Everywhere the Lord Touches

Scripture: Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. Jeremiah 7:12

Observation: As the Lord declares what he will do to Jerusalem and the temple due to the false worship of the people, he points out Shiloh as an example of his wrath. And what did God "do" to Shiloh? He destroyed it so thoroughly that it was never again inhabited.

From the time of Joshua entering the promised land, until Samuel was a boy - approximately 1406 BC to 1050 BC, or 350 years - the Tent of Meeting (Tabernacle) was set up on the hill of Shiloh with a village built around it, and an amphitheater made out of the hillsides surrounding it. Every festival occurred, there, and every priest served there. However, as their sacrificial practices become more and more corrupt, and as all of Israel turned away from the Lord, eventually this ended. The Lord brough the Philistines into the land, settled them where the tribe of Dan was supposed to be, and they attacked, destroyed Shiloh, and even took the Ark of the Covenant for seven months. When the Ark was recovered (returned), there was never even a thought of returning it to Shiloh, so destroyed was the location, and to this day Shiloh is nothing but a ruined archeological site.

Jerusalem is a fortified city, not some hilltop village. The Temple is a large complex with one of the largest buildings on earth, not a tent. However, the Lord is declaring that, unless the people correct their worship practices and return to him, he will turn it all into a heap of burned stone.

But here's the point of Jeremiah's warning ... the people don't have to image what the Lord might do, they can go and see it! The ruins of Shiloh were, at that time, still just ruins. It was a burned-down village that never recovered. They didn't need a tour guide to show them where things might have been in and around the new construction. Shiloh remained destroyed, and if anyone wanted to they could go see that and learn its lesson. However, here's betting ... they didn't go and see it.

Application: I am becoming more and more fascinated in the places where the Lord well and truly 'came down' and touched the earth. Shiloh is one of them, as he dwelled there in the Tent, spoke to Samuel there, and had it destroyed for Israel's transgression.

However, it is important to remember that ... the Lord is everywhere. Creation and everything in it is the Lord's, and he manages and guides and controls it all. The Lord has been in my house, and he has been in the woods out back, and he has been in the park down the street. He has 'touched' it all, and within every place and every space I should act honorably toward his presence, seeking his peace and his love.

The Lord could destroy my house, reducing it to burned-out rubble, for my transgressions. I need only look to a village that was the epicenter of the Lord's own power, then permanently erased from existence, to know he can do this to correct behavior. The Lord has touched my life and all aspects and places surrounding it, and I need to honor him in that context, with my life, daily.

Prayer: Lord, again today I ask for your forgiveness for my sins. My sins harm me the most, and drive a wedge between us. I repent and desire your forgiveness in the name of Jesus. May I improve this day, doing your will more and more, by the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

There’s Some Things that Need to Die

I’m at war with my humanity
Trying to reclaim my sanity
Nothing in my veins but vanity
It's the same old, same old

Service that Lasts Millennia

Scripture: But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Philippians 2:25-26

Observation: Epaphroditus appears as one of those mysterious one-time characters in the bible, upon whom ancient church tradition then grows.

What is known for certain (within the bible) is exactly what is in these six versus written by Paul; Epaphroditus was sent to Paul by the church in Philippi to assist his work while in prison, once there he became sick and almost died, but once recovered Paul sent him back to Philippi with this letter. Based on some of the ancient Greek used in this letter, there are some interpretations of these six verses that conclude Epaphroditus was himself rather rich, and a leader of the church in Philippi. Extra-biblical tradition states Epaphroditus was at some point THE leader of the church in Philippi, recognized as the bishop of that city, one of the 70 most prominent disciples in all of the first century, and the bishop of even a different city too. (The last of these claims is almost impossible due to the timing and practicality.)

There is no doubt Epaphroditus was a faithful Christian and a good man. He traveled at his own peril to aid Paul, and impressed Paul enough to not only be entrusted with the letter but to also receive instructions about certain other church issues. Traditions established real-time are more trustworthy than those created decades or centuries later, therefore the idea he was one of the 70 greatest early-church leaders is possible but not certain. The fact that the Lord inspired Paul to discuss him in what is now part of the bible, thus commemorating his service for millennia, is evidence enough of his great faith.

And that is the great point. Epaphroditus was such a good and faithful servant of the Lord that the Lord himself decided to document his faith in a manner that would pass down to us as an example, for thousands of years. The titles and positions he held are meaningless. Whether or not he belongs on some list of '70 greatest' is meaningless. The fact he was a beacon of service that shone so brightly that the Lord himself chose to aim that light at us through the generations as an example ... that's infinitely meaningful.

Application: I have never once done anything positive for someone else that would be remembered for even a year or two, let alone generations. That is a very strong statement - and even as I write it I know it isn't completely true because I've been told by people that I have positively changed their lives - however it is true that my work is small ... and it is becoming smaller as I get older.

I am doing less, and I am messing up more. I am becoming less passionate, less mission-focused, and less active. I am finding excuses for not engaging rather than ways to serve more, or even just ways to serve differently.

Even the things I did in the past that are continuing and lasting ... my role in them has been forgotten, and soon my name will be so disassociated with them that within a decade I won't even be remembered as a part of anything.

I will never do anything that is remembered for millennia. I would like to do more, in the name of and in service to Jesus, that is remembered positively by someone, for their lifetime. To do that, I need to reprioritize my time, quit doing the empty things in life, and start filling that time with love and service.

Prayer: Lord, this is the worst thing of how I spend my time; it distracts me from meditating on your word, and doing your work. I am trying, but I struggle. I need your strength. Please, today and every day, give me the strength of the Holy Spirit so I can fight the demons, ignore the temptations and distractions, and do your work. Amen.