Thursday, October 1

Today we're focusing on II Kings 18:28-37 from the daily lectionary reading. In this passage, we continue the story of Assyria's attempt to conquer Jerusalem. Earlier in the chapter, we were told the Assyrians had captured Samaria and taken the Israelites into exile, and now they are on a march to overtake the region of Judah. In yesterday's reading, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent his troops and a delegation of spokespersons to give the people of Jerusalem a choice: surrender to us and live in peace in our land, or be conquered by us and "eat (your) own dung and drink (your) own urine" (25). The Assyrian continues his discourse to the people of Jerusalem, saying, "Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern" (31). Doesn't this sound a little too good to be true? It reminds me of the promise made by Satan to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when they were tempted to eat the fruit: "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5). And you know how that turned out. We'll learn in the next couple readings what the Israelites decide, but as objective observers we read this passage and scream to ourselves, "Don't believe him!" But let's be real; don't we deal with the same struggles in our lives? You may decide to copy a friend's homework answers because you were lazy and forgot to do the assignment yourself. "I really want to do good in this class," you say. When you sell out to get a selfish result, you sell out on your faith. That's what the Assyrian king was trying to get the Israelites to do: sell out their faith in God. Pray today that the Lord will help you recognize when you're guided more by your selfish desires than by the Holy Spirit.

Wednesday, September 30

Today, I want to focus on the I Corinthians passage from the daily lectionary, particularly chapter 8, verses 1-3. Paul is writing to a somewhat arrogant group of early Christians, who are struggling with the concept of eating food offered to idols. Corinth, like any Mediterranean city heavily influenced by Greek culture, was a know-it-all community. People craved knowledge there. Greek scholars and philosophers were the movie stars of their days - great orators who charged money to teach people how to advance socially and properly appease the many gods. And their arrogance was rubbing off on the church members in Corinth. Paul, knowing this, poked fun at the Corinthians when he said their "'knowledge' puffs up" (1). I love how he put "knowledge" in quotes. To Paul, the average Corinthian "does not yet know as he ought to know" because Christianity, unlike the other religions of the day, was not (and still is not) based on knowledge. They thought they knew it all, but they really had no understanding of God. Here's the full thought: "If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God" (2-3). Our knowledge, no matter how many books we read or classes we attend, can never approach that of the Creator of the universe. Even the combined knowledge of today's "wise" and "eloquent" preachers and orators would be put to shame. However, Paul says we can be "known by God" because of our love. Isn't this a wonderful promise? I don't know about you, but I want the God of all creation to know who I am. So instead of praying for knowledge, pray for love. Our hearts can be filled much fuller than our minds.

Monday, September 28

The passage in 2 Kings disturbed me today. I couldn't help but to see parallels in my life to this. The author made the statement that God's people practiced fear of the Lord and practiced the worship of idols. They worshipped the gods of their culture while fearing the Lord. The author here makes it evident that the two cannot co-exist together. Fear of the Lord means a rejection of culture's gods. Fear of the Lord means following his statutes and commands; finding right what God defines as right, finding beautiful what God defines as beautiful, finding true what God defines as true. I have tried to keep this same relationship going in my life: fearing God and culture's gods. Like Paul says in Philippians, I have gotten comfortable with the god of my belly as I am surrounded by people who follow the same god. I feel like lately I have sacrificed purity of mind, heart, and actions for the sake of cultural relevancy, at least that is what I tell myself. Really though, I am following the god of my belly while trying to fear the Lord. These two cannot co-exist.

Father forgive me for following culture's gods. Be patient with me and do not turn away from me. I am frail and my will is weak. Remain with me based upon the faithfulness of your Son, Jesus. He is the only way that you are able to deal with me like you have. Thank you. Please do not let me mistake your loving patience for blessing over my actions. I want your kindness to lead me to repentance and not your harsh discipline (which I admit I deserve daily).

only prayer

I want to look at Jesus healing the boy this morning. I have a lot of questions. Is Jesus rebuking the faith of the disciples along with everyone else? Is he emphasizing that people don't believe Jesus is the Messiah who is God's saving force in the world? Is he simply making the point that the practice of prayer is necessary for this kind of power?

The only thing I can think of without looking into it further is that Jesus is condemning the lack of faith of the Jews who fail to see Jesus as the Messiah. They see the signs of miracles and healings, yet still act confused as to what God is up to among them. They always need more signs and more assurance. Then Jesus is teaching the disciples that prayer, which cultivates dependence and close relationship with God, is necessary to expanding this saving force to others.

I would love to know others' thoughts on this. My take away is the prayer aspect. I don't pray enough. It shows the bigger problem of how I really don't believe that Jesus has the power to do much in my life. I take it on myself. Just like the father of the possessed son, I say I believe, but I need to overcome my unbelief. There is some connection, based on this story, between prayer and being apart of God's saving force on earth.

Lord, help me to pray and recognize you as one who is able to accomplish everything. Help me to be dependent on you.

Thursday, August 5

I am really curious to research the Seven Sons of Sceva story some more. It really interests me the way the Jews were throwing the name of Jesus around for their own good, almost as a tool to accomplish what they want. It eerily reminded me of myself. Luke, who wrote Acts, links this with the lack of fear of Jesus. There seems to be the absence of that humbling awe and respect and, as unpopular as it may be, a little trembling when approaching Jesus. I believe I have been treating him too lightly in my life.

On another note, I have been thinking about the kingdom of God lately. This seems to be a pretty big theme throughout the bible that is skipped over in our teachings today. I have been reading the gospel parables where Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God. There is something dynamic and hopeful there that we miss too often. The kingdom, in a sense, is God's glorious design for creation coming into completion. This is more hopeful than any economic report, healthcare reform, or treaty between warring factions. It is true peace and flourishing in every way:

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,

and all your saints shall bless you! 11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, 12 to make known to the children of man your [3] mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Lord, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.-Amen

Wednesday, August 5th

There are so many good scriptures today. I want to take a second to look at the first psalm and the passage in Mark. Jesus tells us to be his disciple means we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. If we continue on our own path, our souls will be forfeited and corrupted. The first psalm speaks of the freedom and pleasure found in keeping God's law, which was created to illustrate God's holiness. This world is trying to find out what it looks like to be genuinely human, to be the best version of themselves possible. Christ's words tell me that to be genuinely human is to be Christ-like. He represents what we were meant to be on earth: obedient and submissive to God and allowing that perfect relationship with God permeate throughout all our relationships. Humans who seek to find themselves apart from the person of Jesus Christ, they end up becoming genuinely inhuman. David illustrates what it looks like to die to self and conform to God's holiness: death means life, taking up a cross means being woven into a story of redemption and renewal, following Christ means becoming who you were created to be. It doesn't make sense on the front end. But those on the otherside know it to be true.

Lord, protect me from the philosophy of this age that tells me I need to find myself to find my worth. Let me abandon this journey and seek you, understand you, reflect you; for that is humanity at its best and intended purpose.

Tuesday, August 4 "Walking trees"

The psalms spoke of Israel's continual rebellion and rejection of God as he revealed himself to be. They always wanted to remake him into an image they could swallow and be comfortable with; one that was more like them. They sought God's help, but rejected God's reign. The Jews acted no differently in Acts, rejecting God as revealed in Jesus. Then the passage in Mark comes. The healing of the blind man is important because for the next two chapters Jesus is revealing himself to the disciples as the Suffering Messiah. Peter confesses Jesus as the Old Testament Messiah who would establish his kingdom and rule over the earth. Jesus commended him, but Peter wasn't ready yet to see Christ for who he fully way. Peter, suffering from the disease of Israel along with the rest of the disciples, rejected a Christ who would suffer and die. He wanted to remake Christ into the Messiah, the God, he wanted. He saw enough to see walking trees. But the journey to recognize who redefined suffering as glory and slavery as greatness and love as power had a long way to go still.

I've got a long way on this journey too. I am suffering from the disease of Israel, wanting to remake Christ into my personal life coach that makes me a better me. What I should be doing is being remade into the image of Christ and dying to my desire to "come into my own." This runs countercultural to the West's value system of self-identity and self-sufficiency. Jesus boasts that the loss of self is the first step in finding the self. I'm not comfortable with that yet. What will it take, how long will it take, for me to cease my attempts at remaking Jesus and allow Jesus to make me?

Lord, be patient with me on this journey. I'm beginning to see and things are beginning to make sense, but I still see walking trees.