The Alamo Oak

Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved! You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River. (Psalm 80:7-11 ESV).

The Live Oak at the Alamo ranks as the most popular tree at the Shrine of Texas Liberty. The mammoth specimen anchors the Convento Courtyard and sits next to an abandoned well. Tucked behind the north barracks wall, it exhibits classic Live Oak form: stout trunk and draping branches that bow to the ground, then reach like fingers from the earth. In 1912, Walter Whall carefully removed the earth from the roots of a 40-year-old Live Oak. He hauled it to the Alamo on a cart pulled by four mules. He then transplanted it into the Convento Courtyard where it thrives today. The reason he transplanted the tree was first a marketing ploy. No one had ever successfully transplanted a tree of this size. He set out to prove all the experts wrong. And, he did just that. Our reading today tells of a transplanted “vine from Egypt.” The Lord God transplanted this vine with tender, loving care. The Lord protected it with shade and walls, and “it took root and filled the land.” This vine is a picture of Israel, God’s people, flourishing. If you are a believer, you are a product of this transplant. Ultimately our eternal life is a result of this work of God. My roots go deeply into the soil of another country, Sicily. My grandparents immigrated more than 100 years ago. For the first couple of generations my extended family remained planted in their faith and flourished. Over time, family ties and connections to the immigrant community loosened. In some ways this has been good, though I am thrilled now to see some of those relationships rekindled and growing. Tragically that is not the case with God’s people. Connections with God and God’s people have weakened or been severed for some, and the family tree has weakened. The words of our text reading are nestled in lament. Some¬thing has gone wrong with the vine. God’s people are in anguish, struggling outside of his favor and needing to repent. We need the kind of revival that will help us to awaken from the division and strife we have drifted into. It starts with each of us individually. Let your roots go deeper into the life Christ has won for us!

The Spring Rains

And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the Lord is giving you. (Deuteronomy 11:13-17 ESV).

I live in Parker County Texas, located just 30 miles from Ft. Worth. We like to say this is where the west begins. Perhaps one of the reasons for that is the cattle trails used beginning there and traveling through our county. The topography of our county is rolling hills with plenty of cactus and mesquites. With a mere 35 inches of rain per year, irrigation is essential for all but the hardiest of vegetation. When we do get the spring rains, we are certainly grateful. There’s something wonderful about a gentle soaking rain. The grass and other plants seem to thrive so much better with the rain rather than irrigation. This is the context of our reading today. God is promising Israel to send the rains in their new land of promise. These verses are often misquoted in theological debates. Perhaps some of the reason for these debates is the truth that Jesus teaches concerning the “rain on the just and the unjust” (cf. Matthew 5). It is a clear teaching that God’s providence extends to all his children, “the evil and the good.” By the way, we should not make the mistake to think that some are deserving of the rain and others are not. All of us are “unjust” before the grace of God makes the atonement possible in our lives. But, that’s the real lesson. The rain, the provision for our growth, is all from God. We don’t deserve it and we didn’t earn it. So the call goes out to us to show gratitude by displaying the same kind of love to others, even our “ene¬mies.” For this work of love, I recommend beginning the day with prayer and meditation. Be aware of all those moments when you have an opportunity to reflect the warmth and goodness of God into the lives of others. I have heard the complaint from those who have been angered by someone’s actions, “They just boil my blood.” Well, I suggest you let the rain of God’s grace cool your anger.

Consider the Lilies

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (Luke 12:27-31 ESV).

My interest and ability in gardening is only mildly remarkable, especially considering I married into a family that took gardening to the levels of “extraordinary.” My father-in-law came from a family of farmers. Raised in the fertile land of North Carolina, their main crop was tobacco, though they had large areas of vegetables they cultivated and harvested every year. I cannot remember a time visiting the Perry’s when there were not fresh vegetables served at mealtime. My father-in-law took that knowledge much further earning his Ph.D. in Plant Genetics from the University of Virginia and ultimately coming to Texas where he was renowned for his research in onions, potatoes, and tomatoes. If you like the Vidalia Onion, you may thank him as he developed that strain in his research. He could grow anything! This is that time of the year in Texas when the old windmills are surrounded by blankets of wildflowers. No one plants them; no one tends them. However, their beauty cannot be denied. God simply sees to them, and yet they are the perfect example of “alive in the field today, and thrown in the oven tomorrow” (v. 28). Our reading today takes place as Jesus sits on a mountainside teaching his easily distracted early followers and his eyes light on the splendor of nearby wild flowers. Considering them, Jesus makes a stunning comparison that ¬produces a simple and profound life lesson. In God’s garden, fretting and wearisome work are not only unnecessary but are actually a counter-¬productive insult flung in the face of our caring Creator. If God renders such beauty from nature, will he not care for you? For the next few days I want us to follow Jesus’ counsel to “consider” how we grow and are being formed in God’s garden. Although you may not feel at home in an actual garden, the beauty and glory of life have deep roots in our souls, which need to find their home in the Lord. The lesson today is simple… don’t worry. We are the work of the master gardener!

I Love You

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.’” (Exodus 3:11-15 ESV).

In the first chapter of the prophecy of Malachi, the prophet introduces himself: The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi (Malachi 1:1 ESV). The name Malachi means “my messenger.” In this case, as is so often true, God has a message that he wants Israel to take seriously from the start. This is a prophecy, God says; this is my word through my messenger. God even uses his covenant name, which in the Hebrew text is YHWH (Yahweh). In English we often render it as “the Lord” (with small capital letters). This is the name God used to describe himself when he made a covenant with his people through Moses, as we see in our reading today. Then, in the message through Malachi, God adds again, “says the Lord,” making clear that this is important. If that is true, don’t we need to pay very close attention to it as well? It is the simple message laced throughout the Scripture. Simply, it is “I have loved you.” God’s love is the most important message of the entire Bible, and God’s love is the central message of the Gospel. In the midst of crisis we tend to question God concerning “how” He has loved us. God always has an answer, and he has never once let his love slip, not even for a moment. God loves you, even if you aren’t sure that he does. Even if you have been resisting him or living in rebellion against him. He still loves you, and he very much wants you to know that. The significance of God giving Moses His personal name is in affirming this message of love. And, this is the greater significance of the Incarnation. Jesus becoming a man, living as we do, experiencing the hardships that we experience, suffering the trials as we do underscores this message over and over. God is showing us overwhelmingly that He loves us. Take some time today and dwell on that thought!

Jars of Clay

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:7-11 ESV).

In ancient times there were no banks as we know them, so people would keep their valuables and treasure hidden. In fact, they would often keep it in everyday containers like clay jars, tucked away in a secret place or buried in the ground. The Apostle Paul makes good use of the contrast between the clay and the treasure in our reading today. The cheap, rough, material of a clay jar is totally different from the refined, precious jewels and coins it may contain. And Paul compares the treasure to the precious message of salvation that God calls us to share in Jesus’ name, despite all our earthy weaknesses and sinfulness. It is easy to get discouraged in our own weakness. Even if we are not persecuted or imprisoned for our faith like Paul was, we can understand the feeling of being “hard pressed on every side.” Until the day we are called into eternal glory, we must not lose heart. Till then, let this be our motto: “We also believe and therefore we speak.” Let us not lapse into silence. The same grace that forgave our sin carries us on, through life, so that light may shine out of darkness. How precious are the “wonderful words of life,” the message of forgiveness through God’s love and grace, the news of Jesus’ victory over death, and the promise of our own resurrection! There is no truth as precious as the gospel of Christ! This is the great treasure hidden within us, who are merely clay jars. No matter how hypocritical you may feel as a result of the circumstances of life, deserved or not, we have the very presence of God living within us. Of all the ages in history, this certainly seems like a time to share that message. Think of every encounter as divinely appointed, no matter how trivial it may seem at the time. Do not take for granted these moments to share the wealth of the Gospel you have been made a recipient.

Broken Cisterns

Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. “Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey? The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant. Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head. Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the Lord your God, when he led you in the way? And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates? Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord God of hosts. (Jeremiah 2:11-19 ESV).

In ancient Israel the summer months were extremely dry, and during this time people dug and carved out for themselves cisterns out of the solid rock. These cisterns were like man-made reservoirs that would contain large amounts of water from the rain falls. Many times these cisterns would be covered in some way to keep debris away, and also to prevent accidents from happening. Since much of Jerusalem had a soft layer of limestone at the surface, it was convenient for the Israelites living in Jerusalem to carve many cisterns, especially since water was scarce in Jerusalem. In fact Jerusalem had plenty of water even during their long sieges because of the abundance of water. The hill country had a much harder deposits of limestone which made their water sources more reliable without waterproofing. The act of “digging cisterns” destined to leak and break instead of relying on the “living water” God has provided is not reserved for the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. In the chaos leading up to the French Revolution (1789-99 AD), many churches in France were converted into “Temples of Reason.” People lifted up the “goddess of reason” to celebrate the new Age of Reason in place of the fading Age of Faith. Not long afterward the Age of Romanticism came along to replace the tyranny of reason by lifting up passions and feelings. Like a pendulum swinging back and forth, each age has its own ideology. Sometimes there is a good reason for the change, but usually only one side of truth is exalted. And when that becomes idolized, it prompts a reaction. There is a place for reason, a place for emotions, a place for art, a place for science, and much more. But when people highlight ideals over the sovereignty of God, they become idols (false gods) and are eventually found to be inadequate. Idols are ultimately unsatisfying. That is what happened in the days of Jeremiah. Like idols, broken cisterns leave us thirsty and longing for living water, a gushing spring that never runs dry. So, let me make a few contemporary observations that are in no particular order:  If we have learned anything at all, it is that the virus is indiscriminate. I am well aware of the data that shows the higher rate of disease within certain cultures, but those higher rates only serve to make my point. Particular racial groups and age groups are not more vulnerable because of their race or group, but because our culture denies the equality of all people. Covid-19 is reminding us that we are all equal, regardless of our culture, religion, occupation, financial situation or how famous we are (cf. Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23). This disease treats us all equally. Perhaps we should learn that lesson when this crisis subsides.  I also believe we should learn the lesson of community. We are all connected and something that affects one person has an effect on another. We must learn how important we are to one another (cf. John 15:12; 1 John 3:11). From this truth we ought to be reminded the shortness of life and of what is most important for us to do, which is to help each other.  Certainly we have seen the stark contrast of what we need and what we want. Covid-19 has served as a reminder of how materialistic our world has become. When in times of difficulty, we must remember that it’s the essentials that we need (food, water, medicine) as opposed to the luxuries that we sometimes unnecessarily give value to (cf. Matthew 6:24).  It is reminding us of how important our family and home life is and how much we have neglected this. It is forcing us back into our houses so we can rebuild them into our home and to strengthen our family unit. This produces the truth that our true work is not our job. Our jobs are a means to an end. Of course we all have been gifted to fulfill our calling in life, but ultimately every calling must accomplish two things: love God and love others as we love ourselves (cf. Matthew 5:21-48).  We should note that the virus calls us to recognize our egos will be our undoing. No matter how great we think we are or how great others think we are, a virus can bring our world to a standstill. We can choose to cooperate and help each other, to share, to give, to help and to support each other or we can choose to be self-centered, seeking to benefit in some way from the catastrophe (cf. 1 Peter 5:5).  We must understand the absolute truth that God has not lost control. It has not caught God by surprise. He has a plan and it is being accomplished according to His will (cf. Philippians 2:13). Now, back to our reading… regardless of what people may say from age to age in history, Jesus is always the living water who fills us with the gift of eternal life (cf. John 4:14). Let’s all drink deeply of that well!

Pick Up the Phone

Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever. (Psalm 28:6-9 ESV).

I was doing a little research on vintage phones and stumbled on an advertisement from the 60’s. It accompanied the photo I’ve included today and titled “How to Use Your Dial Telephone.” Here were the instructions: “Before dialing look in the directory for the correct number. Lift the receiver and listen for the “dial tone.” The steady humming sound tells you the dial equipment is ready for your call. Place your finger firmly in the opening for the particular letter or figure desired. Pull the dial around until your finger strikes the metal finger stop. Then release the dial and allow it to return without interference. Our reading today is an example of a prayer of personal lament. Many of the psalms may be classified in this category. They were the result of personal suffering and struggle. Somehow the very act of crying out to God is an act of trust, and calling God “my Rock” is a deep affirmation that the God to whom we call out is dependable and responsive. If you will place it into the context of my opening illustration, the psalmist is telling us to pick up the phone and use it. The prayer of Psalm 28 goes on to declare that God is never unavailable. This may be a reference to the gods of other nations surrounding David at that time. Those gods were unable to hear, see, or speak. They were deaf and silent, unresponsive and uncaring, represented only by the carved idols they used in worship. And then, several verses later, he sings with confidence, “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” When we find that our circumstances are overwhelming, or it seems everything is falling to pieces, we can call out to God and find that he hears and protects and helps.

The Speed of a Deer

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19 ESV).

Many of my readers have read of my lifetime of experiences in the outdoors. I enjoy hunting, fishing, and hiking, even though I’m not nearly as physically able to do as much as I once could. There is something very assuring for me when I am in the woods or on a lake. Perhaps one of the most common sights for me when deer hunting is the incredible speed with which a deer sensing danger can run away! On more than one occasion I have found myself “stalking” through the woods when I hear the familiar snort and stomp of a whitetail deer only to turn my head and see it fleeing with its white tail raised while warning every other deer within a hundred yards. If you live in deer country, no doubt you’ve seen a similar sight. The speed they can go from absolutely still to full run is impressive. This is the image capturing the surprising high note on which the prophet Habakkuk closes his book in our reading today. This ending is all the more impressive because the book starts out with a rough cry of despair: “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2). The prophet goes on to ask, in effect, “If you are the sovereign God of the universe, why do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper?” If we have ever felt trapped in a spiritually dark place, we may have thought the same things: How long must this go on? Where is God? Is he listening? Why won’t he just answer? From his dark place, Habakkuk emerges to a newly deepened faith, a faith not dependent on what he actually sees with his eyes. Indeed, he’s prepared for more struggles and waiting; yet he says, “I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” With this confession of faith on his lips, Habakkuk’s spirit is revived, like the springing, leaping feet of a deer on the hills. God’s answer to us ultimately came in the Incarnation, ultimately leading to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. When we are able to focus on the atoning work of Christ and the grace God has extended to us, it enables us to run to Him at full speed! Think on those things today! Your attitude will change instantly as quickly as the deer runs!

The Frog Stranglers of Life

[Jesus said] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV).

Ever hear of a chunk-floater? If you’re from Arkansas, you know it’s a heavy rain. What about a fence lifter? That’s what a heavy rain is called in the Ozarks. Here in Texas, as well as some of the other Gulf States, we call these heavy rains a frog strangler. And New Englanders call a very heavy rain a gully-washer. That’s the kind of rain Jesus is talking about in our reading today. In this parable Jesus describes the storms of life as a matter of fact. He does not say “If” those storms come. Twice he says, “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house.” So we can be sure that our life’s foundation will be tested. There’s no getting around it. The question is whether the foundation will stand up to the test. Have we chosen to build on a firm foundation, or not? Interestingly, many of the ¬houses in our area of North Central Texas do not have a firm foundation. While some areas do have solid rock to build on, many other areas are porous and prone to shift. There are plenty of the slanting floors and leaning walls in older homes that are evidence of not built on deep pilings. When we built our home nearly four years ago, we were overly cautious about the foundation and dug more piers than necessary, making sure they were deeper than necessary as well. While it doesn’t rain that often in this part of Texas, when it does, it’s often a frog strangler! Life can be like that. I’m sure there may have been a few medical and scientific experts who anticipated such a pandemic as we face today, though the vast majority of the world was taken by surprise. Who would have thought we would face a near invisible virus that had the capacity to be airborne with such vicious results? We have seen every area of our life threatened, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We do have recourse. If our spiritual houses, which are being built in our hearts and minds, are solidly based on Jesus and his Word, we can have complete confidence that no matter what happens, our souls are secure. This means grounding ourselves in Christ every day and making wise choices through the guidance of his Spirit before the storms of life come. Only in him can we be assured that our foundation is rock-solid. Build wisely!

Spring Rains

And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the Lord is giving you. (Deuteronomy 11:13-17 ESV).

I live in Parker County Texas, located just 30 miles from Ft. Worth. We like to say this is where the west begins. Perhaps one of the reasons for that is the cattle trails used beginning there and traveling through our county. The topography of our county is rolling hills with plenty of cactus and mesquites. With a mere 35 inches of rain per year, irrigation is essential for all but the hardiest of vegetation. When we do get the spring rains, we are certainly grateful. There’s something wonderful about a gentle soaking rain. The grass and other plants seem to thrive so much better with the rain rather than irrigation. This is the context of our reading today. God is promising Israel to send the rains in their new land of promise. These verses are often misquoted in theological debates. Perhaps some of the reason for these debates is the truth that Jesus teaches concerning the “rain on the just and the unjust” (cf. Matthew 5). It is a clear teaching that God’s providence extends to all his children, “the evil and the good.” By the way, we should not make the mistake to think that some are deserving of the rain and others are not. All of us are “unjust” before the grace of God makes the atonement possible in our lives. But, that’s the real lesson. The rain, the provision for our growth, is all from God. We don’t deserve it and we didn’t earn it. So the call goes out to us to show gratitude by displaying the same kind of love to others, even our “ene¬mies.” For this work of love, I recommend beginning the day with prayer and meditation. Be aware of all those moments when you have an opportunity to reflect the warmth and goodness of God into the lives of others. I have heard the complaint from those who have been angered by someone’s actions, “They just boil my blood.” Well, I suggest you let the rain of God’s grace cool your anger.

Peace of Mind

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32 ESV).

Just a few days ago I was texting with my dear friend from Tennessee, Billy Potts. That is not an uncommon thing at all. We have stayed in touch and visited in his home several times since we moved back to Texas. He and his wife Brenda are just two of the many gracious folks we came to know while serving at Santa Fe Baptist Church. Our conversation revolved around recent events in our lives and theirs. It was a welcome “check-up.” As is always the case, he asked when we might be coming that way again. I said, “Soon… I hope!” Mary and I always combine the trip to see friends there with a few days in the Smoky Mountains. And, each time we visit the mountains we also spend part of a day enjoying the beauty of Cade’s Cove. We aren’t able to take the trails like we once did, but we certainly enjoying the ride through the area and short walks. Even with the many visitors to the park there’s always a quiet place to simply stop and recapture peace of mind. If ever there were a time when we need to do that, it is now. I’ve been more serious than you might think when I’ve remarked that it would have been fine to have skipped the first six months of 2020! My oldest brother died, Mary’s emergency surgery, and Covid-19 back-to-back did not help create that peace. Of course, we know that the world we live in has many good things and amazing blessings, but there is no shortage of hardship and brokenness. We can find and cultivate all kinds of good food, but we have to work hard for it. We can enjoy good health, but we can also get sick, and even die. Nature can be breathtakingly beautiful, but it can also be viciously cruel. In Jesus’ parable about the wheat and the weeds, we can see the corruption and brokenness of life in this world. And because there is still much good amid the damaging effects of sin and evil, he is willing to wait for the time of harvest. In the meantime, though, the kingdom of God will grow in surprising ways, like the huge plant that grows from a tiny mustard seed as described in our reading today. The key to finding peace of mind is within our reach. It takes place when we are able to still our mind and experience the presence of God. It requires silencing the noise of this world to hear His voice. I pray you will find that peace and rest of the kingdom of God today.

The Rocks Split Open

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:51-54 ESV).

It is always wonderful and a bit surprising when a Scripture yields something new to me. It happens quite often even after fifty years of study. Today, that “new” thought comes from this unusual use of the phrase in our reading today when God “splits the rocks” at the death of Jesus. This in itself is not terribly unusual in the Scripture. We see it in the story of Elijah (cf. 1 Kings 19:12) also. However, when we see it in today’s reading there is something a bit different taking place. Jesus’ death changed history not only for human beings but also for the world God made. Through his life and death, Jesus broke the stranglehold that sin and death had over us as well as God’s creation (cf. Genesis 3). Jesus opened a new way for us to live so that we can have life to the full, as God intended from the beginning. The curtain in the temple had separated the people of God from the inner sanctuary, where God’s powerful presence came to dwell in Old Testament times. In this splitting open there’s a death and new birth all at once. It’s something like breaking open a geode: a gnarly looking rock that, when broken open, reveals beautiful crystals inside. Only by breaking the geode can the stunning creation on the inside be revealed. The least we can say is that the death of Jesus has effects on more than spiritual relationships. It produces effects in the natural world, the world of earth and rocks, human bodies. What has just happened on the cross has to do with the one who holds the earth in his hand and can shake it. And the one who holds boulders between his fingers and can split them. The earth was shaken and rocks split by a sovereign earth-controller and a powerful rock-ruler. Human deaths don’t shake the earth and split rocks. God does. Rocks don’t have a mind of their own. They do what God bids them do. And they shook and split. In Christ, God reveals the beau¬tiful life he intended for us all along. The Lord breaks through, showing his good and powerful love for us all. He has completed the first step of restoring His creation to perfection! Hallelujah!

Heroes

Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” (Judges 6:11-16 ESV).

I recently saw a great political cartoon, produced here. The image of the present day heroes in our crisis are portrayed in the same setting as those of Iwo Jima in WWII. In no way would I denigrate the sacrifice of those who fought in that war or any war. However, I would call your attention to the heroism of these new groups of people in our present “war.” It reminds me a bit of Gideon and our reading today. In this story, Gideon goes on to become a great hero (cf. Judges 7) even though his beginning was very surprising. The angel of the Lord greets Gideon with the words, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” But where is Gideon when the angel greets him? Polishing his armor? Mustering the troops? No. He’s threshing grain in a winepress, hiding out from marauding Midianites, who are a constant threat to the Israelites at that time. So Gideon is not acting like a mighty warrior but more like a “regular” citizen. Repeatedly we see Gideon as uncertain and sometimes timid. However, before we are too hard on him, we must understand that his anxiety and hesitation simply highlight the fact that God is calling him in the midst of impossible odds. By using Gideon and just a small army, even though many thousands of soldiers were available (cf. Judges 7:3-8), God is teaching his people that the battle belongs to the Lord. When Gideon and his men finally enter the Midianite camp at night, smashing clay jars, carrying torches, and blowing trumpets, God himself routs the enemies of Israel. The battle always belongs to the Lord and those he chooses. We must honor the heroes of our battle today. However, as we give thanks to them, remember who the real victory comes through!

Rebuilding

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. (Nehemiah 6:15-16 ESV).

The newest update to the Brookings-Financial Times Tracking Indexes for the Global Economic Recovery (TIGER) shows that, with the coronavirus pandemic, the world is now facing the most serious challenge since World War II ended. The update notes that the world is now seeing shortages in economic activity, financial markets and private sector confidence as the virus has attacked public health and economic stability. And, the update says, the worst is likely still to come. Had there been a similar index in Israel at the time of Nehemiah, the reports might have been just as dire. This story takes place around 445 B.C. Nehemiah, like many other Jewish people, had remained in Persia after a group of exiles were allowed to return and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple there. Though the temple was now rebuilt, the walls of the city were still in ruins. Learning about this from visitors, Nehemiah despaired. As a cupbearer for the king of Persia, his life was good, but his people in Judah were struggling. God’s people in the land of promise were vulnerable on all sides. When the king asked Nehemiah why he looked so sad, Nehemiah explained. And, after praying to God, Nehemiah asked the king for permission to return so that he could rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. In response, the king sent Nehemiah with ¬authority and supplies to renovate the city. Despite great obstacles and local opposition, Nehemiah led the people to repair Jerusalem’s wall and rebuild its gates. In fact, the work was complete in just fifty-two days! Recognizing the amazing help of God in this feat, the surrounding nations stopped threatening Jerusalem. With all of our task forces and economic predictors and prognosticators, the truth is that only the Lord in enough to rebuild our walls. Whether the financial challenges are more individual and localized for you or not, the solution begins in your relationship to the Lord. Is he not the one who owns the cattle on a thousand hills? Does he not know our every need? Will he refuse his children of any good thing? Of course not! We too can have hope today amid the wreckage of human failings, when we finally realize we cannot save ourselves. Into the ruins of life, Jesus has been born. The Lord our God is our help and strength always.

Fresh Bread

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:31-35 ESV).

Some of you may have been residents of North Texas long enough to remember the Mrs. Baird’s Bakery just off Interstate 30 shown in the picture here. I certainly remember it. Driving along the highway back in the ‘70’s when they were baking bread and the wind was right, the aroma of fresh baked bread was wonderful. Just the aroma was good enough marketing to make me want Mrs. Baird’s over all the others! Our reading today calls attention to the need for the “bread of life” (v. 6). The branches of the Jesse Tree stretch across Scripture, providing a helpful way to see God’s plan of salvation leading to the coming of Jesus. And the story of Christ’s coming does not end in Bethlehem. Jesus’ ministry and teaching help us grasp the meaning of our Savior’s birth. In the setting of our text for today, Jesus has just miraculously fed a crowd of over five thousand people from a few loaves of bread and some fish (cf. John 6:1-13). Not surprisingly, the crowd wants more of Jesus and his miracles, so they follow him around. Their hungering for physical bread gives Jesus a teaching moment to talk about spiritual life and sustenance. Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life.” In their eagerness for free food, the crowds have missed the spiritual significance of Jesus’ feast in the wilderness. The physical bread that Jesus provided not only gave nourishment—like the bread (manna) God gave the people of Israel long ago—but also pointed to the spiritual bread of Jesus’ body. Through his sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus provides the bread of eternal life for God’s children. Of course, that staple is one of the difficult ones to get in these days of crisis. Perhaps that makes it even more wonderful when we can get it, but it can’t feed our souls. Only Jesus can do that. Whatever you eat today, remember the one who gives you new life. Celebrate the Bread of Life today… He is never in short supply!

Do Not Fear!

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3 ESV).

Unless you’ve been living under a rock completely cut off from the world, you recognize the picture I’ve chosen for today’s devotional. The various pictures we have seen come from an actual patient diagnosed with Coved-19. Samples of the virus and cells taken from this patient were photographed using two different kinds of high-resolution microscopes — the scanning electron microscope and the transmission electron microscope. Both use a focused beam of electrons rather than a beam of light to image samples. Most of the color has been added to provide contrast, though the shape is generally correct according to the CDC. It is microscopic in size; however, the impact on some is catastrophic. The idiom of “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog” comes to mind. Simply stated, fear comes in all shapes and sizes. Some people are afraid of snakes or spiders. Others may have a fear of heights, enclosed spaces, or public speaking. Many fear failure, change, dying, or being alone. Still others live each day in very real fear of persecution, oppression, discrimination, and physical harm. As we have discovered first-hand, this world can be a scary place, and fear is something we all must face. The Bible tells us, “Do not be afraid!” Again and again we read of God’s coming to his people with such comforting and empowering words as “Do not fear. I am with you. I am your God and will never forsake you. You are mine.” In the story of Jesus’ resurrection, both the angel at the tomb and Jesus on the road began their conversation with the women by saying, “Do not be afraid…” When the women approached the tomb early on the day of Jesus’ resurrection their encounter with the supernatural was overwhelming, and their fear was real. But the power of the resurrection assures us that the Lord cares for his people and is with them in whatever times may come. Because Jesus rose again and is with us always through his Holy Spirit (cf. Matthew 28:18-20), we can have freedom from fear because we are never alone. In God’s presence and strength we can face whatever comes. Be wise. Stay safe. And, do not fear!

That's Gonna Leave a Mark

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (James 5:7-11 ESV).

First, let me be very clear. I am NOT a bull rider, though I have done it once in my life. I won’t share all the details. Suffice it to say it was when I was much younger and lots dumber! The picture here is of a professional rodeo bull rider. He didn’t make his dismount quite as he planned. My Dad would say, “That’s gonna leave a mark!” I don’t think any of us would have a doubt about the veracity of that. And, while most of us have not had this experience, we have had plenty of those kinds of circumstances that have “left a mark”! Job was one of those people. Perhaps more than anyone he was tested, losing all his children and flocks and herds, and then eventually his health. And yet he did not lose his faith and did not sin against God (cf. Job 1-2; 42). If we look at Job’s life, we might think he had every right to be angry. Throughout his defense we see some notes of righteous anger against his friends, who spoke unfairly to him. But in all his suffering and complaints, Job did not sin. And yet how long did Job have to wait for God’s declaration of righteousness? In the heat of the moment, anger often wins over patience. Let anger go and you can avoid its terrible consequences. Letting go of anger means releasing your right to be vindicated. God sees all and knows the truth. Not unlike a wild horse that needs training to accept a bridle, the emotional power of unrestrained anger can be redirected and refocused into God’s hands. But how long will God take to make things right? It’s all in the Lord’s timing. We will struggle with sin until Christ returns, but in the meantime we will have access to the patience to resist anger and the other deadly sins scratching at our door and seeking a place in our hearts. Christ has nailed the power of sinful anger to the cross. He has won in the resurrection. Persevere in the Lord’s steadfast love today, and, in his strength, keep waiting patiently for the Lord. We may get there with a lot of “marks”… but we will get there in Him!

The Difficulty of Doubt

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26-29 ESV).

Charles Spurgeon is one of my favorite preachers. I have included a meme with one of his quotes today as we begin to look deeper into the hope of the resurrection. He wrote: “Doubt discovers difficulties which it never solves; Believe is the word which speaks life.” As Jesus prepared his followers to live faithfully after his return to heaven, Jesus addressed the challenge of doubt and unbelief. His appearances were intended to allay some of their fears and doubts. One of the disciples needed a bit more than the others. This was not because there was something wrong, or rebellious in him. Thomas was simply a realist. He knew that resurrections were not common events, and he feared that his fellow followers of Christ might have gotten it wrong. He wanted evidence. He demanded proof. It’s easy to criticize Thomas for his doubts, but the truth is that many of us live with similar hesitations. After all, Jesus is no longer on earth for us to see and touch. We cannot have the same experience as the first disciples who walked with him after his resurrection. So we need Jesus to prepare us for the challenges of skepticism and doubt in our own lives. He does that in our reading today. He says to everyone who struggles with the difficulty of doubt, “Stop doubting and believe.” We may not have the opportunity to feel the wounds of the cross with our own hands. But we have the testimony of lives changed by the Lord’s power. We can seek out the fellowship of other believers in the church and be encouraged by their words. And we can watch for the glory of Christ to appear around us, joining in with Thomas’s beautiful confession: “My Lord and my God!” Even today, with so many restrictions placed on the gathering together in one place, we have alternatives. I am an “old dog,” but I have learned many “new tricks.” With the development of our technology we still have many ways to gather together. I pray that you will be able to see Jesus resurrected more than ever before to meet the difficulty of doubt with the reality of faith.

Love in the Chalk

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV).

I have been watching more of the news lately. I don’t have a lot of patience of the political “spin” on either the right or the left, but I have noticed some incredible messages of hope in the mix. This picture today comes from Greensboro News and Record in, Greensboro, North Carolina. Cameron Cobb, an off duty EMT, is writing encouraging messages at the Employee Entrance of the Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital located there. Images like this have been reported from all over our country, in neighborhoods and downtown locations alike. It took me to our reading today. The Apostle Paul says our “calling” is to “bear with one another in love” (v. 2). Think with me for a moment how much easier this has become as the days of shelter in place have stretched into weeks and now creeping into months. Jesus sent out his disciples to do his work (cf. Mark 6). Not wanting them to be loaded down, he told them to take along only what they were wearing. Things seemed to be urgent. Jesus wanted them to live by faith, trusting in God to supply their needs. As they ministered from place to place, they would find both hospitality and hostility, both friends and enemies. Jesus told them to lodge at only one house in each community. And if a place did not welcome or listen to them, they should leave and “shake the dust off” their feet, a cultural statement reflecting the rejection they had been shown. This would imply that the townspeople needed a change of heart. In my own narrow experience these last few weeks I have seen some of that. Of course, there has been plenty of finger-pointing and refusal to take responsibility. Well, let me take a moment and let everybody off the hook. Have mistakes been made… sure. Could we all have done better… of course. There will be plenty of time later when we’ve overcome this virus with a workable vaccine, when the sick have recovered, and the dead have been properly buried for us to deal with those questions. We will have learned many valuable lessons. I’m convinced that God has a much greater principle at work in these perilous times. Perhaps He merely wants us to remember we are all called from death to life so that we might really understand that we really are all “in this together”! Be kinder than ever! Love more deeply than ever!

He Is Risen!

[Jesus said] “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:25-34 ESV). I’m writing today’s devotional, which falls on Easter Sunday, on Monday. First, Happy Easter, y’all! I pray that you are getting ready to virtually participate in your church’s service and looking forward to conversations with all of your family and loved ones. I have already taken care of all the early morning assignments, cooking breakfast for Mary, getting her medications to her, emptying the trash for tomorrow’s pick-up, making the bed, and putting a load into the washer… whew! I’m tired after writing that, but it is what it is.

I also had a phone call consultation with a former client. Which I took outside since it is relatively pleasant outside. He and his wife were very concerned for his aged father who is now on hospice and heavily sedated to ease the pain of his bone cancer. He was concerned that his Dad may not be saved. He was a moderately practicing Jew, though later he and his wife were exposed to the Lutheran faith with occasional participation. After sharing some different Scriptures and some of my own experiences with my parents, I sat on the deck and looked across to some of the trees and birdhouses I have built and placed there. The house on the left is built for Eastern Bluebirds. We have two of those on the property that are annually occupied by a pair who raise their brood and depart later in the fall. The house on the right is reserved for sparrows or wrens and is always occupied as well. Right now the birds are very busy getting their nests ready. I also keep feed out for them in another area of the property. I’ve seen dozens of different species through the years. “What does that have to do with Easter, you ask?” Well, as I sat watching them go to and fro, I was reminded of our reading today. It is especially applicable this year. None of these birds has done anything to earn their provisions for shelter or food that I have provided. But they have it, in abundance. Isn’t this really the message of Easter? We could not pay the debt we owed. Jesus did that. In fact, he even died the death we deserved to insure we would never die. He Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed!

A Day of Decision

Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O Lord. Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. (Joel 3:11-15 ESV).

There is a sense in which today is a profound day of silence. God seems to be utterly quiet as we wait for the great day of Jesus’ resurrection. I’m quite sure the disciples were not silent. Some were anxious, fearful for their own loves; others were grief stricken and weary from the day before. I simply cannot imagine what Mary, Jesus’ mother, must have been thinking. In all of this God seemed to be quiet. With those thoughts I’ve chosen today’s reading from the Prophet Joel. It is sometimes used to encourage people to make a commitment to God. Perhaps you have attended an evangelistic rally, or watched a mass worship service on television, where this verse was cited. The preacher might have read this verse to impress upon people the urgency of making a personal decision to follow Jesus. While there is nothing wrong with a message like that, it’s not the best way to apply this verse to our lives. Let me give you a bit of background and context. The “valley of decision” in our reading is the Valley of Jehoshaphat. This is not a literal valley, but one that is used as a symbol of God’s judgment (“Jehoshaphat” means “the Lord judges”). Even more important, the “decision” in today’s Scripture reading is not a decision by the people who are gathered. The people of the nations are gathered before the Judge of all nations. So there is only one person who renders a decision, and that’s the Judge. The Lord God is the one who decides. This does not mean we have no decisions to make in our relationship with God. It simply means our commitment to God is a response to the verdict our Judge has already given. All of this happened on Friday when Jesus was crucified. The attorneys finished their presentations, every witness was called for both the defense and the prosecution; the jury has gone out and returned the verdict. It is “guilty!” We stand before the judge convicted and helpless. Our last hope of deliverance is dashed in the face of the overwhelming evidence of our guilt. However, before the gavel is sounded, the Judge makes a surprise declaration. We are pronounced innocent. Jesus was judged in our place. How can we not love a God who has so loved us?

Darkness at Noon

“And on that day,” declares the Lord God, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight. I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on every waist and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.” (Amos 8:9-10 ESV).

Today is known throughout the Christian world as “Good Friday.” It is the day of the crucifixion of Jesus. There was a darkness that covered the scene (cf. Matthew 27:45). In a memorable sermon, Frederick Buechner preached about what he called the “hungering dark.” The sermon was delivered in the late 1960s, a time of great social and political unrest in North America. Buechner suggested that “darkness” was a fitting description for the assassinations, dread of war, and riots at that time. But he also spoke of how darkness intensifies our craving for the light of Christ’s presence. It is a message that can be applied in many ways today. The sermon from Buechner detailed the way the “hungering dark” is like our physical hunger. It is true that we are probably no more aware of our need for food than when we are hungry. Hunger is as much a craving for fullness as it is a testimony to emptiness. Through the prophet Amos, God said that the judgment to come would be characterized by both darkness and hunger. The sun would go dark at noon, and people would hunger for words of God that they could not find, no matter where they looked. That judgment is what Jesus experienced on the cross. Immediately after the darkness, Jesus cried out to God, hungering for responses that never came. The Word of God fell silent amid the darkness at Golgotha. He had suffered the full penalty of all our sin. He had taken all our judgment on Himself. He paid the debt we could never pay and died the death we all deserve. But that’s not all. On the cross we also see Jesus, the light of the world who pierces our darkness. And we receive the bread of life that satisfies our deepest hunger. This is why we can legitimately call this day “good.” While there is nothing good about the manner or fact of Jesus’ death, it is all good in the morning of this coming Sunday. This is not a time for mourning. It is a time for rejoicing! In Jesus’ death we are now forever and finally set free to live the life God has intended for each of us since the beginning. I know it doesn’t feel like a time to rejoice as we face the ever increasing crises of our day; however, just as Sunday came then, it will come for each of us!

The Genesis Event

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25 ESV).

On March 30, 2010, an international team of scientists conducted a momentous experiment in a 17-mile tunnel beneath the Swiss-French border. Using the Large Hadron Collider, they sent two subatomic particles hurtling toward each other at unheard of speeds in conditions they claimed were similar to those just after the Big Bang. When those two protons collided, they produced an enormous explosion of energy. One ecstatic scientist, physicist Michio Kaku, declared, “This is a huge step toward unraveling Genesis 1:1—what happened at the beginning. This is a Genesis machine. It will help recreate the most glorious event in the history of the universe.” There are two points I want to emphasize in beginning today’s devotional with this historical snippet. First, when Kaku states that this “science” will unravel Genesis and the creation event, he is far from the truth. Of course, creation is an event that is difficult at best to understand. However, the “cause” of creation is rather simple. God did it. In fact, the Apostle John says the pre-incarnate Christ merely spoke it all into existence (cf. John 1). Of that there is no doubt, unless you are willing to say that the Scripture is not true. Second, I have disagreement with another conclusion of Dr. Kaku. He said, “It will help us unravel the most glorious event in history.” Though the creation of the universe was glorious, I don’t think it can be described as “the most glorious event.” I think the redemption of God’s creation was far more glorious, because the collision of God’s love and justice on the cross of Christ unleashed a power that can redeem the cosmos. In this week especially we cannot miss the truth about the power of the cross: “to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” To many it may seem as “foolishness.” But to believers it is the most incredible event in history! Celebrate your salvation today!

A Full and Complete Order

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:20-22 ESV).

I have taken to this “curbside pickup” at the grocery store pretty well. I have used two different services thus far. Each has their upside as well as downside. Perhaps the most interesting part of the entire experience is the “substitutions” that inevitably are given for some of the items. Some of the time it’s merely a different brand of the same thing; however, there have been a few times when it was something entirely different. Thus far I’ve not gotten a full and complete order. In reality, they have said “yes” when really it turned out to be a “no.” I must confess that I feel a little like one of the contestants on Guy’s Grocery Games! Sometimes I need to be a bit creative in the preparation of meals! Don’t misunderstand my intention here. I am not suggesting that they were somehow misleading or insincere. In fact they sent emails and double-checked with me prior to my arrival to acknowledge and/or accept the substitutions. They were caught in the same circumstance we all find ourselves. Stuff happens. There were delays beyond their control, unavailable items, unusual demand that could not be anticipated or fulfilled. You see, the truth is that reality can interfere with the best of human promises. That brings me to today’s thought. Our reading is from a broader context where the Apostle Paul is explaining to the Corinthians why he didn’t come to see them as he originally planned. It leads to a discussion about the nature of God. Certainly we all come to the same kinds of questions. Is God cordial? Yes. Is God competent, sincere, and trustworthy? Yes. Is God in full control? Yes. Is everything available to him? Yes. Does he know how damaged we are? Yes. Every question is answered with a definite “Yes.” With God, there’s not a single “hopefully,” “maybe,” “probably,” or “I don’t know.” The great difference is that the final result always matches his promise. We celebrate Lent because God makes reliable promises and keeps them. He promised to send the Messiah for our salvation, and he delivered. If God kept his greatest promise to us at the cost of his Son, will he not keep every other promise he has made? This week is a great time to review our faith and renew our hope in the promises of God.

The Silence of God

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. (Habakkuk 1:1-5 ESV).

In our reading today, the prophet Habakkuk wrestled with “the problem of unanswered prayer” (vv. 1-4). God appeared to be silent. However, as we will see, the truth was simply that Habakkuk wasn’t satisfied with God’s answers to his prayer. I have often been asked what I do when God tells me to “wait.” My answer is usually very unsatisfactory. I tell folks that God never answers our prayer with “wait a while.” His answer is always a “yes” or a “no.” Sometimes we simply don’t like the answer we hear, so we try to soften it with some other explanation of the refusal of God to be our personal vending machine of blessing. This is at the heart of the meme I’ve chosen to accompany today’s devotional: Stop and listen to the silence… You might just hear a new song coming from the Father above. Sometimes “the problem of answered prayer” can be as hard as “the problem of unanswered prayer.” God told Habakkuk he would raise up the Babylonians to punish Judah for its injustice and wickedness. But Habakkuk wondered how that could be a solution to the problems he prayed about. The Babylonians were more wicked than the people of Judah! How could God use evil to accomplish something good? Would God just replace one kind of suffering for the oppressed with another kind that was worse for everyone? That may be a question we also ask sometimes. We see evidence of sin, and we wish God would take it away. But then the problems seem to go from bad to worse. Is there no end to the suffering in this world? Let me be very clear. God does not take pleasure in our pain, except that he knows it will ultimately bring about our great good. God has promised to use our suffering to work good in our lives (cf. Romans 8:28-39). We see the clearest example of this in the cross of Christ, where the greatest evil accomplished the greatest good. The Apostle Paul wrote, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). There can be no doubt that nothing about the death of Jesus seemed good; yet, the ultimate good was produced from it. Without this work of sacrifice, none of us would have any possibility of life. We would all be relegated to receive what we deserve, death! Celebrate life, even when God seems to be silent!

Our God, His Family

And the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts? Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.” (Zechariah 8:1-8 ESV).

I’ve heard it said that we should love others when they least deserve it, because that’s when they need it most. Our reading today echoes this action as God declares, “They will be my people, and I will be … their God” (v. 8). This is the same covenantal language found throughout the Scripture. God spoke words like these to Abraham when he was old and childless, saying that he and his wife, Sarah, would soon have a son. To Abraham God promised, “I will … be your God and the God of your descendants after you” (Genesis 17:7). He never voided this covenant; He never denied this commitment. The strange thing is that more often than not, the descendants of Abraham were not faithful in keeping the covenant God had made with them. God sent prophet after prophet to his people, calling them back to obedience, but they refused to forsake their ways in favor of God’s way. They simply refused to listen. Finally God sent his Son, Jesus, to the world. He was rejected more than any prophet before him. But in the death of Jesus we see the restoration of the covenant that had been broken by rebellious people. The writer of Hebrews says, “It is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants” (Hebrews 2:16). The Apostle Paul declares, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed” (Galatians 3:29). This means “Jesus is not ashamed to call [us] brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11). In Jesus, the promise of a city where people old and young can rest and play is fulfilled. In the New Jerusalem, each of us will hear the loud voice that John heard: “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3). I wonder if at least one of the things God is doing in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, peaking just before Easter in some places of our country, is not to call all of us back home. Use today, this Monday of Passion Week, to ponder your eternal Father!

A Song in My Heart

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord. (Zephaniah 3:14-20 ESV).

Singing has been practiced by people in virtually every culture throughout history. Have you ever wondered why the act of singing has such universal appeal? One important reason is that words that are sung can have a much greater impact on us than words that are only spoken. This is why so much of the praise we offer God is done in song. I love the quote from Augustine, who once said that “whoever sings prays twice.” It is no wonder that there is a large portion of the Old Testament devoted to the songs of worship for Israel. We know this “hymnbook” as the Psalms. Today’s reading gives us a slightly different perspective. We see God doing the singing. We might think that the reference today showing God singing is not meant to be taken literally, but I have a feeling it is. God told Moses, “Write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it” (Deuteronomy 31:19). Most of the following chapter contains the song God taught Moses so that the people could learn it too. The heavenly choir depicted in the book of Revelation also sings, and it draws from that old song of Moses as it sings “the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:3-4). Today is Palm Sunday in the Christian calendar. The people of in Jerusalem for Passover lined the road when Jesus began his ride into the city. The praise was exuberant and filled with anticipation at the coming salvation they believed Jesus would bring to them. He did bring salvation, even though many did not understand the means through which He would accomplish it. He had to sacrifice his life for the debt to be paid. The great good news is that he did. It is done. This finished work now should allow us to sing! I hope that is your song! He sings for us… can you sing for Him?

The Apple of His Eye

For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: “Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord.” (Zechariah 2:8-10 ESV).

In the original Hebrew text of Zechariah, the phrase “the apple of his eye” is more literally translated “the little man of his eye.” If you look deeply into someone’s eyes, you actually see a tiny reflection of yourself in their pupils. Our word “pupil” comes from the Latin “pupilla,” which means “little doll.” At some point in our language development, the “little man” or “little doll” became the “apple” of the eye, possibly because pupils are round. There are some interesting things about this idiom. The pupil, or the “apple of the eye” is the most sensitive part of the eye; it can be harmed by the tiniest of particles; and, is irreparable if damaged or destroyed. Have you noticed how we instinctively protect and cherish our eyes, perhaps more than any other part of our body? As believers, we are the apple of God’s eye. Just think about that. We are God’s highest priority of His creation, made in His image. He protects us, cares for us, and cares about us. We are cherished by the God of the universe! Especially in the season of Lent we should miss the amazing reality behind this image. Figuratively speaking, when believers look into God’s eyes, they see their own reflection because the Father is always looking at his children. The Apostle Peter says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous … but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12). It is true that sin turns our eyes away from God, but whenever we look back to God we are reminded of the steady gaze of his love. His attention is not broken by our failures. We can always look into his eyes and see ourselves as he continuously focuses on us. We are always “in God’s eyes.” All this is true because of what happened on the cross. If anyone was ever the apple of God’s eye, surely it was Jesus, His only begotten Son. But he closed his eyes in death so that being the apple of God’s eye could become a reality for us forever. God turned his face away from his Son for our sake, and now the eyes of the Father are focused, because of Christ, on us. All of our difficulty, every challenging circumstance, is before Him. His promise is that He will overcome all of them with the mere “shake of his hand” (v. 9). That is our God! This season spend some time getting to know Him better than ever before!

A Slower Pace

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. (John 1:35-39 ESV). The first line of the Washington Post article read: “It took a global pandemic to slow us down.” The author of the article went on to write a wonderful description of her new normal. Erin O’Connor said: The boys’ first spring baseball tournament was canceled and our daughter’s state gymnastic meet was scrapped. Instead, we watched “The Sound of Music” and ate chips on the living room couch. The children’s schools are closed, and we are lucky enough to have jobs that allow us to predominantly work from home. Rather than driving the children to and from extracurricular activities in the evenings, we now review essays and math problems we assigned them earlier in the day. We eat dinner together on a daily basis, instead of devouring to-go meals in the minivan. We take evening family walks to relieve restlessness. My husband and I enjoy watching our kids, ages 13, 11, 9 and 9, run outside and play with one another. While I’m not going to say there haven’t been arguments, our children have been forced to appreciate the companionship their siblings provide.

It isn’t that hard for me to remember both the slower pace of decades ago and the slower pace of my present. The great difference is that I somehow feel guilty for going slowly now. I’m certain that was not the case in the late 50’s and early 60’s when I was an older adolescent. I remember one particular experience of those times when I wanted to go see my grandmother. She lived across the island from us. It was just a short trip by car, but both longer and much more dangerous for a ten year old riding his bicycle. I made the trip weaving in and out of the sparse traffic of those days and arrived just a bit before lunch. Grandma always had something cooking. This day I was greeted with eggplant parmesan and spaghetti with meat sauce. Grandma Emmitte never cooked a little, and it was always made from scratch. Her pasta was phenomenal! I ate my fill finishing just about the time my Dad walked in. It seems she had called him and said, “Frankie (only called that by his mother), your boy rode his bike to the house again.” That’s how it always ended; but, it was always worth it! It was always worth it because I got to spend some time with my grandma and have a great meal! He broken English mixed with Italian was always harder to understand than her gestures of love and acceptance. That’s how the pace was. Perhaps this season of Lent, in the midst of this crisis, you will see it as a good time to slow down and spend some time with both your family and “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It will be worth it! The first disciples spent the day with Jesus… they were never the same!