Today's readings:
Psalms 20, 21, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Romans 10:14-21, Matthew 24:32-51
Are we vigilant about our spiritual lives? What would such vigilance look like? Jesus offers various examples of vigilant (and non-vigilant) people in today’s reading from Matthew. He is speaking of his return, but the lesson can be applied to other important events that will occur at an unknown time, including our own deaths.
Two workers in a field, but only one taken at the end. Two women grinding grain, but one left behind. A homeowner unprotected against thieves in the night. Two slaves, but only one is faithful to his master. Jesus gives no details about what separates the field workers and women who are taken from those who are not. The homeowner has no way of knowing which night to stay awake to catch the thief. These examples tell us why we need to be vigilant, but not how.
Then there are the slaves. In this longer example, we are not surprised to learn the good slave is performing his job admirably while awaiting his master’s return, and the bad one is wasting time and money that are not even his. In a nutshell, vigilance is doing what we’re supposed to be doing, every day. None of the vigilant people are making extraordinary “holy” efforts. None of them are busy trying to figure out when the big event is most likely to occur. None of them are in a worship service while others are not. They are working, grinding, living.
Perhaps this is how we are to exercise vigilance: discern how God wants us to live, and make it our daily practice to do so. Waiting for the “right day” to stop gossiping or to start caring for the poor is a dangerous gamble: like the bad slave, we don’t when our time might be up. We can get bogged down in the idea God’s demands are too great for us to tackle in our current state, so we don’t even try. Is it possible a preoccupation with extraordinary efforts could even distract us from true vigilance? Instead of being overwhelmed, let’s find comfort in Jesus's use of common laborers, not prophets or priests, as his examples of the vigilant. We don’t need to be scholars, seers, or sages to be vigilant. We just need to be the people God created us to be.
Comfort: God has given us lives that prepare us for His presence.
Challenge: At the end of the day, make notes of when you were and were not spiritually vigilant.
Prayer: Gracious and Merciful God, thank you for your presence in my daily activities.
Evening readings:
Psalms 110, 116, 117
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Plans B through Z
Today's readings:
Psalm 119:1-24, Deuteronomy 1:1-18, Romans 9:1-18, Matthew 23:27-39
What do we mean when we talk about “God’s plan?” Do we believe it’s designed like a cosmic computer program executing every command in a pre-determined order? Or is it more like a set of assembly instructions from Ikea: “Here’s a picture of what you should end up with. Good luck!” Does it even fit our mortal definition of “plan?” Today’s readings teach us one thing: God's plan is bigger than any single person.
Deuteronomy opens with the Israelites preparing to enter the promised land of Canaan. These are not the same Israelites God freed from the captivity of Egypt; they lost faith along the way, so God prohibited them from entering Canaan. The next generation had to wait for them to die before seeing the fulfillment of God’s plan. Certainly some individuals must have felt disappointed or even angry, but the plan was to deliver the nation of Israel, and so He did – if not exactly in the expected manner.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul expresses great sorrow for the people of Israel who do not recognize Jesus as the Christ. He also recognizes that God’s plan is moving forward despite their unbelief. He compares the Gentiles who have faith in Christ to the patriarch Jacob. Jacob, the younger brother of Esau, twice received his brother’s inheritance through trickery. The Gentiles are like Jacob not because they are deceitful, but because they have become the unexpected vehicle for moving God’s plan forward.
For the most part, we are happier when we feel we have some sort of control over our lives. Living and working according to a perceived plan can give us that sense of control. Where do we find happiness if that plan falls apart, and our expectations are derailed? We can find happiness because no service we offer to the Lord is in vain. Maybe we can even find some relief by admitting the success of the capital-P Plan does not rest solely on our shoulders. Like the Israelites, we may be paving the way for the next generation. Or like Esau, we may find fulfillment and forgiveness by embracing the path left to us. Or maybe our part in the plan is vital but so subtle even we don't notice. Our faith and happiness can’t depend on the limited successes we can comprehend, but on the assurance that God’s plan will find its way. A change in plan doesn’t mean we have failed – it means God continues to succeed!
Comfort: Even when we can't see how, God's plan is finding a way.
Challenge: Take a long walk with no destination but moving toward God. If you are unable to walk physically, use your imagination or guided imagery.
Prayer: Gracious and Merciful God, grow in me the wisdom to abide in your plan.
Evening readings:
Psalms 12, 13, 14
Psalm 119:1-24, Deuteronomy 1:1-18, Romans 9:1-18, Matthew 23:27-39
What do we mean when we talk about “God’s plan?” Do we believe it’s designed like a cosmic computer program executing every command in a pre-determined order? Or is it more like a set of assembly instructions from Ikea: “Here’s a picture of what you should end up with. Good luck!” Does it even fit our mortal definition of “plan?” Today’s readings teach us one thing: God's plan is bigger than any single person.
Deuteronomy opens with the Israelites preparing to enter the promised land of Canaan. These are not the same Israelites God freed from the captivity of Egypt; they lost faith along the way, so God prohibited them from entering Canaan. The next generation had to wait for them to die before seeing the fulfillment of God’s plan. Certainly some individuals must have felt disappointed or even angry, but the plan was to deliver the nation of Israel, and so He did – if not exactly in the expected manner.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul expresses great sorrow for the people of Israel who do not recognize Jesus as the Christ. He also recognizes that God’s plan is moving forward despite their unbelief. He compares the Gentiles who have faith in Christ to the patriarch Jacob. Jacob, the younger brother of Esau, twice received his brother’s inheritance through trickery. The Gentiles are like Jacob not because they are deceitful, but because they have become the unexpected vehicle for moving God’s plan forward.
For the most part, we are happier when we feel we have some sort of control over our lives. Living and working according to a perceived plan can give us that sense of control. Where do we find happiness if that plan falls apart, and our expectations are derailed? We can find happiness because no service we offer to the Lord is in vain. Maybe we can even find some relief by admitting the success of the capital-P Plan does not rest solely on our shoulders. Like the Israelites, we may be paving the way for the next generation. Or like Esau, we may find fulfillment and forgiveness by embracing the path left to us. Or maybe our part in the plan is vital but so subtle even we don't notice. Our faith and happiness can’t depend on the limited successes we can comprehend, but on the assurance that God’s plan will find its way. A change in plan doesn’t mean we have failed – it means God continues to succeed!
Comfort: Even when we can't see how, God's plan is finding a way.
Challenge: Take a long walk with no destination but moving toward God. If you are unable to walk physically, use your imagination or guided imagery.
Prayer: Gracious and Merciful God, grow in me the wisdom to abide in your plan.
Evening readings:
Psalms 12, 13, 14
Monday, July 5, 2010
Scripture and Life's Seasons
Today's readings:
Psalm 1, Psalm 2, Psalm 3, Numbers 32:1-6, 16-27, Romans 8:26-30, Matthew 23:1-12
By happy accident, our devotional project begins on the day we read Psalm 1, containing the words: “[H]is delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither”(vv. 2-3).
We might like the idea of spending more time exploring scripture, but the reality of dwelling on it day and night may seem daunting, maybe even unnecessary. After we’ve read through the Bible (or the parts we consider important) once or twice, we may begin to feel we "get it" and become satisfied with our understanding. We may even learn some favorite passages to whip out from time to time, or start mentally composing a grocery list when "that scripture" is read again at church. But is this the delight promised in the Psalm?
If our study of scripture is to yield fruit we must return to it with the regularity and reliability of the seasons. Consider your own story for a moment. As you have matured, what new insights have you gained into the narrative of your life? How often does your understanding of the characters in your story evolve? What about your opinion of yourself and your actions? Though our core personalities are unlikely to change, what we knew firmly at fifteen may be a different story at fifty. And there is a certain delight in realizing we have better insight than we used to.
The same is true of our study of scripture. Each time we meditate on a passage, the experiences we’ve gained influence our understanding of the text. Sometimes the experience was intentional, such as reading a Bible commentary offering historical context. Other times the experience was more organic: hearing “love is patient, love is kind” (1 Cor 13:4) on a wedding day is very different than hearing it after twenty years of practice. Life helps us understand scripture, and regular scripture reading helps us understand life.
Comfort: Scripture is always waiting for us with new depths of truth.
Challenge: Commit to daily scripture reading through the end of the month.
Prayer: Gracious and merciful God, may your Word be ever on my heart.
Evening readings:
Psalms 4 and 7
Psalm 1, Psalm 2, Psalm 3, Numbers 32:1-6, 16-27, Romans 8:26-30, Matthew 23:1-12
By happy accident, our devotional project begins on the day we read Psalm 1, containing the words: “[H]is delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither”(vv. 2-3).
We might like the idea of spending more time exploring scripture, but the reality of dwelling on it day and night may seem daunting, maybe even unnecessary. After we’ve read through the Bible (or the parts we consider important) once or twice, we may begin to feel we "get it" and become satisfied with our understanding. We may even learn some favorite passages to whip out from time to time, or start mentally composing a grocery list when "that scripture" is read again at church. But is this the delight promised in the Psalm?
If our study of scripture is to yield fruit we must return to it with the regularity and reliability of the seasons. Consider your own story for a moment. As you have matured, what new insights have you gained into the narrative of your life? How often does your understanding of the characters in your story evolve? What about your opinion of yourself and your actions? Though our core personalities are unlikely to change, what we knew firmly at fifteen may be a different story at fifty. And there is a certain delight in realizing we have better insight than we used to.
The same is true of our study of scripture. Each time we meditate on a passage, the experiences we’ve gained influence our understanding of the text. Sometimes the experience was intentional, such as reading a Bible commentary offering historical context. Other times the experience was more organic: hearing “love is patient, love is kind” (1 Cor 13:4) on a wedding day is very different than hearing it after twenty years of practice. Life helps us understand scripture, and regular scripture reading helps us understand life.
Comfort: Scripture is always waiting for us with new depths of truth.
Challenge: Commit to daily scripture reading through the end of the month.
Prayer: Gracious and merciful God, may your Word be ever on my heart.
Evening readings:
Psalms 4 and 7
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)