Grace

Readings for today: Matthew 20, Mark 10:32-52, Luke 18:31-43, 19:1-27

The story Jesus tells about the workers in the vineyard always hits me hard. Day laborers are hired to work in a vineyard. They are hired in waves. Some at first light. Others mid-morning. Some come at lunchtime. Others mid-afternoon. Finally, there are those who arrive an hour before closing time. Each and every one receives the same wage. If you are like me, you probably feel the Master is being unfair, perhaps even exploitative, especially towards those who’ve been working all day. This isn’t equal pay for equal work and those who put in more hours deserve higher pay. It just goes to show how little we understand the ethics of God’s Kingdom.

Our problem is that we tend to think “transactionally.” This is a natural consequence of growing up in a capitalist system. We work hard so we can earn a paycheck. We use our paycheck to pay the bills that fund our lifestyle. If I want more, I work harder. If I want to enjoy the finer things of life, I get more education, work my way up the corporate ladder, always on the lookout for the better deal. Sadly, we approach relationships the same way. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. You do for me and I will do for you. I’ll hold up my end of the deal as long as you hold up your end. As soon as one party reneges on the agreement or doesn’t fulfill their obligations, we are free to terminate the arrangement and move on. This happens in marriages. Families. Friendships. Business partnerships. Churches. Even our relationship with God.

Jesus wants us to grasp the wideness of God’s mercy. The abundance of God’s generosity. The radical nature of God’s amazing grace. Our relationship with God is not based on works but purely on grace. Whether we come to faith as a young child or on our deathbed, God gives us the same gift of eternal life. Whether we live a life of full devotion to God or we struggle to remain faithful along the way, God mercifully and graciously prepares a place for us. This is why Jesus is so appealing to tax collectors and sinners, prostitutes and beggars, the lame and the lepers. They all know they have nothing to offer God and have no expectation of being invited to be part of God’s Kingdom. It’s much different for those of us who are successful and wealthy, healthy and strong, popular and famous. We believe we’ve done well and have rightfully earned our spot in God’s Kingdom.

So I want to challenge you pray a simple prayer. Pray it as often as possible until it you believe it. “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Every single human being – no matter their position or the number of their possessions – is a sinner. Utterly guilty of breaking God’s perfect Law. We rightfully deserve God’s judgment and our only hope is a divine pardon. Thankfully, God promises to show mercy to all who humble themselves before Him. I encourage you to cry out like the blind beggars of Jericho today and receive the mercy of Jesus as He heals your heart and makes you whole.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Radical Generosity

Readings for today: Matthew 19, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 16-17, 18:1-30

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬)‬

Honestly, I think this is one of the most difficult passages in all the Scriptures. Why? Because I am rich. By the world’s standards. By historical standards. I am one of the richest people to have ever lived on the face of the earth. I am not only in the top 1% but am in the top tenth of a percent of the wealthiest people to have ever walked the planet. Frankly, so is anyone who lives a middle class lifestyle in modern day America. So when Jesus says it is harder for a person like me to enter the kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, it is terrifying. It sounds impossible.

So what’s a person like me to do? Where can I find hope? First and foremost, I find hope in Mark’s version of the story because he includes this wonderful little nugget in verse 21. “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him…” Jesus loved the rich young ruler. He had compassion on the man. He saw the internal struggle in his eyes. Saw how much he wanted to please God and yet saw the hold his riches had over him. He knows how tempting it is for us to love money. He knows how easy it is for us to place our trust in our wealth. Jesus knows the fears and anxieties we feel every time the stock market drops or our savings diminish or our credit card bills go up. And Jesus wants to save us from it all. Jesus doesn’t hate rich people. The accumulation of wealth is not, in itself, a barrier to God’s love. And for that I am thankful.

Second, Jesus gives me a practical way forward. "Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." The path Jesus offers is the path of generosity. He calls me to give as much as I can away to those who are less fortunate. He calls me to use my wealth to bless others. He calls me to invest the resources He has entrusted into my hands into His Kingdom so it can advance around the world. In this way, I protect my heart from the sin of falling in love with money. Trusting my riches. I cannot serve both God and money so I need to make a choice and I need to make this choice every single day because I live in constant temptation. Loving money more than God puts me in real spiritual danger so heeding Jesus’ command here is vital.

Third, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." God is mighty to save. The least. The lost. The rich. The poor. The powerful. There is no one who stands beyond the reach of His grace. Salvation ultimately is not be determined by the amount of money I give but by the grace that is given freely to me in Jesus Christ.

Finally, I need to take these words of Jesus to heart. Let them re-orient my desires. Let them re-order my priorities. Let them re-define success and achievement in my life. “But many who are first will be last, and the last first." Many years ago, I suffered a massive failure. Professionally. Personally. It was traumatic. It almost cost me my marriage and my ministry. Thankfully, God used the trauma of that experience to strip my life down to the studs. The result was a brand new outlook. A deep awareness of my own weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Love of money is one of those. So is success. As a result, I felt God calling me to never ask for another raise and never seek another position professionally but instead to walk with open hands, trusting Him to take care of me. Over the last fifteen years, God has more than delivered on His promises. My life has been enriched in every way imaginable. And I have learned to live in the overwhelming abundance of His grace.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 20, Mark 10:32-52, Luke 18:31-43, 19:1-27

Mountaintops

Readings for today: Matthew 17-18, Mark 9:2-50, Luke 9:28-56

I love “mountaintop” experiences. Whether I am literally standing on top of the one of many 14,000 foot mountains in Colorado or I am having a powerful experience with the Lord on a retreat or on one of the many mission trips I go on to Eastern Africa each year as I seek to serve the Lord. When I’m having those experiences, my first instinct is to react like the disciples did when they stood on the mountain and saw Jesus transfigured before them. Let’s build shelters and hang out here! Let’s do all we can to remain in the presence of the Lord! Let’s hold on with all our might to what we’ve seen and experienced! But Jesus is quick to remind me, just as He was quick to remind Peter, James, and John, that real life and real ministry happens in the valley. God gives us the mountaintop experiences to inspire us and equip us and strengthen us for the work He’s called us to do once we head down the mountain and back into the everyday.

I’ve always found it fascinating and convicting to pay close attention to what happens when Jesus and his disciples come down from the mountain. They are immediately confronted with the needs and demands of the people who were following them. A man whose son needed freedom from demonic possession. Challenges from the tax collectors in Capernaum. Rivalries within their own ranks over who is the greatest. And most of all, Jesus Himself talking openly and specifically about his suffering and murder at the hands of the Roman and religious authorities. It must have been tough to take it all in. Especially after their experience seeing Jesus in glory talking with Moses and Elijah. But through it all, Jesus is teaching them what it means to serve and follow Him.

The same is true for us. I imagine most of us can think of “mountaintop” experiences we’ve had in life. Moments where the veil between this world and the world to come grew thin and we felt the presence of the Lord in a powerful way. Those are wonderful moments. Moments to treasure up in your heart. But they are not the “end” in themselves. They are the “means” by which God refuels us for His mission in the world. From eternity, God has been on a mission to save and rescue the lost. It’s why Jesus tells His disciples the Parable of the Lost Sheep. God desires all to be saved and come to the knowledge of His truth and He will not rest until every single one of His sheep has had a chance to hear and receive the gospel. This is the work He’s called us to do and it happens not on the mountain but in the valleys of life.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Rock

Readings for today: Matthew 16, Mark 8:11-38, 9:1, Luke 9:18-27

For the past two weeks, I’ve been preaching to indigenous church planters in South Sudan and Northern Uganda. These courageous men and women are planting churches in villages all over East Africa. They only go where the gospel has not yet been heard. They take nothing with them except the clothes on their backs and maybe a Bible. They have little to no relational connections to depend on. They simply show up. Start preaching. And God does the rest. Why do they go? Why do they risk their lives? Why do they sacrifice everything for the sake of this mission? Simply put, they trust Jesus. They trust the promise Jesus gives us in Matthew 16:18 CSB when He says, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

Jesus is building His church. He is the architect and He holds the master plan. He is the general contractor who is gathering together all the materials. He is the laborer who actually puts all the pieces and parts together. His goal is to create a community to call His own. To call out from the world a family who will bear His name. Through the church, Jesus is fulfilling the ancient promise of God. “I will be there God and they will be my people.” It’s one of the earliest promises God makes to humanity. A promise to restore that which was broken. A promise to redeem that which was lost. A promise to save that which is enslaved. God wants to walk with us in the Garden in the cool of the day. God wants to live with us in an eternal city full of light and life and wonder and joy. And between what was at creation and what will be in the new creation, God has a church. And because that church draws her life from Jesus Himself, she can never be overpowered. She can never be overcome. The gates of hell itself cannot stand against her.

These church planters I serve go to the gates of hell. They live at the edge between the natural and supernatural realms. Their lives are “thin spaces” where the veil between this world and the next becomes translucent. They often battle demonic powers. The spiritual forces of evil manifest themselves in all sorts of ways over here. Deliverance from demonic possession is a practical, pastoral skill. Their churches are often planted through a miraculous demonstration of God’s power. A healing. A resurrection. Manna from heaven. The kinds of things we read about in the Bible but aren’t quite sure we believe. They are lived realities over here. And through their prayers and sacrifice and service and love, the Kingdom of God is advancing and the kingdom of Satan is fading. Heaven is filling up. Hell is emptying out. Entire communities are being transformed. It’s breathtaking.

Can this happen in America? Absolutely. What will it require? A commitment to build our lives on the Rock that is Jesus Christ. He alone is steadfast, immovable, and unshakeable. He alone is faithful and true. He alone holds the power of Death and Hades in His hands. And He alone has the knowledge and authority and skill to build His church in such a way that not even hell itself can stand against it. What part do we play? Simply put, we believe. We obey. We pray. We proclaim. We give. We serve. We sacrifice. As we do these things over a lifetime, God promises to use us as “living stones” to build up His church.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 17-18, Mark 9:2-50, Luke 9:28-56

Traditions

Readings for today: Matthew 15, Mark 7, 8:1-10

We just finished up a week of training in South Sudan. One of the things I am constantly confronted and challenged by when I am over here is how quickly the Holy Spirit raises up church planters and sends them into the mission field. In my denomination in the United States, it takes years and tens of thousands of dollars to get prepared to go into ministry. We employ a model based on a Western academic culture that requires significant graduate level work over a significant period of time and if we’re totally honest, the results aren’t great. Most of our churches have plateaued or are dying. The Christian faith is shrinking not growing. But still we cling to our model. We cling to our traditions. We refuse to let go and try something new. Contrast our approach with how church planters are raised up over here. They are called by the Holy Spirit through the local church. They are sent out into the field almost immediately. While in the field, they often plant multiple churches in multiple villages. And then they are responsible to raise up their replacements as soon as possible so they can go to the next unreached village. Along the way, they attend training conferences. They gain knowledge and wisdom and understanding. They grow spiritually. They are held accountable. They are disciplined if they go astray. They are restored after demonstrating true repentance and sent back out. The results are incredible. Thousands of churches being planted. The Christian faith exploding as millions come to Christ. It’s incredible.

Why do we cling to our traditions? Jesus confronts the Pharisees with this question in our reading today. Over time, humanity tends to create systems and structures and these things become more important than the people they are designed to serve. The Pharisees were famous for creating all kinds of rules to govern everyday life. Granted, it was from a desire to be faithful to God but their commitment was misplaced. They focused on all the wrong things and they nullified the Word of God by their traditions. They honored God with their lips but their hearts were far from God. This is what makes them blind guides. I wonder. Are we making a similar mistake? Am I making a similar mistake in the organizations in which I serve and lead? Where have I created barriers, however unwittingly and with the best of intentions, to what God wants to do in and through me and others?

Traditions don’t just exist in the church. We all have our traditions. In our homes. In our schools. At our work. In our personal lives. We all have our systems and structures and routines. But when those things become more important than the deeper values of mercy and compassion and love and sacrifice. When those things no longer serve but must be served, we run aground in our faith. We must repent and renew our commitment to put the Lord’s will above our own.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 16, Mark 8:11-38, 9:1, Luke 9:18-27

Authority

Readings for today: Matthew 10, 14, Mark 6:7-56, Luke 9:1-17, John 6

“Summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.” (Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬)

The gospel is not an idea. It’s not a human philosophy. It’s not a moral code. It is quite literally the power and authority of God. So when we talk about believing the gospel and receiving the gospel and laying hold of the gospel, we are talking about being filled with the literal power and authority of God. And why does God grant us such power and authority? It’s given so that we might fulfill the creation mandate and exercise dominion over all He has made. Jesus gave this power and authority to His disciples. And away they went, proclaiming the good news, casting out demons, healing the sick, and raising the dead. These signs and wonders served to authenticate the message they were preaching. 

I have seen this in action in our world today. In fact, I am in a place right now where such signs and wonders are common. Turns out Jesus is still granting His power and authority to His disciples! It’s one of the major reasons the church in Africa is growing at such an exponential rate. The church planters we support are filled with power as they go forth. They cast out demons. They heal disease. They raise the dead. They survive beatings, stonings, stabbing, shootings, and miraculously recover. I have personally interviewed hundreds of them over the years and have heard their testimonies. I have personally witnessed miracles of healing and resurrection and deliverance from demonic oppression and possession. To see the power of God in action is awe-inspiring to say the least. It brings me to my knees. 

How can we access such power? It’s not complicated. We simply keep the first and greatest commandment. We commit to loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The more we love God, the more we will serve God. The more we serve God, the more He will equip us for that service. The more we sacrifice for God, the more He will provide for us. The more we relinquish to God, the more He is able to use us. The secret to the power of the disciples in the early church or the disciples in the modern-day African church is their whole-hearted devotion to Christ. They do not try to live a double life. They do not try to have their cake and eat it too. They understand that holding onto the things of this world while laying hold of the world to come will only pull them apart. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot live with a foot in both Kingdoms. You either give yourself fully over to Christ and die to self or you hold onto “Self” and lose your grip on Christ. There is no neutral ground. 

So that brings up a really hard question we all have to face...if we are not experiencing the power and presence of Christ in our lives then it’s highly likely we have allowed some other “love” to gain a foothold. It could be a relationship we can’t live without. A lifestyle we refuse to relinquish. A preferred future we can’t let go of. A dream we won’t let die. It could be a sin we’ve allowed to enslave us. A lie we believe. How does one discern? How do we know? Engage in some healthy, prayerful self-reflection. Look at the life of Christ. What about Him do you find unattractive or unrealistic? Is there anything about what He teaches or how He lived that you find yourself resisting? When you hear His words and see His love, do you find yourself dis-believing on some level? Do you trust the lies of your own heart over the truth Jesus preaches? 

This is where the rubber meets the road in the Christian life. Following Jesus is a lifelong struggle to crucify the flesh with all its sinful desires and allow the Holy Spirit to align us more with Christ. It is a long obedience in the same direction. A marathon not a sprint. It forces us to constantly grapple with our greatest enemy...Self. But here’s the good news! The more the “Self” dies, the more the power of God manifests itself in our lives. The more the power of God manifests itself, the more the “Self” dies. This is the promise of the gospel and it lies within reach of every single person who calls on the name of the Lord! 

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 15, Mark 7, 8:1-10

Compassion

Readings for today: Matthew 8:18-34, 9:18-38, Mark 4:35-41, 5:1-43, Luke 8:22-56, 9:57-62

I have met Legion. Men and women so tormented and oppressed. I have seen them sitting catatonic in the streets of so many cities. I have watched them convulse and tremble behind the bars of a prison cell. I have met them in psych wards where they live for their own protection. Sadly, they feel cut off from community. Isolated and alone. Helpless and afraid. They are desperate for freedom. 

I have met the woman with the issue of blood. They live all over the developing world. Without access to basic sanitation and medical care, women are often left to fend for themselves. Their menstrual cycles make them feel cursed. Especially when there are problems. They too feel cut off from their community. Isolated from their families. Helpless and afraid. At the mercy of their biology. Desperate for freedom.  

I have walked with countless families through grief. The loss of someone they love. It’s especially tragic when they are young. When they have their whole life ahead of them. The loss of children in particular can make or break a person’s faith. I have wept with parents at the bedside of a child dying of cancer. I’ve been in the hospital room when the doctor delivers the terrible news of a rare and terminal illness. These are incredibly painful and difficult spaces. Those living through them often feel cut off from their community. Isolated from their friends. Helpless and afraid. Desperate for healing. 

What I love most about Jesus is His great compassion. “When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭36‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬) One can only imagine the pain and suffering He saw as He surveyed the hundreds, even thousands, of people who flocked to hear Him speak. He knows their every need. He knows their every desire. He knows their heartaches and heartbreaks. He knows how desperate they are for healing. How desperate they are for freedom. And He loves them. He has compassion on them. He reaches out to them. Demons flee. Diseases are cured. The dead are raised. Everywhere Jesus goes, these miraculous signs accompany Him. Everywhere He goes, the Kingdom comes with power and authority. Everywhere He goes, new life breaks forth. 

But the needs are too much even for Jesus. He cannot heal every single person. He cannot cast out every single demon. He cannot sit with every family in their grief. So He sends His disciples. They will be His hands and feet. They will minister in His name and under His authority. They will be His ambassadors, Christ making His appeal to the world through them. Christ healing through them. Christ delivering through them. Christ bringing His Kingdom through them.

Our world is still full of desperation. People feel so harassed and helpless. They wander aimlessly through life like sheep without a shepherd. And the question for the church is this...do we have compassion? Are our hearts tenderized by the needs we see all around us? Do we make the time and take the time to come alongside those in pain? Are we willing to re-orient our priorities? Redirect our resources? Re-order our lives in such a way that we make space to care for the lost and lonely who live all around us? This, friends, is what it means to love and follow Jesus. 

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 10, 14, Mark 6:7-56, Luke 9:1-17, John 6

Seeds of the Kingdom

Readings for today: Matthew 13:1-53, Mark 4:1-34, Luke 8:1-18

I am blessed to be involved in several different Kingdom movements around the world. First and foremost, God is working powerfully through the church I serve in Parker, CO. PEPC is flourishing as she seeks first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. She has put God’s mission first in her life and God has richly blessed us as a result. I’ve never been part of a church making a greater impact in the world for the gospel. It’s humbling and awe-inspiring. Second, I serve as the chair of the board of the Petros Network which has planted over 8000 churches in the Horn of Africa. We work with over 180 denominations at last count and through them, I’ve met some of the most amazing men and women who willingly offer their lives to spread the gospel. Third, I get to work with incredible immigrant leaders in my own community. They come from India and Latin America. The work they’re doing to spread the gospel among their own people is incredible. What these movements all have in common is they began small. They faced real obstacles along the way. They’ve often had to work with a skeleton staff on shoestring budgets. But God is faithful. The seeds we’ve planted are growing. They are becoming tall trees and many are coming to rest in their branches.

According to Jesus, the Kingdom of God often takes the form of a small seed. It may not look like much at first but after it’s planted and watered, God gives the increase. It grows and grows and the fruit is undeniable. Listen to how He described it to His disciples again. “He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.” (Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭CSB‬‬) I will admit it’s hard at the beginning. I know I’ve often grown impatient as I waited for the seed to take root and grow. I’ve sometimes become discouraged at the time and effort it takes to cultivate the soil and water the ground. But God is quick to remind me that there’s nothing I can do to make the seed grow more quickly. I have to be patient and faithful and trust God for the increase.

When I think back over the course of my life, I see a similar dynamic in play in my marriage and parenting. I see it my own personal journey as a believer. Perhaps you do as well? What seeds are being planted in your life right now? Where are you being called to wait and trust God for the growth? What are you working to cultivate in your marriage, family, career, or personal life? What fruit are you harvesting? In my experience, we are usually engaged on some level in all of these areas. Don’t let fear or discouragement disrupt the work of the Kingdom of heaven in your life!

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 8:18-34, 9:18-38, Mark 4:35-41, 5:1-43, Luke 8:22-56, 9:57-62

Division

Readings for today: Matthew 12:22-50, Mark 3:22-35, Luke 8:19-21, 11:14-54

“Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” (Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Abraham Lincoln quoted this verse in his famous campaign speech delivered in 1858 at the Illinois Republican State Convention. Though largely unknown, he had just won the nomination to run for U.S. Senate against Stephen A. Douglas. Lincoln was referring to the issue of slavery, of course. Douglas wanted to find a middle ground between the North and South but Lincoln knew better. He knew the issue had to be settled once and for all. He knew there could be no compromise. He knew the United States could not continue with half in support of slavery and half in support of freedom. A nation divided cannot stand.

The same was true in Jesus’ day. The house of Israel was divided along all kinds of political lines. Some supported collaboration with Rome. Some refused to entertain any such thing. Some advocated for a violent overthrow. Others eschewed violence altogether. Some believed the answer was Torah faithfulness. Others withdrew into the desert because they believed the religious authorities were corrupt. And then along comes Jesus. A miracle worker. A healer. An exorcist. He performs His signs and wonders publicly and it must have felt to the scribes and Pharisees like He was throwing gasoline on the fire. It’s why they tried so hard to discredit Him. Accusing Him of casting out demons by the power of the devil. But Jesus was ready for them. He knows their kingdom is divided and is about to be laid waste. He knows the glorious city of Jerusalem is a tinderbox waiting to explode. He has no desire to act as an “accelerant” rather He wants them to see and experience the Kingdom of God. He points them to the fruit of His actions. The blind see. The mute speak. The deaf hear. The lame walk. These are not acts of the devil that result in further pain and suffering and division and brokenness. No, the fruit Jesus bears is healing, wholeness, and restoration. All signs of the Holy Spirit at work.

I’ve been thinking about this verse a lot recently. Especially as a pastor. How does a follower of Christ respond in our current cultural moment? How do we respond to all the division and the violence and the hate? We respond like Jesus. We make it our aim to act as agents of healing in our communities, doing all we can to come alongside those who are hurting. We act as agents of unity in our communities, doing all we can to bring people together. We act as agents of wholeness in our communities, binding up the broken and helping them put the pieces back together. We act as agents of blessing in our community, bearing the fruit of the Spirit which is good and righteous and true.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Faith

Readings for today: Matthew 8:5-13, 11:1-30, Luke 7

What is faith? Hebrews says it is “the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” (Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Romans suggests it is an unwavering trust in God’s promise and cites Abraham who “did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.” (Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬) We see both of these dynamics at work in Jesus’ interaction with the centurion. The story is a scandalous one on a lot of levels. Why would Jesus interact with a centurion at all? Much less go to his home? Offer to heal his servant? Affirm his faith? It’s crazy! This man is an oppressor. An agent of the Roman Empire. Empowered to enforce Caesar’s will, using violence if necessary. Furthermore, he’s a pagan. A worshipper of false gods. He’s a Gentile. Not a drop of Jewish blood in him. But still he believes. He trusts Jesus. He recognizes Jesus as a man who holds authority. He knows all Jesus has to do is say the word and his servant will be healed.

The Bible says Jesus was amazed. I love that even Jesus can be surprised! But perhaps the centurion’s faith shouldn’t be surprising. After all, as he himself says, he is a man under authority with soldiers under his command. He knows what it’s like to give and receive orders. He knows what it’s like to say the word and expect immediate obedience. He knows what it’s like to operate within a chain of command. Whatever the details of his belief system - and we aren’t given much to go on honestly - he sees in Jesus a divine authority. Someone to whom even the demons are subject and he cries out to him for help.

Do you believe? Do you believe Jesus holds all authority in heaven and on earth? Do you believe Jesus reigns even now from the throne room of heaven? Do you believe Jesus is at work in the world, bringing about His perfect will? Do you believe all things are subject to Him, including diseases and demons and even death itself? If so, are you living in obedience? As a man or woman under God’s authority? Subject to His will? Do you trust God? Do you trust Him to be faithful to His promises? Do you believe He is more than able to do all we could ever ask for or imagine? Do you live for God’s glory? Seeking to honor Him above all?

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 12:22-50, Mark 3:22-35, Luke 8:19-21, 11:14-54

Love for Others

Readings for today: Matthew 5-7, Luke 6:20-49, 11:1-13

“For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭46‬-‭48‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

This is one of Jesus’ most challenging and yet most pressing commands. We live in a divided world. We live in a divided nation. We live in divided communities. Many of us even live in divided families. People are divided along political and social lines. Family and tribal lines. Ideological and identity lines. These divisions are leading to all kinds of outbursts of anger and hatred and dehumanization and abuse. Some are even resorting to violence. It’s heartbreaking and soul-crushing on so many levels. In recent years, some have tried to justify their “tribalism” by suggesting it is appropriate to love those like you over those who are not like you. Love those who love you over those who hate you. Love your friends and not your enemies. Such justifications fall flat in the face of Jesus’ words today. Love your enemies. Love those who persecute you. Love those who hate you and attack you. Love them just as your Heavenly Father loves them. Bless them just as your Heavenly Father blesses them, causing the rain to fall on the righteous and unrighteous alike. It’s so easy to love those who love you. It takes so little effort to greet only those who you know already. Even the pagans who don’t know God are able to do that. But if you want to be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect, love like He loves. Love those who are not like you. Love those who are at odds with you. Love even those who are at war with you. That’s how God loves us and that’s how we become like God.

Can you imagine what would happen if Christians would seek to follow this command? Imagine the difference we could make if we had the courage to reach across the political aisle? Engage across the social spectrum? Embrace those who are not like us? Include those outside our family or tribe? Let go of our ideological purity tests and instead extend grace to those who may be different? Would we not shine like lights in the world? Would we not act like salt in the earth? Would we not reflect our Heavenly Father to the world? There is only one way to make this happen. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit. We must walk in step with the Holy Spirit. We must be led by the Holy Spirit. He alone can give us the strength and courage and wisdom it will take to love our enemies in a world that seeks to destroy them instead.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 8:5-13, 11:1-30, Luke 7

Mercy

Readings for today: Matthew 8:1-4, 9:1-17, 12:1-21, Mark 1:40-45, 2, 3:1-21, Luke 5:12-39, 6:1-19

“Jesus said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

This is what I love most about Jesus. He absolutely loves sinners. He loves the lost. He loves the wandering. He loves the confused. He loves the doubter. He loves the questioner. He loves the hurting. He loves the broken. He loves the oppressed. He loves the enslaved. He loves the imprisoned. He loves all those who find themselves struggling with unbelief. He not only loves them but He comes to be with them. He comes to heal them. He comes to rescue them. He comes to deliver them. He comes to set them free. He comes to reclaim them. He comes to redeem them. He will never rest until He chases down every single person who is lost and brings them home again. This is His heart and we see it on full display in today’s reading.

Jesus is the Great Physician. He has come to heal the great sickness infecting all of humanity. He knows sin is more than what we do or say or think. It is a disease that corrupts all it touches. A pervasive power at work inside us, poisoning our very souls. It is a terminal illness we cannot escape. A pandemic for which we have no effective treatment. Thankfully, Jesus sees our helpless condition. Jesus knows the hopeless condition into which we are born. And He alone has the power to heal us. Even more importantly, Jesus wants to heal us. It is the great desire of His heart. It is the fundamental reason behind why He came.

Can you imagine what might happen if the followers of Jesus became known more for mercy rather than right sacrifice? Known more for love of sinners rather than condemnation? Known more for compassion towards those who are lost and wandering, doubting and deconstructing than judgment?This is Jesus’ call to us today. As we go about our daily lives, we meet all kinds of people. Lepers, paralytics, tax collectors, sinners, Sabbath-keepers and Sabbath-breakers, Pharisees, scribes, men and women with withered hands and withered souls. How do we respond to them? Do we treat them with the dignity and love they deserve as human beings made in the image of God? Do we have compassion on their helpless and hopeless estate? Are we willing to extend grace and mercy and embrace them as Jesus did? Pray for God to open your eyes to truly see the spiritual condition of those around you. Pray for God to fill your heart with His love and compassion so you might minister to their deepest needs. Pray for opportunities to introduce them to the Great Physician who longs to heal them and make them whole.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 5-7, Luke 6:20-49, 11:1-13

Greatness

Readings for today: Matthew 4:23-25, 8:14-17, Mark 1:21-39, Luke 4:31-44

We arrived in rural East Africa today. A place full of great beauty and great brutality. A community that has known a great deal of conflict. The people here are intimately familiar with pain and suffering. Famine and malnutrition are constant companions. Disease and death stalk these lands. Demon-possession is not uncommon. Truly this is a place where the devil roars and prowls about, looking for someone to devour. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy any and all hope. But God is at work here. The Kingdom of God is advancing with power and authority. Disease is giving way to healing. Death is giving way to life. Darkness is giving way to light. All because faithful, indigenous men and women are willing to sacrifice it all for the sake of the gospel. I am in awe of them. They are my heroes and heroines. Every time I stand before them, I am deeply humbled. They are truly the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven and I am among the least.

What makes them so great? They simply do what Jesus did. They travel from village to village preaching the gospel. They heal the sick. The cure disease. They deliver the demon-possessed. They raise the dead. Every time I’m with them, it’s like I’m reliving the gospel story. “Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Then the news about him spread throughout Syria. So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And he healed them. Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.” (Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬) You could literally insert any one of our church planter’s names for Jesus, shift all the coordinates on the map, and the stories would sound much the same. These men and women are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. They perform all kinds of miraculous signs and wonders. The gospel is proclaimed. Churches are planted. Heaven is filled. Hell is emptied. And all kinds of redemptive lift comes to these communities.

What does it mean to be great in the Kingdom? In America, we define it by influence. Power. Wealth. The size of our churches. The number of book deals. The extent of our social media reach. But here in East Africa, it’s defined by sacrifice. Humility. Poverty. Pain and suffering. A willingness to go to the hardest to reach places and preach to the hardest to reach people. It means placing one’s life at risk over and over again. Leaving everything behind including jobs and homes and families to carry the good news to communities who have never heard the name of Jesus. It means laboring in complete obscurity and anonymity and insignificance. Your name and work known only to God. Your eyes fixed on heavenly rather than earthly rewards. This is why God moves so powerfully over here and it’s why the church in America continues to struggle. We refuse to give up greatness in our kingdom for greatness in God’s Kingdom.

Readings for tomorrow: John 3-5

Hunger

Readings for today: Matthew 4:1-22, 13:54-58, Mark 1:12-20, 6:1-6, Luke 4:1-5:11, John 1:35-2:12

After forty days and nights in the wilderness without food, Jesus was hungry. Such a small, ordinary, and obvious detail. I’ve often wondered why the Gospel writers chose to include it. Perhaps it was to reinforce the humanity of Jesus. Signal to their readers that Jesus suffered from human needs just like the rest of us. The need for rest. The need for food and water. These are points of connection we share with Him. But what if it’s meant to signal something deeper as well? What was Jesus hungry for? Food? He could have provided for Himself by turning stones into bread. Fame and glory? He could have thrown Himself down from the Temple and made a name for Himself. Power? He could have taken over all the kingdoms of this world in an instant.

It had to be tempting. After all, His Father had promised Him all those things and more. Why not reach out and take hold of them? Were they not His by divine right? Of course they were but Jesus was “hungry” for something more. He was hungry for God. He was hungry for His Father’s good pleasure and plan. He was hungry for the Kingdom of God and righteousness. And He knew to accomplish God’s ends through ungodly means would result in failure. Compromising on God’s truth would result in defeat. To give the devil even an inch would result in him taking a mile or more and Jesus would not have it. Why? Because His hunger was more than physical. More than emotional. More than intellectual. It was deep and spiritual and He refused to satisfy it through any other means than what His Father had ordained.

What about you? Do you hunger and thirst for God? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do you hunger and thirst for the Kingdom of God in your life? How are you satisfying that hunger? Are you turning to the means God has ordained for you? Prayer. Worship. Meditation of God’s Word. Sacrifice. Service. Where is the enemy tempting you right now to satisfy your hunger through ungodly means? Take a look at your schedule or how you spend your money or where your focus tends to be. Is there time devoted to God? Do you give generously to the work of the Lord? Are you focused on others more than yourself?

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Repent

Readings for today: Matthew 3, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3, John 1:15-34

Human beings are a wonder. Truly. Relentless dreamers and visionaries. Hopeful to a fault. Possessed of the most incredible capacities for creativity and industry. It makes no sense. Not on the face of it. After all, our lives are like grass. Here today and gone tomorrow. The world in which we live is brutal and terrifying, filled with all kinds of violence and hate. The amount of pain and suffering we endure is immense. Death stalks us from the moment we’re born. Where do we find the strength to keep going? Why is every generation born with a spark that inevitably flies upwards? The Bible’s answer is clear. It is because we are made in the image of God. Created a little lower than the angels. A little less than divine. God-crowned with a glory and grandeur not our own. Made for an eternal purpose and given a mandate we simply cannot escape, no matter how hard we try.

This is why the message of repentance is such good news. I know we tend to consider “repentance” a bad word. We have a negative reaction every time we hear a preacher say it. And yet think about what the word means. It means a radical turn. A move in the opposite direction. A 180 degree shift in life. It’s a call to turn from death to life. Darkness to light. Despair to hope. Sorrow to joy. Violence to peace. Hate to love. Why in the world would we ever resist such a call? Why in the world would we ever reject such a call? There was a man named John who was sent from God to prepare the way for His Son. He came preaching a singular message. “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Thousands responded to his message. They could feel the truth of it in their bones. He tapped something deep inside them, something ancient and eternal. An original spark embedded within us in the Garden of Eden.

Repentance isn’t just about a “turn” but a “return.” A return to our original identity. A return to our original purpose. A return to our original home in the Garden and a recommitment to the original mandate for which we were made. Repentance is a call to stop running from God. Stop fighting with God. Stop hiding from God. Stop rejecting God. It’s a call to come home. Come home to the Father who loves us and adopts us and calls us His own. It’s a call to return from the far country where we have squandered our lives in self-absorbed living. God wants to put an end to our pain and sorrow and suffering. God wants to put an end to violence and hate. God wants to put an end to injustice and oppression and exploitation and corruption. God wants to put an end to sin and death. Repent. Believe the good news. The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 4:1-22, 13:54-58, Mark 1:12-20, 6:1-6, Luke 4:1-5:11, John 1:35-2:12

Reactions

Readings for today: Matthew 2, Luke 2:39-52

Jesus evokes the strongest of reactions. Wise men from the east. Probably pagan astrologers who watched the skies over Babylon. Men who possibly had been raised on the stories of their fabled Jewish forebears, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, come to Israel following a star. The heavenly sign was so compelling they traveled who knows how many miles over who knows how many weeks to worship and offer gifts to a newborn king.  

Jesus evokes the strongest of reactions. The king of Israel. Descendent of Esau through his father who had converted, Herod was raised a Jew. However, he was not of the Davidic line and therefore was a pretender at best to the throne. Furthermore, he reigned at the whim of Caesar, his first allegiance being to the Roman Empire rather than to Yahweh. He received the news the wise men brought and was troubled. The news of a new king being born would be a threat to his power. So he marshals his forces and lays waste to the entire region surrounding Bethlehem, killing all the male children under two years of age. 

Jesus evokes the strongest of reactions. Joseph and Mary. Traveling home from their annual trek to Jerusalem. After they make camp for the night, they realize Jesus is not with them. He has remained behind. So back they go, frantic in their search for their 12 year old son. For three days, they search high and low in the city only to find him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions. Why have you treated us like this? Why disrespect us? Why not obey us? Why did you not come when it was time to go? Their anger and frustration is palpable. And Jesus humbles himself and returns with them to Nazareth. 

Jesus evokes the strongest of reactions. The Heavenly Father looks down on His Son. Sees Him in danger in Bethlehem and sends an angel to warn his parents to flee the coming massacre. Sees him at the Temple listening and learning from the teachers of the Law. Sees him as he grows up under the love and guidance of Joseph and Mary. The Father sees it all and grants the Son favor. Blessing. Wisdom. Strength. Preparing him for the day when he would launch his ministry. Laying the groundwork for what’s to come. 

What’s your reaction to Jesus? How do you receive Him? Is it with a glad heart? Do you feel yourself compelled to seek Him and grow a relationship with Him like the wise men? Is it fear? Do you, like Herod, respond in fear and anxiety to the idea that Jesus would be your Lord and Savior? Is it frustration? Like Joseph and Mary, does Jesus sometimes confound your expectations? Or do you respond with love and devotion? Is Jesus finding greater “favor” with you with each passing year? 

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 3, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3, John 1:15-34

Jesus

Readings for today: Matthew 1, Luke 1:1-2:38

It’s easy to breeze through these passages because they have become so familiar to us. Every Christmas we revisit them. Every Christmas we tell the story yet again. Every Christmas, we perform pageants and plays and sing familiar carols as we celebrate what God has done in Jesus Christ. But familiarity can often breed contempt. What was once a miraculous and glorious mystery becomes mundane and ordinary. That’s why it’s important to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us as we read the Bible. He is the one who makes the words on the page come alive. He is the one who inspires our hearts and fires our imaginations as we engage the text. And if we listen to Him closely, He will reveal things to us that we might otherwise miss as we work through the Bible year after year.

I cannot tell you the number of times I have read the Christmas story. It has to be hundreds. And yet this year, I found myself paying less attention to the people in the story - Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, etc. - and more attention to the words God used to describe what was happening. Mary will give birth to a son and His name will be Jesus for He will save His people from their sins. This is to fulfill what the ancient prophet had spoken about a virgin conceiving a son named Immanuel which means “God with us.” John will be great in the sight of the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus will be great in the sight of the Lord and will be called Son of the Most High. He will be conceived by the Holy Spirit and will be called the Son of God. Simeon predicted this child would be the rise and fall of many in Israel and Anna believed His birth signified the redemption of Jerusalem. Each of these passages in isolation is powerful enough to stand on their own. String them altogether and it’s breathtaking and overwhelming in scope.

Savior. Immanuel. Son of the Most High. Son of God. Redemption of Jerusalem. Light of the Gentiles. Glory of Israel. All this and more is revealed in Jesus and it’s why His birth is considered the hinge point of human history. It’s why billions around the world today and throughout the centuries have placed their trust in Him. He is the good news of great joy that is for all people. He is the peace of God breaking into the world. He is the hope of heaven come to earth. Place your trust in Him today!

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 2, Luke 2:39-52

Betrayal

Readings for today: Matthew 27-28, Psalms 94

These are some of the most gut-wrenching chapters in the Bible. Over and over again, Jesus is betrayed by those He loves and those He came to save. It begins with the abandonment of His disciples and the denial of Peter. Judas, overcome by guilt and shame at what he has done, changes his mind and tries to turn back the clock. Pilate, the one man with the authority to stop the charade, washes his hands of the whole episode. Even the crowds who had sung His praises just a few days before now turn on Jesus. Given the chance to set Him free, they choose Barabbas instead.

Then comes the Cross. Nothing beautiful about it. It stands unparalleled in human history as a horror. A terror. An act of unspeakable evil. It represents the ultimate betrayal. The Cross is where we hung God. The Cross is where we murdered God. The Cross is where we executed God. Creation despising and rejecting her Creator. Humanity lynching her Savior. Sin having it’s way. Satan rejoicing. His victory seemingly complete. 

Jesus’ suffering was unimaginable. After having been flogged and beaten. His flesh in tatters. His blood loss immense. Jesus is forced to shoulder a 300 lbs. Roman cross. (If He just carried the crossbeam - far more likely - it was still 100 lbs.) He carries it some two thousand feet up Golgotha where nails are driven into his hands and feet. The soldiers offer Him wine mixed with gall to numb the pain. He refuses. They strip Him naked so His humiliation and shame will be complete. Crowds gather to make a public spectacle of Him. Even the criminals being executed alongside Him take pleasure in His pain. Finally, He cries out, “My God, my God! Why have you forsaken Me?” Is this even possible? The Father forsaking His only Begotten Son? That’s how Jesus must have felt on some level. Darkness falls. The ground shakes. The Temple curtain protecting the Holy of Holies is torn in two. Tombs are thrown open. The dead are raised. The natural order of things is thrown into chaos as the Author of Life dies.

Jesus didn’t just suffer physically. It was existential. Impacting his heart, mind, and soul. His cry of God-forsakenness reveals the depths of His pain. His body torn. His mind shattered. His heart utterly broken. His soul rent asunder. There is nothing that can compare to the agony He endured as He bore the sin of the world on His shoulders. He hung there alone. Forsaken by all who knew Him. Betrayed by all who loved Him. Jesus hung between heaven and earth, making atonement for humanity in the ugliness of all her sin and satisfying the holy justice of God in all it’s beautiful glory. A price had to be paid. God’s righteous wrath had to be turned away. And Jesus - fully God and fully Man - was the only one who could do it. 

God forbid we ever get comfortable with the Cross. God forbid we ever take for granted what Jesus had to endure. God forbid we despise His sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus suffered and died for my selfishness. My wickedness. My sin. What He endured, I rightfully deserve. It is good for my soul to consider the depth of my betrayal. To ponder the depth of my Savior’s pain. It is good for my soul to reflect on the unfathomable cost of my salvation. It is good for my soul to contemplate how truly fierce and loyal and steadfast and unshakable is the love of God for me. 

Readings for tomorrow: Mark 1-2, Psalms 95

The Great Wedding Day

Readings for today: Matthew 25-26, Psalms 93

I’ve been married almost thirty years but I can still remember my wedding like it was yesterday. No matter where you go in the world today, weddings are special, even sacred occasions. They are accompanied by all kinds of rituals and particular traditions. There are special traditions for the bride, special traditions for the groom, special traditions involving the family. When I got married, one of the things I had to do was meet with my future father-in-law to ask his blessing. It was an incredibly intimidating experience for me as a young man and he asked a lot of hard questions about how I would care for his daughter and provide for her. He knew I was planning on being a pastor and he was a very successful businessman at the time, making a lot of money. I had to tell him I wouldn’t be able to provide the kind of life he would want for his daughter but I promised she’d be happy. Then came the planning. There was a lot of it and it got very expensive very quickly but again, that’s the expectation in our country when it comes to weddings. You spare no expense. You buy flowers that die within the week. At the time, you hired an expensive photographer because we didn’t have iPhones to take good pictures. You might have a videographer as well so you had a video of your wedding that you supposedly will go back and watch. You’re expected to provide food and drink and music and a place to dance. You have toasts from the wedding party and parents. You have the dance between the father of the bride and his daughter and the mother of the groom and her son. Then you have the first dance between the bride and groom, the cutting of the cake, and the big send off. Then there’s the honeymoon. Another typically expensive affair, hopefully in an exotic locale. Again, all of these are rituals and traditions associated with weddings in our culture today.

What about in Jesus’ time? Back in the first century, the timing of a wedding was really up to the bridegroom’s father. When he was satisfied that his son had built his prospective bride a home that would uphold the family honor, he would set the date and time for the wedding. He would give permission to his son to then go get his bride and the groom would then gather the wedding party and make a big processional to his bride’s home. One can only imagine the excitement and joy in the community as they hear the music and dancing and laughter and celebration. One can only imagine the bride’s anticipation as she prepares herself for her future husband. A huge feast would be prepared by the groom’s family and the whole community would be invited to celebrate. Now a significant part of this ritual involved the bridesmaids or the “virgins” from the parable Jesus tells. They would have been staying with the bride all day long to help her prepare. And among the many jobs they had was to leave her at a certain point, light torches, and go out to meet the bridegroom and his party to escort them to meet the bride. The torches they carried were typically sticks wrapped in oil-soaked rags and they didn’t burn forever. So when they were about to go out, the bridesmaids would take new rags, soak them in oil, and wrap them around their torch to keep the fire burning. As you can imagine, the groom’s party was often delayed due to all the celebration. Everyone wanted to congratulate him and bless him and pray for him so the torches the bridesmaids carried might go out multiple times over the course of the evening as they waited for the groom to arrive. In the story Jesus tells, half the bridesmaids were foolish. They didn’t prepare well. They brought no oil with them so their torches went out while the other half did bring oil and were able to keep their torches burning. This created a sense of panic among those who had no oil. What would they do? Their mistake would bring shame on the bride and the groom and could mess up the whole ritual procession! So they rush off in search of more. But while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived for his bride and escorted her back to his family home where the feast was waiting and the door was shut. No more guests would be admitted. To admit them late after everyone had arrived would take attention away from the bride and groom and insult the host so they are left outside. And just as aside, these feasts would last for seven straight days so they didn’t just miss out on one night but the whole event.

So why does Jesus use the image of a wedding when talking about the Kingdom of heaven? Jesus knows what’s waiting for Him over the horizon in Jerusalem and He is trying to prepare His disciples for what’s to come. Though they do not know it yet, Jesus is pointing them beyond His death and resurrection to the timing of His second coming, when He, as the bridegroom, returns for His bride, the church. They don’t know anything about the church at this point, of course. As far as they know, the Kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of Israel are the same thing. That’s what they hear when Jesus talks about the kingdom and that’s what they’re expecting when they arrive in Jerusalem. They expect Jesus to take over King David’s throne, cleanse the Temple and re-establish the worship of the Living God, and overthrow the Romans and all the corrupt religious authorities. But Jesus has a different plan in mind. One that doesn’t involve political power or military might but His sacrificial death for all humanity. Though Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, He refuses to exercise it like a tyrant. He will not give into the devil’s temptation to take control of all the kingdoms of this world. No, Jesus submits to the will of His Heavenly Father. And this is why His Father creates the church as a bride adorned for her husband. He wants the world to see the beauty and glory and majesty of His Son, the bridegroom. He wants the world to wait in eager anticipation, just like the bride waits in eager anticipation, for her wedding day. He wants the nations to join in the celebration as He comes for His bride. He wants the whole world to be part of the feast His Father has prepared.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 27-28, Psalms 94

The Essential Nature of Humility

Readings for today: Matthew 23-24, Psalms 92

Humility is an “essential” in the Christian life. Literally, one cannot follow Jesus without developing this character trait. Frankly, it’s Jesus’ main beef with the Pharisees and scribes and other religious leaders of his day. He didn’t criticize their theology so much as their focus on the minutiae of the Law rather than the purpose the Law was designed to serve. The religious authorities majored in the minors. They specialized in regulating all kinds of behavior. They had the best of intentions. They had honest concerns about ritual purity and that’s no small thing. Especially in the ancient world. But over time they became prideful. Their goal was to serve the Law rather than allow the Law to serve humanity. Remember their attacks on Jesus over Sabbath-keeping? The religious leaders had all kinds of regulations governing how many steps one could take on the Sabbath or how much effort a person could put in before something became “work” and they forgot the purpose Sabbath-keeping was to serve which was blessing. By keeping the Sabbath, humanity would be blessed. They would experience more joy and more peace and more life and more love but the strict regulations robbed the people of these blessings. When Jesus healed on the Sabbath - bringing joy and peace and life and love to the person on the receiving end - the religious leaders went crazy. And that’s when Jesus reminds them that “Sabbath is made for man not man for the Sabbath.”

Matthew 23 is a series of discourses where Jesus contrasts the pride and arrogance of the religious leaders with the humility of the ordinary, everyday Israelite. He clearly demonstrates the difference between serving the Law and serving humanity. He calls the religious leaders, in no uncertain terms, to repent and humble themselves. Sadly, there is little evidence any of them ever did in Jesus’ lifetime. In fact, they redouble their efforts to have him arrested, tried, tortured, and killed. This chapter is worth reflecting on especially if you’ve been a Christian for a long time. It seems the longer we follow Jesus, the more tempted we are to major on the minors ourselves. Focus on the non-essentials instead of the essentials. It’s why so many believers switch churches over small things or finer points of theology while neglecting the higher call to unity and community. We seem so quick to give up on each other, especially if we don’t agree on everything or feel let down or get disappointed. We don’t put each other first. We don’t assume the best of each other. We don’t seek the mind and heart of Christ. It’s heartbreaking.

Humility is defined by Jesus who was by His very nature God and yet didn’t consider His status as God something to be held onto. He didn’t consider His perfection more important than relating to us in our imperfection. He didn’t consider His purity more important than meeting us in the midst of our impurity. He didn’t consider His power and authority and rights as the Son of God worth holding onto if it created a barrier between us and Him. No, Jesus let all of those things go. He emptied Himself in order to become our servant. He humbled Himself to death on a cross. He deliberately and intentionally chose to decrease so that we might increase. And if we truly want to follow Jesus, we must do the same for each other and the world around us. We must serve rather than be served. We must proclaim a gospel that is truly good news not bad news. We must seek to call people to life and light and love and joy and blessing rather than curse them or shame them or condemn them for not measuring up. I don’t know about you but when my time comes and I stand before the Lord, I do not want to hear “Woe to you” but instead “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 25-26, Psalms 93