The Lord is our Shield

Readings for today: Psalms 3-4, 13, 28, 55

”But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” (Ps. 3:3)

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Ps. 4:8)

“But I have trusted in Your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.” (Ps. 13:5-6)

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with song I give thanks to him. The Lord is the strength of His people; He is the saving refuge of His anointed.” (Ps. 28:7-8)

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Ps. 55:22)

These are some of my favorite verses in the Psalms. In the midst of civil war and exile and hardship, David sings of the goodness of God. He sings of the faithfulness of God. He sings of provision and protection of God. A careful reader will naturally ask “why?” Why would David rest on such promises when his entire kingdom has been upended? How can David be so confident when his own flesh and blood has betrayed him? Is David naive? Is David’s faith blind? Is he just putting spiritual platitudes and cliches to music? Not at all.

David is a man well acquainted with grief and sorrow. David is a man who’s seen violence and evil and suffering up close and personal. David is a man who’s grappled with his own demons. He is no innocent. He is no snowflake. He is no dilettante. He’s come by his faith honestly. He’s taken great risks over the course of his life and found God faithful. He’s met God on the mountaintops in his great victories. He’s met God at the bottom of the pit in his sin and despair. Through it all David has learned some things. He’s learned he’s a broken man. A man capable of great evil. A man who is as susceptible to pride and corruption as anyone. Perhaps more so because of the position he holds. He’s also learned God is steadfast and faithful. He will literally never let David go. This gives David comfort when times get hard which is why he’s able to pen the words above.

The great John Newton - author of Amazing Grace - once remarked towards the end of his life that he had learned two things. First, he was a great sinner. Second, Christ was an even greater Savior. Newton had been a slave ship captain for many years before becoming active in the abolitionist movement. I imagine he lived with much regret for the things he had done and the way he had helped perpetuate one of the great evils in human history. And yet, Newton also knew God’s love was greater and more faithful still! It’s why he could write, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”

What about you? How did it feel to read the Psalms today? We’re several months into our Bible reading plan and it’s easy to forget or just go through the motions. Let me encourage you to really take some time today and pray over the verses listed above. Let God’s Spirit impress them deep on your heart. Maybe even memorize them so you have them to hold onto when times get difficult as they invariably will. Life in this world is hard. Live for any length of time and you will become well acquainted with grief and sorrow. You will probably witness violence and evil and suffering. You may even experience it firsthand yourself. You will have to grapple with your own demons just like David and John Newton did. But as you bring yourself before the Lord each day authentically and honestly and transparently, you will find in Him a refuge. A shield. A comfort. A peace. This is His promise to all who would follow Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 16-18

Dysfunction

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 13-15

All families live with some level of dysfunction. Dysfunction occurs where unhealthy behavior (rage, addiction, abuse, neglect, etc.) is normalized, leading members of a family to make unhealthy accommodations rather than pursue repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Left unchecked, dysfunction leads destructive patterns of behavior that often impact generations as unhealthy coping skills are passed down from parent to child. Breaking generational cycles of sin is extremely difficult and requires incredible courage as well as sacrifice as dysfunctional family systems often violently resist change. The same is true in human societies as well. They are simply “family systems” at a macro level.

The family of King David is perhaps the pre-eminent Biblical example of the dysfunctional family system. Of course, his situation is made much more complex by the cultural practice of polygamy which led to many children by many different wives and concubines, all seeking to ascend the line of succession. Dynastic considerations complicate what we read today but many lessons can be drawn that are helpful in our own lives. Amnon is the oldest son of David and heir apparent to the throne. As such, he has grown accustomed to power and privilege and simply taking what he wants when he wants it. His treatment of Tamar, his half-sister, is horrific in its own right but probably emblematic of how Amnon lives his life. Absalom is not much better. What begins as a noble desire to protect his sister from public shame ends in murder and a coup attempt against his own father. Who knows what prompted Absalom’s move against David but it clearly was pre-meditated and even assisted by some of David’s closest confidants. David doesn’t help matters much. As king, he should have punished Amnon for his crime but instead appears to give him a pass. Once Absalom takes matters into his own hands, David appears both relieved and appalled. He refuses to forgive and reconcile with Absalom which only isolates him further and divides the royal household. David chooses to ignore the growing conspiracy until its almost too late and thus has to flee into exile. His family is shattered. His kingdom is divided. His country stands on the brink of civil war. 

I think of my own family system. Several years ago, we went to counseling together to try and break dysfunctional patterns in our own lives. I had to learn to deal more effectively with my anger issues. I had to wrestle with my fears and failures and disappointments. I had to face the fact that I caused my children pain through the choices I made in how I responded to the difference circumstances we faced as a family. I had to take a long hard look at myself through Christ’s eyes and repent. Ask for forgiveness. Pursue reconciliation. It wasn’t easy. It’s still not easy! It requires humility and sacrifice. I have to relinquish my need for control. My need to protect my kids from the consequences of the choices they make in life. My need to project “success” to the world around me. I’ve had to come to grips with the fact that my family is as broken as any and I am a major contributor to that brokenness because of my own sin issues. Honestly, it’s a painful journey. Then again, dying to self is always painful. 

What about your family system? If your family’s story was included in the Scriptures, what would others see? What failures? What successes? Would they see patterns of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation? Or would they see pride, neglect, abuse, addiction, and rampant conflict? Or perhaps a mixture of both? Where is Christ at work in your family right now? What areas do you need Christ to pay particular attention to in order to bring healing, wholeness, grace and peace? Are there particular family members you need to be praying specifically for? Who are they? What are the issues? How are you contributing to the pain? Ask Christ to help you chart a different path. One that leads to true transformation. 

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 3-4, 13, 28, 55

Confession

Readings for today: Psalms 32, 86, 102-103, 122

The more I spend time with people, the more I am convinced that so much of our pain and heartache and struggle is because we do not truly understand who we are. We have a distorted self-image. We look in the mirror and we are blind to the true nature of the person looking back at us. This is why reading and re-reading and re-reading Scripture is so important. Within the pages of this precious book, God teaches us the deepest truths about ourselves. The narrative runs something like this...

• “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis‬ ‭1:27‬) You and I were designed to live in a world of perfection. A paradise called Eden. We were made in the image of God so that we might show forth the glory of God. We were given dominion and authority and power to rule over all God has made as a kind of vice-regent or undershepherd.

• “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalms‬ ‭51:5‬) We abandoned our vocation. We rebelled against God. We aspired to be gods ourselves. In so doing, the image of God was marred. Corrupted. Poisoned. Every single human being since Adam and Eve’s fall has been born in brokenness. Born in sin. Conceived in iniquity. From the moment the sperm fertilizes the egg, we are lost.

• “Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John‬ ‭3:3‬) We are lost but we are not hopeless! Out of love, the Father sent His only Son into the world that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish in their sin. All who believe in Christ are born again. Born a second time. This time of the Spirit.

• “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬) Being born of the Spirit literally changes our DNA. Changes the fundamental reality of our existence. Gives us a new nature. A new heart. A heart of flesh sensitive to the leading of God to replace the heart of stone that was so rebellious and resistant. The image of God is now restored. Our vocation renewed. The commission re-issued. Go. Make disciples of all nations. Baptize. Teach. Fill the earth. Subdue. Have dominion. Share my glory with all of creation.

• “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:52‬) The final promise. Jesus will come again. On the last day, a trumpet shall sound. The heavens will open. The dead will rise. And we shall be changed from one degree of glory to another. The imperfect shall be made perfect. The perishable shall be made imperishable. Sin and death will be destroyed. Eternity sets in. We are home.

This is the fundamental worldview of the Psalmist. It’s the fundamental narrative they are singing about though the revelation of Jesus as Messiah still lies far off in the future. They trust in the steadfast love and faithfulness of the Father to bring about His will on the earth. They also understand this side of heaven that we are broken, sinful, corrupt creatures in desperate need of God’s grace. And grace only comes as we confess. As we repent. It’s more than feeling bad. More than feeling guilty. More than feeling ashamed. It’s about turning from our sin. Turning towards God. Making the necessary changes in our lives in response to all God has done for us. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered...I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” (Psalms‬ ‭32:1, 5‬)

What do you need to confess today? Where have you fallen short? Where do you feel enslaved? Afflicted? Ashamed? Guilty? In what areas of your life has the Spirit brought conviction? Is it your thoughts? Attitudes? Actions? Feelings? The life of a believer in Jesus is one of constant confession as we come before the Lord acknowledging our sin, receiving His grace, and learn to follow in His ways. Does this mean we should live our lives in constant guilt? Live our lives in constant shame? Absolutely not! God’s love is everlasting! And His promise is sure! “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalms‬ ‭103:11-12‬) Cling to the love of God, sinner! Let His love be the cornerstone of your life! Let His grace set you free! Trust in His faithfulness to save you from depths of your sin!

Readings for tomorrow: None

Abuse

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalms 51

The story of David and Bathsheba is perhaps the most well-know stories of abuse in Scripture. David, flush with his success on the battlefield and drunk on his own power, decides to stay home rather than head off to war. As he stands on the roof, proudly overlooking all he has accomplished, he catches a glimpse of the beautiful Bathsheba bathing beneath him. He heart fills with lust. He covets this beautiful woman and who’s around to stop him? The army is off at war. Her husband is one of David’s mighty men which means he’s probably on the front lines. There’s no one around to protect her. No one to plead her cause. Her husband’s close relationship with the king suggests Bathsheba and David probably knew each other. Who knows how long David’s been waiting for this chance? Perhaps this was a secret desire he’d been entertaining for years. So he calls for her. Commands her to come. With her life on the line, she obeys and conceives a child from the one night stand. Now comes the coverup. David sends for Uriah. He’s hoping Uriah will use his furlough to sleep with his wife. But Uriah holds fast to his integrity. He refuses to take the bait. So David orchestrates his murder. 

It’s a horrible story. One we cannot and should not try to explain away or gloss over or reduce to a morality tale. Bathsheba is raped. Uriah murdered. A child dies. All because of David’s insatiable lust and appetite for power. Left to his own devices, David might have gotten away with it. But God was watching. God is always watching. “For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭12:12‬) God sends Nathan the prophet, David’s own brother you’ll remember, to confront him. Nathan risks his life to stand up to David. Expose his sin. Call him out. And though David repents, the ripple effect of his sin will impact his family and his people for years to come.

Sadly, this story is all too familiar. I cannot tell you the number of pastors and ministry leaders (all men by the way) I’ve watched fall from grace. Drunk with their own success and power, they believe themselves to be untouchable. Beyond accountability. In their arrogance and pride, they take advantage of the weak and vulnerable. I’ve personally had to lead efforts to remove six such pastors over the years. When confronted, they use all kinds of justifications to defend their sexual and spiritual abuse. I’ve sat with their victims and listened to heart-rending stories of grooming, gaslighting, emotional manipulation, and blame-shifting. These local stories mirror the celebrity cases that have hit the news in recent years. And the ripple effect impacts families, churches, and organizations. In fact, it often destroys them.

God will not be mocked. What we try to do in secret, He will expose. He will not let sin go unpunished. He hates abuse of every kind. He stands with the victims against those who would use their power to wound, exploit, and oppress. He holds leaders especially accountable for the way they treat those under their care. Those Christians called to leadership inside the church or outside the church must hold themselves to a higher standard. We must constantly ask God to search our hearts and root out any sin that may have taken root lest it blossom into something destructive.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 32, 86, 102-103, 122

His Story

Readings for today: Psalms 65-67, 69-70

I still remember one of my professors in college walking to the board on the first day of class and writing in big block letters the word, “HISTORY.” “History”, she said, “is all about ‘his’ story and the first thing we need to do is reclaim this word for the rest of us.” She then took out an eraser and re-wrote “HISTORY” as “HERSTORY” or “HYSTORY.” Now, admittedly, this was a Women’s Studies course at the University of Colorado at Boulder. So perhaps I should have expected something like this. And my initial reaction was pretty sarcastic and dismissive. However, over the years, I have come to believe the professor was more right than she knew at the time. History truly is “HIS STORY.” Not a “male” story of course but the story of God’s engagement with His world and His people.

The Psalms express these deep theological truths so well. David writes about creation. “O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.” (Psalms‬ ‭65:5-8‬) He writes about redemption. “Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let not the rebellious exalt themselves.” (Psalms‬ ‭66:5-7‬) He speaks to God’s sovereignty. “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.” (Psalms‬ ‭67:3-4‬) He speaks to God’s tenderness and comfort. “But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.” (Psalms‬ ‭69:13‬) The beauty of the Psalms is how they express the full range of human emotion and experience. They validate so much of what we feel and experience on a daily basis.

When you reflect on your own life, do you see God’s hand at work? Do you sense God’s abiding presence in times of crisis? Are you able to see God’s sovereign hand guiding and directing your steps? Where have you experienced God’s love? When did you encounter God’s grace? God is just as active in our personal histories as He is in human history. David was able to see God’s handiwork all around him from creation to salvation to the rise and fall of nations to the personal attention God pays to those he loves in times of struggle and heartbreak. David has been my teacher over the years. Helping me see the events of my life through God’s eternal lens. The more I spend time in the Psalms, the more I realize the closeness of God in every season of my life. Take some time today to reflect on the many, many ways God has been faithful to you.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalms 51

Soli Deo Gloria?

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalms 20, 53, 60, 75

I love these words of David from Psalms 20. “Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalms‬ ‭20:6-7‬) David has just won significant victories over the Ammonites and Syrians. He has subdued their lands. Defeated their armies. Killed their generals. Historians of this particular time tell us David was a powerful warlord who took advantage of a power vacuum in the region to carve out his kingdom. Egypt, the dominant power for so long, was weak. Assyria and Babylon had yet to rise. As David wins victory after victory, he steps up to the postgame mic to give God all the glory. 

It’s a good thing to ascribe to God all the glory for our successes in life. After all, He is the one who gave us our gifts and talents. He is the one who provides blessing and opportunity. We didn’t choose where we were born. We didn’t choose the family we were born into. So much of our success has nothing to do with us at all and so God rightly deserves all the praise. But what about when things go wrong? What about when tragedy strikes? What about the hard times that take us to the end of ourselves and beyond? David faced those times as well and still he praised God. Still he gave all the glory to God. Listen to what he writes in Psalm 60, “O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us…you have made your people see hard things; given us wine to drink that made us stagger…Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down our foes.”

Years ago, a favorite coach of mine was running off the field after a big victory. His team had struggled for years. The losses had piled up. Many were calling for his job. A reporter chased him down and asked him what the key was to the victory. I still remember the coach’s reply, “God was with us in the victory today but He was also with us through every single defeat leading up to this point.” Wow! That’s a man who understands God! He gave God the glory for both his victories and defeats. His successes and failures. His high times and low times. He knew God was with him no matter what. What about you? Do you feel the same way? You may be experiencing a season of great blessing in your life right now. A season of success. A season where everything you touch seems to turn to gold. Or you may be experiencing loss. Tragedy. Struggle. Heartbreak. No matter what season you find yourself in, give God the glory. Trust Him for the journey. Believe He is with you and for you and will deliver those He loves!

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 65-67, 69-70

Soli Deo Gloria

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18

Soli Deo Gloria. A fancy (Latin) way of saying, “To the glory of God alone.” If I were to ever get a tattoo, this would be it. I’d have it written across my heart. It is the North Star of the Christian life. It is our highest priority. Our greatest passion. Our deepest love. It is the principle that guides every other principle by which we live and move and have our being. Everything we think. Everything we feel. Everything we say. Everything we do. All of it directed towards the glory of God. All of it designed to bring honor to God. All of it offered freely and humbly in praise to God.

Soli Deo Gloria. This is immediately what I thought when I read these words from 2 Samuel 8:11-12, “These (articles of silver, gold, and bronze) also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalie, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehoboam, king of Zobah.” Think about how easy it would have been for David to believe his own hype. Think about how tempting it would have been for David to claim all the glory from all these victories for himself. I can imagine him in his tent looking over the map at the number of kings and tribes he had conquered and feeling pretty good about himself. How easy it would have been for him to simply reach out and claim it all. But David loved God. David knew he would still be keeping sheep if it weren’t for God. David knew he would have died long ago at the hands of Goliath if it hadn’t been for God. David knew his life up to this point was a testimony to the favor of God. So when the spoils of war start to flood into his camp, he dedicates the treasure to the Lord. This would have been a powerful sign to all who followed David - and probably to those who warred against David - as to who deserves the credit and the glory and the honor for all that has taken place. It’s not David. It’s God.

Soli Deo Gloria. It’s the phrase that comes to mind every time I reflect on all God has done for me in my life. The many different ministries I get to be involved in. As a pastor at PEPC, I’ve had a front row seat to hundreds of professions of faith over the last 12+ years. I’ve watched our church family make a huge impact in our community through our work with DC Oakes and Legend High School or the launch of Douglas County Christian Counseling or our partnerships with the Parker Task Force or the Chamber of Commerce at Parker Days. As a professor at Denver Seminary, I get to impact the next generation of church leaders and it’s one of the great joys of my life to follow them in their careers as they go forth to share the gospel in all sorts of settings and contexts. As a leader in our denomination, I get to work with struggling churches and pastors and do all I can to encourage and help them along the way. As a board member of the Petros Network, I get to train church planters and celebrate huge milestones like our 6,000th church plant and our 1,000,000th convert! It’s always tempting to claim some of the credit for myself. Always tempting to keep a bit of the glory for myself. But then I remember how far God has brought me. From the ash heap of my ministry career in Sun Prairie, WI with my marriage and family on the rocks to where I am today and all I can do is fall to my knees in gratitude. I don’t deserve any of this. I achieved none of this on my own. God gets all the glory for where I find myself in life.

Soli Deo Gloria. No matter where you find yourself in your spiritual journey, let me encourage you to make this your chief end. Your highest aim. Surrender all that you are and all that you have to Christ. Place all your resources of time and talent and treasure at His disposal. Give Him permission to use you as He sees fit. Then hold on for the ride! It will be the greatest, most exciting, most exhilarating adventure of your life! Trust me when I say God never disappoints!

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalms 20, 53, 60, 75

The Deep Work of the Spirit

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17, Psalms 1-2, 33, 127, 132

One of the things you notice when you read the Bible year after year is that some of the same issues tend to pop up. The Holy Spirit uses His Word to reveal deep character flaws that must be addressed. For example, every time I read Psalm 127, I am reminded of one of my greatest struggles which is my desire to be successful. To make my life count. To do something significant. To strive to be the best. These values were ingrained in me from an early age. They are not necessarily bad in and of themselves. The problem is I too often let these good things become ultimate things in my life. I start to pursue success at the expense of my relationship with God or those I love. I focus on the future rather than finding contentment in the present. I covet what I don’t have rather than be thankful for what I do have.  

Several years ago, the Lord spoke to me during a time of prayer. It wasn’t an audible voice or a lightning bolt from heaven or anything like that. It was simply an impression in my heart. A feeling in my gut. A few random thoughts in my head that suddenly coalesced into a message I needed to hear. It was a short message. Three simple words. Obscurity. Anonymity. Insignificance. I was journaling and these three words started ringing over and over again in my head. Obscurity. Anonymity. Insignificance. Over the years I’ve learned to pay attention to these kinds of things in my prayer time so I sat back from my keyboard and asked the Lord to give me further insight into what He was saying. God said, “I want you to labor in obscurity. Embrace anonymity. Pursue insignificance.” To be honest, my first thought was “No way!” However, after pondering the message for a few days, I realized what God was doing. The Holy Spirit was about to do some deep work in my heart. Work that would turn me around and inside out and upside down. It was life-changing work that would shift my perspective eternally.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” King David has a desire to build God a house. It’s a godly desire. A good desire. One that is affirmed by Nathan the prophet. But it is not the Lord’s will. “But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in?...'Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel‬ ‭7:4-5, 8-13‬) I love how God flips the tables on David here. It is not David who will build God a house but God who will build David a house! It is not David who will make His own name great but God who will make David’s name great! 

Unless God builds the house. Unless God builds David’s house. Unless God builds our house. We all labor in vain. This was essentially the message God was sending me during my devotional time. I was spending so much energy working so hard to be successful. To stand out among my peers. To be faithful to God. And all the while God was calling me to rest. To trust. To stand back and let Him do the “building” of my life. Let Him guide and direct my path. Let Him have the glory for the success I was seeking to achieve. 

I’ve learned a lot over the years about the meaning of those three, God-given words. They no longer feel unnatural. No longer feel like they’re cutting against the grain of my life. In fact, I not only have learned to accept them but to embrace them as a way of life for myself.

• Obscurity - I love where I am. I love the church family I get to serve. I love the team of leaders I get to serve alongside. We are gospel-centered. We bear Kingdom-fruit. We have a global reach. We are reaching the lost. We are serving the underserved. We truly are seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community and around the world. And yet we are obscure. We are not the biggest or fastest growing or most “successful” church around. We simply do the work God has called us to day in and day out. It’s awesome.

• Anonymity - No one knows my name. I have no platform. No influence. No power. I am simply a pastor. One beggar telling another where to find bread. I have no need to build a brand. I do not aspire to high position. My goal is simply to preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten.

• Insignificance - The reality is I will be completely forgotten within a generation or so of my death. My own family won’t remember who I was or what I did. All my accomplishments and achievements will quickly turn to dust. And that’s okay. Because my significance is not found in what I do but in who God is and I am content simply to serve Him in whatever way He sees fit.

Friends, I wish I could describe the blessings that flow when you truly let go of the need to build your own house and instead turn your plans over to God. I wish I could describe the joy and peace that I wake up with every morning because I no longer find myself striving so hard to make my own way in the world. I wish I could describe the intimacy of the relationships I’ve forged with my wife and children and church family. It’s truly incredible. All because I’ve surrendered my need to make a name for myself. God is at work and His plan for me is more than enough.  

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18

Our God is too Small

Readings for today: Psalms 89, 96, 100-101, 107

Our God is far too small. The human mind is simply too finite to fully comprehend the height and depth and breadth of His majesty and glory and splendor. His wisdom is higher than our wisdom. His ways are higher than our ways. His power is limitless. His knowledge unsearchable. His love unconditional. His grace knows no ends. There are no boundaries to God. No barriers. Nothing He cannot do. Nothing He cannot accomplish. Nothing stands outside His will. Nothing opposes Him. Nothing threatens Him. Nothing can move Him. “For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord...” (Psalms‬ ‭89:6‬)

Our God is far too small. In an effort to understand Him, we tend to cut Him down to our size. Reduce Him to a much more manageable state. We question His goodness. We question His omnipotence. We question His wisdom. Rather than stand on the truth that we are made in God’s image, we reverse engineer the process. We remake God in our image to our everlasting regret. For the god we “make” is an idol. Weak. Empty. Imperfect. A god who can do nothing, see nothing, accomplish nothing. A god who cannot be trusted or relied upon in the most difficult of circumstances. A god who is helpless in the face of our suffering. A few years back, a friend of mine rehashed an old argument on suffering. She wrote, “We have three options in the face of real suffering. 1) God is not good. 2) God is not loving. 3) God is not all-powerful.” Her argument is that surely a good and loving and all-powerful God would not allow suffering in the world therefore we must question either His goodness, His love, or His power. But this is a false premise. This is an argument made without all the facts. We see from such a limited perspective. Her god is too small.

Consider for a moment what my friend is really asking. If God had chosen to remove suffering and pain from the world at the beginning of time. If, even after Adam and Eve fell into disobedience, God would not allow human beings to suffer the consequences of the choices they made; what would that do to free will? What would that do to human agency? What would that do to human choices? It would destroy them. We would never grow into maturity. Never become the partners God created us to be. And even more fundamentally, it wrecks the whole purpose of the Cross. If suffering and pain is always evil and therefore always to be avoided and always wrong, then the suffering and pain and death of Jesus also falls into that category as well. Perhaps God is bigger than we realize?

Our God is far too small. And that is why we need to immerse ourselves in God’s Word. God’s Word clearly proclaims the goodness and love and power of God. “O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?...The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them....You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” This is our God! The Glory of Israel! He is mighty to save! Mighty to deliver! Faithful in love! Over and over again, our God declares His love for His people. Never leaving them. Never forsaking them. Even when we run from Him, He will relentlessly pursue. Even when we reject Him, He will never abandon us. “My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him. I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens...Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.” (Psalms‬ ‭89:8, 11, 13-14, 28-29, 52‬)

Friends, there is only one way to see God for who He truly is. Only one way to know God on His terms. First, we must trust His revelation of Himself. We must look to Jesus in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. He is the pre-eminent and unique and complete revelation of the One True God. Second, we must trust His Word. The Word of God is the unique and authoritative witness to the truth of God. We must trust God’s Word and lean not on our own limited understanding. We must trust God’s Word more than what we think or how we feel. We must believe God is who He declares Himself to be or we have so little hope. 

Readings for tomorrow: None

Integrity

Readings for today: Psalms 15, 23-25, 47

Recently, a friend of mine went through a job change. He was notified he would be let go because his company was “going in a different direction.” The news came out of the blue. All of his performance reviews had been exceptional. He hit every mark the company ever set for him and often exceeded them. None of that seemed to matter. The boss just wanted to make a change. As you can imagine, he went through a range of emotions. There was the initial shock when he first got the news. Shock gave way to anger as he wrestled with the injustice of it all. Anger turned to frustration as he processed the years he had given to this company. Frustration became hurt as he realized how deeply this decision wounded him. In the midst of his hurt, he felt fear and anxiety rise up as he pondered what he would do next. Starting a job search at his age and station in life was no easy task. Would he be able to replace his income? Would he be able to provide for his family? He was pretty close to retirement so how many years did he really have left? I imagine many of us have gone through these experiences ourselves or walked through them with those we love. It’s not easy.

The temptation, of course, is to retaliate. To get back at those who’ve hurt us. To justify our anger and frustration and lash out. We might work to undermine. We might spread rumors or gossip about those in positions above us. We might seek to recruit others to our cause and create all kinds of conflict in the office on our way out. Sow seeds of discontent. Exploit opportunities to create dissension. Those kinds of things. Some might even take things to an extreme and try to take the company or the person responsible down with them. It can get ugly.

“What would God have me do?” This is the question my friend asked me. I took him to some of the Psalms we read today. I pointed him beyond his circumstances and challenged him to think about the bigger picture. Do you want the blessing of God on your life? Do you want the favor of God to go before you? Do you want to walk before God with a clean conscience and a pure heart? Then walk as blamelessly as possible. Do what is right. Don’t give in to the temptation to slander or return evil for evil. Remain humble. Stay focused on Jesus. Trust God is sovereign over all things - including injustice - and nothing can stand in the way of His will for your life.

The ultimate test of faith is what happens when we come face to face with a circumstance that is unjust or unfair. In those moments, we are faced with a choice to either “walk our talk” or go our own way. If we can keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. If we can keep our minds set on eternal rewards. If our treasures are truly in heaven, we will find ourselves looking to please God rather than man and this is the essence of godly integrity.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 89, 96, 100-101, 107

Worship

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23, 1 Chronicles 13-16

What is true worship? It is the worship God both deserves and demands. Believe it or not, God cares deeply how He is worshipped. In 1 Chronicles 13, we see what happens when God’s people - with sincere and authentic devotion in their hearts - fail to worship God in the way He commands. The people have gathered. They’re excited to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. They call the priests. They call the Levites. They plan a huge celebration.  The whole nation is present to witness this incredible moment. They build a new cart to carry the ark in the procession. David and all of Israel are celebrating, singing, dancing before the Lord with all their might. But then an ox stumbles. Uzzah, seeking to protect the ark, puts out his hand to keep it steady. The Lord strikes him down. One can imagine the shock of the crowd. In an instant, all the music and dancing and celebration stops. Silence. Long, prolonged, awkward silence as the people come to grips with what’s just happened. David is angry. He pouts for three months, refusing to come to grips with the fact that he himself is somewhat responsible for what happened. His decision to do what was convenient (build a cart to carry the ark) rather than what God demanded (Levites carry the ark on their own shoulders) is ultimately what cost Uzzah his life. Fast forward to 1 Chronicles 15. A different picture emerges. David is ready. He is humble. He submits to God’s will. He decrees that “no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever.” (1 Chron. ‭15:2‬) Once again, the celebration commences. Singing. Dancing. Music. Right sacrifices. God is pleased. God accepts the worship David offers because it is singularly focused on honoring God. 

What does true worship look like in our context today? Obviously, none of us know where the Ark of the Covenant resides. (Except Indiana Jones, of course!) The ceremonial laws that governed Old Testament worship have been fulfilled in Christ. Does this set us free then to worship as we choose? To do what feels good? To set the needs of the worshipper above the clear, biblical command to worship God and Him alone? I don’t think so. So what then is true worship? Is it a feeling? A style? An experience? And how do we know if we’ve engaged in true worship? Is it because we leave feeling inspired? The preacher’s message warmed our hearts? We’ve eaten the bread and drunk of the cup? The music for the morning matched our musical tastes? What are the hallmarks of true worship? Authenticity? Sincerity? Sentimentality?

Sadly, worship in 21st century North America has turned largely inward. It is focused, evaluated, planned, and produced for the human experience. It caters to the preferences and tastes of the worshipper. It is designed primarily to make the human being feel inspired, motivated, and connected. This “inward turn” is as true for the small church as it is for the mega-church and every church in between. And it’s why we see so many Christians bounce from church to church to church over the course of their lives. Long gone are the days when one would invest their entire lives into one community come hell or high water. Long gone are the days when Christians would heed the biblical command to actually practice forgiveness and reconciliation when relationships get hard. Long gone are the days when Christians would die to self, laying aside the consumer tendencies of taste and personal preference. As a result, long gone are the days when the church produced robust, courageous, bold, self-sacrificing disciples of Jesus who would give their lives for the sake of the gospel and the Kingdom of God in this world. Not that it never happens, it is simply more of an exception than a rule. 

Today’s passage challenges all of us. It challenges me as a pastor to think deeply about the primary thrust of my worship planning. Am I seeking to bring God glory and honor or am I seeking to meet the needs of God’s people? When I evaluate worship, what do I measure? Attendance? The emotional engagement of God’s people? How many times they say amen? ;-) Or am I more focused on the clarity of the gospel message as it was proclaimed through music, Word, and sacrament? It challenges you as a worshipper to think deeply about your own goals in worship. Why do you come? Is it to get something out of the experience? Is it to feel emotionally uplifted and encouraged? Do you evaluate worship based on how much you liked the music or the preaching? Or do you come to bring God glory and honor? Do you come with a heart to offer yourself as a living sacrifice before Him? Friends, our primary duty in worship is clear…we are to worship God and enjoy Him forever. This, in fact, is the chief end of our existence. 

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 15, 23-25, 47

The Power of Unity

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11-12, Psalms 133

Psalm 133 is my favorite Psalm. Mainly because I have seen it in action. I have seen what happens when God’s people truly serve Him with one heart and mind. I have witnessed the miracles that take place when God’s people put aside their egos, their needs, their wants, their desires in favor of serving the Kingdom. I have watched God’s Spirit move when God’s people humble themselves. Deny themselves. Pursue forgiveness and reconciliation. Lay aside their need to be safe, both physically and emotionally. It is powerful. Life-changing. It transforms villages. Towns. Cities. Entire tribes, regions, and nations. 

We see this on display especially in our readings today about King David and his mighty men. It’s powerful to watch God unite the hearts of men as they gather around David. They defend him with their lives against overwhelming odds. They take great risks like invading an enemy camp to bring him a drink of water. They achieve incredible feats of valor in order to win David his kingdom. Over and over they declare their allegiance. “We are yours, O David!” “We are your bone and flesh!” “You are our shepherd and prince!” The result is a powerful wave of national unity. “All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.”

True biblical unity requires us to relinquish “self” in favor of others. It requires us to lose our individual identity in favor of the whole. It requires us to consider others more important than ourselves. It requires us to risk. Risk being hurt. Risk being wounded. Risk feeling rejected. It requires us to have courage. Courage to forgive. Courage to pursue reconciliation. No matter what the cost. No matter how many times we get burned. It requires honesty. Transparency. Self-reflection.

True biblical unity requires the church to lay aside it’s need to compete. Extend it’s brand. Criticize other parts of the Body as if “we have no need of them.” It requires leadership to get serious about working together. Working with and for one another. Willing to sacrifice our buildings, budgets, and attendance in order to expand God’s Kingdom into the communities where we serve. It requires mutual submission and accountability. A willingness to step aside and relinquish our platforms when we fall into sin. It requires a radical commitment to love God and neighbor at the expense of our organizations and institutions. Self-denial and picking up our cross is not just a call to the individual Christian but to the church as a community as well! 

True biblical unity requires a radical re-orientation of the heart. It is incredibly difficult and challenging which is why it happens so infrequently in Scripture. The unity David experiences as he builds his kingdom will soon give way to division as his own children betray him. We have to constantly be on guard because we are our own worst enemy. Our hearts naturally resist unity because it requires literal death to self. And we have such a strong instinct for self-preservation.  

Ultimately, unity is not something we can achieve through our own strength. It must be a movement of God’s Spirit. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Cor. ‭12:13‬) Have you drunk of the one Spirit? Have you tasted the goodness and glory of God? Are you walking with the Spirit? Keeping in step with Him in all your ways? Unity comes as we relinquish more and more of our lives to the Spirit’s control. Both as individuals and as churches gathered in His name. 

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23, 1 Chronicles 13-16

Cultural History and Identity

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 7-9

The key verse in today’s reading is 1 Chronicles 9:1, “So all Israel was recorded in genealogies, and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their breach of faith.” Why are all these names important? Why are the generations laid down with such detail and specificity? Why record Israel according to their respective tribes? What’s at stake here? Identity. Connection. History. Israel took their history seriously. Even after they were carted off to exile in Babylon and were faced with the temptation to intermarry and lose their connection to their past, Israel remained faithful. They knew God had set apart the Levites to serve Him as priests. So the Levites remained set apart as priests even in exile. They knew God had given authority to the tribe of Judah to reign and to rule. So the tribe of Judah continued to serve as princes and leaders for God’s people. They knew David and Samuel had set apart certain families as gatekeepers, guardians of the Lord’s treasury, etc. So they made sure these families retained those roles. And when Israel finally did return from exile, you see the descendents of these great men and women re-connecting to their glorious past. 

Most of us have never experienced exile. Most of us have not had our cultural identities wiped out. We’ve not had our history erased. We’ve not had our connection to our ancestors severed. At the same time, many among us have had this terrible and tragic experience. I think of the Native American men and women I have known. Their people lived on this continent for hundreds of years before the arrival of the first European explorers. They lost their land. They were forcibly relocated. They were forced to forgo the key rituals and give up the key rhythms that connected them to their history and their tribal identity. Their stories are terrible and heartbreaking. I think of the African-American men and women I have known. Their ancestors brought over on slave ships across the Atlantic. Their connection to their land severed. Their connection to their history erased. Their connection to their past lost. They were given new names. They were forced to take on new identities. They suffered in slavery for hundreds of years including economic slavery after officially being emancipated during the Civil War. Their stories are terrible and heartbreaking. 

It’s vital for those of us who have not suffered at the scale of others to humble ourselves and listen to those who have endured such pain and loss. It is important for us to become advocates for them as they seek to recover their cultural identity. We must become allies with them in their fight to re-connect to their cultural past. We must pluck up the courage to face the difficult and complex issues that often arise as a result.

I certainly don’t pretend to have all the answers. I know the way forward is difficult. But I have to believe as we work for the good of one another. As we celebrate the history and culture and diversity God has created among human beings on this planet. As we help each other re-connect to something deeper. A deeper identity. A deeper story. A deeper truth. I have to believe God will reveal Himself in that process in a powerful way because this “genealogical impulse” exists within all of us. In a very real sense, Israel’s story is our story for all of us can ultimately trace our lineage back to the same common source. Adam and Eve. The first man. The first woman. Made in the image of God by the hand of God for the glory of God. This is truly our heritage.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11-12, Psalms 133

The Dark Night of the Soul

Readings for today: Psalms 81, 88, 92-93

Spiritual crisis is real. The consistent witness of God’s people throughout history testifies to the fact that there will be seasons when God seems so distant. When our lives seem so dark. When the light of Christ is hard to find. When the comfort of Christ seems long in coming. During such seasons, we feel overwhelmed by fear. Doubt. The cares and worries of this world press in on us. We feel trapped. Alone. Unable to be consoled. 

St. John of the Cross, a 16th century Spanish Christian, famously coined the term, “The Dark Night of the Soul.” It refers to particular seasons in the Christian life where we feel stripped of God’s presence. It’s not true, of course. God is still very much present in our lives but we do not feel Him. We do not experience Him. We do not sense His tender mercies and affections. During such seasons, we feel a void. An absence. And it causes us to wrestle on a deep, foundational level with our faith. 

I experienced such a season for 19 months while living in Sun Prairie, WI. The ministry I had been called to was failing. My relationship with those I was accountable to was a disaster. I was struggling daily with fear and doubt and depression. So consumed was I by my own needs, I neglected my wife and children. Things got so bad that my wife gave me an ultimatum. It was either her or the ministry. I was at the end of my rope. I resigned. No idea what was next. No idea how I would feed my family. No idea how I would care for those I loved most in this world. I felt so alone. So afraid. For months I cried out to God. I would pace our living room most of the night praying. Begging. Frustrated. Angry. Where was God when I needed Him most? Where was God when things were at their worst? I was in spiritual crisis and it felt like God was not there.  

These experiences are not unusual. St. John of the Cross. St. Paul of the Cross. Mother Theresa. All testify to similar experiences, though their “dark nights” lasted decades. The author of Psalm 88 was clearly familiar with his own “dark night.” “O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you...For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol...You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep...Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?...O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me?...You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.” ‭(Psalms‬ ‭88:1, 3, 6, 11-12, 14, 18‬) It’s a depressing Psalm. One of the few with no resolution. No final ascription of praise. The psalmist seemingly feels God’s absence on a visceral level and is left all alone in darkness. 

So why does God allow the dark night of the soul? Why does God not rescue us from the depths of our spiritual crises? Why are such experiences seemingly so common and even necessary for the Christian? I believe it is how we learn the meaning of true faith. True faith must move from the head to the heart to the gut. To the depths of our being. It must become the fundamental reality of our existence. It must transcend what we think. It must transcend what we feel. It has to come from a place so deep within that it can never be overcome. 

Mother Theresa endured her “dark night” from 1948 until her death in 1997. She once wrote, “Where is my faith? Even deep down ... there is nothing but emptiness and darkness ... If there be God—please forgive me. When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul.” Some have suggested she lost her faith. Not true! In fact, her suffering was very much like that of Jesus on the cross who cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” In the end, Mother Theresa hoped her personal letters would be destroyed lest “people think more of me and less of Jesus.” 

I wouldn’t trade those 19 months of spiritual darkness in Wisconsin for anything. God had removed any sense of His affections. God had removed any sense of His abiding presence. Doubts and fears assailed my soul as I was stripped to the bone. In the depths of my despair, I was haunted by this one question...do I really believe? Do I believe in God when nothing makes sense? Do I believe in God when I cannot feel His presence? Do I believe in God when all is darkness all around me? Is God more real to me than my thoughts? My feelings? My fears? My doubts? 

There’s no way to know the answer to such deep questions unless one is willing to walk through the valley of the shadow of death to the other side. Thankfully, at the end of my own dark road, I found God waiting for me there. I found my faith renewed and strengthened in a way I could never have imagined. And I do not harbor any illusions that somehow my journey is at its end or that I won’t have to walk yet another dark road in the course of my life. What I do know is that God has driven my faith deep into my gut. Deep into the bedrock of my being. And though it can be shaken, it can never be destroyed because God is more real than my circumstances. God is more real than my feelings. God is more real than my thoughts. God is more real than my doubts. God is more real than my fears. God is the fundamental reality of my life and I am thankful. 

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 7-9

Evangelism

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 6, Psalms 36, 39, 77-78

I once worked for a denomination where evangelism was often referred to as the “E” word. It was a perjorative term. They didn’t like it. Didn’t want to do it. Didn’t really believe it necessary on some level. They would much rather focus on social issues and lobby for certain political progressive positions. But talk about Jesus? Share the gospel? That was a non-starter. Every few years, they would produce a survey and at least a few of the questions focused on whether or not belief in Jesus was required for salvation. A majority of pastors and denominational leaders voted “no.” When asked if they had shared their faith with a non-believer in the last year, most of the people sitting in the pew said “no.” Of course, things aren’t much different in my current denomination. While everyone acknowledges the call to evangelize, very few actually put it into practice. 80-85% of our churches have plateaued or are in decline. In a recent survey it was revealed that far too many pastors do not spend any time at all sharing the good news with lost people outside of Sunday mornings. Sure, we may have a better handle on our theology but we still seem to suffer from the same spiritual malaise.

Psalm 78 says, “We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments...” (Psalms‬ ‭78:4-7‬) It is God’s greatest desire to be known. To be loved. To be in relationship with His people. It’s why He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. It’s why He revealed Himself to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It’s why He spoke to Moses from a burning bush. It’s why He delivered Israel with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. It’s why He sends prophets, raises up kings, and, in the fullness of time, sends His only begotten Son into the world. He wants to be known! 

The primary instrument He uses to make Himself known is us! His chosen people! His adopted sons and daughters! His bride! His body! His church. It’s why every gospel contains a Great Commission. It’s why the Book of Acts begins with a command to go to the ends of the earth with the message of the gospel. It’s good news! It’s great news! It’s the best news!  

Evangelism begins in the home. With our children. Our children’s children. One generation tells the next of the mighty and awesome wonders of God. One generation testifies to the next of all that God has done. Fathers and mothers sharing the good news with their children over dinner. Driving in the car to the next practice. Prayers before bedtime. Grandfathers and grandmothers sharing the good news with their grandchildren as they take them to the zoo. For a walk in the park. Playing with them on the playground. Families worshipping together. Reading Scripture together. Praying together. This is how the faith is passed on. But it doesn’t end in our homes. It extends outward to our neighbors as we engage in acts of service and selfless love. It extends to our co-workers as we connect over coffee breaks and at lunch. It extends to our classmates at recess or on off-periods together. It extends to those we encounter as we go about our daily lives. A smile. A kind word. Graciously letting someone go in front of us in the line at the grocery store. It extends even further as we engage cross-culturally both locally and abroad. As we serve the less fortunate. Speak for those who have no voice. Care for those who are hurting. Comfort those who are sick. Come alongside those who are lonely. All in the name of Jesus.  

A favorite theologian of mine once said, “Christians should all live questionable lives.” Not because we engage in sin but because our lives should be such models of grace and unconditional love that it will make people curious. It will make them want to ask us why we live the way we do. This should be true of our children as they grow up in our homes. True for our neighbors who live around us. True for our co-workers and classmates with whom we spend so much time. 

So who do you know who needs the gospel? What are you doing to share the good news with them? Are you praying for them? Are you looking for opportunities to engage in spiritual conversations with them? Are you serving them? Blessing them? Have you invited them to join you in worship? Or in small group? Or on a mission? God desires all should be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. And to accomplish this great mission, God has sent you. God has sent me. God has sent His people into the world.  

Readings for tomorrow: None

Communion of Saints

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 3-5

There is an old story about a pastor who went to visit a parishioner whom he had not seen for a while. It was a cold morning so when the pastor showed up, the man had the coffee hot and a roaring fire going in the fireplace. They both sat down and the pastor asked how things were going. The conversation ranged from work to family to health to life in general. The man was doing well. Finally, the conversation got around to faith. And the man started to talk about how he didn’t need the church to worship God. He was doing just fine on his own. Praying. Reading the Bible. Walking through the woods. As he spoke, the pastor didn’t judge. Didn’t condemn. He simply reached over and with the tongs, took a coal out of the fireplace and placed it on the hearth. As the man spoke, his eyes kept going to the coal. At first it burned nice and hot but as time went on it began to grow cold. Having lost it’s connection to the fire, it eventually burned out. 

Life with God is like that. Life with community is like that. I can’t tell you the number of people I have spoken with over the last two years who’ve experienced this loss of connection. Pre-COVID, their lives were so busy. They were pulled in so many different directions. They didn’t have time to build deep, spiritual friendships. Once COVID hit and life locked down, they had nowhere to turn. No one to call when they were struggling. No one to lean on when times got tough. The result was isolation and loneliness. Feelings of depression and despair. They tried to medicate with alcohol or marijuana or opioids but those things only provided temporary relief. They desperately needed to rekindle their relationship with God and His people.

The people of God have always drawn so much strength from one another. The people of God have always felt this strong connection both to those who came before them and to those who come after. The genealogies of the Bible may seem dry and boring at first glance. Just a bunch of names on a page. And yet each person represents a story. Each person represents a connection to God and His promises. Each person has a testimony to share about the faithfulness of God in action. Maybe it’s Jabez who prayed to God for protection. Or Reuben who experienced the loving discipline of God for his mistakes. Or Judah who experienced the grace of God covering His sin. Over and over again, these names tell a story. The story. Our story. This is our family history. Our family tree. And as we tap into this story, we experience a deep connection to the One who made us. The One who loves us. The One who has come to rescue us.

How are you connecting to God today? How are you connecting to God’s people? How are you helping others connect? It’s not complicated. All it takes is the discipline of time and effort. As life begins to ramp back up against now that we are emerging from the COVID crisis, we have the opportunity for a reset. We have the chance to chart a new course. Intentionally set some new patterns in our lives so that deep, spiritual friendships can form. If you need help, I always recommend the following four spiritual practices to those who wonder how to begin building connection with God and others…

1. Daily Devotional Time: Spend time each day in prayer and reading/reflecting on Scripture. Find fifteen minutes, twenty minutes, even thirty minutes or more just to be with God. Use your commute. Use your lunch hour. Use your break time. You won’t regret it.

2. Weekly Gathered Worship: Find a local church and plug in. This is especially true in the new era of online worship. Make sure to gather in-person as much as possible with God’s people for worship each week. Don’t approach it as a consumer experience (i.e. what did I “get out” of it today) but rather trust God to create a “cascading” effect in your life on a subconscious level as you commit to worship Him on a weekly basis.

3. Join a small group: Find a few Christian friends and start meeting together intentionally for encouragement, vulnerable sharing, and accountability. Pray for each other. Talk to each other. Intentionally do life together. Will it be messy? Yep. Pursuing authentic relationships always is because we are all “authentically” sinful! :-) Press through the difficult conversations. Practice forgiveness and grace. You will find deep connections building as you do.

4. Find a place to serve God’s Kingdom: Don’t just build this “connection” for yourself! Find a way to share it with others. As you go out to serve Christ and His Kingdom, you will become someone else’s point of connection to God and to community. Isn’t that awesome? God will use YOU to be His hands and feet in another person’s life.

Do these four things over the course of a lifetime and I can pretty much guarantee you will grow a deep, abiding relationship with God and with His people. Will there be disappointments along the way? Yes. Will you feel hurt at times? Absolutely. Is it easy? Nope. Not in our world. But nothing worth doing is ever easy and that is particularly true when it comes to the most important relationship in our lives! So place your trust and your hope in Christ and let Him lead you to the abundant life He promises!  

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 6, Psalms 36, 39, 77-78

God’s Extravagant Gifts

Readings for today: Psalms 49, 84-85, 87

Recently, my wife and I were reflecting back on our life together. We’ve been married almost 26 years. Been together almost 30. We’ve raised four kids together. We’ve lived all over the country. We’ve traveled to many faraway places. Done ministry in all sorts of contexts. We’ve been rich and we’ve been poor. We’ve had good times and bad times. We’ve experienced deep intimacy and deep brokenness. But perhaps the thing that struck us most as we looked back was the extravagant goodness of God. He has given us so many gifts over the years. Gifts we did not deserve. Gifts we could never earn. And as we reflected on these gifts, we found ourselves experiencing a range of emotions. Shock. A little embarrassment. Humility. Followed by a deep and profound sense of gratitude and thankfulness.  

In this is love...not that we loved God but that He loved us. (1 John 4:10) God is the most extravagant giver of all time. His mercies are new every morning. Manna appearing each and every day. He throws open the storehouses of heaven in order to care for those He loves. I love how Psalm 85 puts it, “Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.” (Psalms‬ ‭85:9-13‬) Surely we do not deserve such divine attention! Surely we have not earned such divine blessing! Surely we are not worthy of such an honor and yet God’s love remains. He gives what is good. He causes the land to yield it’s increase. His salvation comes to those who fear Him. His glory fills the earth. God is vigilant. Always watching. Always on the lookout. He never sleeps. He never rests. He never takes a day off. He is always there for us. He is at work when there is scarcity and when there is abundance. He is at work when the outlook is good and the forecast sunny and He is at work when things are trending downward and it looks like rain.

I know it’s easy to question such goodness. We look around at the world and we see the starvation. The poverty. The disease. The death. We wonder where God is in the midst of it all. The Bible’s answer is clear and unequivocal. He is there. Right in the middle of it all. Right in the thick of things. Saving. Securing. Providing. Comforting. Rescuing people from the bondage of sin and death in this world in order to bring them home to Himself. He’s also at work in us. Those who have plenty. Those who have abundance. Those who are healthy and strong and blessed with tremendous resources. He moves on our hearts. He moves in our lives. He propels us out to the ends of the earth to be His hands and feet. What a marvelous thing it is to be invited to partner with God’s Spirit in what God is doing to save the world!  

It is humbling. It is a little embarrassing. Certainly shocking that God would choose me. But I am overwhelmed by a deep and profound sense of gratefulness and thankfulness. I do not deserve this honor. I have done nothing to earn it. I am unworthy in every which way. But God is gracious. And God’s love for me remains. Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 3-5

Biblical Genogram

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 1-2, Psalms 43-44

The genogram is a tool that has become very popular in recent years. Invented by American psychiatrist Murray Bowen in the 1970’s, it is designed to illuminate hereditary family patterns that are passed down to each generation. Those patterns can be positive or negative but they are often extremely helpful for individual who want to grow in their self-understanding as to why they think and feel and react the way they do. Families are emotional systems in which each individual plays a particular role. The more one understands the role they are called to play and why they are called to play it, the more they can help the system move towards greater health and wholeness. The less one understands about the role they play, the more apt they are to perpetuate it.

One can only imagine what might be revealed if we did a genogram of the first two chapters of 1 Chronicles! If you’ve been tracking with us through the Bible in a Year this year, you know the stories. They’re not always pretty. It’s one of the things I appreciate most about the Bible. It never seeks to white-wash any of the Old Testament saints. Their sinful tendencies are put on full display for all to see. Deception. Abuse. Violence. Suffering. Pain. Abandonment. Polygamy. Incest. It’s all right there in the family tree. And yet God remains faithful. He chooses this particular people, despite their deep brokenness, to be His very own. They will bear the weight His glory. They will be entrusted with His Word. They will inherit the promises. They will be His covenant partners as He seeks to make Himself known to the world.

The same holds true for us today. I love how the Apostle Paul describes it in 2 Corinthians 4:7, “For we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” We are all jars of clay. Cracked and chipped in many places by the things we’ve experienced in this world. Into our hearts, God has deposited the treasure of the gospel and His desire is to make Himself known in us and through us despite our deep brokenness. It is through the cracks of our lives that God’s light shines. It is in the mess of our lives that God meets us. He is not afraid to call His own. He is not afraid to adopt us as His sons and daughters. He is not afraid to make us covenant partners in the great work He is doing to reach the world with His message of grace, hope, and love.

All of us are products of the family system that produced us. All of us are shaped - good, bad, and otherwise - by the interactions we have with the generations who’ve gone before us and the ones who come after us. All of us have a role to play in our family system and the more we allow Christ to transform us in that role, the more we can leverage it to help our family system become a greater reflection of the gospel.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 49, 84-85, 87

Emotional Roller Coaster

Readings for today: Psalms 6, 9-10, 14, 16, 21

I was born in Columbus, IN. One of my dreams as a young kid was to go to an amusement park outside of Cincinnati called King’s Island and ride a famous rollercoaster there called the “Beast.” When the Beast first debuted in 1979, it broke all existing records for the longest and fastest wooden rollercoaster in the world. The ride lasts more than four minutes and soars over 35 acres of wooded terrain. It has drops of 137 feet and 141 at extreme angles and has a 125 foot long underground tunnel. It reaches speeds of up to 65 MPH and has eight banked turns, some at 45 degrees. You can see why riding it would be every young boy’s dream! Sadly, we never went to King’s Island and I never got to fulfill my dream but I’ve loved rollercoasters to this day.

Reading the Psalms feels a bit like riding a rollercoaster. Today’s selection begins in grief with David “flooding his bed” with tears. It moves to praise as David recounts all the “wonderful deeds” of the Lord. Back down to despair as David experiences the absence of God and feels abandoned in his “time of trouble.” From there, David experiences conviction, realizing it is only the fool that says in his heart, “there is no God.” And then to hope as David clings to faith, trusting God to be his “chosen portion and cup.” Finally, David finishes with praise for who God is and what He has done. It’s quite a ride.

Life can often feel like a rollercoaster and that’s why the Psalms continue to resonate after all these years. They express the full range of human emotion and give us permission to approach God authentically and honestly and openly with our feelings. David approaches God with anger, frustration, hopelessness, fear, anxiety, depression and despair. He also approaches God with joy, excitement, trust, hope, deep faith and confidence. He never seems to be anyone but Himself before the Lord. This is perhaps what I love the most about him. I used to struggle to be “real” before God. I used to worry that if I didn’t have the right words to say or approach God with the right attitude in my heart that I would be rejected or worse. But as I’ve traveled the rollercoaster that is my life and experienced all the ups and downs, the high peaks and low valleys, the sharp turns and drops that make me catch my breath; I’ve realized God has been sitting in the seat next to me the whole way. He knows my every thought and every feeling and He embraces me as I am.

It’s two days post-Easter. If you’re like me, the joy of that beautiful morning has already been challenged. Arguments at home. Family members in and out of the hospital. Dogs tearing up my backyard. Changes in carefully laid plans. The pressure of preparing for another Sunday. All of these things can stack up on me if I’m not careful. And the temptation I face in my own life is to stuff the feelings, put my head down, and plow forward. But that ignores the invitation of the Psalms. God wants me to bring all that I am feeling to Him. He wants me to continuously lay whatever burdens I may be carrying at His feet. Each and every morning I have the opportunity to come before Him to receive the strength I need for that particular day. Each and every evening, I have the opportunity to reflect back and thank Him for His provision. The key is approach Him honestly. Authentically. Openly. Holding nothing back. Let the One whose name is Faithful and True provide you with grace to meet your every need.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 1-2, Psalms 43-44

The Experience of Holy Saturday

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 1-4

My favorite part of Holy Week this year was Saturday. Strange, right? It’s the day that often gets lost in the shuffle. It’s the day of silence. The day where Jesus lay in the tomb. The day where nothing seems to be happening. If you’re like me, you’ve never been quite sure what to do with this day. The roadmap for the rest of the week seems pretty clear. Palm Sunday is all about the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday focuses on the Last Supper, foot-washing, and the new commandment to love one another. Good Friday directs our attention to the cross and the death of our Savior. Easter Sunday is the glorious celebration of the resurrection. Against this backdrop, Saturday seems mundane. Ordinary. Like any other day. I’m never quite sure what to do with it. This year, however, was different. I found myself reflecting on the “pregnant pause” between crucifixion and resurrection. The questions such a pause evokes. The doubts one wrestles with when it feels like God is silent. The struggles we have when it feels like evil has won.

Then I read the passages for today. I struck me that all of life is a kind of “Holy Saturday” experience. For the Old Testament saints like David, they lived in the great “pause” between creation and consummation and they made the best of it. In many ways, David was a reflection of his culture. He was a tribal warlord who could be capricious and arbitrary and violent. He kills the messengers who bring him the news of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan and Ish-bosheth while giving Joab a pass for murdering Abner. At the same time, he also could be gentle and humble and tender-hearted. Consider the lamentation he composes for Saul and Jonathan. He honors them in death though Saul had become his mortal enemy. He even has it written down and taught to all of the people of Judah. The civil war after the death of Saul lasts two years and costs many their lives. It’s a dark time in the nation’s history though in the end David is confirmed in his kingship and unites God’s people under his rule and reign. Such is life on Holy Saturday. It’s messy. Broken. Violent. Filled with all kinds of pain and suffering. And yet God remains patient and faithful. He works all things according to His will for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

What about us? We live in the great “pause” between the first and second Advents. Christ has come. Christ has died. Christ has risen. The empty tomb fills us with hope. It is the sure and certain sign etched in human history for all to see that God has indeed broken the power of sin and death. He will not allow evil to have the final word. Justice will be done. Creation will be renewed. All things will be made new. This mortal life will put on immortality and we shall reign with Him forever. In the meantime, however, we should expect the world to reflect the messy reality of Holy Saturday. Caught in the silence between resurrection and final consummation, we should expect to see wars and hear rumors of wars. We should expect there to be pain and sorrow and suffering. We should expect to experience tragedies of various kinds as we wait for the final revelation of the Son of God. Does this mean things are hopeless? Does this mean we should give into despair? Not at all! God is still at work! He is still patiently, faithfully, lovingly working out His will even in the midst of our mess. Through it all, God’s promise remains true. He will use all things - good things, bad things, even ugly things - for the good of those who love Him and who look to Him and who offer their lives back to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 6, 9-10, 14, 16, 21