Well, it's back to business again. Hope you had a good Memorial Day!
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
What did Obadiah do when Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets? (1 Kings 18)
1 Kings 18:3-4 (Obadiah was a devout believer in the LORD. 4 While Jezebel was killing off the LORD's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)
And here's the question of the day:
What happens to Naboth at the day of fasting? (1 Kings 21)
And here's the reflection of the day:
You don't have to read too far in 2 Corinthians to note Paul's warm tone when writing to the church at Corinth. Clearly, he has a strong bond with them. And 2 Corinthians begins with Paul's attempt to reconcile with those particular believers after a little hiccup in their relationship and to reassure them that he is truly trustworthy as a leader.
These introductory verses (vv1-2) provide a salutation for Paul's letter, similar to the salutation in 1 Corinthians. And they introduce one of Paul's themes: Christians are never isolated from each other: "to the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia."
A Christian life is always lived in connections with those around them. Think of the Apostles' Creed line: "I believe in the communion of saints. . . " Paul believes that the "saints--that is, those who believe--are given to one other, to provide mutual support and encouragement.
We are to be concerned with what happens to all Christians, all over the world. To be a Christian is to belong to a global community where no one should be left out or forgotten. But too often we tend to be too focused on the individual, blind to the concerns and welfare of others. We do leave people out. This is an area we could all use a little more repenting.
How can you do a better job of being a Christian in community?
Have a great day!
Allison
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
"Friends, ROMANS, countrymen, lend me your ear"
Hello, Friday! I hope you had a great week and are looking forward to a nice weekend. Today we begin Romans so I'm including a little intro in this posting. I hope it helps.
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Thur, Mar 19: Why did the people on the island of Malta think Paul was a god? (Acts 28)
Acts 28:3-6 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
And here's the question of the day:
Fri, Mar 20: What will happen if the Israelites turn away and worship and bow down to other gods? (Dt 11)
And here's the reflection of the day:
NT Wright, a biblical scholar, calls the book of Romans Paul's "masterpiece." It is a masterpiece that no one can ever fully understand. And if one claims to, then one is a fool!
The best way to understand a whole book is to understand its parts and basic themes. The basic shape of Romans is this:
Section 1, chaps 1-4: The gospel unveils the fact that, in Jesus, Israel's God has been true to his covenant with Abraham and "has thereby brought saving order to the whole world" (Wright, NIB Commentary on Romans). In the face of rebellion, God has, "through the surrogate faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah, created a worldwide--that is, a Jewish and Gentile--family for Abraham, marked out by the covenant sign of faith" (Wright).
Section 2, chaps 5-8: God did what the covenant was meant to do: to address and solve the problem of sin. "All this is the result of God's astonishing, unchanging, self-giving covenant love expressed completely and finally in the death of Jesus" (Wright).
Section 3, chaps 9-11: Wrights writes that this section highlights the tragedy of God's righteousness, specifically that Israel fails to believe in the Messiah. In God's plan, the rejection of Jesus by Israel is still used for the good by the extension of salvation to the whole world. Paul hopes that his Jewish friends will see the blessing the Gentiles are enjoying and will come to share in covenant membership. Therefore, Gentile Christians are warned against anti-Jewish arrogance.
Section 4, chaps 12-16: The community that is created by this gospel "must live as the true, renewed humanity, in its internal and external life" (Wright). Paul seeks to bring together Jews and Gentiles into one worshiping body in Christ.
Wright identifies the major theme of Romans as God's righteousness. "God's gospel unveils God's righteousness"--Paul's own summary 1:16-17. Paul explores God's righteousness in the context of Judaism as well as Paul's own exploration of God's righteousness in the Gentile world.
As you begin to explore Romans in the upcoming weeks, I hope this post will be helpful.
Allison
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Thur, Mar 19: Why did the people on the island of Malta think Paul was a god? (Acts 28)
Acts 28:3-6 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
And here's the question of the day:
Fri, Mar 20: What will happen if the Israelites turn away and worship and bow down to other gods? (Dt 11)
And here's the reflection of the day:
NT Wright, a biblical scholar, calls the book of Romans Paul's "masterpiece." It is a masterpiece that no one can ever fully understand. And if one claims to, then one is a fool!
The best way to understand a whole book is to understand its parts and basic themes. The basic shape of Romans is this:
Section 1, chaps 1-4: The gospel unveils the fact that, in Jesus, Israel's God has been true to his covenant with Abraham and "has thereby brought saving order to the whole world" (Wright, NIB Commentary on Romans). In the face of rebellion, God has, "through the surrogate faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah, created a worldwide--that is, a Jewish and Gentile--family for Abraham, marked out by the covenant sign of faith" (Wright).
Section 2, chaps 5-8: God did what the covenant was meant to do: to address and solve the problem of sin. "All this is the result of God's astonishing, unchanging, self-giving covenant love expressed completely and finally in the death of Jesus" (Wright).
Section 3, chaps 9-11: Wrights writes that this section highlights the tragedy of God's righteousness, specifically that Israel fails to believe in the Messiah. In God's plan, the rejection of Jesus by Israel is still used for the good by the extension of salvation to the whole world. Paul hopes that his Jewish friends will see the blessing the Gentiles are enjoying and will come to share in covenant membership. Therefore, Gentile Christians are warned against anti-Jewish arrogance.
Section 4, chaps 12-16: The community that is created by this gospel "must live as the true, renewed humanity, in its internal and external life" (Wright). Paul seeks to bring together Jews and Gentiles into one worshiping body in Christ.
Wright identifies the major theme of Romans as God's righteousness. "God's gospel unveils God's righteousness"--Paul's own summary 1:16-17. Paul explores God's righteousness in the context of Judaism as well as Paul's own exploration of God's righteousness in the Gentile world.
As you begin to explore Romans in the upcoming weeks, I hope this post will be helpful.
Allison
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Charisma
Hello, again. Glad you're here! I think I figured out what I did wrong with the questions. I seem to be a day ahead of myself.
SO, let's try this again.
Here's the question and answer from "yesterday:"
What group came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons? (Num 8)
Numbers 8:22 After that, the Levites came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons.
And here's the question of the day:
What did they call the place where the fire of God’s anger burned against the people? (Num 11)
And here's the reflection of the day:
In the reading from Numbers 11, we get another look at Moses and his leadership. Moses has been set apart from the others and filled with God's Spirit, much like the priests and Levites.
Moses is the intermediary between God and the Israelites. Only Moses speaks with God face to face, and only Moses speaks for God to the Israelites. Moses intercedes on behalf of the people.
Several complaints are being tossed around in chapter 11. In particular, the Israelites are complaining about only having manna to eat AND Moses is complaining about the burden of his solitary leadership over the Israelites. But the story focuses on Moses' problem specifically.
The craving of some Israelites puts the story in motion. God becomes angry at the whining for meat, and Moses is stuck in the middle. Moses intercedes for them, but also complains about his own situation: (Num 11:13-15) 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now-- if I have found favor in your eyes-- and do not let me face my own ruin."
Very dramatic, don't you think? Almost "soap opera" worthy!
Our culture is a little fixated on soap opera stars and celebrities, isn't it? Being a celebrity is big business these days. I think this attitude has leaked into the church a little bit too. Church members are attracted to exciting preachers and exciting programs. But it is not necessarily the kind of leadership that is needed in the church.
Moses has "charismatic" leadership--"charisma" in Greek means "gift," says Dozeman (NIB Commentary on Numbers). Moses has been given "gifted" leadership. It's not so much a matter of the strength of his personality so much as it is a matter of his personal strength. That is what makes Moses stand out in a crowd. Charismatic leaders can be great agents of change in times of social crisis (Max Weber cited by Dozeman), just like the social crisis Israel is facing right now, as they wander through the wilderness.
Unfortunately, the gift of charismatic leadership is sometimes used for shameless self-promotion because it tends to bring attention to the individual. . . which seems a lot like fame and celebrity. But God intended charismatic leadership to BUILD COMMUNITY; the focus is on the corporate identity, not the individual identity. Dozeman points out, "[Moses'] goal is not fame. . . . The most charismatic leader is the most humble person on earth. Humility is selflessness before god and others. . . . Moses is not a celebrity. He is a charismatic leader."
What kind of leader are you? Do you have "charisma?" Do you seek the attention of being a "local celebrity" in your congregation or area? Do you take pride in being a leader? If so, it may be time to re-examine your motives and figure out how to use your "charisma" for good (for God) and not for yourself.
Allison
SO, let's try this again.
Here's the question and answer from "yesterday:"
What group came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons? (Num 8)
Numbers 8:22 After that, the Levites came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons.
And here's the question of the day:
What did they call the place where the fire of God’s anger burned against the people? (Num 11)
And here's the reflection of the day:
In the reading from Numbers 11, we get another look at Moses and his leadership. Moses has been set apart from the others and filled with God's Spirit, much like the priests and Levites.
Moses is the intermediary between God and the Israelites. Only Moses speaks with God face to face, and only Moses speaks for God to the Israelites. Moses intercedes on behalf of the people.
Several complaints are being tossed around in chapter 11. In particular, the Israelites are complaining about only having manna to eat AND Moses is complaining about the burden of his solitary leadership over the Israelites. But the story focuses on Moses' problem specifically.
The craving of some Israelites puts the story in motion. God becomes angry at the whining for meat, and Moses is stuck in the middle. Moses intercedes for them, but also complains about his own situation: (Num 11:13-15) 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now-- if I have found favor in your eyes-- and do not let me face my own ruin."
Very dramatic, don't you think? Almost "soap opera" worthy!
Our culture is a little fixated on soap opera stars and celebrities, isn't it? Being a celebrity is big business these days. I think this attitude has leaked into the church a little bit too. Church members are attracted to exciting preachers and exciting programs. But it is not necessarily the kind of leadership that is needed in the church.
Moses has "charismatic" leadership--"charisma" in Greek means "gift," says Dozeman (NIB Commentary on Numbers). Moses has been given "gifted" leadership. It's not so much a matter of the strength of his personality so much as it is a matter of his personal strength. That is what makes Moses stand out in a crowd. Charismatic leaders can be great agents of change in times of social crisis (Max Weber cited by Dozeman), just like the social crisis Israel is facing right now, as they wander through the wilderness.
Unfortunately, the gift of charismatic leadership is sometimes used for shameless self-promotion because it tends to bring attention to the individual. . . which seems a lot like fame and celebrity. But God intended charismatic leadership to BUILD COMMUNITY; the focus is on the corporate identity, not the individual identity. Dozeman points out, "[Moses'] goal is not fame. . . . The most charismatic leader is the most humble person on earth. Humility is selflessness before god and others. . . . Moses is not a celebrity. He is a charismatic leader."
What kind of leader are you? Do you have "charisma?" Do you seek the attention of being a "local celebrity" in your congregation or area? Do you take pride in being a leader? If so, it may be time to re-examine your motives and figure out how to use your "charisma" for good (for God) and not for yourself.
Allison
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Numb3rs
Good morning/afternoon/evening! Today we begin month number three of Year of the Bible. Can you believe it? I think it's going so quickly.
I have to tell you the best part of doing YOTB is visiting with people in their homes and seeing their Bibles and participant books sitting out in the open. It does my heart good and I think it pleases God greatly too. I'm glad you're on this journey with me.
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Feb. 28- What was the issue surrounding the Council of Jerusalem?
Acts 15:5 If the Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.
And here's the question of the day:
Sun, Mar 1: What must a Nazirite abstain from eating and drinking? (Num 6)
And here's the reflection of the day:
I have holiness on my mind this morning, mostly because I am preaching on Leviticus in a few hours. And if there's one word to describe Leviticus, it's HOLINESS. All those rules and regulations--those are all meant to encourage and enhance Israel's holiness. After all, God is a holy God and the people he calls his own are called to be (or strive to be!) just as holy. The key phrase to remember about Leviticus is "Be holy because I the Lord your God am holy."
But, my brain needs to transition to Numbers for a little bit (or Numb3rs, as the TV show title says). Lo, and behold, I open up the Bible (technically the file for the Bible program on my computer) to Numbers and I begin to read about "a man or woman" who wants to make a special vow--"a vow of separation the Lord."
Now, to be separate is to be holy. It seems there is a great deal of overlap between Leviticus and Numbers, both in form (long boring lists) and in organizing principles (holiness).
This Nazirite calling is a call to temporary leadership for the laypeople of the community. The author of one commentary notes that the content of the vow is not the point; the point is that laypeople in the church have an opportunity to step up into leadership positions. The vow is done in public, not private; it is official; and it has communal implications.
The Nazirite is required to separate from everyday routine--which is NOT to say that they retreat from life in general. They are still part of the congregation, but their special status brings them closer to the middle of the camp, which is the tabernacle.
I think this kind of temporary vow still exists today. I think God still calls forward laypeople for certain tasks for a temporary time. When our church was struck by lightning and caught on fire in July 2007, I think we had more than a few folks who took a "Nazirite vow"; we had a number of people who stepped up to the plate and helped rebuild the church.
I hope that laypeople in churches are on the lookout for "Nazirite vows" to be taken. It seems to me that pastors may think they know who God is calling to do what, but they're not always right. The Holy Spirit doesn't need to work through the pastor; the Holy Spirit works through individuals and especially lay people. This kind of calling is something that must come from the discernment of each congregation member.
If you feel a "Nazirite vow" in your future (a special calling for a limited time), please TELL YOUR PASTOR! God is obviously calling you to a special task and this is something your pastor will want to hear about.
And now receive this benediction from Numb3rs:
Numbers 6:24-27 24
"'"The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."'
Allison
I have to tell you the best part of doing YOTB is visiting with people in their homes and seeing their Bibles and participant books sitting out in the open. It does my heart good and I think it pleases God greatly too. I'm glad you're on this journey with me.
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Feb. 28- What was the issue surrounding the Council of Jerusalem?
Acts 15:5 If the Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.
And here's the question of the day:
Sun, Mar 1: What must a Nazirite abstain from eating and drinking? (Num 6)
And here's the reflection of the day:
I have holiness on my mind this morning, mostly because I am preaching on Leviticus in a few hours. And if there's one word to describe Leviticus, it's HOLINESS. All those rules and regulations--those are all meant to encourage and enhance Israel's holiness. After all, God is a holy God and the people he calls his own are called to be (or strive to be!) just as holy. The key phrase to remember about Leviticus is "Be holy because I the Lord your God am holy."
But, my brain needs to transition to Numbers for a little bit (or Numb3rs, as the TV show title says). Lo, and behold, I open up the Bible (technically the file for the Bible program on my computer) to Numbers and I begin to read about "a man or woman" who wants to make a special vow--"a vow of separation the Lord."
Now, to be separate is to be holy. It seems there is a great deal of overlap between Leviticus and Numbers, both in form (long boring lists) and in organizing principles (holiness).
This Nazirite calling is a call to temporary leadership for the laypeople of the community. The author of one commentary notes that the content of the vow is not the point; the point is that laypeople in the church have an opportunity to step up into leadership positions. The vow is done in public, not private; it is official; and it has communal implications.
The Nazirite is required to separate from everyday routine--which is NOT to say that they retreat from life in general. They are still part of the congregation, but their special status brings them closer to the middle of the camp, which is the tabernacle.
I think this kind of temporary vow still exists today. I think God still calls forward laypeople for certain tasks for a temporary time. When our church was struck by lightning and caught on fire in July 2007, I think we had more than a few folks who took a "Nazirite vow"; we had a number of people who stepped up to the plate and helped rebuild the church.
I hope that laypeople in churches are on the lookout for "Nazirite vows" to be taken. It seems to me that pastors may think they know who God is calling to do what, but they're not always right. The Holy Spirit doesn't need to work through the pastor; the Holy Spirit works through individuals and especially lay people. This kind of calling is something that must come from the discernment of each congregation member.
If you feel a "Nazirite vow" in your future (a special calling for a limited time), please TELL YOUR PASTOR! God is obviously calling you to a special task and this is something your pastor will want to hear about.
And now receive this benediction from Numb3rs:
Numbers 6:24-27 24
"'"The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."'
Allison
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Last Day!
Hello! Today is our last day with Leviticus. And today is the first day with Numbers. I thought maybe I could do a little intro to Numbers to get you started off right. But first, questions and answers.
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Weds, Feb. 25- How many years is the Year of Jubilee?
Leviticus 25:11, “The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you.”
And here's the question of the day:
Thurs, Feb. 26- What happened to Paul in Lystra?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Here are some themes to look for as you read through Numbers:
1. COMMUNITY--The nation of Israel was formed at Sinai and they journey with God through the wilderness. This is intended "to be a continuing model of how the people of God live out their faith in this world" (Thomas Dozeman, Numbers, NIB Commentary).
2. WILDERNESS SETTING--This is the primary setting for Numbers, as the Israelites travel from Sinai to the promised land of Canaan (through Num 21). The wilderness is replaced by "the plains of Moab" in Numbers 22. The wilderness is the "birthplace" of Israel, a symbol of testing, a symbol of homelessness, and is a location for "God's continuing work in creation" (Brozeman).
3. CHARACTERS--The development of the characters in Numbers revolves around the problem of how to build a theocratic ("a form of government in which a god or deity is recognized as the state's supreme civil ruler"--God bless www.wikipedia.org) society in the wilderness. God is the central character in the story, and all the other characters are defined in relation to God. Brozeman says, "The goal is to devise a way in which a holy God can be brought into relationship with humans who do not share this quality, and, and hence, are at risk in the presence of God."
4. TENSION--There is an underlying tension in the book of Numbers. God, who is holy, separate, and other is also in covenant with humans and creation in spite of their sin. But how can a God who is holy continue to be in relationship with sinful humanity who repeatedly violate the covenant? Something to think about as you read!
The central question of these first group of chapters is "how Israel should organize itself around Yahweh, who dwells in the sanctuary?" (Brozeman). Chapter 1 talks about how Israel was organized into 12 tribes with 12 lay leaders representing them. Also in chapter 1 we see God designating the "Levites" ask keepers (priests) of the tabernacle (0r "Tent of Meeting). Chapter 2 talks about the arrangement of the camp: tribes are clustered in groups of three, surrounding the tabernacle from four directions. Each encampment represents a different theological significance.
Numbers 1:1 sets the stage for reflecting on the importance of order for the priests. It is important that the people are numbered precisely, hence the census here in Numbers 1. The nation is divided up into groups; each group needs a lay leader; the Levites are separated from the other groups to encircle the tabernacle. All things are done "decently and in order," a Presbyterian catchphrase.
But what may seem like OCD to us is actually a response to the presence of God in the community. Administration--numbers and order--are intended to foster a new community in the wilderness. God imposed order upon the chaos at Creation, just as the priest seek to order their new society. But the order of creation is vulnerable to disruptions, just as society is easily susceptible to descent into disorder.
We see that every day, don't we? How neatly ordered life is stretched thin and frequently disrupted by those who refuse to be rank and file members of society. Chaos breaks in at any given moment, and society seeks to patch the hole. We seek to impose order again in hopes of discouraging any other chaos.
So, next time you have to read a list of numbers of this and that (the book is called Numbers, remember!), consider it the priests' way of making the community a presentable place for God to dwell. A spring cleaning of sorts.
What kind of spring cleaning do you need to do in your own life, in your own heart?
Have a great day!
Allison
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Weds, Feb. 25- How many years is the Year of Jubilee?
Leviticus 25:11, “The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you.”
And here's the question of the day:
Thurs, Feb. 26- What happened to Paul in Lystra?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Here are some themes to look for as you read through Numbers:
1. COMMUNITY--The nation of Israel was formed at Sinai and they journey with God through the wilderness. This is intended "to be a continuing model of how the people of God live out their faith in this world" (Thomas Dozeman, Numbers, NIB Commentary).
2. WILDERNESS SETTING--This is the primary setting for Numbers, as the Israelites travel from Sinai to the promised land of Canaan (through Num 21). The wilderness is replaced by "the plains of Moab" in Numbers 22. The wilderness is the "birthplace" of Israel, a symbol of testing, a symbol of homelessness, and is a location for "God's continuing work in creation" (Brozeman).
3. CHARACTERS--The development of the characters in Numbers revolves around the problem of how to build a theocratic ("a form of government in which a god or deity is recognized as the state's supreme civil ruler"--God bless www.wikipedia.org) society in the wilderness. God is the central character in the story, and all the other characters are defined in relation to God. Brozeman says, "The goal is to devise a way in which a holy God can be brought into relationship with humans who do not share this quality, and, and hence, are at risk in the presence of God."
4. TENSION--There is an underlying tension in the book of Numbers. God, who is holy, separate, and other is also in covenant with humans and creation in spite of their sin. But how can a God who is holy continue to be in relationship with sinful humanity who repeatedly violate the covenant? Something to think about as you read!
The central question of these first group of chapters is "how Israel should organize itself around Yahweh, who dwells in the sanctuary?" (Brozeman). Chapter 1 talks about how Israel was organized into 12 tribes with 12 lay leaders representing them. Also in chapter 1 we see God designating the "Levites" ask keepers (priests) of the tabernacle (0r "Tent of Meeting). Chapter 2 talks about the arrangement of the camp: tribes are clustered in groups of three, surrounding the tabernacle from four directions. Each encampment represents a different theological significance.
Numbers 1:1 sets the stage for reflecting on the importance of order for the priests. It is important that the people are numbered precisely, hence the census here in Numbers 1. The nation is divided up into groups; each group needs a lay leader; the Levites are separated from the other groups to encircle the tabernacle. All things are done "decently and in order," a Presbyterian catchphrase.
But what may seem like OCD to us is actually a response to the presence of God in the community. Administration--numbers and order--are intended to foster a new community in the wilderness. God imposed order upon the chaos at Creation, just as the priest seek to order their new society. But the order of creation is vulnerable to disruptions, just as society is easily susceptible to descent into disorder.
We see that every day, don't we? How neatly ordered life is stretched thin and frequently disrupted by those who refuse to be rank and file members of society. Chaos breaks in at any given moment, and society seeks to patch the hole. We seek to impose order again in hopes of discouraging any other chaos.
So, next time you have to read a list of numbers of this and that (the book is called Numbers, remember!), consider it the priests' way of making the community a presentable place for God to dwell. A spring cleaning of sorts.
What kind of spring cleaning do you need to do in your own life, in your own heart?
Have a great day!
Allison
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Another chilly day on tap! Be careful out there!
Here's yesterday's question and answer:
Weds, Jan. 14 On what did Jacob see angels ascending and descending during his dream? (Gen 28)
Genesis 28:12 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
And here's today's question of the day:
Thurs, Jan. 15 Which cities does Jesus denounce? (Matt 11) (This is kind of a trick question because Jesus mentions a number of cities, but he only denounces some of them.)
And here's today's reflection:
I've always been curious about the part of Matthew 11 that I asked the question about this morning. And now that I read it again, I find myself even more curious. So I opened up a commentary to read a little more about what was going on in these cities.
Jesus rebukes three town in the area of Galilee. They are rebuked not because of their lack of faith but because of their lack of repentance, which Matthew explains in verse 20: "Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent." Now, Jesus is not like a traveling salesman, performing miracles to make people believe in him. Miracles are never meant to simply certify Jesus' power; they are manifestations of God's will to save His people. A miracle is a testimony to God's power, not a litmus test of divinity.
So these cities observed Jesus' miracles--heard His testimony--and perhaps responded with faith, but they did NOT respond with repentance. Normally, those are two things we assume go hand in hand. But in this case, apparently not. These cities were like the seed dropped along the path, which sprang up quickly but was scorched in the sun because it didn't take root for water (in the parable of the sower, Matthew 13). Tyre and Sidon (v21) are two cities that were considered full of pagans. Jesus says if these two cities had seen what the Galilean cities had seen, THEY would have repented "long ago in sackcloth and ashes."
This kind of repentance--the kind of repentance God desires--is to take God seriously and to commit their lives to living as a part of His family and His kingdom, continually seeking to be holy as God is holy. That is repentance. Not a one time "I'm sorry," but a continual realization that God is placed "in the highest place, above all else" as the song goes, and a continual effort to realign my life (and yours) with God's expectations.
The other fascinating part of this little story is that Jesus is denouncing whole towns full of people and not individuals. In biblical times and even today, each town decides what is important and what is not, what it will value and what it finds useless. And the individuals in the town are influenced by the values of that town. So a town that does not value God (like these Galilean towns) will not encourage its residents to believe in God. Apparently that is the case with Capernum--perhaps they so valued their commercial financial success that the spiritual issues of the day were pushed to the margins.
Think of the town or community you live in. Does it value God? Does it encourage worship and service and fellowship? Do its residents? There will always be a Christian minority in every community. And it is up to them--to US!--to change the values of the community. Individuals can make a difference in a community. They can change the values of a community from one that esteems the almighty dollar to one that esteems the Almighty God. And in that way, towns across the world can avoid fate of Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernum. Are you ready to be a part of God's revolution?
I'm praying for my community--are you?
Allison
Here's yesterday's question and answer:
Weds, Jan. 14 On what did Jacob see angels ascending and descending during his dream? (Gen 28)
Genesis 28:12 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
And here's today's question of the day:
Thurs, Jan. 15 Which cities does Jesus denounce? (Matt 11) (This is kind of a trick question because Jesus mentions a number of cities, but he only denounces some of them.)
And here's today's reflection:
I've always been curious about the part of Matthew 11 that I asked the question about this morning. And now that I read it again, I find myself even more curious. So I opened up a commentary to read a little more about what was going on in these cities.
Jesus rebukes three town in the area of Galilee. They are rebuked not because of their lack of faith but because of their lack of repentance, which Matthew explains in verse 20: "Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent." Now, Jesus is not like a traveling salesman, performing miracles to make people believe in him. Miracles are never meant to simply certify Jesus' power; they are manifestations of God's will to save His people. A miracle is a testimony to God's power, not a litmus test of divinity.
So these cities observed Jesus' miracles--heard His testimony--and perhaps responded with faith, but they did NOT respond with repentance. Normally, those are two things we assume go hand in hand. But in this case, apparently not. These cities were like the seed dropped along the path, which sprang up quickly but was scorched in the sun because it didn't take root for water (in the parable of the sower, Matthew 13). Tyre and Sidon (v21) are two cities that were considered full of pagans. Jesus says if these two cities had seen what the Galilean cities had seen, THEY would have repented "long ago in sackcloth and ashes."
This kind of repentance--the kind of repentance God desires--is to take God seriously and to commit their lives to living as a part of His family and His kingdom, continually seeking to be holy as God is holy. That is repentance. Not a one time "I'm sorry," but a continual realization that God is placed "in the highest place, above all else" as the song goes, and a continual effort to realign my life (and yours) with God's expectations.
The other fascinating part of this little story is that Jesus is denouncing whole towns full of people and not individuals. In biblical times and even today, each town decides what is important and what is not, what it will value and what it finds useless. And the individuals in the town are influenced by the values of that town. So a town that does not value God (like these Galilean towns) will not encourage its residents to believe in God. Apparently that is the case with Capernum--perhaps they so valued their commercial financial success that the spiritual issues of the day were pushed to the margins.
Think of the town or community you live in. Does it value God? Does it encourage worship and service and fellowship? Do its residents? There will always be a Christian minority in every community. And it is up to them--to US!--to change the values of the community. Individuals can make a difference in a community. They can change the values of a community from one that esteems the almighty dollar to one that esteems the Almighty God. And in that way, towns across the world can avoid fate of Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernum. Are you ready to be a part of God's revolution?
I'm praying for my community--are you?
Allison
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