Lectionary for 7/5/08

Today's readings are Joshua 23.1-16 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Josh.+23.1-16 ) and Acts 12.1-25 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+12.1-25 ).

 

I hope we will consider ourselves in light of the beginning of Acts 12.  Notice the three groups of people in the first five verses, three groups of people who portray all of humanity in microcosm. 

 

First we have Herod, in a position of power and wishing to please people.  He does what people-pleasers will do - whatever seems to please people.  It is in his power to persecute James and Peter or it is in his power to nurture them and care for them.  What do most people around him seem to like?  That's what he does.  Herod, in his position of power, was known as a dictator who would use cruelty to accomplish political advancement and popularity for himself.  That's exactly what he aimed at with James, who was annoying to him.  Finding that his execution of James pleased the people, he proceeded to put Peter in prison, no doubt with a similar goal.  How often do we act in a way that will please people, not because we are personally involved in the situation but because we want to please people and get something out of it?  There's nothing wrong with doing things that will please others.  We are to love our neighbor as ourself.  Loving our neighbor often ends up pleasing the neighbor, whether it is by going ahead and sweeping the snow off the neighbor's steps or by cleaning up after our dog.  But we love our neighbor not to earn that neighbor's praise, but to reflect the love of God and to provide what the neighbor needs.

 

Our second group of people are the oppressed, James and Peter.  Are we in positions where others take advantage of us?  Are we in positions where we are vulnerable to attack?  How much more we should realize that our Lord and Savior allowed others to take advantage of him, that he made himself vulnerable to attack, and that he endured a shameful, defiling death on our account.  If Jesus so allowed himself to be mistreated while showing his care for the world, how much more should we endure hardship for the sake of Christ?

 

The third group of people are the saints raising prayers for Peter.  The encouragers are often neglected.  Are there people we can pray for?  Are there people we can support and love, even if they themselves will never know our support in this life?  Are there times when we can show kindness in the name of Christ?  Let us pursue this saintly ministry wholeheartedly.  It is at the very heart and center of Christian ministry, as we do the work of Christ by loving and serving those who are unable to love or serve us back.

 

 

Lectionary for 7/4/2008

Today's readings are Joshua 10.1-25 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Josh.+10.1-25 ), Acts 11.19-30 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+11.19-30 ), and Joshua 10.28-22.34 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Josh.+10.28-22.34 ).

 

As we look at Acts 11, let's notice carefully the way the early Church leaders treat believers.  They nurture them, exhort them in the Gospel, support them when they endure persecution, and they encourage them not to depart from their faith.  I have lately engaged in discussions with Calvinists who say that those who depart from their faith only seem to have been Christians before.  But what does the Holy Spirit tell us through the author of Acts?  These were believers and they were being encouraged not to depart from the faith.  It is a very clear possibility that unbelief could grow in a genuine believer's life, planted and nourished by adversity, driving the believer away from Christ. 

 

With this in mind, let me make two exhortations.  First, we should not go beyond Scripture to protect God's sovereignty or his ability to save and guard his people.  The Scripture says that all who are believing on Christ are safe.  The Scripture says that we can depart from the faith.  We dare not say those people who depart from the faith never had it in the first place.  They are called believers in Scripture.  The second exhortation, and obviously the most important one, is that we must cling to faith in Christ and his atonement for our sins.  We do not add anything to our salvation.  We can take away from our salvation.  Let us not put ourselves in jeopardy by trying to add to our salvation.  Let us not be discouraged by adversity and trials.  Let us hold fast to our Lord.

 

 

Lectionary for 7/3/2008

Today's readings are Joshua 8.1-28 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Josh.+8.1-28 ) and Acts 11.1-18 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+11.1-18 )

 

We have all heard the slogans like "doctrine divides" and "deeds, not creeds."  In today's Christian culture it seems that doctrinal purity is no longer seen as the foundation for our practice, but that practice is what leads to unity, and unity in attitudes and practices lead to the doctrines we consider important.  How does this compare with what we see in the early Church?

 

When Peter brought the news that Gentiles had been given the Holy Spirit, that they had been granted repentance and faith, some of the Jewish Christians didn't believe him.  They were ready to reject this salvation of God because it didn't coincide with their categories, that salvation was mediated through and intended for Jews, not for Gentiles.  Their understanding that the biological descendants of Abraham were the chosen people and that the entry of others into this covenant of God's grace would be very rare was driving their program.  They wouldn't deny that Gentiles could believe.  There was a long history of Gentiles converting to Judaism, so it would be natural to expect that within the Church as well.  But it was unheard of that people who believed on Jesus would skip what seemed the natural and logical intermediate step of becoming a Jew.

 

Peter's explanation, thankfully, cleared up the dissension within his initial audience.  They understood that he had proclaimed the same gospel to the Gentiles that he had proclaimed to Jews and that the Gentiles had believed.  They had been regenerated just the same way the Jewish believers had, despite not converting to Judaism first.  But Peter's clear explanation of what happened helped draw the doctrinal lines of soteriology in such a way that the Jewish believers understood that Peter was not proclaiming a different Gospel but that God was redeeming people who had not converted to Judaism.

 

This is a real-life example of doctrine unifying, not dividing.  And Scripture is replete with similar examples.  Doctrine is, after all, that teaching which (if we interpret it rightly) the Lord has given to his apostles who have given it on to others, including through the written Word of God.  It is God's doctrine.  This is what we need to see the Lord more clearly.

 

Lord, open our eyes to understand what you are saying, to cherish your words, to love your laws, to persevere in your doctrine that you have given us.  Draw us together through genuinely biblical beliefs.

 

Lectionary for 7/1/2008

Today's readings are Joshua 6.6-27 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Josh.+6.6-27 ) and Acts 10.18-33 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+10.18-33 ).

 

We can gain some insight into Peter's character, and maybe our own, from Acts 10.28-29.  Peter was a devout Jew.  He had been accustomed, from his earliest childhood, not to have dealings with Gentiles and not to engage in activities which would make him unclean.  Now here, as a Christian, he was staying in the house of a tanner, who would be in a fairly constant state of ceremonial uncleanness due to his exposure to blood.  He had received a vision from God telling him that God proclaims things clean, including all sorts of unclean animals.  And now Peter has been visited by people from a Gentile's household, has received them to hear their plea, and has even gone with them to the house of Cornelius, a place he never would have entered without divine command.  Look at the words of Peter.  "God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean" (ESV). 

 

One of the "hot topics" within American evangelical Christianity lately has be so-called "racial reconciliation."  Though there is but one race of humans (hence the "human race") we have taken color and stature characteristics, and even more importantly, cultural characteristics, and allowed them to divide people.  How many times have we faced prejudicial feelings based on someone's apparent background, based on appearance or accent?  When will we realize that Jesus came to bear the sins of the world - not the sins of one particular cultural group?  When will we realize that the good news is to be proclaimed to all nations?  When will we realize that when the Lord has proclaimed people clean they are clean indeed?  Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and a person who appeared as different from most of us as you can be.  May we find our unity in our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

Lectionary for 6/30/08

Today's readings are Joshua 5.1-6.5 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Josh.+5.1-6.5 ) and Acts 10.1-17 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+10.1-17 ).

 

Look at the preparations made by God in both Joshua 5 and Acts 10.  See how the Lord visits people and makes them aware of his greatness.  In the case of the Canaanites the Lord strikes them with terror.  In the case of Cornelius the Lord gives him an eagerness to inquire into the Lord's answer to sin.  In both cases God's believing people (the Israelites and Peter) receive God's preparation for the task they are to do.  The Israelites are shown how to refresh their obedience to God's covenant and law.  Peter is shown that God may proclaim that which is unclean to be clean.

 

How has the Lord worked in bringing His Gospel to you?  How is he preparing you to serve him in bringing the Gospel to others?  May we be sensitive to his leading and obedient to his calling and plan.

 

 

Lectionary for 6/28/08

Today's readings are Joshua 3.1-17 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Josh.+3.1-17 ) and Acts 9.1-22 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+9.1-22 ). 

 

"Deeds, not creeds," right?  "Doctrine divides."  In this modern comfortable version of Western Christianity that we see all so often, many Americans will blithely assume that purity of doctrine is not very important.  As long as you have "the basics" everything is fine.  And what are "the basics"?  Sometimes it's awfully hard to see what those might be.  Every Christian group seems to have its own version of what is basic.  Every Christian group seems to have its own standard for whether the things on their "basic" list are necessary for fellowship with other Christians or not.  Yet while we look at these distinctives as defining ourselves we pass off theological distinctives as unimportant.

 

Not so in the early Church.  Saul went out looking for people who were following what he saw as incorrect doctrine.  The goal was to imprison them and bring them to death.  This is no gentle religious pluralism.  And when he was converted, while we can see that the early Christians did not pursue unbelievers to death, it is crystal clear that your doctrine does matter.  It's tremendously important.  Genuine believers are called to repentance over doctrinal distinctives.

 

Where are we going to draw the lines today?  We have a very wide variety of groups going by the name "Christian."  What are the essentials?  I pray that we may all pursue genuine answers to those questions.  May we be changed by the Scripture as we seek the truth.

 

 

 

Lectionary for 6/27/08

Today's readings are Joshua 2.1-24 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Josh.+2.1-24 ) and Acts 8.26-40 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+8.26-40 ).

 

Looking at Acts 8.26-40 we see how the Lord has arranged this meeting between Philip and the eunuch, a meeting which will ultimately bring the Gospel to Ethiopia.  See how Philip is told to go out into the middle of nowhere for no apparent reason.  Once he has gone, he meets the Ethiopian.  Had Philip arrived at a different time he would have missed the eunuch altogether.  This man was a man of influence.  He was doubtless accompanied by others who would have heard the conversation and witnessed all that happened.  So God prepared witnesses for his miraculous work of regeneration.  The eunuch was reading about Jesus and was already asking the right questions.  He was predisposed to believe what Philip told him.  And the Lord arranged that there was a good place to apply baptism to this new believer.  When on a journey through arid regions you guard your water supply, taking advantage of such places to water the livestock and people.  Whether the baptism is by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling (and it is not clear, it is simply clear that they didn't use the drinking water supply carried by people, which could be suicidal, and that they went down rather than up to find water, which follows the laws of physics), we know that the eunuch stopped his progress to be baptized and that it was important enough to stop his progress almost right away.

 

Having God's name and promises applied to us is critical.  The apostles are commanded to baptize people.  We should treat this sacrament as it is - God's very command and promise.  The Ethiopian eunuch seemed to understand it. 

 

 

Lectionary for 6/26/08

Today's readings are Joshua 1.1-18 ( http://www.officesupplyoutfitters.com/dcp7020.html ) and Acts 8.1-25 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+8.1-25 ).

 

In the beginning of Acts 8 we see that a persecution falls upon the Christians in Jerusalem.  What is our reaction when decidedly bad things happen?  To recap the situation, the believers are persecuted, Christians other than the apostles flee to different areas, bringing the message of the Gospel with them.  The apostles remain in Jerusalem.  I think, though it doesn't state it outright, we can safely assume that the apostles weren't the only Christians who remained at Jerusalem, but that many fled and many stayed.

 

We could say the persecution was actually a good thing because it spread the Gospel.  But persecution is never good.  We could say that the persecution is something which is bad and which God tried to thwart.  But God is able to protect his people against evil. 

 

One of the keys to understanding this passage and the many evil things that happen in this world is that God can and does use evil things to accomplish good.  In a like manner, we can't say Jesus' death, or anyone's death, is good.  Death is bad.  But God can use that bad to accomplish good. 

 

We should be hesitant to say that God is the one bringing evil upon us.  The Bible shows evil people acting in evil ways and doing it of their own accord.  We should be hesitant to say that we understand why we are enduring evil.  We really don't know, though the ultimate reason is that God is going to use the evil to accomplish his good purpose somewhere and somehow.

 

But let us be confident in this.  As God commissioned Joshua at the beginning of our Old Testament reading, to lead the people and endure hardship in order to reach the victory God is giving to Israel, he also commissions us to live our lives in obedience to Christ's command, to endure hardship, and to reach the victory of our heavenly home through faith in Jesus.

 

Lectionary for 6/25/2008

Today's readings are Proverbs 31.10-31 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+31.10-31 ) and John 21.1-25 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+21.1-25 ).

 

Today we see the disciples after the resurrection returning to their work.  Peter realized his responsibility to his family and his community so returned to his former way of life, which was honorable and just. 

 

How do we respond after Christian experiences which we would consider "mountaintop" or "valley" times?  Jesus has given each of us many vocations, callings, in our daily lives.  For instance, I have a vocation as a husband, as a father, as a neighbor, as a leader in my local church, as an employee, as a supervisor of other employees, as a citizen, and as many other things.  Almost everything I do is somehow related to one or more of these callings the Lord has placed upon me.  They aren't mutually exclusive (I'm law-abiding as an employee, citizen, and for the sake of all the people I try to model godliness for).  And in my various vocations, the Lord has given me, and all of us, standing orders of what to do.  All husbands, regardless of their source of income, their zip code, or hair style of preference, are called to love their wives, leading them and laying down their lives for them as Christ did for His Church.  But regardless of the mountaintop or valley we are or have experienced, we are to fulfill our callings.  Are you discouraged in life?  Love your wife.  Are you rejoicing?  Love your wife.  Are you worried about finances?  Love your wife.  Same response.

 

Peter goes back to work.  Several other disciples resume their lives and work as well.  Were they being disobedient to the Lord?  No.  But Jesus came to them and gave them revised directions.  What if they had returned to their business after Jesus sent them to do other work?  Then they would be disobedient.

 

The bottom line - take the work the Lord has put before you.  Do it with all your heart, to the best of your ability, and fulfill your calling before Christ.  Whatever that calling, it is noble.

 

 

 

 

Lectionary for 6/24/08

Today's readings are Proverbs 30.1-9 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+30.1-9 ), Proverbs 30.18-33 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+30.18-33 ), and John 20.1-31 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+20.1-31 ).

 

In Proverbs 30.1-4 we see some true wisdom and discernment.  How often we think we are intelligent, wise and discerning but in fact we are not.  The words of Agur here show us to be like a toddler toddling around saying, "Me big, no baby."  As we grow in wisdom we start seeing our inability.  As we grow in godliness we start seeing our sin.  As we grow in grace we see that we are not gracious.

 

Let us thank the Lord that he grants us eyes to see the great distinction between man and God.  Let us likewise thank the Lord that he is in the business of reconciling a people to himself, changed into his image.

 

 

 

Lectionary for 6/22/08

Today's readings are Proverbs 25.1-22 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+25.1-22 ), John 19.23-42 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+19.23-42 ) and Proverbs 26.1-28 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+26.1-28 ).

 

Proverbs 25.2 (ESV) "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out."  Original researchers are amazing.  Isn't it fascinating that someone can take a look inside a cell just to see what's in there?  Isn't it amazing that someone would think of decoding DNA to find out where genetic predispositions might be found?  How about the people who decided to classify minerals by the way they broke when you whacked them with a hammer?  This verse has been used to justify original research, government funded research, the government's role in education, all sorts of things.  And it is wonderful to see what human inquiry gives us.  If it weren't for inquiring people we would not have the benefit of a good deal of technology that is decidedly good for us.  A simple example - corrective eyewear.  How many of us have glasses or contacts?  Lots and lots of us.  Isn't it nice to be able to see things clearly at a distance by putting on glasses?  Or to see things close to you clearly by putting on glasses?  Who would have thought of this?  Someone who searched things out.

 

Yet there's something much more important in this proverb.  While we are all certainly pleased by searching things out, that is not what the author is getting at.  His main point is that God, the one who is infinitely greater than the kings, is the one who conceals things.  And what God conceals, the kings can't search out.  He has concealed some things that the natural mind will never search out.  How is this played out in the Scripture?  Look at all the times God chooses the weaker over the stronger, the younger over the older, the insignificant over the significant.  See how God promises an inheritance and innumerable offspring to an elderly nomad who is childless.  See how God sends a Messiah who comes and lays down his life, dying instead of doing what kings normally do.  "It is the glory of God to conceal things."  "What must we do to be saved?"  Really, nothing.  You've already "done" it, if it can be termed as doing anything at all, because you wouldn't ask if you hadn't already repented and believed.  How can I grow in godliness?  Well, that's like a tree asking how it can grow.  It doesn't do anything.  It just follows its nature.  God has concealed all the riches of salvation in a way that we will never search out.  Without the living Word of God acting in our lives we will never ever figure out that losing is winning, dying to self is taking up the life Christ has for us, that we find our life by losing it, and that we in fact can do nothing that accomplishes any merit in the eyes of God.

 

The rulers of this world may strive, the scientists may study, the economists may make their theories, the engineers may try their hand at unravelling the mysteries of how creation works.  But they will not find that which God has concealed except as it is revealed to them in Christ.  "It is the glory of God to conceal things" and he has revealed to us all that we need for life and godliness in these last days through Jesus, the living Word. May we see this revelation clearly.

 

 

 

Lectionary for 6/21/08

Today's readings are Proverbs 24.1-22 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+24.1-22 ) and John 19.1-22 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+19.1-22 ).

 

Look at Pilate for a moment.  See how John portrays him as attempting to release Jesus and to hold the Jews accountable for Jesus' death.  Though history portrays Pilate as a governor of only moderate competency - that's how a Roman governor ends up assigned to the Middle East - with a speckled record of keeping the peace wherever he went, we get the idea from John's portrayal of his efforts that he is at least making an attempt to do the right thing.  He is unsure whether Jesus should in fact be put to death.  He is unsure whether Jesus is guilty of any crime against the Roman government.  He is unsure whether Jesus has been rightly characterized to him.  When he hears Jesus is making a claim at deity, he realizes that it is possible, just possible, that there is something to the accusations, but that it is something he does not want to deal with.  Let the religious fanatics be put to death by the other religious fanatics.

 

All the while we realize Jesus has a greater and deeper purpose.  He is intending to come and die to redeem a people to himself.  He is intending to fulfill prophecy as he dies, the lamb of God slain for the sins of the world.  Jesus does what he does to accomplish his purpose, a purpose which thwarts both the plans of Pilate and, ultimately, the plans of the Jewish leaders.

 

May the death of Christ thwart our plans, plans bent toward sin.  May our Lord and Savior draw us close in his arms, showing us that the pain he suffered was for us.

 

 

 

Lectionary for 6/19/08

Today's readings are Proverbs 22.1-21 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+22.1-21 ) and John 18.1-14 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+18.1-14 ).

 

As we look at the arrest of Jesus we see a very odd situation.  While reading John 18 with some students this year I looked up the term which the ESV translates "band" of soldiers.  As with most military terms, it is a rather specific one.  The force of soldiers Judas brought with him, in addition to the temple guards, was a group of about 600 men. Over six hundred men to arrest one man?  At night?  What were they expecting?  Maybe they expected Jesus and his disciples to be armed?  Maybe they expected them to resist arrest?  Yet outnumbering the people you are planning to arrest 50:1 seems excessive.  Those soldiers, unarmed, could apprehend even well armed and trained opponents with that ratio.  And here the soldiers were armed and trained.  Peter pulled a sword out from somewhere, but seems to have used it approximately as a fisherman would, attacking a servant and not a real soldier. 

 

Jesus in fact does not resist arrest.  This is a show of his power and authority.  Jesus knew they would come to arrest him.  He knew that his purpose would be accomplished by being put to death.  He was ready to do so out of his love for you and for me.  Jesus, the mighty God, came to bear our sin so we would not have to bear it ourselves.  He, alone, is more powerful than the hundreds of men who came to arrest him, for he conquered sin and death through his death, something all the people in the world will not overcome through their lives or deaths.  And he goes willingly, considering the shame of the cross and the pain of death less important than redeeming your life.

 

Rejoice!  When everyone else was sleeping, Jesus was praying that the Father's will might be done, though it would cost him his life.  While we were yet dead in sin (a sort of sleep), Jesus gave himself over for us.  They probably could have sent one officer to come get Jesus.  If the disciples had let him in, Jesus would have gone.  It is God's good will to redeem the world to himself in Christ.

Lectionary for 6/17/2008

Today's readings are Proverbs 17.1-28 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+17.1-28 ), John 16.17-33 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+16.17-33 ), and Proverbs 18.1-20.4 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+18.1-20.4 ).

 

A few days ago I had a visitor for lunch.  This visitor made a complaint about the lunch he was served.  He reminded me specifically of Proverbs 17.1.  Lest you misunderstand, I'll quote my visitor.  "My brother, this bread doesn't seem dry and crumbly."  For some years we have joked that he could come over any time and we would share with him what we had.  He has quoted Proverbs 17.1 and accepted the invitations graciously.  Our friendship has grown as we have talked about many issues - church governance, child rearing, education, and theology to name a few.  This visit was no different.  But I had joked about putting some bread out to dry for him since he seemed to like those "dry morsels."  I even meant to do so and present him with a napkin containing an inedible piece of bread while giving everyone else a nicer lunch.  But I had neglected to prepare adequately.

 

Would you rather have a simple meal with those you love and trust and who love and trust you?  I would.

 

Jesus calls us to a very simple meal.  Just some bread and wine there.  And Jesus is there with us too.  Let us not despise the simplicity of God's provision in Christ.  Let us rather enjoy the fellowship and love we receive by the good pleasure of our heavenly Master.

 

 

 

Lectionary for 6/16/08

Today's readings are Proverbs 16.1-24 (http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+16.1-24 ) and John 16.1-16 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+16.1-16 ).

 

At the outset of John 16, Jesus tells why he has told the disciples what he told them at the end of chapter 15.  So let's turn a page back and remember what Jesus has just been telling the disciples . . . people will hate them and persecute them because they hated God first, but believers will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, the Helper Jesus will send and who proceeds from the Father.

 

Now, why did Jesus tell the disciples all he told them?  To strengthen them and keep them from falling away.  Jesus here presents the very real possibility that true believers will face persecution, specifically physical and societal threats (being killed or cast out of the synagogue), and will depart from their faith in Jesus in order to protect their physical and social well-being.  Jesus encourages his people to trust in him and his provision, not to fear those who can disrupt their earthly lives.

 

There are a few aspects of this brief paragraph which I think are very important.  First, it is a very real possibility that genuine Christians may depart from the faith when facing persecution.  I was speaking about this with two Calvinists a few days ago, both people whom I respect greatly, people with what appears to be a deep-seated trust in Christ and assurance of his love for them.  As I understood the conversation I had with these friends, people who depart from the faith were not believers to begin with.  While that point of view protects the Calvinist's high regard for the effectiveness of Christ's salvation - he will guard all genuine believers forever - it does not seem to fit in with what Jesus says here.  Jesus, though he is certainly able to keep his people secure in  him, allows people to flee from their trust in him and depart from the faith.  He warns against it.  He provides teaching about the ultimate safety of the believer.  He provides the Holy Spirit to encourage and confirm believers.  But believers appear quite able to depart from their faith.

 

A second aspect which is important to realize in reading the beginning of John 16 is that unbelievers, by and large, think they are doing the right thing by rejecting Christ and his people.  They do not understand the way our Lord works salvation.  They do not understand God's love in Christ the suffering servant.  They don't understand the glory of laying down your own life, hopes, dreams, and future to receive that which Jesus has prepared for you.  God's kingdom is counter-intuitive.  We cannot expect that everyone will fear, love and trust God in Christ.  This is one of the reasons I think a seeker-sensitive church growth model of ministry is dangerous.  It approaches life and ministry with an attitude that says the world will understand Jesus, embrace him, and follow him if we present him in terms they are already predisposed to accept.  Yet these terms run counter to the nature of God.  Let God be God and every man a liar!

 

The final aspect of this passage which I'd like to mention is, in my opinion, the most important.  However, I'll treat it in the briefest of terms because it is readily understandable.  God in Christ has seen our future.  He knows our dangers.  He knows the struggles we will face.  He has acted in time and space to protect us and carry us through those struggles.  When we face discouragement and doubt in our lives, or if we face genuine threats to our life and well being, we can know that our Lord understands and has provided his grace for us.  He has spoken in advance to protect us from the trials to come.  Let us rejoice that our Lord knows our frailty and has anticipated all that will come upon us.  Let us look to him in his resurrection, trusting that he has indeed overcome the world.  By faith, we will overcome the world as well.

 

 

 

Lectionary for 6/14/08

Today's readings are Proverbs 14.1-7 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+14.1-27 ) and John 15.1-11 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+15.1-11 ). 

 

Jesus the carpenter makes some interesting agrarian statements.  Some of them are quite counter-intuitive, such as his parable of the weeds, where the weeds should be allowed to grow alongside the grain.  Some of them, however, are completely in synch with normal agricultural practice, and this is one of them.  When caring for plants, nearly any kind of plant, regular trimming is one of the more important ways of shaping the plant and encouraging its growth.  I have a bush in my yard which has a thin place in it for some reason.  Yesterday (really, I did this) I trimmed that bush and particularly paid attention to the areas around the thin place, trimming the branches near it even if they weren't very long.  Those branches will become more bushy and the little trimming will stimulate their growth.  The thin place should fill in.

 

God the vine-dresser prunes our branches.  Unproductive habits, relationships we should not develop, desires we have and which don't bring him honor, all are subject to the pruning of God.  Unlike the plants, we are quite aware of God's pruning and don't like it.  We shy away from God's glorious activity in our lives.  This ought not to be.  God is doing it for our good and for his glory.  Let us rather embrace God's good work in our lives, knowing that he will bring much fruit out of it.

 

 

Lectionary for 6/13/08

Today's readings are Proverbs 13.1-25 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+13.1-25 ) and John 14.18-31 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+14.18-31 ).

 

Are we guilty of saying, "when Jesus was with the disciples" as if he is no longer with his disciples?  I expect nearly all of us have taken that attitude.  If only Jesus were here, he'd know what to do, so we would too.  But what is Jesus' promise in John 14.18 and following?  Jesus promises that he will be with his people, that he brings life, understanding, rejoicing, and confidence.  Jesus promises that in fact he is not bound by evil but has overcome.

 

Truly Jesus is with his disciples.  Since the ascension he has never left us.  Jesus is present with those who believe.  Let us therefore take confidence in his presence and the validity of all his promises.  Let us rejoice in our Lord who has triumphed over sin and death.  Let us seek out Jesus, the living Word of God who brings wisdom and understanding (the Greek word for "word" also means account or reckoning and hence orderly understanding).  Let us look to Jesus, the way, the life and the truth.  Let us walk in the presence of the living Lord who has promised that he will be with us always.  We are not alone.

 

 

 

Lectionary for 6/12/08

Today's readings are Proverbs 10.1-23 (   http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+10.1-23 ), John 14.1-17 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+14.1-17 ), and Proverbs 11.12-28 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+11.1-12.28 ). 

 

What is the way to heaven?  How do we reach that secure eternal home?  What must we do to be saved? I observe today that Jesus' statements in John 14.1-7 run counter to my expectations and typical desires.  I expect they ran counter to the expectations of his disciples with him as well.  "Jesus, how do we know God?"  "You know me, don't you?"  Maybe we don't know Jesus very well.  While Jesus goes ahead and does all that is needed to bring us into eternal safety and reconciliation with God, we want to know what we need to do.  While we sing "Jesus paid it all" we think about what we can do to keep him from bearing the responsibility for our salvation.  When we are told to believe the Gospel, we want to know how we can show that belief and whether we are believing well enough.  Maybe we don't know Jesus very well at all.

 

Believe that the Lord has taken our sin.  Believe that the Lord has conquered sin, death, and hell on our behalf.  Believe that the Lord has redeemed a people for himself.  Believe that he is preparing a heavenly home for his people, so he may be the firstborn among many brothers.  Believe that he will accomplish all he has said.  Salvation is of the Lord, not of us.  Believe it.  Live in light of that belief - confidently knowing that Jesus is indeed the author and finisher of our faith.  Believe that when we fail to live like believers, Jesus is there to forgive and restore us.  Just believe.  That's all.  The rest will work itself out.

 

 

Lectionary for 6/11/08

Today's readings are from Proverbs 9.1-18 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+9.1-18 ) and John 13.21-38 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13.21-38 ).

 

The Athanasian Creed talks in detail about the divine and human natures of Christ being "unconfused" or "unmixed."  We may be seeing an example of this unconfusion of the divine and human nature at the beginning of our passage in John.  As Jesus looks around at his disciples he becomes troubled.  It seems that he is realizing that he will be betrayed and that it will be by one of them.  He may even be startled with the realization that Judas is the one who will betray him.  In his perfect and true humanity, Jesus knows things exactly the way you and I know them.  He is informed by Scripture, he makes observations, and may occasionally get impressions in prayer which lead him to consider particular facets of his world and statements of God in Scripture more seriously.  Here, our Lord and Savior who is FULLY HUMAN experiences the same kind of devastating realization many people have experienced over the years.  Things are not looking good.  My situation is turning sour.  This is going to hurt.  And what will hurt most is the fact that I wll be betrayed by a trusted friend.

 

Have you experienced disappointment?  Have you been betrayed by friends, family members, co-workers, employers, even spiritual leaders?  Jesus has experienced the same disappointment.  And he did not experience it as some sort of Superman with resources that you do not have.  He experienced it in his bodily life on this earth, fully human at the same time that he is fully divine.  His nature is not confused.  He is not God with a little man mixed in.  He is not some sort of super human person with a mixture of a bit of God.  He is indeed fully divine and fully human.  There is no intermingling.  Jesus, the true man, the Son of Adam, has been where you are.  Jesus, the divine Son of God has taken on your sin and grief, bearing death in your place and rising victorious over all your struggles.  Though we are confused in our single nature, Jesus is unconfused in his dual nature.  We can surely trust hm and cling to him for help and hope.

 

Lectionary for 6/10/2008

Today's readings are Proverbs 8.22-36 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+8.22-36 ) and John 13.1-20 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13.1-20 ).

 

In our reading from John's Gospel we see that Jesus loved the disciples to the end.  What does this mean?  Look at the text and see how John shows Jesus loving the disciples to the end.  He lays aside his dignity and station to serve the disciples, including the one who will betray him.  He reminds them through Peter that his cleansing is adequate for them.  He gives the disciples an ongoing ministry of serving one another and, by extension, serving other believers as well.  He promises that he is really received by those who receive his disciples bearing his word.

 

Surely Jesus is with us when we are faithful to his word.  Let us wash one another's feet, refresh one another, care for one another.  This is the ministry Jesus has given every believer in the world, to testify to his care for his people.