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.