Remembering & Responding

*Old Testament: Daniel 5,6

Poetry: Psalm 116

New Testament: Matthew 2

Last Thursday, my fellow Americans and I demonstrated our gratitude for life’s blessings by stuffing our faces with stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, and pie. Thanksgiving Day is a special time to remember not only our national heritage which includes the original Thanksgiving celebration of religious freedom and God’s providence of 400ish years ago, but also to reminisce about our own individual blessings. Sometimes we get so caught up with the ins and outs of life that we fail to remember how far we have come, the blessings that we have, the answered prayers and faithful love of our Father in Heaven. As we’ll see, we are not the first people in history to be so flaky and forgetful. 

In Daniel 5, we see King Nebby’s son, Belshazzar, ruling the kingdom. While drinking with his nobles out of goblets stolen from the Holy Temple, he notices a hand – just a hand – writing words on the wall. Flushed with terror, he promises a reward to whomever can interpret the cryptic message. Daniel, famous for having “power from the gods,” was summoned. Though his true interpretation of the text signified the imminent death and defeat of the current king, he was given a position of power, as promised. 


Daniel remained a leader for the new king, Darius. Because YHWH had blessed Daniel with wisdom and leadership qualities, it was widely assumed among the king’s men that Daniel would soon be given even more power than they had. Consumed with jealousy, they had to find a way to get rid of Daniel, but they could find no fault in him. 

…Except, there was that one thing: Daniel still prayed three times a day to the One True God. Maybe, if they could just get the king to sign a decree that everyone pray only to him, they could trap Daniel and get rid of him for good! 

Approaching the king with flattery to kindle the flame of his pride, the king’s leaders – minus Daniel, of course – recommended that the king enact a 30-day irrevocable law that people could pray only to King Darius. (Finally, a sure-fire way to trap their nemesis, Daniel!) The king signed the law, and the men immediately spied on Daniel. 

It didn’t take much spying, though. The men knew that Daniel always prayed at the window facing Jerusalem, and just as they suspected, his knowledge of the new law did not alter his commitment to this spiritual discipline and his allegiance to the True King. 

Giddy with pride at the simple success of their scheme, the men came back to the king, reminded him of the law, and tattled about Daniel’s offense. Darius, who considered Daniel a friend, was replete with regret. Aware that even he could not change his law, the king ordered Daniel thrust into the den of hungry lions, but offered one last hopeful prayer: “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (6:16, NIV).  

Cue the children’s picture Bibles to show cute, cuddling lions purring on Daniel’s lap; maybe Daniel rubbed their bellies (a favorite pastime of my late cat, Maximus) or perhaps the lions just basked calmly in the ray of sunshine, as cats tend to do for the majority of their lives. However, that was not the case. The Bible states that an angel held shut the mouths of lions. Perhaps the angel was even wrestling with the powerful big kitties all night long to keep them from eating Daniel!  

Darius couldn’t sleep at all that night. As soon as dawn broke through, he scurried to the den to find out if Daniel’s God had miraculously saved his friend. The king was overjoyed when he heard Daniel’s voice and found him unharmed! Indignant at their trickery, Darius ordered the accusers to be thrown into the den, along with their families, who were mauled by lions before they even reached the bottom of the cell. Through this miracle, King Darius recognized YHWH as the One True God and decreed that his kingdom would follow YHWH, the God of Daniel. 

As a lover of all cats large and small, this story has always been a favorite of mine. I also noticed that the kings – and other characters – in the Bible have been as wishy-washy as a cat (“Pet me! Now stop or I’ll attack you! I’m hungry again! No, I want beef chunks in gravy, not beef pate!”) in the way they continue to forget or reject YHWH and then turn from their ways when they witness His power. Do they not remember? Did they learn nothing from the kings before them? Surely these events about hangry lions not eating a captive meal and three men (and an angel) walking around in a blazing furnace went down in history as turning points in their culture! It reminds me of the ridiculous cycle of the Israelites wandering in desert who would turn from the One True God, then come running back to Him when He allowed bad things to happen, then promised to always follow Him, and then forgot and worshiped other gods, and then He let their enemies attack them, and on and on and on… I feel no pity for the Israelites because they just keep on forgetting their One True God, but then I realize: how fickle am I sometimes, too. I am human; you are human; we all fail. We all forget to remember the faithfulness of our Father. We cease seeking Him when we need Him most. We, too, are like the amnesiac Israelites and the arrogant kings of the Old Testament. 

Thankfully, our reading from Psalms reminds us that “the LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion…” (116:5, NIV). So as we depart today, let us not dwell on our offenses, but, with gratitude, ponder the question posed a few verses later (vs 12):  “What shall I return to the LORD for all His goodness to me?”

Reflection & Application: 

– Make a list of how you have seen the goodness of God, those recorded in the scriptures and in your own life, and pray about how He wants you to serve as a result of his faithfulness and grace, to share His love and joy with others. 

-Write out answered prayers and/or things for which you are grateful. Post it where you can see it. 

-Thank our Father in Heaven for His forgiveness and kindness when we forget and stray. How can you offer His grace to someone in your life today?

Rachel Cain

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Even If

*Old Testament: Daniel 3 & 4

Poetry: Psalm 115

New Testament: Matthew 1

Millennials like myself will forever remember being engrossed in the dramatic animated retelling of Daniel chapter 3 in which our favorite anthropomorphic cucumber, tomato, and asparagus are punished for not bowing down to the giant chocolate bunny. While I appreciate the kid-friendly way in which Veggie Tales retold this story, the true account is quite dark and sad.

King Nebuchadnezzar, like many rulers in history, was very narcissistic. In the beginning of this book, we read how King Nebby (as we’ll call him for short) besieged Judah, claiming their strongest, handsomest, smartest young men as prisoners of war. It might sound nice that he ordered them to have the best food and education, but in reality, Nebby was trying to raise up men for his personal service who would be well-trained and informed about religions and philosophies that were contrary to the teachings of the God of Israel. Nebby even went so far as to try to remove their identities by changing their Hebrew names, which were rich with meaning and remembrance of the one true God, to Babylonian names referencing their false gods – Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to Shadrach, Mishael to Meshach, and Azariah to Abednego. (Fun fact: My oldest son, Azariah, is named after this character, whose name means “he who YHWH (God) helps”). I’ll refer to them with their Hebrew names during these readings. 

In chapter three, we observe Nebby announcing a law that whenever the ceremonial music begins, everyone must immediately bow to the obscenely large statue (idol) of himself. And if they don’t obey? They will be tossed into the furnace! Daniel and his friends had remained faithful to God, even in a foreign land with all kinds of pleasures, and they weren’t about to back down now. And so, when everyone else bowed, they stood. 

King Nebby, upon hearing of their disobedience, summoned Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to his presence. He gives them another chance to worship him and spare their lives. “But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” 

King Nebby obviously didn’t know the One True God but was about to be overwhelmed by His power! The three men wisely replied, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.” (I imagine there was a dramatic pause here as the men looked into each other’s eyes, realized the potential implications of their choice, took a deep breath, and regained their courage.) “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18, NIV)

“Even if.” Two tiny words expressing such immense faith. 

“Even if.” Even IF God doesn’t come through in the way we hoped, we wouldn’t do anything differently. Even IF God doesn’t answer my prayers, I will not turn from Him. Even IF He seems absent, we can be confident that God is working behind the scenes. 

Well, if their confident, faith-filled response didn’t just burn the king’s biscuits! And he was about to burn theirs, quite literally! King Nebby, bubbling over with anger, ordered the already-scorching furnace to be made seven times hotter. When the guards threw in Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, the guards were consumed with fire and died. The king’s wrath turned to surprise when he noticed four men walking around in the fire. Awestruck, King Nebby ordered them to be removed from the fire. It is noted in the scripture that not a hair was singed, and they did not even smell like smoke. The King, beyond astonished by the miracle, declared their God to be the only one who is worshiped in his kingdom, and the three men prospered in Babylon. 

Even though the king had changed their names, he could NOT change their allegiance; the faithfulness of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah during a very fearful time allowed God to demonstrate His power. 

God didn’t save them FROM the fire; he saved them IN the fire. Even if He seems distant or you don’t understand your current struggle, continue being faithful. You might have to face some rain before you see a rainbow or go through the fire before you are refined? Continue seeking Him. He will show up, and your faithfulness will not go unnoticed. 

Reflection & APPLICATION:


-How has God saved you in the past?
-What did you learn from “going through the fire” that you would not have learned if he had saved you from the entire situation at the start?
-Give thanks for His provision! 

-Rachel Cain

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The Final Thanksgiving

Theme Week – Thanks: Revelation 11

Old Testament: Daniel 1 & 2

Poetry: Psalm 114

Revelation is one of my favorite books in the Bible. It’s weird. It’s full of metaphor and symbolism. There is warfare, warriors, and a dragon defeated by a King upon a horse. 

But you just read all this! 

I want to end our week on thanks with the words of Revelation 11. 

At the end, when the kingdom comes at the sounding of the last trumpet, the voices in heaven say “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” There is no wait, no delay, no other kingdoms. Every kingdom good or bad, across all of time and around the world, will now be the righteous, holy, eternal kingdom of God. 

Of course the elders fall on their faces and worship God with thanks! Notice what they call the Lord God Almighty, “who is and who was”. No longer is the the one who is coming; he is HERE! He has taken power, he is going to reign. There will be judgment, yes, but it is also time for the saints, the prophets, and the God-fearers from every time and place to be rewarded. 

My friends, you who desire to seek God through his word, grow through the word you read, and love God, his Christ, and your brothers and sisters because of what you read, you are in this promise. Today, I ask that you thank God not for what he has done or even what he is doing, but what he will do. In Revelation 11, we get to see a glimpse of the joy of those who love God because the God of all joy has arrived to be with his people. 

Give thanks that God in the ages past created a good world, with great care, empowering humanity to carry his image. 

Give thanks that God gives faith, hope, and love through Jesus Christ and salvation in his name, and that God takes the the brokenness and pain of life and turns it into something beautiful. 

Give thanks that God will rule over the world, that God will destroy all wickedness, death, destruction, and pain, and that God will allow only righteousness, life, flourishing and joy to remain. 

Give thanks to God today!

Reflection Questions

  1. How long did you spend in prayerful thanksgiving this week? Did you keep track of everything for which you gave thanks? How many different items did you think of?
  2. How many of the things for which you gave thanks were about what God has done in the past? What God is doing now? What about what God is going to do in the future?

-Jake Ballard

Jake Ballard is pastor at Timberland Bible Church. If you’d like to hear more from him, you can find Timberland on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TimberlandBibleChurch/ ) and on Instagram (https://instagram.com/timberlandbiblechurch?igshid=t52xoq9esc7e). The church streams the Worship Gathering every Sunday at 10:30. Besides studying and teaching God’s word, he is raising three beautiful children with the love of his life, is a big nerd who likes fantasy (Pendragon), sci-fi (Star Wars) , and board games (Dungeons and Dragons). If you’d like to reach out to talk Bible, talk faith, or talk about your favorite nerdy things, look Jacob Ballard up on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jacob.ballard.336 ) or email him at  jakea.ballard@yahoo.com. 
God bless you all!

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Christ Jesus and Thanksgiving

Theme Week – Thanks: 1 Timothy 1

Old Testament: Daniel Introduction found below

Poetry: Psalm 113

Thanksgiving is a cultural institution; something like 85% of Americans typically partake in the holiday, and in 2022 we spent $1.27billion on Turkeys. Just. Turkeys. 

But when we celebrate thanksgiving, that means we give thanks *to someone*. It *might* be possible to just have a thankful attitude generally, but that’s not thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is giving thanks. And when 85% of Americans celebrate and only 81% believe in God, our culture tends to treat thanksgiving as a time to give thanks to our loved ones, or to be thankful generally. 

As Christians, however, we give thanks to someone. Or someones?

During this week, most of our focus and attention was given to giving thanks to God. 

Giving thanks because it is our duty to the God who gives us all things. 

Giving thanks because it allows our eyes to be open and our minds to be holy toward God.

Giving thanks for our generous blessings during our every time of prayer and to give thanks in every circumstance. 

But when we give thanks, there are times that our thanks should spill out to God’s Son as well. 

In 1 Timothy, Paul says, “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord.” (1:12) When we look to Jesus, he sends the Spirit in Acts, he provides wisdom to his people, he provides the Revelation to John. Our Lord Jesus Christ is STILL the empowering, teaching, revealing King of God’s Kingdom. Christ appointed Paul to service (1:12). It is the grace of Jesus, our Lord, that overflowed onto Paul. (1:14) The one who looked upon those who were crucifying him and said “Father, forgive them” is the one who looks upon us, the blasphemer, the persecutors, the insolent opponents to his grace, and still forgives, still gives grace so that faith and love overflow. 

Today give thanks to God, of course. But think about the mercy, grace, love, forgiveness and sacrifice of Jesus, and thank him for his grace. His intercession on your behalf in heaven will be honored when we recognize what he has done for us. 

-Jake Ballard

Reflection and Application

  1. Accurate Thanksgiving : When you give thanks to God and Jesus, it is helpful to distinguish the way they bless you individually. While Jesus empowers Paul and calls him to service, he ends this section in 1 Timothy with “to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” That is CLEARLY not speaking about Christ, but about his Father, God. Today, for what can you thank God? (Maybe, creation) For what can you thank Jesus? (Maybe, his sacrifice.)
  2. Giving thanks for forgiveness : Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. My friends, we should all say this in unison with Paul. We should see our sin as the most grievous, as the worst. We should consider ourselves as the chief of sinners. Even then, God is saving you through Jesus. Take the time to consider that salvation and give God and his Son thanks today. 

Daniel Introduction

The book of Daniel was written by the prophet Daniel (whose name means “God is my judge”) while in exile in Babylon from 605 BC until 536 BC.  Daniel was among the group of “Israelites from the royal family and the nobility – young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace”.

The Book of Daniel is a fascinating and exciting mix of history (chapters 1-6) and prophecy (chapters 7-12).  Chapter 1 starts by giving Daniel’s example of how to live a Godly life while surrounded by evil influences.  Chapter 3 is Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s example of Godliness despite persecution.  

Daniel contains some well known stories, including:

Chapter 3 – the fiery furnace

Chapter 5 – the writing on the wall

Chapter 6 – Daniel in the lion’s den

Daniel chapters 7-12 are prophetic, prophesying about the rise of world powers after Babylon, including: Medo Persia, Greece, …, and eventually prophesying about the Great Tribulation, and ultimately the resurrection of the dead and the Kingdom of God. 

The book of Daniel highlights the fact that God is in charge.  2:21 says, “He [God] changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.”  4:34-35 says, “…His [God’s] dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.  All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.  He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.  No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’“

It’s important to remember that in the end, God wins.  This will be particularly important as persecution arises, as we see in 11:33-35, “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.  When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.  Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.”

-Steve Mattison

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Everythings and Thanksgiving

Theme Week – Thanks: 1 Thessalonians 5

Old Testament: Ezekiel 47 & 48

Poetry: Psalm 112

Today is thanksgiving! It’s THE day of giving thanks, for everything in life!

For everything…

For everything? Is that what the Bible says?

Think about what you have done and been through this year. 

Yes, you moved out. 

You started your job. 

You brought your grades up. 

You had the courage to tell him you liked him, or even just sit next to her. 

But, you lost the game. 

Your best friend betrayed you. 

Your grandpa died. 

You saw war continue across the world and breakout in Israel and Gaza. 

For everything?

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

“In.” Not “for.” 

Luckily, my version does have “in all circumstances”, not simply “in everything.” The translators and editors want to focus on the fact that “in every circumstance” we are to give thanks to God. 

We are not commanded to give thanks to God for the pain we endure, the loss we experience, or the death of a loved one. God is on a mission to destroy pain, mourning, and death; Revelation 21 makes it clear he doesn’t like that any more than you or I do, and in fact hates it far more than we could. 

We ARE commanded to give thanks to God for the good things even in the middle of the pain. In the middle of the loss. In the death of a loved one. 

I am not claiming it’s easy; I am saying it is possible. It is God’s will for you and I to give thanks in all circumstance. When we are living in the spirit and not quenching it, this is much more easy to achieve. The entire section of Thessalonians is how to live in response to the spirit. 

May you be at peace around your dinner tables today. 

May you encourage, help, and be patient with your family and friends who gather. 

May you always seek to do good to one another. 

May you rejoice. 

May you pray. 

And may you give thanks, in all circumstances. 

Amen. 

_________________________________

(Note : For full disclosure, Ephesians 5:20 does say, in English “give thanks all the time for everything”. According to multiple scholars and commentaries, the word for “everything” (panton in the Greek) doesn’t have to mean “everything there is” but is determined by the context; Ephesians is consistent about the blessings of God coming upon people. There are many who would say this is not about pain, loss, death, or sin, but about the blessings of God. Others would say something like : “we should thank God for even evil things, because God will ultimately use even those circumstances and pains for our good, in spite of the hurt they cause.” While this is true and should be the goal of the mature Christian, the point stands for us still: God is against our pain and suffering needlessly, but he can take the pain and suffering of this world and make it good, and for his blessings, we should give thanks.) 

-Jake Ballard

Reflection Questions

  1. What great blessings have you seen and enjoyed this year? How will you give thanks for them?
  2. What difficult times have you been through this year, or are in right now? Even in those difficulties what did you, or can you, find to give thanks to God for?
  3. By choosing to be thankful to God even in the midst of pain and suffering what other feelings and thoughts do you diminish?
  4. Who do you think gains the most from your thankfulness?

Prayer and Thanksgiving

Theme Week – Thanks: Philippians 4

Old Testament: Ezekiel 45 & 46

Poetry: Psalm 111

Some laws we have make very little sense. 

In Los Angeles, you can’t use silly string on Halloween. 

In the UK, you can’t “handle salmon in a suspicious manner.”

In Barbados, you can’t wear camouflage. (Sorry, hunting fans!)

However, once you know the context, these laws begin to make sense. 

In LA, it cost the city nearly $200,000 to clean up the silly string every year from just Halloween. 

In the UK, they were trying to stop illegal salmon fishing, and it’s a crime to take fish that you suspect to have been illegally fished. 

In Barbados, the government has decided that the Defense Force are the only people who can wear camouflage (like a uniform) and wearing camo might be seen as an attempt to impersonate an officer. 

In Philippians 4, Paul gives a couple commands that, on the surface, seems to make very little sense. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (4:4)

And 

“Do not be anxious about anything.” (4:6)

It’s almost like Paul doesn’t know what it is like to be human! We can’t control our emotions. I don’t choose when to be happy, or when to be anxious. Nor does anyone else, though we try ; over 12% of the US population over age twelve take antidepressants and 6% of the population is on anti-anxiety medication. What a strange command that makes very little sense. 

Until we add context. 

To “rejoice” is not “feel happy” but “find joy in”. Joy is not the ephemeral, fleeting happiness that comes and goes based on what happens to us moment by moment, but the unshakeable reality that God’s desire for us is to be blessed by him forever. Will we have pain, heartache, grief and mourning in this world? Yes, because it is fallen. However, we don’t rejoice because of those things, but in the midst of those things, we are commanded and encouraged to find our joy in God. God’s grace, his gifts, and his promises will always outweigh our pain in the grand scheme of the universe. One day, all will be made new, and the old things will pass away and only the new and eternal will remain. 

Similarly, God does not expect us to overcome our worries and cares for the future through sheer willpower ; instead he says “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” The command is more than not being anxious, but about being in relationship with the one who overcomes our anxiety, and who overcomes our depression. 

I hope this week, as you have been spending 5, 10, or 15 minutes thanking God for the good things in your life, that you begin to recognize that God appreciates your thanksgiving, but also cares about your prayers and supplications. He hears it all and he is always working for your sanctification, your salvation, and your life to be abundant. He is working to bring joy in your life, joy found in what Christ has and will do in you, and to meet your needs so you will not need to be anxious. 

APPlication & Reflection

Today, instead of having questions to answer, take the time to 

Pray to God. 

Give him thanks.  

Let him know all that is on your heart that makes joy seem so far away, and all that is on your mind that makes anxiety close at hand. 

As you do, may “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, … guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (4:7)

-Jake Ballard

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Generosity and Thanksgiving

Theme Week – Thanks: 2 Corinthians 9

Old Testament: Ezekiel 43 & 44

Poetry: Psalm 110

When Abraham (still Abram at the time) was called by God to set off for unknown lands, to seek adventure in going to the place that God would show him, we see that God not only tells him what he is doing, but WHY he is doing it. Genesis 12:1-3 reads this way :

“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””

So that you will be a blessing. 

In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 

Interesting, isn’t it? Abraham is blessed to be a blessing. When we use that terminology, blessed to be a blessing, we begin to understand that is what happened with every person God used. 

God blessed Abraham with a family so that there will be those who follow God.

He blessed Moses with the Law so that that Israel might walk in his ways. 

And he blessed the prophets with his Word so that the people could be drawn back to God. 

Again he blessed the Kings with success so that there might be peace. 

Ultimately, he blessed Jesus with his Spirit so that the world might be saved. 

But don’t hear Abraham, Moses, Prophets, Kings, and Jesus and think these blessing are out of your reach!

In the time of Paul, Jerusalem was undergoing a severe famine and the church in Jerusalem were rather poor. In contrast, Corinth would have been an extravagantly wealthy region ; a port city with a major trading lane would cause riches to flow in. Paul, in his missionary journeys, encourages the Gentile churches to share in the needs of the poor in Jerusalem. Paul encourages the Corinthians to give generously and cheerfully. He lets them know that they “will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way.” Blessed to be a blessing. 

Often, human look at life as a zero-sum game: if I give what I have to someone else, then I lose and they win. But Paul reminds the Corinthians that this world is not a battle of wealth between the haves and the have-nots. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8) If God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10), do you think he is unable to meet your needs, even when you give “until it pinches a little.” C. S. Lewis speaks about the amount one “ought” to give and he writes “I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.” We might be afraid to give generously, but only in giving generously will we receive generously, just like the farmer can only reap bountifully when he sows bountifully. 

I want to be very clear : when Jesus prayed for his care from the Father, he asked for bread (“daily bread”) and water, rather than steak and Starbucks. This is not a lack of the provision of God, but the reality that giving extravagantly and full of joy does not mean that we will receive a sudden windfall, or be able to buy the nice car. God is not concerned with your riches or wealth in this life but with your obedience. God promises to care for your needs, not necessarily your wants. Obedience does produce something infinitely valuable though : the ability to do more good. ”So that you may abound in every good work.” “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way.” Your generosity will “produce thanksgiving to God… overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” And we have seen how important thanksgiving is. In fact, that is what Paul ends this encouragement to give with, thanksgiving!

 We see that God wants us to give cheerfully and generously, and he will continue to bless us to be a blessing. Our giving is done because we know that every blessing given is already a gift, and everything we own belongs to the God who owns everything. As we give, we can remember that God has already given the greatest gift of all, and our generosity can and will result in thanksgiving to God for his inexpressible gift!

-Jake Ballard

Questions and Application

  1. “Blessed to be a blessing.” :  Have you thought about how this description defined so much of the interaction of God’s people with the world? What are some of the blessings you have been thanking God for this week? How can you use those blessings to bless the world around you?
  2. “Trusting God with Generosity” : Lewis’ call to give more than we can spare requires that we trust that God will meet our needs even when budgets seem to say we can’t. Not everyone is called to sell everything they have and give to the poor, but some were (and maybe are). How much is the right amount to give for you? Who around you needs to be blessed?
  3. “Supplying the needs of the saints” : I have tried to be very clear that Paul was talking about giving money. We should give money to make sure we meet the needs of those around us who lack funds. There are three important points to remember. First, if we are young and don’t have a job, it is very hard to give money. A way to help is to give what you can ; your time or your talents, for example. Second, however, if you give of your time and talents, that doesn’t excuse you from giving money if you can. You should be willing to give everything to God, time, talent and treasure (money). Third, and the opposite of the last points, if you give money to a ministry, that is not a substitute for volunteering your time and abilities. All three, the time you are given, the talents (abilities) you have and the treasure (money) you own, are blessings from God, and are given so you can bless others. 
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Holiness and Thanksgiving

Theme Week – Thanks: Romans 1

Old Testament: Ezekiel 41 & 42

Poetry: Psalm 109

Yesterday, we learned that giving thanks to God is a part of our duty as those saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Today in Romans we see what happens to our souls when we don’t give thanks to God. 

In the magnum opus that is Romans, Paul lays out the case that Jews and gentiles both are redeemed by grace through faith in Jesus, that we are all members of Israel made new and we all can be grafted into the people of God. But to get to that point, Paul has let us know there is some bad news ; people are unrighteous. To be clear, God is angry at sin and those things that oppose his good will upon the Earth. God’s desire for humanity has been “made clear” by his creative action and people are without excuse to worship him. (Rom. 1:18-20)

Then we get to the point : “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Rom. 1:21)

Read that again : Paul seems to be connecting what they did not do and what happened to them. When people who could know God do not honor him or give thanks to him, they THEREFORE become futile in thinking and have darkened hearts. Which could also mean that if we want to not become futile in our thinking, if we do not want our hearts to remain in the dark, we need to honor God as God and give thanks to him. 

Now, let’s be clear about Paul’s point : we are not going to give thanks to God enough to be saved. Romans presents a powerful case that we can’t save ourselves! “We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23) However, we also remember what God gave: “the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) 

Rather than simply “being thankful”, today give thanks to God for Jesus Christ our Lord, through and in whom we have salvation : “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord… There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 7:25-8:1)

Application and Reflection

Paul gives us a number of different ideas of what to be thankful for today : 

  1. Paul gives thanks to God for the church in Rome. (Rom. 1:8) When was the last time you gave thanks to God for your local church? Your local youth group or youth pastor or pastor? Take a moment to give thanks to God for that today.
  2. Paul gives thanks to God for the salvation of others! (Rom. 6:17) Look around at your mom, dad, brothers, sisters, and other family. Think about those people around you who know the salvation of God found in Jesus. Thank God for those who know Jesus around you. If you have some people who need to know more about Jesus and God, how can you share the gospel message of salvation by grace through faith with them?
  3. Paul says that we should give thanks for our food (Rom. 14:6) Will you take the time before every bite of food today to remember that God has given you this food? Will you make sure that God is honored by your thanks today?

-Jake Ballard

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Unworthy Servants and Thanksgiving

Theme Week – THANKS: Luke 17

Old Testament: Ezekiel 39 & 40

Poetry: Psalm 108

By Luke 17, Jesus has set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51), and every step he takes is taking him one step closer to his ultimate act in this world : his death for sin upon a cross. 

With that in mind, he knows the days of ministry are limited. On the way to Jerusalem, he entered a village, and he sees ten lepers (people who suffer from various skin diseases) who are unable to participate in community life due to laws in the Torah. In a culture like Judea in the time of Rome, family, community and tribe were not just important; they were what gave life connection, purpose, meaning. To get a skin disease which banished you from community was akin to a living death. These suffering people look to Jesus the one who can heal them, as their “Master”. 

Interestingly, the last words Jesus said before speaking to these men, in Luke’s narrative, were of masters and servants. Specifically, masters do have authority over their servants or slaves. They have the authority to command them to work and rest only when the master’s wishes are fulfilled. To post-chattel-slavery-American ears, we recoil in horror about how masters might have treated their slaves. But Jesus’ point isn’t about the actual institution of slavery but about how his disciples should consider their own responsibility when following him : “When you have done all that you were commanded, say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”” Jesus wants his disciples (that’s us) to recognize that the God who owns all things owns us, and the savior who saves all people saved us. Therefore, God and Christ deserve all things, and when we give them our all, we are not going above and beyond the call of duty, we are giving God and Christ exactly what they deserve. 

Jesus tells the lepers to go and show themselves to the priest. This is a reference to a priest being able to see if they are “clean” in order to fulfill Torah and allow the unclean to return to community. Note: he does not heal them. He says “go” and “as they went they were cleansed.” It was in the going, it was in the action, the trusting, the faith that they were cleansed, made whole, restored. 

But one stopped. 

One turned around. 

One praised God in a loud voice. 

One fell at the feet of the Master Jesus. 

One gave thanks. 

Jesus seems to expect the other nine, inquires into there whereabouts, but looks with grace at this Samaritan leper-no-more, and says “your faith has made you well.”

Giving thanks is not an element of the Christian faith that moves us from normal to turbo-charged-Christianity. 

Giving thanks is a vital part of understanding that God, who owns all things, has given us all things. (Rom. 8:32) Giving thanks is a vital part of understanding that Christ, our Master and Savior, gave himself to save us upon the cross, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isa. 53:5-6) Giving thanks is a vital part of the Christian faith, because God and Christ deserve all things, and to give them thanks and to shout loudly the praise of God and fall at the feet of Christ is the most common, natural, expected response to those who have been saved by grace through faith. 

When we give thanks, we are not being amazing, super Christians, wonderful and worthy of praise ourselves. 

When you give thanks and give it all to God, then say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”

-Jake Ballard

Reflection Questions

  1. When we consider our position as Christians, we are slaves, bought from one master (sin, death, the devil) to serve another (God through Christ). Do you bristle at the thought of being a slave or a servant? We are being adopted, heirs of God and coheirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17), but one image doesn’t completely negate the other. Why do you and I feel uncomfortable with being own by the God who already owns everything?
  2. “Your faith has made you well.” I find it interesting that Jesus, who seemed to be very necessary in the completion of the miracle, implies that the man was cleansed by his own faith, as if Jesus didn’t have anything to do with it. Why is this phrase used here and in other miracles? Is Jesus implying that he was not needed or is this humility? How should we understand this phrase to a man who was healed “as he went”?
  3. When was the last time you gave God thanks for everything in your life that you could remember? Try it this week. Everyday, after devotions, spend 5, 10, 15 minutes in prayer, thanking God for everything good in your life, in your family, in the world. Let this week be a week of giving thanks, and still realize that this is our appropriate response to the God who gives every good and perfect gift. (James 1:17)
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Paradise

Old Testament: Ezekiel 37 & 38

Poetry: Psalm 107

New Testament: Revelation 22

     Revelation 22 begins with a few more verses describing New Jerusalem, a topic which began in chapter 21. It is full of life. I go back and forth on how to visualize this from the details we have. The city is described with one street, paved in gold like glass. The street leads to the throne of God and Christ – it is the most important destination. Perhaps the street spirals up to them, and the clarity of the gold helps the light from the throne reach everywhere. The river of the water of life passes down the center of the street, and the tree of life is on either side (v. 2). So perhaps the water goes through a tunnel carved in the thick trunk of the tree of life, which has grown quite large since being transplanted from the Garden of Eden. The design does not concern me greatly, the key is the offer of life and blessings. This is a place of contentment and worship – it has no temple because it needs none, all within it are constantly in the presence of God and Christ, bathed in their glory.

     Rather than design, I am interested in the idea that things have, at last, moved beyond the stage where God considers them “very good” (Genesis 1:31). After each of the first five days of creation God declared the work “good”; after day six it was “very good” – notably with the addition of humans. It may be that things didn’t remain at “very good” for long before they slid into distress and pain due to the addition of sin, but that isn’t the point in this chapter. God has restored matters. The curse is gone! But I think God more than restored things and passed “very good” to “perfect.” I suspect the needed element for that to take place involves free will – God would not force Adam and Eve to love and accept Him, it was to be our choice if we would seek companionship with Him.

     Well, talking about this sort of thing with God can wait, and by the time we enter those kinds of conversations with God we will be better equipped to do so. For now, we know the challenges we face, and the Spirit we have been entrusted with to face them. Let us continue toward the paradise God has planned for us.

     The Greek word for “paradise,” by the way (Luke 23:43; Revelation 2:7), from which we get our English word “paradise,” comes from a Persian word for a pleasure garden. It seems like we are striving to get back to a garden, where we could eat from the tree of life and perhaps even walk with God.

     With understanding and acceptance of each other.

     Loving and loved.

     Forever.

     These are goals worth having.

     Lord, the book says a blessing is on those who read and hear the words of this prophecy and heed the things written in it, for the time is near. Help us be attentive to these words, and all that you direct for our lives. Thank you for the gift of your words. Do not let us be drawn astray from you, your message, or your work. You are a gracious God. In Jesus’ name I pray to you, Amen.

-Daniel Smead

Reflection Questions

  1. We are repeatedly told there will be no night in the time of the New Jerusalem – what do you associate with night that you will be pleased to have end?
  2. How do you find the curse affecting your life this week? How is knowing Jesus, and believers, helping you to deal with the curse now?
  3. Looking back over Revelation, what directions stand out to you for your life? How is it going? Do you think you should call on someone to help you be accountable for what you feel called to do?
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