Scripture Passages that caught my attention today: Ephesians 4:1-3 AND verses 11-13 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 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.
Observation: The broad stroke of our calling/purpose has been painted.
Application: Great people remind us of our greatness. They inspire us to rise up to the challenges before us, to see ourselves as essential participants in the grander scheme of life. What’s more, they inspire us to do so not with the goal of being able to achieve status, but rather to be of genuine service—whether to humanity or, ultimately, to God.
In Ephesians we are reminded that our calling, whatever it is, is a noble one, one to which the writer begs us to live up. It requires a spirit of appreciation for the calling itself and a certain diligence to sort of grow into it in ways that are reflective of the spirit of God (humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with others, endeavoring to maintain unity and peace). We are also to see the calling’s ultimate purpose—equipping the saints for the work of ministry.
It’s not an exact science. Many of Paul’s letters bear witness to the fact that the very Christian communities that he started or helped to start were not functioning as he had hoped. Some years ago the Willow Creek Association created a sophisticated survey instrument to, among other things, ascertain the spiritual maturity of its members. They didn’t fare very well.
I have good news for them, from what I can tell, Paul’s congregants and fellow church leaders wouldn’t have fared much better. Otherwise why would he need to “beg” for them to “lead a life worthy to the calling to which [they] had been called?” Still, he enthusiastically labored on.
These days I’m trying to figure out how I might best lead a life worthy of my calling. I’m picking up some ideas, yet many of them are fraught with various theological pickles. Still, Paul (or whoever wrote the letter to the Ephesians) inspires me to continue to try, reminding me yet again that the calling itself is a noble gift and that the saints are eagerly depending on this gift to be exercised in order that they might be equipped for the work of ministry.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for all who share this calling. It’s nice to be involved in important work, but it’s also nice to know that we do not do it alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Ecclesiastes 7-9 and Ephesians 4)
Friday, June 8, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Leaving a Lasting Impression
Scripture verses that caught my attention today: Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Observation: The power at work within us is great.
Application: I’ve reflected and written often that two of the great temptations in life are the following opposite extremes—to think to highly of oneself or to think too lowly of oneself. Somewhere in the middle is the sweet spot.
A striking aspect of verse 20 above is that even our highest thinking is unable to comprehend what God can do through us. And yet what God does can do through us and how God works through us is often a complete surprise, sometimes without us even knowing it.
I was reminded of this fact the other day when listening to a speaker on a CD. He mentioned that sometimes it is a 10-minute conversation or even a single phrase scribbled on a napkin that can bring about a change in a person’s life. Something as simple as that can be the turning point, often before we even realize it. Such is the ways of the power of God.
For me one of those simple conversations was between my high school vo-ag teacher and my parents in my presence around our messy kitchen table in an even messier farm house. I doubt that the conversation lasted more than 15 minutes and one key sentence from him to them in my hearing has stood out over time; “I think Kent should go to college.”
That was it. That one sentence, and my parent’s affirmation of it, forever changed the course of my life and has led to “abundantly far more than all [I could] ask or imagine.”
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not for one minute praising the relatively elite experience of college as the only (or even always preferred) way to a life of accomplishment. But I am saying that, in my particular case, that particular move was extremely foundational for almost everything opportunity that has followed.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the people of influence in my life and in the lives of others. Allow all of us to in one way or another leave such lasting positive impressions…in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Ecclesiastes 4-6, Psalm 18, and Ephesians 3)
Observation: The power at work within us is great.
Application: I’ve reflected and written often that two of the great temptations in life are the following opposite extremes—to think to highly of oneself or to think too lowly of oneself. Somewhere in the middle is the sweet spot.
A striking aspect of verse 20 above is that even our highest thinking is unable to comprehend what God can do through us. And yet what God does can do through us and how God works through us is often a complete surprise, sometimes without us even knowing it.
I was reminded of this fact the other day when listening to a speaker on a CD. He mentioned that sometimes it is a 10-minute conversation or even a single phrase scribbled on a napkin that can bring about a change in a person’s life. Something as simple as that can be the turning point, often before we even realize it. Such is the ways of the power of God.
For me one of those simple conversations was between my high school vo-ag teacher and my parents in my presence around our messy kitchen table in an even messier farm house. I doubt that the conversation lasted more than 15 minutes and one key sentence from him to them in my hearing has stood out over time; “I think Kent should go to college.”
That was it. That one sentence, and my parent’s affirmation of it, forever changed the course of my life and has led to “abundantly far more than all [I could] ask or imagine.”
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not for one minute praising the relatively elite experience of college as the only (or even always preferred) way to a life of accomplishment. But I am saying that, in my particular case, that particular move was extremely foundational for almost everything opportunity that has followed.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the people of influence in my life and in the lives of others. Allow all of us to in one way or another leave such lasting positive impressions…in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Ecclesiastes 4-6, Psalm 18, and Ephesians 3)
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The Pleasures of Work, Work, Work...
Scripture Passages that caught my attention today: Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God; 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? AND Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
Observation: Who we are and the toils before us are both gifts from God. But that doesn’t always make them easy to understand.
Application: I was struck by a couple of themes in today’s readings.
The first, from Ecclesiastes, stresses that, even though much of life is vanity, there is nothing better than finding enjoyment in toil itself (though not necessarily in the results of said toil).
This, of course, is contrary to most mindsets. Most of us find enjoyment in accomplishments, in projects completed. Very few of us find enjoyment in starting over, especially on something that originally required considerable time and effort. But for the author of Ecclesiastes, it is the process in which joy is found, not the accomplishment. What is accomplished will eventually be left for someone else who may or may not appreciate the accomplishment or care for it. And even if they do care for it, what about the person that comes after them? There are no guarantees. Chasing after accomplishments is mere vanity. But no one can take away the joy of the process of the toil itself. No-one except ourselves, of course. We are the only ones who can refuse to find joy in our work.
Moving on, but in a similar vein, to today’s lesson from Ephesians, the writer surmises that we were created for work/toil; it’s how we are wired.
For the most part I find this to be incredibly good news. Last night the family and I caught the last part of a television program called “America’s Got Talent.” One of the contestants was a young man who purportedly had never sung in public or even in front of his family before. He also dressed in a way that would not be considered traditional. He claimed to not be good at anything but, as it turned out, his voice was quite impressive. The standing ovation of the crowd stood as testimony that he was a valuable person in his own right and that he should find joy in working to share the gift that he has been given. “We are” after all, “what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
But this still raises a few questions. While the idea of being what God has made us can be reassuring for many, what about for those of us who, well, aren’t exactly desirable in terms of our personality/disposition? To put it bluntly, what if we are primarily known as nothing more than a pain in the rear? Is this what God has made us? And if so, how do we find enjoyment in our toil when no one else seems to appreciate our work?
I think we all know people who might fit into such categories. Or perhaps we feel like such a person ourselves.
It seems to me that there are a couple options in such circumstances. The first would simply be to seek out a community where we are appreciated. Perhaps where we are currently at is simply not a good fit. It happens on teams, in companies, in churches and other organizations, etc. Sometimes it’s healthier for all to simply seek out a better fit.
But sometimes it’s not feasible to seek a different fit. For any number of reasons we might be stuck in a less-than-ideal situation. In such cases the second option comes to mind—deliberately seek to appreciate how God has made the other people in our midst. Seek to find enjoyment in THEIR toil. Seek to be amazed at their diligence, at their completely opposite way of seeing things, at their own way of being who God has made them to be. Don’t focus on their accomplishments or the lack-thereof, but in the ways in which they find enjoyment in their toil. Perhaps then we can begin to find more enjoyment in our own toil. Perhaps they will begin to do so as well.
Prayer: Lord, let the work that you have provided (whether for pay or simply by availability), be a source of personal joy—especially when devoted to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Ecclesiastes 1-3, Psalm 45, Ephesians 2)
Observation: Who we are and the toils before us are both gifts from God. But that doesn’t always make them easy to understand.
Application: I was struck by a couple of themes in today’s readings.
The first, from Ecclesiastes, stresses that, even though much of life is vanity, there is nothing better than finding enjoyment in toil itself (though not necessarily in the results of said toil).
This, of course, is contrary to most mindsets. Most of us find enjoyment in accomplishments, in projects completed. Very few of us find enjoyment in starting over, especially on something that originally required considerable time and effort. But for the author of Ecclesiastes, it is the process in which joy is found, not the accomplishment. What is accomplished will eventually be left for someone else who may or may not appreciate the accomplishment or care for it. And even if they do care for it, what about the person that comes after them? There are no guarantees. Chasing after accomplishments is mere vanity. But no one can take away the joy of the process of the toil itself. No-one except ourselves, of course. We are the only ones who can refuse to find joy in our work.
Moving on, but in a similar vein, to today’s lesson from Ephesians, the writer surmises that we were created for work/toil; it’s how we are wired.
For the most part I find this to be incredibly good news. Last night the family and I caught the last part of a television program called “America’s Got Talent.” One of the contestants was a young man who purportedly had never sung in public or even in front of his family before. He also dressed in a way that would not be considered traditional. He claimed to not be good at anything but, as it turned out, his voice was quite impressive. The standing ovation of the crowd stood as testimony that he was a valuable person in his own right and that he should find joy in working to share the gift that he has been given. “We are” after all, “what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
But this still raises a few questions. While the idea of being what God has made us can be reassuring for many, what about for those of us who, well, aren’t exactly desirable in terms of our personality/disposition? To put it bluntly, what if we are primarily known as nothing more than a pain in the rear? Is this what God has made us? And if so, how do we find enjoyment in our toil when no one else seems to appreciate our work?
I think we all know people who might fit into such categories. Or perhaps we feel like such a person ourselves.
It seems to me that there are a couple options in such circumstances. The first would simply be to seek out a community where we are appreciated. Perhaps where we are currently at is simply not a good fit. It happens on teams, in companies, in churches and other organizations, etc. Sometimes it’s healthier for all to simply seek out a better fit.
But sometimes it’s not feasible to seek a different fit. For any number of reasons we might be stuck in a less-than-ideal situation. In such cases the second option comes to mind—deliberately seek to appreciate how God has made the other people in our midst. Seek to find enjoyment in THEIR toil. Seek to be amazed at their diligence, at their completely opposite way of seeing things, at their own way of being who God has made them to be. Don’t focus on their accomplishments or the lack-thereof, but in the ways in which they find enjoyment in their toil. Perhaps then we can begin to find more enjoyment in our own toil. Perhaps they will begin to do so as well.
Prayer: Lord, let the work that you have provided (whether for pay or simply by availability), be a source of personal joy—especially when devoted to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Ecclesiastes 1-3, Psalm 45, Ephesians 2)
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Goals without God are Godless Goals
Scripture Verses that caught my attention today: Ephesians 1:17-19 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
Observation: This is what is missing in much goal-setting today.
Application: Most people in leadership, myself included, find it helpful to periodically set up some goals for themselves and/or for the organization/company/business through which they serve. It’s almost standard procedure. Some are more organized than others in this regard, but nearly all would agree that setting goals of some kind is an important practice. And for me, Summer is a good time to do this important work.
The rub comes in when figuring out how to set such goals, especially in the church and/or for people of faith. The reason why it is so difficult to authentically determine such goals is because we are ultimately called not to lead but to follow! I believe it was Len Sweet who once tweeted something to the affect that Christ doesn’t need more leaders but, rather, more followers.
This is where the prayer for ‘wisdom and revelation’ mentioned in the passage above is especially needed. As we go about the important work of setting goals, it’s important—make that crucial—to listen for God’s voice/nudge/calling in the process.
This is not to presume that we always (or even ever!) know for certain the Lord’s will in such situations. Indeed, much harm has been done in society by well-intentioned people who made such presumptions. Yet humbly listening to for Gods direction with openness is a clearly a sign of the wisdom and revelation for which the writer of Ephesians most surely prayed.
Prayer: Lord, our ‘plans,’ however grandiose, are mere foolishness without your input. Help us to listen for the direction of your call. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Proverbs 30-31, Psalm 33, and Ephesians 1)
Observation: This is what is missing in much goal-setting today.
Application: Most people in leadership, myself included, find it helpful to periodically set up some goals for themselves and/or for the organization/company/business through which they serve. It’s almost standard procedure. Some are more organized than others in this regard, but nearly all would agree that setting goals of some kind is an important practice. And for me, Summer is a good time to do this important work.
The rub comes in when figuring out how to set such goals, especially in the church and/or for people of faith. The reason why it is so difficult to authentically determine such goals is because we are ultimately called not to lead but to follow! I believe it was Len Sweet who once tweeted something to the affect that Christ doesn’t need more leaders but, rather, more followers.
This is where the prayer for ‘wisdom and revelation’ mentioned in the passage above is especially needed. As we go about the important work of setting goals, it’s important—make that crucial—to listen for God’s voice/nudge/calling in the process.
This is not to presume that we always (or even ever!) know for certain the Lord’s will in such situations. Indeed, much harm has been done in society by well-intentioned people who made such presumptions. Yet humbly listening to for Gods direction with openness is a clearly a sign of the wisdom and revelation for which the writer of Ephesians most surely prayed.
Prayer: Lord, our ‘plans,’ however grandiose, are mere foolishness without your input. Help us to listen for the direction of your call. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Proverbs 30-31, Psalm 33, and Ephesians 1)
Monday, June 4, 2012
Abominal Prayers?
Scripture Verse that Caught my attention today: Proverbs 28:9 When one will not listen to the law,
even one’s prayers are an abomination.
Observation: Very interesting verse.
Application: One of the Bedrock Beliefs at the church through which I serve is this: “God Hears Our Prayers.” Prayer is a big part of our life. We have a prayer chain, we pray before meetings, before meals, at worship, individually in our devotional time, etc.
We were careful not to say, “God Answers our Prayers,” mostly because we don’t want presume to know when a prayer has truly been answered or not. It is enough for us to simply believe that God hears our earnest pleas.
The above verse provides an interesting twist to our belief. The verse suggests that some of the prayers that God hears are not to God’s liking. Actually, it would appear that whatever merit the prayer might have in its own right, if its context is rancid, God doesn’t even want to hear it.
Basically it would appear that God isn’t particularly interested in hearing our pleas if we are deaf to the needs of others.
Now, to be fair, this is but one proverb. There are many other proverbs and psalms and there are the various stories and sayings on prayer throughout the Bible that at times present a somewhat different story. Still, if we are persistently unwilling to demonstrate the kind of love that the law offers, some of our prayers might be abominable at best.
Prayer: Lord, help us to be less focused on ourselves and therefore more able to offer the kinds of prayers that you truly want to hear. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Proverbs 28-29, Psalm 60, Romans 16)
even one’s prayers are an abomination.
Observation: Very interesting verse.
Application: One of the Bedrock Beliefs at the church through which I serve is this: “God Hears Our Prayers.” Prayer is a big part of our life. We have a prayer chain, we pray before meetings, before meals, at worship, individually in our devotional time, etc.
We were careful not to say, “God Answers our Prayers,” mostly because we don’t want presume to know when a prayer has truly been answered or not. It is enough for us to simply believe that God hears our earnest pleas.
The above verse provides an interesting twist to our belief. The verse suggests that some of the prayers that God hears are not to God’s liking. Actually, it would appear that whatever merit the prayer might have in its own right, if its context is rancid, God doesn’t even want to hear it.
Basically it would appear that God isn’t particularly interested in hearing our pleas if we are deaf to the needs of others.
Now, to be fair, this is but one proverb. There are many other proverbs and psalms and there are the various stories and sayings on prayer throughout the Bible that at times present a somewhat different story. Still, if we are persistently unwilling to demonstrate the kind of love that the law offers, some of our prayers might be abominable at best.
Prayer: Lord, help us to be less focused on ourselves and therefore more able to offer the kinds of prayers that you truly want to hear. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Proverbs 28-29, Psalm 60, Romans 16)
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Continual Learning
Scripture verse that caught my attention today: Proverbs 23:12 Apply your mind to instruction
and your ear to words of knowledge.
Observation: Life is continual learning.
Application: A good question to ask oneself when deciding what to do is: “Where or what is the profit in this?” By “profit” I don’t necessarily mean financial reward, though that could be the case at times. But whether one is talking finances or skill-building or preparation for the future or relationship-building or whatever, profit and waste are opposite extremes. So when determining how best to spend one’s time—arguably our most precious resource aside from the promises of God through Christ himself who is the only one who can actually give us MORE time!—it’s a good idea to ask the question, “Where is the profit in this?”
Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not suggesting that we should not have rest or relaxation. Indeed, in some cases we probably need more of such things. But I am suggesting that our time is a resource of much value and that to intentionally use a good portion of it for learning and applying what is learned can be profitable in many ways.
Honestly, Jesus was a perfect example of someone who lived such a life. He was always learning. Jesus learned from observation (i.e. the story of the widow and the two mites), from listening in prayer (“not my will but yours be done”), from interacting with others (“Isaiah prophesied rightly about you…”) and all the rest.
Prayer: Lord, help us all to use our precious time in ways that demonstrate our thanksgiving for your precious gift. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: Proverbs 22-24, Romans 14)
and your ear to words of knowledge.
Observation: Life is continual learning.
Application: A good question to ask oneself when deciding what to do is: “Where or what is the profit in this?” By “profit” I don’t necessarily mean financial reward, though that could be the case at times. But whether one is talking finances or skill-building or preparation for the future or relationship-building or whatever, profit and waste are opposite extremes. So when determining how best to spend one’s time—arguably our most precious resource aside from the promises of God through Christ himself who is the only one who can actually give us MORE time!—it’s a good idea to ask the question, “Where is the profit in this?”
Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not suggesting that we should not have rest or relaxation. Indeed, in some cases we probably need more of such things. But I am suggesting that our time is a resource of much value and that to intentionally use a good portion of it for learning and applying what is learned can be profitable in many ways.
Honestly, Jesus was a perfect example of someone who lived such a life. He was always learning. Jesus learned from observation (i.e. the story of the widow and the two mites), from listening in prayer (“not my will but yours be done”), from interacting with others (“Isaiah prophesied rightly about you…”) and all the rest.
Prayer: Lord, help us all to use our precious time in ways that demonstrate our thanksgiving for your precious gift. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: Proverbs 22-24, Romans 14)
Friday, June 1, 2012
Salvation
Scripture Verse that caught my attention today: Romans 13:11 Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers;
Observation: “salvation is nearer to us now…?”
Application: This statement by Paul is interesting. And I think it’s true. Salvation is to be saved. And there are many things from which we need to be saved. We can be saved from self-interest, saved from doubt, saved from insecurity, saved from excess pride, saved from co-dependency, saved from addictions great and small, saved from relationship struggles, saved from less-than-meaningful employment, saved from financial ruin, saved from foolishness, saved from arrogance, saved from violence and/or abuse, etc., etc., etc…not to mention saved from the powers of evil and life without God. All this and more is salvation.
Paul says that this salvation is nearer now than when we first became believers. It’s true. In Christ we have what I might call, partial salvation. It’s like a large download that is in process and we just don’t quite know how many minutes are remaining. Yet in some ways the salvation is already complete. We are in Christ. At the same time the salvation is not yet complete. There is more work to be done in and through us, as the list in the above paragraph makes perfectly clear. So complete salvation is not here yet. But it is getting closer with each and every passing day.
Prayer: Lord, your work in and through us continues. Help us to be open to what you are doing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Proverbs 19-21 and Romans 13)
Observation: “salvation is nearer to us now…?”
Application: This statement by Paul is interesting. And I think it’s true. Salvation is to be saved. And there are many things from which we need to be saved. We can be saved from self-interest, saved from doubt, saved from insecurity, saved from excess pride, saved from co-dependency, saved from addictions great and small, saved from relationship struggles, saved from less-than-meaningful employment, saved from financial ruin, saved from foolishness, saved from arrogance, saved from violence and/or abuse, etc., etc., etc…not to mention saved from the powers of evil and life without God. All this and more is salvation.
Paul says that this salvation is nearer now than when we first became believers. It’s true. In Christ we have what I might call, partial salvation. It’s like a large download that is in process and we just don’t quite know how many minutes are remaining. Yet in some ways the salvation is already complete. We are in Christ. At the same time the salvation is not yet complete. There is more work to be done in and through us, as the list in the above paragraph makes perfectly clear. So complete salvation is not here yet. But it is getting closer with each and every passing day.
Prayer: Lord, your work in and through us continues. Help us to be open to what you are doing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Proverbs 19-21 and Romans 13)
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