Psalm 95

Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.

He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.

The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too.

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,

for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!

The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness.

For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did.

For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’

So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”
Psalm 95

Dear God, we don’t write worship songs like this anymore. This one starts out nice enough, encouraging us to worship, but it ends with a pretty stark warning: “Don’t do what they did when I brought them out of Egypt. Worship me and do what I tell you to do.”

I wonder what it would be like if they wrote songs for Sunday like this. I’m really trying to think of any traditional hymns or modern worship songs that mention this kind of warning. Nothing comes to mind. But it’s a good reminder.

Father, there are times when I am very afraid of missing what you’re calling me to do. There are times when I put other things before you and don’t worship you. There are times when I’m selfish and lethargic. I’m sorry for all of those sins. But I am grateful. I do love you. I want to do what you’re calling me to do and love those you call me to love. Open my eyes so I can see.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Ephesians 2:11-22

Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:11-22

Dear God, I’ve read this passage countless times, but I don’t think I’ve every really appreciated how anti-racist Paul was in his message. He was taking this to Gentiles. All Gentiles.

A couple of days ago, my wife and I were talking about how the great Babylonian exile among the Israelites ultimately marked the end of idol worship for them. They were always falling into idol worship with the surrounding nations, but they stopped after that. That terrible exile seems to have purged it from them. I asked her this morning if it was because the nations that conquered them (Babylon, Rome, etc.) didn’t worship idols, but instead worshiped the men in charge as their god and maybe that was just a step too far for them. Maybe it was.

I bring all of that up here because after I read this passage this morning I all of a sudden juxtaposed Paul’s message of the welcoming all other nationalities into Christianity and even watering down some of the requirements like unclean food and circumcision to accomplish it, and the Old Testaments’ warnings of getting too close to and intermingling with foreigners. What Jesus brought was truly paradigm shifting. It was your love built for the whole world.

Father, thank you for building a bridge between you and me through Jesus. Thank you for giving me something better than an idol or a man to worship. I am sorry for the idols I set up in my life. I’m sorry for worshipping money and what I perceive as financial security. I’m sorry for worshiping what I think my children’s lives should be or what paths they should take. I’m sorry for worshiping the destiny I want for myself and putting that before my worship of you. I’m sorry for my selfishness. I’m sorry for sinning against you. Please forgive me, and thank you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

John 6:28-29

They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
John 6:28-29

Dear God, this actually kind of fits with my recent struggles. I’ve felt a bit overwhelmed by the combination of negative things happening in the world and even my own family. The idols my heart wants to create (peace in the world, government, health, spouse, children, parents, friends, act.) start to fail me and I just don’t know what to do. I think that’s probably been reflected in some of my prayers lately.

Several years ago, I had a job that exposed me to some of the most miserable aspects of human existence. I was around children who lived in terrible situations and I would go home from work very depressed and discouraged some days. Over time, I learned to compartmentalize that pain and leave it at work. I would work to address it during the day, but at night I had to let it go so I could be with my family and have some semblance of a joyful life.

I think the ability to compartmentalize things is important, but it is fraught with danger because I can be tempted to try to deny it out of existence, allowing it to build and grow in my subconscious until it starts poisoning me. Probably a better idea is to compartmentalize it in its place, but still pay attention to it and work on it as your Spirit convicts and leads me to. It can’t be left in its compartment all of the time, but it can be put out of my way so that I don’t have to dwell on it constantly.

An example of why I’m saying all of this is because I’ve been frustrated over the situation in Afghanistan and the suffering going on there. What am I to do? Sometimes there’s simply nothing for me to do but pray. Maybe I can actually do something for people in instances like Haiti, sending money to help feed people. Or I can organize local services to help people in need. But there are sometimes when I want to perform your work, as this passage says, and your words back are for me to believe in you.

Father, I believe in you and trust you. Please grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to do what I need to do and what you call me to do (including prayer) to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

The Prophets

Dear God, I have a confession to make. I’ve pretty much avoided the prophets. The only excuse I have is no excuse at all–I’ve been lazy. I can’t just take a little chunk from Isaiah or Jeremiah and figure out what is going on. I can’t even read the whole book and really get a picture of the context and what is happening. It would take some research and time for me to understand what you might have to teach me through those men, and I’ve been unwilling to commit the time to do it. I’m sorry for that.

I have a vacation coming up soon, and I have an entire set of biblical commentaries. I’ve also been looking for something to read on this vacation to take the place of some of the normal things I do that take (waste?) my time. So my plan is to pick two commentaries and read them while I’m on the trip. And I will pray to you about them as I go. Sometimes through these journals and sometimes not. But I know you have a lot to teach me and apply to our current world through those books.

One thing I feel pretty poignantly right now is the different things happening in the world and what my personal role is in addressing them. What is my response to the tragedies in Afghanistan and Haiti? Human trafficking everywhere (including here)? Supporting the local medical community through COVID? Becoming an advocate for smart pandemic policies? What would you have me do?

Then there are personal things. My relationships with family members. My witness to friends. My willingness to lean on friends and be vulnerable with them.

Something tells me that there might be some words of the Holy Spirit for me buried within those books. So I’m committing you to now that I am going to take the time to start doing a little mining. I might start this weekend, but I am sure I will start when my vacation begins next weekend. I am sorry for my laziness in this area. I am sorry I’ve shunned about 1/3 of your scripture. I’m sorry there are still these parts of me that are so selfish.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Romans 12:3-5

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Romans 12:3-5

Dear God, context is everything. The last half of this paragraph starts with, “Just as our bodies…,” and those verses quoted quite a bit. But the first half of the paragraph is about arrogance vs. humility. In other words, Paul is reminding us that none of us can do it all on our own. We need community. We need partners. We need to be someone else’s partner. We need to be willing to submit to the group so that even if we find ourselves in the role of the body’s head, we can realize that we are still part of the whole and cannot go anywhere without the rest.

Community is so outrageously important as we make our way through life. Of course, the first community you give me is my wife. I metaphorically run into her in our relationship and you use that impact to rub off my rough edges. Children are another important part of that. Parents. Siblings. And then there are friends, coworkers, people in my church. You use all of these people to teach me, humble me, motivate me, direct me, etc. And by me showing up, you can use me in their lives as well.

Father, make me willing to play whatever role you have for me in the body of Christ, and please teach me and sand off my rough edges in whatever way you need. Through my life and the lives of those around me, please accomplish your will and let your kingdom come to earth.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

John 1:45-51

Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
John 1:45-51

Dear God, I have always focused on Nathaniel in this story, but let’s talk about Philip. This is his origin story, but he shows up several times in John’s Gospel and Acts. Not as much in the other three gospels. It makes me wonder what kind of special relationship John and Philip had. John tells one of the “feeding” stories and specifically notes that Jesus asked Philip what they should feed the people. Philip is the one who asked Jesus to show them the father. In Acts, Philip preaches. He is the one who baptizes the Ethiopian Eunuch. He shows up a lot more often than I realized. But it starts here. Jesus calls him and he immediately goes to find Nathaniel. One of the earliest versions of someone being an evangelist for Jesus, calling others to come and follow him.

This always leaves me with the question, asking why I am not more of an evangelist for you. Why do I not encourage others to come and see you more? And I’m not talking about going to church, but about truly meeting you and getting to know you. Introducing them to the God who takes away as much of my pain as I can get in touch with. Takes away my shame. Gives me hope that my life is meaningful. I’m convinced that it is because I do not fully appreciate what it is I have to “sell.” For example, I love the cycling system I am using right now, and I’ve told all kinds of people about it, but I think that is because it is easy to explain. I can frame it into a construct that others can understand. For whatever reason, for me at least, framing a construct for you for others to understand easily is more difficult. It’s probably from a lack of trying, to be honest.

Father, I want to be your ambassador. I want to offer the fruits of the Spirit to others. I want you to be glorified in this world. I want people to be followers of you and not just believers in you. I want them to tap their vine into your branch and experience your life in them. Of course, that starts with me humbling myself, letting go of my own agenda, and tapping my life into you. So I offer you my life. I offer you my desire for you. I offer you my failings and my successes. May you use both for your glory, and please help me to grow closer to you today.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Matthew 23:15-16

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!

“Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’”
Matthew 23:15-16

Dear God, this is just one small section of the daily gospel reading for some denominations today, but it struck me as I read it this morning. It’s a reminder to not take lightly being your ambassador. If I represent you to others around me and I draw others to you, am I showing them the real you? Am I suggesting wrong things about you?

Even as I publicly journal some of my prayers to you, do I pray errant things that mislead some who read them? My original motivation in starting this was to hopefully encourage some people to do their own prayer journal. To sit down and think through what your scripture might be saying to them personally. Has the public part of this journal morphed, even in my own heart, into something I use to pontificate and try to teach what I think I’m learning from you? Have I harmed your children through misunderstood lessons you’ve tried to teach me?

Father, my encouragement for the world is that they be followers of you and not just believers in you. I think of the people around the world right now, especially in Afghanistan, who are killing in your name. It’s hard to imagine them being true followers of you, the God of Abraham. I see them much like I see those “Christians” who stormed the capital on January 6. They were believers, but I doubt they were followers. So help us to all follow you. Show me the role you have for me to play in your kingdom today so that it can come to earth and so your will can be done on earth. Come, oh Lord!

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Ruth 1:3-5

³ Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. ⁴ They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, ⁵ both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

Ruth 1:3-5

Dear God, I have been guilty of something regarding Naomi, and I am sorry. I have judged her for feeling so rejected by you and the whole “call me Mara” thing she says a few verses later. But I have not appreciated the mourning of a woman now facing life alone. The intimidation of it–especially in a culture where women had very little agency or ability to provide for themselves. I mean, there is a reason men had multiple wives. One basic one is that the women needed someone to provide for them because they wouldn’t be able to provide for themselves.

But on a basic level, Naomi has experienced tremendous loss. It’s one thing to lose your husband. Even today, men and women get married with the knowledge that it’s likely one of them will die before the other. There is a part of our heart that is steeled for that. But to lose both of her sons too. Not only were they her hope for provision and sustaining life, but they were also her little boys. Even if they were men, then were her little boys. She lost them. She was a widow and a childless woman. Her pain must have been immense. Then there is the fear of not being able to survive that layered on top of that, but it all starts with the pain and mourning.

This is a pain with which I’m not very familiar. My wife has lost both parents and all but one of their siblings. Both of my parents are still living and only one of their siblings has died, and, frankly, I didn’t really know him. I’ve had pain as a parent, but I haven’t lost a child. Even when there is broken relationship or concern, there is still hope that things can work out. That you will do something.

Father, help me to be more sensitive to the situations of people like Ruth. Love them through me. Love my wife through me. We are approaching the one-year anniversary of her losing her father. Help me to not overlook the significance of that and be, through me, exactly what you need me to be.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

1 John 5:12-19

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
1 John 5:12-19

Dear God, this is one of those passages that seems to say whatever I want it to say. Sin and lose your salvation: I can get that from this. Once saved, always saved: I can see that too. What am I to think?

I suppose, when it comes down to it, for myself, as long as I am humbly pursuing you, I don’t need to worry about my “fire insurance.” Of the three possible outcomes for my soul after death—heaven, hell, nothingness—I only need to worry about hell and of the life I’m living isn’t good enough to avoid hell them o don’t think there’s much I could do to avoid it. Even if I believe in the wrong religion and you are the God of Islam, Mormonism, Hinduism, etc. I have to believe there is room in your heart for someone who worships you, even in ignorance.

No, when I wake up in the morning and pray to you, the afterlife is not any part of my calculus or motivation. The truth is, I need you today. I need your love. I need your wisdom. I need your grace. I need your peace. I need your Holy Spirit to guide me. I need my daily bread from you. I have felt life as part of you and I have felt life apart from you. Even now, if I ever drift too far away from you and start living on my own, I miss you. I can feel the distance from your Spirit. There’s a part of me that thinks that’s the life to which John is referring that I can lose. Not necessarily eternity with you, but the life you give me while my physical body still functions.

Father, Jesus came to give me life abundantly. Help me to feel that life today as I draw near to you and your Spirit.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Philippians 1:20-26

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.
Philippians 1:20-26

Dear God, is it a problem that I don’t long to be with you/Jesus in heaven just yet? I don’t think it is, but this passage from Paul always surprises me. Personally, I’m good to keep living.

It is interesting to now be at an age where I’m likely over halfway through with the life you’ve given me. In fact, I was watching a disaster movie last night and as all of the people were dying I thought about if my time was done now. What would that mean for the ones I love? Would my wife have what she needs? Would my work function until I was replaced? I suppose I’m grateful to know that one of the things that I thought about that gave me some peace was the different things I’ve done to help others. I don’t think my life, as much of a vapor as it is, has been a waste of your time or the time others have kindly invested in it, including family and friends who love me. I’ve taken a really good shot at doing my best for you.

Father, I’m not saying I’m perfect or that I’ve done everything you’ve asked me to do. I failed you yesterday. I’ve probably already failed this morning. So that’s not what I’m saying. I guess what I’m saying is that I’ve found peace in worshipping you and trying to love others around me as my number one and two motivators. Thank you for offering the grace I need so that I don’t have to consider my failures any more than you do.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen