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.

WELL AND TRULY BLESSED

Genesis 26:17-27:46; Matthew 9:1-17; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 3:9-10

“From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine.
 May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you.  May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.  All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.”

“Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?  So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.”  Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home!

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.
  Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.”

I stand convicted of thinking too much about what I don’t have and worrying too much about what I can’t control.  Worse, when my focus turns inward, I cannot receive what the Lord would give.  God only knows – literally – how many blessings have fallen wasted on the barren ground of my unreceptive soul.  Time to quit whining and get up and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit!

It is time, in other words, to claim what it means to be blessed.  Especially in adversity.  Trite only because it is so true, the joyful person is one who persistently seeks out God’s blessings in every circumstance.  They are all around, leading us back to Him at every turn!  From the simplicity of a smile to the complexity of the very universe, we are surrounded by grace.  We live, we cry, we laugh, we touch, we succeed and fail, we learn and grow, we die, and we go Home.  Life is actually a pretty wonderful gig, with love to be found in every bit of it, somewhere, if we will just train ourselves to look outside ourselves.  After all, the Spirit is right there with us in every bit of it, and He is love.  Finally, Love is the ultimate victor because Love is the ultimate power.  All that remains is to accept and share the blessing.

But who among us can really get our mind around the raw power of Christ’s love?  Jesus offers us forgiveness and freedom, yet we cling to our old friends guilt and timidity like a paralytic to his mat.  So Jesus goes to a paralytic and proves the power of Love: the paralyzed walk!  And even jump! 

Here’s an idea: let’s all start leaping up to accept God’s blessings!  They are legion, for those with eyes to see.   (Visions of Donkey in Shrek – “Pick me! Pick me!” – are entirely appropriate here….) 

LOVE PAYS UP FRONT

Genesis 24:52-26:16; Matthew 8: 18-34; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 3:7-8

“’Look, I’m dying of starvation!’ said Esau.  ‘What good is my birthright to me now?’ So…. Esau ate and drank and went on about his business, indifferent to the fact that he had given up his birthright.”

“Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went to Him and woke Him up, shouting, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’  And Jesus answered, ‘Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!’”

“O Lord, why do you stand so far away?  Why do you hide when I need you the most?”

During my first week of college, I remember proudly wielding my brand new MasterCard to buy a HUGE quadraphonic AM/FM/8-track stereo system with its requisite, massive four supersonic blasters – I mean, speakers.  And I remember being haunted by the debt until after graduation!  I’m not alone.  Esau gave up his entire future inheritance for a bowl of stew today.  There’s a man who did not let ultimate cost get in the way of instant gratification!  The disciples could not wait to be rescued in God’s time.  They had to see immediate, tangible security, whatever the plans of the Savior (and regardless of the lessons in store, had they just ridden the storm out with Jesus).  The Psalmist mourns God’s distance, because He is waiting to act.  The Bible is full of impatient people wanting more “stuff,” certainty or safety, but it notes only a relative few who understand the check (and any related lessons) should come first, and that sometimes, the currency is patience. 

At age thirty-two, with a great job supposedly fixed for life (it sounds so naïve now), I bit the bullet on a jumbo mortgage and built a “dream house.”  Then, I lost my job, and the house became a nightmare.  Make no mistake: the “buy now, pay later” syndrome represents a deep, and potentially deadly, spiritual blindness.  It erodes personal security and relationships with God.  One need only look at Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae to know it is so pervasive it now threatens the security of every country on earth. 

A country song claims, “When it comes to love, you don’t count the cost.”  I think God would beg to differ.  Love always knows and respects the cost.  But Love pays up front, then no longer worries about the price.  Don’t get the wrong idea.  I have a mortgage and have financed cars… but not anymore, and credit cards are paid off every month.  Because it’s not fair to God or my family to set myself up for failure.  Let’s not make the tough times longer.  Love pays up front.

Isn’t that what Jesus taught us from the Cross?  He paid the price for our sins before we knew Him, before we even existed, so that we would be free from guilt and free to be with Him when the time came.  It seems, then, that Love also knows cost is calculated in present value, but the investment potential – while it takes time to mature – far exceeds the price.  I pray that God will help me to become a more disciplined, and patient, steward of His blessings.

TOUCHED

Genesis 23:1-24:51; Matthew 8:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 3:1-6

“’Come and stay with us, you who are blessed by the Lord.’”

“’Lord’, the man said, ‘if you want to, you can make me well again.’  Jesus touched him.  ‘I want to,’ He said.  ‘Be healed!’  And instantly, the leprosy disappeared.” 

“…When Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her.”

“Lord, have mercy on me.  See how I suffer at the hands of those who hate me.  …Save me, so I can praise you publicly, …so I can rejoice that you have rescued me.”

Touch is a funny thing.  In today’s hurry up, crowded world, we hardly think about a brief brush in the elevator, a bump in the hallway, or even a handshake.  They’re just part of life.  But a caress, a hug, any contact that lasts a little too long… risks rejection as an invasion of our personal space.  Athletes talk about having the right “touch.”  In life, “look, but don’t touch” often seems the safer course.  There’s no denying touching can be hazardous.  Illness spreads.  One enters into relationship, and risks transparency.  There is probably only One who never worried about such things, or about what others thought.  Jesus came with the specific intent to touch every one of us intimately and irreversibly.  Spiritual lepers are not excepted. 

The leper’s implied question was an honest, and even considerate, one.  Read it: “Jesus, are you sure?  Do you really want to risk it?”  On a deeper level, “Jesus, is your heart in it?”  Finally, deeper still, “Jesus, do you understand how sick I really am?”  Those questions sound familiar, just like the fear of true intimacy with God.  But Jesus stands ready to blow right through all of them.  He wants to heal.

Isolation, despair or disappointment absolutely can blind us to future possibilities, whatever the context.  The leper, though, held onto his hope and dared to keep dreaming the impossible in spite of his circumstances.  When Jesus came to touch, then, the leper was ready and willing.  Too many times, I keep Jesus at arm’s length.   But He still wants to touch and heal.  He willingly exposed Himself to literally all manner of human disease and frailty, and came away transformed and victorious.  He invites me – us! - to follow Him, and share His victory. 

Praise God we have a Savior who comes to touch us!  He comes not just to be around us, to talk to us, or to set an example for us, but to actually touch us.  It is time to quit resisting the intimacy of His spiritual touch.  With the Psalmist, I say, “Arise, O Lord! Do not let mere morals defy you!” 

LIGHTER THOUGHTS

Genesis 20:1-22:24; Matthew 7:15-29; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 2:16-22

“I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of the marvelous things you have done.  I will be filled with joy because of you.  I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.”

“Sarah declared, ‘God has brought me laughter!’  …Abraham named the place ‘The Lord Will Provide.’”

Gratitude is one of the finest fruits a human can produce.  Laughter may be a close second.  The two frequently are found together.  And I could do with more of both.

Someone once observed that angels fly because they take themselves so lightly.  Makes sense; I feel most burdened when focused on me.  When I focus on Christ and His amazing Gift, joy increases.  Sometimes, burdens lift completely, but even when they don’t, somehow, they still seem lighter, and easier to bear.

So, here’s what I know.  First, I should at all times have a deep, conscious gratitude that God even bothers with me.  I should be blown away when He blesses me!  Second, God must have a terrific sense of humor, to have stuck with me for so long.  I bet a very real key to God’s compassion and persistence is a large measure of humor.  God never laughs mockingly, but no doubt, He laughs with us in joy, and longs to do it more often.  Odds are, when we get to heaven, we will quickly learn laughter is far more common than judgment.

Life could be easier if I laughed more, especially at myself.  And I would laugh more, if I will remember failure isn’t fatal.  Hey, it can be a great way to get in touch with the lighter side of heaven!  So, there really isn’t any reason not to start “lightening up” today.

BARGAINING WITH GOD - NOT!

Genesis 18: 16-19:38; Matthew 6:25-7:14; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 2:6-15

“What are mortals that you should think of us; mere humans that you should care for us?”

“For the Lord grants wisdom!  …He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly….  Then you will understand what is right, just and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time.  For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.…  Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose speech is corrupt.”

“Abraham approached Him and said, ‘Will you destroy both innocent and guilty alike?  Suppose you find fifty innocent people there within the city – will you still destroy it and not spare it for their sakes?  ...Suppose there are only forty?   …Suppose only ten are found there?’  And the Lord said, ‘Then, for the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.’”

“’Do for others what you would like them to do for you.  This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.’”

At first blush, Genesis raised a pretty serious question for me today.  Can we really bargain with God about righteousness?  Can’t be; God doesn’t work that way.  Happily, after prayer and taking some time to read closer and actually think about the Scripture, I got the real message.  As God began to form a nation of His people, one of the first “human traits” He honored – and so, taught and reinforced - was compassion.  Significantly, God began the conversation with Abraham by talking only about personally “checking out the facts.”  (God knew them already, of course, but he was in teaching mode here.)  It was Abraham who remained fixated on rumors and assumed wholesale destruction was God’s desire.  So, he then went to bat for the folks of Sodom and Gomorrah.  God honored his requests (remember, Lot’s family was not in the city when it was destroyed) while staying absolutely true to His word.  Those left in the cities each (note: “all the men”) just made a final, terminal choice. 

This isn’t about Abraham getting God to change His mind.  God did exactly what He said He was going to do.  It is about God teaching Abraham – and us - to see as He sees.  In the process, God connected with humanity in a new way – linking human compassion and divine mercy.

I should have seen it sooner.  After all, the Flood was not so much about God destroying the world as it was about Him preserving the righteous.  We still start from the position of “cherished by God,” even today!  We only lose that position when we affirmatively, personally reject it through disobedience, and leave Him no other choice.

The message remains: every one of us is loved by God as if we are the only part of His Creation!  “What is man,” the Psalmist asks, “that you are mindful of him?”  “Cherished and treasured,” says God.  “I would give them my wisdom, my mind, if they would just ask and accept it.  Then, they would care for each other as I care for them.”   

Lord, it’s hard to feel saved, or loved, when I’m still in the midst of the floods and fires of life.  Especially when we are surrounded by evil, train us – train me! - to search out and honor righteousness.  Bless us with your compassion, so we can share it with others, even in the middle of our own Sodoms and Gomorrahs. 

Abraham’s negotiations did not change God, but they did allow Abraham to discover a bigger God than he had known before.  May we all be so blessed!

"THE GOD WHO SEES US"

Genesis 16:1-18:15; Matthew 6:1-24; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 2:1-5

“Hagar ran away.…  Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘Return to your mistress and submit to her authority….  I will give you more descendants than you can count.’…  Thereafter, Hagar referred to the Lord… as ‘the One who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have seen the One who sees me!’”

 “’Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you….  Pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.  … When you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.  Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret.’”

“For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.  God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true.”

Here’s the good news: God knows what we do in secret.  It’s comforting to know we don’t have to publicly air our sins, questions, needs or even praises to have God know and respond to them.

Here’s the bad news: God knows what we do in secret.  There’s no hiding our sins, questions or needs.  

In short, God sees each and every one of us right down to our souls.  He does not look past us as if we are a distraction, or not worth His attention.  He does not look through us, as if we aren’t there.  He does not look around us, or use peripheral vision, while dealing with more important things.  He really sees us, just as we are. 

So… running from Him is futile.  Putting on “shows” of my religion or faith is a waste of time (and draws too much attention to me, anyhow).  And praying just what I think He wants to hear is possibly even a bit insulting.  I need to be more real with God.  And I can be more real with God.  Because He already sees me… and loves me anyway!

Don’t you suspect there is tremendous, powerful freedom in being able to be absolutely genuine all the time with our Creator? Wouldn’t that be a cool relationship to have, unburdened by guilt since nothing is hidden and nothing is unforgiven?  I hear my inner voice (and, I think, many others now) saying, “You can do that?”  Scripture says so.  God sees it all.  All we have to do is let go of it (whatever “it” is that is not of Him), and He will fill our lives to overflowing with His Spirit and blessing in return. 

PROMISES

Genesis 13:5-15:21; Matthew 5:27-48; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 1:29-33

“…The Lord said to Abram, ‘Look as far as you can see in every direction.  I am going to give all this land to you and your offspring as a permanent possession.’ …Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord declared him righteous because of his faith.”

“I say, don’t make any vows…. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’  Your word is enough.”

When God wanted to be understood on earth, He sent His Word – Jesus Christ.  It should come as no surprise, then, that God views even our words very seriously.  If we are to represent Christ, our words have to be believed, and if we don’t mean it, we just shouldn’t say it. 

“Let’s do lunch.”  “I’ll pray for you.”  “I’ll write or call soon.”  But I don’t.  Ouch!  What else needs to be said? 

Just this: people who cannot be relied on have a tough time being disciples.  Testimony from unreliable witnesses never legitimately presents God’s Word.  Yet, we are called to be disciples.  Conclusion: integrity matters!  God wants our words to be consistent with His Word. 

WHIPSAWED?

Genesis 11:1-13:4; Matthew 5:1-26; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 1:24-28

“At one time, the whole world spoke a single language…. ‘Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies – a monument to our greatness!’  …The Lord confused the people by giving them many languages, thus scattering them across the earth.”

“’You are the light of the world….  Don’t hide your light under a basket!  …Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.’”

“The proud will not be allowed to stand in your presence…. Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me.  Tell me clearly what to do, and show me which way to turn.”

“Let your light shine.” – Yes!

“Let’s build a tower.” – No!

“Let your good deeds shine.” – Yes!

But remember, “The proud will not… stand.”

Oh, good grief!  God did not need different languages to confuse me.  Just bringing these verses together did the trick nicely.  To do or not to do?  Is that really the question?  No; the question, of course, is who gets the glory.  That, and only that, determines what God will honor.

Pride has always been one of my spiritual issues.  There was no childhood distinction between doing my best and being the best.  I eventually did realize the best was beyond me.  But when one really honest look at even “my best” showed little to be proud of, and a self-image based mainly on blind and empty arrogance, all my macho was lost in an instant….

But the experience was not a waste.  A very understanding – and, fortunately, none too sympathetic – pastor taught me accomplishment is only half a concept.  Godly achievement is a two step process.  First, we are called to do our best.  Scriptures never support “good enough.”  There is NO glory in a job poorly done.   But second, somehow, when we don’t care who gets the glory, or more precisely, work to glorify God, the Lord Himself sanctifies our efforts, and that makes all the difference.

In this context, the plea of the Psalmist has new meaning.  Lead me, Lord, through your path between arrogance and confidence, and let my confidence be based only on your grace.  Bless my efforts to give you the glory, and turn me away from anything that would draw others away from you.