they went their separate ways

Thursday (April 28, 2016): Psalm 67; Proverbs 2:1-5; Acts 15:36-41

Acts 15:39  Their argument became so intense that they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.

I have certainly read this passage many times before, but maybe it was that today it was with Psalm 67, or maybe it was just the times we are in, but this really stood out to me.  Certainly Paul is one of the models of the Christian faith.  Not only a model, but through his writings and his life in Christ he is one of the most influential Christians as well.  He, you could say to some degree, wrote the book on the Christian faith.  Yet, here he is in an intense argument with another giant in the faith, Barnabas. What's up with that?
They not only argued, but they went there separate ways. Now we know that the Bible is not a propaganda book.  It doesn't hide the flaws of it's heroes and it doesn't bend the truth.  It is what it is.  But you still have to take notice of the fact that Paul and Barnabas just couldn't see eye to eye.
I think that in this life, especially in these politically charged times, there are many of us Christians that don't see eye to eye with other Christians on practical matters.  I think that is OK.  I don't know if I side with Paul here or Barnabas, but I don't think it really matters which side we are on.  God judges fairly, and I don't think he judges necessarily on whether we bring John Mark with us or not.  He will make all things work together for good for those who are in Christ Jesus.  But to work together to bring the good doesn't mean that it is  a gentle ride on the journey.
It is not who is right here that matters.  In fact you could argue that their unwillingness to concede is a valuable attribute.  I think that maybe "sticking to our guns" so to speak, can be a sign of faith as well as a sign of pride. Faith, in that we know God judges fairly and He works all things together for good.  Maybe when we get too self righteous and hold others to standards that we cannot live up to ourselves, we are lacking faith. Maybe we should be free to live as the Spirit leads, even when it may seem controversial.

Heavenly Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to trust you no matter what path you lead me on.  Help me to be true to my faith and not always second guess myself and others, but to pursue your righteousness over my own.   Amen

you sea monsters

Friday (April 22, 2016): Psalm 148; Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 11:15

Psalm 148:7  Praise the Lord from the earth,   you sea monsters and all deeps,

It strikes me that today's daily lectionary reading has a very interesting selection, being Earth Day. But the emphasis is not so much on praising the earth.  It is about all the earth praising it's creator God.
I admit, I am not a person that gets excited about Earth Day.  That being said, I could get a lot more excited if the emphasis was on God the creator of the earth.  That is why we should care for it.  That is why we should have awe and reverence for it.  Not because it is the earth, but because it is a creation of God.
What appeals to me about the verse I selected is that is calls on the sea monsters and all the deep.  To me that is not the pretty little flowers and trees in the garden, but the mighty, scary, and mysterious parts of creation as well.  Usually we attribute those parts to evil.   We talk about them when we have discussion about evil in the world and we lament our hopelessness to control our environment, be it a hurricane or global warming. But here even they are exhorted to praise God.  Even they are part of his creation.  We are often quite hypocritical, not only in how we deal with different cultures but how we even see our own earthly home.  We are quick to identify what we don't like as a problem that needs to be eliminated or even exploited.
Yes, I want to see the sea monsters praise God.  I want to know that God not only created everything but He is still in charge of it.  It kind of reminds me when Peter would not eat what the Lord commanded him to because he called it unclean.  God says do not call what I have given you unclean.

Heavenly Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to see the beauty and value of people and the earth and all creation, not only because of what they are, but because you created them for your glory.  Amen.

I know your presumption and the evil of your heart

Psalm 150; 1 Samuel 17:19-32; Acts 5:17-26

1 Samuel 17:28  His eldest brother Eliab heard him talking to the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David. He said, “Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart; for you have come down just to see the battle.”

Judging by the excerpt from Samuel that I used to title this post one might assume something very different than what is going on in the scripture.  This is what they were saying about David, "the man after God's own heart".  The man that would slay Goliath and become the king.
It is really the suspicion of the people that is what is wrong here, not David's heart. David is proud, yes, but he is committed to defending the name of the Lord.  His courage is greater than the others, not because he is stronger, or tougher, but because he cares more.  He is not going to let this "uncircumcised Philistine " make a mockery of his God. (how is that for being politically incorrect)

It is a complicated world we live in today.  I don't presume any easy answers to the problems that confront the world, our nation,  and each of us individually.  But I do know this; I am deeply saddened when those who would stand up for the name of God are accused of being evil and proud and just wanting to see battle.  This is a tough world and our liberty and freedom is on the line every day.  By God's grace we have the freedoms that we do have  and it is a sacrilege to  hand over those freedoms to whatever Goliath is intimidating us.  Yes, it is in vogue to accuse those that will fight, but I am not sure that those who avoid the fight because of fear and make these accusations are in the right.  If David were to do today what he did then, he would probably be facing court martial, imprisonment, and public humiliation in the press.  He certainly wouldn't become king.
Have we lost our first love as Jesus says about the church at Ephesus?  Have we become so "Christian" that we have forgotten who God really is?  Are we so afraid of the fight that we turn and accuse those who still have a zeal for the Lord?  Are we willing to follow someone that would slay a Goliath?  Or do we just go along to get along?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to rightly discern the battles that confront me.  Help me not to yield to temptation of my flesh, but to sincerely defend your Gospel when and how you would have me do that.  And help me to not accuse others for doing what I am afraid to do, or out of jealousy. Help me to have zeal for your name and be a person after your heart.     Amen.