Grace vs. Law

Toward a New Creation
A World Gone Wrong

Ignoring God's Truth Within Us

Galatians 2:11-21  The Message

^11-13 Later, when Peter came to Antioch, I had a face-to-face confrontation with him because he was clearly out of line. Here’s the situation. Earlier, before certain persons had come from James, Peter regularly ate with the non-Jews. But when that conservative group came from Jerusalem, he cautiously pulled back and put as much distance as he could manage between himself and his non-Jewish friends. That’s how fearful he was of the conservative Jewish clique that’s been pushing the old system of circumcision. Unfortunately, the rest of the Jews in the Antioch church joined in that hypocrisy so that even Barnabas was swept along in the charade.
¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not maintaining a steady, straight course according to the Message, I spoke up to Peter in front of them all: “If you, a Jew, live like a non-Jew when you’re not being observed by the watchdogs from Jerusalem, what right do you have to require non-Jews to conform to Jewish customs just to make a favorable impression on your old Jerusalem cronies?”
^15-16 We Jews know that we have no advantage of birth over “non-Jewish sinners.” We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it—and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good.
^17-18 Have some of you noticed that we are not yet perfect? (No great surprise, right?) And are you ready to make the accusation that since people like me, who go through Christ in order to get things right with God, aren’t perfectly virtuous, Christ must therefore be an accessory to sin? The accusation is frivolous. If I was “trying to be good,” I would be rebuilding the same old barn that I tore down. I would be acting as a charlatan.
^19-21 What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

For Reflection

It was fear that subverted Peter to pull back into hypocrisy.  Christianity is not about rule-making or rule-enforcing.  Christianity is about trusting in God.  Christianity is about accepting our imperfections.  Christianity is about identifying with Christ and emulating Him.  Christianity is about listening to the Spirit which resides within you.  Christianity is about loving, forgiving, comforting and seeking justice for those treated unjustly.  Christianity is living in an intimate relationship with God.  Christianity is not about making the world good, but rather, being good in the world.

Pray

that you will not succumb to the fear spoken by those who push the fear mongering of the fashionable rhetoric .  Pray that you will wipe out fear by displacing it with trust in God.  Pray that you will live by faith in the Son of God who died so that you might be free to live without fear in an intimate relationship with God.

Hate vs. Love

Toward a New Creation
A World Gone Wrong

Ignoring God's Truth Within Us

John 15:18-27  The Message

Hated by the World

^18-19 “If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you.

²⁰ “When that happens, remember this: Servants don’t get better treatment than their masters. If they beat on me, they will certainly beat on you. If they did what I told them, they will do what you tell them.
^21-25 “They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don’t know the One who sent me. If I hadn’t come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn’t be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. Hate me, hate my Father—it’s all the same. If I hadn’t done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn’t be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, ‘They hated me for no good reason.’
^26-27 “When the Friend I plan to send you from the Father comes—the Spirit of Truth issuing from the Father—he will confirm everything about me. You, too, from your side must give your confirming evidence, since you are in this with me from the start

For Reflection

The root of all evil may not be money.  Rather the root of evil is fear!  Fear blinds us to the truth which resides in God.  Fear animated the hate toward Christ.  Fear motivates the hate toward those who live on God's terms.  Christ has put an end to fear.  Christ has given us the freedom to choose life in God's Kingdom over death in the common world.

Be aware of that which you fear. Be aware of the seductions of fear and move fearless through life, trusting in the Lord.

Pray

that you will trust in the Lord.  Pray that you will loosen the bonds of fear that drive you away from Godly endeavors and toward self-preservation at all cost.  Pray that you will embrace the death of your common self and embrace your resurrected self in Christ.

Dark vs. Light

Toward a New Creation
A World Gone Wrong

Ignoring God's Truth Within Us

John 1:1-13  The Message (MSG)

The Life-Light

1 ^1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
    God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
    in readiness for God from day one.

^3-5 Everything was created through him;
    nothing—not one thing!—
    came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
    and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
    the darkness couldn’t put it out.

^6-8 There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.

^9-13 The Life-Light was the real thing:
    Every person entering Life
    he brings into Light.
He was in the world,
    the world was there through him,
    and yet the world didn’t even notice.
He came to his own people,
    but they didn’t want him.
But whoever did want him,
    who believed he was who he claimed
    and would do what he said,
He made to be their true selves,
    their child-of-God selves.
These are the God-begotten,
    not blood-begotten,
    not flesh-begotten,
    not sex-begotten.

For Reflection

God created the world.  As its creator, God is infused into all of God's creation.  Therefore, God is also in each of us; dark skinned or light, God fearing or atheist, the best and the worst of us, All of Us.

God also gave us free will. Freedom to choose light over dark,  obedience over disobedience, commitment over sin.  The truth lies within us. Why, then, do we continue to ignore it?

Selfishness and self-determination are seductive alternatives to humility and trust in God.  And yet, those of us who accept the truth which resides within us, choose to work for justice and peace.  The Spirit within us moves toward compassion and love and in the process displaces sin.  We become the child-of-God selves we are meant to be.

Pray

that you will listen to the Spirit of God which resides within you.  Pray that you will witness to the power of love.  Pray that you will always work for justice, forgiveness, compassion and peace.

Seek Good and Truth

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

Ignoring Gods Plain Truth

Hebrews 11:1-6  The Message

Amos 5:10-15  The Message

^10-12 People hate this kind of talk.
    Raw truth is never popular.
But here it is, bluntly spoken:
    Because you run roughshod over the poor
    and take the bread right out of their mouths,
You’re never going to move into
    the luxury homes you have built.
You’re never going to drink wine
    from the expensive vineyards you’ve planted.
I know precisely the extent of your violations,
    the enormity of your sins. Appalling!
You bully right-living people,
    taking bribes right and left and kicking the poor when they’re down.

¹³ Justice is a lost cause. Evil is epidemic.
    Decent people throw up their hands.
Protest and rebuke are useless,
    a waste of breath.

¹⁴ Seek good and not evil—
    and live!
You talk about God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
    being your best friend.
Well, live like it,
    and maybe it will happen.

¹⁵ Hate evil and love good,
    then work it out in the public square.
Maybe God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
    will notice your remnant and be gracious.

For Reflection

Talk is just talk. But, doing what you say ought to be done, well yeah!

God intends our faith to be active, lived as Jesus lived his faith. You cannot roll evil into a ball and pitch it to the far corners of the universe.  Somehow evil arises again and again.  However, it can be displaced by love, compassion, forgiveness, and Christian hospitality.  Love your neighbor is not just a saying.  Loving one's neighbor and one's enemy is living life as God intends it to be lived.

Pray

that you will live as though you were in the presence of God.  Pray so that your life is a holy witness to the resurrection.  Pray so that you may bathe in the wisdom and creativity of God.

God Hates Injustice

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

Ignoring God's Plain Truth

Hebrews 11:1-6  The Message

Isaiah 59:12-19  The Message

^12-15 Our wrongdoings pile up before you, God,
    our sins stand up and accuse us.
Our wrongdoings stare us down;
    we know in detail what we’ve done:
Mocking and denying God,
    not following our God,
Spreading false rumors, inciting sedition,
    pregnant with lies, muttering malice.
Justice is beaten back,
    Righteousness is banished to the sidelines,
Truth staggers down the street,
    Honesty is nowhere to be found,
Good is missing in action.
    Anyone renouncing evil is beaten and robbed.

^15-19 God looked and saw evil looming on the horizon—
    so much evil and no sign of Justice.
He couldn’t believe what he saw:
    not a soul around to correct this awful situation.
So he did it himself, took on the work of Salvation,
    fueled by his own Righteousness.
He dressed in Righteousness, put it on like a suit of armor,
    with Salvation on his head like a helmet,
Put on Judgment like an overcoat,
    and threw a cloak of Passion across his shoulders.
He’ll make everyone pay for what they’ve done:
    fury for his foes, just deserts for his enemies.
    Even the far-off islands will get paid off in full.
In the west they’ll fear the name of God,
    in the east they’ll fear the glory of God,
For he’ll arrive like a river in flood stage,
    whipped to a torrent by the wind of God.

For Reflection

We somehow find it a character weakness to lament.  We call it pouting, whining, or an invitation to be pitied.  Yet, it is in our pain we discover that which is most important to us.  When we are the object of injustice we realize how important it is to act justly.  When we are the target of false witiness we realize how important it is to be truthful.  When in prayer we lament and bring our deepest most personal reaction to life as it seems to be, we reveal the depth of our relationship to God and the extent to which we trust God to comfort us.  God will respond to our lamentations and through Christ, set things right.

Pray

Bring everything to God in Prayer.  Express your emotional reaction to this world. Pray for justice to reign.

Liars and Truth Speakers

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

Ignoring God's Plain Truth

Hebrews 11:1-6  The Message

Psalm 63  The Message

A David Psalm, When He Was out in the Judean Wilderness

63 God—you’re my God!
    I can’t get enough of you!
I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God,
    traveling across dry and weary deserts.

^2-4 So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
    drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
    My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
    My arms wave like banners of praise to you.

^5-8 I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;
    I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises!
If I’m sleepless at midnight,
    I spend the hours in grateful reflection.
Because you’ve always stood up for me,
    I’m free to run and play.
I hold on to you for dear life,
    and you hold me steady as a post.

^9-11 Those who are out to get me are marked for doom,
    marked for death, bound for hell.
They’ll die violent deaths;
    jackals will tear them limb from limb.
But the king is glad in God;
    his true friends spread the joy,
While small-minded gossips
    are gagged for good.

For Reflection

David expresses his gratefulness to God.  Though indebted to God, David is free to act and chooses to be an obedient servant.

But, David has enemies.  There are those who choose to ignore God's will. Not only do they not acknowledge God, but also, actively speak against God and lead others to worship other gods.

David does not take matters into his own hands, but rather, calls upon God to enact the vengeance that David is unwilling to take.  David encourages others to spread the joy of living in the hollow of God's hand.  Such joy displaces sin.

Pray

that you will have the strength to express joy in the face of godless threats.  Pray for the strength to refrain from taking matters into your own hands.  Pray for the trust and courage to let God judge.  Pray that you will always be glad in God.

Judging Deceit

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

Assurances and Joy for the Faithful

Psalm 52  The Message

A David Psalm, When Doeg the Edomite Reported to Saul, “David’s at Ahimelech’s House”

52 ^1-4 Why do you brag of evil, “Big Man”?
    God’s mercy carries the day.
You scheme catastrophe;
    your tongue cuts razor-sharp,
    artisan in lies.
You love evil more than good,
    you call black white.
You love malicious gossip,
    you foul-mouth.

⁵ God will tear you limb from limb,
    sweep you up and throw you out,
Pull you up by the roots
    from the land of life.

^6-7 Good people will watch and
    worship. They’ll laugh in relief:
“Big Man bet on the wrong horse,
    trusted in big money,
    made his living from catastrophe.”

⁸ And I’m an olive tree,
    growing green in God’s house.
I trusted in the generous mercy
    of God then and now.

⁹ I thank you always
    that you went into action.
And I’ll stay right here,
    your good name my hope,
    in company with your faithful friends.

For Reflection

We know all to well those who love evil more than good.  Yet many who act as evil lovers would not admit to it because they really do not understand that their common place ways are Godless.  They confuse compliance with their cultural standards with the selflessness that God expects from God's people.  They identify themselves as good people, but because they are not motivated by the intentions of God's counter culture, they contribute to the chaos of humanity.

Are you the fruit of God's tree?  Can you recognize the difference between God's intention for human compassion and justice and the common ethics of our culture?

Pray

Pray so that you will be closer to your God.  Pray so that God's word to you may be revealed.  Pray to strengthen your faith. Pray so that you might be more in tune with God's will. Pray so that you will be able to differentiate common practice from the way of Christ.

A Person of God

Toward a New Creation
A World Gone Wrong

Ignoring God's Plain Truth

Hebrews 11:1-6  The Message

1 Kings 17:17-23  The Message

¹⁷ Later on the woman’s son became sick. The sickness took a turn for the worse—and then he stopped breathing.
¹⁸ The woman said to Elijah, “Why did you ever show up here in the first place—a holy man barging in, exposing my sins, and killing my son?”
^19-20 Elijah said, “Hand me your son.”
He then took him from her bosom, carried him up to the loft where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he prayed, “O God, my God, why have you brought this terrible thing on this widow who has opened her home to me? Why have you killed her son?”
^21-23 Three times he stretched himself out full-length on the boy, praying with all his might, “God, my God, put breath back into this boy’s body!” God listened to Elijah’s prayer and put breath back into his body—he was alive! Elijah picked the boy up, carried him downstairs from the loft, and gave him to his mother. “Here’s your son,” said Elijah, “alive!”

For Reflection

Where shall I start.  Shall I focus on the woman who blames Elijah and thus God?  It is a typical response to a tragic loss of a loved one.  Shall I focus on the woman's trust in a man whom she has just blamed for her son's death?  Should I focus on the faith of Elijah, who risked his and God's reputation on an unreasonable task?  Shall I focus on the miraculous recovery and the potential for meaning in the young boy's future contribution to the world. Shall I focus on the power of Elijah to heal?

Instead, I will point our that Elijah did not heal or raise the boy from death.  Elijah prayed and God healed.  This is God's plain truth.  God heals.  In prayer we find the most intimate relationship to God.   Prayer strengthens faith.  Prayer is the sign of ultimate worship.  The plain truth is that God is in charge and God wants each of us to worship God through prayer so that the love of God is infused into the essence of our lives.

Pray

that you will pray often in intimate conversations with God.  Pray that you will place your life into the hands of God through  worshipful acts of prayer.

Commendable Faith

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

Assurances and Joy for the Faithful

Hebrews 11:29-40  The Message

²⁹ By an act of faith, Israel walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. The Egyptians tried it and drowned.
³⁰ By faith, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days, and the walls fell flat.
³¹ By an act of faith, Rahab, the Jericho harlot, welcomed the spies and escaped the destruction that came on those who refused to trust God.

^32-38 I could go on and on, but I’ve run out of time. There are so many more—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets. . . . Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn’t deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world.

^39-40 Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.

For Reflection

We live on the cruel edges of the world.   Through our faith, God will work through us to make justice work.  God will protect us.  God expects us to give our lives to God's will for human kind.  That's the kind of faith that makes a difference.  The Scriptures show God's assurances of success.  Even in times of weakness and sin, God persists to support, forgive and comfort us.

Pray

Pray so that you live your life unafraid.  Pray so that you will find refuge.  Pray so that you feel God's presence.  Pray so that you can entrust it all to God.  Pray so that you can live in hope.

Serving God

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

Assurances and Joy for the Faithful

Hebrews 11:2

²³ By an act of faith, Moses’ parents hid him away for three months after his birth. They saw the child’s beauty, and they braved the king’s decree.
^24-28 By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house. He chose a hard life with God’s people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin with the oppressors. He valued suffering in the Messiah’s camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead, anticipating the payoff. By an act of faith, he turned his heel on Egypt, indifferent to the king’s blind rage. He had his eye on the One no eye can see, and kept right on going. By an act of faith, he kept the Passover Feast and sprinkled Passover blood on each house so that the destroyer of the firstborn wouldn’t touch them.

For Reflection

We all serve God in different ways according to our talents and the circumstances we face.  Some are dramatic, clearly righteous acts.  Most are not.  Our service to God makes a difference that we may not even realize.  A kind word, a helping hand, listening silently are humble acts but powerful ones.

Pray

Pray that you will be a blessing to each person you meet.

Testing God

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

Assurances and Joy for the Faithful

Hebrews 11:13-22  The Message

^13-16 Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.

^17-19 By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God. Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to receive him—and this after he had already been told, “Your descendants shall come from Isaac.” Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. In a sense, that’s what happened when he received Isaac back, alive from off the altar.
²⁰ By an act of faith, Isaac reached into the future as he blessed Jacob and Esau.
²¹ By an act of faith, Jacob on his deathbed blessed each of Joseph’s sons in turn, blessing them with God’s blessing, not his own—as he bowed worshipfully upon his staff.
²² By an act of faith, Joseph, while dying, prophesied the exodus of Israel, and made arrangements for his own burial.

For Reflection

Have you been tested?  You may not know that you have been tested.  God challenges us daily.  The challenges of our common culture test us constantly.  Be prepared to meet the tests by study, practicing humility and prayer.


Pray

Pray about everything.  Pray so that you might strengthen your resolve toward righteousness.

Trusting God

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

Assurances and Joy for the Faithful

Hebrews 11:7-12The Message (MSG)

⁷ By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.
^8-10 By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.
^11-12 By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That’s how it happened that from one man’s dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.

For Reflection

"You want me to build a what?"

God often asks us to do the impossible, the unexpected and the unreasonable.  Are you prepared to be obedient when God calls even if you cannot understand the reason or cannot determine a satisfactory outcome?  Abraham and Sarah did! 

Trust in God and obedience to God's call results in holy justice.  The evil of the unbelieving world perpetuates self-determination vengeance, hate and death.  Obedience to God perpetuates love, forgiveness and compassion.  Which do you prefer?

Pray

Pray for the improbable.  Pray for the impossible. Pray for the end of cultures of selfishness, hate and vengeance.  Pray for the realization of the Kingdom of God.

Pleasing God

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

Assurances and Joy for the Faithful

Hebrews 11:1-6  The Message

Faith in What We Don’t See

11 ^1-2 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

³ By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.
⁴ By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That’s what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice.
^5-6 By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him

For Reflection

Faith is not just believing.  Faith is acting upon your belief that God is in charge of your life and God will use you for the good of God's people and to realize the Kingdom in this world.  Faith is acting as though goodness, kindness and compassion is the only accepted mode of interaction among humans.  Faith is acting upon the expectation that God will fulfill God's promise.  Faith is what drives righteousness.  Faith thrives upon love.

Pray

Pray for the faith in God that the common human would describe as unreasonable.  Pray to resolve doubt in troubling times.  Pray so that your faith will be strengthened.

Faithful Plannning

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

The Consequences of Disobedience

1 Peter 5:7-11  The Message

^6-7 So 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

^8-11 Keep 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

Chill!  God will take care of it all.  If you only relax and realize that you are not responsible alone for the realization of the Kingdom.  God is using us all, even some that don't realize that they are under the influence of a force mightier than themselves.
So, keep a cool head.  Suffering is always temporary.

Pray

for the confidence in God that wipes our you fear and worry.  Pray for patience and trust in the work of the Lord.  Pray so that you can develop a more intimate relationship to God and listen for God's guidance.

Humble Planning

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

The Consequences of Disobedience

1 Peter 5:1-7  The Message

He’ll Promote You at the Right Time

5 ^1-3 I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.

^4-5 When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he’ll see that you’ve done it right and commend you lavishly. And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—

God has had it with the proud,
But takes delight in just plain people.

^6-7 So 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.

For Reflection

The position power afforded a Christian leader can be corrupting.  Just read the books of Kings.  In each case, including, David, kings were corrupted by the power of the position. Christian leaders, lay and ordained,  must never loose sight of the mission God has prepared them for.  They must always reflect the love of the Father and practice Christian hospitality.

Pray

that you will encourage humility in your leaders and in your own action.  Pray that you will lead by the example of Christ.

Promised Rest

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

The Consequences of Disobedience

Matthew 11:25-30  The Message

^25-26 Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.”
²⁷ Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.
^28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

For Reflection

Jesus knows God as no human could ever know God.  However, Jesus shows us who and what God is.  Study the life of Christ and you to will begin to know God as the Son knows God.  Listen for Christ to whisper wisdom into you.

Pray

that you will follow the example of Christ.  Pray that you will begin to understand, through the Son, the nature of God and his will for us.

Godly Planning

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

The Consequences of Disobedience

Proverbs 16:1-9  The Message

Everything with a Place and a Purpose

16 Mortals make elaborate plans,
    but God has the last word.

² Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
    God probes for what is good.

³ Put God in charge of your work,
    then what you’ve planned will take place.

⁴ God made everything with a place and purpose;
    even the wicked are included—but for judgment.

⁵ God can’t stomach arrogance or pretense;
    believe me, he’ll put those upstarts in their place.

⁶ Guilt is banished through love and truth;
    Fear-of-God deflects evil.

⁷ When God approves of your life,
    even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.

⁸ Far better to be right and poor
    than to be wrong and rich.

⁹ We plan the way we want to live,
    but only God makes us able to live it.

 

For Reflection

We delude ourselves when we assume that we have the power to change circumstance or resolve problems.  We forget that God is in charge and God will decide among the plans which ones will be implemented.  When we put God in charge of our work then and only then will our plans succeed.  "We plan the way we want to live but only God makes us able to live it."

Pray

that you will put God in charge of you life.  Pray that what you plan is consistent with the will of God.  Pray that your life will be an example of how love and truth deflect evil.