SOLD OUT

   Exodus 10:1-12:13; Matthew 20:1-28; Psalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 6:6-11

“Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. ‘Go and worship the Lord,’ he said. ‘But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.’  ‘No,’ Moses said, ‘you must provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord our God.  All our livestock must go with us, too; not a hoof can be left behind.’”      

“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

“O Lord, I give my life to you.  I trust in you, my God!...  Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.
 … All day long I put my hope in you.
 The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.”

It seems God has this uncomfortable notion that faith is an all-or-nothing proposition.  He certainly doesn’t leave much room for those who want to hedge our bets.  We either commit fully, or it’s as if we have not committed at all.  We give up all place and position, or it is as if we have given up none.  We follow Him totally, or we remain lost.  AARRRGGHHH!  Where’s the balance, Lord?  Where’s the moderation?

This may seem harsh to some, and sound like downright zealotry to others, but I am beginning to think concepts like balance and moderation are dangerous for Christians.  Jesus clearly never addresses faith in those terms, and with good reason: He promises (warns of?) abundant life instead!  Jesus wants us to quit kidding ourselves and stop holding back.  For example, I have said no to Christ many times because I already was “too busy” or “too tired” or “too – can you see the irony in this? – overcommitted.”  I really was too distracted, too lazy, or too unfocused.  Worst of all, I was not giving the Spirit any chance at all to empower me. 

Consider whether Jesus may have been quite literal in calling us to give Him our whole lives, so His can empower us instead.  Not in a physical sense, necessarily, but in a spiritual sense.  He wants to live in us, and He knows, better than we, that our “selfs” make lousy roommates.  When it comes to matters of the heart, Scripture seems pretty clear that we either evict self completely or hang a “No Vacancy” sign on our souls.

“…Not one hoof can be left behind.”  I love the imagery in that.  Minus any hoof, the sacrifice is irreparably damaged and is not to be offered to God.  No wonder we scoff at those who “drag their feet;” there’s a bit of divine understanding in our collective psyche, whatever our religion, or lack of it.  No one likes a half-done job, or a lukewarm reception.  Why do we think Christ any different?  It is illogical to think that the One who gave it all would ever be appreciative of anything less in His followers.  Yet still, we most often offer Him only leftovers and “spare” time.  Christ deserves better than that!  He calls us to a much greater adventure than that!  He wants us “sold out!” to Him.

THE DIVINE PREROGATIVE

   Exodus 8:1-9:35; Matthew 19:13-30; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 6:1-5

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.  The world and all its people belong to him.  For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.”

“I will prove to you that that there is no one like me in all the earth. By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”      

“The disciples were astounded. ‘Then who in the world can be saved?’ they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’”

“God, I’m not terribly pleased with You right now.  The bad guys are taking advantage of the system – again!  Why do you continue to allow it?  Why do those who do right always have to cover or pay for others?  They certainly don’t care about our rights, or what this will cost us.  If they did, we would never have come to this point.  We’ve gone way past turning the other cheek and way past sacrifice.  Where is the justice?  Why do the evil prosper?  Now would be a great time for You just to take over.  Why are You still standing on the sidelines?”

It’s a good thing God is big enough to handle our impatience and frustration.  The important points, though, are how we handle our impatience and frustration, and how they affect our relationship with God.  Here’s what I get from today’s Scriptures: 

1) God made everything, and it is His, not ours, to control.  (We may claim perks of ownership, but it is a hollow, temporary and ultimately unenforceable argument.)

2) God does not answer to us.  He can do, and does, as He pleases.  (Like it or not, experience indicates this is a good thing.  At least, it’s a very good thing God isn’t controlled by my will!)

3) That last point is frustrating as heck!  (OK, that’s not Scriptural, just true.)

It would be very easy to get disillusioned.  God doesn’t seem to be running a very tight ship. 

Oh…, wait a minute.  There is one more thing.  I’ve made mistakes.  I’ve hurt others.  I deserve punishment, too.  So, I know what it is like, how wonderful it is, to have had a lifeline tossed to me.  Especially one I did not deserve.  And I’m darn glad God did not have to justify His decision.  Because there was no justification.  He just saved me.  One act of grace – unmerited favor – made all the difference. 

The next time I get on my high horse about the injustice of it all, maybe I’ll just give thanks for divine prerogative instead….

SONG OF THE REDEEMED

   Exodus 5:22-7:25; Matthew 18:21-19:12; Psalm 23:1-6; Proverbs 5:22-23

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

     He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.

   Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

   You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

      My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,

   and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.’’

It has been an historic month, hasn’t it?  Not since September 2001 has there been a September like this one.  We’ve been embroiled in madness, besieged by economic tragedy and distraught by the greed which made it all possible.  Ironically, our politicians argue over a cure without acknowledging our real disease, even as we seek new leadership.  But no human factor, no bailout, is going to cure what ails us as a country, or as individuals.  We don’t so much need a leader out ahead of us as we need a leader in us, guiding us back home, back to the life God intended.  We need a leader who can quiet our hearts, remind us of Whose and who we are, and reintroduce us to the basics of life and the fundamentals of faith.  We need a leader unafraid of words like contentment, sufficiency, grace and forgiveness; one whose voice will cut through the confusion, not add to it.

So, maybe it’s significant that today is God’s Sabbath.  I’m going to rest a bit and listen more carefully for a Word of hope.  Stop fighting life and stop struggling like a catfish on a hook.  I’m turning off the news - and the Blackberry! - and retuning my ears to the voice of the Shepherd.  It’s almost a song: “Hush, my beloved. I AM! Be still, and know that I am God….  I have overcome the world.”  That’s the Voice I need to hear.

In the middle of all that surrounds us, that threatens us and that might come to pass, remains the One who IS.  He’s never left us; we’ve just forgotten to listen for His Voice, and we’ve gotten lost.  But the Shepherd keeps calling His flock, guiding us home with His song of love.  We rejoice at His call, His song, and we can follow it, find Him again, and make it home.  If we just stop long enough to listen.

Our Savior already has redeemed us.  He will redeem this September, too.  Redemption is… well, it’s what He does.  We know that.  So, why, when the wind blows and the seas rage, do we still doubt?  We have a different song than the world, and we would do well to remember, and share, it. 

BREAKING FORMAT

   Exodus 4:1-5:21; Matthew 18:1-20; Psalm 22:19-31; Proverbs 5:15-21

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?  Why are you so far away when I groan for help?  Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.  Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.  Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
 Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
 They cried out to you and were saved.
 They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

But I am a worm and not a man.
 I am scorned and despised by all!
 Everyone who sees me mocks me.  They sneer and shake their heads, saying, ‘Is this the one who relies on the Lord?  Then let the Lord save him!
 If the Lord loves him so much,
let the Lord rescue him!’  Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast….
 

My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.  My heart is like wax, melting within me.
 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
 You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
 My enemies… divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.

O Lord, do not stay far away!
 You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
 … I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.  I will praise you among your assembled people.
 Praise the Lord, all you who fear him….  For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
 He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.

I will praise you in the great assembly.
 I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
 The poor will eat and be satisfied.
 All who seek the Lord will praise him.  Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.  The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
 All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
 For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations…. Our children will also serve him.
 Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.  They will hear about everything he has done.”

What did He say?  Did the Messiah, the very Son of God, really just say He’s been abandoned by the Father?  Oh, no!  This is the worst possible time!  That’s not what we expected.  That’s not how the story is supposed to end!  Who, or what, are we going to believe in now?

Draw nearer to the Cross.  Let us allow our hearts to swoon at the misery.  Hear Jesus cry out.  Be overwhelmed.  Feel His anguish.  “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Lord, what are we supposed to do with that?  If Christ was abandoned, how can we ever trust You again?  “Remember,” comes the divine reply.

Remember that Jesus’ cry that dark afternoon was only half a thought, half a Psalm, in fact.  Remember God’s history of saving His people.  Remember that Jesus suffered so we don’t have to.  Remember God lead Jesus to the Cross and even tomb, but He did not leave Him there.  And teach your children.  There is hope.

In what seemed the final act of Jesus’ life, God was His most unpredictable.  We should have seen it coming.  The Psalmist did.  Jesus warned us.  Somehow, though, we were still unprepared for the enormity of the moment, the abyss of the separation. 

What hope is there for us?  “Remember,” comes the divine reply.  No doubt, that is what sustained Jesus.  God has a history, with us and with others.  If we grasp it, we will always have hope.

Some things should not be read piecemeal; Psalm 22 is one of them.  So I’m breaking format today, knowing that the unexpected sometimes carries with it the greatest potential for redemption and creativity.  Reread Psalm 22.  All of it.  Breaking format has worked before.  Remember the Resurrection. 

"AS IF!"

Exodus 2:11-3:22; Matthew 17:10-27; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 5:7-14

“But Moses protested to God, ‘Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?’  God answered, ‘I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.’”

“Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, ‘Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?’  ‘You don’t have enough faith,’ Jesus told them. ‘I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.’’

I disbelieve at such a fundamental level I don’t even recognize my lack of faith.  Consider this.  We flip a light switch and never think about the possibility of failure.  Those burned out bulbs surprise us every time.  But let a chance come along for faith to work, and it’s immediately, “Who, me?”  Read the Scriptures again.  “God answered, ‘I will be with you.’” “Nothing would be impossible.”  Right; or like my kids might have said a few years ago, “As if!”

The Holy Spirit asks, “What if?”  What if we just had as much faith in God as we do a  light bulb?  What if we approached His throne expecting His intervention, claiming His grace and being bold enough to anticipate His provision?  My life would change, for sure.  I’d worry a lot less.  But even as I write this, I “know” it’ll never happen.  Too utopian.  With apologies to those who have heard this before (You deserve to hear it again!), I’m like the guy who prays all night for the mountain outside his window to throw itself into the sea.  The next morning, he raises the blinds and says, “I knew it wouldn’t happen….”  Oh, my gosh, my faith is in failure!  What kind of life is that?!?

Cynicism is a cold word, and a character flaw that slowly poisons all it touches.  The trip from cynicism to bitterness is short, and from bitterness to isolation is not much further.  Time for a detour.  After all, it is possible to live “as if.”  Everybody knows that.  Don’t let ‘em see you sweat.  Tough it out.  Play through it.  Be humble.  Fake it until you make it.  We have tons of experience denying reality.  So, let’s just switch gears and start living the ultimate reality.  Let’s live as if Christ meant what He said, and can back it up; as if we really believe we are forgiven; and as if we actually understood how much God treasures us.  Who knows, we might even move a few mountains.  

DISPOSABLE PEOPLE?

Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10; Matthew 16:13-17:9; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 5:1-6

“Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done.  He said to his people, ‘Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are.  We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country.’  So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king….  Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: ‘Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River.’”

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.’”

We are really “care-less” with each other – and even ourselves - sometimes.  The gift of life, of another human being, is so precious to God.  Yet on a daily basis, I find myself looking past the poor, failing to keep touch with my friends, and even punishing myself for my shortcomings as if I were a machine and not a man.  Our “if it doesn’t work or fit, get rid of it” mentality puts too many souls at risk, and cheats us of a deeper beauty.

This week, I learned a law school friend of mine died at the age of 50 of a massive, unexpected heart attack.  He was a great guy with a very giving nature.  We’d let ourselves grow apart over the years, as distance and busyness took their toll.  Shockingly, he’d died over two years ago, and I did not even know it.  On the other hand, we were with other law school friends we had not seen and fell immediately back into the camaraderie and friendships we’d had those many years ago.  It set up a clear comparison, and one obvious question.  Aren’t friends, aren’t other people, worth the sacrifice it takes to cultivate and nurture them?

There are certainly no worthless relationships in Christ.  He cherishes every life given to Him as the sacred gift it is.  It follows that there are no disposable people.  Each soul has value to the Father, sure, but also to us.  Each person we meet becomes part of the fabric of our being – whether we know it or not – and impacts who we are for better or worse.  We can become more practiced and calloused in ignoring our brothers and sisters, or we can open our hearts to the blessings of community.  As I visited with the friends who remained this week, I gave thanks for each of them, rejoiced in their successes and shared their disappointments.  We were all open to being blessed, and to being a blessing.  Maybe that was part of what Jesus was getting at when He promised we’ll find our lives if we give them (and our calendars?) up for His sake.  But I also found myself knowing how much richer the evening would have been if Greg had been with us, and I wondered how much of life I’d missed by letting go of his friendship.

A FATHER'S VISION

Genesis 48:1-49:33; Matthew 15:29:16:12; Psalm 20:1-9; Proverbs 4:20-27

“Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey.
 Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.”

“My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words.
 Don’t lose sight of them.  Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.  Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

My Dad had a hard time figuring me out.  I was never the son he envisioned.  We spent several years in very uncharted waters, me figuring out who I was, and him getting used to the idea.  At some point, Dad just shook his head and trusted God.  Wise man.  I still wonder if he’s ever totally “gotten” me.  One day, maybe I’ll get up the courage to ask him what he sees when he looks at me.

Jacob did not wait to be asked.  (He might have waited forever.)  Jacob had a clear vision of each of his sons.  He had a message each son needed to hear.  He told them exactly what he thought.  Not all the portraits he painted were flattering; almost all had some flaw recognized.  The Bible, though, is clear that Jacob’s words were a “blessing” for every son, regardless.  “Each received a blessing that was appropriate to him (Genesis 49:28b).”

Truth is that kind of gift, special not necessarily because it’s good, but special because it’s real.  There’s too much fake in our world.  We can even fool ourselves.  God alone fully understands us.  He alone fully knows us.  (Let that sink in; it’s not all that easy to accept.)  Only God doesn’t have to guess or figure out who we are.  He knows what He made.  We need that truth.    

How does God see us?  Spend more time listening to His Word.  Jesus shows us the basics.  The Holy Spirit fills in the specifics.  We just need to accept what we hear.  God doesn’t want us to be square pegs in round holes.  Life works best when we quit trying to be someone or something we were not created to be.      

RIGHT PATH? RIGHT GUIDE!

Genesis 46:1-47:31; Matthew 15:1-28; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 4:14-19

“’I am God, the God of your father,’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.  I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes.’”

“Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.  Turn away and keep moving.
 …The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.  They have no idea what they are stumbling over.”

God Himself recognized, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).  I waste a lot of time – and go down a lot of rabbit trails – trying to prove Him wrong.  No matter how independent we claim to be, the vast majority of us are inescapably affected by those we follow.  Even the very entrepreneurial usually share a vision with one who has gone before.  True lone rangers are a very rare breed.  Most of us need a guide. 

For years, I followed in my brother’s footsteps.  Without doubt, he accomplished more with old fashioned “want to” than I ever dreamed of attempting.  He was, and is, a terrific example in many ways.  He is not me, however, and his gifts are not mine.  Following his example ultimately proved futile and frustrating.  Strangely, the longer I did so, the harder it was to finally break away.  When the break came, then, the pendulum swung too far the other way.

Once chosen, independence came surprisingly, dangerously, easily.  The cold truth is it is sometimes simpler not to care about others.  It is never the better choice.  God can do little with a hardening heart turned from Him.  It’s not necessarily even about evil; it’s about being separated – from others (giving up the power and gifts of the Body of Christ); from ourselves (in that we are given unique gifts which only play out in relationships) and from the very Source of Life.  No wonder burnout is such an issue….

Finally, I came home to follow the One who has known me best all my life.  Together, we charted a new course.  The road has not always been smooth, but at least, I know now when I’m off it, and I am learning that Christ really is the way.  This is a world of lost souls.  It is not a world without hope.  We just need to be more intentional and selective about who we follow, and less driven to fly solo. 

TOO CERTAIN, TOO SOON?

   Genesis 44:1-45-28; Matthew 14:13:36; Psalm 18:37-50; Proverbs 4:11-13

“If you find his cup with any one of us, let that man die. And all the rest of us, my lord, will be your slaves….”

“Then Peter called to him, ‘Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.’  ‘Yes, come,’ Jesus said.  So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted.”

One of the lowest points of my spiritual journey came during my teen years.  (The fact it still haunts me proves how mortifying it was.)  Having accepted Christ several years earlier, I was pretty vocal about being “God’s Man!”  One of my buddies – who preferred pretty girls and strong drink (and found at least one through our group) - suddenly met Christ, and the change was magnificent.  His life turned on a dime.  But I wisely assured everyone it wouldn’t last.

Several months later, sure enough, he was back to his old ways.  Unwilling to overlook the chance for a little “I told you so,” I decided to confront him in front of the group.  His response?  “Oh, it was just like you said, Tom.  It didn’t last.”  Angels wept, and I felt horrible for having given him his excuse.

There is such a thing as spiritual overconfidence.  It’s usually the product of a misplaced personal impudence.  We get so certain of ourselves, our faith and our maturity that we take God for granted and push Him aside.  Presuming to speak with His voice, we never stop to consider whether He wants us to speak at all.  Then, we see reality, panic and start to sink.

The Bible says we have plenty of company.  But what matters is whether we stay there, or let Jesus and His people lift us up out of the mess we created for ourselves.  It’s not easy to recover from our mistakes, but if we remember we are already forgiven, perhaps next time, we’ll be better able to share it.

 

EXPERIENCING THE COMPETENCE OF CHRIST

     Genesis 42:18-43:34; Matthew 13:47-14:12; Psalm 18:16-36; Proverbs 4:7-10

“To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.  To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.  You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.  You light a lamp for me.  The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
 In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.  God’s way is perfect.  All the Lord’s promises prove true.  He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
 For who is God except the Lord?  Who but our God is a solid rock? 
God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.
 He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
 He trains my hands for battle;
 he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
 You have given me your shield of victory.  Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great….”

“Then they scoffed, ‘He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.  All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?’ And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.  Then Jesus told them, ‘A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.’”

It is an awesome thing, truly, to have such a capable Savior.  The One we worship is not some stone or metal idol to put on the shelf and forget about.  No, He is a real (the ultimate) Person and genuine power, a force to be reckoned with, raw ability, talent.  He is also more than all that, of course, but the point is Christ is competent to handle anything we or the world can throw at Him.  He longs to be our “go to” solution for all of life’s problems, and He desires to share and multiply our joys.  Why, oh why, then, do I so often underutilize all He has to offer?

Simply, I sell the Holy Spirit short.  It’s tough to get my head around the idea that a spiritual being can have a practical, tangible impact in a purely physical world.  Time and again, the Bible shows and promises it’s true, yet time and again, I stop just shy of putting my whole confidence in Him.  I sound a lot like Jesus’ neighbors, standing close enough to see His work, but just a little too far away to appreciate – and so doubting - the Power behind it. 

Maybe we’ve spent too much time reading others’ stories and learning about the power of Christ, and too little time actually cultivating it and allowing it to work in practical ways.  Maybe the stories are too familiar; it sometimes feels like all the amazement is wrung out of them.  Maybe Christ wants us to write our own gospels.  Maybe He wants us to experience both His spiritual grace and physical power first hand, and then share that experience with the world. 

Would Jesus dare trust His message of power, hope, redemption and abundant life to the likes of us?  Maybe….  But we have to claim it, experience it and develop confidence in it for ourselves first.  As long as we are just observing, no matter how diligent or well intentioned our study, we are still too far removed.  The Lord beckons us to “come on down” out of the audience to actually share the stage with His Holy Spirit.  Not next to or around, but with.  Jesus wants to make us part of the main event.  We have radical, tangible power of change available, if we will claim it.

ONE TRUE THING

Genesis 41:17-42:17; Matthew 13:24-46; Psalm 18:1-15; Proverbs 4:1-6

“At last the seven years of bumper crops… came to an end. Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries….”

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.  When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!”

Joseph’s true story has a current relevance hard to imagine.  It encourages me to own some tough facts.  First, what is happening today has nothing to do with God abandoning us.  We cannot honestly say we weren’t warned.  For years, a courageous few wisely counseled that we could not continue to break the basic laws of economics without dire consequences.  More than once, I heard God warn me; I just did not want to listen.  Neither did the world.

Second, as many of us look in vain for our “Joseph,” to bail us out, and wonder where God is in all this, we run a real risk of missing a deeper truth.  Joseph’s biography is not just about proactive planning and preparation (though it does speak volumes on the subject!).   At the core, it’s an illustration of how very important it is to put God first. 

It sounds naïve to say that putting God first will help in a recession, but the Bible is proof that it does.  Joseph was not just a smart man, he was an inspired one.  He was always clear that his inspiration, his ability to interpret dreams, was a gift straight from heaven.  It was that inspiration, coupled with Joseph’s own response - hard work and a willingness to swim against the tide of popular opinion – which saved his adopted country and his world.  (Don’t you know those farmers were just delighted to give the government all that grain for its already full-to-bursting storehouses?)  The real point, though, is that for years before, and despite family abandonment, abject poverty (even having his clothes stripped off his back) and imprisonment on a false charge of rape, Joseph had been learning the value of reliance upon God, and never once turned his back on his faith.  It was his “one true thing,” the only thing that kept Joseph afloat through it all.  And it was that “one true thing” that kept the door open to the inspiration that saved the world.

Is it even possible to prepare for seven years of “famine” in this day and age?  Had we asked Joseph the same question as he sat at the bottom of the cistern or in that dank prison, he, too, might have laughed.  But it’s kinda like this.  Years ago, as I was grousing (again!) about our Church’s annual giving campaign, my wife asked, “Who’s to say our investment in Jesus does not pave the way for Him to bless us more?”  I don’t know what would happen if I did not click on “Pay Church” first thing every month.  But I do know this: it has proven to be a far better investment, with far greater returns, that anything the stock market’s done for me lately. 

HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS OF HIS WINGS

Genesis 39:1-41:16; Matthew 12:46- 13:23; Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35

“Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her.  So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained.  But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.”

“I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
 Bend down and listen as I pray.
 Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.  By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.
 Guard me as you would guard your own eyes.  Hide me in the shadow of your wings.”

Joseph was one amazing individual.  Abandoned by his brothers; abandoned by his benefactor; abandoned by the ones he helped, Joseph still never gave up on himself or allowed himself to feel abandoned by God.  The fact is, there is no real indication that Joseph even felt sorry for himself.  Instead, he kept to the way of godliness and allowed God the chance to prove Himself.  Incredible! 

What was Joseph’s secret? How did he maintain an image of God that sustained him in the face of all he encountered?  Scripture does not paint Joseph as a great man of prayer.  He does not routinely spout forth Scripture.  He sometimes even gave in to a desire for revenge.  Yet still, this is a man who presumed to speak for God, and did so correctly, under circumstances where I probably would not have given God any positive thought at all.  How did he keep in touch?  We all should look closer.  Joseph’s message is quite simple: if you want to find God, serve others - especially in adversity; particularly when hidden or separated from the familiar and comfortable.

What would happen if I was dedicated to looking for opportunities to exhaust self by serving others in shared adversity, as Joseph did?  Could emptying myself, making me more vulnerable instead of less, actually open the door of my soul wider to the redemptive power of the Holy Spirit?  One could certainly make a good argument that God’s strength kicked in only when Joseph’s ran out.  And that Joseph was protected by God, even in situations where Joseph felt lost and hidden from God’s view.  Joseph’s experience, like Jesus’, proves God is the Great Redeemer, not only of people, but of situations.  He can make all things work to good, even things which aren’t good in themselves.  We need to not give up on Him, because He never gives up on us or our situations.

We all know what it is to feel hidden in the shadows.  What we miss is that those shadows are often cast by the wings of the very One whose protection and help we seek.  We miss that we may be hidden for our own good.  We miss that God may want us to work as one of His “secret agents” to bring comfort and His Word to those who need it most.   We bristle when He asks us to be patient and stay the course.   But we celebrate and rejoice when we see Him working through us to help others.  That is the perspective I want to hold onto.  That is the lifestyle to which we all are called, one way or another.

DREAMERS AND DULLARDS

Genesis 37:1-38:30; Matthew 12:22-45; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 3:27-32

“When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him.  ‘Here comes the dreamer!’ they said.  ‘Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!’”

“Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see.  The crowd was amazed and asked, ‘Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?’  But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, ‘No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.’”

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

It is astounding how hard the world and many of those in it work to take away and destroy dreams.  Maybe it’s not malicious; maybe it’s just humanity reaching for the lowest common denominator.  Maybe it is “sin.”  Whatever, those who dream have taken a real beating this week, except for those who favor nightmares.  Thanks to simple human greed, Lehman Brothers is in bankruptcy, and Merrill Lynch was sold for pennies of its former worth.  Unemployment and foreclosures are up – way up.  Everywhere we look, there are shock headlines.  The stock market dropped over 500 points in one day.  And to top it off, even though hurricane damage in the Gulf was minimal and the price of a barrel of oil dropped over five dollars, the price of gasoline has gone up as much as $.15 a gallon in some places.  They say misery loves company.  Misery must be feeling quite pleased with itself this week.

Folks, are we going about all this the wrong way?  The media gives us bad news because that is what sells newspapers.  We see dreamers with new vision and shake our heads in sympathy for their anticipated, and expected, disillusionment.  For almost every new thing we think of that could be done, we find ten reasons not to do it. 

“Hopeless” is the password for the Despair Club.  Dreams are the price of admission.  Sadly, there’s a line at the door to get in. 

Call me utopian, but I would prefer not to join.  My trouble is, I get sucked in.  I let go of my dreams too easily when I get tossed in the cisterns of life.  Ignoring where true power comes from, I focus on my own powerlessness.  I know I can’t prevail, but forget God can, and already has.  In short, I just forfeit.  And each time I do, Satan wins.

It is a terrible thing to live without hope.  Let’s not do it anymore.  Let’s show the dullards of life, the defeatists, those who hate dreamers, a better way.  It is tough to be a shining light in the middle of a constellation of black holes.  But Christ says we are to be the lights of the world nonetheless, and it is time for Christians to “own up” to His calling.  The Holy Spirit gives us vision and optimism, and tells us to share.  So, instead of a defeatists’ club, let’s reinvigorate a “club of hope.”  I think that’s called “Church.”  

CLEANING HOUSE

Genesis 35:1-36:43; Matthew 12:1-21; Psalm 15:1-5; Proverbs 3:21-26

“So Jacob told everyone in his household, ‘Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing.  We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.’”

“I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!  But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’  For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!’”

“Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts; those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends; those who… keep their promises even when it hurts…. and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent:  such people will stand firm forever.

What other reaction to the grace and forgiveness of God could we have but to let go of old ways and false idols, and follow His path?  Knowing what I should do has never been the problem.  Doing it…, well, that is another story altogether.  It’s simple enough to understand we cannot take hold of what Jesus offers until we let go of our old lives.  Time and again, though, Christ has to gently pry my fingers off rules, regulations and “to-do” lists to reintroduce me to grace.  Especially for one so accustomed to using achievement as the yardstick of self worth, grace is not an easy concept to grasp.

It’s funny, in a sad sort of way, how the mind rebels at any new way of thinking.  Someone once observed, “The first reaction to change is usually anger, as we mourn what’s lost.”  That may include a bit of overstatement, but resistance (at least) does seem to be my first response to any influence of the Holy Spirit.  Oh, why so stubborn, so set in old ways?  Because I am so focused on self.  More honestly, perhaps, I am afraid of losing control of myself.

What is there to lose, really?  Why am I afraid of losing self?  Time and again, I have proven I am not competent to run my own life.  Certainly, past experience has proven God will do a better job, if I let Him.  Yet, still I cling to the old, keeping the new at arm’s length, and cheating myself and God in the process.

Holy Spirit, it’s time for an extreme makeover.  You take the keys.  We both know there will be some closets I’ll try to keep closed, and the cellar – oh, I’ll cry out, “Don’t go there, please!  You don’t want to see what’s down there.”  But you understand, even better than I, that the house can’t be clean if the cellar’s not clean.  And all the stuff stored there?  Hey, I may just find I don’t need it anymore.  All that guilt, just taking up space… let’s be done with it!

GAMESMANSHIP

Genesis 32:13-34:31; Matthew 11:7-30; Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 3:19-20

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.  When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’”

     “But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’  The man asked him, ‘What is your name?’  ‘Jacob,’ he answered.  Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.’”

  “Jacob said, ‘Please tell me your name.’  But he replied, ‘Why do you ask my name?.…’”

“’To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square…. But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.’”

“Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’”

God doesn’t pull punches.  He didn’t with Jacob; Jesus didn’t with the people of His generation; and I should not expect the Holy Spirit to “go easy” on me, either.  Still, I spend a lot of time asking for exactly that. 

“Let’s just let this one little slip be our little secret, God.” 

“Is it really so bad if no one else gets hurt?”

“Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned, But I Have Several Excellent Excuses.”  (Kudos to James W. Moore for a book well worth reading and possibly the greatest title ever….)

The Holy Spirit is willing to wrestle with us all night when the need arises, and that’s a good thing.  It is incredible that God tolerates our tantrums and willfulness and hangs in there with us.  He will put up with pretty much anything, as long as it’s real.  But if we’re just playing games, or playacting our way through “religion,” we’d better know our Savior understands the benefits of discipline as well as the value of forgiveness.  So, it’s a good idea to have friends willing to hold us accountable to the standard of authenticity.

Case in point: I know a guy whose perfectionistic attitude frequently belittled and demeaned others without warning.  For years, those few faithful friends who understood the perfectionism masked a massive insecurity just forgave him and worked through it (even as that circle of friends grew ever smaller).  But finally, one particularly courageous young lady spoke the true words of God, “Tom, we love you and will keep forgiving you, but you have got to stop doing this!”  It was a shot to the heart that changed my life and my attitude.  I’m nowhere near perfect on that score even today, but Jesus and I are wrestling through it, and the ol’ Red Dragon seems to be losing his enthusiasm and his teeth, one slow extraction at a time.  Funny thing is, as I wrestle with God to hold onto that which I should never have had in the first place, and He takes more and more control, I actually feel more secure, more loved, and more complete.

Strange….  It is not our willfulness, pride or insecurities which separate us from God as much as it is our reluctance to bring those things into our relationship with Him.  Christ actually wants to confront and deal with our sins and our shortcomings.  He also wants to give us a “new name,” an identity less about us and ever more about Him in us.  All it takes is for us to come before Him without show or gamesmanship, and engage.   If the Creator believes we are worth fighting for, maybe we should be a little more willing to accept and work through the conflict.  His victory is assured, but the prize will be ours.

FAMILY VALUES

        Genesis 31:17-32:12; Matthew 10:24-11:6; Psalm 13:1-6; Proverbs 3:16-18

“’Why did you slip away secretly? Why did you steal away? And why didn’t you say you wanted to leave? I would have given you a farewell feast, with singing and music, accompanied by tambourines and harps.  Why didn’t you let me kiss my daughters and grandchildren and tell them good-bye? You have acted very foolishly!’”

“’Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.  I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 
Your enemies will be right in your own household!  If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.  If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.  If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.’”

“But I trust in your unfailing love.  I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
 I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.”

“Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.”

The image of Christ as homewrecker is hard to swallow.  It contradicts a lot of what I understand about the nature and heart of Jesus.  For goodness’ sake, God created families!  Surely, He did not do that just so He could tear them apart.  There must be more to this than meets the eye.

Let’s start with family.  My wife is the kind of parent I want to be: compassionate, fully present and available, loving, a true leader by example.  I tend toward the authoritarian, setting rules, standards and guidelines, and encouraging personal development and accomplishment.  In a word, my wife loves the kids as they are; so do I, but another part of me is not going to let them remain that way.  By itself, there’s nothing wrong with that – it’s actually how God loves us.  But things get messed up when I inject my own values and vision of my kids for God’s.  Two points are obvious: neither of us is the perfect parent; and, even together, we sometimes mess up.  If we are the best our kids can expect in the way of guidance, provision, security and even love, they are going to be disappointed.

So, now to Christ.  The fact is, our kids and families better have higher priorities and more certain guidance than we provide.  They need stronger and more focused vision than what we want for them.  The “parenting ultimate” is knowing our kids each have their own personal relationship with Christ, that He is a living reality which others see through them, and that we will be together in and for eternity.  Bottom line, then, is we have to get out of the way and let them follow Christ’s path. 

Letting go, though, is easier said than done, and just maybe, that’s what Jesus was getting at.  I am so with Laban, selfishly wanting family near.  But Christ is calling them outward and onward.  He wants to give them His wisdom.  If I am going to be true to my first priority for them, then, they must be free to respond as He directs.  If that hurts, or sets them against my limited and limiting perspective, well, Jesus expects it to.  They are His kids, first, after all… and thank God they are!

SPEAKING WISELY

Genesis 30:1-31:16; Matthew 10:1-23; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 3:13-15

“’Please don’t leave me,’ Laban replied. ‘For… the Lord has blessed me because of you.…’”

“’Don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.  For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.’”

“Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing!  The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.”

“Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.
 For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her..”

God wants my words to carry more meaning.  I’m pretty sure He wants us all to speak more wisely and lovingly.  This week included lunch with a friend, and a real conversation.  It’s spooky how my soul thirsts for that kind of contact, and how little I allow it. 

Instead, I speak too much and say too little, communicating without consideration and probably watering down the Message of Christ in the process.  People don’t need another reason to tune out the Gospel.  We already are well self-trained to aggressively filter messages, especially those we’ve heard before.  We “TIVO out” commercials; we multitask, giving half attention to our  “normal” conversations; we disregard profanity; we ignore constructive criticism.  So it seems to follow that Christians need more vibrant, personal and relevant language, and the boldness to speak as the Spirit directs.

In fact, we probably need to take more seriously – even rely on - the idea that God actually will give us His words, if we stay open to His Spirit.  Can there be any better counsel than the words of the One who created it all?  Lord, guide my heart and my words; help me to be authentic and real; and when my “flattering lips and deceitful heart” betray your Word, let it be your Word that ultimately is heard.

SECURITY IN THE STORM

Genesis 28:1-29:35; Matthew 9:18-38; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 3:11-12

“Jacob… dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway. At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he 

said, ‘I am the Lord….  I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.’”

“Jesus… healed every kind of disease and illness.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

“I trust in the Lord for protection.”

We don’t see a lot of hurricanes in San Antonio, but they tell us one is coming.  We will get rain and wind.  When it gets here, though (if it gets here), it no doubt will be a shadow of its former self, having traveled many miles inland.  Still, grocery stores are picked clean.  Home improvement inventories are emptied.  There is not a generator or bottle of water to be found.  It is always a good idea to be prepared and safe.  One wonders, though, if the near panic behind the preparation is not a symptom of a greater insecurity.  It is no stretch to say that people are acting like sheep without a Shepherd.

Let’s face it: the quest for guaranteed personal safety is an elusive, and ultimately futile, one.  But Jesus understands our fears.  He’s seen them before, and will again.  So, He has compassion on us and offers His protection.  It is not protection that promises mere personal safety.  It is protection that guarantees eternal security.  Christ offers the bedrock reality of an eternal Home with Him which circumstances can never damage or destroy.  Best of all, He offers the security of His unconditional love and the promise of abundant life, both now and in the world to come, if we will just accept it.

I, too, forget I have divine protection.  I can get as frantic as anyone and obsess over earthly safety.  But the inevitable reality is that all our plans and safeguards cannot fully protect any of us from the storms of life.  Oh, Lord, help me to understand the difference between temporary safety and eternal security.  Allow me to rest in you, even in the middle of the storm.