Scripture Verses that Caught My Attention today: Job 19:25-26 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;
26 and after my skin has been thus destroyed,
then in my flesh I shall see God,
Observation: Job has faith during especially interesting circumstances; his life is in shambles, but still he hopes on.
Application: I’m struck by Job’s understanding of God being alive and well and potentially responsive even though Job also often muses, even earlier in this same chapter, about this same God more or less deserting him. And even though Job uses the word ‘redeemer,’ the Jesus we have heard of would not yet have been known in the ancient BC era; so Job sees the Almighty as the redeeming one.
Job’s deeply hopeful perspective is one from which many of us can take note. It’s easy to want and expect some form of justice in this world (particularly when we might be the beneficiaries!). When it is not quickly forthcoming we are often tempted to respond with any number of emotions including the predictable and reasonable questions of “Why?” and “Is God really there?”.
Job is convinced that the Almighty exists, has divine prerogative, and will certainly act sooner or later. And although he is not particularly happy about it, Job nevertheless seems remarkably comfortable with the ‘later’ part of that equation. Many of us, it seems, would do well to follow suit.
Prayer: Lord, there’s an old song with the line, “sooner or later, love is gonna get ya.” I think that’s true…and I think it’s through you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings included Job 19 and Mark 1-2)
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Helpful Confinement
Scripture Verses that Caught My Attention Today: Acts 26:31-32 and as they were leaving, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.”
Observation: Sometimes there are forms of confinement that actually keep us safe.
Application: When I was in elementary school I had an assigned seat on the bus—right behind the driver! Part of the reason I was there was because I was often getting in trouble on the bus. But the other reason I was there was more or less for my own protection. There was a fair amount of fighting and bullying on our bus and sometimes I bore the brunt of it. So although I complained regularly about having to sit up there, inside I realized that it was actually a good thing.
Though Paul in the passage above had done no wrong, had he been released he more than likely would have been killed by those who were after him. His time in prison actually protected him. It also gave him opportunity to write several of the New Testament Books that we still hold dear today.
Prayer: Lord, help us to see each situation in our life as an opportunity to be of service to you and to serve as an example of the kind of people that trust in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Job 17 and Acts 24-26)
Observation: Sometimes there are forms of confinement that actually keep us safe.
Application: When I was in elementary school I had an assigned seat on the bus—right behind the driver! Part of the reason I was there was because I was often getting in trouble on the bus. But the other reason I was there was more or less for my own protection. There was a fair amount of fighting and bullying on our bus and sometimes I bore the brunt of it. So although I complained regularly about having to sit up there, inside I realized that it was actually a good thing.
Though Paul in the passage above had done no wrong, had he been released he more than likely would have been killed by those who were after him. His time in prison actually protected him. It also gave him opportunity to write several of the New Testament Books that we still hold dear today.
Prayer: Lord, help us to see each situation in our life as an opportunity to be of service to you and to serve as an example of the kind of people that trust in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Job 17 and Acts 24-26)
Monday, October 25, 2010
How Much Do We Really Know?
Scripture Verse that Caught my Attention today: Job 16:2 “I have heard many such things;
miserable comforters are you all.
Observation: Sometimes our presence is more important and helpful than anything we can say.
Application: First, although I write these entries primarily as part of my own spiritual discipline, those who are reading it are really encouraged to read chapters 21-23 of Acts. I’m not reflecting on that particular reading today, but it really is a great story and I hope you check it out.
Okay, back to the verse above from Job that caught my attention today. There is a saying that goes something like this: “After being in Africa for a week, I felt like I could write a book about the culture. After being in Africa for a month, I felt like I could perhaps write a chapter about the culture. After being in Africa for a year, I struggled to even come up with a paragraph about the culture.”
I find that adage to be true, not only about Africa, but also about many other things in life. At the beginning things are oversimplified and we sometimes think we know much more than we actually do. With more and more experience we see the deeper layers of meaning and begin to realize that things are not always simple as they seem.
Job was further along in the experience than his ‘friends.’ They thought they had all the ‘answers,’ but Job was concentrating more on figuring out what might be the right questions. Rather than acknowledging the reality of his situation, they wanted to quickly assign and compartmentalize a little blame, offer a simple prescription for success, and get on with their lives with a confident pat on their own backs for solving yet another problem on another day.
Had they really entered into his experience and spent some time dwelling in his reality, they probably would have come up with less to say, but it would have counted far more. In fact, they might have found that they had nothing to say, yet their presence (in body and/or in spirit) might have meant the world.
Prayer: Lord, in a world where we are often expected (or want!) to offer the quick fix, help us be patient enough to simply enter into the world in which we are placed and the dwell there in light of the hope that can only be found in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Job 16 and Acts 21-23)
miserable comforters are you all.
Observation: Sometimes our presence is more important and helpful than anything we can say.
Application: First, although I write these entries primarily as part of my own spiritual discipline, those who are reading it are really encouraged to read chapters 21-23 of Acts. I’m not reflecting on that particular reading today, but it really is a great story and I hope you check it out.
Okay, back to the verse above from Job that caught my attention today. There is a saying that goes something like this: “After being in Africa for a week, I felt like I could write a book about the culture. After being in Africa for a month, I felt like I could perhaps write a chapter about the culture. After being in Africa for a year, I struggled to even come up with a paragraph about the culture.”
I find that adage to be true, not only about Africa, but also about many other things in life. At the beginning things are oversimplified and we sometimes think we know much more than we actually do. With more and more experience we see the deeper layers of meaning and begin to realize that things are not always simple as they seem.
Job was further along in the experience than his ‘friends.’ They thought they had all the ‘answers,’ but Job was concentrating more on figuring out what might be the right questions. Rather than acknowledging the reality of his situation, they wanted to quickly assign and compartmentalize a little blame, offer a simple prescription for success, and get on with their lives with a confident pat on their own backs for solving yet another problem on another day.
Had they really entered into his experience and spent some time dwelling in his reality, they probably would have come up with less to say, but it would have counted far more. In fact, they might have found that they had nothing to say, yet their presence (in body and/or in spirit) might have meant the world.
Prayer: Lord, in a world where we are often expected (or want!) to offer the quick fix, help us be patient enough to simply enter into the world in which we are placed and the dwell there in light of the hope that can only be found in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Job 16 and Acts 21-23)
Friday, October 22, 2010
A Look at Stupid
Scripture Verse that Caught my attention today: Job 11:12 But a stupid person will get understanding, when a wild ass is born human.
Observation: Hmmm…
Application: Recently I’ve seen some online posts concerning ‘stupid’ people. I think one of them was the old adage “you can’t fix ‘stupid.’” I must admit, based on the above verse alone, such might appear to be the case.
But not so fast… This verse, though scriptural, was spoken by “Zophar the Naamathite.” He was one of Job’s three ‘friends’ who was basically trying to criticize him. In a turn of events, by the time chapter 42 rolls around, Zophar and the other two friends will be dependent on Job’s prayer to save them from the wrath of God. Why? Because “[they] have not spoken of me [the Lord] what is right.” Now who looks stupid?
Truth be told, at least according to Jeremiah 10:14 and its identical twin verse in Jeremiah 51:17, “Everyone is stupid and without knowledge;
goldsmiths are all put to shame by their idols;
for their images are false,
and there is no breath in them.”
Psalm 94:6 puts it this way: “The dullard cannot know,
the stupid cannot understand this:”
Then there’s Proverbs 30:2 Surely I am too stupid to be human;
I do not have human understanding.
Now we’re getting somewhere. All of us are full of folly at one or more levels. And whether or not ‘stupid’ can be fixed, it most certainly can be redeemed. And while from a human point of view this doesn’t appear to be the brightest thing our Lord has ever done (redeeming the likes of us), it is certainly the most loving. Hence, as Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13, love far surpasses knowledge in the gift department.
Prayer: Lord, there are certainly days (some might say ‘everyday!’) when I’m not the brightest of your children. But I thank you for using me nevertheless. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Job 11-12, Acts 12-13)
Observation: Hmmm…
Application: Recently I’ve seen some online posts concerning ‘stupid’ people. I think one of them was the old adage “you can’t fix ‘stupid.’” I must admit, based on the above verse alone, such might appear to be the case.
But not so fast… This verse, though scriptural, was spoken by “Zophar the Naamathite.” He was one of Job’s three ‘friends’ who was basically trying to criticize him. In a turn of events, by the time chapter 42 rolls around, Zophar and the other two friends will be dependent on Job’s prayer to save them from the wrath of God. Why? Because “[they] have not spoken of me [the Lord] what is right.” Now who looks stupid?
Truth be told, at least according to Jeremiah 10:14 and its identical twin verse in Jeremiah 51:17, “Everyone is stupid and without knowledge;
goldsmiths are all put to shame by their idols;
for their images are false,
and there is no breath in them.”
Psalm 94:6 puts it this way: “The dullard cannot know,
the stupid cannot understand this:”
Then there’s Proverbs 30:2 Surely I am too stupid to be human;
I do not have human understanding.
Now we’re getting somewhere. All of us are full of folly at one or more levels. And whether or not ‘stupid’ can be fixed, it most certainly can be redeemed. And while from a human point of view this doesn’t appear to be the brightest thing our Lord has ever done (redeeming the likes of us), it is certainly the most loving. Hence, as Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13, love far surpasses knowledge in the gift department.
Prayer: Lord, there are certainly days (some might say ‘everyday!’) when I’m not the brightest of your children. But I thank you for using me nevertheless. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Job 11-12, Acts 12-13)
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Truth is sometimes hard to recognize
Scripture Verses that Caught my attention today: Acts 14:18-19 Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
Observation: The people were really fickle and easily swayed.
Application: Sometimes a person can’t help but wonder if there’s really a right way to do things. I’m thinking politics as the moment. Some say raise taxes and provide more needed services. Others say lower taxes and prosperity and generosity will prevail. The yearly battle of persuasion is really that—a battle of persuasion.
This story from Acts, of course, isn’t about taxes or the best ways to go about public service, but it does serve as an example of how there is almost always an opposing side. The span of the pendulum swing is huge—the crowds go from wanting to worship Paul to actually stoning him. How could this happen?
This is why I am very confident in God, but not so confident in me. I trust God to know the truth. I do not trust myself to always know the truth. As in the days of old, the truth sometimes comes from surprising corners. And unfortunately, the crowds are not always swayed by it. And ironically, some who claim to have it are only fooling themselves. The real truth always wins out and eventually is recognized, but perhaps not for a long, long time.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be open to the truth--from whatever quarter it may come—and not be tossed about by this and that. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings included: Job 9-10 and Acts 13-14)
Observation: The people were really fickle and easily swayed.
Application: Sometimes a person can’t help but wonder if there’s really a right way to do things. I’m thinking politics as the moment. Some say raise taxes and provide more needed services. Others say lower taxes and prosperity and generosity will prevail. The yearly battle of persuasion is really that—a battle of persuasion.
This story from Acts, of course, isn’t about taxes or the best ways to go about public service, but it does serve as an example of how there is almost always an opposing side. The span of the pendulum swing is huge—the crowds go from wanting to worship Paul to actually stoning him. How could this happen?
This is why I am very confident in God, but not so confident in me. I trust God to know the truth. I do not trust myself to always know the truth. As in the days of old, the truth sometimes comes from surprising corners. And unfortunately, the crowds are not always swayed by it. And ironically, some who claim to have it are only fooling themselves. The real truth always wins out and eventually is recognized, but perhaps not for a long, long time.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be open to the truth--from whatever quarter it may come—and not be tossed about by this and that. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings included: Job 9-10 and Acts 13-14)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Is there Any Sense to be made of 'collateral damage?'
Scripture Verses that Caught My Attention Today: Acts 12:18-19 When morning came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then Peter went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
Observation: I love the line “no small commotion.”
Application: There are times when we are totally bewildered. All the more so when something happens that is beyond our control. One can almost imagine the panic among the soldiers. Their lives were at stake and they had no rational explanation. It does seem a little unfair though. Although soldiers in those days weren’t considered to be the most savory of people, they nevertheless did their job…or in this case, at least tried. They must have been going nuts that morning and understandingly so; they didn’t live to see another day.
This whole scene brings to mind (at least from a human point of view) the presumably unfortunate results of God’s involvement in the world. Much has been written about the people killed in God’s name, but there are also those who perished as a result of humans trying to get at God or God’s people. There were the babies that were killed in an effort to kill Moses as a child. There were the babies that were killed in an effort to kill Jesus as a child. And here we have some soldiers that ended up dead because an angel more powerful than they rescued Peter out of their hands.
I’m not quite sure what to make of all of this. In the military they call it collateral damage, as if it’s just the cost of doing business. But for God, one would think there might be a kinder, gentler way. Guess that’s just another topic for possible discussion when my own time comes.
Prayer: Dear Lord, as always, there is much that I do not yet understand. Maybe I will someday. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Job 6-8, Acts 12)
Observation: I love the line “no small commotion.”
Application: There are times when we are totally bewildered. All the more so when something happens that is beyond our control. One can almost imagine the panic among the soldiers. Their lives were at stake and they had no rational explanation. It does seem a little unfair though. Although soldiers in those days weren’t considered to be the most savory of people, they nevertheless did their job…or in this case, at least tried. They must have been going nuts that morning and understandingly so; they didn’t live to see another day.
This whole scene brings to mind (at least from a human point of view) the presumably unfortunate results of God’s involvement in the world. Much has been written about the people killed in God’s name, but there are also those who perished as a result of humans trying to get at God or God’s people. There were the babies that were killed in an effort to kill Moses as a child. There were the babies that were killed in an effort to kill Jesus as a child. And here we have some soldiers that ended up dead because an angel more powerful than they rescued Peter out of their hands.
I’m not quite sure what to make of all of this. In the military they call it collateral damage, as if it’s just the cost of doing business. But for God, one would think there might be a kinder, gentler way. Guess that’s just another topic for possible discussion when my own time comes.
Prayer: Dear Lord, as always, there is much that I do not yet understand. Maybe I will someday. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Job 6-8, Acts 12)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Surprising Generosity
Scripture Verses that Caught my attention today: Acts 11:27-30 At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. 29 The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; 30 this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Observation: Famine over all the world? Over the ‘world’ they knew? What was the timing? Did they send relief ahead of the famine? Interesting that, though presumably they would have their own share in the famine, they still sent relief elsewhere.
Application: As noted above, some questions do come to mind in regard to this passage. These days it seems that famines tend be confined to certain areas of the world which, of course, vary over time. When it’s dry in one place, it’s usually wet somewhere else. In those days, of course, the world of which they were aware was considerably smaller. This was centuries before America was ‘discovered,’ and much of the rest of the world we know as well. So maybe it was a relatively local famine.
Whatever. Of more interest and potential importance is the implication that perhaps they sent the relief ahead of time. That’s faith! If Agabus showed up today and said such things, we’d probably think he had some emotional and mental ‘issues’ that should be dealt with long before we’d consider taking up a collection to help people endure a weather pattern that had yet to occur.
No matter. The real point is not so much what they did, but their willingness to do it at the expense of themselves. Surely they would experience famine too. Wouldn’t they need some of their supplies? Apparently not as much as the folks in Judea.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for the examples of generous witnesses. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Job 5, Psalm 108, Acts 10-11)
Observation: Famine over all the world? Over the ‘world’ they knew? What was the timing? Did they send relief ahead of the famine? Interesting that, though presumably they would have their own share in the famine, they still sent relief elsewhere.
Application: As noted above, some questions do come to mind in regard to this passage. These days it seems that famines tend be confined to certain areas of the world which, of course, vary over time. When it’s dry in one place, it’s usually wet somewhere else. In those days, of course, the world of which they were aware was considerably smaller. This was centuries before America was ‘discovered,’ and much of the rest of the world we know as well. So maybe it was a relatively local famine.
Whatever. Of more interest and potential importance is the implication that perhaps they sent the relief ahead of time. That’s faith! If Agabus showed up today and said such things, we’d probably think he had some emotional and mental ‘issues’ that should be dealt with long before we’d consider taking up a collection to help people endure a weather pattern that had yet to occur.
No matter. The real point is not so much what they did, but their willingness to do it at the expense of themselves. Surely they would experience famine too. Wouldn’t they need some of their supplies? Apparently not as much as the folks in Judea.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for the examples of generous witnesses. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture Readings today included: Job 5, Psalm 108, Acts 10-11)
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