Wrong when right - Devotion for 9/30/08

Wrong when right – Devotion for 9/30/08

This morning I was reading from the book of Acts, and I specifically was reading the passage regarding the first martyr – Stephen. After Stephen was killed, we’re told that Saul went on a rampage, and that a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, which caused many followers of the Way to scatter in fear throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. However, today the thing that hit me is found in Acts 8:2 – “Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.”

In the ancient Mediterranean world, dying unburied was one of the greatest dishonors that someone could suffer. Usually the adult sons or those closest to the deceased would bury the dead, and it was considered honorable and even heroic for them to honor the dead through the burial. However, the snag came in the fact that Jewish law absolutely forbade public mourning for a condemned criminal, and burying the deceased criminal was definitely not permitted.

So in the face of the great persecution that is going on in the community – in the face of the ruling of the highest Jewish court naming Stephen a criminal – in the face of the Jewish law prohibiting public mourning of criminals – in the face of the law prohibiting the burial of criminals – “some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.” I hope we all can be as strong in the face of everything we deal with to remain faithful to what’s right – even when it may be considered wrong by the world.

Walked with God - Devotion for 9/29/08

Walked with God – Devotion for 9/29/08

Recently I’ve been leading a Bible Study on the book of Genesis, and like many books of the Bible, there are parts that can sort of lull us to just skip right over some stuff. For example, Genesis 5 is basically a chapter that simply gives us part of the family tree from Adam to Noah, and through out the chapter it tells us the name of someone, who they fathered, and how long they lived. Each verse seems to be following a formula, and so it would be easy to just skip over a bunch of it (take a look for yourself – other than the remarkable ages which leads to a whole host of other questions, you’ll see what I mean). However, at verse 21 we get to a dude with the delightful name Enoch (why did my parents choose Adam instead of that!). In verse 22 we find out Enoch because the father of Methuselah (as in “old as Methuselah”), but then we learn some actually quite remarkable about Enoch: “Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.”(Emphasis added) Even more stunning is that in verse 24 we learn that not only did Enoch walk with God, but he also never died: “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”

What does it mean to be defined as one who “walked with God?” We really don’t know anything else about Enoch, but I would love to know what that means. I think we all believe that God walks with us, as in the well known poem “Footprints.” But what does it mean to walk with God?

The family and I went walking the dogs on Saturday. We have 2 completely different dogs. Riley is an 8 year old Golden Retriever; Oscar is a 1 year old lab mix. Oscar is so excited about the whole world when we walk that we constantly have to pull him back on the leash. Meanwhile, Riley is completely content walking right by my side. In fact, I don’t think that I’d even need to have Riley on a leash, because he is so obedient most of the time (yes – this is the same dog that knocked me unconscious once, but that’s a different story!). In the sense of the dogs, I feel like we are walking with Oscar, because as he runs from one side to the next, sniffing anything and everything, you can tell he barely recognizes we are there. On the other hand, I feel like Riley is walking with us, because he strides along happily right there with us the whole time. Now I take joy in both dogs, but there is something special about a dog that chooses to walk with me while I walk with him.

I hope on my tombstone one day it will read “Adam walked with God.” I want to walk each day enjoying His presence, knowing He is always there with me as I am with Him. That may mean I have to walk with Him to places I don’t want to go, I may have to walk further than I want to walk, and I may have to rest with Him when I want to keep going – but through it all, I want to be one who “walked with God.” He’s strolling – care to join Him?

Finding Faith - Devotion for 9/25/07

Finding faith – Devotion for 9/25/08

My sons Jacob and Aaron have learned how to get their way. If one of them wants a snack after they get home from school, they know exactly what to say, and exactly how many times they have to say it, because I can only take but so much whining, moaning, and groaning from Hungry and Starving (their new names) before I cave in and let them have something. Same with my wife and same with my pets (not that I am in any way saying there is a similarity between these two separate things). If I am asked enough times, I will eventually cave in because I can only take but so much pestering.

I’m pretty sure God knows what I’m talking about here, even if you don’t. In Luke 18, Jesus is talking about prayer, and he relates it to a judge in a city who neither feared God nor respected man. However, there was a widow who kept pestering him for legal protection against her adversary. At first the judge stood his ground and was unwilling to approve her petition, however he finally gave in because, “otherwise by continually come she will wear me out.”(Luke 18:5) Jesus goes on to relate this parable to God, who will grant just to those who cry out day and night. But then Jesus asks a VERY interesting question: “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”(Luke 18:8)

Why I find that so interesting is that my sons know that if they ask me enough times for something (within reason), they will get it. Same with my wife. And all my dogs have to do is follow me around with those sad eyes, and of course I’ll give them a treat. Each one of them knows this with a certainty, and they are not surprised at all when I cave in – because they have faith that I will give them what they want. Why does it surprise us when God answers our prayers? Do we truly not have faith that He hears us? Find what your hearts desire/need is right now, cry out to God “day and night,” and believe that the answer will come.

Brotherly love - Devotion for 9/24/08

Brotherly love – Devotion for 9/24/08

As you may know, I am the father of two boys who love to fight with each other. Sometimes I truly believe that they wake up with the expressed purpose and intent on beating each other up. One minute these two can be getting along fine, and the next thing you know shoes are being thrown across the room and headlocks quickly ensue. However, when they are on the soccer field it is a completely different story. Monday night at soccer practice we had a scrimmage with another team, and one kid on the other team slammed in and kinda shoved Aaron down in an attempt to keep possession of the ball (which Aaron had already taken away from him, by the way). Once Aaron hit the ground, I noticed his brother Jacob, and I saw Jacob quickly marking which kid had just slammed his brother. Jacob promptly left his position, swooped in and stole the ball back – along with a pretty decent forearm to the chest. Now the thing that was funny about it to me was that earlier there had been a couple of rough plays, and Jacob certainly did not react in the same way when the other players had been roughed up. He came in to his brother’s defense, I guess because he thinks he is the only one who is allowed to knock down his brother!

So this morning when I read from Matthew 12:46-50, I got to thinking about my boys. In this passage, Jesus has been talking to the masses, and the scripture tells us that his mom and his brothers were at the back of the crowd, but they wanted to speak to Jesus. So someone got the word to Jesus that the family was there and wanted to speak to him, and Jesus responds, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” Then He stretched out his hands towards those around him and said, “Behold, My mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Jesus saw beyond the typical familial relationships, and he created a new one – one with all who serve God the father. Granted we don’t know what happened after that, but I’m guessing Mary gave him THE look that only a mother can give, and Jesus probably then said, “Yes ma’am, I’m coming.”

What would happen if we truly looked at the world as our brother or sister? If your brother was hungry, wouldn’t you want to give him something to eat? If your sister was hurting, wouldn’t you want to comfort her? If we saw injustice happening to your mother, wouldn’t you want to stand up and fight for her? Let’s look today at the world in a different way – looking at it as Jesus looked at it.

Be afraid, be very afraid - Devotion for 9/22/08

Be afraid, be very afraid – Devotion for 9/22/08

I must admit, one of my favorite messages in the Bible is the whole “fear not” theme that is found through out. In my mind I am drawn to Joshua when he first took over as the leader of Israel, and all the times in the first chapter of Joshua that God had to tell him, “fear not.” I am drawn to the story of Gideon in the book of Judges, and the way the angel of the Lord had to console him telling him not to fear. And still I am always pulled toward the passage where Jesus walks out on the water, and when the disciples are filled with terror believing him to be a ghost, Jesus reassures them, “Fear not, for it is me.” Being the “fraidy” cat that I tend to be, I need to hear those words quite often to maintain a posture of strength in the midst of the storms.

But this morning in my devotion time I read from Psalm 33. We do not know who actually wrote Psalm 33, but this anonymous hymn of praise calls on the righteous to praise God because the dependability of his words and works. All of that is well and good, but the part that gets to me today is verses 16-18: “The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness.”

What hits me about that today is that so many of these “fear not” passages found in the scripture are said to mighty men of valor – Joshua the warrior, Gideon who would lead a rebellion, the disciples who would lead a revolution. And while they are being told to “fear not,” it certainly has nothing to do with their physical stature. As the Psalm says, the king isn’t saved by a great army, nor a warrior by his strength. The fear we have is a very real demonstration that we recognize how dependant we are upon God. The fear the Psalmist speaks of is the fear that comes with knowing there are some things that we cannot control by our own strength and might.

So many times in life we live things the “safe” way, where we stay in control and where we think we don’t have to fear anything. I guess what’s really hitting me today is that if we don’t have some fear in our lives right now, maybe we aren’t living as courageously and dependently upon God as we should

On your own - Devotion for 9/18/08

On your own – Devotion for 9/18/08

I love the book of Genesis. I love the story of Abram, and I love Sarai’s laughter. I love the story of Jacob, and who in the world couldn’t love Joseph – the comeback kid. Of course, we all “noah” about the flood as well. But as I’ve been teaching this book the past couple of weeks, one particular verse has really stuck with me – “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.’”(Genesis 2:18) What that says to me is that God never intended for us to be alone. Granted, I do think it is kind of funny that after God said he would make a suitable helper, the very first things He creates as that suitable helper are every beast of the field and every bird of the sky. I’m all about animal rights, and I love my pets, but I can see where Adam wasn’t exactly pleased with these animals as a suitable helper. So ultimately, God made woman – who led all of humanity down the path to sin (just kidding!).

We are not intended to be alone in this world. God intends for us to be connected with others. Too many times we try to tackle difficulties in our lives on our own. Too many times we try to make a drastic change in our lifestyle on our own. Too many times we think of prayer as something we do on our own. Too many times we think of . . . well, just about everything - on our own. But God knew that “on our own” was not good. I think it is interesting that when Jesus was asked to basically sum up the Law, he did so not just by emphasizing the love of God, but he also brought in the love of neighbor. If we learn anything from the book of Genesis, let us know that God does not intend for us to be alone in this world. Whatever struggles, whatever burdens, whatever worries or fears – God has always wanted us to be in community. What are you keeping to yourself, on your own?

Looking for trouble - Devotion for 9/17/08

Looking for trouble – Devotion for 9/17/08

I remember quite vividly hearing my parents and grandparents talking about certain people who were always “looking for trouble.” Maybe it was a cousin or another distant relative, but these trouble hunters were always described in negative terms. Maybe they were always getting into bad relationships, going from one job after another, or even actually getting to know the community law enforcement folks a little bit better (frequently), I early on got the understanding that you do NOT want to be someone who is “looking for trouble.”

As I became a teenager, I began to wonder why someone wouldn’t want to look for at least a little bit of trouble. I mean, some kinds of “trouble” seemed quite intriguing, and who wasn’t at least a little bit curious about what kinds of trouble you might could find? Not looking for trouble seemed almost too stable, too much the “same old, same old,” and to be frank (even if I am Adam), too boring.

That’s why I think the mischievous part of me truly loved finding trouble in new ways! In Eugene Peterson’s The Message, he words 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6 like this: “You paid careful attention to the way we lived among you, and determined to live that way yourselves. In imitating us, you imitated the Master. Although great trouble accompanied the Word, you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit! – taking the trouble with the joy, the joy with the trouble.”(emphasis added) Paul is commending the new Christian servants for the way they have handled receiving the word, which truly does not come without trouble. And I feel like that same commendation needs to be offered to each one of us.

I don’t believe that the church is always supposed to be a place of peace. To paraphrase Michael Slaughter, lead pastor of Ginghamsburg UMC, I believe that in the church we need to “comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.” To paraphrase many of the writings of John Wesley, Christianity when rightly practiced will always be met with resistance. So if everything is comfortable, if there is no resistance to what is going on, then maybe the right things aren’t going on. A church where everyone agrees all the time is a church that probably is not truly living the Word. So I encourage you today to look for trouble. Look for trouble with joy as you live in the Word, and find the ways that we can continue to imitate the Master “troublemaker.”

Blanket of Protection - Devotion for 9/16/08

Blanket of Protection – Devotion for 9/16/08

I remember when I was little how I would sometimes get afraid at night. I will never forget one night when I was there in my bed, already somewhat fearful from some of the noises I was hearing. Apparently I did eventually drift off to sleep, but in the midst of my sleep I rolled over. When I did roll over my hand must have knocked a picture that was hanging on the wall above my bed. I awoke to the sounds of this big picture frame swinging back and forth on the wood paneling wall, and all I could do was scream and hide under my blanket! Since I’m so “manly” now, I’m sure that is difficult for you to imagine, but it is true. After all, would you think it is a pretty scary thing to have a picture swinging up above your head? Yes – I was 23 . . . but still!

I still think it is funny that I would take refuge under my blanket, as if my blanket was made of steel or iron that would protect me. But I also know that I am not alone as one who would hide under a blanket (admit it – you know you did). Somehow we could hide under the blanket and hope and pray that it would provide us with protection in our desperate time of need. Sometimes I still want to hide under the blanket . . . it always felt safe there.

This morning as I read Psalm 3, I think about some of the troubles David was going through at the time he wrote this Psalm. David’s son Absalom had killed his brother Amnon (deservedly so, but that’s a different story), and then he had fled for 3 years. When Absalom finally returned, he began to set up plans to overthrow his father, which he ultimately did, which caused David to become the one who flees. In Psalm 3, David is lamenting his troubles, but in the midst of acknowledging how his adversaries have increased, David proclaims this: “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.”(Psalm 3:3) David has taken refuge under his “blanket of protection” – the Lord God. Maybe you are facing attacks – maybe you are facing storms – maybe you are facing fear – draw near and be covered up by the blanket of protection that is the Lord God. Cry out to Him, and recognize His presence.

Where did I set my mind? - Devotion for 9/11/08

Where did I set my mind? - Devotion for 9/11/08

A few weeks ago I found myself sitting at the pharmacy waiting to pick up some prescriptions. As I sat there and waited, I decided to make use of my time and started checking email on my BlackBerry (yes – it is an addiction), and then when I was finished checking, I started surfing the net. As I was being pretty self-absorbed in my own world, I did notice out that I was not sitting and waiting alone. To my right was a young guy who obviously was a member of the United States Air Force. Instead of checking his email or checking the scores from the games the night before, he was simply sitting there staring off into space. As I turned to back check the scores from the games the night before, the thought crossed my mind that I should talk to this guy. Why would I talk to him when I could instead be checking my scores, I thought to myself. But I kept having this feeling that I should talk to him, so I took my mind away from my own preoccupation, and I turned my attention to him. I turned to him and I asked, “Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” OK – no, I didn’t ask that (but that’s probably where you thought it was going, right?). I simply asked him about what he did in the Air Force. From there it went to where were all the different locations he had served, where he was originally from, what does he want to do when he gets out, and so on. Only after we had been talking about 10 minutes (and I was really getting curious what in the world was taking so long for my prescriptions to get filled), did I casually mention that I am a minister. That’s not usually one of the first things out of my mouth, because as soon as I mention it, many people begin to get this scared look on their face like, “Oh no, he’s going to ask me if I know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior!” It wasn’t too much later that finally my name was called and my meds were filled, but before I left, this young airman asked me for my card and what church I was a minister at. We shook hands (which probably wasn’t a wise thing since we were both sick), and I left.

I began that time waiting on my prescriptions focusing on me – Adam-centric. I left that time focusing of the people of God – God-centric. Sometimes we need those reminders to wake up and realize that not everything is about us. Instead of setting our minds always on us and our own needs, we need to remember Romans 8:5, which states, “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Today, set your minds on the things of the Spirit – the people of God. Find at least one way we can take the focus off of ourselves, and set our minds somewhere else. Now, where did I set my mind?

Transformers - Devotion for 9/10/08

Transformers – Devotion for 9/10/08

I have a confession. No, it is nothing juicy or gossipy, but still it is my confession. It is something that I usually keep in secret out of shame, but here it is: I once was a UNC fan. Yes – I know – I’m shocked as well. You ask, “What were you thinking?” I’m still not sure. All I know is that I had Carolina Fever, and I bled Carolina Blue. Not even drinking from the cool springs of Buies Creek (what creek?) and Campbell University could change my devotion to the Tar Heels. So what happened? When I was accepted into the Divinity School at Duke University I made a determination that if my money was going there, so was my loyalty. For a while I actually tried to pull for both schools. At first I didn’t really see the conflict. Slowly (not so slowly) but surely (definitely surely) I began to realize that I was no longer a UNC fan – I was a Blue Devil. I began to see all the negatives of that school in Chapel Hill, and I saw all the positives of Duke. When I threw away my UNC shirts and began to stock my drawers with Blue Devil shirts, I knew the transformation was complete.

We are called to go through a similar transformation in our lives and in our relationship with God. We are born in sin, and we live in sin, but we are offered acceptance into the Kingdom of God. Though our nature is to remain devoted and committed to the life of sin, if we act upon our acceptance into the Kingdom, then a transformation is to take place. In much the same way we can’t be fans of both UNC and Duke, we also are called to not be a part of the kingdom of sin AND the Kingdom of God. This morning in my devotion time I was reading from Romans 6, and verses 1-2 reminded me of this principle: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” If we have entered into God’s Kingdom, then we can no longer demonstrate our devotion to the kingdom of sin. Now I am not saying that we will not ever sin again, nor am I fully defining what sin is, but I am saying that sin will not govern our lives. Today, how can we recognize the ways that God truly rules in our life, and how can we see that we have let sin still have a grasp?

Unmerited - Devotion for 9/9/08

Unmerited – Devotion for 9/9/08

We all want to get what we deserve in life. I know I do. I remember having a job back in high school as a “sandwich artist” at a particular fast food place, and I always worked extra hard because I wanted to get what I deserve – which was more money. When I was in grad school, I would do all my readings (OK – most of them!) and study extra hard, because I wanted to get what I deserved for a grade, which was obviously an “A.” When I’m driving in traffic, I’m always willing to let someone merge into my lane, and then I feel like I deserve the opportunity to merge when I am in need. I want what I deserve.

This morning in my devotion time I read Ephesians 2:1-10, and I was convicted once again. In particular vv. 4-5 spoke to me today: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” Even when I didn’t deserve it, He made me alive in Christ. Even though I still don’t deserve it, He has saved me by grace. I’m grateful to receive that which is completely unmerited. Thus God continues the pattern of turning my life upside down.

In my conviction, I am drawn to the prayer entitled “An Evening Prayer,” by C. Maude Battersby:

If I have wounded any soul today,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own willful way,Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have uttered idle words or vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I myself shall suffer through the strain,Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have been perverse or hard,
or cold,If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold,
When Thou hast given me some fort to hold,Dear Lord, forgive!

Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee;
Forgive the secret sins I do not see;
O guide me, love me and my keeper be,Dear Lord, Amen.