One Really Bad Dinner Guest

Scripture: As He was speaking, a Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and reclined at the table. Luke 11:37

Observation: When Jesus goes to dine at the Pharisee's house, he ... refuses to observe the practices of his host, directly criticizes those practices, calls him a fool, then pronounces six different complaints against the Pharisee and those like him, expanding it to include scribes and law keepers. Jesus insults their giving, their injustice to the poor, their pride, their secrecy, their judgmental ways, their hypocrisy, and their lack of understanding of history. It is quite the rant at the dinner table.

In everything he said, Jesus is not wrong. He provides specific examples supporting his statements. He proves his superior knowledge by directly relating his statements to scripture. In the end, the Pharisees begin plotting to trap him into making a mistake, further supporting the fact that nothing he said at this time was mistaken. Yes, this angered them - they even told him so - but it was accurate. Certainly, it angered them BECAUSE it was accurate.

Application: God's correction will anger me. The issue will always be ... how will I choose to respond to that correction? Will I choose to be angry, figuring out a way to respond in that anger, or even plotting for ways to trick God into being wrong so I can then be justified in ignoring what he has said? Will I, in my anger, commit even more sin? Or will I actually listen to the correction, take it to heart, examine my ways, and improve?

We know a minority did the latter. We also know these sorts of verses exist so that we later believers may take the advice, recognize that we are Pharisees who do greedy, prideful, hypocritical things, and correct our actions.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I do not need to have you insult me to my face. I know I am in need of correction. I seek your correction, and I pray for my right response to that correction. May I receive it with humility, understanding the love by which it is corrected, so I may live a right life and better serve you daily. Again I say it, I wish to walk with you daily, and in doing so I will listen to your instruction. Amen.

Four Parts of Faith

Scripture: "This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Ask the priests for a ruling. If a man is carrying consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does it become holy?" The priests answered, "No." Then Haggai asked, "If someone defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?" The priests answered, "It becomes defiled." Then Haggai replied, "So is this people, and so is this nation before Me"—this is the Lord’s declaration. "And so is every work of their hands; even what they offer there is defiled." Haggai 2:11-14

Observation: The book of Haggai is two chapters, and he receives two messages for the remnant that has returned to rebuild Jerusalem. The first is telling them to rebuild the temple, because blessing has been withheld from them until they do. This is the second, and it uses Levitical law to instruct the people in their work.

Under Levitical law, if something that is holy/blessed touches something that is not, the other thing does not become holy. However, if something is ceremonially unclean and it touches something else, that other thing does become ceremonially unclean. And so it is with the building of the temple. The people have not consecrated themselves in order to do the work. Touching the holy stones of the old temple will not sanctify them. However, being defiled now, them working on the temple will make the temple unworthy.

In other words, Haggai's first prophesy was "honor God by getting to work." This, his second prophesy, is "honor God by following his right instruction before and while you work."

Application: Scripture is full of this lesson ... there is faith of the heart, faith of the mind, faith of the soul, and faith of the body, but total faith requires all four. We are to love God with all these. We can love in our hearts, believing in Christ internally, but works also matter. None of these stand alone. So when the remnant is not working on the temple, God corrects them. However, when they are just "working" on the temple - moving rock without observing sacrifice, Sabbath, and other laws - God also corrects them.

Likewise, my service to God needs all of me. I need to do the work. I need to love God and others with my heart. I need to obey instructions and avoid sin. I need to meditate on God and his word. I need to believe in Jesus. And I need to do all these, in all things - doing one or two but failing in one or two is not the instruction, and it will receive correction and strife, not reward and blessing.

Prayer: My father in heaven, you are so loving. Thank you for listening to me last night. I still don't know any new answers, but you allowed me to ask questions. You are so patient, so kind, so gentle. Many of us are hurting this day, and more will hurt as word spreads in Bothell and Pullman alike. I pray for those who hurt. Mostly, I pray for their peace. They will ask questions, but may they not find confusion and silence at the ends of those questions. May they instead find comfort, kindness, love, and curiosity about you. Amen.

Labor in the Lord

Scripture:
Unless the Lord builds a house,
its builders labor over it in vain;
unless the Lord watches over a city,
the watchman stays alert in vain.
In vain you get up early and stay up late,
working hard to have enough food—
yes, He gives sleep to the one He loves.
Psalm 127:1-2

Observation: In a similar thought to yesterday, the psalmist (credited to Solomon) declares that it is necessary for God to be involved in order for good and worthy things to be built. God blesses labor, be it in daily work or the provisioning of sustenance, when we invite God into that work and seek his way. Then, he who loves us blesses us.

Application: I try to start every day by inviting God into my work. However, I need to do this more often on a moment-by-moment basis. I need to invite God into my meetings, my decisions, my conversations. I don't just want to invite him into my day, but rather invite him explicitly into every element of my work.

I do get up early and stay up late ... I do not wish for that to be in vain.

Prayer: Lord, I ask you to join me today, in this place. Please be the motivation of my actions, words, and deeds. I would like to seek your direction and council in all matters. I thank you for your great love and your great wisdom, and hope I may share in these through faithful obedience to your guidance. Amen.

Emotions Begin with God's Heart

Scripture: But many of the older priests, Levites, and family leaders, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this house, but many others shouted joyfully. The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away. Ezra 3:12-13

Observation: The Israelites returning from exile have raised the foundation of the temple and begin celebrating this, but their celebration is mixed. For some, the fact they have reached a milestone of recovery is reason to shout and sing. For others, the fact that they are willing to enjoy such a meager thing as a foundation when the memory of the great temple is the true goal far outweighs that achievement ... this is cause to mourn and lament. The result is this great but mixed noise. It is a sound indistinguishable - no one can tell who is rejoicing and who is wailing - and it can be heard from far away.

There are two opposite ways of interpreting this divided and opposite response. One is to condemn those who celebrate, for they are celebrating their own accomplishment (the laying of stones), while those who cry recognize the fact that this is not the house of the Lord and cannot become so without his blessing. The other lesson is to condemn those to mourn, for they are allowing the past to prevent the advancement of God's work, while those to rejoice see that God is moving again among them and seek an opportunity to worship him.

However, what if all of those positions are wrong? What if all response to this work is flawed? It would seem this work is occurring in an uninspired way - there is no person consulting God to determine how best to restore the temple. Meanwhile, of course the temple won't be rebuilt suddenly and fully, and cannot look the same as it once did after only a few months of manual labor. It seems possible, therefore, that this mixed response may actually be a further example of the divided heart of Israel ... they again seek God, but have forgotten how, and remain outside of his favor as a chosen people. Therefore, until they restore their hearts - and seek God's heart - all emotions related to the rebuilding of the temple are problematic.

Application: When I seek God's "heart", I need to understand that also means I seek to avoid my own "heart." I must not assess situations and determine my emotional or logical response based on my own emotions. Instead, I must see the situation, seek to discover God's emotions associated with that situation, and desire my emotions to align to his through drawing close to him.

The returned exiles were not seeking God's heart. Therefore, they had no idea how to emotionally respond to the foundation of the temple. In turn, I cannot know how to emotionally respond to anything - national conflict, impending war, natural disasters, challenges at work - until I seek God's heart in the matter. When I seek his heart, and he reveals his attitude and emotions in the matter, then I can know how to proceed.

Prayer: Lord, I do seek your heart, your will, and an understanding of your love daily. I will strive to engage in prayer on matters more often, listening to your voice. I will listen not just for instructions, but for emotions as well. Amen.

What a Beautiful Name

My heart desperately needs peace and patience today ... and this is the last song that played on the radio during my commute today. The Lord knows so well what we need, and works in everything to give it in abundance.

Now and forever, God, you reign.
Yours is the kingdom, and yours in the glory!

It's Not About What You Do

Scripture: Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He told them, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.” Some soldiers also questioned him: “What should we do?” He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation; be satisfied with your wages.” Luke 3:12-14

Observation: As John the Baptist is preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah, they are asking him about what true repentance looks like. Besides the general 'crowds', two groups are singled out - tax collectors and soldiers.  Tax collectors were notorious for being false and manipulative, extracting extra taxes for themselves. Soldiers were known for being intimidating extortionists, requiring payment for protection and other goods for their living.

John does NOT tell either group to stop and quit their professions. Instead, he merely tells them to ... honestly do their jobs. Tax collectors should only collect proper taxes. Soldiers should accept their wages and not extort anything more. In other words, it is completely possible to be a tax collector or a soldier who both does their job to its fullest AND is living rightly in the sight of God, and this is accomplished by simply and honestly doing ones job well.

Application: Clearly, my job has been on my mind. There are frustrations, issues, and turmoil around me. I sometimes wish I were pursing further advancement. I sometimes wish I had chosen an entirely different career. I often question what I should be doing.

God has always answered my questions in this regard: I am to do his work, where I am, while doing my job in a manner that honestly treats my staff and others. In this manner, I can bring him glory and opportunity to shine the light of Jesus into an unlikely place (a government IT operation).

John gave the same answer. A soldier or tax collector who declared he was honest as a sign of repentance would be a powerful witness for Jesus ... as we learn later through the examples of Levi, Zacchaeus, and the centurion officer. An IT director who treats everyone with respect, care, and patience, while continuing to strive for operational quality and new innovation, could be a powerful witness for Jesus. This is the answer I get from God.

Prayer: Lord, as always, I will dwell in the land you have set me and seek only your leading and direction. Please aid me in being your light, without any dimming caused by bad behavior, anger, or frustration. My frustrations will be so much less when I know that my true work and mission, being your disciple and servant, is the actual race in which I daily strive. I will keep that prize before me. Amen.

Swimming in the Word

Scripture: He said to me, "This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down to the Arabah. When it enters the sea, the sea of foul water, the water of the sea becomes fresh. Every kind of living creature that swarms will live wherever the river flows, and there will be a huge number of fish because this water goes there. Since the water will become fresh, there will be life everywhere the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside it from En-gedi to En-eglaim. These will become places where nets are spread out to dry. Their fish will consist of many different kinds, like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. Yet its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be left for salt. All kinds of trees providing food will grow along both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for medicine." Ezekiel 47:8-12

Observation: The river flowing from the temple is the word of God - the trees along its shore are described using the same language as Jeremiah and Psalm 1 (their leaves do not wither and they bear fruit without fail). This word of God goes to the dry, arid places. It goes to the dead and spoiled water. And it brings perfect life. Everything it touches is restored, and it teems with new and plentiful life where none existed before. That life in turn nourishes others, providing for sustenance, livelihood, and even healing.

Application: If I fully embraced this metaphor for the word of God, how would that change my daily interactions? I should seek to spread that word to others. At the very least, I should have that word inside me at all times so that I may thrive and be filled.

This is why I seek daily devotions. It is to meditate on God's word. It must never be a ritual or chore - it must always be the re-introduction of God's great river of life into my heart and soul every day. It must be something I think upon every day, bring to mind during hardships, rely upon during trials, and depend upon for strength. It is too deep to cross - too much to ever fully know and understand - full of every wisdom and good thought.

Prayer: Lord, may I swim in your word today, and every day. Keep my heart soft toward others, as a sponge soaked in your water and not dried out, so I can absorb and consider every issue, challenge, concern, and worry, and then squeeze it back out into you for full relief. When I am troubled, may I rely upon your promises, your love, your guidance, and your care. I wish to not fall into my own self-sufficiency, for my abilities, thoughts, and plans will never be enough. Instead, may I swim in your word every day, and allow you alone to keep me awash in your wisdom and guidance. Amen.

Learning About Salvation and Forgiveness

Scripture:
And child, you will be called
a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare His ways,
to give His people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the Dawn from on high will visit us
to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1:76-79

Observation: While Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, is often thought of in a less favorable light because he did not immediately believe Gabriel, he is actually very faithful in the scriptures. He serves dutifully as a priest. Verse 6 says he is "righteous" and lives "without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord". Despite being struck mute, he remains fully obedient to God, and the instant his muteness is removed he praises God. He then delivers specific and direct prophesy.

Zechariah's prophesy is clear and specific. He declares that John will be called a prophet, and that he will be the one who goes before the Lord (Messiah) to prepare his way. He further defines what that preparation looks like - something Isaiah did not originally do - in that John will educate people about that nature of salvation and forgiveness. This is the message that is necessary for others to be prepared for the message of Jesus. They must understand the nature of salvation ... that we are removed from God through sin and thus require an act of mercy from God in order to draw near him and receive eternal salvation. And they must understand the nature of forgiveness ... that sin itself must also be addressed by God's decision to forgive and ignore our transgressions.

Application: John provides the framework to understanding Jesus as the Messiah. In order to understand Jesus as the Messiah, everyone - even today - must also understand the nature of sin, their need for forgiveness, and the resulting salvation available to them. Without this, they can 'logically' understand the message of Jesus, but they struggle with true belief because they don't connect emotionally with the need for Jesus.

This was a lesson I had to learn ... it is necessary to understand Jesus in our hearts, and not just logically in our minds. Understanding the law is a matter of the mind, and it is insufficient. Receiving the free gifts of Jesus - forgiveness of sin and salvation through faith - are matters of the heart and soul, and they are all sufficient.

Prayer: Lord, I used to only have head knowledge of you, and thus did not believe in Jesus. Now I have faith in Jesus, and thus trust in your forgiveness and salvation through your love. However, sometimes I now lose the knowledge of your teachings. Help me to retain all three, and act in a manner consistent with my unified mind, heart, and soul, at all times. Amen.

On Signs and Wonders

Scripture:
Just as we heard, so we have seen
in the city of Yahweh of Hosts,
in the city of our God;
God will establish it forever. Selah
Psalms 48:8

Observation: This psalm celebrates "Zion", commonly considered a reference to Jerusalem. It speaks of the city of God, this eternal city with the temple mount. It is a stronghold feared by enemies, that will exist forever.

The structure of the psalm is telling. It has four significant stanzas, but then this one verse physically separate in the middle. The fact this verse is accented by "Selah" - pause and reflect on this - calls this verse out as special.

This verse says that God will establish "it" forever. The assumption is that "it" is the city of Jerusalem. However, the rest of the psalm also discusses several attributes of God himself, which are merely reflected in sentiments about "Mount Zion" ... which itself is not Jerusalem, but is usually considered to be the temple mount by Old Testament writers. Prior to this central verse, the symbol of Zion is ... holy, splendid, and fearful. After the central verse, God himself is ... faithful, loving, and just.

Again, this core verse provides unique insight into the meaning. The speaker is saying he has "heard" of "it", and now has had that confirmed by seeing the city of Yahweh. This "it" must be ... the Lord's greatness. The writer has been taught of God's greatness, and now perceives that greatness confirmed in the wonder of the temple. The writer then re-translates that back to the glory of God's nature. Here is what that structure looks like:

The writer hears: God is faithful, loving, and just.
The writer sees: The temple is holy, splendid, and fearful.
The writer therefore believes: God is faithful, loving, and just.

Application: I am reminded by this structure of the concept of "signs and wonders". Jesus often performed miracles, but also often chided people for needing such things in order to discover their faith. Likewise, I expect that God expected the Israelites to believe in him through his love and mercy as he cared for them as a nation, but then provided signs to focus their faith. The temple was one symbol - the glorious structure unlikely anything any human could have ever seen or imagined in that time.

Today, God still provides signs of his love, power, justice, mercy, and authority. We hear about these things in the Bible, and experience them in our lives, but he also just shows us signs like ... amazing mountains, miraculous survival during disasters, scientific discoveries of complexity that boggle any imagination. God shows himself to us so that we may be reminded of the truth of what we have heard. He has established his throne in heaven - and his faithful and just love for all of his creation - forever.

Prayer: Abba, I thank you this day for your love, and your reminders to us of your love. May I keep you in my heart, and be reminded to be still and reflect upon you, often today. Amen.

One True Believer

Scripture: The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, "The Lord your God decreed this disaster on this place, and the Lord has fulfilled it. He has done just what He decreed. Because you people have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed Him, this thing has happened." Jeremiah 40:2-3

Observation: When Jeremiah is found among the survivors of the destruction of Jerusalem, the captain of the guard releases him. However, he first makes this telling declaration - that the destruction of Jerusalem was foretold by the prophets, and was caused by the people's sin against God.

In other words, this Chaldean officer first knows about the current prophesies of likely Ezekiel (who is already in exile in Babylon) and Jeremiah himself. He possesses a firm understanding of those predictions, and the explanations behind them. He fully believes these prophesies, to the point that not only does he know them, but he can recognize Jeremiah and respects him enough to release him from captivity and give him total freedom, even inviting him first to come live in his own household under his protection. But mostly, the captain of the guard also believes in the power and authority of Yahweh ... he believes that the destruction of Jerusalem is not the result of the might of the Babylonian army he himself serves, but is actually the judgment of God passed against his rebellious people.

I am again reminded that the narrative of "the chosen people" represents only a subset of everything God was doing in the ancient world. Many other people groups believed in him. It was just that God was choosing to act in a specific way, for a specific time, through one family that he himself formed into a nation, and he did this specifically to reveal his love and purposes for the salvation for all mankind. This captain of the guard is simply one believer who happens to not be Jewish, but absolutely knows the work and hand of God when he sees it.

Application: What is to become of the Christians in North Korea?

We are in a terrible time in world history. It is simple to have an "us vs. them" mentality, and think through scenarios of conflict that protect "us". However, I repeatedly acknowledge that the United States is teetering on the brink of becoming a non-Christian country - and absolutely certain regions are well beyond the teetering point. So shouldn't "us" be the faithful believers?

The Lord is in all things, comforting all people, though not all receive or understand that comfort. Impending conflicts are going to create great pain in the world, as current disasters are already doing. I should take these all more personally, understanding that "my people" are everywhere, in every nation.

Prayer: Lord, please be with your faithful, and everyone else, in the stricken places of the world. We have disasters in our nation, and I ask for protection and comfort for those who a losing life and livelihood. We also have global conflicts driven by men of ego and anger. May those situations deescalate, but if they cannot may you be with your people in all the lands. Amen.

A Different Response to Ignorance

Scripture: Therefore thus says the Lord God:

Because you have set your heart
    as the heart of God,

therefore, I will bring strangers upon you,
    the most cruel of the nations;
and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom,
    and defile your brightness

Ezekiel 28:6-7

Observation: With Jerusalem now fallen, Ezekiel begins to prophesy against the neighboring nations who celebrated the fall of Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. He spends limited time describing how Ammon, Edom, Moab, Philistia, and Sidon will be variously cursed and destroyed. However, in the midst of this, he spends almost three full chapters talking about the one city of Tyre. Tyre is different. It did not celebrate against Israel. Instead, it simply has a king who has exalted himself as his own god. As a result, their curse is not the same. They will be brought low and the king killed, but only as a means for properly defining the humanity of the king of Tyre. In addition, in the midst of this judgment against Tyre, Ezekiel has two passages lamenting both the city and the king.

Ezekiel demonstrates that there is a significant difference between promoting one's self, and opposing God. When one opposes God, they will be destroyed. However, when one is ignorant of God and thus promotes one's own abilities and knowledge, that person will be corrected. Correction may be harsh (the king was to die, though the city was to survive). However, that is different than the nations that were to be completely removed from the earth.

Application: There remains the concept that those ignorant of God, while they face hardships, can be corrected and recover. It is also interesting to see that God spends SO much energy on that! In this section, approximately 3/4ths of the time is spent on a single city, and 1/4th is spent on five nations combined.

The Lord is a God of mercy. He judges with might those who oppose him. However, he seeks out and loves those who do not yet know him, who act out of ignorance no matter how arrogantly. As I interact with others - those who appear to be openly opposed to God - I should consider if they are instead acting out of ignorance. There is a different concern for those.

Prayer: Lord, please prepare my heart to serve you at Alpha this season. I wish to see the ignorant, those who do not know or understand your ways and your heart, to discover your love and truth. Keep my heart soft and open to those who do not know. Amen.