Sept 22 - Jeremiah 49:16

The terror you inspire

and the pride of your heart

have deceived you ...

Jeremiah 49:16

Jeremiah was preaching the word of God in a historical context.

First, the people of Israel were very rebellious. God's message was constantly, "Repent ... or I will remove my hand of protection."

Second, Israel was surrounded by very real enemies. In this verse, they're threatening neighbors are the Moabites. (By the way, I like the ominous way that Siri translated "Moabites" for me – "mower bikes." Just imagine a menacing gang on fast flying motorcycles with chomping mowers on the front. Yikes.)

But I guess Siri knows best, because that's how the Moabites were viewed - viewed by the Israelites, and viewed in their own imaginations of their own hearts. Thus God, through the prophet, says this to them: "The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you ..."

They traded on creating fear. People do that still today. From the bully in the lunch room to the rogue nation with nuclear codes, someone is always trying to seek an advantage by instilling fear.

But… "the pride of [the wicked] [keeps] deceiv[ing them]." God is the great equalizer. Evil will not succeed forever. Listen to the end of this verse ...

"Though you build your nest

as high as the eagle’s,

from there I will bring you down"

declares the Lord.

God allows free will – which means God allows bullying and occasional evil. But evil does not have the last laugh. We cannot run far enough nor climb high enough (like an eagle) to escape  God's ultimate judgment and the restoration of right.

Do you have enemies? (Hopefully not mower bikes!) Don't worry. God has a plan to restore you in the end! And in the meantime, he Will always stand beside you to comfort, encourage, and hold you.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants the patent

for the first Mower Bike

Sept 21 - Psalm 31:15

My times are in Your hand;

Deliver me from the hand

of my enemies and from

those who persecute me.

Psalm 31:15

Think quick ... when I say "two hands," what are you envisioning?

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking about my hands. A left and a right. (And in my case, the left being much more skilled.)

Maybe you thought about two hands offered in friendship - thus, hands shaking in the warmth of a greeting.

Did any of you think about two hands grasped tightly, angrily? Perhaps like two competitors arm wrestling? And what if those two hands are grappling in a fierce and mortal combat?

Those are the two kinds of hands that today's verse talks about. One hand is the hand of an enemy. It is persecuting us. Threatening even to slay us. "Deliver me," cries the Psalmist, "from the hand of my enemies."

Some hands are clenched in anger, threatening violence. But other hands reach out with compassion. They help. They comfort. They save. That's how the Psalmist views God. Not only does our Lord bless us and keep us each day, but our entire lives (our very "times") are in his hands ... if we desire that to be the case.

Have you ever watched a child try to squirm out of a parent's loving hands? Have you ever watched a confused teen run into the arms of trouble and temptation? The disposition of our heart does nothing to change God's loving care or evil's dark intent, but it constantly changes what and how we experience life.

Avoid the hands and temptations that want to do you in ...

And place yourself, instead, in God's loving embrace.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who has better

insurance than even

AllState can provide

(I'm in good hands

with God who's Great)

Sept 20 - Jeremiah 18:14-15

Do the gushing waters dry up
that flow fresh down the mountains;

Yet my people have forgotten me:

they offer incense in vain.

Jeremiah 18:14-15

What do you take for granted?

Bread always being on the grocery store shelves? The simple ability to walk to the mailbox? The freedom to worship? How about the love of your mom?

These things are always there. Steady. Constant. Dependable. Therefore, we take them for granted ... until a snowstorm comes and there's a run on bread ... until our knee gives out and it's nearly impossible to walk ... until mom succumbs to cancer and we're left with a massive whole in our heart. 

The prophet today talks about things people in Israel took for granted: streams of water. In a desert culture, it seemed to too many in Israel that they never really had to worry -- the gushing waters [would always] flow fresh down the mountains[, right]?" 

We can always credit nature for -- the beginning of verse 14 -- "the snow ... from the mountaintops of Lebanon" whose melt and run-off will always provide for us, right? Nature is dependable, isn't it? It will never "14 desert" or disappoint us, right?

And what? ... did you hear it? ... in those statements, we are taking God for granted! Ultimately it is he that provides the "mountains" and the "snow" and the "gushing waters." Bread doesn't come from grocery stores or bakers, it comes from the sun and rain and soil that God ultimately provides. Our ability to walk to the mailbox comes from our life that God provides. Love isn't a human invention; it comes from God who is love. And the love of a loving mother is ultimately a beautiful reflection of our heavenly parent. 

Do you see it? 

1. God provides. 

2. We continually take it for granted. 

And sadly, when we do, the final sentence in today's verse begins to come true. God -- through the prophet -- laments, "my people have forgotten me." 

When we take things for granted and forget the unseen hand behind every good gift, it's a subtle -- but gradually growing -- form of forsaking God. Take a moment today to look for God behind every blessing. 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who takes for

granted the smart phone

on which he writes

these devotions.

Yet I become dependent

on stuff. But didn’t people

worship -- generally

more freely -- without

so much stuff? Hmm.

Sept 19 - Luther's Morning Prayer - Small Catechism

Luther’s Morning Prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father,

through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son,

that You have kept me this night

from all harm and danger; and

I pray that You would keep me

this day also from sin and every evil,

that all my doings and life

may please You.

For into Your hands I commend myself,

my body and soul, and all things.

Let Your holy angel be with me, that

the evil foe may have no power over me.

Amen.

October 31 of this year is the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther posting "The 95 Thesis" on the door of the Wittenberg Church ... thus sparking the Protestant Reformation. One of Luther's passions was equipping average people with a knowledge of God and the tools to grow in faith. Thus, he wrote a short simple course on the Christian faith, called the Small Catechism. 

This Fall at Spirit of Joy we're analyzing pieces of the Small Catechism and focusing on basic tools and doctrines of the Christian faith. Last Sunday, we focused on Luther's Morning Prayer. 

I should have printed and handed out this prayer to you on Sunday Morning! Since I didn’t, I do it here (along with the quick commentary I offered.) In the Small Catechism, Luther wrote ...

·       In the morning when you get up, make the sign of the holy cross and say: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

·       Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord's Prayer (or, I'll add, read a devotional book or a chapter in Scripture. Grab a cup of coffee, head to porch, and intentionally sit in God's presence. Now, you don't legalistically have to do your devotional time first thing in the morning; however, there's something powerful and transformative about dedicating your day to God before charging out into it.)

·       Then, if you choose, you may also say this little prayer: (see above)

·       Then go joyfully to your work, singing a hymn ... [based on] whatever your devotion may suggest.

Now, you can say this prayer word-for-word. That can indeed be a wonderful discipline. But you can also use this as a pattern for prayer. For example, in Sunday's sermon, I suggested several categories worth acknowledging each new day:

·       I thank You, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son ... Start with THANKSGIVING. Thankfulness is an attitude of worship that lifts our hearts above our own accomplishments. And what what should we thank God for? By listing Father and Son, the Trinitarian roles of each should give us a clue. We think Father-Creator for the gift of life, the wonder of the world, and the gift of a new day. We thank the Son-Redeemer for the gift of forgiveness that leads to eternal life.

·       that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger How often do we take for granted God's PROTECTION? We woke up this morning! Thank him. But more than that, we hope to make it through this upcoming day. Ask for his care over your life and your family.

·       and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil. Next is PROVISION. God "keep me" in the palm of your hand, provide for my every need. And when praying for God to, essentially, lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil, part of the protection that we are praying for – and hoping to put on - is the FULL ARMOR OF GOD. 

·       that all my doings and life may please You OBEDIENCE is the simplest way to please God! Follow his precepts, do his will, obey his commandments, listen for the Spirit's prompting and obey. That brings joy to God, blesses our daily life, and makes a huge impact in the Kingdom. 

·       For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Are you willing to give God everything? Are you willing to TRUST and ENTRUST him with everything? Yes, we need to commend and commit our entire lives to God … but it starts with the daily commitment. We need to commend this a day to him! 

·       Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. The last part of Luther's Morning Prayer reminds us that we are about to set forth into battle. Our day will be filled with SPIRITUAL WARFARE. As Luther's old song sings, "that old Satan foe has sworn to work us woe." Therefore, we ask God's holy angels to have charge of us! We pray for God himself to fight on our side. We are not alone!

I urge you to take a moment to pray Luther's prayer Word for Word today. And then to pray through the pattern with each major theme. And may you have a blessed and holy day!

In Christ's Love,

a guy who was greeted on the way

out of church last Sunday, by a family

who daily uses Luther's morning

and evening prayers with their family.

And you can see the fruits that

it's working in the lives of their children!

Sept 18 - 1 Thessalonians 5:6

So then let us not fall asleep

as others do, but let us

keep awake and be sober

1 Thessalonians 5:6

The Apostle Paul asks us to consider two pairs of words today: "keep awake" and "be sober."

Sobriety is continually urged throughout the Scriptures. It's in lots of scriptural lists as one of the sins that draw us from God. For example, in Ephesians 5:18 Paul warns, "do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit." Thus, while "sober" is absolutely the word Paul used here, he's not really talking about drinking in this context.

This is reflected in other English translations. They tend to render this word as "serious," "self-controlled," "calm," "collected," and "circumspect." Clearly, none of us are fully any of these things when we are drunk! Thus, Paul is urging us to be sober even when we're sober!

But that's the least significant of these two pairs of words. "Keep awake" is the more pressing call.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed, even as Judas was leading the soldiers to the garden, Jesus asked a few of his disciples to keep awake and pray while he went a few steps away to pray himself. They couldn't. They didn't. The spirit was willing, but the flash was weak.

And one of Jesus parables, he told about five wise and five foolish bridesmaids waiting for the groom to come. Five were wise - they kept their lamps trimmed and they stayed awake. Five for foolish, dozing they were not ready for the Messiah.

Each day, we can choose to be awake and attentive to the movements of God. Or we can be foolish and slumbering. Missing his presence. Inattentive to word. Blind to his will.

Paul is urging us to not only wake up, but to not fall asleep in the first place. To be attentive. Listening. Curious. Hungry. Focused.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants

some spiritual caffeine

Sent from my iPhone

Sept 16-17 - Acts 26:22

God has helped me

to this very day.

Acts 26:22

By the end of Acts, Paul - who once persecuted the church - had been ministering to the Gentiles for roughly two decades. After much traveling and preaching, he'd been warned not to return to Jerusalem. Agabus was even given a word of prophecy and he warned Paul that a final trip to Jerusalem would lead to his imprisonment.

Paul went anyway, of course. And he was arrested, of course. And he, of course used his imprisonment to testify to God's love for both Jews and Gentiles through the Messiah, Jesus Christ. And part of that testimony - with many stories - was how God repeatedly showed up, blessing his own life and ministry. "God has helped me to this very day," he said.

What are your stories. How has God helped you in your life?

It's good to rehearse those stories. It will buoy your spirit, giving you strength and encouragement whenever the clouds in life seem to grow dark. But, like Paul, your stories of God's blessings are also designed to be a testimony to others. Indeed, how are using God's goodness in your life as a testimony to a hurting world?

In Christ's Love,

a guy who has been

very, very, very blessed

... but that's not why

I tell the story.

I tell the story of Jesus

simply because he's

Lord and King

Sept 14 - Colossians 2:14

[Christ]

canceled the charge

of our legal indebtedness,

which stood against us

and condemned us;

he has taken it away,

nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:14

 

I’m a pretty careful driver. I’ve only gotten on ticket in my life! It occurred when one day I didn’t see a stop sign. Thus, I absolutely blew through it.

 

Because I didn’t want points on my license and the increased insurance cost, I went to court. I asked for a “Prayer for Judgment Continued.” I don’t know if this plea is still on the books, but they essentially suspend the charge, and as long as you didn’t get another ticket in the next three years, the charge would disappear. No points. No penalty. It’s wiped clean.

 

In some ways, that’s like what Jesus Christ does for us. We have a “legal indebtedness.” All of us sin. All of us fall short of God’s glorious standard. These charges continually “st[and] against us.” These charges eternally “condemn[] us.” But Jesus has totally “canceled the[se] charges.” He’s paid our fine. He’s served our penalty – which was a death penalty. Indeed, he’s “taken [our guilt] away [by] nailing it to the cross.”

 

We need a Prayer for Judgment Continued. But not a conditional pardon like traffic court offered me! We will all sin again and again. We’ll keep getting multiple ticket. Fortunately, God’s kind of grace unconditionally wipes the debts we confess free.

 

Show up to God’s court. And don’t plead the Fifth. Plead the 2:14^th. And trust that the Savior is nailing your “legal indebtedness … to the cross.”

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who needs to

start thinking of the cross with

all kinds papers fluttering all over it

(They’re the legal charges

against my soul, and they’re

all stamped: Debt Canceled.)

 

 

 

 

Sept 13 - Micah 7:18

Who is a God like you,

who pardons sin and

forgives the transgression of

the remnant of his inheritance?

You do not stay angry forever

but delight to show mercy.

Micah 7:18

When the Apostle Paul preached in Athens - see Acts17 - he toured the city and was appalled by the hundreds of idols dedicated to almost every kind of pagan god imaginable. Appalled? Yes. And yet, he used their polytheism (many gods) to his advantage.

Seeing a statue dedicated to an unknown god, he said essentially, "What you proclaim as unknown I proclaim to you as known. The God who created everything, doesn't need to live in idols created by human hands."

This passage from Micah is very similar. When the prophet says, "Who is a God like you," Micah - whose name means, "who is like Yahweh" - isn't polytheisticly wondering which of many gods is like Yahweh. Rather, he is using the people's polytheism to his advantage.

He is saying essentially, if you're going to believe in some sort of god, why don't you believe in one "who pardons sin and forgives ... transgression ...?" Why don't you trust in the God who "do[es] not stay angry forever but delight[s] to show mercy"?

"Pardon" and "forgiveness" and a heart that "delights" in "mercy" rather than "anger." That is our God, proclaims the prophet, subtly imploring, "Why would you need another?"

Why would YOU need another?

Why would you need another priority, another truth, any worldly hope, any temporal security? As Elijah once said to God's people, 1 Kings 18:21, "'How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal [or essentially any other priority on earth can deliver], then follow him.' [But] the people did not answer him a word."

Today is your day to answer. Why would you ever need another priority?

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants "eternal delight"

(By the way wouldn't “eternal delight”

be a good name for a decadent

high calorie dessert?

(Oops. Do you see how easily

we get confused and seduced?

I'm hungry already!)

Sept 12 - Isaiah 63:15

Lord, look upon us

from heaven, where you live

in your holiness and glory.

Where is your great concern for us?

Where is your power? Where are

your love and compassion?

Do not ignore us.

Isaiah 63:15

Sometimes I picture creation like a two story house. Earth is the first floor. Heaven is upstairs.

And what's between heaven and earth? Let's call it a barrier, ceiling.

Well, sometimes the thickness of the ceiling seems thin. Have you ever had wonderful seasons like that? We can not only hear distinct thumpings from above, but God seems so very real.

Other times, however, doesn't the ceiling seems a hundred feet thick and hasn't God seemed so far away.

I hope you've experienced those seasons when the ceiling seems thin and God's presence feels fresh and new. But I'm also guessing that you've experienced times when the ceiling seems so thick that you're not even sure there is a second story.

Have you ever been there? Have your prayers ever seemed to just bounce helplessly off the cold ceiling and fall back to earth. Have you ever cried like Isaiah in today's verse? "Lord, look down from where you live. Father, pay attention to my desperate cry. God, don't you know that I am struggling?"

Yes, have you ever cried for help? Isaiah sometimes, too, felt like God was a million miles away? "Lord ... where is your great concern for us? Where is your power? Where are your love and compassion? Do not ignore us."

And in that cry is our model for help: Be like a prophet. Do cry. Indeed, keep crying. And don't give up.

Indeed, Isaiah didn't give up. He kept crying.  And … he got to see the deliverance of God! Israel was restored.

When you seek restoration, hope, forgiveness, joy, and peace, keep crying, trusting that the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you. Yes, there are times when the ceiling definitely seems thick, but God has big ears and an even bigger heart.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who liked the vent

in his grandmother's ceiling

(As grandkids, we thought

we could get away with

going to the second floor

and sneaking open the vent

and spying on the family room

- and adults - from above.

But we always learned,

- always instantly - that

we couldn't fool grandma!)

Sept 11 - Gen 3:8

The man and his wife hid

themselves from the

presence of the Lord God.

Genesis 3:8

Genesis 1 is the story of creation, and it was good, good, and very good.

Genesis 2 was very good too. It was a glorious garden - Eden - and the final triumphant words of this (scripture's second chapter) are "not ashamed." (Because there was no sin, things were very good and there was nothing to be ashamed about!)

Scripture is giving us a picture of what this unashamedness looks like. It's answered by one word: "Naked."

Now, here's the question: Why do we cover up?

Let's start with physical nakedness. Most cover up because we're less than thrilled with parts of our body! But why? Animals don't cover up, but humans do. So why? It's because of sin. People judge; therefore, we're wary of the judgment - and constant evaluation - of others. We cover up ... fearfully ... protectively ... because of sin.

We also cover up our physical nakedness because of another sin: Lust. To be blunt and earthy - but for a theological reason - dogs don't cover up. Indeed, a female dog in heat may have encounters by many, many male dogs. This is normal. We don’t think much of it. And unless we over-anthropomorphize our dogs, we don't cover them up. This is nature.

So why do we cover up human nakedness? It's because we're not dogs. There's something sacred about human sexuality. It’s designed into us by the creator. Therefore, we cover up a woman because she’s sacred (and to protect her from unwelcome lustful advances). We cover her up to protect the man from lusting in his heart and violating God's intent for human sexuality only within the sanctity of marriage.

Therefore, without sin - without self-consciousness, judgment, lust, and (old word) fornication - nakedness would be God's holy ideal. Indeed, without sin, there's no need for any barriers between people. (And clothing is a cloth barrier.) And there are other kinds of nakedness that God intended for humans to enjoy. But because of anger, betrayal, cheating, lies, and pain, people put walls and barriers between themselves and others. We are too rarely emotionally naked and psychologically naked. We don't share our fears and our dreams because we're afraid we'll be belittled and judged.

Thus, because of sin, we live in a world of walls. We put barriers between ourselves and others because we've been hurt and don't fully trust.

We also put walls between us and God. That's what today's passage is all about. And it's all about trust. We're ashamed. That's what sin does. We're guilty, and we know it. We lie, cheat, steal, and have doubts. And because we anthropromorphize God, we can't fully trust. We can't believe he's more loving than a nice human. We can't comprehend that he's as forgiving as the father in the parable of the prodigal son. Therefore, we try to hide from God all of our faults and fears ... because we're afraid we'll be judged.

We also try to hide from him, because we simply want to do what we want to do. We’re self-centered. Greedy. Lustful. Deceptive. Therefore, we fool ourselves into thinking that if we don't really admit our sins, God won't really see our wantonness and betrayals. Like in the Wizard of Oz, we're trying to fool God, calling, "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

Well, guess what: The man behind the curtain -- each of us -- is naked. And God sees it all. And yet he still loves. Yes, he continually grieves … as sin continually hurts us and others. Tremendously. Therefore, he implores us to repent. Confession is stripping off the illusion of clothes. He knows all already. And what he doesn't want is the lies, the cover up, the illusion that we can't be seen. He wants you.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who is writing this

while wearing clothes

(I wonder why?)

Sept 9/10 - Job 9:4

God is wise in heart,

and mighty in strength—

who has resisted him,

and ___________?

Job 9:4

Fill in the blank. 

But first, let's walk through it ...

"God is wise ..." If God is the creator, isn't that almost a redundant statement? He knows everything. He knows the ways that things are supposed to be. And yet, wisdom is more than mere knowledge, isn't it? It's knowing why and what's best. Wisdom brings fairness, compassion, and blessing to every situation. And in that sense, only God himself is truly wise.

 

Therefore, Job adds another word: "God is wise in heart." What does this mean? To me, wisdom is of the mind. It's more than that, of course, but these words from Job want to remind us that God is not just wise in thinking, but was in love, heart, and compassion.

"Mighty in strength"? Again, if God is the creator – and he is! - then he is mighty, Mighty, MIGHTY in strength.

 

Next, "Who has resisted him…?" declares the passage. And the sobering answer is: Everyone. We all do. Every day. We do things our way. We continually fail to consult the God of wisdom and love. Kings fail to consult the God of Truth ... and continually go to war. Husbands and wives fail to consult the God of Peace, and they regularly go to "war" (against each other) too. Our children resist God too, by rebelling against their parents. It is all an epidemic of tragic proportions.

 

So what is the word that fills the blank? "Who has resisted God, and _________?" 

 

"Succeeded"!

 

We all sin. We all rebel. We all do things our own way. And sometimes it seems like we get away with it. We lie to ourselves, thinking, "Only the big rebellions have consequences." That is definitely not true. Every rebellion – big or small – fractures relationships with God and with one another. 

 

"Do not be deceived," says Galatians 6:7, "God cannot be mocked." We can resist God, we can lie to ourselves, we can triumph in "victories" that are utterly temporary, but we cannot succeed when we lie, cheat, and steal. Only one way works in this broken world: it is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. 

 

In Christ's Love,

A guy who wants to succeed

(Guess I better do things His way)

 

Sept 8 - Daniel 9:18

O my God,

lean down and listen to me.

Open your eyes and see our despair.

See how your city—the city that

bears your name—lies in ruins.

We make this plea, not because we

deserve help, but because of your mercy.

Daniel 9:18

 

We are beginning a new season of devotions. They will be based loosely on the classic Moravian daily texts. On the day I was writing this, the most current text available is very appropriate for this week in our nation.

 

As Houston is still tragically waterlogged from Hurricane Harvey, yet another massive storm barrels toward our nations coast. Ponder how today's verse speaks to today: O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city ... lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.

This verse spoke originally of the plight of Jerusalem during the days of Daniel. Jerusalem was in the midst of a prophesied seventy years of destruction, occupation, grief, and mourning. Thus the cry: O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city ... lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.

 

Houston and whatever cities Irma barrels into this week are certainly not the Jerusalem of the ancient past. But shouldn't this be our continual cry in the face of any trial?

 

·         "O my God, lean down and listen to me." We address God as we begin our supplication. Weil promised of his continual attention, we don't take it for granted. We humbly ask him to hear our prayer.

 

·         "Open your eyes and see our despair." From the midst of trials, it can seem like God's eyes are closed and that our Lord is far away. Don't be afraid to be honest as you begin your plea. 

 

·         "See how your city ... lies in ruins." State your problem and your reason for concern. In this case, too many metropolitan areas as wellas Caribbean islands lie in ruins. Therefore…

 

·         "We make this plea." On what basis? 

 

·         "Not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy." Here is the key: Just as all individuals sin and fall short of the glory of God, all nations sin and fall short too. we must not be proud. No individual nor any nation "deserve[s God's] help." Therefore, we don't plead for God's help on the basis of who we are… but on the basis of who God is. We make this plea," says Daniel, "because of your mercy."

May God be merciful on our nation. Indeed, Heavenly Father, protect those in the path of this newest hurricane, and help those recently flooded and battered. "Not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy." Amen.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who grieves

for those whose lives have

been seemingly swallowed

by the chaos of the sea ...

and the guy who grieves

for those who do not know

the one who calms the storms

 

 

Devotion: Romans 12:2

I appeal to you

therefore, brothers and sisters,

by the mercies of God, to present

your bodies as a living sacrifice,

holy and acceptable to God,

which is your spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed by

the renewing of your minds,

so that you may discern

what is the will of God—

what is good and acceptable

and perfect.

Romans 12:2

 

Yesterday, we read Romans 12:2. If you want it to pop in new ways, listen to the classic J.B. Phillips paraphrase:

 

¹ With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him.

 

² Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

 

On Wednesdays we’re undertaking “an act of intelligent worship.” The purpose is to be “transformed by the renewing of [our] minds.” To that end, we’re doing a worldview study – The Truth Project. Worldview explains how and why we look at the world the way we do. And standing in between us and our view of the world are all kinds of lenses and filters. Filters obviously keep us from seeing things correctly. Our own desires, for example, keep us from seeing the world correctly. Our culture keeps us from seeing the world correctly too. (Why? Because of sin – our sin and the world’s sin.) And for this reason, “the world around [us keeps] squeez[ing us] into its own [pattern and] mold.”

 

So what is the lens that helps us see the world better? It is God’s Word! Scripture alone is unquestioned lens for seeing the world accurately. In a pray to his Father – John 17:17 – Jesus put it like this, “[Father,] your word is truth … sanctify [your children] in your truth.”

 

When we combine anything – our opinions, our desires, our world’s priorities and politics – with even God’s word, we dilute it immediately to the point of untruth. That’s why we need the church … and tradition. Across time and across cultures, God’s timeless word keeps pointing us back to truth. It alone keeps “renewing [our] minds.” And the fruit is what? “Be[ing] transformed.”

 

If you’re ready for a season of transformation, it’s time to start praying for hunger for God’s Word. We have Sunday School classes with that focus. And Bible Studies. And Life Groups. And Wednesday’s Truth Project. As well as Sunday sermons and daily devotions. Are you ready? Are you praying for that hunger?!

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who needs

a new season himself:

God fill me.

 

Devotion: Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed by

the renewing of your minds,

so that you may discern

what is the will of God—

what is good and acceptable

and perfect.

Romans 12:2

 

·         In a broken world, do you want more "good" than a litany of bad?

·         Do you want to know what know what God views as "acceptable," desirable, and wise?

·         Do you pray that not only you, but somehow this world, could start aiming for what is more "perfect"?

 

Well, those three words - the ones in quotes - are our trajectory for Fall at Spirit of Joy. 

How many of you have been heartsick over the damage of Hurricane Harvey? By the same token, how many of you have been heartened by the spontaneous and generous response - not only from strangers across America, but from neighbors, common folks, along Houston's flooded streets. People are absolutely risking their lives to help strangers. 

 

I read pieces of an article this morning which said essentially, Don't let the media fool you. Average America is not divided along every age, race, and gender line. Average America is ready to help their neighbors ... as Houston reminds us. For example, the racial animus in Charlottesville recently was shocking - utterly despicable - but where's the coverage of the thousands of other towns that weren't erupting into violence that weekend. A few hateful people are made to serve as political avitars for entire genders and races, while the hundreds of thousands of people (of the same genders and races) who serve their communities at food banks and homeless shelters weekly and monthly go ignored. 

 

I'll talk tomorrow about the more "transform[ative]" meaning of this passage, but for today, two quick things: First, we need to not be "conformed to this world" by any human - whether that is a big media, a cynical friend, or our own selfish hearts with our own little perspectives. Rather, we need to learn to conform to God's perspective - because his goal is to "transform" and "renew".

 

Second, today starts a class that helps with that. Join me Wednesdays at either 11:00am or 6:00pm as we seek to be transformed by the renewing of our minds through the classic study, The Truth Project. 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who doesn't want

to be conformed (like

jello into a plastic mold)

but be transformed by

a majestic Lord who'll

lift me up on wings

like eagles

 

Invitation to you ...

As Fall beckons, I have two invitations for you ...

 

First: I am starting Daily Devotions again. If you'd like them emailed to you several times a week, sit back. They're coming to your inbox. If you'd like to be off the list for this season, just let me know!

 

Second: On Wednesdays at 11:00am and 6:00pm, my Wednesday classes resume. We will be doing The Truth Project. Eight years ago, many members considered it transformative. In starting to watch it again, I've forgotten how powerful, insightful, and fun it is. It's a crash course on how to understand our world ... through God's eyes. If you've taken this course before, come! It's message is more important than ever, it feels fresh and new, and (FYI) we're going to break it down into manageable chunks so we can really enjoy and learn from it. 

 

 

Good afternoon Pastor

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Devotion January 1 - Happy New Year

I am still doing devtions

… but I am not emailing them anymore.

If you haven’t done it with previous emails yet …

 

·        Go to www.hopedevotions.online

·        Add your email address.

·        Then look for an email from HopeDevotions to confirm.

 

Here’s a teaser…

Today’s post had four graphics.