Recently, Governor Stitt joined with other religious leaders to pray for our nation concerning the Coronavirus and the impact it is having on our lives. In scripture, there are several times we read about when one or more people gathered together to pray for a serious event in their time. (Acts 4:24-31; Acts 27:21-26 just to name a few.)
There are also many prayers offered up in the Psalms, and many of those become our kind of model in prayer. There are prayers for joy, prayers for giving thanks, prayers for deliverance, and prayers offered in anger or confusion. The key is realizing that prayer is communication to God. Like any relationship communication is an important ingredient to a healthy or happy relationship. In our human relationships we realize that just talking about it doesn’t always instantly solve it, but by communicating our fears and things we’re disgusted with, it helps resolve our feelings in more godly ways.
One prayer I’ll summarize is from Hezekiah in Isaiah 37:16-20, “O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to reproach the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have devastated all the countries and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So, they have destroyed them. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.”
Sennacherib, King of Assyria, was devastating the land by killing, capturing, and destroying towns as he swept through the land. Many nations fell to his sword, but Hezekiah knew that his only true help was in God almighty.
I hope it doesn’t take much to imagine this prayer being offered up to God because of the evil coronavirus that is sweeping over our globe. Fear has gripped most of us, and the uncertainty and anxiety of our future can easily cripple us. However, this is what faith is about. Faith isn’t having access to a magic genie who can instantly solve our problems, any more than communicating a fear or problem with our spouse doesn’t instantly take away our problems. Rather, it is believing that God is the creator and that He truly loves His creation, even when they are going through hardship.
Peter’s reminder to the early Christians was that even if the hardship isn’t instantly removed – stay faithful. 1 Peter 5:9-11, “But resist [the devil, and be] firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Quarantine?
In Genesis 50:19-21, Joseph reassures his brothers that he had no intention of punishing his brothers for the wrong they did to him. He said, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” (Remember they were in Egypt because of a famine outbreak.)
While that may not be much comfort during the Coronavirus outbreak, we can find comfort in knowing God can use this serious problem as a way for his kingdom to really put her best foot forward. Or as Paul said in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Throughout history, God’s kingdom has been most evident during difficult times. All throughout the persecutions of the second and third centuries, Christians still served the weak and helpless. Often times. their service cost them their lives in the process.
In other major outbreaks of pandemic proportions like the plague of Justinian (sixth century), or the Black Death plague (14th century), or the Cholera outbreak (1852), or the Spanish flu (1918) – all of these had high numbers of fatalities and no real cure. In fact, it wasn’t until 1938 that a vaccine for the flu was first developed.
How do WE turn something awful into an opportunity to promote God’s kingdom? It starts with the words Jesus said concerning the most important thing we can do to do the will of God… “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:10; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7-12…)
And Paul reminded us in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Therefore, recognizing that the best practice in these situations is quarantine and good hygiene, we should “love our neighbor” enough that we do what is most sensible and considerate of those most susceptible to the flu, and simply respect the requests to keep in isolation for a while.
Probably a more expressive way that we can turn a bad situation into a good one, is by demonstrating the value of investing in our families right now. Similar to God requiring a Sabbath Day rest to be spent with family and NOT working so that we could appreciate one another better, perhaps a quarantine could be looked at and observed as a kind of Sabbath rest for our extremely busy lives.
Too many well-intended parents and grandparents have promoted the “busy life” to such a degree that families haven’t spent much time together at dinner or any other time in quite a while. So, perhaps we can see how observing the precautions help us keep families safer, as well as getting to spend more time with one of our most valuable possessions on the planet – our family.
While that may not be much comfort during the Coronavirus outbreak, we can find comfort in knowing God can use this serious problem as a way for his kingdom to really put her best foot forward. Or as Paul said in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Throughout history, God’s kingdom has been most evident during difficult times. All throughout the persecutions of the second and third centuries, Christians still served the weak and helpless. Often times. their service cost them their lives in the process.
In other major outbreaks of pandemic proportions like the plague of Justinian (sixth century), or the Black Death plague (14th century), or the Cholera outbreak (1852), or the Spanish flu (1918) – all of these had high numbers of fatalities and no real cure. In fact, it wasn’t until 1938 that a vaccine for the flu was first developed.
How do WE turn something awful into an opportunity to promote God’s kingdom? It starts with the words Jesus said concerning the most important thing we can do to do the will of God… “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:10; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7-12…)
And Paul reminded us in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Therefore, recognizing that the best practice in these situations is quarantine and good hygiene, we should “love our neighbor” enough that we do what is most sensible and considerate of those most susceptible to the flu, and simply respect the requests to keep in isolation for a while.
Probably a more expressive way that we can turn a bad situation into a good one, is by demonstrating the value of investing in our families right now. Similar to God requiring a Sabbath Day rest to be spent with family and NOT working so that we could appreciate one another better, perhaps a quarantine could be looked at and observed as a kind of Sabbath rest for our extremely busy lives.
Too many well-intended parents and grandparents have promoted the “busy life” to such a degree that families haven’t spent much time together at dinner or any other time in quite a while. So, perhaps we can see how observing the precautions help us keep families safer, as well as getting to spend more time with one of our most valuable possessions on the planet – our family.
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Did Mary Get It?
Sometimes we go through life lessons that remind us to slow down and “smell the roses,” or at least determine what’s really important in life. We do that in all areas of life, and the wise people recognize what’s worth investing in and then do it.
In Luke 10:38-42, we read of an instance when Jesus highlights that realization for us. Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet was listening to what Jesus said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Jesus answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
What is worry? To give way to anxiety or unease; to allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. That’s one definition of it, but what’s worry really do for us? Jesus compared a type of soil to the effects of worry. He said in Matthew 13:22, “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
Worry kills fruitfulness! It’s interesting that God told Adam in Genesis 1:28, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” In the garden, Adam had no reason to worry at all – he wasn’t even worried about not having any clothes! Once again Jesus reminds His followers about what is most important… (Matthew 6:25-34) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (33-34) “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Did Mary get it? Here’s an example of a woman who was seeking God’s wisdom instead of human wisdom (logic). Eve sought after human wisdom, but Mary was seeking knowledge from the “tree of life” – Jesus! It’s much easier to become Martha by thinking it’s our efforts that bring fulfillment and meaning in life. In Martha’s case, that would have meant a delicious meal; in our case, maybe that’s an appealing life. Can we recognize the difference between a good choice and the best choice? God wants us to be able to see the wisdom that comes from trusting in Him and feeding on His words!
In Luke 10:38-42, we read of an instance when Jesus highlights that realization for us. Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet was listening to what Jesus said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Jesus answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
What is worry? To give way to anxiety or unease; to allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. That’s one definition of it, but what’s worry really do for us? Jesus compared a type of soil to the effects of worry. He said in Matthew 13:22, “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
Worry kills fruitfulness! It’s interesting that God told Adam in Genesis 1:28, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” In the garden, Adam had no reason to worry at all – he wasn’t even worried about not having any clothes! Once again Jesus reminds His followers about what is most important… (Matthew 6:25-34) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (33-34) “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Did Mary get it? Here’s an example of a woman who was seeking God’s wisdom instead of human wisdom (logic). Eve sought after human wisdom, but Mary was seeking knowledge from the “tree of life” – Jesus! It’s much easier to become Martha by thinking it’s our efforts that bring fulfillment and meaning in life. In Martha’s case, that would have meant a delicious meal; in our case, maybe that’s an appealing life. Can we recognize the difference between a good choice and the best choice? God wants us to be able to see the wisdom that comes from trusting in Him and feeding on His words!
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Decisions, Decisions...
There are lots of decisions that we make every day, and the hard part is knowing how to do God’s will in all of them! But here’s a few categories that might make it a bit easier
There are:
Trivial decisions -- What color socks am I going to wear
today?
Prudent decisions --Should I choose history or geography in school?
Righteous decisions -- Should I spread hateful gossip about someone on Facebook?
These three different categories all involve important decisions, but some have a greater impact than others, particularly those decisions of Prudence and Righteousness. The Righteous decisions are usually a lot more straight forward to make, usually. Whereas the Prudent decisions, on the other hand, are much more grey; they involve the life choices that are not necessarily right or wrong in a moral sense but are still decisions that may have important consequences for your life and direction.
“What is God's purpose for my life?” This is a big question for many folks, which can cause people to either end up "making" God say what they want to hear, or they end up just as confused and aimless as before.
Proverbs 13:6, “Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.”
Proverbs 16:3, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
When you're faced with a prudent decision consider how much easier those decisions are when our focus is honoring Christ? Matthew 6:33-34, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
There are:
Trivial decisions -- What color socks am I going to wear
today?
Prudent decisions --Should I choose history or geography in school?
Righteous decisions -- Should I spread hateful gossip about someone on Facebook?
These three different categories all involve important decisions, but some have a greater impact than others, particularly those decisions of Prudence and Righteousness. The Righteous decisions are usually a lot more straight forward to make, usually. Whereas the Prudent decisions, on the other hand, are much more grey; they involve the life choices that are not necessarily right or wrong in a moral sense but are still decisions that may have important consequences for your life and direction.
“What is God's purpose for my life?” This is a big question for many folks, which can cause people to either end up "making" God say what they want to hear, or they end up just as confused and aimless as before.
Proverbs 13:6, “Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.”
Proverbs 16:3, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
When you're faced with a prudent decision consider how much easier those decisions are when our focus is honoring Christ? Matthew 6:33-34, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Sunday, March 1, 2020
God's Special Tool
Imagine if God gave us a special tool to help us solve the problems of life… Actually, He has! God's word helps us tremendously, but we have to understand how it works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The Torah (law) guides us beautifully in helping us understand the essence of God’s will. In fact, Psalm 119 is a Hebrew acrostic (alphabetical poem) that is believed to have been used as a teaching tool and a praise for God’s law.
Jesus, or the word that became flesh, is also a tool to help us know the will of God, and the right thing to do. He gave us plenty of teachings that clarified the purpose of the law, and He did plenty of acts that proved He had the authority to interpret it the way He did.
Ultimately, His laws keep us safe from the temptations of Satan, just like He modeled in Luke 4. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10:13 how His laws and His words will give you what you need so that nothing will tempt you beyond the example of Christ, so that "He will also provide a way out so that you can endure [the temptation]" Just like Jesus did!
His example also becomes compelling evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, the one that promised to be the deliverer of all deliverers. We see how Jesus does things that echo the same things that Israel's most prized deliverer (Moses) did. In Luke 10, Jesus sends out 70 disciples to basically encourage people to live right, which is good. But we read in Numbers 11 where Moses sends out 70 as well. And with a little investigative work, it seems fairly clear why Moses sent them, and that helps us understand why Jesus sent those he sent.
As you dive into the Scriptures, you can be reminded of the lengths God has gone to for us to be equipped to “know” what’s right and avoid sinning. Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The Torah (law) guides us beautifully in helping us understand the essence of God’s will. In fact, Psalm 119 is a Hebrew acrostic (alphabetical poem) that is believed to have been used as a teaching tool and a praise for God’s law.
Jesus, or the word that became flesh, is also a tool to help us know the will of God, and the right thing to do. He gave us plenty of teachings that clarified the purpose of the law, and He did plenty of acts that proved He had the authority to interpret it the way He did.
Ultimately, His laws keep us safe from the temptations of Satan, just like He modeled in Luke 4. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10:13 how His laws and His words will give you what you need so that nothing will tempt you beyond the example of Christ, so that "He will also provide a way out so that you can endure [the temptation]" Just like Jesus did!
His example also becomes compelling evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, the one that promised to be the deliverer of all deliverers. We see how Jesus does things that echo the same things that Israel's most prized deliverer (Moses) did. In Luke 10, Jesus sends out 70 disciples to basically encourage people to live right, which is good. But we read in Numbers 11 where Moses sends out 70 as well. And with a little investigative work, it seems fairly clear why Moses sent them, and that helps us understand why Jesus sent those he sent.
As you dive into the Scriptures, you can be reminded of the lengths God has gone to for us to be equipped to “know” what’s right and avoid sinning. Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”