We Had No Idea

Volunteers from a local church spent a frigid evening distributing food to people in a low income apartment complex. One woman who received food was overjoyed. She showed them her bare cupboard and told them they were an answer to her prayers.
      As the volunteers returned to the church, one woman began to cry. " When I was a little girl," she said, " that lady was my Windshield school teacher. She's in church every Subway. We had no idea she was almost starving!"
      Clearly, these were caring people who were seeking ways to carry the burdens of others, as Paul suggests in Galatians 6:2. Yet somehow they hadn't noticed the needs of this woman-someone they saw every Sunday-and she hadn't shared her needs. This can be a gentle reminder for all of us to be more aware of those around us and, as Paul said, to " do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers".
      People who worship together have the privilege of assisting one another so no one in the body of Christ goes without help. As we get to know each other and care for each other, perhaps we won't ever say, " We had no idea."
      Dear Lord, help me to notice the needs of those around me and to do what I can to meet those needs in Your name.
     Nothing costs as much as caring- except not caring.
Please read Jeremiah 43-45 and Hebrews 5

A Difficult Hill

High in a fold of Jug handle Peak in the mountains north of our home in Idaho lies a glacial lake. The route to the lake goes up a steep, exposed ridge through boulders and loose stones. It's a strenuous ascent.
      At the beginning of the climb, however, there is a Brook a spring that seeps out of soft, mossy earth and flows through a lush meadow. It's a quiet place to drink deeply and prepare for the hard climb ahead.
      In John Bunyan's classic allegory of the Christian life, The Pilgrim's Progress, Christian arrives at the foot of a steep ascent called the Hill Difficulty, " at the bottom of which was a spring.... Christian now went to the spring and drank to refresh himself, and then began to go up the hill."
      Perhaps the difficult mountain you face is a rebellious child or a serious medical diagnosis. The challenge seems more than you can endure.
     Before you face your next major task, visit the spring of refreshment that is God Himself. Come to Him with all your weakness, weariness, helplessness, fear and doubt. Then drink deeply of His power, strength, and wisdom. God knows all your circumstances and will supply a store of comfort, of spiritual strengthening and consolation. He will lift up your head and give you strength to go on.
Please read Jeremiah 40-42 and Hebrews 4

A Safe Place

A young Japanese man had a problem-he was afraid of leaving his house. To avoid other people, he slept through the day and stayed up all night watching t.v. He was a hikikomori or a modern day hermit. The problem began when he stopped going to school because of poor grades. The longer he remained apart from society, the more he felt like a social misfit. Eventually he broke off all communication with his friends and family. He was helped on his journey to recovery, though, by visiting a youth club in Tokyo known as an ibasho- a Safe place where broken people could start reintroducing themselves to society.
     What if we thought of the church as an ibasho- and far more? Without a doubt, we are a community of broken people. When the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth he described their former way of life as anti-social, harmful, and dangerous to themselves and others. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) But in Jesus they were being transformed and made whole. And Paul encouraged these rescued people to love one another, to be patient and kind, not to be jealous or proud or rude.
      The church is to be an ibasho- where all of us, no matter what struggles or brokenness we face, can know and experience God's love. May the hurting world experience the compassion of Christ from all who follow Him.
      Only God can transform a sin-stained soul into a masterpiece of grace.
Please read Jeremiah 37-39 and Hebrews 3

Strong Conqueror

Most of us hope for good government. We vote, we serve, and we speak out for causes we believe are fair and just. But political solutions remain powerless to change the condition of our hearts.
     Many of Jesus's followers anticipated a Messiah who would bring a vigorous political response to Rome and it's heavy-handed oppression. Peter was no exception. When Roman soldiers came to arrest Christ, Peter drew his sword and took a swing at the head of the high priest's servant, lopping off his ear in the process.
     Jesus halted Peter's one-man war, saying, " Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" Hours later, Jesus would tell Pilate, " My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders"
      The Lord's restraint in that moment, as His life hung in the balance, astonishes us when we ponder the scope of His mission. On a future day, He will lead the armies of heaven into battle. John wrote, " With justice he judges and wages war"
     But as He endured the ordeal of His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus kept His Father's will in view. By embracing death on the cross, He set in motion a chain of events that truly transforms hearts. And in the process, our Strong Conqueror defeated death itself.
      Father, how prone I am to reacting quickly rather than wisely. Show me Your will for my life so that I will purposefully choose the path You have for me.
     Real restraint is not weakness, for it arises out of genuine strength.
Please read Jeremiah 32-33 and Hebrews 1

Leading with Love

In his book Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders explores the qualities and the importance of tact and diplomacy. " Combining these two words," Sanders says, " the idea emerges of skill in reconciling opposing viewpoints without giving offense and without compromising principle."
      During Paul's imprisonment in Rome, he became the spiritual mentor and close friend of a runaway slave named Onesimus, whose owner was Philemon. When Paul wrote to Philemon a leader of the church in Colossae, asking him to receive Onesimus as a brother in Christ, he exemplified tact and diplomacy. " Although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love... [Onesimus] is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord." ( Philemon 8-9,16)
      Paul, a respected leader of the early church, often gave clear commands to the followers of Jesus. In this case, though, he appealed to Philemon on the basis of equality, friendship, and love. " I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary."
     In all our relationships, may we seek to preserve harmony and principle in the spirit of love.
     Father in heaven, in all our relationships give us grace and wisdom to be wise leaders, parents, and friends.
     Leaders who serve will serve as good leaders.
Please read Jeremiah 30-31 and Philemon.

Watchful and Alert

My desk sits close to a window that opens into our neighborhood. From that vantage point I'm privileged to watch the birds perch on the trees nearby. Some come to the window to eat insects trapped in the screen.
      The birds check their immediate surroundings for any danger, listening attentively as they look about them. Only when they are satisfied that there is no danger do they settle down to feed. Even then, they pause every few seconds to scan the area.
     The vigilance these birds demonstrate reminds me that the Bible teaches us to practice vigilance as Christians. Our world is full of temptations, and we need to remain constantly alert and not forget about the dangers. Like Adam and Eve, we easily get entangled in attractions that make the things of this world seem " good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom." ( Genesis 3:6)
     " Be on your guard," Paul admonished, " stand firm in the faith." ( 1 Corinthians 16:13) And Peter cautioned, " Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." ( 1 Peter 5:8)
      As we work for our own daily bread, are we alert to what could start consuming us? Are we watching for any hint of self-confidence or willfulness that could leave us wishing we had trusted our God?
     Lord, keep us from the secret sins and selfish reactions we're so naturally, inclined toward. By Your grace, turn our temptations into moments of growth in Christlikeness.
     The best way to escape temptation is to run to God.
Please read Jeremiah 27-29 and Titus 3

Run to Me

During a walk at a local park, my children and I encountered a couple of unleashed dogs. Their owner didn't seem to notice that one of them had begun to intimidate my son. My son tried to shoo the dog away, but the animal only became more intent on bothering him.
      Eventually, my son panicked. He bolted several yards into the distance, but the dog pursued him. The chase continued until I yelled, " Run to me!" My son doubled back, calmed down, and the dog finally decided to make mischief somewhere else.
     There are moments in our lives when God calls to us and says, " Run to Me!" Something troubling is on our heels. The faster and farther we go, the more closely it pursues us. We can't shake it. We're too afraid to turn and confront the trouble on our own. But the reality is that we aren't on our own. God is there, ready to help and comfort us. All we have to do is turn away from whatever scares us, and move in His direction. His Word says, " The name of the Lord is fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe"
      Dear Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. I need the kind of peace that only You can give. Help me to turn to You when I am troubled.
     God is our refuge in times of trouble.
Please read Jeremiah 24-26 and Titus 2