Today's readings: Ps 20, 21; Job 10:1-9, 16-22; Acts 11:1-18; John 8:12-20
I kept my faith, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”
- Psalm 116:10 (from this evening’s readings)
On Wednesday we considered the importance of being silent and listening for God. True spiritual silence is an achievement that doesn’t always come easily, especially when we are upset. Sometimes we first need to clear our heads by venting our anger and negativity. Even anger at God needs to be expressed. The psalmist knew this, and Job knew it when he said “I will give free utterance to my complaint” (Job 10:1).
Job accuses God of setting him up with a great life so his fall will be even harder. Do we ever feel like God has set us up to fail? Or like God is testing us? A popular cliché says “God never gives you more than you can handle.” Job would certainly seem to disagree. With its framing narrative of a wager between God and Ha’Satan, the Book of Job can easily be misunderstood to promote the theology of a God who is constantly testing us, a God who virtually hunts us, “bold as a lion” (v 16). Rather, it is a poetic exploration of our relationship with God and suffering. At one time or another we all feel we’ve been treated unfairly by life or God, and Job says the things we think at those times.
Arguing with God has a long tradition among the faithful. Jacob/Israel literally wrestled with God, and a nation was named for him. Every year during the Jewish High Holy Days from Rosh Hashanah (sometimes called Jewish New Year) to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), people of great faith are held accountable for their actions during the year – and they also hold God accountable. Only by speaking the truths held most deeply in our hearts can we fully express our faithfulness. God already knows what is in our hearts, so doing this is a matter of showing trust in a God loving and great enough to handle whatever we have to dish out.
We tend to think of arguments as negative events, but they are inevitable when we are building any deep relationship. Sometimes an argument is a sign that a relationship is worth fighting for.
Comfort: God accepts our whole hearts, not just the happy parts.
Challenge: Find and read some articles on having healthy arguments.
Prayer: God of truth, I open my whole heart to you.
Evening readings: Ps 110, 116, 117
Tomorrow's readings: Ps 148, 149, 150; Job 11:1-9, 13-20; Rev 5:1-14; Matt 5;1-12
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Astounding Gifts
Today's readings: Ps 16, 17; Job 9:1-15, 32-35; Acts 10:34-48; John 7:37-52
“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.” (Acts 10:45)
This verse points out the difference between accepting someone superficially and truly including them, a distinction sometimes lost on even the most well-meaning individuals. While sitting at a table with Gentiles was a major step for the Jewish Christians, this sentence tells us they were not yet accepting the Gentiles as equals. Not until the Spirit poured out gifts upon the Gentiles did the Jews recognize they were deserving of the same baptism.
How long do we wait until we truly include new people in our community, church or life? We almost always let them in the door, and can see them as additional help for the bake sales and nursery duty, but when do we stop thinking of them as the “new” people? Do we wait until they somehow earn our approval, like the apostles did, or do we start treating them as equal members of the body of Christ ASAP? Each person brings their own astounding gifts, so it is to our benefit to truly integrate them as lovingly and efficiently as possible. Beyond that, it is simply the Christian thing to do.
On the other hand, sometimes we withhold our own gifts until we are confident a community has fully embraced us. While it’s natural to be cautious when entering a new group, being too reserved slows down the process of acceptance and inclusion. We should work to be aware of our own gifts, because life in a Christian community is a two- (and twenty- and two hundred-) way street. We are to use our gifts to support a community as much as the community is to support us.
We all have gifts to offer. Sometimes we don’t even know what they are until we are called upon to try something new. As part of a community, we should always be eager to offer and accept each other’s gifts.
Comfort: As Christians we are truly accepted and truly accepting.
Challenge: Look for opportunities to share your gifts. Don’t be shy.
Prayer: God of truth, thank you for revealing the gifts of your people.
Evening readings: Ps 22
Tomorrow's readings: Ps 20, 21; Job 10:1-9, 16-22; Acts 11:1-18; John 8:12-20
“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.” (Acts 10:45)
This verse points out the difference between accepting someone superficially and truly including them, a distinction sometimes lost on even the most well-meaning individuals. While sitting at a table with Gentiles was a major step for the Jewish Christians, this sentence tells us they were not yet accepting the Gentiles as equals. Not until the Spirit poured out gifts upon the Gentiles did the Jews recognize they were deserving of the same baptism.
How long do we wait until we truly include new people in our community, church or life? We almost always let them in the door, and can see them as additional help for the bake sales and nursery duty, but when do we stop thinking of them as the “new” people? Do we wait until they somehow earn our approval, like the apostles did, or do we start treating them as equal members of the body of Christ ASAP? Each person brings their own astounding gifts, so it is to our benefit to truly integrate them as lovingly and efficiently as possible. Beyond that, it is simply the Christian thing to do.
On the other hand, sometimes we withhold our own gifts until we are confident a community has fully embraced us. While it’s natural to be cautious when entering a new group, being too reserved slows down the process of acceptance and inclusion. We should work to be aware of our own gifts, because life in a Christian community is a two- (and twenty- and two hundred-) way street. We are to use our gifts to support a community as much as the community is to support us.
We all have gifts to offer. Sometimes we don’t even know what they are until we are called upon to try something new. As part of a community, we should always be eager to offer and accept each other’s gifts.
Comfort: As Christians we are truly accepted and truly accepting.
Challenge: Look for opportunities to share your gifts. Don’t be shy.
Prayer: God of truth, thank you for revealing the gifts of your people.
Evening readings: Ps 22
Tomorrow's readings: Ps 20, 21; Job 10:1-9, 16-22; Acts 11:1-18; John 8:12-20
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Enjoy the Silence
Today's readings: Ps 119:1-24; Job 7:1-21; Acts 10:1-16; John 7:1-13
Last week we considered the importance of simply listening to people in need. What about the times when we are the people in need? During those times, we still need to listen - for God. This might sound like a simple idea, but our brains are usually so busy that listening for God can sometimes be tougher than listening to people. Today’s readings from Job and Acts demonstrate the importance of learning to listen.
Even if you’ve never read Job before, by now you realize it is full of conversation – if you define conversation as one speech following another. The speeches not only serve the purpose of the book by commenting on different philosophies of suffering and justice, they also represent a common impediment to listening to God (or anyone else): thinking of what we want to say next when we should be listening. This is a poor enough habit when conversing with people, let alone with God. Sometimes we just need to close our mouths and open our ears and minds. If we never allow some physical and spiritual silence, how can we hear anything?
At other times, we can simply be thick-headed. When Peter meets Cornelius – the first Gentile convert – he is unsure of how to proceed. So far the biggest difference between Christians is that some of them are Hellenist Jews (Greek in speech and culture) while most are not. A Gentile who has never followed Jewish customs introduces a host of potential conflicts, including dietary practices. God sends Peter a vision to let him know all foods can now be considered clean. God sends this vision three times yet Peter remains puzzled by it. Still, Peter acts wisely by asking God to repeat the vision, rather than giving up after the first try. When God’s answers seem slow or confusing, like Peter we should make the effort to work it out rather than abandon the conversation.
Reporter Dan Rather once asked Mother Theresa what she said when she prayed. She replied, “I don’t say anything; I listen.” Mr. Rather asked what God said while prayed. She replied God said nothing. “God listens,” she said, “and if you don’t understand that I can’t explain it to you.” True listening is a mystery in which great truths can be revealed.
Comfort: God always listens.
Challenge: Read about the practice of lectio divina.
Prayer: God of truth, I will meet you in the silence.
Evening readings: Ps 12, 13, 14
Tomorrow's readings: Ps 18:1-20; Job 8:1-7, 11-19; Acts 10:17-33; John 7:14-36
Last week we considered the importance of simply listening to people in need. What about the times when we are the people in need? During those times, we still need to listen - for God. This might sound like a simple idea, but our brains are usually so busy that listening for God can sometimes be tougher than listening to people. Today’s readings from Job and Acts demonstrate the importance of learning to listen.
Even if you’ve never read Job before, by now you realize it is full of conversation – if you define conversation as one speech following another. The speeches not only serve the purpose of the book by commenting on different philosophies of suffering and justice, they also represent a common impediment to listening to God (or anyone else): thinking of what we want to say next when we should be listening. This is a poor enough habit when conversing with people, let alone with God. Sometimes we just need to close our mouths and open our ears and minds. If we never allow some physical and spiritual silence, how can we hear anything?
At other times, we can simply be thick-headed. When Peter meets Cornelius – the first Gentile convert – he is unsure of how to proceed. So far the biggest difference between Christians is that some of them are Hellenist Jews (Greek in speech and culture) while most are not. A Gentile who has never followed Jewish customs introduces a host of potential conflicts, including dietary practices. God sends Peter a vision to let him know all foods can now be considered clean. God sends this vision three times yet Peter remains puzzled by it. Still, Peter acts wisely by asking God to repeat the vision, rather than giving up after the first try. When God’s answers seem slow or confusing, like Peter we should make the effort to work it out rather than abandon the conversation.
Reporter Dan Rather once asked Mother Theresa what she said when she prayed. She replied, “I don’t say anything; I listen.” Mr. Rather asked what God said while prayed. She replied God said nothing. “God listens,” she said, “and if you don’t understand that I can’t explain it to you.” True listening is a mystery in which great truths can be revealed.
Comfort: God always listens.
Challenge: Read about the practice of lectio divina.
Prayer: God of truth, I will meet you in the silence.
Evening readings: Ps 12, 13, 14
Tomorrow's readings: Ps 18:1-20; Job 8:1-7, 11-19; Acts 10:17-33; John 7:14-36
Monday, August 23, 2010
If Paul could do it...
Today's readings: Ps 1, 2, 3; Job 5:1-11, 17-21, 26-27; Acts 9:19b-31; John 6:52-59
Real change is difficult. Even after we’ve worked up the proper inner motivation to make a positive change, we must struggle with a world inclined to keep us as we were. If we leave behind bad habits, friends who shared those habits with us may try to drag us back to our old ways for any number of reasons. If we’ve repeatedly promised change only to let down our friends and family, they may view new declarations of change with understandable suspicion. Real change can’t depend on how other people perceive us, but on how we perceive ourselves.
Prior to his conversion, Paul was a Pharisee infamous for his ruthless persecution of Christians on behalf of the Jerusalem Temple. When he started to preach in Jesus’ name, people who knew him were “amazed” (Acts 9:21) at his radical change. Those in Jerusalem who did not doubt his sincerity attempted to kill him. On the other hand, when he joined the disciples “they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple” (v. 26). Many of them had been evading him for some time, and only the testimony of Barnabas on Paul’s behalf swayed them.
Paul’s old friends wanted him to stay the same, and the people he hoped would become his new friends weren’t ready to accept him. Despite the attitudes around him, Paul persevered because God had changed his heart. To a lesser degree, we may experience the same thing when we make a change. For example, if we decide to give up gossip, the friends we used to gossip with will undoubtedly feel snubbed when we decline to participate. Given our history, other people will find it difficult to trust us. The same would be true of addictions, lying, spitefulness or any host of vices. A truly penitent heart will persevere in change whether other people accept the change or not; our relationship with God will sustain us.
We can’t change any mind but our own. When we know we need to make a positive change, we must be prepared to endure and overcome resistance, and not let that resistance discourage us. God doesn’t promise us ease, but to be with us through everything.
Comfort: When we change our hearts, God knows and accepts.
Challenge: Be supportive to someone who is trying to change.
Prayer: God of truth, teach me how I need to change.
Evening readings: Ps 4, 7
Tomorrow's readings: Ps 5, 6; Job 6:1-4, 8-15, 21; Acts 9:32-43; John 6:60-71
Real change is difficult. Even after we’ve worked up the proper inner motivation to make a positive change, we must struggle with a world inclined to keep us as we were. If we leave behind bad habits, friends who shared those habits with us may try to drag us back to our old ways for any number of reasons. If we’ve repeatedly promised change only to let down our friends and family, they may view new declarations of change with understandable suspicion. Real change can’t depend on how other people perceive us, but on how we perceive ourselves.
Prior to his conversion, Paul was a Pharisee infamous for his ruthless persecution of Christians on behalf of the Jerusalem Temple. When he started to preach in Jesus’ name, people who knew him were “amazed” (Acts 9:21) at his radical change. Those in Jerusalem who did not doubt his sincerity attempted to kill him. On the other hand, when he joined the disciples “they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple” (v. 26). Many of them had been evading him for some time, and only the testimony of Barnabas on Paul’s behalf swayed them.
Paul’s old friends wanted him to stay the same, and the people he hoped would become his new friends weren’t ready to accept him. Despite the attitudes around him, Paul persevered because God had changed his heart. To a lesser degree, we may experience the same thing when we make a change. For example, if we decide to give up gossip, the friends we used to gossip with will undoubtedly feel snubbed when we decline to participate. Given our history, other people will find it difficult to trust us. The same would be true of addictions, lying, spitefulness or any host of vices. A truly penitent heart will persevere in change whether other people accept the change or not; our relationship with God will sustain us.
We can’t change any mind but our own. When we know we need to make a positive change, we must be prepared to endure and overcome resistance, and not let that resistance discourage us. God doesn’t promise us ease, but to be with us through everything.
Comfort: When we change our hearts, God knows and accepts.
Challenge: Be supportive to someone who is trying to change.
Prayer: God of truth, teach me how I need to change.
Evening readings: Ps 4, 7
Tomorrow's readings: Ps 5, 6; Job 6:1-4, 8-15, 21; Acts 9:32-43; John 6:60-71
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