Devotion for February 29

No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar… Luke 11:33

I have begun to think that the Christian Church, as a whole, needs a new marketing firm. We have the most wonderful message to share with the world but just don’t seem to be getting it out! The simple notion of our God coming as a baby, growing into a man of integrity who gives his life so that heaven might be opened to all is compelling. No wonder we are the fastest growing religion in the world!

But in the western world, we have hidden our lamp in the cellar. Most often it seems that we are defensive instead of lovingly offensive – in every sense of that word. The Gospel continues to prove so powerful that it changes lives, reorients entire communities and defies tyranny around the world. Increasingly persecuted, the Christian Church nonetheless grows. Often overshadowed by social service agencies (not necessarily a bad thing) the Church continues to invests countless hours and billions of dollars every year to feed the poor, cloth the naked and visit the sick and imprisoned.

Yep… we need a new P.R. firm because Christians over-all seem to have become “quietistic.” We are quiet about the good we are privileged to do in Jesus’ name. We are silent about the prayers that we experience as answered. We are reticent to share our deepest convictions for fear of offending others or of being too evangelical.

I get all that. What I don’t get is how we can keep this to ourselves. What I don’t get is how we can know the presence of God and the hope and love our faith provides and not be eager – let alone willing – to share it.

This Lenten Season, I am challenging myself – and you! – find appropriate ways to talk about Jesus and his benefits or blessings. I hope you’ll join me… Amen

Devotion for February 22

Now during those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray; and he spend the night in prayer to God.  Luke 6:12

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. Lent is comprised of 40 days – Sundays excluded because they are always an Easter celebration. The intent of Lent is to call us into a closer walk with our Lord Jesus Christ. Historically, that has been emphasized through spiritual disciplines – especially giving up something that we value. I have, for example, given up coffee and breads for Lent. I once gave up chocolate – but my wife rightly told me that didn’t count since I don’t like chocolate anyway! The point is that, as we sacrifice something we enjoy, we more closely identify with the sacrifice of our Lord.

Recently, there has been a change for many of us in the spiritual disciplines of Lent. Instead of giving up something, many of us now choose to take on an added effort. For some it is prayer; for others it is Christian service; still for others it is the effort of exercising daily charity – beginning with those closest to us.

This Lent I am going to daily treasure my family, my friends, my church and, especially, my God. I think that, if you are like me, life can become so filled with concerns and challenges that simple expressions of love and appreciation for those around us gets lost. Yet, Jesus took time on the way to Jerusalem – the way to the Cross – to heal a blind man and have supper with a tax collector. He spoke to his disciples of his love in the most grief-charged moment of his last days – the Passover. The moments of simple kindness were not lost to him. This Lenten season, I want to go out of my way to create simple moments of appreciation and love.

Not much of a discipline, you say? I suspect it will be harder than even I imagine.

Devotion for February 15

John (the Baptist) sent word by his disciples and said to Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Matthew 11:2-3

In his book The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey asks the same question as John the Baptist. This many centuries after the ministry of Jesus, the question seems so much more reasonable than to hear it asked by John who knew his cousin and his cousin’s work. But John had just been jailed by Herod and surely knew his fate. On the edge of eternity, John is not only asking if Jesus is the one; he is also asking if his life’s work had been successful. The answer to both questions is yes. But, of course, we see it from this side of history, and he couldn’t have known how it would all turn out.

I can’t tell you how many people I have counseled who asked the same question of Jesus – most of the time the question is born out of personal need. What I’m suggesting is that the question, “Who is Jesus?” is rarely purely academic. As Yancey writes: In this book I attempt to tell the story of Jesus, not my own story. Inevitably, though, a search for Jesus turns out to be one’s own search. (Pg. 25)

What Yancey is saying is simply that faith questions are always personal. And they are. The tragedy that I’ve encountered is when personal faith questions are held privately by an individual. That’s when uncertainty and anxiety often lead to hasty answers. And quick answers are usually wrong.

What’s at stake in the question of John the Baptist, the question that is at the heart of Christianity, is our confidence in Jesus Christ. In the day-to-day of our lives, this may not seem important. But, like John the Baptist, when the chips are down and we need to really know who to trust, the question is essential. That’s what led Philip Yancey to write his book a few years ago.

Today, rest assured that God has provided us the Bible to lead us to the question and, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, lead us to a confidence in the answer we find there so that we, like Peter, can declare that Jesus “is the Christ, the son of the Living God.” Amen

Devotion for February 8

This week’s devotion was written by our Pastor for Senior Ministries and Pastoral Care, Dick Hutton.

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…Jesus spoke … ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’  ‘Lord, if it is you command me to come to you on the water.’  He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water” Matthew 14:27-29.

Peter, sailing across the Sea of Galilee with the other disciples, becomes afraid as the wind churns the water into huge waves and tosses about the small boat.  And it addition to the storm, in the middle of the night, Jesus comes walking across the water.

Peter’s invitation from Jesus is an unforgettable experience, because he is invited to walk on water and do so with Jesus.  Could it be that we are all invited to step out in faith in order to experience the power and presence of God?  Stepping out in faith is to experience something that we could not do alone; but realize that with God, we are able to achieve what seems impossible.

God calls ordinary people to trust and have faith in the face of their fear.  Moses was scared when God called him to leave herding sheep and return to Egypt.  God was calling Moses to rescue the Hebrew people from slavery and lead them to freedom and a “promised land.”  However, Moses replied “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” …  (but, God didn’t hesitate).  “Go (he said), and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak” (Exodus 4:10-12).  We may feel inadequate or something else – fear has a way of prohibiting us to act and walk into the future.

In the face of fear, Peter stepped out onto the water and walked to meet Jesus.  In a wonderful reassuring way God affirms that all will be well.  And so, Peter got out and walked on the water.  But, if you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.

If you want to experience all the possibilities of faith and the grace of God, you’ve got to be open to explore the possibilities of the unknown and say “yes” to the calling of God.

God calls each of us to walk with him and face our fears.  God sets in motion a divine dynamic far beyond merely human power, he calls us as he did Peter to walk on water.  And when the “strong winds” of life batter us as they did Peter, the hand of Jesus will be there! – “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him” (Matthew 14:31).  God does not ask us to do something and abandon us to the powers at hand; God gives us courage and power, as well as the assurance that He is at our side willing to reach out His hand to save us!

Devotion for February 1

…for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

I returned from Florida to learn that two young men from a local Middle School had taken their own lives. Upon hearing that news my heart sank. First I wondered why no one had seen or heard anything that had indicated these two seemingly well-liked and capable young men were preparing to take their lives. Then I grieved for their parents, families and friends. I couldn’t help but think of all the potential these two young people had squandered. Of course, they were in no position to know that, but I couldn’t help but wonder why no one had told them. Suicide is the final answer to our personal and relational issues from which there is no return. I wish someone had communicated that to them.

I think we in the Church need to do that. I love what St. Paul says in this portion of the pastoral letter we call 2 Timothy. Our calling is not to be timid but to exercise the Spirit of power and love with discipline.

Recently a grandmother came into our offices and tried to get our Minister to Youth and Young Adults to give in on some of the expectations of our Confirmation program. I’m afraid, in the name of love, I told our staff member that we’d stand firm until that young person was willing to come and visit with me personally. Here is a young person who may be receiving mixed messages from those who love them. On the one hand, they honestly care about them. On the other hand, they are not expecting any self-discipline in this regard. I’m worried that the young person’s inner turmoil is not being directed by faith and curbed by self-discipline. Self-discipline is never something we choose for ourselves. It is the result of clear expectations, learned over time and, finally, integrated into our decision process.

Let me be clear: I have no indication that this young person is suicidal. But I worry that he/she will learn to make excuses instead of deal with the harsh issues and expectations of life. St. Paul expects Timothy, his son in the faith, to know the power that is his, the love that supports him and bring them together in self-discipline. Not a bad formula for keeping hope alive and facing down the demon of depression.