Words and Silence

The readings today in Job and Mark made me think about the power of words and the power of silence.  Job was being verbally badgered by his friends, and it probably would have been “easier” to just nod in agreement with their eloquent accusations…maybe then they would have gone home sooner!  But I have to hand it to Job; he defends himself and refuses to give in and agree with them.  He keeps his words true and straight-forward, appropriately.  In Mark’s account, Jesus is before Pilate being accused and says nothing.  Pilate was both dumbfounded and impressed by this.  It is hard to imagine being quiet in that situation, but Jesus knew it was the right time for no words.  I wish I was better at knowing when to talk and when to be quiet!  It is something we can all work on.

Complain with all your heart.

I love listening to Job complain.

In chapter 23 and 24, he is totally honest in his complaints about how God operates, and yet, makes it clear that he believes in Him and follows Him.

I’ve had moments when I felt like darkness was my closest friend, and yet still hung on to God and his promises, however tenuously. The fact that God made sure we’d know that that’s normal by including Job’s story in the Bible is a great comfort. Job will eventually be restored, and his life will eventually be even better than it was before, but in the middle of the suffering, he complains to God, and God doesn’t “strike him dead”.

Next time you’re going through a rough patch, complain with all your heart to God, but at the same time, cling with all you have to his promises… and watch what happens!

All Aboard

The story of Paul being shipwrecked in Acts 27 and 28 always amazes me. I wish someone would make a big budget movie about this adventure.

If you’re familiar with it, you know that God promises Paul that his life would be spared along with everyone else on the ship–that’s 276 people. Not a couple hundred–but very specifically–two hundred and seventy-six souls.

A couple of things strike me. First, you’re always safer being with someone who’s close to God. Even the lifelong sailors that were on this vessel were frightened for their lives–but they observed Paul’s confidence in God and they listened to everything he told them to do. And it saved their lives.

The other thing is that even the storms of life have a purpose when the journey we’re on is with Jesus.

Here’s the lesson. It’s always a good idea to listen to someone who listens to God–especially in the midst of an incredibly dangerous storm.

All aboard!

God is Awesome

Job expresses his anguish in chapters 9 & 10.  I like that he is honest and trasparent before his friends and God.  He gets his doubts and fears about God right out in the open.  He tells his feelings of being at God’s mercy, and he questions why all this is happening to him.  He recognizes God’s amazing power and strength, and lays all his anger, fear, and questions out on the table.  I think we can learn from Job that God is big enough to handle all our questions, doubts, and fears.  We can go to him without pretending and playing games.  He knows us inside and out, so it is useless to try to hide our true feelings from him anyway.  I’m glad God is awesome like that to take on all our questions and doubts and still love us.

Get Some Sleep

I love this scene in the book of Acts where Peter is imprisoned–awaiting a trumped-up trial and will most likely be executed for political purposes. And there he is, chained between two guards in his prison cell…sleeping!

What kind of faith and spiritual courage allows someone to sleep at a time like this? And we think we’ve got problems.

So what are you losing sleep over these days? Are you troubled by things you can’t control–or are you at rest, knowing that your heart belongs to Jesus and God is in complete control?

Introduce them!

I’ve read Acts dozens and dozens of times, and Acts 10:4 has always gone right past me. An angel comes and speaks to Cornelius, a man who doesn’t yet know Christ, in fact, a man who despite not being part of “God’s people”, the Jews, is described as being “God-fearing” (along with his whole household).

Often those who follow Jesus think that God only hears our prayers, but here the angel says “Your prayers and your acts of charity have gone up as a memorial before God.” I notice two things. One, that the prayers of someone who doesn’t know Christ are heard by God (and then God sees to it that Cornelius hears about Jesus, because Cornelius good works, as we know from Scripture, can never save him). Two, that prayers are heard by God along with acts of charity (also can be translated “gifts to the needy”) are what God listens to, regardless, I think, of who you are.

So… find some way to give to the needy today, offer that up WITH your prayers. AND… there might be somebody around you who is seeking God, and who is God-fearing but doesn’t know Jesus yet.

Introduce them.

Wise Like Ezra

It is so cool to read about Ezra in the Old Testament.  He was a priest and scholar.  Chapter 7 says, “Ezra had committed himself to studying the Revelation of God, to living it, and to teaching Israel to live its truth and ways.”  (Message)  How cool to be known like that!  He was wise and loyal to God.  King Artaxerxes recognized that God was with Ezra and gave his blessing for him to go and work on the Temple.  The king also encourages Ezra to teach anyone who doesn’t yet know the truths of God.  Ezra had earned quite a bit of influence with the king.  Ezra organizes the leaders of Israel and heads back to Jerusalem with them.  Before leaving, he leads them in prayer and fasting in order to humble themselves before God.  He was a wise leader and God worked through him.  We as leaders can learn from Ezra’s example of wisdom, diligence, organization, commitment, and humility.

Same Message as Before

When I first began to read Zechariah, I wasn’t sure if there was much to apply to today.  But, chapter 7 really changed all that for me!  The people in exile are wondering if they should continue their days of mourning over the Temple as they’ve done the lasat 70 years.  God tells them through Zechariah that their fasting and rituals were really for the purpose of religion, not for Him.  He makes it clear that he is interested in PEOPLE, not religion.  He says that his message is the same as it was before (and still is today):  “Treat one another justly.  Love your neighbors.  Be compassionate with each other.  Don’t take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, & the poor.  Don’t plot & scheme against one another–that’s evil.” (7:9,10 Message)  Wow!  That’s great wisdom for today, September 30, 2009 too.  Makes me want to be a “church without walls”.

The Jesus Prayer

Today in Luke 11 we have the Jesus Prayer, the one we call the “paternoster”, the “Lord’s Prayer”, the “Our Father”. I like the name “The Jesus Prayer”, myself, and I thought, just for fun, that I’d just paraphrase it. It’s not entirely theologically sound, but I think mostly… Add your thoughts! I know I’ve divided it differently than theologians have, but I think it gets the point across.

1. God, You are the one we get to call Father, and You are sacred and above us and so different and separate that we can’t even comprehend you, and even Your name is forever holy and honored and special. Even Your very NAME!

2. We pray that the things You do in heaven, we Your church will do here on Earth in Your name, and You will do alongside us, and sometimes despite us. That we can be Your instruments of Your Kingdom right here in our everyday lives.

3. Help us out so that we have what we need today, just for today, and that we might be generous with whatever we have that is above and beyond what we need, too, so that others will have what they need because of You in us (see no. 2. above). Give us just what we need so we don’t get greedy.

4. We have fallen so short, and desperately need You to forgive us, just the same way You ask us to forgive all the people who’ve sinned in the same way, or worse, against us. And so, right now, we let go of the unforgiveness in our hearts. We forgive the ones who’ve hurt us. We let it go.

5. Lead us, by Your Spirit and Your presence in our lives, only into good, only into light and life, and only into Christ, never into temptation. Help us to discern the right path so that the life of Christ is the life we live, by our choices and our lifestyle.

6. We all agree, we will do this, we will surrender, we will lift up Jesus in our hearts and lives as we go about this day.

Maybe you can find a Bible, or go online here, and take a look at Luke 11:2-4, and make it your own. It’s a model for prayer, for life, for all our existence in Christ. Use it!

Generosity…

Luke 6:38 stood out to me today!  In the Message it reads:  “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back–given back with bonus and blessing.  Giving, not getting, is the way.  Generosity begets generosity.”    At first glance, this may sound strange.  But in God’s economy, giving leads to more giving and everyone is better off for it!  It can even become ”contagious”.  I know it is an old saying, but I have found it to be true:  “You can’t out-give God”.  He is right there waiting to pour out the blessings when we give!  That’s awesome.