Psalm 88 is a tough one. It is a psalm of lament, and the only one that doesn’t shift at the end towards a more hopeful or uplifting view. It’s tempting to read this psalm and feel…well, depressed. We can be fine in our feelings, as long as there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We can feel sad, as long as we know a happy ending is just around the corner. But let’s be real – that’s not always the case. Jesus never promised us a life free of heartache. He said there will be trouble. He doesn’t share specifics on what these troubles will be or how long they will last, but he guarantees we will all have them.
I know there have been seasons in my life when heartache is the overarching theme. The writer of Psalm 88 could have been me. I don’t think I’m alone in this. Sometimes we call out to God, desperately, and we feel like we are calling out into the void. We wonder if He hears us, or if our prayers are in vain. We pray and we pray and we pray…and…we feel nothing.
The key word here, though, is “feel.” We may feel that our prayers are just echoing into the depths, but if we are rooted in the Word, and committed to prayer and seeking the very character of God, we can KNOW, not just feel. If we feel far away from God or that He’s not hearing us, we can always KNOW that He is near and that He does.
All this being said, don’t disregard Psalm 88. It may not be a common one the songwriters go to to write the next Sunday morning worship song, but it’s important. It shows us that we will have seasons of great sorrow and distress. But don’t worry. Just as Jesus promises in the book of John that we will have troubles and tribulations, he also promises this: “But take heart, I have overcome the world.”
Reflection Questions:
Have you ever gone through a long season of heartache? Are you in one right now? (Take heart, my friend.)
I encourage you, if you are in a season of distress, to focus on who God is. Keep praying, keep seeking. He is there. He loves you, knows you, and hears you. Don’t give up. God’s got this!
Prayer:
God, thank you for your word, even when it is not sugar-coated. Thank you for sending your son Jesus, as he lived a life and knew the deepest heartache…and truly gets us. Thank you for assuring us that although we have trouble, Jesus has overcome the world, and that our tribulations will have their end. Help us to remember this and to seek you and know you. Help us to keep talking to you and to never wonder if you hear us. Help us to know without a doubt that you hear us, always, even if in our feeble human hearts we feel hopeless.
Psalm 86 is a desperate prayer of David, in a time of his great distress. He says in verse 7, “in the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.”
I don’t know what you are going through right now. You may be in a season of joy, or a season of despair, like David. You may even be living in some mixture of the two. Let me assure you – God didn’t abandon David, and He hasn’t abandoned you. In our times of joy and in our times of distress, calling upon the name of the Lord is never done in vain. He hears us, and Jesus, at His right hand, intercedes for us, even pleads for us. What a beautiful picture that is!
David calls on God, desperately so, throughout this psalm:
v. 1 “Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.”
v . 2 “…save your servant, who trusts in you–you are my God.”
v. 6 “Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.”
And, in verse 3 David says “…for to you do I cry all the day.” As a believer, I know how important setting aside intentional prayer time is. I encourage you to make it a habit however you can – mark it on your calendar, set a reminder…and do so until it becomes second nature.
Additionally, I also know how important constant prayer is. God is our Father (“…and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:18) and Jesus is our Friend (“…but I have called you friends…” John 15:15). We should, also as habit, be in constant communication with them, from the time we open our eyes in the morning to the time we close them at night – and every time in between. We can call on God any time, for any reason. It should be natural, as talking to our spouse, our children, or our friends. The God of the universe is personal, Jesus is ALIVE, and they want to hear from you.
Reflection Questions:
What season are you at in your life right now? What is troubling you? What do you, or should you, cry out to God about these days?
Do you set aside intentional time for daily prayer? Do you pray throughout the day? Do you do both?
Prayer:
God, thank you for being there for us, listening to us, whenever we call upon you. Thank you for the saving grace and gift of Jesus, who pleads on our behalf, and knows our suffering. Help us to seek you out in our joy and in our sorrow, and help us to lean on you and speak with you about every aspect of our lives, because there is nothing you do not know and nothing you do not care about. We ask for your ear, and we ask for you to speak to us, too. Amen.
In 1 Timothy 4:1, Paul warns us that in the later days, some people will abandon the faith by following “deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…” Today, in our culture heavily saturated with constant voices, this has never rung more true.
We are surrounded by and bombarded with information, opinions and relentless noise all day. It’s on our TVs, radios and phones. No matter the time of day, we can be assured that someone, somewhere, is talking. The TV channels & radio stations are seemingly endless, and our phones are gateways to millions of apps, a great number of which are social media in nature. We live in such a time when we no longer need to wonder long about a topic all on our own – we can simply tune into someone else’s take on it. We are a click away from all kinds of answers. We no longer are left to discern our own thoughts and opinions – they are shaped by the interpretations of others. We are influenced by millions of people in so many different ways. The important question is, my fellow brothers & sisters…whose voice will you listen to?
I’m not saying that every voice is bad. I’m not saying everyone has evil intentions. But what I AM saying is that the FIRST voice we need to heed, as followers of Jesus, is God’s. He has given us His holy spirit, His very word, and the privilege of talking to Him anytime we want to. These are gifts, and they are gifts to be used for discernment. We can discern, through these gifts, what is true, holy, and of God, and refuse to listen to voices that are not these things. In this way, we will not be led astray. We will not be counted among the people Paul mentions who have abandoned their faith.
Reflection Questions:
Do you find yourself listening to other voices on a daily basis? Has this habit shaped your opinions and thoughts – has it shaped you as a person?
If you answered the above with a round of yeses, do you believe the voices you listen to are of God? Or do you think they have led you away from Him?
Using your discernment, what are your next steps? What can you do, tangibly, to reshape your habits? How can you reclaim the voice of God in your life?
Prayer:
God, thank you for the gift of your holy spirit, for your word, and for the honor of being able to talk to you, the very creator of everything, anytime we want to. Help us to listen to you above all else. Help us to drown out the constant noise around us, and to tune in only to you. Amen.
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Yahweh of Armies! My soul has longed and has even fainted for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Psalm 84:1-2 (REV)
Do you long to be in the presence of God? Do you view being in His presence better than anything else in the world?
It can be difficult to find the time in the busyness of life to spend time with God. Whether it’s sports, practice, homework, work, other family member’s activities, or even church events, our lives are constantly full to the brim with a packed calendar and full schedule. Margin is something we write over and utilize to fill the space and time more completely with television, social media, and other numbing time wasters that we coin as “entertainment”. We are left feeling alone, jealous for what others have, regrets, and spiritually empty. Sometimes we don’t even realize how much our souls are longing to be in the courts of God.
When we reach those moments when the world feels overwhelming with its constant noise, we face two options. The first is to turn the noise up. Picking up our phones to open Tic Tok, Youtube, or Disney+. This numbs the brain and continues the vicious cycle of loneliness, anxiety, and despair. The second option is to turn off the noise by picking up our Bibles and setting aside time to pray both alone and with your church community. If you’re reading this, then you’re already taking the first steps towards seeking the presence of God.
Psalm 84 displays the beautiful sense of belonging we can find in the presence of God. Seeking God’s presence each day combats loneliness, grants strength to face the world, and helps shield you from wickedness. Have you seen a shift in your life when you have rooted yourself deeply in the presence of God?
2 Chronicles 33 and 34 recount two kings of Judah. The first, Manasseh, did what was evil while the second, Josiah, did what was good. What was the difference between these two kings? The first made temples for Baal and used worldly means to do as he pleased while the second turned the focus back to God. Manasseh led the people away from the presence of God. In those days it was through temples to deities and spiritually evil practices. What in today’s society tries to lead you away from God’s dwelling like Manasseh?
1 Timothy 2 also encourages being in the presence of God. 1 Timothy 2 starts with “Now, above all, I urge you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving for all people” (1 Tim. 2:1 REV). Paul is encouraging people to pray for not only their needs or their family’s health but for all people. It is not to be used to preach at people saying “may God let billy bob see that he is wrong” it is to pray with thanksgiving and love like “thank you god that billy bob is in my life and you guide our friendship”. Our prayer life should prompt peaceful living rooted in Christ as our mediator. When you pray, what do you normally focus on?
Prayer builds our relationship with God. It’s a precious gift we have that Christ has provided a way for us to communicate with our heavenly Father. The moments of prayer both in quiet solitude and corporate worship, bring us closer to dwelling in God’s presence.
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS
This passage might be difficult to understand as it describes how men and women pray and teach. It is one of the most difficult passages in scripture. Regarding 1 Timothy 2:8-10. In this section there is seemingly a difference of how men and women should pray. Men lift their hands without anger or arguing and women dress properly with modesty and devotion to God. That does not mean that men can wear whatever they please and women cannot raise their hands in prayer. Paul addresses issues that occur in churches speaking to issues that prevent our hearts to be fully devoted to God. This passage is encouraging purity in prayer. The examples shared are ones that might be a struggle for either gender. Women, it’s easy to buy into the culture of we can only be beautiful with makeup. That’s not God’s best for you. He doesn’t want you to find your identity in your beauty but in His presence. Men, it’s easy to go along with what the world says. Men should be strong, emotionless, and anger is the only feeling you can show. That’s not God’s best for you! He doesn’t desire you to be emotionally unavailable, straight laced and strong. He calls you to open yourself with emotions stepping outside of the social norms and comfort zones. God is calling both men and women to approach Him with hearts and hands wide open for Him to be the person’s identity and not what the world describes should identify an individual.
Likewise the final section of 2 Timothy addresses a concern within the church. Since women had no social or political authority or standing, within the Roman empire women found their “power” from money and religion. The temples of Roman goddesses set women into positions where they would lord over men. Instead of being equals, Roman goddess Diana encouraged women to be better humans who were more valuable and had more power than men. There was also a teaching going around in Rome that man was the one to cause sin to enter the world and not the women. This was a big problem that needed to be addressed! Paul writes here to remind women that they are not a better, higher being and that the scripture is not to be used to assert that a woman is a better, higher being. Now this is not to say that women are lesser than men and can never teach. That would go against the fact that all humans are the image of God (Genesis 1:27), that through Christ all are set free from the hierarchy of society (Galatians 3:28), and all are equally gifted (Romans 12:6-8).
To both men and women, do not allow misunderstandings of this scripture to allow either gender to dominate over the other. Instead, allow it to shape your hearts to dwell equally with one another in the presence of God.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
How can we be like Josiah, refocusing ourselves and our churches towards the presence of God?
What are some habits you can work on that help you dwell in the presence of God?
PRAYER TIME
Take time to pray today. Pray for God to use His word to teach and guide your life. Praise Him for His goodness. Ask Him to shape your view and understanding of the world and Scripture. Dwell quietly in His presence to tune yourself to the holy spirit, which He has so gifted you to provide understanding and guidance within your life.
-Devotion by Pastor J.J. Fletcher, son of Jeff & Karen Fletcher (MN)
Anxiety is a significant issue today. A quick Google search yields the statistics that nearly half of U.S. adults report feeling more anxious than in previous years. Nearly 20% of adults deal with some sort of anxiety disorder, and about 15% of young adults experience moderate to severe anxiety symptoms.
Some anxiety is enhanced or brought on by various disorders, but other anxiety seems to be directly impacted by the way that we order and perceive life.
In Philippians 4, Paul gives us an action plan for life. Our attitude can directly impact our response to people and situations. I made this point in a sermon once: Everyone annoys me… if I let them. If we’re looking for something to complain about or dislike, we’re going to find something. Paul says: Rejoice always! Look for what God is doing and find joy in that. He doubles down on that idea for emphasis. Even when chaos and pain surround: rejoice. When things are not going how you would like them: rejoice.
Actively looking for and remembering God in our lives will directly impact our perception of reality and frame our outlook on life. Certainly, there will be difficulties, but God gives us the tools to endure.
Joyfulness doesn’t mean being “Pollyanish”; we should not ignore reality, but we can and should show a resilient life and faith through hardship and disappointment. Being reasonable (not insisting on every right or letter of law or custom, yielding, gentle, kind, courteous, tolerant – BDAG) seems to have some implications of not making everything about yourself and being mindful of others, even when you are down or suffering.
Paul says don’t be anxious. Instead, channel your struggles and disappointments into prayer. A couple of days ago, I wrote about complaining… don’t do that; rather, vent to God, tell him how you feel (respectfully), ask for wisdom and grace to deal with your situation. Ask him to work in you and work in the situation that may be pushing you toward anxiety. Peter says in 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
Paul says that this approach will bring the peace of God, which doesn’t make sense. My caveat to this is that it doesn’t make sense to someone without faith. Yes, it transcends what our minds can handle and how we operate, but it should make sense to us who believe in a God that does supernatural things. It’s no biggie for him to change our hearts and minds and bring about a non-anxious and peaceful paradigm.
When things are going poorly or just not how we desire, it is easy to hyperfixate on our disappointments. Paul says not to do that. Look for the good in people. Look at what God has done in your life and the lives of others. If sin is at the heart of your issues, turn away from that sin and look to things that are excellent and worth paying attention to.
Finally, put your faith and training into practice. It does no good to simply be hearers of the word; we need to be doers of the word (James 1:22).
Reflection Questions
How do you tend to handle anxiety or situations that could potentially cause anxiety? What healthy practices have you tried and benefitted from? What unhealthy practices have you used and want to avoid?
When have you hyperfixated on disappointment? What was the result? What would have been a better reaction to the disappointment – and one you will try next time?
“Look for what God is doing and find joy in that.” Look carefully. What do you see God doing? With joy, thank Him.
Prayer
Dear God – I thank You for always being up to something good. We eagerly await Your perfect Kingdom, but until then, help me rest in the peace that only comes from knowing You. Help me see You at work and joyfully serve. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
The beginning of our 2Ki 19-20 reading today finds our hero Hezekiah fiercely beset by a vastly superior armed force. Please take a moment to read 2Ki 18:13-37 to refresh yourself of the specifics. If you recall, back in chapter 17, Judah’s sister nation Israel has already been taken captive previously and forced into exile. In 2Ki 18: 1-13, we see that Hezekiah the king of Judah was spared this fate because he trusted God, he clung to God, he didn’t turn away from following God and obeying His commandments. So he’s still in power but right now there’s a massive army surrounding him that has already conquered everyone else around, gathered en masse outside the gates hurling taunts at the city, and they seem prepared to hurl much more dangerous bits as well.
First, let’s get an idea of the scale of things. This large, technologically advanced force was at the time part of the most dominant military power in the near east. Aggadah literature describes the army as composed of “45,000 ‘princes’ in golden chariots, 80,000 armored warriors, 60,000 swordsmen, and numerous cavalry”, in the rabbinic tradition. So far in the campaign, Sennacherib has conquered 46 other fortified cities. This estimate of forces is also backed scripturally and apocryphally in 2 Ki 9:35, Judith 14:11-12, and Is 37:36. Conversely, the population of Jerusalem (per wikipedia) during Hezekiah’s time was a whopping “up to about 25000” people, total.
So on one hand you’ve got a city with (around) 25,000 men, women, and children in it, and on the other hand an advanced army of armored warriors and cavalry numbering well over 185,000 (not counting camp followers). Things are looking, not to put too fine a point on things, “bad” for our heroes. With this picture in mind, now add the leader of these forces shouting up to the nervous inhabitants the taunting insults detailed in 2Ki 18:13-37. We would probably be hearing a much different historical account if not for a couple tiny little details: firstly, the commander shouting up at the walls insulted God. Secondly, Hezekiah was a man who trusted God, who clung to God, who loved God and God loved him back.
It should be noted that according to the events listed in 2Ki 19:2-8 that it appears as if God miraculously diverts the first attempted attack and causes the army to go home, but that then after an unspecified (but probably short) time has passed, the commander sends threatening letters back to Hezekiah and heads back with his troops to “finish business”.
At this point, Hezekiah “tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and entered the House of Yahweh” (19:1, LSB) and then prayed one of the most beautiful and humble prayers in scripture. Beginning in 2Ki 19: 14-19 (LSB translation): “Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of Yahweh and spread it out before Yahweh…and said “O Yahweh, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Yahweh, and hear; open Your eyes, O Yahweh, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to reproach the living God. Truly, O Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands and have put their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. But now, O Yahweh our God, I pray, save us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O Yahweh, are God“.
In our reading today of Ps 68, we see in v17 that “The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands…” (LSB). Rev 5:11 states that (concerning angels) “the numbering of them was myriads upon myriads, and thousands of thousands“. We don’t really have an accurate number of how many angels serve God, but a very conservative guesstimate would be “lots and lots”. If today’s reading of 2Ki 19:35 has been transmitted and understood accurately, God sent 1 (one) of these innumerable angels to the enemy camp and that angel killed 185,000 men. Pause, digest, consider.One angel, and he wiped out almost an entire army, the most powerful of the time. One angel out a large force of angels (out of Millions? Billions? we really have no idea, just “myriads upon myriads”). Just one angel.
**An interesting side note is that Hezekiah is described as “the best-attested figure in biblical history,” due to the extensive documentation of his reign in biblical texts and external sources (notably Assyrian inscriptions), per Wikipedia. This entire story is documented both biblically and through a number of extra-biblical sources. There’s a wonderfully deep hole full of information on that you can fall down into if you’re interested in that sort of thing. I did, but for our intents and purposes it is only important to note that although in agreement in general about the number of men killed, some of the sources do give different accounts of the manner that the men actually died (but in all fairness it never said how the angel of Yahweh killed them, just that he had).
This bible story has always fascinated me. What a fantastic, miraculous, wonderful thing. It happened so long ago though, and that sort of thing doesn’t happen these days, right? Wrong.Reports from the Yom Kippur war in 1973 describe an incident on the Golan Heights where a Syrian tank commander reportedly told Israeli interrogators that his forces were halted by a vision of a whole host of white angels standing on the missile line, accompanied by a white hand from heaven commanding them to stop. This encounter allegedly occurred during the “Valley of Tears” battle, where a small Israeli force held off a much larger Syrian advance. According to the account, the Syrian commander said he could not proceed due to the supernatural presence, which instilled fear and caused his troops to retreat. This story is cited in multiple sources, including religious and historical commentary, as a supernatural turning point in the war. Look it up.
As humans, our senses are finite and limited. God is not. In 2 Ki 6:16-17 we see another example of this when Elisha tells his servant not to worry, that those with them outnumbered those that were against them, and then “Elisha prayed and said, “O Yahweh, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around …” (LSB). We often forget that our God, the God Most High, the Creator of the heavens and the earth is the most powerful being that exists. Myriads upon myriads of beings far more powerful than humans serve him currently, and just one of His angels can wipe out an entire army. This is not a weak king; this is the creator, ruler, and owner of the universe who will bring about his willed purpose no matter what, and He is awesome. This makes it all the more humbling when we realize how ferociously He loves you, and all that He has done for YOU specifically, and what price He paid for your redemption. A very high price indeed.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Do you constantly keep in the forefront of your mind the incredible, unstoppable power of the Most High God, or have you allowed yourself to be deceived by your limited senses?
Have you considered how silly pride is on our part, when we consider the magnititude of God?
Have you seen, or felt, divine intervention directly in your life? When?
Why do we worry, when we consider all of the above?
PRAYER
Lord God Most High, Mighty God, I humble myself before You. Forgive me, teach me, and open my eyes so that I can see. Open my ears so that I can hear You. Circumcise my heart and teach me to love you as fiercely as you have loved me, in Jesus name, Amen.
Psalms 42 is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. This song of the Sons of Korah is replete with suffering and lamenting coupled with a deep yearning for God’s rescue. I appreciate how the subject of this song is recognizing his downcast and disturbed emotional state and is questioning why he feels that way and then reminds himself to put his hope in God and then makes a conscious choice to still praise Him in spite of how he feels.
In verse 6, the Psalmist decides to manage these downcast feelings by remembering better times. In verse 8, it seems to me that this person uses daily prayer to try to stay close to God:
“By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.” (NIV)
In spite of these efforts, doubts start to creep in during verse 9. The person feels forgotten by God, taunted by their foes who ask “Where is your God?” As they notice their faith wavering, we see them circling back in verse 11 to the same questioning we saw in verse 5 about why they feel so downcast and disturbed. This questioning is then once again quickly followed by a reminder that they will put their hope in God and still choose to praise Him. It’s a resounding chorus that comes around at just the right time.
This roller coaster of feelings is so relatable to me. We can get so bogged down in our trials that God can start to feel so very far away, but that’s when we need to take a cue from the Psalmist here and remember to put our hope in God and make a choice to praise Him. We need a resounding chorus at the ready that reminds us that we can trust God to care for us in our time of need. What would your resounding chorus sound like?
Reflection Questions
What do you generally do when your soul is in despair? Do any of those things put your soul in deeper despair?
What does it look like and sound like to put your hope in God?
When does God deserve our praise? When was your hardest time to praise God, but you did it anyway?
Prayer
Dear God, You are a great God! My desire is to put my hope in You, fully and completely, even and especially on the days my soul is in despair. I want to praise you well all of my days. You are worthy and deserving, my Savior and my God, the giver of all good gifts, including Your Son and salvation. Help me see, feel and remember with deep gratitude. I love you, LORD.
Today’s reading has a number of gems in it, that not only teach us about God’s character but also the character of His son. In our Deuteronomy readings today we see a number of statutes; take a moment to read them all carefully and consider them as a group (note that we could spend a lot of time here, but there is a huge, critical, overwhelmingly important theological revelation in Mark 14 that we will spend a lot of our time on ). God is holy (Deut 23: 9-14,17-18,21-24), and will be treated as such when in His presence. God will judge each of us individually (Deut 24:16), we won’t be held responsible for the sins of another. God wants us to treat each other with mercy and love (Deut 23:15-16, 25, and chapter 24 in it’s entirety). The equity (or, ultimate fairness) of God is something that always amazes me. God’s will for His people is that they honor and revere God, and treat each other with love and respect.
We humans have a will too, but since we are human beings and not God, we have limited perceptions and because of this we tend to make poor decisions at times. Think of it this way: as human beings walking along the road of time we can see moderately clearly where we are standing, looking backwards we can see a narrow view of where we have been (but even so it grows fainter in the distance), and looking ahead we are essentially just guessing how the path will go based on the path we’ve walked so far. This doesn’t really highlight how limited our perceptions are, so now let’s imagine that this road is almost completely dark, and as we walk we are holding a candle that faintly illumines a tiny area around us as we walk; but there are vast worlds and other paths aside from the one that we walk that we can’t see which others are walking. That’s what it’s like to be human.
My whole point is this: our perceptions are very, very limited. Our tiny human brains can only perceive so much, the limitation of the human eyeball only accepts a very specific very tiny range of light frequencies, the human ear only hears a very specific very small range of sound frequencies, and all of our senses have limitations built into them. God, on the other hand, our Creator, is not limited in this fashion. He sees the thousands upon thousands of potential paths that we all walk on, fully illumined, and from the beginning of the trail of our birth to the end of the trail at our demise. The God who made us does not suffer from our inherent limitations, and as such, has a much clearer macroscopic picture. It is only logical that His will is superior to ours, since He has a much clearer perception of not only us, but our neighbor, and the world (all of which He created). The God who made your heart knows it better than you do yourself.
This is why the wise person submits himself to the will of God, because God has better information and therefore can make better decisions with better outcomes (Hillary Scott has a great song out called “Thy will” which I recommend). We tend to be very limited and narrow in our vision, and tend to make poor decisions with poor outcomes when we rely on our own will because of our inherent limitations. The more you rely upon your own will, the poorer the decisions and the worse the outcomes (and trust me, I’m speaking from painful experience on this one).
When we come to our reading in Mark 14 today, our savior Yeshua (Jesus), our future king, is having a crisis of faith. You see, having been born a man; a nice Jewish boy from the line of David (Matt 1,), even though God both knit (Luke 1:35) and sent Jesus (according to Jesus, 32 times in the book of John), even though he was the prophesied and anointed Messiah (the son of David, the son of God, the king who will rule forever: 2 Sam 7), Jesus still self-identified as a son of man (a human, about 72 times in the gospels). So even though God had knit and sent this man to be the savior of Israel (and the world), and even though Jesus was given a portion of the holy spirit that allowed him to perform signs and wonders in the name of the Most High God, he was in fact (by his own words, John 8:40) still a man.
Every human, when they are faced with their own mortality, has some serious thinking to do, even if you have been given a large portion of the holy spirit. We know that God had revealed to Jesus that he was about to die because we can see from the passage here in Mark 14:32-42 that he is agonizing over his upcoming gruelling death. I believe that one of the main reasons that our God revealed this to Jesus is that our God is, overwhelmingly, fair and equitable. He wanted to allow a choice to His chosen Messiah; a final act of complete trust and obedience (reminiscent of the one he offered Abraham when he was asked to sacrifice his only son from Sarah to determine his faith).
“…Abba! Father! All things are possible for you; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” ( Mark 14:36 LSB). Jesus knows that God can do all things, and hopes there is another way and asks God to provide it, but he also completes that request with an obedient submission to the will of the Most High God, YHVH. If you have accepted some of the later traditions of men in understanding of the nature of God, this will create some serious questions for you; because we see clearly that Jesus is subordinate to the Father and one of the primary tenets of many groups is to insist on their equality, but that’s just not what the scriptures say.
Jesus has his own will and it’s to not die, just as Abraham’s will was not to sacrifice his son, but he obediently complies and submits to the will of God, just like his ancestor Abraham. This is not the act of an equal, but a loyal subordinate. If you acknowledge this clear scriptural understanding then you are going against a lot of “traditional” requirements in many churches and you might just get kicked out of band camp if you bring it up, because that conflicts with some of the other later ‘developed’ traditions of men that have come to be traditional requirements. Please remember though: you are the one that will stand before God to account for yourself, not your church group or pastor, but you. Trust God.
So what do you do if scripture doesn’t agree with your doctrinal theology? Change your doctrinal theology, of course; we are under the scriptures and not above them. Scripture is our guideline, the word of God transmitted in written form, and if we are going to be obedient children of God, like our Messiah, King Jesus, then we must submit to God’s authority. When God speaks, we listen, period. Is a servant greater than his master? “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” (John 13:16 KJV). In the book of John alone, Jesus explicitly states that the Father has sent him over 30 times, and also states “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21 LSB). The Christ is under the authority of God, the Father, and we are under the authority of the Christ. It’s a pretty straightforward corporate organizational chart, if you believe scripture and hold to it as authoritative.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Why do we often follow our own will and not God’s?
Have you ever changed something you believed because scripture indicated something different?
God sent Jesus, Jesus sent us: are you being a good representative and can you improve?
PRAYER
Abba! Father! Not my will, but Yours be done. Show me Your will, Father, and grant me the perseverence and humility to submit to it. Help me to be a servant who pleases you, Father. All things belong to You, and all of the blessings that I’ve received have come from You, even my life. Lead me and teach me, please. Thank you, in Jesus name, Amen.
We’ve all heard the saying, “it’s the thought that counts.” Intentions matter. That’s what Jesus is getting at in today’s scripture reading in Mark 7.
Jesus tells the Pharisees actions without heart mean nothing. He quotes Isaiah 29:11 saying, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (NLT). It got me thinking about how easy it can be to practice routine spiritual disciplines without our hearts being fully present. The spiritual disciplines I’m referring to include tithing, regular church attendance, praying before meals, communion, prayer, worship, and reading of scripture. These are the things that easily become mundane for the longtime practicing Christian. It’s important to find ways to mix things up once in a while. We can easily get stuck hamster wheeling through the motions without taking the time to really consider what it is we’re doing. Taking a break from your normal routine can reignite your passion. When we feel like we’re going on autopilot, switching things up, practicing our spiritual disciplines in different ways, helps us refocus on the task and approach it with a renewed attitude.
I understand not everyone’s mind works like this, so I’ve created a list of suggestions. This week I encourage you to choose one discipline to switch up. See if the task means more to you. If you get more out of the experience. Or, perhaps you’ll learn just how much you enjoyed doing it your way, which will hopefully renew your heartfelt intentions. The goal of this challenge is to bring yourself back to the heart of why we do what we do, by pausing and re-evaluating your intentions.
Tithing
Write your check at a different time than normal. If you’re always doing your check right before the plate is passed, try preparing it at home first. If you always come with your check prepared, try writing it during the worship service. I personally really enjoy tithing during services. To me, there’s something intimate about listening to the worship music, getting on my phone and checking my pay stubs, doing quick math on the back of a bulletin, then placing my check in the offering box.
Include your children in tithing. This may be by encouraging them to put their own money in the plate, or giving them something to put in the offering. I still remember the feeling of importance I got as a little girl whenever I dumped my change into the offering. It felt good to give to God and made me feel part of something bigger than myself, even if all I contributed were pennies.
Church Attendance
Go to service at a different time if your church offers multiple services.
Sit somewhere else during the service.
Praying Before Meals
If you typically pray silently, pray aloud.
If your family is the fold hands type – try holding hands to pray.
Put your hands in a different position.
Start your prayer off with thanking Him for one specific blessing you experienced since your last meal.
Have your family take turns saying the prayer.
Communion
If you know it’s communion Sunday, sit somewhere else during the service so you are taking communion in a new environment.
Prayer
Pray aloud.
Pray at a different time in the day.
Put your hands in a different position.
Start a prayer journal. Or just simply write down your prayers.
Create a prayer chart with a white board.
Pray when you are bored or waiting. This is how we learn to pray without ceasing and be in constant conversation with God.
Take yourself to a quiet place and pray on your knees.
End your prayer time with a worship song.
Pray with your children.
Pray with your spouse.
Pray in public. Without being the annoying guy in Luke 18:9-14. For example, you could end your coffee date with your friend by praying for her right there in the shop, quietly in the corner taking a private moment together.
Worship
If your church is a standing and singing church, sit down during a song, bowing your head in prayer.
Don’t sing. Listen to the words.
Do sing! Even if you are no good and you think no one wants to hear your voice – God does.
Do a mini worship session in the car on the way to work. Turn on the local Christian radio, or play some of your favorite worship music.
Take a Sunday off from leading worship if you’re part of the worship team. Sometimes it can be nice to simply be a part of the service instead of leading it. This also may give the opportunity for others in your church to step up and serve.
Reading of Scripture
Sit someplace else in your house for your quiet time.
Take a break from what you are currently reading. It’s okay to flip to a different part of the Bible, or a different devotional book. Doing it just for the sake of doing it and saying you completed something is exactly what Jesus was accusing the Pharisees of doing.
Questions:
Which challenge are you going to choose?
Give yourself a heart check. Are there areas of your faith that have become mundane?
Prayer –
based on the lyrics “The Motions” by Mathew West
Dear God,
I don’t want to go through the motions. I don’t want to go one more day without your all consuming passion inside of me. Let your love make me whole.
There is so much uncertainty in life. So many things to handle. It can make your heart race. That’s why we need to find our refuge in God. In Psalm 17, David begins by asking God to hear his cries. He has also confirmed that what he is asking for is right. He says, “Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry” (Psalm 17:1). This teaches us to move towards God’s presence and guidance in confidence. He is our ultimate protector and source of peace. How can we know that what we are asking for is right, and that He will listen? I think David answers these questions all through Psalm 17. Let’s take some time in the next couple days to see what David says to do to find refuge in God.
1.Have Faith that God Knows What He is Doing
David recognizes God’s justice, trusting that God will judge rightly. “Let my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right”-Psalm 17:2. This verse encourages us to trust in God’s righteous judgment instead of seeking revenge or justice on our own. God sees all and will act justly in His time.
2. Show Your Heart to God
Sometimes we hide from God. Nothing is secret from Him. David speaks of his commitment to living a life of integrity, saying, “You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night”-Psalm 17:3. This is a call for us to pursue a blameless life, striving to align our actions with God’s will. When we do this, we are an open book to what God wants to do in our life.
3. Watch and Listen to What You Say
David highlights the importance of guarding our speech: “I have resolved that my mouth will not sin”-Psalm 17:3. This lesson is a reminder to be mindful of our words, ensuring they are edifying and truthful in all areas of our lives. Sometimes we are so hard on others. Sometimes we are mean to ourselves. Our speech should reflect the love and truth of Christ, building others and ourselves up rather than tearing down.
4. Guard Your Paths
Have you expressed your commitment to following God’s ways: “My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped”-Psalm 17:5. This encourages us to walk confidently in God’s paths. Always relying on His Word and Spirit as our guide. By doing so, we can navigate life’s challenges with confidence and assurance.
5. Confidently Ask
David’s relationship with God is marked by confidence in prayer: “I call on You, O God, for You will answer me”-Psalm 17:6. This verse shows us how to approach God with boldness, knowing that He hears and answers our prayers. Our confidence in prayer is rooted in our faith in His promises and His unfailing love. Do you have confidence in God? Do you come to Him in right standing? In humble obedience?
Tomorrow we will continue in Psalms 17
Reflection Questions
Is God your refuge? If so, what do you already do to find refuge in God? If not, do you want Him to be your refuge?
Which of these steps speaks loudest to you as something you need to do more and more?
Do you have confidence in God? Do you come to Him in right standing? In humble obedience?
Prayer
This morning let’s pray that you can RELAX, knowing that God wants you to succeed. That He loves you. Father, please give us a quiet confidence to be able to rest in the knowledge that you are a good God. My prayer is that our hearts are open to you. That you see us and we see you. Amen
Seek Grow Love 