Luke 12:13-21

¹³ Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” ¹⁵ Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

¹⁶ Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. ¹⁷ He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. ¹⁹ And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

²¹ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Luke 12:13-21

Dear God, I’m fascinated by the difference between what Jesus emphasizes as his role in our lives in verse 14 and what Christians seem to see as his role in our lives now. I get so tired of hearing the church complain that we are being mistreated or persecuted by society. First, we have zero idea what real persecution is. Second, if we are being mistreated for legitimately discipling and living out our faith, isn’t that the time we are supposed to double down and show even more love? The guy who approached Jesus in verse 13 wanted both justice and money. Jesus basically told him he was wrong to be concerned about either for himself. He saw the man as greedy, plain and simple. Jesus challenged that greed.

I’ll confess that I’ve felt some questioning in my heart about how much my wife and I are spending on this vacation as compared with what we could be giving to others. In reality, we don’t hold back on giving. I think that, by any measure, we are generous with others. But this trip does seem very self-indulgent. I mentioned this recently to a friend who does not have much money and she did not begrudge us this trip at all. And maybe that’s right.

Father, Holy Spirit, please help me to search my heart and figure out where my greed lies and what I should do about it. Show me how to love others with your love. Show me the needs around me you want me to address. Show me what my role is in the broken relationships in my life.

I pray this through the power of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection,

Amen

 

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:14-16

Dear God, here’s my problem. The examples I’ve seen in my life, even from the Bible, who have exhibited great faith have always seemed on the fringe of being a little kooky, or just downright kooky. I guess as I’m reading these verses this morning, combining them with a podcast I just listened to, and wondering why I do or don’t do some of the things that would be a light shining for you.

For context, I read these verses this morning and started thinking about them a little. Then a friend sent me a link to a podcast called Cultural Catalyst. The pastor was interviewing a woman named Jamila Page about diversity in the church and in the body of Christ. It was a really great conversation which I enjoyed. But the part of the interview that generated a visceral reaction out of me was the beginning when she told the story of being supernaturally healed from an affliction. If accurately told (and I have no reason to not believe her–in fact, I do believe her), it was truly a miracle. I’ve witnessed such miracles in the past. So why do I hear something like this and immediately raise up my guard? Why is it that I had to hear the rest of her interview for her to have credibility with me?

I’ll go back to the thing I started with: kooky. I’ve known a lot of people who actively preached “healing” that were a little kooky. Even those who aren’t preaching healing, I’ve known just some kooky “Jesus Freaks.” Probably the first example of this I see in the Bible is actually Abraham. If he had been my father–if I had been Isaac or Ishmael–I would have been skeptical of you. His acts of faith would have seemed incredibly impulsive and nutty to me:

• Leave family and clan and head off into the wilderness
• Any given decision he made regarding Sarai/Sarah and Hagar, including Pharaoh and the sister thing.
• Taking Isaac off to sacrifice him

His acts of faith and hearing your voice must have seemed crazy to his family and slaves. For other examples there are, of course, televangelists who, well, ’nuff said. I’ve been to charismatic churches before that seem to attract those who are, well, let’s just say their personalities are not in the middle of the societal spectrum.

So back to this healing thing. I asked my wife over breakfast why I don’t invoke healing more and embrace it as a normal part of my faith and prayer time. One of the things we came up with is that, at least for ourselves, we aren’t convinced that any pain or physical ailment we are experiencing isn’t something that you need for us to experience. Should the illness I have result in my death or discomfort? Maybe. Probably. Who am I to ask otherwise?

Then there are others. I have a woman at my job who is experiencing great discomfort. I’ve prayed for her relief and that the doctors would be able to help her, but I told my wife this morning that I haven’t bothered to ask you, directly, for her immediate healing. Why not?

Father, Holy Spirit, I’m going to make the rest of this prayer about my coworker. I ask that you please move through her body. Touch it right now, on this Saturday morning at 9:00am her time, to touch her, heal her, and make her whole. Holy Spirit, move now, please. For her sake, but also for your glory’s sake. Of course, I don’t want to ask for anything out of your will. So I ask that you please will it. Please heal her. Help her to feel your presence. Help her to feel your smile. And whether your will it or not, help her life (and my life as well) to be lights for others to be drawn to you.

In Jesus’s name I come and boldly ask this prayer,

Amen

 

Psalm 119:92

If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.
Psalm 119:92

Dear God, this was the verse before the “verse of the day” from Bible Gateway. It really spoke to me this morning. There have been times when I have been completely miserable. Some of them in the last year. Some the last 10 years. Outside of the miscarriage my wife experienced 27 years ago, my most miserable moments in life have come in the last 10 years. But you were there. I don’t know that I would say your “instructions” sustained me with joy through these times, but you certainly sustained me.

There were two years when I didn’t do these journals to you. I didn’t walk away from you during that time, but my misery put me in a different place. I remember praying to you that I wasn’t mad, but I just couldn’t get myself there. Looking back, it reminds me of the poem “Footprints in the Sand” when the author Carolyn Carty says (quoting you):

“My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you.”

Father, Holy Spirit, thank you for walking with me. Thank you for sustaining me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for joy in the midst of misery. Thank you for using this misery for your good, for my good, and for the good of those I love even though most of the time I cannot see what you’re doing or how it is good. Thank you for being my comforter, my counselor, and my God. Thank you for giving me something bigger than myself. Thank you that I am not the center of the universe, but I am your grateful servant, ready to give everything to you.

I pray all of this through the Son, who lived, died and was resurrected for my redemption,

Amen

 

Philippians 3:14

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:14

Dear God, I think this is two days back-to-back that the verse of the day from Bible Gateway was been the two theme verse from the two Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) national conferences I attended in 1986 and 1987. What are the odds? Holy Spirit, are you trying to tell me something? Are you getting my attention from verses that hit my radar 35-ish years ago?

The connective tissue for these verses is giving myself a chance to perform. From Hebrews, throwing off the things that tie me down. From Philippians, persevering. To quote the movie Galaxy Quest: “Never give up, never surrender!” But I just need to make sure I don’t do these things in my power. It’s not by my strength that I press on. It’s not by my virtue. I need you.

Father, Holy Spirit, I’m about to start a vacation, but I don’t want it to be just sunk time of self-indulgence. Help me even in this moment to press on into you. Use this time to shape me and teach me. Help me to learn from my wife. Help me to learn from those I meet over the next 17 days. Help me to bring you into their lives as well. Be glorified through me and show me what work you have for me to do, both in my vocation and in my personal life.

I pray all of this by the privilege the Lord Jesus afforded me through his life, death and resurrection.

Amen

 

Hebrews 12:1-4

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
Hebrews 12:1-4

Dear God, what is the weight that slows me down? Hmm. Maybe I don’t want to answer that question. I like some of that weight. What I’m thinking about initially are some of the time-sucks like streaming YouTube videos in the evening. Playing Sudoku. Really, a lot of things that involve my iPhone. For a productive tool, it can certainly be a time-suck.

Outside of these things, there are also the pieces of emotional baggage that tie me down. Worrying about loved ones and family who are out of my control. Although the worry does drive me to pray for them, which is good. But sometimes it can consume me and demotivate me to work on other things, which can be bad. I can also get distracted by politics and other things over which I have no control. Now that I think about these examples, distraction from things over which I have no control is probably a common theme in my life and the lives of most people.

Holy Spirit, please nudge me each time today when I am giving into something that slows me down. Show me how to run with perseverance. Show me how to wholly commit everything I do to you. Do it all for your glory so that my limited time on earth might be productive for your kingdom coming and your will being done on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Ephesians 5:25-33

²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. ²⁷ He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. ²⁸ In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. ²⁹ No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. ³⁰ And we are members of his body.

³¹ As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” ³² This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. ³³ So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:25-33

Dear God, I always think of this verse on my anniversary. It was read at our wedding, and I’ll always remember one of my wife’s friends telling her that the verses preceding verse 25 about women submitting to their husbands made them nervous, but they trusted her to know what she was doing.

I was thinking about it yesterday on my bike ride. I was thinking about how much I have changed since I was fresh out of college 22 years ago. My wife has changed as well. I think the key is me really learning what it is like to:

• Love her
• Make her holy and clean through the cleansing of your Word
• Present her without a spot or wrinkle
• Love her as myself
• Leave my father and mother and join with her
• Unite with her

So what does that look like, and does doing those things successfully help her to “submit” in a way that is edifying for her? Back to my bike ride, I was thinking about how needy I was when we first got married. I was incredibly insecure, looking for her to love me the way my insecurity needed to be loved. I had expectations of her that were not freeing to her. Submission to 22-year-old me could be burdensome. Not because I was being mean, but because I did not really love her in a way that gave her freedom to discover who she was in you. I was too busy making sure she fed a part of my ego that was damaged.

I guess it didn’t really start to change until 1.) I started doing these prayer journals eight years later and 2.) I experienced Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas for the first time. The prayer journals rekindled my discipleship and reliance upon you for the needs that my damaged ego had. Sacred Marriage taught me that her job in my life was not to make me happy, but to be a friend and help me to grow into a better, more humble man. All of a sudden, I could take my need to control her love for me and turn it into an incredible desire to see her flourish in every way–just like Jesus wants to see His church flourish.

Father, I haven’t figured all of this out. There are still parts of my life that are a mess. There are still things I do that frustrate her and hurt her. So I’m not sitting here and claiming to be this amazing husband. What I am saying is that I know I’m not the man I was 30 years ago, and that is all because of you and what you have done for me, including what you have done for me through her. Thank you. Thank you for the 33 years I have known her. Thank you for the 30 years of marriage. Thank you for our daughter and our son. As year 31 starts today, I pray that you would help us to be, as a couple, exactly what you need us to be for all of those in our sphere of influence. And please continue to grow our hearts together.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing…But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18

Dear God, as I sat down for church this evening I found a funeral service bulletin left behind from earlier in the week. It was for a 93-year-old woman. This was the New Testament reading. I’m not sure I remember hearing it at a funeral before, but it’s great. I really like it. What a beautiful thing to be able to say at the end of your life. I hope they are words I can say at the end of my own life.

So what makes it so hard to live this kind of a life? I suppose it comes down to selfishness and my desire to just fulfill my own desires at any given moment. It’s one thing to stay away from sin. It’s another thing to be constantly communing with the Holy Spirit with me and not missing the myriad opportunities I have to sacrifice my own will for yours.

Holy Spirit, as I continue on the rest of this evening and tomorrow, help me to think about you a little more. Help me to consider what you would have me do at any given moment. Thank you that this was a good day in that it was productive and I was able to spend some quality time with you. I worshipped. I contemplated scripture. I did productive work at home. I joined others in corporate worship. Show me what you have for me to do tomorrow.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

1 John 1:8-10

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
1 John 1:8-10

Dear God, I have sin. I admit it. I am petty. I am selfish. I don’t worship and love you with all my heart, mind, and strength. I don’t love others as myself. Thank you, thank you, thank you for Jesus. Thank you that my repentant voice is heard through all of this. Thank you that you cleared a path for me to be in relationship with you through Jesus. Thank you that you are slowly molding me into something better. Thank you that you love me.

Holy Spirit, please be the Father’s presence with me today. Counsel me. Bring your love into the world through me. In each conversation, each interaction with someone, help me to channel you so that your kingdom will come into the world. So that your will will be done.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Psalm 119:7

As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!
Psalm 119:7

Dear God, I started this prayer yesterday but didn’t get very far. I had a plan of when I would sit down and really spend some time with you, but then things happened. Some of it was spent in intercessory prayer for some friends, but some was just legitimate busyness. Then there was some time spent on my own private preferences instead of making this a priority. I’m sorry for that. But when I woke up this morning, I knew I wanted to live up to the sentiment of this verse and make you my priority: As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should.

Holy Spirit, please walk with me today and be my connection with the Father. Help me to live as I should. Speak to me and give me ears to hear. Help me to show your compassion and offer you to others. When I talk to others, be what they need from you through me. And please grant me the aero mitt to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Preparing to Preach

Dear God, I am preaching this morning for a small Presbyterian church. I know you know this because I have been praying to you about it since their pastor called and asked me to fill in for him this Sunday. I’ve done my preparation. I’ve prayed. I’ve read scripture. I’ve studied commentaries. I’ve gone back and pulled from other lessons you’ve taught me to help make the point. I’ve put it all into an outline from which I am, supposedly, ready to preach. But this isn’t going anywhere if the Holy Spirit isn’t speaking through me. Flowing through me. Using me in the way he needs to so that the ears of those who need to hear what you’ve given me to say can be blessed. Yes, the mechanics are done, but the mechanics of putting together a sermon are less than half of the process. Now, with less than two hours to go before I am standing before a collection of Jesus worshippers who are waiting for you to speak to them this morning, I pray that I would me what you need them to have. Holy Spirit, use me as your audible voice. Bring me no glory this morning. In fact, it would be better if I could receive no praise at all. My only goal this morning is to be pleasing in your sight.

There is one couple in the congregation, in particular, about whom I thought mostly when I was preparing this sermon. It’s about prayer and they are facing a terrible medical situation for their adult daughter. I cannot imagine the pain and fear they have. Speak to them. Use this pain to help them grow into who you need them to be. Use my own pain in the areas of my life that concern me and grow me into the man you need me to be. Let nothing be wasted. Let nothing that comes from you or from this life return void. Use it all for your glory.

And now, let me pray the chorus of a song that always helps me get over myself in times like this:

“I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody all about somebody who saved my soul. Ever since you rescued me you gave my heart a song to sing. I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus” (Casting Crowns).

Father, teach us to pray. Teach me to pray. Teach us this morning. Convict us for our selfish, narcissistic prayers. I’m certainly sorry for mine. I’m sorry for how I have allowed my own selfish hurt to influence my prayers. I’m sorry for the people for whom I neglect to pray. I don’t spend enough time in intercessory prayer. I’m sorry for that. My wife is so good at it and I am not. I’m sorry for that. I remember making a prayer list one time over 30 years ago, and it got so long that it because unwieldy and I gave up on it. Maybe I should try it again and organize it a little differently. Anyway, give me everything you need me to say that morning. Fill me. Enter the world this morning through me and through this church.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen