Ephesians 4:11-16

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Ephesians 4:11-16

Dear God, this sentence really struck me: “This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” It would be nice to think that being mature in you is attainable, but I feel so far from it.

I was on a bike ride this morning, and was thinking about how I’ve been in a bit of a spiritual lull lately. No excuse. I simply haven’t love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I’m sorry for that. I really am.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I give you this day—this moment. I’m here waiting for church to start. I commit this time to simply worship to you.

I pray all of this through the grace of Jesus,

Amen

 

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Luke 19:1-10

Dear God, in the spirit of letting the Holy Spirit examine my heart, I have to ask myself this morning, “How am I like Zacchaeus?” It’s ironic because I don’t think Christians ask themselves that question very much when they read this story. They look at this interaction and the talk about how great Jesus is and how desperate Zacchaeus is, but I don’t often hear people ask themselves if there is any of them in Zacchaeus.

For me, as I sit here this morning and consider this question, what comes to mind isn’t monetary thievery, but still a bit of a duplicitous heart. I am still pretty distracted by some earthly pleasures. And not that there is anything wrong with enjoying things that are in the world, but do I let them distract me too much from you? Am I doing the things you have put on my heart and following your call on my life? You’ve given me some writing projects that seem to have stalled. Should I be doing more there? There are people who might need me to be reaching out to them more proactively. While Zacchaeus was corrupt from a monetary standpoint, am I selfish with my time?

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, search my heart today and reveal to me where I might be selfish. If it is money…time…personal comfort. If maybe I’m too timid when I talk about you. Do I need to share you with others more? Do I need to get better at managing the relationships between those who work with me? Help me to lean on you in every moment of this day. I give you my worship and praise.

I pray all of this under the authority of your Holy Name,

Amen

 

God Wins

Dear God, the other day I was writing down what I was thankful for to a friend and I found myself saying, “God wins!” It’s been a hard week of loss. It’s been a sad week. It’s been an absolutely tragic week for one family I know. So what did I mean by, “God wins!”

I think it starts with the idea that our human view often sees winning as a zero sum game. If I win, that means someone else has to lose. If I get elevated then someone else gets put under me. Yes, there are win/win situations, but in life the world sees winning as power, control, and, ultimately, happiness. “If I’m not winning then I’m not happy.”

Almost three years ago, in August 2020, Andy Stanley gave a sermon that really struck a chord with me. It was called “Not In It To Win It.”

It was about the political environment and how the electorate had become intent on winning at the other side’s expense, and how Christians were getting caught up in this worldly view of winning. He went on to describe what you mean by winning. He talked about Jesus heading to Jerusalem for what would be his beating, crucifixion and resurrection. To the world–especially before the Sunday resurrection–this looked like losing. To the disciples it looked like losing too. But in your calculus, everything happened the way it should happen so I could win.

My wife and I have a great sorrow in our own lives. It’s a situation we don’t understand. Frankly, it feels like losing. It feels like we have lost huge. But we were talking about it recently and wondering what kinds of people we would be right now without this “loss.” Who would we be? Would we be more judgmental of others? Would we be proud and haughty? Would we be as dependent upon you? Are you using this “losing” in not only our lives, but in the lives of those who are part of our sorrow as well? My hope is in the idea that you didn’t cause this pain, but you are certainly using it to form us all into who you long for us to be in you and for your purposes.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I pray that you will not let the pain and sorrow of this week be wasted. For everyone who has touched this story, heal them. Love them. Draw them into yourself. Comfort them. Grow them. Protect them. Protect marriages, siblings, friends, and extended family of those involved. Use this for your good in our community. Show me my role. Please, don’t let this be wasted.

I pray all of this in your holy name,

Amen

 

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Dear God, I have to admit that death stings. It still does. Especially when it’s young and tragic. Is there hope? Yes. Is there comfort? Yes. But it can really, really sting.

Maybe I should focus on how it’s swallowed up in victory. When listing what I was grateful for this morning to a friend, I simply wrote, “God wins!” You do win. You do guide us and provide for us. But I do still get sad at senseless loss.

Right now, there is pain in our community. Can you use this to bring a greater healing. Can your victory swallow up death? Can you use this to unite your church and minister to our youth? What are you calling me to do?

Father, I truly believe your victory swallows up death. I do. Help me to know what role you have for me to play in your world. Help me to know how to do it for your glory. And give comfort to those who have experienced terrible, tragic loss.

In the name of my Triune God, I pray,

Amen

 

Romans 8:26-27

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
Romans 8:26-27

Dear God, it’s good to know that even for the Holy Spirit, sometimes there just are no words–just groans. Right now, I am asking that the Holy Spirit will plead for us to you in harmony with your own will. It’s a simple prayer, really. Holy Spirit, I am at a loss for words right now. There was a tragedy in our community last night. There are people impacted by the loss. There are people who are tasked with comforting those who lost while experiencing the loss themselves. There are people who are more on the periphery who simply care. But we are one community. We need each other. Use this to unite us. Please do not let this pain be wasted.

Father, right now is just a time to groan in pain. The day will come when we can pull our heads up and not experience the pain as deeply, but right now, in this moment, there is just pain. Pain and fear. So I don’t have much else to say today except thank you that you’re there, and thank you that you care.

I pray all of this under your Holy Name,

Amen

 

Acts 4:23-24,29-31

As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:23-24,29-31

Dear God, I’ll confess that there are some moments when the idea of being filled by the Holy Spirit excites and thrills me and there are other times when it terrifies me. So I guess the question is, what am I afraid of?

I was reading a story this morning about an actor who had lost 150 lbs. He talked about how his diet has changed. he said he now eats food he used to make fun of people for eating. He talked about lifestyle changes that I, frankly, wouldn’t want to make for myself. For my part, I used to weigh over 300 lbs. Now I weigh about 240. I could stand to lose another 20, but it would take even more lifestyle changes than I’ve made to lose the 60 lbs. Am I ready for that?

Father, help me to embrace the idea of being totally filled with your Holy Spirit. Even though, like eating habits, it might cost me things I think I need to enjoy life, I know your a Holy Spirit will bring me joy and peace beyond my imagination of conception. Please help me submit to it completely.

I pray this through the grace of Jesus,

Amen

 

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:30-31

Dear God, I just read most of this chapter, starting with verse 18. It’s all about your wisdom and our foolishness. So as I sit here and think about how grateful I am for my connection to you through Jesus, and how you are my only thing in which I can boast, I wonder how should I pursue wisdom and knowledge.

My temptation is to still seek wisdom in the world’s way. To make “smart,” “wise,” and “rational” decisions. But somehow I need to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and your still small voice than that. I need to tend to the soil of my heart and make sure it is clear of thorns and rocks so that you can grow a good crop within me.

Father, help me to continue to turn loose of the cares of this world and the pursuit of wealth. My soil isn’t terrible, but it could be better. Help me to be mindful of you today.

I pray this in your holy name,

Amen

 

The Christmas Story as Seen by Bono

“The Christmas story has a crazy good plot with an even crazier premise – the idea goes, if there is a force of love and logic behind the universe, then how amazing would it be if that incomprehensible power chose to express itself as a child born in shit and straw poverty.” Bono

Dear God, it really isn’t the plan I’d have come up with at all. In fact, I just don’t understand how you could have come up with it except that it must have been the only way. No, I’d have done it differently. I’m not sure how, but it would have been less loving, less sacrificial, and less vulnerable. I’d have put limits on how much I was willing to suffer for humankind. For someone like me.

The people then just wanted you to do what they needed in the moment–overthrow Rome. That would have been too short-sighted and limiting for what you needed to accomplish. Your plan was so rich and all-encompassing. It not only provided a path for all humanity to commune with you and worship you, but it also used Jesus’s example and teaching to show us how to live. And yes, he grew up poor too. That’s pretty interesting.

Father, I confess to you that my love has limits. My love for you, my wife, and my children has limits. I’m only capable of so much. I’m continuously amazed, however, at just how big my love for you, my wife, and my children is. It’s more than I could ever have imagined it could be. But seeing how richly you love, how willingly you sacrifice, and how vulnerably you entered the world makes me want to worship you all the more. I have nothing without you. Thank you.

I pray to you through the opportunity you grant me through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus,

Amen

 

The Next Generation

Dear God, I was reading Fred Smith’s blog post from yesterday and many thoughts came to mind. I would commend it to anyone. In it, he was describing how the Baby Boomer generation has responded to life through the decades and what kind of legacy it is currently leaving. Of course, things like this are always brushed with a broad stroke, and Fred would be the first to say that. In fact, he took time to talk about the “Boomers” who do not fit the stereotype, but the stereotype is there nonetheless.

One of my first thoughts is that the “Greatest Generation” is all but gone. Those that are still around are certainly weakened and their influence diminished. In my mind, the thing that defined the Greatest Generation the most was their struggle to survive. They survived the Great Depression. They survived World War II. They were forged by fire They were tempered. I’m not saying they were perfect. I’m not saying I idealize or idolize them. But I do think they had a strength as a group that grew through trial.

I also wondered if the disaster of the Vietnam War and its execution combined with the civil unrest with racism in the 60s didn’t create a new culture of protesting that has stuck with them and filtered down to the other generations today. I don’t know how many protests there were before the 1960s. I mean, I know there were protests before that. But did those that are in their 60s and 70s now embrace them in a new way as they expressed their anger and outrage? Did they see this as their best way to affect change? Their only way? Has this pattern of displaying anger to get your way somehow become baked into our political and other disagreements even today?

Incidentally, and speaking of Vietnam and the war there, I learned something interesting yesterday. There was a remarkable three-month period in 1973 that is fascinating. Richard Nixon was inaugurated for his second term on January 20. Lyndon Johnson, his predecessor and a president who expanded the war in Vietnam died on January 22. The U.S. signed a treaty to withdraw from South Vietnam on January 27. The U.S. removed the last of its troops on March 27. Finally, after the withdrawal, the South Vietnam president visited the US in April to seek assurances of financial and military aid from Nixon and pay respects at the LBJ’s grave.

But back on topic. This spirit of deciding that yelling is the best way to get your voice heard seems to have now won the day in our society. The idea that if I tell you how angry you’ve made me will get you to change course has drowned out constructive dialogue, and it seems to have seeped into Generation X (my generation) as well. I’m not saying the protests were wrong. I’m not saying the anger at the time was wrong. But the hammer of yelling, protesting, etc. seems to be the preferred tool for those who are trying to influence society or even their own communities or families now. I’ll admit that I’ve done it and used it too often. I’m sorry for that.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, help me to see that most things are not a nail, and my hammer is rarely the tool I need to address the issue in front of me. Help me to see that most issues are actually born of brokenness and broken people, and the tool I need to use more frequently is compassion and love. I need to listen better and talk less. I need to listen to you first. I need to hear your Holy Spirit in real time so that I can be who you need me to be. I need to worship you and till the soil of my heart. I need to be at peace knowing that there is actually very little that bothers me that I can affect, but there are all kinds of things I can do every day to allow your presence to enter the world through me. So forgive me for my belligerence, and let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven through my life.

I pray all of this as I worship you, the God of the universe,

Amen

 

Romans 5:6

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
Romans 5:6

Dear God, helpless is an interesting word here. Last Sunday, I heard a sermon where the pastor talked about a family who lost everything in a house fire. Now, they were experiencing tremendous blessing, kindness, and charity from countless people and they didn’t know how to respond. The pastor was talking to the man, who was a neighbor, not a parishioner, and the man told the pastor that he was really struggling with accepting all of this charity. The pastor replied that the man was feeling helpless for the first time, needed the help of others, and didn’t like it. That was hard. It’s hard for nearly all of us, frankly.

I think back to when we were children and we just expected things to be delivered to us. We did nothing to provide for ourselves and we did little to show in-kind or commensurate appreciation or love to those who were providing for us. We simply didn’t have the capacity to give back.

I knew a woman who, a few years ago, had to care for her father in his old age. Actually, I’ve known a lot of people in this situation. And it’s hard for both to embrace their new roles. It’s hard for both to understand what to do and how to accept what is happening.

All of this is to say, this is also how it is between you and us. You and me. I am helpless. I simply am. As my wife and I prayed together this morning, I talked about weeding the soil in my life to give the Holy Spirit room to work in me. I cannot do it on my own. I cannot will myself to be more like you. All I can do is try to clear out the thorns of this world (Matthew 13:22) and then give your Holy Spirit room to grow in me. That’s what I’m trying to do this morning. Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I am helpless and I need you. Please help me to turn loose of the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, take up my cross, and simply follow you.

I pray all of this under your authority and with great gratitude,

Amen