Another prayer from Leaving Ruin:
And again O God,
We are hungry. We are thirsty. We are famished for what we cannot name. Jesus, you spoke, and gave that longing a name. Make us righteousness, give us righteousness, lead to understand that the hunger is for you, for your food, the will of the Father, the body and the blood of you—the Christ. Bless us in the search, in the digging, planting, and harvesting of lean thought with which to feed our starving, shrinking souls. Make us both food and the fed in these churches, and do not let us merely drift in the knowledge of our need.
In Jesus, Amen
In work with fears and trauma, in particular, naming the issue becomes the first big step to healing. Unclaimed emotional pain cannot be helped. It is baggage left to rot in the psyche until it is named, claimed and exposed.
A new commercial on TV by the Church of Scientology names that longing as a search for truth with the statement that they are in possession of The Truth. There is no question this longing occurs. God woos us with this longing.
Sometimes we experience the longing in the form of a craving that we just can’t seem to fill. We stand in front of the fridge and imagine how each thing there will fill us, yet nothing is sufficient.
Sometimes it is the need to be alone. We sit and think and imagine yet don’t find the insight we seek.
Sometimes this longing sends us into groups of people. We laugh and connect, even intimately, yet there is not fulfillment there.
So, Jesus steps in. He is the name for our longing. He brings, in the Spirit, the courage to face the unnamed pain. Immanuel, God with us, the embodiment of our hope. May his presence fill us up so that we can be the vessel to feed others.
Blessings,
Shiann
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Monday, November 16, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Words of my mouth ...
Hear the word of the Lord:
Psalm 19:7-14
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:7-14
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Friday, July 17, 2009
More than veracity ...
Hear the word of God:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
(John 14:1-7, NIV)
Much of who a person's character is revealed in what they say before they leave. A harsh word at the end of an argument, a loving word to a spouse on the way out the door, a cheerful farewell at the conclusion of a friendly greeting - all these instances reveal who we are. On the eve of Jesus' final departure, he tells his followers simply, "Do not let your hearts be troubled ... I am going away, but you know the way to where I am going."
Thomas flatly disagrees with Jesus, protesting that the disciples do not know the way to where Jesus is going. Jesus engages him more deeply, though:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Often in the Gospel of John when Jesus speaks of his impending death he says that he is "going to the Father," a thread which he picks up again here. Jesus clarifies that his destination is the Father, and so the disciples do know the way - through Jesus. If the disciples understand that Jesus is about to leave, then they are sorely in need of a path at this point. They have left home, family, jobs, and all hope of security in order to follow Jesus. Now their teacher is leaving and they don't know which way to go. Jesus reassures them with the words, "I am the way."
You see, the disciples' abandonment of their former lives was not simply a rash, impulsive decision, nor was it merely a journey of self-realization. In fact, it was quite the opposite: the point of their journey had been to come to the Father, a purpose which Jesus affirmed they could continue even in his absence. Jesus showed humanity the nature of God, and so he told his disciples to continue following his way even in his absence because that path still leads to the Father.
The purpose of Jesus' mission was to give life to all. In fact, yesterday we heard Jesus say, "I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly." The way leading to the Father is life, like food and drink. It is a life that reaches beyond the grasp of death. He who declares himself to be the bread of life, the resurrection and the life, and the giver of life makes an unequivocal statement: "Continue to follow my way, and you will have the life that I give and embody, the life which is through and is me."
Sometimes truth means something more than veracity or even reliability. Sometimes truth needs to be more than simply correct. Sometimes, when it really matters, truth needs to be sturdy enough to build your life on. This is one of those times. Jesus' testimony is absolutely true, including his testimony about his own identity. If what he says about himself is true, he knows that it will change everything. Thus, before he leaves Jesus tells his disciples that he is the truth. They can and must hold to all his teachings and all his commands, because he is the truth. Later on, Pilate will ask Jesus, "What is truth?" If he had heard these words, perhaps Pilate would have understood. Jesus and his life-giving way are truth.
Here, then, is the word of Christ: "I am the way to the Father, I am the truest testimony of all, and I am the real abundant life that everyone wants."
Blessings,
Greg
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
(John 14:1-7, NIV)
Much of who a person's character is revealed in what they say before they leave. A harsh word at the end of an argument, a loving word to a spouse on the way out the door, a cheerful farewell at the conclusion of a friendly greeting - all these instances reveal who we are. On the eve of Jesus' final departure, he tells his followers simply, "Do not let your hearts be troubled ... I am going away, but you know the way to where I am going."
Thomas flatly disagrees with Jesus, protesting that the disciples do not know the way to where Jesus is going. Jesus engages him more deeply, though:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Often in the Gospel of John when Jesus speaks of his impending death he says that he is "going to the Father," a thread which he picks up again here. Jesus clarifies that his destination is the Father, and so the disciples do know the way - through Jesus. If the disciples understand that Jesus is about to leave, then they are sorely in need of a path at this point. They have left home, family, jobs, and all hope of security in order to follow Jesus. Now their teacher is leaving and they don't know which way to go. Jesus reassures them with the words, "I am the way."
You see, the disciples' abandonment of their former lives was not simply a rash, impulsive decision, nor was it merely a journey of self-realization. In fact, it was quite the opposite: the point of their journey had been to come to the Father, a purpose which Jesus affirmed they could continue even in his absence. Jesus showed humanity the nature of God, and so he told his disciples to continue following his way even in his absence because that path still leads to the Father.
The purpose of Jesus' mission was to give life to all. In fact, yesterday we heard Jesus say, "I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly." The way leading to the Father is life, like food and drink. It is a life that reaches beyond the grasp of death. He who declares himself to be the bread of life, the resurrection and the life, and the giver of life makes an unequivocal statement: "Continue to follow my way, and you will have the life that I give and embody, the life which is through and is me."
Sometimes truth means something more than veracity or even reliability. Sometimes truth needs to be more than simply correct. Sometimes, when it really matters, truth needs to be sturdy enough to build your life on. This is one of those times. Jesus' testimony is absolutely true, including his testimony about his own identity. If what he says about himself is true, he knows that it will change everything. Thus, before he leaves Jesus tells his disciples that he is the truth. They can and must hold to all his teachings and all his commands, because he is the truth. Later on, Pilate will ask Jesus, "What is truth?" If he had heard these words, perhaps Pilate would have understood. Jesus and his life-giving way are truth.
Here, then, is the word of Christ: "I am the way to the Father, I am the truest testimony of all, and I am the real abundant life that everyone wants."
Blessings,
Greg
Monday, July 6, 2009
Not without honor ...
Hear the word of the Lord:
He left that place and came to his hometown,
and his disciples followed him.
On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astounded.
They said, "Where did this man get all this?
What is this wisdom that has been given to him?
What deeds of power are being done by his hands!
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of
James and Joses and Judas and Simon,
and are not his sisters here with us?"
And they took offense at him.
Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor,
except in their hometown, and among their own kin,
and in their own house."
And he could do no deed of power there,
except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.
And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Have you ever wondered why this is true,
“Prophets are not without honor,
except in their hometown?” I know that I have.
It is so counterintuitive that, honestly, I used to doubt it.
Not anymore.
When you think about it, it makes sense.
These people know Jesus. They know his folks, and his brothers
and sisters still live right there in town.
A couple of them probably have tables, or chairs,
or yokes for their oxen that Jesus has made.
When he reads from the scriptures in the synagogue,
Jesus reads from the same text, and he stands in the same place,
looking substantially the same as he did just a few years ago.
Yet he sounds so different. Can you imagine what they think?
We know this place.
We know this person.
We know this book.
We even know these words.
But we’ve never heard these words put together like this.
Not ever.
The people of God at Nazareth know their Torah.
They know it so well that they have an answer for every hard text.
Now this Jesus comes and reads this text totally differently.
What kind of new way is he reading the Prophets?
How can he disregard the old way of reading he was taught?
Where does he get this stuff?
They are partly right; the old readings of the prophets were true.
What they fail to take into account is a change in context.
Their interpretation was true before Jesus started his ministry.
Before this, Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of those prophecies
was still in the future. Not anymore. God is here in the flesh.
Can we imagine what it might be like to read about someone,
to look for someone your whole life, and miss him when he comes?
The people in Nazareth know him too well to recognize
who he really is.
I wonder what we miss when we fail to listen to the ways that
our children read the scriptures? Think about that.
On the other hand, can we imagine the frustration of Jesus?
His own people didn’t know him, didn’t recognize who he really was.
Now they’ve become people that he can’t recognize either.
Where is the giant of faith alongside of whom he used to chant,
“Shema, Israel – Adonai elohenu, adonai ehad.”
Where are the loving souls who embraced him when he was young,
praising him, “You read so well from the Torah today!”
No wonder Jesus is heartbroken; no wonder he is powerless
to do any miracles here; here, home, an oasis of faith turned desert.
Jesus is amazed, but for all the wrong reasons.
So, because this community will not hear its own child,
that child leaves them to go teach those who will listen,
those who will believe. The blessing that could have been theirs,
will now be given to others. If you don’t think it’s good news,
then it’s not gospel to you; it's tragedy.
A community that will not honor the prophetic voice
of its children loses:
Its children,
The honor that it has before God,
The prophetic voice that connects it with truth.
Think about it.
Blessings,
Ron
Mark 6:1-6 – NRSV
He left that place and came to his hometown,
and his disciples followed him.
On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astounded.
They said, "Where did this man get all this?
What is this wisdom that has been given to him?
What deeds of power are being done by his hands!
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of
James and Joses and Judas and Simon,
and are not his sisters here with us?"
And they took offense at him.
Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor,
except in their hometown, and among their own kin,
and in their own house."
And he could do no deed of power there,
except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.
And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Have you ever wondered why this is true,
“Prophets are not without honor,
except in their hometown?” I know that I have.
It is so counterintuitive that, honestly, I used to doubt it.
Not anymore.
When you think about it, it makes sense.
These people know Jesus. They know his folks, and his brothers
and sisters still live right there in town.
A couple of them probably have tables, or chairs,
or yokes for their oxen that Jesus has made.
When he reads from the scriptures in the synagogue,
Jesus reads from the same text, and he stands in the same place,
looking substantially the same as he did just a few years ago.
Yet he sounds so different. Can you imagine what they think?
We know this place.
We know this person.
We know this book.
We even know these words.
But we’ve never heard these words put together like this.
Not ever.
The people of God at Nazareth know their Torah.
They know it so well that they have an answer for every hard text.
Now this Jesus comes and reads this text totally differently.
What kind of new way is he reading the Prophets?
How can he disregard the old way of reading he was taught?
Where does he get this stuff?
They are partly right; the old readings of the prophets were true.
What they fail to take into account is a change in context.
Their interpretation was true before Jesus started his ministry.
Before this, Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of those prophecies
was still in the future. Not anymore. God is here in the flesh.
Can we imagine what it might be like to read about someone,
to look for someone your whole life, and miss him when he comes?
The people in Nazareth know him too well to recognize
who he really is.
I wonder what we miss when we fail to listen to the ways that
our children read the scriptures? Think about that.
On the other hand, can we imagine the frustration of Jesus?
His own people didn’t know him, didn’t recognize who he really was.
Now they’ve become people that he can’t recognize either.
Where is the giant of faith alongside of whom he used to chant,
“Shema, Israel – Adonai elohenu, adonai ehad.”
Where are the loving souls who embraced him when he was young,
praising him, “You read so well from the Torah today!”
No wonder Jesus is heartbroken; no wonder he is powerless
to do any miracles here; here, home, an oasis of faith turned desert.
Jesus is amazed, but for all the wrong reasons.
So, because this community will not hear its own child,
that child leaves them to go teach those who will listen,
those who will believe. The blessing that could have been theirs,
will now be given to others. If you don’t think it’s good news,
then it’s not gospel to you; it's tragedy.
A community that will not honor the prophetic voice
of its children loses:
Its children,
The honor that it has before God,
The prophetic voice that connects it with truth.
Think about it.
Blessings,
Ron
Mark 6:1-6 – NRSV
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Living water ...
We will talk about one key passage over the next several days. Hear the word of God:
Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them—his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?"
Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."
"But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?"
Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."
"Please, sir," the woman said, "give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water."
"Go and get your husband," Jesus told her.
"I don't have a husband," the woman replied.
Jesus said, "You're right! You don't have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!"
"Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?"
Jesus replied, "Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Jesus told her, "I AM the Messiah!"
John 4:1-26 – NLT
Blessings,
Jason
Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them—his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?"
Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."
"But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?"
Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."
"Please, sir," the woman said, "give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water."
"Go and get your husband," Jesus told her.
"I don't have a husband," the woman replied.
Jesus said, "You're right! You don't have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!"
"Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?"
Jesus replied, "Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Jesus told her, "I AM the Messiah!"
John 4:1-26 – NLT
Blessings,
Jason
Monday, February 16, 2009
More than a pleasant dream ...
Our devotionals last week led us to consider truth, and the virtue and practice of truth-seeking and truthfulness. For centuries, these virtues have been central to Christians. The trouble is, sometimes an awareness of truth, and the reality that truth makes harshly clear, bring us to despair. Truth can be troubling. We understand what God’s truth requires of humanity. We understand what kind of humanity we are. The difference is enough to overwhelm us.
How about an example? As Christians, we understand that Jesus prayed for us to be one as he and the Father are one (John 17:11, 21, 22). Paul tells us that “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4). Yet it does not take a very sophisticated analysis to reveal the truth that the church is far from united, no matter how you define church. Those of us who have worked toward even uniting a relatively small group of people can tell you that the challenges involved with this task very quickly bring one into an encounter with the temptation to despair. Those who don’t have the heart for despair tend to become cynics.
Why do I say that considering despair is a temptation? Because despair is denial. It doubts the victory of Jesus. It questions the love of God. It ignores our status as favored children. Christians are to continue faithfully, even when “we are afflicted in every way.” We might be perplexed, but we ought not be crushed. We are “not driven to despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8). Despair is a sin. Despair practiced is a vice. Despair is depression gone to seed and raised to the second and third generation. Despair is not a godly practice for any Christian.
Instead, Christians ought to practice hope. Practicing hope leads to hope. After all, we have been called to “one hope” (Ephesians 4:4). Hope is more than some pleasant dream, some fond wish, or even a hard-worked for desire. In the Bible, and in our faith, hope is the reasonable, even unshakable belief that God will do what he said he will do. God is not ignorant of truth. God is Truth. God knows the reality of his hope and the realities of humanity better than humanity knows itself. Yet this God of Truth acts toward making our hope reality. To deny hope and take up despair or cynicism is to slap the God of Hope in the face.
If any Christian was ever tempted to cynicism or despair, it would have to have been Paul. Yet hear the good news about hope that pours from his pen:
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5:1-5
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:18-25
As we explore the practice and virtue of hope this week, may we see that it is not blindness to reality, simple optimism, or a delaying tactic. Instead, let us practice hope and see that it is the key that opens up a new godly reality in our world today. Today.
May God stir in us a powerful hope,
Ron
All scriptures are NRSV.
How about an example? As Christians, we understand that Jesus prayed for us to be one as he and the Father are one (John 17:11, 21, 22). Paul tells us that “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4). Yet it does not take a very sophisticated analysis to reveal the truth that the church is far from united, no matter how you define church. Those of us who have worked toward even uniting a relatively small group of people can tell you that the challenges involved with this task very quickly bring one into an encounter with the temptation to despair. Those who don’t have the heart for despair tend to become cynics.
Why do I say that considering despair is a temptation? Because despair is denial. It doubts the victory of Jesus. It questions the love of God. It ignores our status as favored children. Christians are to continue faithfully, even when “we are afflicted in every way.” We might be perplexed, but we ought not be crushed. We are “not driven to despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8). Despair is a sin. Despair practiced is a vice. Despair is depression gone to seed and raised to the second and third generation. Despair is not a godly practice for any Christian.
Instead, Christians ought to practice hope. Practicing hope leads to hope. After all, we have been called to “one hope” (Ephesians 4:4). Hope is more than some pleasant dream, some fond wish, or even a hard-worked for desire. In the Bible, and in our faith, hope is the reasonable, even unshakable belief that God will do what he said he will do. God is not ignorant of truth. God is Truth. God knows the reality of his hope and the realities of humanity better than humanity knows itself. Yet this God of Truth acts toward making our hope reality. To deny hope and take up despair or cynicism is to slap the God of Hope in the face.
If any Christian was ever tempted to cynicism or despair, it would have to have been Paul. Yet hear the good news about hope that pours from his pen:
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5:1-5
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:18-25
As we explore the practice and virtue of hope this week, may we see that it is not blindness to reality, simple optimism, or a delaying tactic. Instead, let us practice hope and see that it is the key that opens up a new godly reality in our world today. Today.
May God stir in us a powerful hope,
Ron
All scriptures are NRSV.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Your words may give grace ...
Hear the word of God; listen for ways that we can enact the truth in our lives today:
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.
Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. That is not the way you learned Christ! For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:11-32 – NRSV
Blessings,
Ron
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.
Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. That is not the way you learned Christ! For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:11-32 – NRSV
Blessings,
Ron
Friday, February 13, 2009
Standing right in front of them ...
It is sometimes difficult to really hear the words of a song that we know well. Even though you may have heard many times the lyrics that we consider today, slow down to read and meditate on the words as if you were encountering them for the first time. There are many good songs from Acappella, but one stands out because of its words:
The Way, the Truth, the Life, the Victory
As the King of Kings was questioned by Pilate long ago,
He declared His kingdom different, not of this world;
A kingdom for the side of truth, like none has ever been -
Pilate asked, “What is truth?”
He was standing right in front of him.
Truth was standing right in front of him,
As plain as anything could ever be.
Truth was standing right in front of him,
He was standing there for all the world to see:
The Way, The Truth, the Life, the Victory.
Stephen, first beloved martyr, gave up his life for Him,
Being stoned by angry people filled with revenge.
Where was God when all this happened?
Stephen looked into the sky, he was never alone,
God was standing right in front of him.
Truth was standing right in front of him,
As plain as anything could ever be.
Truth was standing right in front of him,
Revealed to him for comfort and to see;
He was standing there for his delivery.
Now the quest for truth continues until this very day,
But the source that we should seek is not of this world:
A truth that is revealed by God, the Spirit's made it clear.
If you ask, “What is truth?” He is standing right in front of you.
Truth is standing right in front of you,
As plain as anything could ever be.
Truth is standing right in front of you,
Standing there for all eternity:
The Way, the Truth, the Life, the Victory!
He is standing right in front of you,
Showing love for open eyes to see.
Jesus is standing right in front of you,
Standing there for He will always be:
The Son of Man, the Son of God,
The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords,
The Way, the Truth, the Life, the Victory!
We might pray with the words of Clara Scott’s song:
“Open my eyes, that I may see,
Glimpses of truth thou hast for me …”
We might ask, “How are our boys to see this truth?”
I think the answer is,
“We have to live this truth right in front of them.”
We are not Truth as Jesus is Truth.
Yet if we are to be his people, we must reflect his image.
We must do this as accurately, as truthfully as possible.
We must enact his kingdom in our little spheres of influence
so that our boys get a glimpse of that kingdom and the God
who calls us to it.
We must do this standing right in front of them.
Holy God, use us to bring your kingdom, to enact your will.
Blessings,
Ron
The Way, the Truth, the Life, the Victory
As the King of Kings was questioned by Pilate long ago,
He declared His kingdom different, not of this world;
A kingdom for the side of truth, like none has ever been -
Pilate asked, “What is truth?”
He was standing right in front of him.
Truth was standing right in front of him,
As plain as anything could ever be.
Truth was standing right in front of him,
He was standing there for all the world to see:
The Way, The Truth, the Life, the Victory.
Stephen, first beloved martyr, gave up his life for Him,
Being stoned by angry people filled with revenge.
Where was God when all this happened?
Stephen looked into the sky, he was never alone,
God was standing right in front of him.
Truth was standing right in front of him,
As plain as anything could ever be.
Truth was standing right in front of him,
Revealed to him for comfort and to see;
He was standing there for his delivery.
Now the quest for truth continues until this very day,
But the source that we should seek is not of this world:
A truth that is revealed by God, the Spirit's made it clear.
If you ask, “What is truth?” He is standing right in front of you.
Truth is standing right in front of you,
As plain as anything could ever be.
Truth is standing right in front of you,
Standing there for all eternity:
The Way, the Truth, the Life, the Victory!
He is standing right in front of you,
Showing love for open eyes to see.
Jesus is standing right in front of you,
Standing there for He will always be:
The Son of Man, the Son of God,
The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords,
The Way, the Truth, the Life, the Victory!
We might pray with the words of Clara Scott’s song:
“Open my eyes, that I may see,
Glimpses of truth thou hast for me …”
We might ask, “How are our boys to see this truth?”
I think the answer is,
“We have to live this truth right in front of them.”
We are not Truth as Jesus is Truth.
Yet if we are to be his people, we must reflect his image.
We must do this as accurately, as truthfully as possible.
We must enact his kingdom in our little spheres of influence
so that our boys get a glimpse of that kingdom and the God
who calls us to it.
We must do this standing right in front of them.
Holy God, use us to bring your kingdom, to enact your will.
Blessings,
Ron
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Clear your blurred vision ...
Shiann brings today’s devotional thought by reminding us that one of the ways that we practice being a truthful people is by allowing God to heal our perspective through our hope and imagination:
Hear the words of Paul:
I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
Philippians 3:12-16 &20-21 from the Message
This scripture is so ripe with promise! May it be true that when I truly learn to keep focused on the goal, that God will “clear my blurred vision.” I have such need for that to happen! It is in the daily process where we work to bend our will that He changes our vision, changes our focus. Isn’t it beautiful that this is a work in tandem? It is not Him alone or me alone doing this great thing. He wouldn’t force it on me and I can certainly not do it without Him!
I long for the completion of the process here I am made whole. That longing can give birth to hope and imagination. Hope and imagination are risky tasks. I don’t frequently have the courage to embark on this journey. So, how hard must it be for one who has even fewer resources?
I wonder how often our guys imagine feeling whole. Only a few temperaments are inclined in this way. The others of us must learn it. Wholeness is a promise! It most certainly won’t look the way we think it should. It certainly will not be in the timing we think should be.
May God bless us with the courage and hope to look at ourselves and see where we are not on track, where His “powerful skill” can work to improve our hearts.
Shiann
Hear the words of Paul:
I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
Philippians 3:12-16 &20-21 from the Message
This scripture is so ripe with promise! May it be true that when I truly learn to keep focused on the goal, that God will “clear my blurred vision.” I have such need for that to happen! It is in the daily process where we work to bend our will that He changes our vision, changes our focus. Isn’t it beautiful that this is a work in tandem? It is not Him alone or me alone doing this great thing. He wouldn’t force it on me and I can certainly not do it without Him!
I long for the completion of the process here I am made whole. That longing can give birth to hope and imagination. Hope and imagination are risky tasks. I don’t frequently have the courage to embark on this journey. So, how hard must it be for one who has even fewer resources?
I wonder how often our guys imagine feeling whole. Only a few temperaments are inclined in this way. The others of us must learn it. Wholeness is a promise! It most certainly won’t look the way we think it should. It certainly will not be in the timing we think should be.
May God bless us with the courage and hope to look at ourselves and see where we are not on track, where His “powerful skill” can work to improve our hearts.
Shiann
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Whose way is blameless ...
All of us have heard Amy Grant's song "Thy Word." About five or six years ago, the Edmond senior high youth chorus sang this song at LTC, and I still feel overwhelmed with joy thinking about it:
“Thy Word”
Amy Grant, from Psalm 119
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
When I feel afraid,
And think I’ve lost my way.
Still, you’re there right beside me.
Nothing will I fear
As long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
I will not forget
Your love for me and yet,
My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus be my guide,
And hold me to your side,
And I will love you to the end.
Nothing will I fear
As long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
And a light unto my path.
You’re the light unto my path.
These words are the expressions of an individual before their God, praising the power of their God’s word. Yet not all is well: “ … and yet, my heart forever is wandering.” A part of the human condition is the struggle with a distracted, an impatient, or even an inconstant heart. Yet how much of this problem is a problem of solitude, of individualism, of separation from the people of God?
In fact, this psalm begins with plural pronouns, not singular ones. Is it too much to think that the psalmist is contrasting community with individualism? Here is how the psalmist begins:
Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord.
Happy are those who keep his decrees,
who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways.
Psalm 119:1-3 – NRSV
Together, with accountability to the truth,
our walk can be blameless.
Together, we can walk in the truth of the law of the Lord.
Together, we can be happy in keeping his decrees
and seeking him with our whole heart (as one body).
Together, we will naturally seek to avoid wrong and
walk instead in his ways.
That is why the voice of those young people singing together was so powerful. Together they were affirming their solidarity, their accountability, their purpose in seeking and serving the truth. May God help us to follow their faithful and virtuous example.
Grace and peace,
Ron
“Thy Word”
Amy Grant, from Psalm 119
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
When I feel afraid,
And think I’ve lost my way.
Still, you’re there right beside me.
Nothing will I fear
As long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
I will not forget
Your love for me and yet,
My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus be my guide,
And hold me to your side,
And I will love you to the end.
Nothing will I fear
As long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
And a light unto my path.
You’re the light unto my path.
These words are the expressions of an individual before their God, praising the power of their God’s word. Yet not all is well: “ … and yet, my heart forever is wandering.” A part of the human condition is the struggle with a distracted, an impatient, or even an inconstant heart. Yet how much of this problem is a problem of solitude, of individualism, of separation from the people of God?
In fact, this psalm begins with plural pronouns, not singular ones. Is it too much to think that the psalmist is contrasting community with individualism? Here is how the psalmist begins:
Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord.
Happy are those who keep his decrees,
who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways.
Psalm 119:1-3 – NRSV
Together, with accountability to the truth,
our walk can be blameless.
Together, we can walk in the truth of the law of the Lord.
Together, we can be happy in keeping his decrees
and seeking him with our whole heart (as one body).
Together, we will naturally seek to avoid wrong and
walk instead in his ways.
That is why the voice of those young people singing together was so powerful. Together they were affirming their solidarity, their accountability, their purpose in seeking and serving the truth. May God help us to follow their faithful and virtuous example.
Grace and peace,
Ron
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Testing truth ...
Today, prayers to guide us toward seeking and keeping the truth:
From the cowardice that shrinks from new truth,
From the laziness that is content with half-truths,
From the arrogance with thinks it knows all truth,
O God of Truth, deliver us. Amen.
- Leslie Weatherhead
Almighty God,
who hast sent the spirit of truth unto us to guide us into all truth,
so rule our lives by thy power,
that we may be truthful in word, deed, and thought.
O keep us, most merciful Saviour, with thy gracious protection,
that no fear or hope may ever make us false in act or speech.
Cast out from us whatsoever loveth or maketh a lie,
and bring us all to the perfect freedom of thy truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Brooke Foss Westcott
O Lord,
Bring us a level, durable and true,
whose sure and steady bubble
incessantly seeks its way up to you,
undistracted by slanted foundations,
unmoved by shifting sand and
swelling clays, somehow then
it finds its home and balance when
it rests, wholly transparent to you.
O Lord,
Grant us a square, to try and true,
whose sure arm angles right to you
unconvinced by knotty quirk
or thickened plaster;
it will recognize and approve
the true carpenter’s work –
only perfection at the cross
will be its master.
O Lord,
Lower us a bob, still and heavy,
to center us in the shower
of your heavenly blessings.
Straight to the point,
it chases no rabbits;
by its stillness and silence
it plumbs for us truth-seeking habits.
O Lord,
Give us the wisdom
to seek out your truth.
For just as good builders
trust varied tools
to test the truth of their work –
help us trust a diversity of voices
to discern the truth of your way
from our confusion of choices.
Through him who is the Truth,
the Way, and the Light.
Amen.
Blessings,
Ron
From the cowardice that shrinks from new truth,
From the laziness that is content with half-truths,
From the arrogance with thinks it knows all truth,
O God of Truth, deliver us. Amen.
- Leslie Weatherhead
Almighty God,
who hast sent the spirit of truth unto us to guide us into all truth,
so rule our lives by thy power,
that we may be truthful in word, deed, and thought.
O keep us, most merciful Saviour, with thy gracious protection,
that no fear or hope may ever make us false in act or speech.
Cast out from us whatsoever loveth or maketh a lie,
and bring us all to the perfect freedom of thy truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Brooke Foss Westcott
O Lord,
Bring us a level, durable and true,
whose sure and steady bubble
incessantly seeks its way up to you,
undistracted by slanted foundations,
unmoved by shifting sand and
swelling clays, somehow then
it finds its home and balance when
it rests, wholly transparent to you.
O Lord,
Grant us a square, to try and true,
whose sure arm angles right to you
unconvinced by knotty quirk
or thickened plaster;
it will recognize and approve
the true carpenter’s work –
only perfection at the cross
will be its master.
O Lord,
Lower us a bob, still and heavy,
to center us in the shower
of your heavenly blessings.
Straight to the point,
it chases no rabbits;
by its stillness and silence
it plumbs for us truth-seeking habits.
O Lord,
Give us the wisdom
to seek out your truth.
For just as good builders
trust varied tools
to test the truth of their work –
help us trust a diversity of voices
to discern the truth of your way
from our confusion of choices.
Through him who is the Truth,
the Way, and the Light.
Amen.
Blessings,
Ron
Monday, February 9, 2009
Whatever the Lord says ...
This week, we begin to consider the virtues that define a godly people. As a beginning place, we will consider the value of truth. Truth is connected to the virtues of truth-seeking, and truthfulness (both in speech and action). Let’s start with a favorite piece of history from the book of Kings:
It is an odd event. The king of Judah and the king of Israel meet to decide about matters of war. They choose to ask God what to do, and Ahab, the king of Israel, calls out his 400 prophets, who are unanimously for the attack. For some reason this is disturbing to Jehoshaphat. Does this unity of opinion seem unlikely? Are the prophets so obviously inclined to answer Ahab in the way that Ahab wishes to be answered? Something disturbs him, because he asks for another opinion: a 401st opinion.
The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably." But Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak."
When he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?" He answered him, "Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king." But the king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?" Then Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd; and the Lord said, 'These have no master; let each one go home in peace.'" The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything favorable about me, but only disaster?"
Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing beside him to the right and to the left of him. And the Lord said, 'Who will entice Ahab, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' Then one said one thing, and another said another, until a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, 'I will entice him.' 'How?' the Lord asked him. He replied, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Then the Lord said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do it.' So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has decreed disaster for you."
Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up to Micaiah, slapped him on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?" Micaiah replied, "You will find out on that day when you go in to hide in an inner chamber." The king of Israel then ordered, "Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son, and say, 'Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison, and feed him on reduced rations of bread and water until I come in peace.'" Micaiah said, "If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me." And he said, "Hear, you peoples, all of you!"
1 Kings 22:13-28 – NRSV
Isn’t it amazing that Ahab knows, even before he called Micaiah, that the prophet would deliver a contrary opinion? Ahab isn’t looking for truth; he is seeking affirmation. Doesn’t it strike you as odd that Ahab criticizes Micaiah by saying that he has to make him swear to tell the truth? Isn’t it ironic that, when the prophet of God delivers what Ahab wants to hear instead of his true opinion, Ahab catches it right away? Especially when 400 of his own have delivered a lie (from a false spirit) that fit Ahab’s fantasies?
Micaiah must be true to God; the prophet says that he must speak “whatever the Lord says to me.” The role of the prophet is truth-teller. Sometimes that truth involves the future, but in many cases, that truth is right in the midst of our current reality. The prophet’s voice is different because of perspective. He or she speaks from the viewpoint of God, and not that of human beings or any other spirits. Human beings require communities to discover and verify truth, but God can do this as a part of his nature. Consequently, one prophet who speaks with the voice of God from the perspective of God trumps 400 other prophets who speak from any other point of perspective. This is why John tells us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1-2 – NRSV).
Seeking and speaking the truth is an adventure that is sometimes painful and dangerous, yet always rewarding. Let us be a people who value truth, and who dare to deal with it, no matter how difficult that challenge may be.
Grace and peace,
Ron
It is an odd event. The king of Judah and the king of Israel meet to decide about matters of war. They choose to ask God what to do, and Ahab, the king of Israel, calls out his 400 prophets, who are unanimously for the attack. For some reason this is disturbing to Jehoshaphat. Does this unity of opinion seem unlikely? Are the prophets so obviously inclined to answer Ahab in the way that Ahab wishes to be answered? Something disturbs him, because he asks for another opinion: a 401st opinion.
The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably." But Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak."
When he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?" He answered him, "Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king." But the king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?" Then Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd; and the Lord said, 'These have no master; let each one go home in peace.'" The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything favorable about me, but only disaster?"
Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing beside him to the right and to the left of him. And the Lord said, 'Who will entice Ahab, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' Then one said one thing, and another said another, until a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, 'I will entice him.' 'How?' the Lord asked him. He replied, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Then the Lord said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do it.' So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has decreed disaster for you."
Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up to Micaiah, slapped him on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?" Micaiah replied, "You will find out on that day when you go in to hide in an inner chamber." The king of Israel then ordered, "Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son, and say, 'Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison, and feed him on reduced rations of bread and water until I come in peace.'" Micaiah said, "If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me." And he said, "Hear, you peoples, all of you!"
1 Kings 22:13-28 – NRSV
Isn’t it amazing that Ahab knows, even before he called Micaiah, that the prophet would deliver a contrary opinion? Ahab isn’t looking for truth; he is seeking affirmation. Doesn’t it strike you as odd that Ahab criticizes Micaiah by saying that he has to make him swear to tell the truth? Isn’t it ironic that, when the prophet of God delivers what Ahab wants to hear instead of his true opinion, Ahab catches it right away? Especially when 400 of his own have delivered a lie (from a false spirit) that fit Ahab’s fantasies?
Micaiah must be true to God; the prophet says that he must speak “whatever the Lord says to me.” The role of the prophet is truth-teller. Sometimes that truth involves the future, but in many cases, that truth is right in the midst of our current reality. The prophet’s voice is different because of perspective. He or she speaks from the viewpoint of God, and not that of human beings or any other spirits. Human beings require communities to discover and verify truth, but God can do this as a part of his nature. Consequently, one prophet who speaks with the voice of God from the perspective of God trumps 400 other prophets who speak from any other point of perspective. This is why John tells us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1-2 – NRSV).
Seeking and speaking the truth is an adventure that is sometimes painful and dangerous, yet always rewarding. Let us be a people who value truth, and who dare to deal with it, no matter how difficult that challenge may be.
Grace and peace,
Ron
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Can I have a picture?
The Torah is truth. Its words are sublime, wise, and empowering. But even with this divine revelation, the chosen people continue to struggle to understand what it means to be the community of God. Yes, the written word is a lamp unto our feet, but is it enough? What does it mean to be the people of God? What does it mean to be a blessing to all nations? What does it mean to really enact the kingdom of God?
Like many people picking up a book, we start looking for a picture or two to help us out. And if there are no pictures, can I have a diagram? Or maybe a map?
Jesus is our picture.
“If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.”
“I am the Word.”
“I am the Way.”
“I am the Light.”
The life of Jesus is a complete portfolio,
visualizing the “word of God” becoming the “Word of God”.
Consider the words of Rodney Clapp:
God’s Word is not first and foremost abstract belief, propositionalized truth. So it is that Jesus – a person, not a proposition – is presented as the supreme and the unique embodiment of the Word (John 2:11; 20:30). And he is constantly about embodying the words of life. He speaks of the bread of life and miraculously feeds over five thousand with edible, actual bread (John 6). He speaks of the light of the world and heals the blind (John 8:12, 9:1-11). He speaks of the resurrection and the life and raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11). He speaks of servanthood and washes the disciples feet (John 13). And John seems to expect that this speaking and its embodiment will continue, for Jesus says to his followers, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). To recognize the church as the body of Christ is to recognize that the church exists as a continual, ongoing embodiment of God’s Word.
What Jesus is, is what we, his church, are called to be.
What Jesus does, is what we, his body, are called to do.
Even though the entire church does not have the giftedness or power
to match what Jesus could do, it is our calling to try.
To try to talk honestly with the one struggling for answers,
To try to engage the pain of the broken and hurting,
To try to live openly before the babes learning the godly life,
To try to point to sanity and salvation for a world desperate for both,
To try to speak out loud the truth that is more and more subversive
to the powers and principalities in our world every day.
Then, having tried, to examine the truth of our failings,
to listen to the voice of the truth-speaking prophets,
and try to do better tomorrow.
As we celebrate the coming of Jesus among us in the flesh,
May we have the courage to enact Jesus living among us in the flesh,
Until the day that he appears in person, triumphant and eternal.
Amen.
Grace and peace,
Ron
Quote from Rodney Clapp, A Peculiar People, p. 136.
Like many people picking up a book, we start looking for a picture or two to help us out. And if there are no pictures, can I have a diagram? Or maybe a map?
Jesus is our picture.
“If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.”
“I am the Word.”
“I am the Way.”
“I am the Light.”
The life of Jesus is a complete portfolio,
visualizing the “word of God” becoming the “Word of God”.
Consider the words of Rodney Clapp:
God’s Word is not first and foremost abstract belief, propositionalized truth. So it is that Jesus – a person, not a proposition – is presented as the supreme and the unique embodiment of the Word (John 2:11; 20:30). And he is constantly about embodying the words of life. He speaks of the bread of life and miraculously feeds over five thousand with edible, actual bread (John 6). He speaks of the light of the world and heals the blind (John 8:12, 9:1-11). He speaks of the resurrection and the life and raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11). He speaks of servanthood and washes the disciples feet (John 13). And John seems to expect that this speaking and its embodiment will continue, for Jesus says to his followers, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). To recognize the church as the body of Christ is to recognize that the church exists as a continual, ongoing embodiment of God’s Word.
What Jesus is, is what we, his church, are called to be.
What Jesus does, is what we, his body, are called to do.
Even though the entire church does not have the giftedness or power
to match what Jesus could do, it is our calling to try.
To try to talk honestly with the one struggling for answers,
To try to engage the pain of the broken and hurting,
To try to live openly before the babes learning the godly life,
To try to point to sanity and salvation for a world desperate for both,
To try to speak out loud the truth that is more and more subversive
to the powers and principalities in our world every day.
Then, having tried, to examine the truth of our failings,
to listen to the voice of the truth-speaking prophets,
and try to do better tomorrow.
As we celebrate the coming of Jesus among us in the flesh,
May we have the courage to enact Jesus living among us in the flesh,
Until the day that he appears in person, triumphant and eternal.
Amen.
Grace and peace,
Ron
Quote from Rodney Clapp, A Peculiar People, p. 136.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)