Be Still - January 31, 2023

Romans 14: 1-22 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. . . . Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. . . . Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. . . . and everything that does not come from faith is sin. (NIV)

[Read the entire chapter.]

If grace is so amazing, why don’t Christians show more of it?*

In the fourteenth chapter of Romans, Paul discusses some matters that were a test of fellowship for some and no big deal to others. Perhaps some of the dos and don’ts and don’t matters resonate with you. It all leads me to reckon that if the lost aren’t repelled right up front by all the rules, they surely begin their new life in Christ laden with the fear that they will never be able to remember what a Christian can and can’t do.

There are plenty of behaviors that Christians should avoid. Sin is always sin. But you don’t tell a newborn baby that he needs to get up and walk on his own two feet, and you don’t tell a newborn Christian that he should immediately be an expert in living a life of obedience. Those who have passed the toddler stage themselves should come alongside their baby brothers and sisters and help them learn to walk by faith.

While the analogy of the baby Christian is fitting, we must keep in mind that new Christians are often adults who not only have a lot to learn – they have a lot to unlearn. The examples in this chapter illustrate what happens when people join the community of believers loaded down with the baggage of their backgrounds and experiences. From knowing nothing, to believing false doctrine, to returning to the fold after a long rebellious period, each newcomer to the church is at a different mile marker on the road to salvation.* Where they go from there is what matters. As Paul said, “Each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Verse 12) And that applies to all of us. We will answer to God if we have been judgmental instead of making every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.

Show him the way by the way you respond to Jesus.*

Be Still - January 30, 2023

Jeremiah 10: 19 Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself, “This is my sickness, and I must endure it.” (NIV)

Most problems don’t get better by being ignored.*

There is plenty of scriptural precedent for bringing our troubles to God. In Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18: 1-8), we might suppose that persistence is a key factor in getting relief. But Jesus may have been advocating less for persistence and more for bringing your complaint to the proper authority. If an unjust judge can bring you justice, how much more can you count on your heavenly Father to hear your pleas?

Paul certainly doesn’t appear to have been of the “persistent school of thought.” He prayed three times for deliverance from his mysterious “thorn in the flesh” and then it seems he just learned to live with it.  From nagging to being content after three tries, on the persistence spectrum these two examples are still far removed from Jeremiah’s lament. Rather than ask for healing – whether many times or three – he has just decided to live with his affliction.

While I wouldn’t advise anyone to follow Jeremiah’s example, I'm not sure if Paul or the widow should be the model for asking God to deliver us from our problems, either. Is there comfort in accepting what we can’t change? Is it wrong to give up hope?

As someone said, “There is no magic formula for answered prayer.”* The Bible tells us that God hears the cry of the righteous (Psalm 34: 15); those who ask in Jesus’ name (John 14: 13); those who ask believing (Mark 11: 24); and those who ask according to God’s will (I John 5: 14).* If these conditions are met, in a faithful and appropriately persistent manner, God will answer your prayers. His answer may be immediate delivery; or perhaps he will ask you to wait. He may choose to answer by helping you live an abundant life in spite of your “thorn in the flesh.” Whatever his answer, “Woe to me!” doesn't seem like it should be our final cry to God.

Faithful servants have a way of knowing answered prayer when they see it, and a way of not giving up when they don’t.*

Be Still - January 29, 2023

Isaiah 58: 11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.*

God reaches forth in unbelievable shows of generosity and pours himself into moments that we expect and into moments that we don’t expect.*

Among the tribes of the Plains Indians, there used to be a loosely organized “cult” whose members were committed to behavior that was contrary to the norm. According to Wikipedia, they “turned all social conventions into their opposites.” The Contraries’ bizarre behavior was often accompanied by inverse speech - saying the opposite of what they meant. Having a conversation with one of them must have been a lot of fun!

It might help us to appreciate the beauty of this verse in Isaiah if we apply some inverse speech to it. In the language of the Contrary Warriors, Isaiah might have said: The Lord will not give you any direction. He will leave you unsatisfied, sun-burned, weak, and thirsty. He is unreliable. Why would anyone worship a deity like that? And yet, idol-worshippers did exactly that. We may not know anyone who actually worships a graven image, but we all know someone who seems to worship nothing (or everything, or just things). The result is the same: directionless, unfulfilled, weak, and alone.

Read the verse again and revel in the refreshing, inviting imagery. Yes, that is the God we choose to worship. To do otherwise seems to be the epitome of contrary behavior.

The idolater simply imagines a conception of God and then acts as though his conceptions are true.*

Be Still - January 28, 2023

Isaiah 42: 3 “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.” (NIV)

When all hell breaks loose, all heaven draws near.*

The Geneva Conventions establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of persons involved in war.  They do not address the actual waging of war and use of weapons (that would be the Hague Conventions’ department). So the Geneva Conventions would have no jurisdiction over the method by which a reed got bruised or a wick got lit, but anyone who survived the battle is protected by the provisions of the treaties. 

The Christian life is a battlefield. Satan is our enemy and he doesn’t abide by any set of rules or protocols, but God has allowed him only certain liberties. When we find ourselves lying wounded or smoldering on the battlefield, God honors his promise not to break the bruised reed or snuff out the weakly burning wick. The wounded are subject to the provisions of God’s own version of the Geneva Conventions: justice.

Justice for a prisoner of war may or may not involve mercy. If we got what we deserved, we would be broken and snuffed out for our war crimes, but we have a merciful God. His promised justice is neutralized by the blood of Jesus, making us the recipients of his grace. Full pardon. No Geneva Conventions necessary.

God allows spiritual warfare and uses it in our lives for our good.*

Be Still - January 27, 2023

Psalm 84: 1, 2, 10 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. . . . Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere. (NIV)

The more we see of what this world has to offer, the more appealing is the Father’s house.*

Where is your favorite place on earth? I have been thinking about my answer to that question. A few locations that first came to mind are beautiful examples of some of God’s best work – but I didn’t have a very strong emotional response to the thoughts of them. Returning there would be pleasant but I don’t long for it.

So where are the places that evoke the best feelings? Summer camp and college were my top two vote-getters . . . but wait. Was it the places that I was nostalgic for – or was it the people and the moments we shared? Do I yearn to return to Faith Christian Camp or am I longing for a revival of the good times I had there? Did the setting play any role in those happy days?

I think it’s safe to assume that as a place to spend eternity, heaven is the prime location. But if it were not the dwelling place of the Lord, what good are its mansions and streets of gold? And if our hearts and our flesh don’t cry out for the living God, how prepared are we to dwell with him? If all we have to look forward to is a life of luxury forever, we have failed to recognize what it is that makes heaven a special place. Our favorite place. Better is one day in the presence of God than thousands anywhere else.

Once you have seen his face you will forever long to see it again.*

Be Still - January 26, 2023

Leviticus 19: 32 “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.” (NIV)

God’s approach to respect discloses a value system that differs markedly from that of America.*

When it comes to the social and civil issues addressed in the Law, Jesus said very little about them beyond, “Love God” and, “Love your neighbor.” With these two rules as our guiding principles, we should be able to treat our fellowman with the respect and dignity God commanded in the Old Testament. If you want specific examples of God’s standpoint, I suggest you read his commandments for yourself.

This verse in Leviticus is a case-in-point. In the harsh conditions of the ancient Middle East, it would have been easy to toss out the old people who had outlived their usefulness. Those who had nothing left to contribute to the welfare of the household could have been dehumanized in the eyes of the family members whose workloads were already strained before adding the care of an ancient relative who wasn’t dying fast enough. But God doesn’t see it that way. His command to respect the elderly is followed by a stern reminder: “I am the Lord.” He is the Lord and all humans, young and old, are created in his image and therefore worthy of respect.

“I am the Lord,” reminds us, also, that we should treat all others with the respect due to one who is created in God’s image.

If you’ve ever wanted to know what God thinks about a host of topics, the Law provides that opportunity.*

Be Still - January 25, 2023

II Timothy 4: 3, 4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (NIV)

God is not whatever our conscience or imagination would like him to be.*

During an episode of Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday,” Rob Bell, the former head “pastor” of Michigan’s Mars Hill Bible Church and author of “Love Wins,” a book questioning the orthodox Christian view of Hell, told the talk show host that he believes the Church is “moments away” from embracing same-sex “marriage.” *

The story above is old news by now, but Paul’s warning to Timothy about such occurrences is as timely as ever. People want to believe in God – they even claim to be Christians – but in order to validate their lifestyle choices, they have to rewrite the Bible and create a god in their own image. Folks who would scoff at the idea of worshipping idols, who would never take ancient Greek and Roman mythology seriously, are perverting the Word of God because the Truth hurts. In the name of tolerance and progressive thinking, they have abandoned sound doctrine.

Paul follows his dire prediction with advice that is as relevant to us as it was to Timothy: Keep your head under all circumstances, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (Verse 5) Yes, these are troubling times when those we have looked to for leadership can no longer be trusted. But our plan of action is the same no matter the circumstances. Pray, know the Truth, and do the work you are called to do. If you stand firmly in your faith, you will be a bright light in a dark world.

It’s what we do . . .

During an episode of Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday,” Rob Bell, the former head “pastor” of Michigan’s Mars Hill Bible Church and author of “Love Wins,” a book questioning the orthodox Christian view of Hell, told the talk show host that he believes the Church is “moments away” from embracing same-sex “marriage.” *

We need to call sin, "sin." Not with vindictiveness, but with tears.*

Be Still - January 24, 2023

Luke 4: 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. (NIV)

Listeners filter every message through the messenger who delivers it.*

I was privileged to participate in a Chamber of Commerce sponsored program which encouraged the development of potential local leaders by exposing them to the community and those already in leadership positions. I was especially impressed with the presentations on Nature Day by a Fish & Wildlife Officer, and on City Government Day by a city planner.  While I was not particularly interested in the subject matter, these men were able to engage my attention for two reasons: 1) they clearly loved what they did; and 2) it was obvious that they knew a lot more about the material than they had time to share.

If I had been in Jesus’ audience that day in Capernaum, I believe I would have been amazed for the same reasons that I took an interest in wetlands and upland, and enclaves and annexations: he loved what he was talking about and he knew his material. But would it be enough to be amazed that he taught with authority? The wildlife officer didn’t inspire me to follow in his footsteps; the city planner’s job was safe from me. Once the entertainment value has worn off, what is left?

We have to believe that Jesus is more than just a good man who could connect with the crowd. If we don’t believe that his authority comes from the Father – that he and the Father are one – our lives will not be changed. For the sake of eternity, our response has to be more than amazement. We should be moved to say, like Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 68)

He exemplified the things that He taught.*

Be Still - January 23, 2023

Luke 1: 13-15 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.” (NIV)

The things that make God dear to us are not so much His great big blessings as the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us; He knows every detail of our individual lives.*

God has many attributes that he employs on our behalf. One of those attributes that has come to mean a lot to me is not spelled out specifically in scripture but it is embedded in stories like this one. That attribute is his attention to detail. From creation of the world to the color scheme in the temple to my personal preferences, God is not too big or too busy or too powerful to provide us with the grace notes of life. Sometimes, when I am too overwhelmed by his goodness to itemize my blessings, I just say, “Thank you, God, for your attention to detail.”

In the case of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, God showed off on a grand scale as well as in a small, personal way. As another writer puts it: “While God unfolded his purpose for the world . . . he was doing something tender and gracious for Elizabeth and her husband.”* This couple, who had given up on becoming parents, were going to have a son who would be a joy and a delight to them – what more could they ask for? – but he was also part of God’s much bigger plans for saving the world. 

How like God to love the individual while he is loving the world.

The one who created the universe places infinite value on you. He considers you a treasure worthy of his personal attention and sacrifice.*

Be Still - January 22, 2023

Luke 23: 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends – before this they had been enemies. (NIV)

Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?*

Years ago there was a young woman in our church that I just couldn’t like. I kept my feelings to myself – especially since everyone else seemed to like her just fine, and truly, she had never done anything to me. But one day, while standing in line to sign the guest registry at a wedding, I watched her as she bustled around importantly and I wondered (in a rather snarky way) what exactly was her official capacity at this event. For some reason, I turned to the woman behind me in line, made eye contact with her, and almost in unison, we both said, “What is she doing?” We never ever spoke of that little moment, but the friendship begun that day has lasted for more than 25 years!

It is not unusual for people and nations to bond over a common enemy. Herod and Pilate were living proof that old animosities can be forgotten when you hate the same person or support the same cause. So, I wonder: if former enemies can put aside their differences to unite for a mutual purpose, why can’t Christians present a united front to the world? After all, we have a common enemy: Satan.

Satan wants us to forget everything Jesus said about loving our neighbor. He doesn’t want us to read Paul’s reminder in Ephesians 4: 3-6: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit . . . There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

The unity of believers is so important that Jesus prayed for it (John 17: 21, 23). With so much to draw us together, how can we let differences weaken our solidarity and allow Satan the victory? 

It is not agreement that unites us; it is the love of God in Christ.*