Scripture:

Romans 4:20-25The Message (MSG)

19-25 Abraham didn’t focus on his own impotence and say, “It’s hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child.” Nor did he survey Sarah’s decades of infertility and give up. He didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That’s why it is said, “Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right.” But it’s not just Abraham; it’s also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.

Observation:

Paul's letters are so incredibly constructed; with meaning piled upon meaning, and interpretation piled upon interpretation. 
I am convinced they are better heard than read. And, again, when reading them aloud, attention to the details and the thrust of the argument being offered must be attended to. Even still, sometimes it is good to look to a more interpretive translation (like the Message, above). I find this often unlocks a new angle or dimension of the passage's meaning.

Throughout today's readings and prayers, I hear a distinct urging to follow Abraham's lead and to "dive in" to the promise we have, by God's grace.

In the last month or so, my daughter has begun to get brave about jumping off the diving board at the local swimming pool. Recently, she jumped off without a life-jacket for the first time. Now, she is a thoughtful and (thankfully!) cautious kid - not fearful, but cautious - and so, that leap was preceded by a long ... pause. During that time, I was imagining her brain spinning a thousand computations per second as she considered all the variables and unknowns. I suspect that if she had waited till she had all the information, she would not have jumped. In the end, what lead her to experience the joy of doing something new, alive and fun was a promise - two, actually. The promise from her friends that it was fun and worthy is what drove her to the end of the diving board. The promise that her mother was waiting - arms out-stretched - to protect her and cheer her on was what prompted her to jump.

Application:

In my experience, answering God's call and following God's lead always requires such a leap of faith. God may well have the divine plans all laid out in a comprehensive manner (though I personally doubt that), but rare is the human who glimpses God's plans in their fullness and gets to base their decision to follow - or not - upon a knowledge of all possible costs, outcomes and eventualities.

So, I wonder, what adventures are your brothers and sisters in Christ commending you to take up in this leg of your journey? 

What leap are you putting off until you make a few more calculations?

Will you settle for one more day with placing a tremulous toe in tepid water? 

Or, will you choose to trust more boldly in the ONE who is cheering you on, the ONE who promises to be right there when you come up from the depths gasping for air ... and filled with the joy of diving into the life abundant?

As for me, I am done playing small and safe.

Prayer:

Are you there God? Are you ready? I'm not. But here I come anyway ... cannonball! Amen.

So, where are you today? 

Did you stub your toe, stumble into the dog who bit you, yell at the kids only to be yelled at by your spouse? 

Is today a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad..."? 

You know what that makes you?... Normal. 

In the midst of every turmoil, may we all know God is present and active in providential, sustaining love!

Scripture:

Acts 28 After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it. 3 Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.

Observation:

Wow, what terrible luck! Paul survives a shipwreck, in a way that changes the way his captors perceive him; only to find that there are natives there friendly to his presence and survival; only to find that he can contribute to that survival in a meaningful way; only to find plentiful firewood; only to kindle a fire; only to have a snake leap out of the fire and bite him.

One way to look at this story is to say, "what terrible luck!". Another way to look is to say, "what incredible providence!" One assumes that our lives and safety are a given and then curses the gods or luck when things don't break our way; the other is steeped in a deep practice of gratitude that recognizes that all we have - in fact, all we are - is a gift of God's providential love.

I know which way is more lively and fun, do you? I mean, have you experimented with radical thankfulness? It has power to change your whole outlook. Paul might even say it has the power of anti-venom.

Application:

I am so thankful for the people in my life that have exposed me to the "shovel" of gratitude. It can be so much more than simply a fleeting feeling that overcomes us on our birthdays, or at the birth of a child. It can be an intentional practice that helps us to know God's presence with us, even in the most dire of circumstances.

It makes me think of that amazing film, "Life is Beautiful". A man and his son are sent together to a concentration camp in world war two. The son survives, because of his father's resolute will to practise joy based in gratitude.

So, where are you today? Did you stub your toe, stumble into the dog who bit you, yell at the kids only to be yelled at by your spouse? Is today a "no good, terrible, lousy day..."? You know what that makes you?... Normal. But, in the midst of every turmoil, may we all know God is present and active in providential, sustaining love!

Prayer:

We thank you today, Lord, for all your gracious gifts given to us upon this earth. We look forward to the day when, joyfully, we may join with you in our eternal home. Amen.

Scripture:

Acts 31:22 

I had said in my alarm, 
“I am driven far from your sight.” 
But you heard my supplications 
when I cried out to you for help.

Philippians 4:6

6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving 
let your requests be made known to God.

Observation:

One of the insights I appreciate about the 3DM approach to discipleship and mission is,
"Language creates culture."

Language is a strong carrier of common experiences and values. But in times of rapid cultural change some words can become empty. That is to say, words are not powerful in and of themselves. They are really only helpful to the degree they remain "meaning-full". Moreover, we need to be careful when building new cultures that the words we are using do not hold residual meaning that undercuts what we are trying to accomplish. 

I say all this because, today the word: "supplication" occurs twice in the Moravian texts. What does this word mean? More importantly, is it still a meaningful word in our context, or is it more of a leftover relic from the days of the culturally privileged church?

First, supplication is prayer; but, it connotes a certain type of prayer - one wherein a favour or mercy is asked (or begged) from ones superior. So, the word supplication helps us to understand that part of prayer is to humble ourselves, acknowledge our neediness and ask God to provide. It also seems to be a type of prayer that requires me to speak to God (verbally, or through the intercession of others). The promise of the action is that God is faithful and hears such prayers. 

Application:

This all makes the Philippians quote clearer.  

Do not be anxious (or worried) about anything. 

When I encounter struggle in this life (and I will, especially as I follow Jesus), I am not to turn inwardly trying to handle it on my own. Simple, but hard. 

Rather, "in everything by prayer (might this emphasize a prior move in prayer that is more passive in that it is focussed on listening to the Lord as opposed to talking to the Lord) and supplication with thanksgiving (here another dimension of prayer is added, perhaps to help us unlock the hopeful energy that is the fruit of the spiritual practice of gratitude) let your requests be made known to God."

Today I hear the Lord inviting me to a richer practice of abiding through prayer that is multidimensional. Too often I pray a litany of requests without taking time to listen. Too often I fail to give thanks for the many and various ways by which God is continuously revealing Godself to be faithful in my life. 

Prayer:

Dear God, I'm cashing in my anxiety chips. 

I want to spend my time in more fruitful endeavours. 

Grant me ears to hear You as I listen, 

gratitude to celebrate how you respond, and an open heart 

that is ready to intercede for my neighbours after the same 

fashion as Your Holy Spirit intercedes for us. 

Thanks for hearing. I anticipate your response. Amen.

Just Paul being Paul

Scripture:

Acts 26: 28-29
28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?” 
29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

Observation:

Paul is so compelled to share his faith and 

to persuade others that the hope he has found in 

Jesus Christ is for them too, that he sounds crazy at 

times to those listening. 

But, Paul doesn't mind what others think.

 

He has been set free from placing his worth in the 

hands of others and what they think or say about him. 

He has been set free from the desire to try to control all things and set free set free to share the joy that has been revealed to him.

Amazingly, Paul's freedom persists even when he is detained or locked up. 

That is a robust freedom worthy of being shared, and so share it he does.

Application:

What threatens to weigh you down today? 

What threatens to tie you in knots?

For me, it is the tendency to take on too many things at once. It is exhilarating at first, but soon I find myself checking and double checking my schedule making sure that I don't let anyone down.  

For me, it is paralysis-by-analysis. I fail to act boldly in the face of wide-spread, systematic injustices because they just seem too big for my efforts to make a difference.

When I begin to despair, or fret and fuss, I can almost hear 

Paul whispering, 

"you believe in the resurrection, I know you do...so why not 

believe that it is for You too?

Prayer: 

Yes, Lord! Make us instruments of your peace, and light unto the world. Infect us we pray, with an enthusiasm to share the good news that sets people free from all sorts of snares and chains. Amen..

Scripture:

2 Chronicles 34:8
8 In the eighteenth year of his reign, when (king Josiah) had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.

Observation:

So begins the story of King Josiah and his famous reforms that led to the re-discovery of the book of the Law amidst the rubble and ruin. What strikes me is how similar to King Hezekiah's reforms Josiah's are. Further, it begs the question: "how did things get so far off-track so fast?" 

Hezekiah was Josiah's great grandfather, so in the course of 

less than 100 years things went from great to awful. 

What gives?

Application:

Discipleship (following in the path of the LORD) is not something we achieve once-and-for-all. Rather, it requires a constant attentiveness to what the LORD is doing - to that which the LORD is inviting us to participate in ever-more-fully. To rest on ones own laurels is to begin to put ones trust in something (always an idol) other than God. Of course we all find ourselves in such a stance on a regular basis. That, in and of itself is quite unavoidable. The key is to notice this and remedy it quickly. Left unattended, sin festers and goes from bad to worse fast.
  

Like Josiah and Hezekiah before him, we start by rejecting 

those things that alienate us from God and God's will for us.  

But, we can't stop there.  

Discipleship is not only a negative 

(in the sense of turning away) enterprise.  

Following the risen Christ is fundamentally 

a positive (in the sense of turning towards) exercise.

Prayer:

Holy One, you alone are Holy, you alone are worthy of our trust. Help us to be faithful to the paths to which you have called us; and, when we stray grant us grace to keep such wanderings brief so that we might get back to the joyous work of welcoming others into "the Way". amen.

What Do You Get A God Who Already Has Everything?

Scripture:

Psalm 30:6-12
7 By your favor, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; 
you hid your face; I was dismayed. 
8 To you, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication: 
9 “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? 
Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? 
10 Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! 
O Lord, be my helper!” 

Observation:

The psalmist cries out to the LORD in the midst of feeling abandoned by God. In the quoted text, we hear a kind of bargaining with the LORD that amounts to:
'Don't abandon me, You need me!'
And you know what, it looks like it might have actually worked. 

This is a troubling statement, 

"God needs me/you/us/anything." 

It is not only troubling, for some it is downright scandalous. 

We push back against the notion that God could be anything 

but self-sufficient, almighty, all powerful. 

We whisper to ourselves, 'Who needs a needy God?"

Now, I am not saying that God fundamentally needs individual creatures, or the sum of all creation in order to exist. We have a sense from scripture and tradition in the church that God exists prior to and beyond the created orders of being. 
What I am saying is that scripture and experience seem to bear out the fact that God chooses to need to be in relationship with creatures. 

Application:

Maybe this is where the Psalm ties in to the prayer assigned for today's Moravian Texts. That prayer talks about how Jesus reveals God's way to be counter to the way of the world. Where the world says: "more = success and power"; God says, "all have a share in the abundant enough". Where the world says (sinfully): "real power is the ability to get what you want without relying on anyone else"; God says, "real power is revealed in the willingness to risk being vulnerably available to the other for the sake of genuine relationships."

This has me thinking today about what kind of power I put my faith/trust/hope in?

Am I worshipping the living God through the ways I plan for retirement? Or, am I trying to make myself less and less reliant on all others (God and neighbours)? What about how I parent? What about how I pastor?

What about you?

Prayer:

Dear God,
I don't know why you choose to behave as though you need me (us), but I am sure glad you do! Grant me grace to imitate your power in all my relationships. Amen.

Be Strong And Of Good Courage.

Scripture:

2 Chronicles 32:7-8

7 “Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him; for there is one greater with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” The people were encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.

Observation:

King Senacharib of Assyria - the most powerful empire in the world at the time - has his intentions squarely set on capturing Jerusalem and conquering all the people of Judah. Assyria has already successfully conquered the northern kingdom of Israel.

The scene unfolds like a Frank Miller epic, with King Hezekiah employing excellent tactics and strategies to prepare to repel the invasion. Senacharib counters with a propaganda campaign meant to stir up anxiety and fear that will weaken the resolve of the Judahites.

In the speech quoted above, Hezekiah reminds his people that their hope is not in any earthly "god", nor is it finally in human tactics or bravery. Together they put their trust in the LORD to act decisively to conquer a foe that is otherwise inconquerable.

Application:

Today a distant relative posted the following on their Facebook page:

So small, so sweet, so soon!
1972 - 1979
On this date 36 years ago we lost our son:
When God calls little children to dwell with him above,
We mortals sometime question the wisdom of his love,
For no heartache compares with the death of one small child
Who does so much to make our world so wonderful and mild.
Perhaps God tires of calling the aged to his fold.
So he picks a rose bud before it can grow old.
God knows how much we need them, so he takes but few,
To make the land of heaven more beautiful to view.
Believing this is difficult still somehow we must try,
The saddest word mankind knows will always be "Goodbye".
So when a little child departs, we who are left behind,
Must realize God loves children,
Angels are hard to find.

Now, grief is a tricky process which we all must navigate in our own way.
I cannot imagine how much more so when the grief is over something that seems so counter to all the rules of creation as the death of a child. I trust that their family has found some comfort from this wee poem; and, I trust all the more that God is with them, performing the long, slow work of mending their hearts.

So, what follows is not for them. It is not my intention to uphold some kind of theoretical theological purity. What I hope to outline, is the depth of the Good News to which I cling: the Gospel of our Lord that has brought me through the depths of despair time and again. In short, I want us to be clear that we have so much more to offer to people we encounter who are hurting and searching than trite poems about a pied piper "god" who steals children out of his capricious need to resupply the heavenly cherub stores.

Death sucks. 

Death is not a part of God's original plan for us. 

Death is in opposition to life.

Therefore, death is in opposition to God. 

In addition, death often begets fear which stands 

in opposition to love; and so, is in opposition to God. 

God's plan for God's people is not to subject them to 

death, but to deliver us from the many and various 

deaths to which we are already enslaved through sin 

and brokenness. This is why, in Jesus Christ, God made 

godself subject to death for a time: 

so that death might finally be overcome - 

once, and for all!

So, if we are going to talk about God's plan and provision with people who are suffering great loss, let's not gloss over the fearsomeness of the foe. Rather, with Hezekiah, let us proclaim, "Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the [agents of death and destruction] and all the horde that is with [them]; for there is one greater with us than with [them].

Prayer:

Dear God, I know that You provide many and various mercies to those who cry out to you in their distress. I know you have called me to share the life giving word you have first given to me. Please grant me humility and boldness to offer this word clearly without ever imagining that this word is the fullness of Your Word. And, Lord, thanks for holding us so tightly when we are tossed about on seas of heartsickness. Amen.