Between the Extremes

“Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Proverbs 30:7-9

I had stared at the computer screen for two days trying to discern what the Holy Spirit was speaking into my heart. My thoughts wondered to the dangers of the extremes of both poverty and wealth. Poverty driven crime surrounds us and celebrity excesses seems to regularly lead to some sort of tragic end. Hopelessness and despair reside in both of these extremes.

The Scriptures speak to these extremes and as in this week’s passage warn against living in either condition. Rather, scripture encourages a life of faith lived between the extremes. Elsewhere in the book of Proverbs we read “The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor” (Proverbs 10:15). But what about life in the in between, don’t the people living there get discouraged? Aren’t they tempted by fame, wealth or power? How many of us are just a step away from the despair poverty brings? How do we find the right balance, especially when life has been beating us up?

Well I think the prophet Isaiah says it pretty well: “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Feeling discouraged - hope in the Lord and be encouraged. Sick and tired of being sick and tired - hope in the Lord and find healing and rest. Worried - hope in the Lord and find peace. 

As you strive to live between the extremes - hope in the Lord, He will stand on His promises to provide for every need you have.

A Prayer
Father - Thank you that we can live between the world’s extremes because we can hope in You. Remind us daily that we need to keep our eyes on you and our hearts filled with your Spirit - so we will be encouraged, have peace and find healing and rest. In the name Jesus, in whom we hope - Amen.

Really, He Totally Gets Us

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15

As mere mortals with a limited understanding of, well, almost everything it can be difficult to comprehend that God really understands us. Scripture tells us our great high priest - Jesus understands, that He gets us. As I was thinking about how the Creator of the universe gets us and loves us even when we are hard to love, I started to think about just how much we have in common with Him. Aside from the whole made in His image concept - which is a pretty big thing on its own here are some other things we have in common.

Jesus was born - just like us. He in the incarnation of God He could have just turned up on the scene - but He was born. He grew up in an ordinary family and had to do what his parents asked of him, just like we had to as kids. I would hazard a guess that many of us have a “my parents forgot me” story somewhere in their childhood memories. Jesus’ parent forgot him at church and didn’t remember until a day had passed and three days had passed by the time they found him (Luke 2:42-46). 

In His short 33 years of life, Jesus didn’t just teach, heal and care for others - He lived life. He got baptized. He grieved the loss of people He cared about (John the Baptist and Lazarus). He was betrayed by friends. People behaving badly, who should have known better, frustrated him. He enjoyed a good party and a good meal. He was homeless (See Luke 9:58), He wanted to make sure is mom was ok after He was gone (John 19:26-27). He cried, He lost his temper (with the money changers and religious leaders), He laughed, He loved, He lived and He died. Jesus was a son, a brother, a friend, a healer, a teacher and He is God. 

He is God and He gets us - because for 33 years He was one of us. He loves us because He knows who we are supposed to be, He knows what we really look like under all the earthly stuff that covers us. 

We have lots in common in the Creator of the universe and someday we’ll get Him - the same way He gets us - perfectly.

A Prayer
Father - Thank you for loving us so much that you came here to the rough and often forsaken planet to be one of us, to be with us so You could really get us. Thank you for loving us even when we fall short. Help us to remember, that no matter what we are facing You understand and you are with us. In the name Jesus, who really does understand - Amen.

Gently Now

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1

On a particular morning as I was finishing my morning crossing guard duties, I witnessed an interesting event. Still standing at my own car, two other cars sped up to a nearby stop sign. Both cars were being driven my women, I will assume they were moms who had just dropped of their children at school. When they stopped they both threw open their car doors and started flinging obscenities at each other. This continued for a minute or two and then they slammed their doors and continued on their own ways. I stood their wondering - do they go to church and if yes - did they really think that, that exchange of vulgarity was pleasing to God? I wondered - Is that the kind of example they really mean to set for their kids? I wondered if that exchange would ruin their days. 

I don’t know what happened further up the street that led to that screaming match at the intersection, but would a gentler reaction to whatever it was have made a difference to these women, to their children and to our world? Yes I think so. 

In the New Testament, really the only ones Jesus uses harsh language with are the religious leaders. He calls them “whitewashed tombs” and “a brood of vipers” (Matthew 23: 27, 33). Every time Jesus got the better of them, they got madder and madder. But when dealing with anyone else: the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, his own friends when they messed up, Jesus was gentle. With the woman at the well He talked to her when no one else would. As Jesus helped the woman who had been thrown at His feet up, there was no lecture, no harsh words - just words of love and healing. After His resurrection when He saw Peter there was no “I told you so” no “You aren’t quite as good as you think you are” no sarcastic comments about roosters crowing - just the same question “do you love Me” over and over and with each response healing happened, relationship was restored. 

What about you are ready with a gentle response to those around you? Do you speak the truth in love or self-righteousness? As Christians we must remember we are human, sinners saved only by the grace of God through His Son Jesus, and nothing else. If we are to really impact the world - we must speak the truth, but we must do it gently with the love of Christ. 

This week, instead of allowing worldly violence come from your mouth - take a breath and find a Holy Spirit inspired gentle answer for whatever you are facing.

A Prayer
Father - forgive us when we forget that we are sinners saved by grace and respond to people or situations by spitting venomous words from our mouths. Help us always to speak gently with the love that is only possible by working of Your Holy Spirit in our hearts. In the name Jesus - Amen.

Watch Where You are Pointing That

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12

Having a background in law enforcement and handling several types of firearms, I understand the importance of weapons safety. The improper handling of weapons can be disastrous. The Bible describes itself as a sword, a deadly weapon. Used improperly the results of this divine weapon can also be disastrous. 

How the Word of God is used is dependent on who is wielding it. God’s angels, no doubt use it in the real battles they fight in the unseen realms. In the book of Daniel we read that Gabriel who was tasked to take God’s answer to Daniel, needed assistance from Michael because he had encountered resistance on the way (See Daniel 10:12-13). In the book of Revelation we read that Michael and his angel forces do battle against Satan and his army in heaven (See Revelation 12:7-9). 

In the hands of the Holy Spirit, this mighty sword can be healing; cutting out the sinful nature of man and replacing a heart of stone for one of flesh. In the hands of the Holy Spirit it also reminds God’s people of all that God wants them to know - it reveals the character of God and the image we were made in. It is the sword of judgment that all will face sending some to eternal life in the presence of God and others to eternal separation from God in Hell.

What about when we wield God’s Word? Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God and to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Why? So we can stand against the devil’s schemes (See Ephesians 6:10-17). For us the Word of God can be used as both a defensive and offensive weapon as we deal with Satan. When Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan - He used God’s Word to defend himself (See Luke 4:3-12). 

However, there are some who call themselves followers of Christ who also use His Word as a weapon against other believers and unbelievers alike and the results can be disastrous. My favorite Bible, the one that sits on my desk, is packed with notes from sermons and study, with tattered pages - the one I most like to read weighs about three pounds. If I hit you over the head with it, I have no doubts that it would hurt. If you hit me over the head with your favorite Bible I’d get hurt too. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy we read that the “Scriptures are good for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). I would add that they are good for encouraging us to reflect the image that we have been made in - the image that Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection is restoring in us. 

How are you using God’s Word? Are you wielding it in judgment that is the Lord’s alone or are you using it carefully, with Christ inspired love so that the Holy Spirit can use your life to bring soul healing to those around you? 

A Prayer
Father - forgive us for the times when we beat others over the head with your Word using it like at weapon of destruction. Help us to allow our hearts be softened and renewed by this powerful weapon and teach us to wield it in a way that brings healing to those around us and glory to You. In the name Jesus - Amen.