept with them, counseled them, played with them. On that final night we gathered around the bonfire for the final time. I led them in a song, read some scripture, exhorted briefly, and prayed. Then we lit candles. First, mine. Then theirs. All around the circle the candles glimmered beneath the July skies.
Once illuminated, we began the uphill trek to the main part of the campground. I led the way. The campers and counselors followed. The adult campers were seated on the porches of their camp meeting cottages as the column of candle lit young people passed by. A holy hush was everywhere.
We made our way to the hillside next to the old open air tabernacle. White sheets were laid out on the lawn, forming the shape of a cross. I stood at the head of the cross. The young people surrounded its outline. I read the scripture, prayed, and pronounced a simple liturgy. Another minister assisted as we distributed the timeless elements of bread and wine, the symbols of our Lord’s Body and Blood. We partook together. I prayed. I thanked God for the spiritual results of the camp in the lives of the campers. I prayed for them as they returned home. I prayed for their discipleship, their families, their schools, and their churches.
Some knelt on the edge of the white cross on the ground. Others stood. Silent, or weeping softly, each was caught up in the wonder of Holy Communion with our risen Lord. After the final "Amen," some lingered behind 30, even 40 minutes, praying.
I love the Lord’s Supper. I love His Table. I love the Body of Christ.
In the Lord's Supper, Jesus is telling his disciples "that every time they sit down to satisfy their hunger and to eat a meal, that meal is in memory of Him. For Jesus is not only Lord of the Communion Table; He must be Lord of the dinner table too" (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, p. 378). Jesus must be Lord of all of my life... and yours.
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Starting in 2000, I began making my way to Bentleyville Holiness Camp Meeting in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania. There, I served as youth evangelist for seven years. One of the highlights of working with those 30-50 middle school and high school age campers came on their final night of the camp–Saturday night, the ninth day of camp meeting.
Throughout the week, I loved those young people. I prayed with them, wept with them, counseled them, played with them. On that final night we gathered around the bonfire for the final time. I led them in a song, read some scripture, exhorted briefly, and prayed. Then we lit candles. First, mine. Then theirs. All around the circle the candles glimmered beneath the July skies.
Once illuminated, we began the uphill trek to the main part of the campground. I led the way. The campers and counselors followed. The adult campers were seated on the porches of their camp meeting cottages as the column of candle lit young people passed by. A holy hush was everywhere.
We made our way to the hillside next to the old open air tabernacle. White sheets were laid out on the lawn, forming the shape of a cross. I stood at the head of the cross. The young people surrounded its outline. I read the scripture, prayed, and pronounced a simple liturgy. Another minister assisted as we distributed the timeless elements of bread and wine, the symbols of our Lord’s Body and Blood. We partook together. I prayed. I thanked God for the spiritual results of the camp in the lives of the campers. I prayed for them as they returned home. I prayed for their discipleship, their families, their schools, and their churches.
Some knelt on the edge of the white cross on the ground. Others stood. Silent, or weeping softly, each was caught up in the wonder of Holy Communion with our risen Lord. After the final "Amen," some lingered behind 30, even 40 minutes, praying.
I love the Lord’s Supper. I love His Table. I love the Body of Christ.
In the Lord's Supper, Jesus is telling his disciples "that every time they sit down to satisfy their hunger and to eat a meal, that meal is in memory of Him. For Jesus is not only Lord of the Communion Table; He must be Lord of the dinner table too" (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, p. 378). Jesus must be Lord of all of my life... and yours.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Easy, Peasy
II Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Dear God,
I remember asking someone to perform some task. Their affirmative cliche response was "Easy, Peasy!" I smile, remembering the whimsical, rhyming response.
Sometimes, I think that the trials and adversity of my calling and faith journey would almost overwhelm me. I find myself whining, complaining, and begging for deliverance from my difficulties. In Your patient, tender, loving way, You seek to realign my perceptions with a deep sense of Your truth.
Thank You for not indulging my every whine. Thank You for Your Divine intention to work the character of Your Son Jesus Christ into my life. Thank You for entrusting me with the gift of adversity in a quest to shape Christlike holiness in me. Thank You for investing Your Holy Spirit in me with a goal of fitting me for eternity with You in heaven.
Along, the journey, You have appointed intervals. Some intervals are for rest. Others are intended for work. Some stops are for me. Other stops are for others. Keep me encouraged on the journey, even if I cannot understand the point of the stop or delay.
I often look at my adversity as overwhelming. But the Apostle Paul saw his season of suffering as a gift from You, a "light affliction," preparing him to experience the "eternal weight of glory." Focus my vision so that I see the unseen and eternal with the eye of faith.
I have to admit, adversity never seems "Easy, Peasy." Adversity hurts. Adversity causes me to tremble. Adversity stimulates fight or flight. Help me not to run from the battle field of faith, rather, help me to stand and endure. Help me to fight the fight of faith, even in the face of adversity. By Your grace, I will not lost heart. I fix my eyes on You and the eternal prize.
"Easy, Peasy," or not, I choose to walk in faith with You, my Lord and my God,
Amen.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Living in Debt
Matthew 26:6-13 NKJV
6 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. 8 But when His disciples saw it,they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
6 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. 8 But when His disciples saw it,they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Dear Jesus,
I have such deep debt and obligation to You. It seems as if I am piling up debt. Your grace, mercy, and provision for my life have left me a debtor to Your grace and blessings. I cannot fathom how I can ever repay You.
You have blessed me with a heritage of faith. Thank You for parents, grandparents, and friends who have modeled a life of faith, service, and love to You. They have invested themselves in me.
I am in debt.
You have blessed me with a loving family. I have learned lessons of unconditional love from my wife each time she forgives me for some thoughtless and inconsiderate word. I have learned lessons of love from my children and grandchildren. My son recently remarked that he never understood unconditional love until he had his own child, and felt such incredible love for an infant who was totally dependent upon him for life, and could not even yet return that love. I am in debt.
You have blessed me with meaningful work to do for Your glory. My life has been consumed with discipling others to know You, so that they will share that knowledge, in turn, with others. I live with a desperate desire to multiply my life by influencing others. I long to share the blessings that You have lavished upon me. I am in debt.
You have blessed me with the hope of heaven. Thank You the joy of living life well, passionately, joyfully, hopefully. I delight in the teleology of grace that will consummate in eternity with You. You have gone to prepare heaven for Your children! Breathtaking splendor! I am in debt.
William Barclay wrote: "Love never calculates; love never thinks how little it can decently give; love's one desire is to give to the uttermost limits; and, when it has given all it has to give, it still thinks the gift too little. We have not even begun to be Christian if we think of giving to Christ and to His Church in terms of as little as we respectably can" (In The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, p. 364).
Lord, I am spending my life going deeper in debt to You. The only thing I have with which to repay You is my love. Accept my gift of lavish love.
I am Your thankful child, and You are my ever-loving Lord,
Amen.
Friday, August 14, 2015
Adventure Beyond Boundaries
Matthew 25:14-30
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 "‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’"
Dear God,
I am yours. I choose to live with abandonment to You. I choose the cross. I choose a life of surrender, joy, and service to whatever You choose.
William Barclay wrote, "...there can be no religion without adventure... (In The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, p. 357). Thank You for the adventure of service. You push me beyond my limits. You take me beyond my comfort. You challenge me in a way that makes life worth living, faith worth exercising, and joy worth experiencing.
I have lived long enough to know something of my own strengths and my own weaknesses. I know something about the gifts and abilities You have invested in me, talents that I have nurtured, and skill deficits that I lack. "Whatever talent we have, little be it or great, we must lay it at the service of God..." (Barclay, p. 357).
But the challenges keep coming. They are unrelenting. Sometimes, I just long to pause and rest a bit. Barclay writes that "The reward of work is not rest, but more work..." (p. 357). Jesus said, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day" (John 9:4).
So, I work. I work for You. Help me to invest my energy in that which is eternal. Help me to live for Your glory. Develop my skills and ability through the supernatural anointing of Your Holy Spirit through practice, repetition and faithful service. Barclay said, "If we have some proficiency at a game or an art, if we have some gift for doing something, the more we exercise that proficiency and that gift, the harder the work and the bigger the task we will be able to tackle" (p. 358). I choose to exercise myself in the knowledge of the holy and in doing Your will, Heavenly Father, as best I understand it.
I embrace the boundless adventure of knowing You.
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 "‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’"
Dear God,
I am yours. I choose to live with abandonment to You. I choose the cross. I choose a life of surrender, joy, and service to whatever You choose.
William Barclay wrote, "...there can be no religion without adventure... (In The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, p. 357). Thank You for the adventure of service. You push me beyond my limits. You take me beyond my comfort. You challenge me in a way that makes life worth living, faith worth exercising, and joy worth experiencing.
I have lived long enough to know something of my own strengths and my own weaknesses. I know something about the gifts and abilities You have invested in me, talents that I have nurtured, and skill deficits that I lack. "Whatever talent we have, little be it or great, we must lay it at the service of God..." (Barclay, p. 357).
But the challenges keep coming. They are unrelenting. Sometimes, I just long to pause and rest a bit. Barclay writes that "The reward of work is not rest, but more work..." (p. 357). Jesus said, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day" (John 9:4).
So, I work. I work for You. Help me to invest my energy in that which is eternal. Help me to live for Your glory. Develop my skills and ability through the supernatural anointing of Your Holy Spirit through practice, repetition and faithful service. Barclay said, "If we have some proficiency at a game or an art, if we have some gift for doing something, the more we exercise that proficiency and that gift, the harder the work and the bigger the task we will be able to tackle" (p. 358). I choose to exercise myself in the knowledge of the holy and in doing Your will, Heavenly Father, as best I understand it.
Thank You for pushing me beyond my boundaries. Protect me from placing limits on You that restrict You from introducing me to the expansive adventure of Your will for my life. I want to know You in a greater measure. I want to experience You in deeper intimacy. I want You to work Your very character through every facet of my life.
I have one deep supreme desire
That I may be like Jesus
To this I fervently aspire
That I may be like Jesus
I embrace the boundless adventure of knowing You.
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
God is Thinking about Me!
Jeremiah 29:10-14
10 For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.
The knowledge that You are thinking about me today is comforting, inspiring, uplifting, and encouraging. Thank You for directing Your thoughts toward me.
10 For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.
My Father in Heaven,
The knowledge that You are thinking about me today is comforting, inspiring, uplifting, and encouraging. Thank You for directing Your thoughts toward me.
The Hebrews felt isolated, rejected, and forsaken in their Babylonian captivity. However, even before the city of Jerusalem had been conquered by Necuchadnezzar's military, before the city walls had been breached or the temple destroyed, You were promising Your chosen people Your thoughts! Your thoughts imagined a future, an inspiring hope, repatriation of a remnant, restoration to a homeland, remembering the covenant, and resurrecting hope for a Hebrew Messiah. Such thoughts seemed a remote possibility at best to an enslaved people. But You gave a promise, and You keep Your promises.
Lord God, I claim Your promise for my life today. The battle is hard, stressful, and challenging, but You promise that You are thinking about me! Oh, how I need Your thoughts to be directed into my life, my problems, my concerns. I am fighting a fight of faith and obedience, claiming victory through the power of the Name and shed blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ. The proclamation of Your revealed Word that You are thinking about me offers the comfort and strength that I need today.
So, I will obey Your mandate for me: call on You, pray to You, and seek You. Your prescribed progression of passionate intercession is exactly what I need. I am obeying You in earnest prayer. As I call, pray, and seek, hear my cry! You promise to listen, to be found, to break every chain, and to restore me to Your prepared place. You know exactly how to fulfill each of these promises in my life. I subscribe to Your prescription. Show me Your answers to my prayers.
I love You. I worship You. I need You.
I am Your child, and I pray in Your Name, Abba Father,
Amen.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Even so, Lord Jesus, Come Quickly
Matthew 24:36-44
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Dear Jesus,
I believe Your promise of Your soon return. People mock it. People profane it. People ridicule it. People even treat Your promise with sacrilege.
I saw a recent promotion of a seminary at a gay-pride event in Chicago. The Chicago Theological Seminary, a ministerial training school of the United Church of Christ, distributed condoms at a gay-pride parade. The condoms were packaged with a rainbow hued seminary logo of a flame, and the profane slogan, "The Second Coming."
Such a tragic mockery of Your promised return grieves, offends, and angers me. But I sense that You are nonplussed by it all. You just keep loving Your creation and calling us to repentance. You want us to be ready for Your soon return, an event timed by the Father.
Don't allow my hope for Your soon return to dim, dull, or wane in the midst of Your delay. You delay that others might come to a saving knowledge of Your grace. You want me to hasten Your return through evangelism of lost people.
I choose not to speculate upon the time of Your Second Coming. William Barclay wrote: "It is, therefore, clear that speculation regarding the time of the Second Coming is nothing less than blasphemy, for the man who so speculates is seeking to wrest from God secrets which belong to God alone. It is not any man's duty to speculate; it is his duty to prepare himself, and to watch..." We must never allow "our concern with worldly affairs, however necessary, to completely distract us from remembering that there is a God, that the issues of life and death are in His hands, and that whenever His call comes, at morning, at midday, or at evening, it must find us ready." (In The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, pp. 348-349).
Help me to live in a state of preparation, readiness, and expectation. "Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly."
In the Name of my soon-returning Lord and King, Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Treadmill or Triumph?
Matthew 24
Dear Jesus,
Your disciples, deeply curious about the future, asked you to tell them about the end of time. You described the signs to them and included a stern warning: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Ever since that utterance, even your devout followers have sought to know the time of Your return.
Cleanse us of our lust to know and control the future. Our pagan desires only trap us in pragmatism, expediency, and minimal Christian living. Rather, stir in us a longing to see You face to face.
Some who study last things claim to have timelines and charts accurately predicting aspects of Your return. They foolishly try to create certainty where You have intentionally left us with signs--indicators. Help me to trust You when the path is obscure, the timeline veiled. Help me to live in faith with the certain awareness that You are returning. May that be enough, and may I be prepared.
Pagan religions taught that history was cyclical, repeating itself in fixed epochs of time. The Stoics described epochs ending with destruction and regeneration of the earth. The Hindus teach the reincarnation of soul in ever-increasing or degenerating, as the case may be, cycles. The treadmill of these cycles predicts hopeless determinism for humanity and nature itself.
You are different. You teach me that history is going somewhere. There is purpose. There is intention. There is destination. Creator God made things that way. All of creation is moving toward that great consummation of order and time. You will judge the living and dead. Then You will ultimately triumph over all!
Thank You for the hope of Your soon return. Signs of the times are ripe for You to come back. Help me to be ready, not controlling, for that moment. In the meantime, grant me grace and strength to lead others to a knowledge of You that gives them a hope and a future, too.
I love You. I need You. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
In the Name of my Lord and Savior and soon coming King, Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Dear Jesus,
Your disciples, deeply curious about the future, asked you to tell them about the end of time. You described the signs to them and included a stern warning: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Ever since that utterance, even your devout followers have sought to know the time of Your return.
Cleanse us of our lust to know and control the future. Our pagan desires only trap us in pragmatism, expediency, and minimal Christian living. Rather, stir in us a longing to see You face to face.
Some who study last things claim to have timelines and charts accurately predicting aspects of Your return. They foolishly try to create certainty where You have intentionally left us with signs--indicators. Help me to trust You when the path is obscure, the timeline veiled. Help me to live in faith with the certain awareness that You are returning. May that be enough, and may I be prepared.
Pagan religions taught that history was cyclical, repeating itself in fixed epochs of time. The Stoics described epochs ending with destruction and regeneration of the earth. The Hindus teach the reincarnation of soul in ever-increasing or degenerating, as the case may be, cycles. The treadmill of these cycles predicts hopeless determinism for humanity and nature itself.
You are different. You teach me that history is going somewhere. There is purpose. There is intention. There is destination. Creator God made things that way. All of creation is moving toward that great consummation of order and time. You will judge the living and dead. Then You will ultimately triumph over all!
Thank You for the hope of Your soon return. Signs of the times are ripe for You to come back. Help me to be ready, not controlling, for that moment. In the meantime, grant me grace and strength to lead others to a knowledge of You that gives them a hope and a future, too.
I love You. I need You. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
In the Name of my Lord and Savior and soon coming King, Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Coward or Conscientious?
Matthew 24:9-10 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another."
Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."
Dear Jesus,
You described a day and age when Your followers would suffer for Your Name's sake. That day is upon us. Grant me courage to stand for You.
Opposition to Your Name, Your Truth, and the claims of Your Gospel abound. Character assassination, hate speech, and a scorched earth policy seem to be the norm for silencing even the kindest and most loving believers who take a principled stand for You.
The attacks which I see upon others frighten me. They have a chilling effect upon proclaiming Your Truth. I recoil at the prospect of newspaper articles and TV coverage targeted at exploiting me for being faithful to You. I recoil with alarm when I see Christian business people pressured into advancing sinful agendas, ordered to do business with enterprises hostile to Christian values, only to face court, fines, and even imprisonment for their fidelity to You.
I don't want to endure that sort of public scrutiny, persecution, or consequence. But I may have to.
William Barclay wrote: "Neither the individual Christian nor the Christian Church can ever know anything of a cowardly concealment or a cowardly silence. The Church and the individual Christian must at all times constitute the conscience of Christianity--and it is characteristic of men that there are many times when they would wish to silence conscience" (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, p. 343).
You remind me: "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).
By Your grace, I will be true
to You.
to You.
In the Name of my faithful Lord Jesus,
Amen.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
A Prayer for Leaders
Matthew 24:15-22
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened."
Dear Jesus,
William Barclay wrote: "Jesus knew that the way of power politics can only end in doom. The man and the nation which will not take the way of God are heading for disaster--even in material things. The man and the nation which refuse the dream of God will find their own dreams shattered also" (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, p. 337).
Barclay continued: "Unless the leaders of the nations are themselves led by Christ they cannot do other than lead men, not only to spiritual but also to physical disaster" (p. 340).
Amen.
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened."
Dear Jesus,
I grieve the coming suffering and destruction that comes upon nations whose leaders manipulate power, jockeying for position and personal prosperity at the expense of everything righteous and true. Unvarnished power and political maneuvering lead to national and personal destruction.
William Barclay wrote: "Jesus knew that the way of power politics can only end in doom. The man and the nation which will not take the way of God are heading for disaster--even in material things. The man and the nation which refuse the dream of God will find their own dreams shattered also" (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 2, p. 337).
Barclay continued: "Unless the leaders of the nations are themselves led by Christ they cannot do other than lead men, not only to spiritual but also to physical disaster" (p. 340).
I pray for our nation, our leaders,and our people. Humble our leaders from the pride of self-promotion which supplants the power of servanthood. Protect our leaders from embracing the false as if it were true for the sake of popularity. Empower our leaders in the church and in the world to be your humble servants. Protect us from the pride of face, the pride of race, and especially the pride of grace that would pollute our every effort to serve. Motivate us with perfect love and a spirit of service in a quest to empower others.
We love You. We trust You. We serve You.
In the Name of the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
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