Sharing God's Grace

Christian Commitment
in Today's World
Philippians 1:18-29 (The  Message)
 ^18-21So how am I to respond? I've decided that I really don't care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!
   And I'm going to keep that celebration going because I know how it's going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don't expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn't shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose.
 ^22-26As long as I'm alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I'd choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it's better for me to stick it out here. So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues. You can start looking forward to a great reunion when I come visit you again. We'll be praising Christ, enjoying each other.
 ^27-30Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God. There's far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. You're involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go through, on which you are now getting an updated report in this letter.

For Reflection
When is a prison not a prison?  When god is with you, a prison has no walls.  The witness Paul provides shows us all how do deal maturely with the emergence of rivalry and selfish conceit.   Those who fear give power to whomever or whatever feeds that fear.  Single-hearted dedication to Christ gave Paul his freedom.  In Christ, Paul, like you has nothing to fear. To what extent do you, like Paul, define your life as an opportunity to serve God?

Pray that God will bless you with encouragement.  In the midst of trials, pray to sing God's victory song with joy.

Grace at Work

Christian Commitment
in Today's World

Philippians 1:12-18 (The Message)

They Can't Imprison the Message

 ^12-14I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I'm in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they've learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.  ^15-17It's true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the way, they think they'll step right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the world. One group is motivated by pure love, knowing that I am here defending the Message, wanting to help. The others, now that I'm out of the picture, are merely greedy, hoping to get something out of it for themselves. Their motives are bad. They see me as their competition, and so the worse it goes for me, the better—they think—for them.
 ^18-21So how am I to respond? I've decided that I really don't care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!
   And I'm going to keep that celebration going because I know how it's going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don't expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn't shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose.

For Reflection
Paul did not draw the line at a preacher with questionable motives.  Where did he draw the line?  Could it be that Grace can flow in spite of the vessel that delivers it?  What do you think?

Pray that the grace of Jesus Christ will flow through all denominations.  Pray that in its diversity the truth of Christianity will be revealed.

Paul's Trial Before the High Council

Christian Commitment
in Today's World

Acts 22:30-23:11 (The Message)

Paul before the High Council

³⁰ The next day the commander ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council.^[a] He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Paul to have him stand before them.  ¹ Gazing intently at the high council,^[b] Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”
 ² Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth. ³ But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite!^[c] What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”
 ⁴ Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”
 ⁵ “I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’^[d]”
 ⁶ Paul realized that some members of the High Council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”
 ⁷ This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—⁸ for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these. ⁹ So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. “We see nothing wrong with him,” they shouted. “Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him.” ¹⁰ As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.
 ¹¹ That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”

For Reflection
Paul manages to deflect the focus of the  High Council.  In doing so he increased the threat of violence toward himself.  Paul was rescued by civil law.  It seems that sometimes witnessing to the Lord doesn't result in immediate transformation.  But the process is started.  There seems to be a lot of growth resulting from reconciling conflict.  How do you reconcile conflict in your life?

Pray that you find the strength and wisdom to trust in the Lord,  Pray to give in to the Lord's will.  Pray for forgiveness.

Paul's Arrest

Christian Commitment
in Today's World


Acts 21:27-36 (The Message)
 ²⁷ The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him, ²⁸ yelling, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple—and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.^{" 29} (For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him into the Temple.)
 ³⁰ The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him. ³¹ As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. ³² He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.
 ³³ Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress. ³⁵ As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. ³⁶ And the crowd followed behind, shouting, “Kill him, kill him!”
.
For Reflection
So there is the crux of the problem, disobeying law, speaking against the temple, defiling the holy. It seems to be the essence of religious conflict even in today's world.  How bound are you to your closely held religious beliefs?  How tangled are they in cultural expectations? How do you handle conflicting opinion?  In the face of challenging beliefs, would you yell, "Kill him!  Kill him?"
 

Pray for understanding in the face of conflict. Pray for the right to challenge and be challenged.  Pray for the Lord to lead you continually into the face of conflicting ideas and to guide you to grow into the grace He offers.

Paul's Call to Service

Christian Commitment
in Today's World


Acts 9:10-16 (The Message)
 ¹⁰ Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
   “Yes, Lord!” he replied.
 ¹¹ The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. ¹² I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”
 ¹³ “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! ¹⁴ And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
 ¹⁵ But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

For Reflection
Saul was certainly no friend of these new Christians.  Saul's reputation preceeded him.  With out regard to his previous life (or perhaps because of it) Saul's God chose him for transformative redemption.  I wonder at the onset of his ministry, Paul realized the amount of suffering he would have to endure.

When was your last trip to Straight Street? How have you responded to God's call?

Pray for those who respond to Gods' call for service.  Give thanksgiving for those who heed his call.  Pray that you will respond as Saul and Ananias and go forth immediately as God instrument of grace.

God's Own Faithfulness

Christian Commitment
in Today's World
2 Thessalonians 3:1-15 (The Message)
 ^1-3One more thing, friends: Pray for us. Pray that the Master's Word will simply take off and race through the country to a ground-swell of response, just as it did among you. And pray that we'll be rescued from these scoundrels who are trying to do us in. I'm finding that not all "believers" are believers. But the Master never lets us down. He'll stick by you and protect you from evil.  ^4-5Because of the Master, we have great confidence in you. We know you're doing everything we told you and will continue doing it. May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God's love and Christ's endurance.
 ^6-9Our orders—backed up by the Master, Jesus—are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don't permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn't sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn't be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn't because we didn't have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.
 ^10-13Don't you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don't work, you don't eat." And now we're getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don't slack off in doing your duty.
 ^14-15If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don't let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he'll think twice. But don't treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.

For Reflection
Two major acts are mentioned here, Prayer and encouraging participation.  Prayer comes first. Prayer will keep you contrite and humble. It also works to bring into focus our concerns and God's intentions.  Not as an enemy or a wrong-doer, one who takes advantage of the community of believers should be encouraged to participate fully.  When do you think private matters be come matters of the community?  How do your handle your obligation to encourage commitment to the Way?

Pray that those who participate in the Kingdom of God walk in the faith knowing that God is able to care for them in all circumstances.  Pray for God's guidance in encouraging others.

Faithful Promises

Christian Commitment
in Today's World


Hebrews 10:19-25 (The Message)
 ^19-21So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body.  ^22-25So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

For Reflection
We enjoy a one on one relationship with God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Even though many attend church services. few seem to take an active role in encouraging each other to walk in the Way.  What percentage, for example, of your congregation attend church regularly or attend Sunday school or some other educational program of the church? More importantly, how many of you have encouraged the non-attenders to attend? How inventive can you be in encouraging brothers and sisters in the faith?

Pray for the fellowship of the believers to be strengthened by your encouragement and shepherding.

God is Faithful

Christian Commitment
in Today's World

1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (The Message)
 ^4-6Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There's no end to what has happened in you—it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.
 ^7-9Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.

 For Reflection

Do you really think it is an accident that you are who you are and where you are, in this space, in this time?  Think back to the choice you made to follow Christ.  You made a choice and that choice has made all the difference.  You live your life in the best way you can as a Christian, not perfect, but committed to God and God committed to you,

Pray that Christ is clearly verified in our lives.  Think on those things which witness to the living God in your life and give thanks and offer songs of praise.

Ready to Die for the Lord

Christian Commitment
in Today's World

Acts 21:1-14 (The Message)

Tyre and Caesarea

 ^1-4 And so, with the tearful good-byes behind us, we were on our way. We made a straight run to Cos, the next day reached Rhodes, and then Patara. There we found a ship going direct to Phoenicia, got on board, and set sail. Cyprus came into view on our left, but was soon out of sight as we kept on course for Syria, and eventually docked in the port of Tyre. While the cargo was being unloaded, we looked up the local disciples and stayed with them seven days. Their message to Paul, from insight given by the Spirit, was "Don't go to Jerusalem."  ^5-6When our time was up, they escorted us out of the city to the docks. Everyone came along—men, women, children. They made a farewell party of the occasion! We all kneeled together on the beach and prayed. Then, after another round of saying good-bye, we climbed on board the ship while they drifted back to their homes.
 ^7-9A short run from Tyre to Ptolemais completed the voyage. We greeted our Christian friends there and stayed with them a day. In the morning we went on to Caesarea and stayed with Philip the Evangelist, one of "the Seven." Philip had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
 ^10-11After several days of visiting, a prophet from Judea by the name of Agabus came down to see us. He went right up to Paul, took Paul's belt, and, in a dramatic gesture, tied himself up, hands and feet. He said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: The Jews in Jerusalem are going to tie up the man who owns this belt just like this and hand him over to godless unbelievers."
 ^12-13When we heard that, we and everyone there that day begged Paul not to be stubborn and persist in going to Jerusalem. But Paul wouldn't budge: "Why all this hysteria? Why do you insist on making a scene and making it even harder for me? You're looking at this backward. The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can't you see that?"
 ¹⁴We saw that we weren't making even a dent in his resolve, and gave up. "It's in God's hands now," we said. "Master, you handle it."


For Reflection
"[It] is not what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience."  In spite of the dire warnings, Paul continues to Jerusalem.  Paul is prepared to sacrifice himself to further God's plan.  Given Paul's conviction that the mission is greater than he, what would you have knelt on the beach and prayed for? Think of those things you have sacrificed to be a Christian.

Pray for all of those who sacrifice, even face death, to be a an agent of God.  Pray that when you are tested, you will have the courage of Paul and accept the sacrificial challenge.

God's Steadfast Love

Christian Commitment
in Today's World
Psalm 89:1-8 (The Message)

An Ethan Prayer

 ^1-4 Your love, God, is my song, and I'll sing it! I'm forever telling everyone how faithful you are.
   I'll never quit telling the story of your love—
      how you built the cosmos
      and guaranteed everything in it.
   Your love has always been our lives' foundation,
      your fidelity has been the roof over our world.
   You once said, "I joined forces with my chosen leader,
      I pledged my word to my servant, David, saying,
   'Everyone descending from you is guaranteed life;
      I'll make your rule as solid and lasting as rock.'"

 ^5-18 God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful ways,
      the choir of holy angels sing anthems to your faithful ways!
   Search high and low, scan skies and land,
      you'll find nothing and no one quite like God.
   The holy angels are in awe before him;
      he looms immense and august over everyone around him.
   God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who is like you,
      powerful and faithful from every angle?
   You put the arrogant ocean in its place
      and calm its waves when they turn unruly.
   You gave that old hag Egypt the back of your hand,
      you brushed off your enemies with a flick of your wrist.
   You own the cosmos—you made everything in it,
      everything from atom to archangel.
   You positioned the North and South Poles;
      the mountains Tabor and Hermon sing duets to you.
   With your well-muscled arm and your grip of steel—
      nobody trifles with you!
   The Right and Justice are the roots of your rule;
      Love and Truth are its fruits.
   Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise,
      who shout on parade in the bright presence of God.
   Delighted, they dance all day long; they know
      who you are, what you do—they can't keep it quiet!
   Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us—
      you've been so good to us! We're walking on air!
   All we are and have we owe to God,
      Holy God of Israel, our King!
 
For Reflection
In my later years I have begun to realize how precious and rare a commodity love really is.  We are surrounded by dysfunctional relationships where love (if it exists at all) is selfish and often used as a bargaining chip -- something to be withheld in a relational power play.  With unlove as a benchmark for authentic unconditional love (agape) it is understandable that the love of God is often misunderstood and mistrusted to the point of being ignored.  What a wonderful gift we have been given. To glimpse unconditional love, to have the example of Jesus Christ, to know that the root of happiness, justice and peace is love.  The immovable and rock solid love God offers us is worthy of celebration and praise.  Blessed are we who know the passwords of praise.

Pray to see the love of God in all of your interactions with each other and this world.  Pray to lean on the strong arm of God and learn to dance in praise of His steadfast love all day long.

Chosen and Called

Christian Commitment
in Today's World
2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 (The Mesage)

The Anarchist

 ^1-3Now, friends, read these next words carefully. Slow down and don't go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him. Don't let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master's arrival has come and gone. Don't fall for any line like that.  ^3-5Before that day comes, a couple of things have to happen. First, the Apostasy. Second, the debut of the Anarchist, a real dog of Satan. He'll defy and then take over every so-called god or altar. Having cleared away the opposition, he'll then set himself up in God's Temple as "God Almighty." Don't you remember me going over all this in detail when I was with you? Are your memories that short?
 ^6-8You'll also remember that I told you the Anarchist is being held back until just the right time. That doesn't mean that the spirit of anarchy is not now at work. It is, secretly and underground. But the time will come when the Anarchist will no longer be held back, but will be let loose. But don't worry. The Master Jesus will be right on his heels and blow him away. The Master appears and—puff!—the Anarchist is out of there.
 ^9-12The Anarchist's coming is all Satan's work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake, evil sleight of hand that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them. And since they're so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it—gives them what they want. Since they refuse to trust truth, they're banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions.
 ^13-14Meanwhile, we've got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends—so loved by God! God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God's original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth. This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.
 ^15-17So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.

For Reflection
The mystery of lawlessness is at work.  It is being held back -- but by what? Some say angels, the soldiers of God, counter the lawless one's moves.  Some say it is the restraint of civil law. It also may be the converts to God that inhibit the lawless one's progress toward the rejection of the Gospel.

We are the chosen. We, like Moses, Samuel, Isiah, Ruth and countless others, are all called to lend our voice to the defeat of the lawless one.  We are called out of this world and into the Kingdom of God.  Our response to that call changes our vocation to minister together. It calls us to be faithful witnesses in all we encounter.

Pray that your are able to "keep a tight grip on what [we] were taught.."  Pray that, "Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised [us] with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in [us], invigorate [our] work, enliven [our] speech. "

Finish the Course

Christian Commitment
in Today's World

Acts 20:17-24 (The Message)

On to Jerusalem

 ^17-21From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the leaders of the congregation. When they arrived, he said, "You know that from day one of my arrival in Asia I was with you totally—laying my life on the line, serving the Master no matter what, putting up with no end of scheming by Jews who wanted to do me in. I didn't skimp or trim in any way. Every truth and encouragement that could have made a difference to you, you got. I taught you out in public and I taught you in your homes, urging Jews and Greeks alike to a radical life-change before God and an equally radical trust in our Master Jesus.  ^22-24"But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I'm completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won't be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

For Reflection
Paul lays his life on the line in his obedience to the living God.  How do you respond the the radical life-changing transformation Jesus has offered you?  How are you helping to finish what God has started?

Pray that you will lose yourself in service to God.  Ask God for guidance to do his will and for the courage to act on His answer.

Call to Freedom

Christian Commitment
in Today's World
Galatians 5:7-14 (The Message)

 ^7-10You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn't come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don't toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment.
 ^11-12As for the rumor that I continue to preach the ways of circumcision (as I did in those pre-Damascus Road days), that is absurd. Why would I still be persecuted, then? If I were preaching that old message, no one would be offended if I mentioned the Cross now and then—it would be so watered-down it wouldn't matter one way or the other. Why don't these agitators, obsessive as they are about circumcision, go all the way and castrate themselves!
 ^13-15It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?

For Reflection
In many ways the early church was no different than the modern version.  As converts struggle with the implementation of their new beliefs they argued about a lot of things.  One of the major issues was circumcision.  The disagreements of how to be a Christian turned ugly -- a behavior that is clearly not motivated by love. Paul advocates freedom from the old ways.  Being a Christian is not about rules.  It is about behavior that is motivated by love.  Freedom is not won by by destructive action.  Freedom is won by embracing the love of God and acting within that love.  Freedom is also preserved by living within the love of God.

Pray that you will not be influenced by those who would have you enlist in their deviations from obedience.  Pray that you will use your freedom to serve one another in love.

The Confidence of Hope

Christian Commitment
in Today's World

Hebrews 3:1-6 (The Message)

The Centerpiece of All We Believe

 ^1-6So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house.  ^6-11Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we're the house! That's why the Holy Spirit says,

   Today, please listen;
      don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising,"
      that time of wilderness testing!
   Even though they watched me at work for forty years,
      your ancestors refused to let me do it my way;
      over and over they tried my patience.
   And I was provoked, oh, so provoked!
      I said, "They'll never keep their minds on God;
      they refuse to walk down my road."
   Exasperated, I vowed,
      "They'll never get where they're going,
      never be able to sit down and rest."

For Reflection
One of the reasons that I reference The Message is that passages like these help me understand the extent to which God appreciates the human condition.  In his exasperation with his children, God promises that they will never get where their going if they follow the path they are taking.  In my mind this is not a threat.  It is, rather, a statement of truth - the consequence of their own choices, not God's punishment.  God points the pitfalls of separating our action from the will of God and then offers hope. It is somehow comforting to know that God gets provoked when we try His patience.  It is a sign of His love for us.

Pray to keep a firm grip on the bold confidence that we are God's house. Pray that you see the hope in God's loving hand. Give thanks for your place in the Kingdom of God.

Chosen as God's Heritage

Christian Commitment
in Today's World

Psalm 33:4-12 (The Message)

 ^4-5 For God's Word is solid to the core;
      everything he makes is sound inside and out.
   He loves it when everything fits,
      when his world is in plumb-line true.
   Earth is drenched
      in God's affectionate satisfaction.

 ^6-7 The skies were made by God's command;
      he breathed the word and the stars popped out.
   He scooped Sea into his jug,
      put Ocean in his keg.

 ^8-9 Earth-creatures, bow before God;
      world-dwellers—down on your knees!
   Here's why: he spoke and there it was,
      in place the moment he said so.

 ^10-12 God takes the wind out of Babel pretense,
      he shoots down the world's power-schemes.
   God's plan for the world stands up,
      all his designs are made to last.
   Blessed is the country with God for God;
      blessed are the people he's put in his will.

For Reflection
We all have the same heritage.  We are children of God.  Set in God's universe. Isn't it a wonder that the whole world doesn't shout for joy?  History has shown that the schemes of humankind all have failed.  God's scheme stands forever.

Pray that you stand firm in the traditions of God.  Give thanks or the grace that flows from the source of all being.

What Time is It?

Christian Commitment
in Today's World
Revelation 14:6-13 (the Message) 

Voices from Heaven

 ^6-7I saw another Angel soaring in Middle-Heaven. He had an Eternal Message to preach to all who were still on earth, every nation and tribe, every tongue and people. He preached in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory! His hour of judgment has come! Worship the Maker of Heaven and earth, salt sea and fresh water!"  ⁸A second Angel followed, calling out, "Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon ruined! She made all the nations drunk on the wine of her whoring!"
 ^9-11A third Angel followed, shouting, warning, "If anyone worships the Beast and its image and takes the mark on forehead or hand, that person will drink the wine of God's wrath, prepared unmixed in his chalice of anger, and suffer torment from fire and brimstone in the presence of Holy Angels, in the presence of the Lamb. Smoke from their torment will rise age after age. No respite for those who worship the Beast and its image, who take the mark of its name."
 ¹²Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God's commands, staying faithful to Jesus.
 ¹³I heard a voice out of Heaven, "Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Master from now on; how blessed to die that way!"
   "Yes," says the Spirit, "and blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they've done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end."

For Reflection
What time is it?  Ignore the past -- it is gone.  The sins of the past are wiped away.  Disregard the future - what control do you have over it anyway? The time is now! What are you doing today, now, that glorifies God? What if the "hour of judgment" is now?  What would you do differently?  What is holding you back?

Pray for strength to over come the tyranny of our time -- our Beast.  Pray for the courage to do today what your know in your heart needs doing in service to our Lord.

In Praise of God

Christian Commitment
in Today's World
Revelation 7:9-17 (The Message)

 ^9-12I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing:

   Salvation to our God on his Throne!
   Salvation to the Lamb!
All who were standing around the Throne—Angels, Elders, Animals— fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, singing:

   Oh, Yes!
   The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,
   The honor and power and strength,
   To our God forever and ever and ever!
   Oh, Yes!

 ^13-14Just then one of the Elders addressed me: "Who are these dressed in white robes, and where did they come from?" Taken aback, I said, "O Sir, I have no idea—but you must know."
 ^14-17Then he told me, "These are those who come from the great tribulation, and they've washed their robes, scrubbed them clean in the blood of the Lamb. That's why they're standing before God's Throne. They serve him day and night in his Temple. The One on the Throne will pitch his tent there for them: no more hunger, no more thirst, no more scorching heat. The Lamb on the Throne will shepherd them, will lead them to spring waters of Life. And God will wipe every last tear from their eyes."

For Reflection
   Oh, Yes!
   The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,
   The honor and power and strength,
   To our God forever and ever and ever!
   Oh, Yes!
How often do you think of the saving grace of God and feel the passion and joy in thanksgiving that is reflected in these passages?  Believers have been scrubbed clean and anointed with the blood of the Lamb.

Pray.  Spend this day rejoicing in the love and charitable arms of God. Give thanks.  Sing, Dance, think beautiful thoughts.

Worthy is the Lamb

Christian Commitment
in Today's World

Revelation 5:9-14 (The Message

 ^6-10So I looked, and there, surrounded by Throne, Animals, and Elders, was a Lamb, slaughtered but standing tall. Seven horns he had, and seven eyes, the Seven Spirits of God sent into all the earth. He came to the One Seated on the Throne and took the scroll from his right hand. The moment he took the scroll, the Four Animals and Twenty-four Elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb. Each had a harp and each had a bowl, a gold bowl filled with incense, the prayers of God's holy people. And they sang a new song:

   Worthy! Take the scroll, open its seals.
   Slain! Paying in blood, you bought men and women,
   Bought them back from all over the earth,
   Bought them back for God.
   Then you made them a Kingdom, Priests for our God,
   Priest-kings to rule over the earth.
 ^11-14I looked again. I heard a company of Angels around the Throne, the Animals, and the Elders—ten thousand times ten thousand their number, thousand after thousand after thousand in full song:

   The slain Lamb is worthy!
   Take the power, the wealth, the wisdom, the strength!
   Take the honor, the glory, the blessing!
Then I heard every creature in Heaven and earth, in underworld and sea, join in, all voices in all places, singing:

   To the One on the Throne! To the Lamb!
   The blessing, the honor, the glory, the strength,
   For age after age after age.
The Four Animals called out, "Oh, Yes!" The Elders fell to their knees and worshiped.
.
For Reflection
Such joy in victory!  Celebration with singing and fragrant incense filled the air.  We who worship the living God are rewarded with a priest's authority to minister in the Kingdom. 

Pray pray that you will find such joy in celebrating the living God.

Remain Steadfast in the Faith

Christian Commitment
in Today's World

1 Peter 5:6-11 (The Message)

 ^6-7So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.

He Gets the Last Word

 ^8-11Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

For Reflection
Live a carefree life! Easier said than done!  When life's a bear, is it really a lack of trust in the Lord that makes it so?  Keep a cool head, a firm grip on the faith and wait patiently for God.

Pray for the patience to wait for God to act.  Pray that your keep a cool head.

A Night to Remember

Christian Commitment
in Today's World


Acts 20:7-12
 ^7-9We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master's Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight. We were meeting in a well-lighted upper room. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead.
 ^10-12Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. "No more crying," he said. "There's life in him yet." Then Paul got up and served the Master's Supper. And went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! On that note, they left—Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive, and full of life themselves.

For Reflection
This weekend we celebrate a great world experiment.  A nation governed by its people.  Its tenets were formed from evolving European values and was influenced by Christianity. 

There are and will continue to be times when we stumble and fall asleep.  There are and will continue to be times that we appear to have lost our way and are dying.  Some would claim we are dead!  But, there is life in us.  It is the life in each believer, transformed by the Holy Spirit.

If our Government appears to become more and more atheistic it may not be such a bad thing.  Such separation between church and state ensures the freedom of the Holy Spirit to move in our midst.  It ensures that God in man's image does not overrule man in God's image. 

Pray for those who each day give their lives to this great experiment.  Pray for the freedom to follow God and to do His will. Pray that you will conform to the Kingdom of God. Pray that God's will be done. Pray that God will hug us hard and breath life into a fumbling nation.

Blaimless at Christ's Coming

Christian Commitment
in Today's World


1 Thessalonians 5:1 (The Message)
 ^1-3I don't think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't be posted on our calendars. He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody's walking around complacently, congratulating each other—"We've sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!"—suddenly everything will fall apart. It's going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

For Reflection
How many times have you heard a child say, "That's not fair!" We all have a pretty strong concept of fairness.  Jesus spoke many times about what is fair in the eye of God is not the same as fair in the eye of mankind. 

Paul's new converts sacrificed a lot to follow the Way.  They needed to know that even death would not separate them from their hope in Christ.  They needed to know that God would take care of the fairness issue. This hope would serve to keep the flock vigilant and mindful of their commitment to the Way.

What gives you hope?  What prepares you for the day when suddenly it all falls apart?

Pray - Confess to God those things which inhibit your commitment to God's way.  Turn your mind to those acts which are consistent with your faith.  As for courage to remain vigilant and mindful of your commitment as a child of God.

The Comming of the Lord

Christian Commitment
in Today's World

1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 (The Message)

 ^12-13And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!
 ^13-15Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.
 ^16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
 ^19-22Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.
 ^23-24May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!

For Reflection
We are all ministers of the Word.  We were created to minister to each other. What does that mean to you?

Pray - "May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ."