Be Still - January 28, 2025

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, 2025

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 say 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, 2025

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, 2025

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, 2025

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, 2025

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, 2025

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 have never spoken of that little moment, but the friendship begun that day has lasted for more than 30 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.*