Happy Birthday, David!

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:4-6 ESV).

Today I’m exercising writer’s privilege in diverting my attention away from the series through Lent to focus on my son’s birthday. David is 41 today. It hardly seems possible that four decades have passed from that time when I got the call from Mary that her contractions were four minutes apart and we needed to go to the hospital which happened to be thirty minutes away! That was indeed an exciting beginning! Though, as has been true with all of my sons, their lives have been exciting to me at every turn. The picture I have chosen to accompany today’s thoughts was taken a few months ago. David had gone out to the small lake near his home with his oldest daughter, Maggie. As you can see they caught a nice bass! It brought back lots of memories from the times I took him with me on some little expedition to hunt or fish. But, my purpose is not nostalgic today. Larry Howland has written a popular bit of verse that seems to be perfect here: I sometimes wish you were still small, Not yet so big and strong and tall. For when I think of yesterday, I close my eyes and see you play. I often miss that little boy Who pestered me to buy a toy, Who filled my days with pure delight From early morn to late at night. We watch our children change and grow As seasons come, then quickly go. But our God has a perfect plan To shape a boy into a man. Today, my son, I'm proud of you For all the thoughtful things you do. I'll love you till my days are done, And I'm so grateful you're my son. I am quite sure I did not do everything right. My hope is that through all of the experiences of our lives I was able to teach all my sons these two unalterable truths: God is always enough; and, family is everything! As with Kyle and Aaron, David seems to have gotten that message! Happy Birthday, David!

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV).

Do you ever feel as if you are two different persons? Back in the nineteenth century, Robert Louis Stevenson explored that idea in his short suspense novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In an effort to become a better person, Dr. Jekyll, a mild-mannered man of science, develops a potion that can separate his good self from his bad self. What happens instead is that his bad side turns out to be much more evil than expected. At night he becomes Mr. Hyde, a mysterious and violent man who thinks only of his own desires. Once Dr. Jekyll realizes his own evil, he clamps down on his Mr. Hyde, resolving not to take the magic potion anymore. But Hyde has become too strong. In despair of ever changing himself for the good, Dr. Jekyll commits suicide. In our reading today, the Apostle Paul speaks of the same struggle in different terms. He uses the terms of “old self” and “new self.” One of the great issues of life is how we can change permanently and deeply so that we look more like Jesus all the time. Paul admits that he has struggled with this very thing: For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate (Romans 7:17 ESV). If the Apostle Paul has this difficulty, what are we to do? How are we going to fend off this voracious enemy within us? How do we get rid of Mr. Hyde? Our reading gives us a direction. Here Paul says it requires “the truth that is in Jesus” (v. 21). His reference is the power of the cross. At least part of that is in the truth that the “Mr. Hyde” within us all has been defeated once and for all time through the grace of God’s restoration of relationship by Jesus’ death. Sin and death hold no real power over us any longer. That power only comes through a personal knowledge of Jesus; and, that knowledge can only come through a consistent exposure to the Scripture. I all we know about Jesus is that which we hear in a twenty minute “talk” once a week, we won’t get to know Him very quickly. There is much more we can learn about how the power of the cross creates that truth in us. But today let’s give thanks that Christ can change our old self into a new self that honors him just by getting to know him more!

Outstretched Hands

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-12 ESV).

I know that talking about “outstretched hands” in our day of personal distancing and the real danger of spreading COVID-19 seems to be inappropriate. However, it is a topic that we should consider as we move through this season of Lent. However, there is a real sense of the importance of understanding this image in light of the work of Christ through his death, burial, and resurrection. Our reason for celebration during this season is based completely in the reaching out of God through Christ to each of us. John Calvin noted that we are moved to repentance not by the threat of God’s law but by the promise of his grace. The threat of the law will only make us run from God, unless we know that he will receive us when we turn back to him in repentance. I’ll never forget a story told by Robert Schuller. He was invited on a mission trip to the tropical jungles of the Amazon. A missionary had been working with a tribe that had a great fear of Caucasians, having had little positive contact with them. Schuller and the missionary worked their way deeper and deeper into the jungle with no sighting of this reclusive tribe. “Where are they?” Schuller asked. The missionary replied, “They’re all around us, but they won’t come out until they know it’s safe.” Finally, the travelers arrived at a clearing. The missionary said, “Here’s what you have to do. Sit on the ground, stretch out your hands, and smile.” So that’s what Schuller did. For what seemed hours, he sat and smiled with outstretched hands. At last, a single native crept silently out of the jungle and shyly touched his hand. It was the beginning of a movement toward grace that has flourished over the decades. Of course, I’m not suggesting that you go to the Walmart parking lot and sit with outstretched hands waiting for people to come to you. However, even in our day, there are ways to symbolically show your desire to connect with others. It requires open, inviting hands extended to others through what we say and do. On the cross, God, in effect, stretched out his hands and smiled, showing that he loves us. Demonstrate that love for others in all that you do!

Life from Death

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:20-26 ESV).

I can easily remember the times when my father-in-law taught me how to seed a lawn by hand. Bruce Perry, known by many as “Doc” because of his Ph.D., in plant genetics was one of the most brilliant men in the world of agriculture I’ve ever known. His work in developing various strains of onions, potatoes, and tomatoes is still a standard today. He knew how to grow any kind of plant. Of course, when we purchased our first home, he was the first one I turned to in order to get the yard started. It was hard work, but it produced the best yard in the neighborhood. Perhaps the greatest sacrifice came from the seed though. Each one of the Bermuda grass seeds had to die for the runner’s to start covering the ground. The world of agriculture knows that life can only come from death; harvest can only come from the sacrifice of the seed. As I have attempted to show each day of our Lenten series, the cross is central in the transformation of our lives. So far we have focused on the power of the cross, on what God actually did at the cross. But I also want to look at the wisdom of the cross, on what God teaches us through the cross. That wisdom changes us too. In today’s reading Jesus illustrates the first lesson of God’s wisdom by pointing to his upcoming death. For Jesus, his last week on earth had begun. His crucifixion was just five days away; and, this was the time to clarify what would happen so that his disciples would understand when it did. So Jesus used a picture from agriculture that his listeners would understand: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Everyone knew that the death of seeds in that sense was necessary for a harvest. But Jesus was referring to his own death. He was saying, in effect, “Unless I die, there cannot be an abundant harvest of changed lives.” His death was necessary for the salvation of many lives. That sounded foolish to the Jews who heard this farmer’s wisdom, because they thought their Messiah would never die (v. 34). But Jesus spoke the truth, and then he carried it out. We are the result of the death of that “seed.” How much ground are you going to cover?

I Didn't Sign Up for This!

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:16-18 ESV).

Today’s devotional is not about marriage and divorce. I can talk to you about that personally if you like. It is more about how we view our circumstance and the call to be a part of the community of faith. Toward the end of Mary’s stay in the hospital after her surgery, she said, “I know you didn’t sign up for this, but thank you.” I confess I said the same thing to her as she did to me when she tended my bedside after some of my more extensive surgeries. My answer was simple: “Sure, I did. I signed on when we got married.” Today I want us to look at a different relationship. We have a similar relationship with Christ through faith. The Scripture talks about Jesus being the groom and the faithful being the bride. So, in fact, we have a marriage contract that we have affirmed through faith. In the final days before his death, Jesus talked a lot about sacrificial love. Those words seem very lofty and elevated. It’s hard for many of us to imagine having to lay down our lives in love. But the words of our reading today bring those words down to the hard reality of a hurting world. John repeats Jesus’ words about laying down our lives for one another; then he guides us out into the mean streets of our cities, into the shabby homes of the poor, into the shoes of a discouraged church member who has lost his job. Here is the test of love. How do we respond to a real person in need? If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother or sister in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? It’s easy to turn away from the needy. We’re busy. We’re already stretched. We’re not sure how we can help. Besides, maybe the person brought it on himself. Still, true love gives birth to pity. We must not forget that when God looks at us in our need, tough he could justifiably turn away, he responds with love and grace. He feels pity, compassion, mercy, and love for us in our need. And on the cross he loved us with actions and in truth. The wisdom of the cross shows us how love saves the needy. There cannot be a greater example of this love than what Jesus has already done for us. He died the death we deserved, and paid the debt would could never pay. So, did you sign up for the hard stuff of life? If you are a believer, the answer is “yes.” Use this season of Lent to deepen your love!

Even in the Little Things

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14 ESV).

COVID-19… a scourge from the devil or a gift from God? Just asking such a question may certainly elicit a multitude of response that would range from the absolute confirmation for either the devil or God. There would also likely be many people who would fall between those two with answers targeting “the fallen nature of the world” to simple chance. Let me make a suggestion to resolve this conundrum. It doesn’t matter whose “fault” it is. It only matters who is in power to work good from it all… and that One is our God! Once we get past blaming someone for our plight, regardless of what it is we are set free to rest in the unshakeable grace of God. Our reading today speaks to this with a clear call to “good works” (v. 14). I am not suggesting that we can save ourselves by being good. We are only saved by “Christ crucified … the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24). That is the plain truth. The Scripture cannot be clearer at this point. However, we cannot either deny that we are saved so that we can do good to others. The meme with a quote from Steve Maraboli reminded me of that truth today. Jesus gave himself “to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” He did that not just for his own sake, and surely not just for our sake. It was also for the world’s sake. Before the world will believe in Jesus, it needs an epiphany, a revealing of the reality of God. God has already given the world one epiphany: “The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” That was the first coming of Jesus. And God will give the world another epiphany: “We wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” That’s the second coming of Jesus. Between those two epiphanies, there is an ongoing epiphany, the one for which Jesus gave up his life, to create a people who are eager to do good. But, we’re under orders to shelter in place! I hear you, though we have not reached that point in our county of residence yet. Our bordering counties to the east have; and, Mary and I are self isolating going our only for essential tasks. However, that does not mean we cannot be creative in the expression of a kindness to others. Perhaps it’s just a note. We have the world at our fingertips through the internet. Use it for the expression of kindness rather than the excoriation of those who differ with our point-of-view. Imagine what a phone call or text of kindness and grace might do for someone who is terrified in these difficult days! As we look forward to Good Friday and Easter next month, let us do good, even if it is but a “little thing.”

Please, Mr. Custer...

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. (Isaiah 43:19-21 ESV).

OK y’all, while I hope today’s devotional will encourage and inspire you, I also hope to bring a both of laughter into your day. You may remember a march novelty song, sung by Larry Verne in the 60’s. There is a video of the song that you must really spend three minutes and watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXRarvh-BxQ. It was written by Al De Lory, Fred Darian, and Joseph Van Winkle and rose to #1 in 1960. It is a comical song about a soldier's plea to General Custer before the climactic Battle of the L:ittle Bighorn against the Sioux. I call that song and video to you attention because the soldier asks an important question. Lamenting, he calls out, “What am I doing here?” It is a question many have asked through the years. It certainly is not limited to philosophers and theologians. And it’s not only “What am I doing here?” The question is more personal: “Why am I here?” Our reading offers an answer through the prophet Isaiah. Later the Apostle Peter will take up the answer (cf. 1 Peter 2:9-10). God gives the same answer in both places. He simply sais he formed his people for himself, that we may proclaim his praise, and we “are a chosen people … God’s special possession,” that we may “declare [his] praises.” The truth stands today for all God’s people. And each one is a valued part of this people (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). I heard a preacher once say poetically, “We have been formed for God’s praise, informed about Christ for his praise, and conformed to Christ for his praise.” I would add that we are also being transformed by Christ for his praise. Anything that falls short of his praise must be labeled deformed or, at best, unformed or uninformed. There are no exceptions. Every thought, every action and attitude, every glance, every memory and desire, every plan and hope, all are to be for his praise and only for his praise. And here is the amazing truth. Though our sin brings sorrow and detracts from praising God, it is forgiven so that we may give God praise: “In [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins … for the praise of his glory” (cf. Ephesians 1:7, 12). Lent is a good time to live up to why we are here! In such a critical time as we find ourselves these days, dare we do anything less that focus our actions and voices in giving God praise?