Victory from Defeat

Readings for today: Psalms 35, 54, 63, 18

At fifty-two years old, I can look back over the course of my life and think of several times where my future teetered on the edge of a knife. If not for the intervention of the Lord, I would have fallen. I would have failed. I would have lost everything. I remember being in high school and our family being on the verge of homelessness. We were down to our final month before foreclosure and eviction. We had no money left. The house needed to sell and God came through at the 11th hour. I remember being in college and not doing well. I was in the process of flunking out. I was drinking heavily. I could easily have dropped out and become an alcoholic but God intervened. Literally saved my life. Plucked me out of the pit and set my feet on the rock. I remember losing our first child at 22 weeks. The divorce rate for couples who lose children is extremely high and we could easily have become another statistic but God drew us close to Himself and our marriage only got stronger. I can think of several critical moments in the different churches and ministries I’ve been part of over the years which could easily have gone south. Moments of significant conflict. Moments where I was personally attacked. Moments where I felt betrayed. If not for God, my ministry career would have looked a lot different but He preserved me through each and every trial. He made me stronger and more resilient and most of all, more dependent on Him.

David has experienced a lot in his life at this point. He’s been on top of the mountain like when he defeated Goliath and he’s been in the lowest of valleys like when he’s being chased by Saul. He’s experienced a lot of victory in his life and he’s been on the run from his enemies. He’s had moments when he could have taken matters into his own hands and claimed the throne of Israel by killing Saul. He’s had other moments where Saul almost captures him to put him to death. Through it all, David continues to look to the Lord. He continues to give God all the credit for his life and his success and his deliverance. “I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.” (Psalms 54:6-7 CSB) He refuses to let those who attack him get him down. He refuses to give into despair when he is betrayed or falsely accused. He knows the Lord sees his heart and he trusts God to vindicate him in the end. “Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me.” (Psalms 35:24 CSB) Most of all, David continues to seek God with all his heart. He never wavers in his faith. “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalms 18:1-2 CSB)

How do you respond to adversity? How do you respond when you feel attacked or betrayed of falsely accused? How do you respond when things don’t go your way or take a turn for the worse? Do you look to the Lord when you find yourself wandering in the wilderness? In a dry and thirsty land? What about when things are good? Do you give God the praise? Do you give God the credit for the good things in your life? For His intervention and His provision and His blessing? When you look back over the course of your life, can you see where the Lord has brought victory in your life? Perhaps even from the jaws of defeat?

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 28-31, 1 Chronicles 10

Humility

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 25-27, Psalms 17, 73

I am convinced humility is a super-power. I believe it was former President Harry Truman who once said, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” I believe him. It’s certainly squares with my experience. When I have been willing to lay aside pride and ego, the impact of whatever is accomplished grows exponentially. When I have been willing to relinquish my rights for the sake of others, especially those in less powerful positions, all kinds of new opportunities emerge. When I have been willing to let go of control and work collaboratively and share authority and extend freedom, we reach heights I’ve never dreamed possible.

Imagine what could have happened if Nabal had welcomed David’s servants? Imagine instead of cursing David and acting a fool, if he blessed David and thanked him for the many ways he protected his shepherds in the wilderness? Imagine if Nabal had not looked down on David, calling him a slave, but instead treated him honorably and welcomed him to his feast? Tragically, Nabal hardened his heart and fell under God’s judgment. Abigail, on the other hand, is the perfect picture of humility. When she hears what her husband had done, she rushes out to make up for it. She intercedes for his life and is able to avert a war. She shows us what grace looks like in action and David is so impressed, he takes her for his wife after Nabal dies. One even wonders if Abigail’s example rubs off on David? In the very next chapter, David has the opportunity to kill Saul and bring an end to the civil war in Israel, he stays his hand. He refuses to take Saul’s life, trusting God to make it happen in His perfect time. In this way, David will know it is the Lord who fights his battles and gives him the victory. As Abigail says so well, “And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel, my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself.” (1 Samuel 25:30-31 CSB)

In my experience, you can choose to live life in one of two directions. Either you will say to God, “Thy will be done” or God will say to you, “thy will be done.” You will either humble yourself before the Lord and live generously and open-handedly or you will harden your heart and live pridefully and selfishly. There really is no middle ground. Those who choose the latter path find themselves on the same trajectory as Nabal or Saul. Their hearts eventually turn to stone and they die with no one to mourn their passing. Those who choose the former path find themselves on the same trajectory as Abigail. Their lives are rich and full and when they pass, many come to mourn them. Which path do you find yourself on today?

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 35, 54, 63, 18

Deliverance

Readings for today: Psalms 56, 120, 140, 141, 142

The Psalms are known as “the prayer book of the Bible” and for good reason. They are the literal prayers of the people of Israel. People like David and Solomon and Asaph. They teach us how to pray when times are hard and tough. They teach us how to pray when we are anxious and afraid. They teach us how to pray when we are poor and powerless. They teach us how to pray when times are good. When victory is within our grasp. When life has taken an upward turn. Most of all, they direct us to God. They teach us how to cry out to God in times of need and how to praise God in times of blessing.

In this particular season of his life, David is on the run. He has yet to assume his rightful place on the throne. He’s even had to leave Israel and take refuge among the Philistines who are his mortal enemies. Think about that for a minute. David literally has made his name defeating Goliath and the Philistine armies over and over again but now it is safer for him to live among them than his own people! No wonder David cries out to God. You have probably noted that many of the Psalms provide a brief description at the beginning before the actual verses begin. It gives a bit of the context for that particular prayer. Two of today’s Psalms were written when David was held captive by the Philistines or hiding out in a cave. The others suggest he was also facing adversity, perhaps around the same time. The themes of these Psalms focus on protection, deliverance, and rescue from his enemies. Each of the Psalms is also a declaration of trust. A profession of faith. David prays in confidence, believing the Lord will hear and answer his prayers.

The Psalms invite us to pray similar prayers. They invite us to express similar emotions. They give us permission to come before the Lord authentically and honestly, without fear of judgment. At the same time, the Psalms challenge us to believe. They challenge us to trust God. They challenge us to walk with open hands before Him and be willing to submit our will to His own. Deliverance may come from an unexpected place. Rescue may come when we least expect it. God does protect us but not always in the way we would think or according to our timing. We have to be willing to let God be in charge. This is what sets David apart. His prayers declare His trust in the almighty, sovereign power and plan of God.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 25-27, Psalms 17, 73

Godly Confidence

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 21-24, Psalms 91

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to speak to different groups of leaders within my denomination. Different churches in different communities than my own, sometimes from different cultures than my own. One thing they all hold in common is a deep love for God and a passion to seek Him for the future of their life together. Often, the way forward is not easy. It can be unclear. It can be full of challenges. There can be a lot of conflict to navigate. Major decisions and major risks have to be taken in order to move forward. Those first few steps of faith are the hardest to take, at least in my experience. I try to share vulnerably from my own life when I speak. I share the stories of the challenges I’ve had to face and my many failures along the way. I share the stories of the conflicts I’ve had to manage and the anxieties I’ve felt. I share the stories of the pivotal moments when major decisions had to be made and the incredible risks taken for the Kingdom of God and how those worked out. Like everyone, I have had my ups and downs. I’ve had my successes and failures. But through it all, I’ve learned to lean on God for my confidence.

Godly confidence is not something we are born with. It is something we earn over a lifetime. Primarily through hardship and struggle. It is forged in the fires of adversity. It is tempered in times of trial. It is refined through seasons of suffering. As I said, I’ve had my share. When my life was at it’s lowest possible point and I was in danger of losing everything and everyone I loved, God met me in a powerful way. He lifted me up out of the pit and set my feet on solid ground. I learned the truth of David’s words from Psalm 91, “Because He holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him. I will protect him because he knows My name. When he calls to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” David also had a godly confidence. It’s what led him into the valley to meet Goliath. It’s what won him victory after victory against the Philistines. It’s what sustained him when he was falsely accused and hunted down by King Saul. David knew God was with him. He trusted God to lead and guide him. He took great risks and leveraged everything he had over and over again in service of the Lord. And he never lost sight of God’s protection. He never took advantage of his position. Even when he had King Saul at his mercy, he refused to lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. He knew his time would come and it would be by God’s hand not his that he would become king.

Once you hit rock bottom and find God waiting for you there, there isn’t much that will shake you. Once you’ve been through the fires of adversity and God leads you to the other side, there isn’t much that can break you. Once God takes your life down to the studs and begins building you back again, you find yourself no longer placing your trust in the things of this world. Success. Wealth. Power. Position. None of it matters except that it put to use to expand and grow the Kingdom of God. I’ve staked my life on this truth. I’ve watched God do His miraculous work through His people time and time again. I’ve been privileged to have a front row seat to the movement of the Holy Spirit as He transforms so many lives. I’ve experienced the sufficiency of the gospel over and over again in my own life despite my foolishness and failures. God is able, friends! God is MORE than able to do MORE than we can ever ask or imagine. Trust Him with your life today!

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals for today

Future

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 17-20, Psalms 59

I hate uncertainty. I struggle with not knowing the future. I do all I can to predict and prepare for what’s next. I don’t like surprises. I don’t like it when life takes an unexpected turn. These things make me feel insecure. At the same time, I believe in the sovereignty of God. I trust God holds my future in His capable hands. I believe God will use all things in my life for my good and for His glory. I just wish sometimes He would give me a glimpse of what’s to come.

David had no idea what the future held for him. One day, he’s tending sheep. The next, he’s fighting a giant. One day, he’s laboring in obscurity, a complete unknown. The next, he’s famous for delivering Israel from the Philistines. One day, he’s outdoors, in the fields, hunting for his food, living with smelly, dirty sheep. The next, he’s in Jerusalem, living at the king’s court, eating at the king’s table, making a name for himself as he wins battle after battle. How did David get from here to there? It’s actually pretty simple. “So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with someone to keep it, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had charged him.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Nothing extraordinary. No voices from heaven. No miraculous signs. Just following his father’s request to check on his brothers. This ordinary, mundane decision literally changes the course of his life as well as the future of Israel.

How many times can we look back on our lives and say the same? How many times did a simple, ordinary, mundane decision lead us to an opportunity that changed our lives? Can we see God’s hand in it? Using the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary? Using our everyday decisions to accomplish His will? I certainly can see this dynamic in play in my life. My choice of a college coming out of high school led me to an opportunity to accept Christ and meet my future wife. My choice of a church in Boulder led me to an opportunity to attend Princeton Seminary. My choice to serve a small church in Mobile, AL prepared me to lead the church I currently serve in Parker, CO. My choice to apply for a fellowship program at Columbia Seminary led me to an opportunity to be mentored by Steve Hayner. My connection to Steve gave me the opportunity to get my doctorate which has opened all kinds of doors professionally for me over the years. The list goes on and on. It’s astounding to see and nothing I could ever have planned. Not in my wildest dreams.

Someone once famously said, “We may not know the future but we know the One who holds the future in His hands.” We do have a sure and certain hope. Not because we know the future. Not because we can predict what’s next with any degree of accuracy. Not because we are prepared for whatever may come. We have a sure and certain hope because we trust the Lord. We know He guides and directs our steps. We know He is faithful to be with us wherever we go. This is what set David apart from all the other warriors in the army of Israel. Though he didn’t know what awaited him when he rode into camp that day, he knew the Lord was with him so he could face even a giant like Goliath without fear.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 21-24, Psalms 91

Heart

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 13-16

1 Samuel 16:7 is one of my favorite verses in all the Bible. “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬) What does God see when He looks on your heart? Does He see a heart full of devotion or a heart that’s divided? Does He see a heart that is humble and willing and obedient or a heart that is prideful and resistant and oriented more around self? Does He see a heart full of love and grace or a heart full of anger and hate? Does He see a heart that is quick to forgive or quick to judge?

What does it mean to love God with a “whole” heart? To be fully devoted to Him? Does it mean outward, physical perfection? King Saul literally stood head and shoulders above his countrymen. (1 Sam. 10:23) Eliab, David’s older brother, clearly was an impressive physical specimen. (1 Sam. 16:6) Does it mean achievement or success? I am sure God could easily have lined up a hundred other men who had accomplished a heck of a lot more than David. Is it based on wealth or privilege? Or perhaps great moral character? What kind of heart does God treasure in a man or woman? The key is found in 1 Sam. 15:22-23 CSB, ”Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.” Humility. Submission. Obedience. These are the qualities on which God places supreme value.

King Saul was a half-hearted man. Though he was chosen by God and instructed by Samuel in the “rights and duties” of godly kingship, his heart was divided. At times, Saul was faithful and found great success. At other times, he was unfaithful and found only heartbreak. The unlawful sacrifice at Gilgal. A rash vow during the heat of battle. A refusal to devote the Amalekites to destruction. These events illustrate the half-hearted devotion Saul paid to God and it eventually cost him everything. The kingdom was literally ripped from his hands. The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. He ended up tormented and paranoid. 

King David was a whole-hearted man. David was a man after God’s own heart though this didn’t make him perfect. In fact, his failures are massive and significant and costly. But through it all, the one thing David consistently does is seek after God. David keeps humbling himself before God. David keeps returning to God in repentance. And God loves David. Honors David. Promises to give the throne to his descendants for generations.  

Take some time today and honestly examine your heart. Are you half-hearted or whole-hearted in your devotion to Jesus? We’ve already seen that it doesn’t necessarily depend on our outward appearance or achievement or actions. We can’t count on the image we project to the world to save us. We have to be strong and courageous enough to take the inward journey into the heart. What do you find there? What will God see when He looks at you?

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 17-20, Psalms 59

Disappointment

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 9-12

Disappointment is hard to navigate. I recently was talking to a friend who experienced a painful disappointment in their life. People with whom they were close let them down. People they trusted and invited into their home had betrayed them. People they loved had walked away. I’ve seen it too many times to count. I’ve seen it in marriages and families. I’ve seen it in churches and small groups. I’ve seen it in business and friendship. And the natural response is to pull back. Protect our hearts. Refuse to trust anyone ever again lest we open ourselves up to more hurt. Even if the person or parties return, we too often refuse to forgive. Refuse to extend grace. And the result is only more brokenness and heartbreak and pain.

There is so much to admire about Samuel. His devotion to the Lord from a young age. His military prowess. His leadership ability. His spiritual authority and wisdom. His faithfulness over so many years. But perhaps what I admire most is his attitude at the end of his life. When the people he has given his life to turn on him and ask for a king. They reject his leadership in a desire to be just like the nations around them. It had to be a crushing disappointment for him. But what is his response? “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way. Above all, fear the Lord and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you. However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.” (‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Samuel never stops praying. Never stops teaching. Never stops discipling. Never stops seeking to lead them by example. It doesn’t matter that they have rejected and betrayed him. His calling doesn’t depend on their affirmation. He trusts in the Lord alone.

What about you? What disappointments have you faced in your life that have tempted you to withdraw? Tempted you to avoid? Tempted you to withhold forgiveness and grace? What relationships in your life need healing and reconciliation? How can you be an agent of grace in the midst of conflict? How can you be a person of peace when those you love are at odds with one another? Follow Samuel’s example. Never stop praying, even for those who hurt you. Never stop living the good and righteous way. Never stop fearing the Lord and worshipping Him faithfully with all your heart. Never forget the great things He has done for you and seek to do those same things for others.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 13-16

Idols

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 4-8

What comes to mind when you think of an idol? Perhaps you’ve visited archeological sites and seen how the ancients worshipped? Perhaps you’ve walked through museums and seen the religious symbols of different cultures throughout history? Perhaps it’s a golden statue from the Indiana Jones movies? Those kinds of idols are easy to spot. It’s much harder to discern the idols of our own lives. Technology. Money. Possessions. Positions. Idolatry comes all too easy for us. John Calvin was right when he wrote that our hearts are idol factories. We produce them at a relentless pace, as if they were on an assembly line.

We’re so prone to idolatry that we turn good things, even godly things, into ultimate things. Consider the nation of Israel. Under threat by their Philistine neighbors. Having been defeated once already in battle. Afraid of what might happen if they were defeated a second time. They called on their priests to bring them the ark of the Lord. Now we all know the ark of the Lord is sacred. It resided in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. The very place where the high priest met with God. It was perhaps the most important religious symbol in all of Israel. But at the end of the day, it was just a box. It held no power of its own. Carrying it into battle did nothing for Israel. Even though it was a good thing, it was not an ultimate thing. Even though it was a sacred thing, a godly thing, it was just a symbol. It was no substitute for God Himself.

Israel made the mistake of placing their trust in a gift rather than the Giver. They believed the ark “contained” God and if they just carried it with them in battle, they could not be defeated. But the heavens cannot contain God’s glory, much less this little box Israel carried around with them. And while it’s tempting to look down on Israel’s foolishness, how often do we make the same mistake? How often do we try to put God in a box? How often do we try to control Him? Manipulate Him? Judge Him? Evaluate Him? Remake Him in our own image? I think of the number of people who’ve said to me over the years, “I could never believe in a God like that…(insert whatever quality you take issue with)” I think about the number of times I have said or thought something similar. But God is not bound to our ideas of Him. He is not bound to our understanding of Him. And every time we try to reduce Him down to size, we are engaged in idolatry. Every time we try to capture Him with our theological systems, we are in danger of misrepresenting Him. Placing our trust once again in ourselves rather than in God.

Towards the end of our reading for today, Samuel calls Israel to return to the Lord. He challenges them to put away all their false gods. He challenges them to worship God alone and not place their trust in idols, even if they are sacred objects. “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, set your hearts on the Lord, and worship only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths and only worshiped the Lord.” (1 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬) This same challenge remains for us today. To set our hearts on the Lord and worship Him alone.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 9-12

Dedication

Readings for today: 1 Samuel 1-3

Recently our church took a survey. One of the questions went something like this, “Are you willing to sacrifice everything for the Lord?” Not surprisingly, a smaller percentage of our congregation said, “Yes.” I had several people ask me about it later. Most of them took issue with the word “everything.” After all, “everything” could include their work, their home, their livelihood, their future, or their 401K. But those weren’t really the things that tripped people up. What really tripped people up was the idea that they might have to give up their children or their children’s future for the Lord. That’s the reason I heard over and over again as people answered “disagree” to that particular question and I get it. I really do. I have four kids myself. I love each of them fiercely. I want the best for them. I have worked hard to sacrifice so they can have all kinds of opportunities in life. The idea that I might have to give them up to the Lord is a foreign concept to me.

However, it wasn’t a foreign concept in Israel. The people of God loved their children as much or more than we do. They just understood God loved them more. They understood every child was a blessing from the Lord and therefore belonged to Him. Yes, we are entrusted with raising our children. Teaching our children. Protecting and providing for our children. But our children are from the Lord. They ultimately belong to Him which is why Hannah was able and willing to let go of Samuel. Her firstborn son. Her only child. With no guarantee she would get pregnant a second time. It’s an incredible act of faith. And the only reason she was able to find the courage to take this step is because of how much she trusted God. Listen to the words of her song again…

My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted up by the Lord.

My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides you! 

And there is no rock like our God. Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by him. 

The bows of the warriors are broken, but the feeble are clothed with strength. 

Those who are full hire themselves out for food, but those who are starving hunger no more.

The woman who is childless gives birth to seven, but the woman with many sons pines away. 

The Lord brings death and gives life; he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up. 

The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth; he humbles and he exalts. 

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap. 

He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. 

For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; he has set the world on them. 

He guards the steps  of his faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness, for a person does not prevail by his own strength. 

Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered; he will thunder in the heavens against them. 

The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give power to his king; he will lift up the horn of his anointed. (‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Hannah believed every word of her prayer which is why she could relinquish her son to the Lord. She knew God had a plan for her son’s life though she could not have known the great man and prophet he would become. She simply knew he would serve the Lord and she knew the Lord lifts up the humble and poor and powerless. When you think about it, everything Hannah prays about comes true in Samuel’s life. He becomes the greatest and wisest judge in Israel’s history. He is a great leader and warrior. He presides over a period of stability and prosperity. He anoints Saul and David as kings. None of that would be possible except for his mother’s deep faith.

So let’s ask the question again…are you willing to sacrifice everything for the Lord? Imagine what He could do with whatever you decide to entrust into His hands? Your future? Your finances? Your work? Your home? Your family? God wants it all. Not to take it from you but to do with it what you could never do. This is His promise to all who would give their lives to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 4-8

God’s Ways

Readings for today: Ruth 1-4

I love the book of Ruth. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of the most horrific circumstances, God is always at work. Even when things look dark and bleak, God’s light begins to shine through. The Book of Ruth takes place in the time of the judges. It doesn’t tell us which judge but we know from what we’ve just read this week that the “time of the judges” was a time of great hardship and suffering in Israel, most of it self-inflicted. The time of the judges was a time of great idolatry and sin in Israel. It was a time when terrible crimes were committed. Crimes against humanity and genocide. It was a time of hardship and pain and suffering as nation after nation attacked Israel and enslaved them. It was a time of political upheaval and uncertainty as leaders came and went. But even in the midst of the chaos, God was moving.

How was God moving? The way He always does…through human families. Elimelech marries Naomi. They have two boys named Mahlon and Chilion. Life is good until a famine hits their hometown. They move to another country. They settle in. The boys marry women. Elimelech dies. Mahlon and Chilion die. The women are left destitute. The famine ends. Naomi moves back home. One daughter-in-law stays in Moab, the other refuses to leave her side. The two women come back into town, hoping to find support from their extended family. Boaz enters the picture. A prominent man who was a relative of Elimelech. Ruth gleans in his fields. He notices her. Protects her. Provides for her. Marries her. They have a son named Obed.

It all seems so mundane. So ordinary. And it is. Because that’s how God works. Behind the scenes. Under the surface. Often in ways we cannot see or understand. Naomi and Ruth had no idea when they returned to Bethlehem what God had in store for them. Boaz had no idea as he threshed his grain what God had in store for him. Boaz and Ruth had no idea what God had in store for their son, Obed. I imagine Obed and Jesse and even David himself had no idea what God had in store for them. They were simply living life. Managing their day to day. Never knowing what part they had to play in the great salvation plan of God.

God is still moving, friends. Amidst all the chaos and hardship and suffering and pain and injustice and violence in our world. It’s easy to lose hope when we watch the news or scroll through social media. But the Lord is present, as He always is. He is working through regular, ordinary people like you and me. He is working through our families. Working in our lives. Working right alongside us as we manage our day to day. We may never know the part we have to play in the great salvation plan of God but God does! And God will make sure to bring to completion the work He’s begun in and through us.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Raw

Readings for today: Judges 19-21

Today’s reading is one of the most horrifying in all of Scripture. A woman is raped to death. Her body cut into pieces. A war ensues. Tens of thousands are killed. An entire tribe is put at risk. More violence ensues. Women are captured and forced into marriages. It’s brutal. It’s terrible. And none of it is from the Lord.

This is honestly what I find most compelling about the Bible. It is raw. It is real. It never tries to sugarcoat or whitewash the depravity of humanity. The reality is human beings are capable of all kinds of evil. We are capable of all kinds of violence. We are capable of all kinds of exploitation and oppression and injustice. Our history is replete with example after example. Just watch the news and you will see it. Pay attention to what’s happening in the world today and you will witness it. For all the scientific and technological advances we’ve made as a species, we have made so little progress morally and ethically.

What is our fundamental problem? I think the last verse of Judges sums it up well. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.” (Judges‬ ‭21‬:‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Everyone did what seemed right to them. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Everyone looked out for themselves and no one else. The disease that afflicts every human heart is selfishness. We privilege ourselves above everyone and everything else. Taken to an extreme, we will engage in all kinds of violence in order to preserve what we believe is rightfully ours. The Levite believed his concubine was worth sacrificing for his own life. The people of Israel believed the tribe of Benjamin was worth sacrificing for their national pride and honor. When the conflict came to an end and they realized what they had done, they believed the women were expendable as they sold them to the men who were left of the tribe of Benjamin. This is what happens when there is no king in Israel. When there is no authority in Israel. When there is no God in Israel.

What about us? What about our communities and our towns and our cities and our nation today? Is there a righteous authority? Do we honor God? Are there godly men and women in positions of leadership? Or is everyone doing what is right in their own eyes? Is it every person out for themselves? How do you live your life? How do I live mine? These are great questions to ask and the only way to avoid going down the road Israel found herself on is to submit yourself to God.

Readings for tomorrow: Ruth 1-4

Imperfection

Readings for today: Judges 14-18

I grew up in church. Sunday school every weekend. Learning the Bible stories via flannel board. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Noah on his ark. Moses parting the Red Sea. Joshua and the battle of Jericho. One of my favorites was Samson. For a young boy, what’s not to like? Strength. Power. One man winning victory after victory culminating in a final heroic act of self-sacrifice where Samson literally brings the roof down on his enemies!  

As I got older, I began to learn about all the stuff my Sunday school teachers left out. Adam and Eve’s rebellion and descent into sin. Noah and his family being saved but at an incredible cost. Moses parting the Red Sea but often getting into violent clashes with others that would end in entire families being wiped out. Joshua devoting entire cities to destruction. And Samson. Morally compromised. Selfish. Immature. A man who seemed to use his God-given gifts for his own gain and self-gratification. What are we to make of such unlikely heroes? Men and women who are subsequently enshrined in the great “Hall of Fame” of faith in Hebrews 11? 

First and foremost, we are to see them as they are...not as we wish them to be. They are just ordinary men and women. Sinners just like us. People whom God chooses to use despite their imperfections. This is one of the best arguments for the trustworthiness of Scripture, by the way. It paints an honest picture of God’s chosen people. Putting their weaknesses on display right alongside their strengths. Compare that to the sacred writings of other major world religions where heroes are whitewashed to perfection.  

Second, we look beyond them to the true source of their strength. The true source of their wisdom. The true source of their miracles and great victories. It is the Spirit of the Lord that rushes on Samson and gives him the ability to tear a lion apart. Kill a bunch of Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. Trap and tie torches to hundreds of foxes. Tear off a city gate. Bring an entire building down around him. This is not Samson’s doing. It has very little to do with the length of his hair. Keeping the Nazarite vow was a sign of his devotion and dedication to the Lord, the true source of his strength. When he treated his vow casually by allowing his wife to nag him to death, his strength left him. Again, not because he cut his hair but because in so doing, he despised the Lord.

Finally, the entire book of Judges is meant to lead us to a sense of holy despair. Each judge seems less and less capable of leading well. They are increasingly morally compromised. They increasingly lose sight of God. They increasingly abandon the ways of the Lord and following their own paths. In fact, the city of Dan - a major city in the Northern Kingdom of Israel - will continue to be a city known for its idolatry. Jeroboam will put one of his golden calves here in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. So what begins with violence and idolatry by the tribe of Dan will continue until the day God sends the Assyrians to wipe out the northern kingdom altogether. 

The goal of Judges is to teach us yet again of our desperate need for God. Over and over again, the same narrative is reinforced. Humanity is helpless to save themselves. From Adam and Eve to the Great Flood. From Noah to the Tower of Babel. From Abraham to slavery in Egypt. From Moses to the end of Judges. With each generation, humanity’s inhumanity only grows and becomes more pervasive. And we would be lost except for God. He continues to pursue us. He continues to reach out to us. He continues to be faithful even in the face of our unfaithfulness.

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 19-21

Devolution

Readings for today: Judges 10-13

If I had to sum up the Book of Judges with a word, it would be “devolution.” A downward descent. Order to chaos. Degeneration. A move from higher levels of understanding of God and identity and community to lower levels. We see it all over the place. The conflict between different tribes of Israel that result in terrible violence like the killing of the Ephraimites. The terrible vow taken by Jephthah that results in the sacrifice of his daughter. The continual evil and idolatry Israel engages in that brings them under judgment. Perhaps the best indicator that things are headed downhill is the statement Jephthah makes in Judges 11:24 CSB, “Isn’t it true that you can have whatever your god Chemosh conquers for you, and we can have whatever the Lord our God conquers for us?”

Why is this statement so wrong? It reduces Yahweh to the level of a tribal god. It treats Yahweh as the equal of the pagan gods like Chemosh or Baal or Molech. It makes Israel just another warring tribe in a land of warring tribes. They are devolving from their place as God’s chosen people. God’s holy nation. God’s treasured possession and instead, embracing a pagan understanding of God. No, it is not true that the Ammonites can have whatever Chemosh conquers for them and Israel can have whatever the Lord conquers for them. The conquest of the Promised Land is not a battle between equal and opposing divine powers. It is not a contest to see which god is greater. God is already great. He has no rival. He has no equal. The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. Yahweh reigns supreme over all the other false gods in the world. And it is Israel’s continued failure to grasp and understand this fundamental truth that gets them into trouble over and over again. It’s why they have seasons where they choose to worship the Baal’s and Ashtoreth’s and the gods of the various tribes around them. They lose sight of the true nature and glory and majesty and splendor of Yahweh. They forget their history and how Yahweh proved Himself more powerful than all the gods of Egypt. They fail to pass on the many, many stories of God’s deliverance over the generations. As a result, their knowledge of God diminishes over time, leading to all kinds of pain and suffering.

We are no different. It is just as easy for us to “devolve” in our understanding of God. Especially if we neglect the very means He has given us to get to know Him. When we neglect the disciplines of prayer and meditation on Scripture, corporate worship with our church family, sacrificial service in the Lord’s name, and sharing our faith with others; we too can fall into disbelief and idolatry. We too can begin to remake God in our own image. Reducing Him to terms we can understand or control. Calling on Him to bless our plans, our purposes, our lives instead of laying all that we are and all that we have before Him. God is not our co-pilot. God is not our boyfriend. God is not a cosmic bellhop, always at our beck and call. God is not a first responder, there for us in case of emergency. God is God. He reigns and rules supreme over all He has made. He is sovereignly at work in our lives even now, bringing about His purposes and will, whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not. The sooner we surrender to Him, the better. The sooner we submit to Him, the more our lives will be filled with purpose and power. The sooner we give our lives to Him, the more we will receive in return.

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 14-18

Trust

Readings for today: Judges 6-9

I love the story of Gideon. He reminds me of me so much of the time. How many times over the course of my life has the Lord come to me? Spoken to me? Reached out to me? Reminded me He is with me? And what is my typical response? Why has all this happened to me? Why have all these bad things taken place? Where are all Your signs and wonders, Lord? Why haven’t you delivered me or my family or Your people from injustice, oppression, and the power of sin in this world? Why do you allow young people to harm themselves? Why do my friends lose jobs and livelihoods? Why do those I love and serve get cancer? Why do women I know suffer abuse? Why do immigrants I know find it almost impossible to navigate the visa process? Why do pastoral colleagues of mine find themselves battling depression and despair? Why do church planters I know around the world get imprisoned, beaten, tortured, and even killed for their faith? I ask these questions a lot in prayer which is why I resonate to how Gideon responds to the Lord. “Please, my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt? ’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” (Judges 6:13 CSB)

And what is the Lord’s answer? Almost every single time? “I am sending you.” You are My instrument. You are My servant. You are the one I have chosen to preach good news to the poor, release for the captives, and deliverance for the oppressed. You are the one I am sending to proclaim the gospel to those who have never heard. You are the one I am calling to fight injustice and raise up a banner for righteousness and take a stand for the truth in this world. “The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!” (Judges 6:14 CSB) Be careful what you ask for! Be careful what you complain about! God may just choose you like He chose Gideon and like He has chosen me. The great news, of course, is that we don’t go alone. God had already promised to be with Gideon. I have always found that those whom God calls, God equips. He doesn’t send us out without the resources we need to accomplish His plans for us.

However, just like Gideon, I like to make excuses. The reality is I don’t want this responsibility. I want someone else to shoulder the burden. I want someone else to lead the charge. “Gideon said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.” (Judges 6:15 CSB) But once the Lord has spoken, the issue is settled. God doesn’t always choose the strongest, wealthiest, or most powerful and influential. He doesn’t look on the outward appearance but on the heart. Your station in life doesn’t matter. Your caste doesn’t matter. Your education doesn’t matter. Your native ability doesn’t matter. All that matters is your obedience. Your willingness to go when and where the Lord sends.

Here’s the truth of the matter. God’s presence is more than enough to overcome every obstacle. God’s presence is more than enough to break down every barrier. God’s presence is more than enough to tear down every dividing wall of hostility that prevents us from accomplishing His goal for our lives and for our world. Our job is to simply believe Him. Our job is simply to trust Him. Like Abraham, we must be fully confident God is able to deliver on what He promises. “But I will be with you,” the Lord said to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.” (Judges 6:16 CSB) So the only question you or I have to answer is NOT am I strong enough? Am I smart enough? Am I powerful enough? Am I wise enough? Am I good enough? None of those things matter. The only question we need to answer is this…do we trust God?

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 10-13

Leadership

Readings for today: Judges 2-5

One cannot overstate the importance of leadership. Specifically, godly leadership. Leaders who seek the mind and heart of Christ. Leaders who seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Leaders who put God first, others second, and themselves third. Leaders who are humble yet bold. Meek yet strong. Peaceful yet not afraid to take action. When an organization or community or a church has such leaders in abundance, they thrive. When they lack such leaders, they struggle. I’ve been in leadership in churches and Christian organizations for almost thirty years now and have seen the impact of godly leadership - or the lack thereof - firsthand.

The Book of Judges is a test case for leadership. When a godly judge is raised up to lead God’s people - Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, etc. - they thrive. They throw off the yoke of their oppressors. They defeat their enemies. They achieve peace in the land for many decades. When these godly leaders die with no one to replace them, God’s people suffer. They are defeated in battle. They are conquered and enslaved by their enemies. They turn to all kinds of sin and idolatry. God Himself promised this would happen. “Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly than their ancestors, following other gods to serve them and bow in worship to them. They did not turn from their evil practices or their obstinate  ways.” (Judges‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬, ‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB)

This same dynamic holds true for us today. We see it in politics, business, schools, churches, basically any organization where people gather to accomplish something together. If there is strong, godly leadership, the plan almost always succeeds. If there is weak or no leadership, the plan often fails. All of us are leaders in our own way. It could be in our homes. In our extended families. At school or at work. In our community or church. One of the biggest lessons we can learn from the Book of Judges is how to be a godly leader and make an impact for the Kingdom in our sphere of influence.

Readings for tomorrow: Judges 6-9

Forgotten

Readings for today: Joshua 23-24, Judges 1

“Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten.” - Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf.

When I was young, I dreamed big dreams. I wanted to be successful. I wanted to be recognized and acknowledged. I wanted to win awards. It could be at school. It could be on the athletic field. It could be in the community. Whatever I did, I did it for the reward. I did it for the medals and trophies. I did it for the accolades that came my way from my parents, friends, and other people in my life. Sadly, I carried this same attitude over into my life as a Christian. Yes, Jesus changed my life in college but this part of me remained. So I worked hard to be the “best” Christian. I wanted to be recognized for my devotion and sacrifice. I wanted other people to know how committed I was to the Lord. I wanted the ministries I served to thrive. I wanted the churches I served to grow. I worked hard to achieve great things for God. I began to burn out. I had a spectacular ministry failure. My reputation was shot. The life I had worked so hard to build came crashing down around me.

God met me in the wreckage of my life. He met me and He reminded me that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Every blessing. Every achievement. Every success. All of it is grace. It is unearned. It is undeserved. He met me and He challenged me to recalibrate my thinking. Reorder my priorities. Instead of working so hard to prove myself to everyone, He challenged me to walk in humility. He challenged me to take the place of a servant. In short, He challenged me to become like Jesus.

Joshua, of which the name “Jesus” is the Greek transliteration, was a great military leader. Perhaps the greatest military leader Israel has ever known aside from David. He led Israel well after Moses. He led them to victory after victory on the battle field. Under his leadership, they conquered the Promised Land. They took hold of the inheritance God promised. They established themselves as a geo-political force in the ancient near east. It would have been tempting for Joshua to look back on all he accomplished and take credit. It would have been tempting for Joshua to look back at all that had transpired and look for a little recognition. As he recited all that had happened to Israel since Egypt, he could have promoted his own role in the process. But that’s not what happened. Joshua gives all the glory to God. Joshua acknowledges it is God who has accomplished these things. He was just an instrument. He was simply a vessel. A link in a much larger chain that will lead one day to his namesake, Jesus.

You and I are just links in a chain as well. This doesn’t diminish us or our contributions in any way but it does put them in proper perspective. The goal of the Christian life is not to be known. It’s not to be remembered. It’s not to be recognized. It’s to give glory and honor to God. My hope and prayer at the end of my career and the end of my life is that the name of “Doug Resler” will be long forgotten but the name of Jesus will be known by my children and children’s children. By the people I loved and served. By the people I met in faraway places who had never heard the name of Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Witness

Readings for today: Joshua 19-22

What does it mean to be a witness? And what are we “witnessing” to? For the tribes of Israel, the altar by the Jordan was built to remind them they were all part of one large family. Deeply connected by their common kinship with Abraham but also their covenant with God Himself. The tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh were concerned that future generations might forget this connection and start to see the Jordan River as the boundary between God’s people and the rest of the world. They didn’t want to be left out so before they crossed the Jordan to take possession of their inheritance, they built a monument of “imposing size.” Not for burnt offerings. Not for sacrifices. But a witness to all of Israel that they were one people under Yahweh. Every time an Israelite would pass by the monument, it would “witness” to their shared history and deep connection. 

In the Book of Acts, Jesus calls us “His witnesses.” We are witnesses in our neighborhoods, cities, nations, and to the very ends of the earth. In this way, we are living memorials to all God has done. We are living monuments to a shared history. A common heritage. The deep connection we share as God’s chosen people. We “witness” to the glory and goodness of God. We “witness” to the unity we share as the family of God. Anytime someone “passes us by” or interacts with us on any level, they should leave having “witnessed” the mercy and grace of God and having felt the deep love we have for one another.

Ultimately, the Bible itself is the pre-eminent witness. I love what Joshua 21:45 says, “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” The only reason we know this statement is true is because we have an accurate record of what took place. This is why we read the Old Testament. Within its pages, God “witnesses” to us over and over again of His great faithfulness and love. Even in the face of our sin. Even in the face of our rebellion. Even in the face of our evil. Even in the face of all our brokenness, God pursues us. God relentlessly chases us. God never lets us go.

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 23-24, Judges 1

Choices

Readings for today: Joshua 15-18

God’s promises are always sure. Always true. Always good. In the Book of Joshua, God makes it clear that His great desire is for His people to dwell secure in the land He had promised them. At the same time, God’s people are not perfect. They are not faithful. They are not whole-hearted in their devotion. Their strength fails. Their resolve weakens. Their obedience is not complete. The result is an incomplete conquest. A delay in the fulfillment of God’s promise. Does this mean God has failed? Absolutely not! It means God has remained true to Himself. True to His plan and purpose for the world. True to the creature He first made in His image.

In the beginning, God gave human beings dominion over all He had made. We were created to work the “garden” that is this world. We were created to cultivate and help it flourish. We were entrusted with this responsibility. We were given agency so we might freely choose to serve God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. We were given a will that was free which means our choices are real and result in real-life consequences. So when human beings in places like Israel and Gaza fail to resolve ancient tribal differences, it breaks out into open war. When human beings conduct experiments with dangerous pathogens, it breaks out in deadly pandemics. When human beings live beyond their means in unsustainable ways, it disproportionately impacts the global poor. When human beings funnel money intended for national development into their personal coffers, it destroys families and lives for generations.

Israel was entrusted with the Promised Land. Each tribe allotted a specific portion by lot. They were to conquer that territory and drive out the pagan inhabitants. But Israel failed in her mission. They were unsuccessful in their attempts to fully subdue the land. They allowed certain Canaanite tribes to co-exist. And even though they forced them to do hard labor, they were setting the stage for future uprisings and conflict. From this point forward, Israel would struggle to remain faithful to God. Struggle to resist the temptation to worship other gods. Struggle to maintain their control over the land. Struggle to rest in the promise of God. Again, this is not because God somehow failed. Not at all! It is Israel who failed to remain faithful thus setting a pattern for generations to come.

You and I are no different. Created in God’s image. Given dominion over all God has entrusted into our hands. Our time. Our talent. Our treasure. Our influence. How are we stewarding all God has given us? How are we laying hold of the promise of God for today? How are we walking in obedience even in the midst of our current cultural crises? The choices we make in this cultural moment carry real consequences for good or for ill. The agency we exercise is real as is the responsibility we bear for ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and the human race as a whole. What tone are we setting for future generations? What legacy are we leaving to our children and grandchildren? When they look back at this moment in history, what will they say? Will they see Christians responding with faith over fear? Peace amidst all the anxiety? Grace in the face of all the outrage and judgment? Sacrificial love in a world full of selfishness and greed? You and I will be held personally and corporately responsible for how we respond in this moment. May we respond like Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 19-22

Inheritance

Readings for today: Joshua 11-14

I remember sitting in a class at the University of Colorado and discussing anthropology with our professor. The history of Homo Sapiens is a violent one. From the moment our ancestors began to populate the earth, they engaged in all kinds of warfare, especially with other hominid species. Some historians argue that violence and conflict is an intrinsic part of being human and there are very few periods in history where we haven’t been at war with someone, somewhere around the world. Perhaps this helps put into context our readings for today.

Israel, like every other tribal nation in the ancient near east, fought wars. They fought to establish themselves in the Promised Land. They fought to secure a future for themselves and their children. They fought to accumulate land and wealth and resources. They fought to secure the inheritance God had promised them. This is what every tribe did in the region at that time. It was either kill or be killed. It was a war fought for survival. In fact, many of the tribes listed in the Book of Joshua would return the favor and attack Israel at different points in her history. And while it may seem strange to us in the 21st century, it is the norm throughout human history.

God works through human culture. You’ve read those words time and time again on this blog. God refuses to work apart from the creatures He made in His own image. He refuses to revoke the mandate He gave us at creation to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and exercise dominion over all He has made. He refuses to absolve us of our responsibility to act as His chosen instruments in the world. At the same time, He will not override our freedom. He will not force Himself on us nor will He coerce us into doing His bidding. He works through even our bad choices, sinful choices, evil choices to make Himself known. He works through our brokenness and corruption to make His will known. So even as Israel invades the Promised Land and puts entire cities and tribal groups to the sword, God is at work. Does it mean He approves of everything they do? Clearly not. But God is capable of using all things - the good, bad, and ugly - to bring about His sovereign purposes.

We still live in a world at war. Conflict rages all over the globe. Gaza. Ukraine. Azerbaijan. Turkey. Syria. The list goes on and on. There seemingly is no end to the violence. Man’s inhumanity towards man knows no boundaries. It is perhaps comforting to remember that God is at work even when we cannot see Him. He is at work even when we cannot hear Him. He is at work even when we cannot understand His plan or purposes. He is bringing His Kingdom to earth. He will set all things right. He will make all things new. And we will receive the inheritance He has stored up for us in heaven.

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 15-18

Collective Grace

Readings for today: Joshua 7-10

Today’s reading is a tough one. Ancient near east justice was often brutal and terrifying and impacted more than just the individual who committed the crime. Achan broke faith with God. He took items dedicated to the Lord and hid them in his tent for personal gain. This was not just stealing, it was sacrilege. Taking what is holy and desecrating it. Notice the play on words in this passage. Devoting the spoils of war to destruction typically meant burning them in a great bonfire as an offering to the Lord. However, Achan kept some of the devoted things for himself therefore the anger of the Lord “burned” against the people of Israel. Furthermore, once the sin was discovered, they took Achan and his family and all his possessions and “burned them with fire” in the valley of Achor.

There’s another aspect to ancient near east justice that troubles us…the idea of collective guilt. Achan sins by taking some of the devoted things but the Lord’s anger burns against the people of Israel. Thirty-six men die in the ensuing attack on Ai as God withdraws His protective hand in judgment. Many more are probably wounded in the assault as well. So much grief. So much pain. So much suffering. All because of one man’s sin. And God makes it very clear He holds Israel responsible for what Achan has done. “Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their own belongings. This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you what is set apart.” (Joshua‬ ‭7‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Why did God not just kill off Achan? Why did He punish all of Israel for one individual’s transgression? How in the world can this be fair?

Once again, we come face to face with cultural distance. We have been raised in a modern, western context which elevates the individual above the community. We think of ourselves as independent agents first and members of a community second. When a person sins or commits a crime, they do the time. They pay the price. They suffer the consequences. Not their family. Not their community. Not the people they are connected to unless they were active accomplices. The ancient near east was a much different world. The people of Israel held a collective identity. They understood themselves to be members of a community first and individuals second. They saw themselves as intrinsically connected to each other so when one person sinned, all were culpable. All had a share in the guilt. All were accomplices in allowing such a thing to take place.

While we may not like the idea of “collective guilt”, we love the idea of “collective grace.” We recognize we are not just individuals with a personal relationship with God but members of a collective body called the church. So what we say and do impacts those around us. Our individual sin creates a ripple effect in the community that does have consequences. We are our brother and sister’s keeper. We are responsible one for another. We are held accountable by God on some level for the way we contribute to the overall health and well-being of those around us whether it is in our families, among our friends, in our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and communities. Our actions or lack of actions matter to God and they make a significant difference in the world. Thankfully, God doesn’t just judge us collectively. He redeems us collectively as well. 1 John 2:2 says, “Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” Thanks be to God for collective grace!

Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 11-14