March 26: Joshua 23-24, Psalm 44, 1 Corinthians 11
March 27: Judges 1-3, 1 Corinthians 12
March 28: Judges 4-5, Psalms 39 and 41, 1 Corinthians 13
IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU
Joshua 23:15 ...
"But in the same way that every good thing that the Lord your God promised about you has been fulfilled, so the Lord could bring against you every bad thing as well. He could wipe you out from this fertile land that the Lord your God has given you."
Read: I brought you into this world and I can take you out. That's what I heard when I read this verse the first time through. These early days of the Israelites were filled with constant reminders to reflect on all they've experienced. The point is NOT to then conclude that they (or we) are all that. The point is to learn of God's character, to gain deeper confidence in God as a promise-keeper, to bank on the next promise though it may require some crazy trust from them (us).
Isn't it just like us to experience a little success, get the big head about how it all came about, and forget just who the opportunity, the wisdom, the strength, the courage, and the victory all came from? God knew His people would make that turn and Joshua's words were supposed to serve as a warning. Funny how that warning can't be heeded if the person(s) won't listen. Like running the hair dryer while you're enjoying that nice hot bath, we often think little and remember even less.
I believe that this short verse tucked into Joshua's strong call to remembrance is a warning against our sense of entitlement and arrogance. And, both of those rear their ugly heads in our relationship with God. God's lovingkindness extended again and again becomes an expected commodity in our lives as we grow to believe we deserve ... whatever. It's really not about you (except that God loves you enough to send Jesus for you and to you, over and over again). The way we hang on to that immeasurable gift of love, though, is stop thinking about how good we are or are not. You're not. I'm not. It's not about you or me. It's about God.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
Judges 2:16, 19
"Then the Lord raised up leaders to rescue them from the power of these raiders ... But then when the leader died, they would once again act in ways that weren't as good as their ancestors', going after other gods, to serve them and to worship them. They wouldn't drop their bad practices or hardheaded ways."
Sad, but true. As long as the teacher/leader/project manager/parent, etc. is in front of us, we believe we're enough on our own; but, as soon as they exit, we're in a turmoil. Before we "tsk tsk" at our early brothers and sisters, let's remember in our own lives how crunch time has come and we panicked at least on the inside, often defaulting to what comes easily and what's lived out in front of us. Examples: we want to allow the Spirit to tame our tongue, but when the gossip gets juicy, I jump in without thinking, even if it's just to listen. Though I know that one more cookie is not good for my waistline or my blood pressure, "just this once"...
We need companions in this life. Of all creation, God only says it's NOT good once ... when Adam was alone. We need each other. You can be strong when I'm not feeling it; I can remind you of who and Whose you are when you've lost your way, and we can be that example for one another that jogs our memory and our commitment.
This independent, selfish culture that's got it's hooks in us would tell us that we should be able to figure life out on our own, that we deserve the opportunity to make our own way. Phooey. I tend to side with Admiral Richard Byrd who said that "we must learn from the mistakes of others; none of us have enough time to make them all on our own." (Soapbox Alert ... Parents who want their children to make up their own minds about religion or whatever else drive me crazy. For fear of unduly influencing your children, you forget that: 1. they will make up their own mind one day with or without your help, 2. God has entrusted them to you and is waiting for you to give them a headstart by standing for something, and 3. the world and someone in their lives will step in to teach them where you won't step up.)
Truth in a nutshell, in my humble opinion, is that effective leadership is rooted in committed follower-ship. More specifically, how in the world will I be able to lead anyone else, if I have no real clue how to be led? And, how will I learn better how to be led unless I give myself to One who will lead me will without leading my astray?
Friend, choose carefully the One whom you will follow.
YOU GO, GIRL!
Judges 4:9 ...
"Deborah answered, 'I'll definitely go with you. However, the path you're taking won't bring honor to you, because the Lord will hand over Sisera to a woman.' Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh."
Quick recap. God gave clear commands and promises to everyone, especially leadership. God expected that the Israelites would follow those commands and trust those promises to the letter. Barak had received a command from God concerning standing against Jabin's army and Barak was too chicken to go without Deborah. The verse above is her answer to Barak.
Quick spoiler. Barak does what God told him to do with his friend, Deborah, marching into battle with him and he's not worried about who gets the honor or the credit. But, it's not the one you think! It's not Deborah, but another strong woman who decides to act instead of waiting for someone to do it for her, or for God's people.
Though I'm female clergy and our ranks are small in numbers compared to our brothers, this is not work built on or for comparisons. I'm not a banner-waver or a drum-beater because to swing the pendulum of thought or action too far in 'the other direction' isn't helpful either. Suffice it to say: God loves us all, has empowered and gifted us all equally yet differently, and God longs for each of us to step up and out in faith to be used for God's glory and for the healing of the world. You get the picture.
Judges sets the stage for that very picture of a God who commands and calls, who gives Himself away and trusts in the abilities assigned to each of us to make us that same kind of living example. Think back in your reading (or go back and read it for yourself). In 5 short chapters ...
- Achsah (Caleb's daughter), who was to be property, basically, given by her dad to the warrior-victor who captured a specific town turns the tables and becomes, with her father, the arbiter of property lines to ensure the health and success of her 'new family'
- Deborah becomes a trusted and wise judge/prophet for the Israelites ... at the same time she is the wife of another trusted leader of the Israelites. Maybe the first dual-income household, by God's ordination ... they figured out how to share work and ministry. AND, she marched in battle with Barak. Hmmm.
- Jael remembered when other Israelites had forgotten ... she knew her God, she trusted His commands and his promises. And, she became a warrior in her own home, not hesitating to do what God commanded though she must have been surprised, too, that stopping Sisera became her work when Barak was too chicken. Not your average Suzy Homemaker.
All of these people were unlikely choices to do amazing things in the name of and by the power of God. They were able to live into their moments because they knew who God is and were not worried about what they might be lacking. Doesn't matter what you and I lack; God lacks nothing. Doesn't matter what others think of us; only matters that God does think of each us. Highly, I believe.
So, you go girl. You go, fella. Not on your own or for yourself. Go with God!
Lord Jesus, your Word is absolute wisdom and hope, encouragement and challenge. I am filled with gratitude for the boldness of Achsah, the strength of Deborah (especially in how she gave herself away in so many ways), and the deep, simple trust Jael shows for you. Help me be like them. Not for my own sake, but the sake of being your follower first so that others might be encouraged, too. That's the only way that I can ever make a difference in my own family, my own community, my own church/Your Church, this ol' world. Have your way in me, God, and I trust you enough to follow that way ... if you'll help me. I love you, Lord. Let it be.
March 21 - Joshua 9-11, 1 Corinthians 6
Joshua 9
Yeah, I picked the whole chapter. The story is that important. It couldn't come at a better time for me because it reminds me of the preaching text I've chosen for tomorrow. So, if you're game, you've got another passage to look at: the parable of the dishonest manager in Luke 16:1-13. The parable is one of Jesus' hardest teachings and I'm almost giddy to find another place in scripture that bears out God's truth.
First, Luke's telling of Jesus' parable. A manager is rotten at his job - on top of keeping shoddy records, he's probably skimming off the top of astronomical charges to the clients/tenants renting from his boss. When the boss gets wind, he fires the manager, but not before the manager can sit down with each client/tenant and reduce what's owed to the 'master.' I admit that I've struggled with Jesus' commendation of the manager's dishonest behavior especially when the layer of self-service is slathered on top at the end of the story. Just like I remind my congregation when we're dealing with a parable ... Jesus made the story up, telling it ON purpose WITH a purpose. In short, I would argue that the dishonest guy knew he was in trouble and, in the end, knew he had no other alternative but to bank on the boss' mercy and grace which seemed to be plentiful.
Second, the story from Joshua about the folks of Gibeon and their clever dealings with the Israelites. When we pick up the story with chapter 9, they've heard all kinds of tales about the Israelites defeating their enemies handily and know they don't stand a chance against them. The Gibeon-ites' only hope is to strike some sort of peace treaty with the Israelites. They won't even get an audience with the Israelite leadership without a little cunning and deceit. So they pretend to be strangers from far off and argue their desire for a peace agreement. Problem for the Israelites is two-fold: they get the spiritual imperative to offer hospitality to stranger and neighbor alike (same way God was/is hospitable to them) AND they didn't ask for any decision or discernment from God about these people! Truth was that those Gibeon-ites were neighbors, part of the people and land God was giving over to the Israelites, but now the Israelites' word was their bond and they couldn't, wouldn't take down their Gibeon neighbors.
When Joshua asked them why they did it, their answer was basically this: we heard that God was giving you all this land so we knew we didn't stand a chance and this is what we came up with. "Here we are in your power (v. 25)" but we're still alive! With a little help from Michael Frost in his book, Jesus the Fool: The Mission of the Unconventional Christ, I've come to understand that the dishonest manager in Jesus' parable came to the same conclusion - he had no hope in facing the music with his boss, so he banked on the mercy and grace of that man.
For so long this has been a stretch for me, but I'm almost giddy, as I said before! You and I are Gibeon-ites! We are dishonest managers. We recognize (because we're smart like that) that on our own we are inept, powerless, and defenseless. If we really are 'smart like that' we'll do whatever is necessary to lean into God's grace and mercy. After all, that's Who God has shown Himself to be ... Grace and Mercy. Trouble with me is, I keep wanting to show God how good I am on my own when both of us know differently. Oh, to be as clever as a Gibeon-ite or that silly manager that Jesus made up. Oh, to be clever enough to realize how desperately I NEED God!
Lord Jesus, you were the clever one telling the story of my life and lead me to the realization that I'm not all that. How slow I am to realize that my intellect and strength and cunning are not trustworthy, but your grace and mercy always are. You, in your fullness, are trustworthy. Teach me, Lord, to lean first on you instead of on self. Thank you for your patience and understanding and your limitless love. Let it be so ...
March 13: Deuteronomy 22-24, Galatians 4
Instead of one verse or a short passage jumping out from today's readings, what caught my attention in the three chapters of Deuteronomy are these two words: REMOVE and REMEMBER.
Throughout our "early history" we find sweeping passages that echo warnings and encouragements over and over again. So, the echoes in these three chapters aren't new, but the Spirit showed me something today that is clarifying. So many times through the Old Testament we hear the familiar "don't do this," or "you MUST do this." And, like yesterday's reading, we're often reminded of what God is giving us - battle victories, safe places to be and build community, freedom in place of slavery, and on and on.
It dawned on me today that these two words describe a large part of our work. God is busy going before us, preparing the way to give us this promised land. Trusting God and marching where, how, and when God says march is certainly part of our work. We march with confidence because of the covenant relationship we have with God. And, God has given us responsibility in this covenant relationship with God and with each other.
Remember. Remember where you've come from, remember Whose you are, remember what I've done before you, remember the promises I've made to you, remember, remember, remember. I've often said that God made us to be remember-ers. (That's why forgive-and-forget will never hold water; we can't do it.) So, remembering who and Whose we are is a huge part of our relationship with God and our relationships with one another. Why? Our identity determines how we are in relationship with any one, so it stands to reason that remembering who and how I am (how I came to be, how I am transforming, toward what end I am striving, etc.) affects all my other thoughts and behaviors.
Remove. Several times, at least in these three chapters, God says "remove such evil from your community." This is where it would be nice for Batman or Captain America to show and take care of all the evil, but God seems to be trusting His folks to be able to recognize what is of God and what is not. And, to maintain or honor this standard of sorts that has been set. To NOT do so threatens not only my own spiritual health, but that of my community, too. Remove. Not set aside, lock away, ignore. Remove. And, God really is trusting me to speak to and act toward evil. Yikes.
Both of these words are action words. Both actions are my responsibility and, so, can/should originate with me. I don't have to wait for someone to tell me what to remember or what threat should be removed. I am responsible and aware enough of the Source of my identity and all that threatens my health that I can do this work. But, will I? Do I really believe that I have the ability, the responsibility, or that the threat is real? While my circumstances may look completely different from those of the Israelites settling into new places, I can give you this simple example from my own life. I am created by the God of the Universe and created in His image, designed to be a temple of the Holy Spirit. Chips and dip, while tasting of heaven, are not good for me ... especially when moderation is thrown out the window! But, I eat them anyway. And, they elevate my weight, my cholesterol level, and all manner of other things we won't discuss.
Where did I fail? Me? A temple of God's Spirit? What would He want with me?! Or, there's no real threat here toward my overall health; these little ol' chips barely drug through Pancho's cheese dip couldn't possibly do any harm if I just have a few once in a while.
You get where I'm going. You and I have to decide whether we believe God's claim on us. I have a friend who is known to say, especially to those who work with him, "what you do determines what I do." If I believe God has a claim on me, then my work is clear. Trust, yes. Suit up and march into certain battles, you betcha. Remember who and Whose I am, absolutely. Remove evil from my path and from my community, that, too. Time to get busy.
Lord Jesus, I pray for deep conviction of who and Whose I am. That identity sets my mind as well as my hands and feet to holy work, beginning with remembering who I am in and because of your immeasurable love. The power that comes with that love will be what I need to remove evil from my path. And, you've promised to cover the gaps in my ability and my sight. I pray for your protection, Lord, but I'm also glad that you don't let me off the hook. I will do my part in this relationship you've extended to me. With your strength, I will do my best. Amen.
March 12: Deuteronomy 19-21, Galatians 3
"When you march out to battle your enemies and you see horses, chariots, and a fighting force larger than yours, don't be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, the one who brought you up from Egypt, is with you."
Deuteronomy 20:1
Man, this verse is packed full! I bet I know the part of the verse you love as much as me ... the Lord is with us! That's good news. That we still so easily forget that God's ALWAYS with us baffles me, but the truth is He's a constant companion, whether we face good or bad.
There's still more to unpack, though. And, at first glance, it's not-so-good news. The hard truth we gotta face?
- there are times you have to do battle
- you will have enemies
- sometimes your enemies will be better prepared to fight than you
One of those truths alone would be enough to send us back in the house. We would prefer life to be easy (or someone else do the hard part for us), we would rather think we have no enemies (if you're kind enough to not have made an enemy for yourself by now, you'll have 'em anyway just because of the One to whom you belong ... well, if others know you belong to Him), and we're smart enough to know that when we're overpowered, the fight's not worth it.
The Truth that trumps them all, though, is the one we celebrated at the beginning: God is always with us ... even when He sends us into battle, even when we face the Enemy, and especially when that Enemy seems to be better prepared for the scrap. God promised the Israelites that He was giving them the battle against these enemies. Well ...
- how can you be victorious in battle if you won't go to battle? And,
- how will God be glorified in your life if you won't lean on His power and wisdom over your own?
My temptation (yours, too, probably) is to pick the battles I know I can win ... emphasis on the "I can." And, my primary Enemy (yours, too) would love nothing better than for us to forget that God goes before us, has given us those spiritual battles and a few others thrown in for good measure, so it doesn't matter what power any enemy brings against us ... God is All-Power.
No doubt, you are just like me ... your life has been touched by diseases like cancer and addiction, you have known more than your share of discord and disappointment, and you've been complicit, if not the cause of such more than once. You know what it's like to feel powerless. All the more reason to anticipate the need for and claim God's power, that promised power that will secure the important victories in your life and in mine.
God's promise is sure; He is with you. Now, receive your marching orders and get going!
Lord Jesus, lots of folks struggle with this ready-to-do-battle God of the Old Testament all the while discounting the battles we face every day. Thank you for your promise to always be my companion. And, for the promise that the toughest battles are already won because you have secured that victory for me, despite me! .. for that I am forever grateful. I need your courage to suit up and march into battle, especially when I see how well armed the Enemy is. You are All-Power, though, and if I'll keep my eyes on you neither the piddly power of the Enemy nor my own ineptitude will defeat me. Thank you, in advance, for your love and watch-care. I love you, Lord!
March 10 ... Deuteronomy 11-15, Galatians 1
"You heard about my previous life in Judaism, how severely I harassed God's church and tried to destroy it ... But God had set me apart from birth and called me through his grace. He was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might preach about him to the Gentiles." Galatians 1:13, 15-16
It's obvious, I know, but must be said: Paul's response to God's call has two distinct seasons. His life in Judaism, as he calls it in the Common English translation, and his life after the Damascus Road experience with Jesus. But, what I love about this short passage can be easily missed. Paul acknowledges that though his expression of love for God and his commitment to serve God were very different in those two seasons, God's design for Paul's life was the same since the beginning. God's call on Paul never changed; it unfolded, it took twists and turns, but God - and that call - never changed. As he was writing these words, Paul could recognize how drastically his ministry had changed from when he was studying with Gamaliel, and when he was chasing down people of The Way. And, in these words he recognizes that the shift in understanding and living out of ministry is fulfillment of what God wanted from the beginning.
The challenge for me (and, I would dare say ANY of us) is the tendency to qualify what is on either side of a shift as good or bad, right or wrong. We even think about our life's work (what DID you want to be when you grew up?) as if there's one right answer to the question. I would dare say that all the education and experiences that led Paul to the abrupt change on the Damascus Road were instrumental in how he would live out this very different expression of love for God wherever he went. They weren't wasted because he was now doing something very different. But, isn't that our temptation? When change happens, to think of all that went before it as a waste, not worth anything ... at least, not now.
But it is. All that God leads me to and all that God leads me through works to make me who and Whose I am. And, that makes all the difference in everything I do. Today, my life is nothing like I thought it might be when I was dreaming at 12 years of age. Or, at 21. Even 30. That's not good or bad, right or wrong. It just IS ... wonderful. Because at every turn, whether my life changes or it's more of the same, I can see that God has been leading and companioning me all the while. From birth, God knew what I'd be doing, what I am capable of, what stirs the passion deep within me and what makes my blood boil. Every experience that you and I have is working to prepare us for what is yet to come. So ...
Thank you, Lord, for giving me what I need for what will come my way. Help me to receive it fully, trusting that the experiences, knowledge, people, and tasks are gifts from you to me. You know me better than I know myself and, so, you certainly know what I need. My challenge is to think of changes and surprises in my life as new chapters, same story ... or, new territory on the map, same destination. And, because of your love, mercy, and grace, I will be ready for whatever comes next. Thank you, Lord, again for knowing me and loving me so well. Let it be!
Back in the saddle ...
March 9: Deuteronomy 10-12, Mark 16
"When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they could go and anoint Jesus' dead body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they came to the tomb. They were saying to each other, 'Who's going to roll the stone away from the entrance for us?' " Mark 16:1-3
What an act of faith! Of course, we know how much these women - like so many others - loved Jesus because of His deep love for them, for all of us really. We could excuse their actions as going through the motions of right response in the grip of grief, of desperation seeking relief or resolution. It would be blind and heartless, I think, but we could even consider them as unthinking that Sunday morning, to have no clue how they were gonna pull this off.
I choose, however, to consider what those women did as a great act of faith. They walked anyway. They haven't figured out how that stone was gonna get moved. They had no sure contact who could help, had no plan A really to get to Jesus that they might anoint him. But, they walked anyway. It was the right thing to do, what they wanted to do for Jesus. And, this is where I find myself convicted. I am guilty of waiting ... waiting until I know the plan is foolproof and sure. Waiting until I know I will be successful, or, at least, be able to finish the task (and get credit for trying). These gals didn't know if they'd even be able to begin their task, but they walked anyway.
After having spent time with Jesus - hearing him teach with authority, seeing him love without boundaries, watching him hold others in love just as surely as he held them accountable (thank you, Bishop Carder!), and watching him just be Who is was/is/will always be - they could do nothing less than walk anyway. They were determined to love and, so, trusted God would enable or empower them by making the best way possible. I want to live with that kind of trust. I'll be more specific: I want to live with that kind of confidence in the trustworthiness of God (because God always is) and in God's crazy bent to trust me to be faithful in following Jesus (even though I mess that up regularly).
Patient and Loving God, you already know before I confess how hesitant I am. I often chicken out of walking in faith; instead, I wait for evidence that the plan will lead to a favorable outcome and, so, the walking is no risk. Mustard seed faith, the kind Jesus says any of us - even me - can have, tells us to start walking and let God work out the rest. I want that kind of bold faith, Lord. Thank you for not giving up on me, for giving me chance after chance to experience this kind of courageous faith. Here I go, Lord; go before me, get my back, and better still ... walk with me. Please. Let it be so.
Whew! It's been a few days. I haven't felt my best in the last few days and, in light of my thoughts tonight, I'll say that trying to make sense of what God was whispering to me as I meditated on His Word is, at times, a futile effort. I've kept those thoughts to myself in the last week, but am anxious to get started again. So, here we go...
January 16 ... Genesis 39-41, Luke 16
Since I discovered it the first time, I've always thought that the story of Joseph in Potiphar's house was a little creepy. I get that God shows favor to those whose hearts belong to Him in ways that are inexplicable to those who won't or can't see, but that wife of Potiphar's!
Genesis 39:6 ... "So [Potiphar] handed over everything he had to Joseph and didn't pay attention to anything except the food he ate."
On the surface, one might be amazed at the trust that Potiphar showed in Joseph. Here he is - Joseph, that is - not just a 'foreigner' in this household, but a foreigner often defined by culture as a strange-r, one to be skeptical of and to keep one's eye on. And here he is, Joseph, entrusted with EVERYTHING in Potiphar's household except his mac-n-cheese.
A similar first glance might even lead you to think first about Joseph's trustiworthiness both in human relationship and in his relationship with God. You might admire his intelligence and wisdom and skill as a manager of many aspects of daily life, his own and that of the Potiphar household.
But, what catches my attention is that Potiphar had decided - perhaps because Joseph was who he was - that there was no need for him to pay attention to anything other than what went into his belly. Nothing got his concern or even a second glance, except his ribs and what he wanted sticking to 'em. Nothing.
O.K., so confession time. I'm too much of a control freak to let someone take that much responsibility for too much that's supposed to be on my plate. They might not do it well. They might not do it right (read: my way). I can't for the life of me imagine Potiphar letting everything go except for his plate. Doesn't make what his wife did right by any stretch, but sure takes the surprise out of it ... at least for me.
The application I take from this surprising revelation regarding Pharaoh's chief officer is less about Potiphar or his wife or even Joseph. There are responsibilities entrusted to me that I take way too serious and I want to learn to let a Joseph (someone God raises up in my life that's trustworthy even though different from me) help me out some. There are responsibilities, too, that only I can take care of and, further HOW I care for them is important, too.
The word "priority" isn't mentioned in this passage but it is the foundation of it all. Joseph knew his priority - his relationship with God - and attending to that first made him ready for everything that came his way, and I mean everything. What gets my attention makes all the difference in this life I am living, and maybe in someone else's (like Potiphar, or his wife, or those unnamed servants, even a Pharaoh down the road), too.
Lord God, my attention is often distracted, sporadic, and at times withheld from that which You see as important. By the same token, I keep a death-grip on things that I really could let go of ... at least for a while. Give me wisdom as you set under me a firm foundation of relationship that will put everything else in its rightful place and perspective. And, teach me trust as I let you set my priorities for each day you give me. I want to pay attention to the things that bind our hearts together, so show me, Lord. Amen.
In order to be clear about what should get my attention from the way-too-long-list-of-things-to-do, I must yield my own list of priorities and trust God to show me what comes first.
