The Cubs, The Election, and The End Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the Cubs winning the World Series didn’t bring thoughts of the end times, then maybe last’s week election did.

Our reading for today is about the end times. It was the topic of Toby’s sermon yesterday; and the following devotional is an abbreviated version of his sermon.

Reading for today: Luke 21:5-28

Here we are getting ready to feast on Thanksgiving meals, thinking on all we’re thankful for. Here we are at the doorstep of the Advent season. Here we are getting ready to remind the world of Christ’s birth… and I want to talk about despair and end times. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas everyone!

But there is a reason why we talk about despair and end times right before we talk about Christ coming to earth at Christmas. For a hint as to why that is  – look at the very last words of our reading for today.

Redemption is near.

I bring you here to the end of the passage, not because I want to spoil the end the story for you, but to remind you that as we struggle through these “end times”, you might be tempted, like so many people, to fall back into those feelings of despair or fear. But do not be afraid! God has a plan of redemption for you and for me and for all people.

Trickled throughout this doomsday passage are promises for us. Promise of opportunities to share the Gospel. Promise of wisdom and the Holy Spirit’s help. Promise of protection. Promise of eternal life. Promise of redemption. And the greatest promise of all – Christ will come again!

This is why we talk about the end times right before Advent. Because while Advent is a time of waiting in hope for Christ’s first coming, these times, these tumultuous times that we live in right now, these are the days that we wait in hope for Christ’s second coming.

Come, Lord Jesus, come! Amen.

Many people close to you may be scared, confused, or hurt by what’s going on in this world or by what’s going on in their own lives. This week, focus on 4 things to remember and practice as you talk to those around you.

Day 2 – God is in control. 2 Chronicles 20:6; Romans 8:28

Day 3 – Jesus will come again. Romans 8:18; Hebrews 9:28

Day 4 – Love God and Love others. Matthew 22:36-40; 1 Corinthians 13:13

Day 5 – Pray. 1 Timothy 2:1-4; James 5:16

 

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You are loved

Reading for today: Luke 15:11-24

I used to work with internationals. One of the highlights of every week was our international women’s Bible study. One of my favorite things about the program was that my fellow volunteers and I were dedicated to making the women feel cared for and loved. I remember one of our volunteers, Alice, summing up our mission, saying, “They just need to hear that they are loved.”

This weekend, I had the opportunity to help lead a Christian retreat for 7^th and 8^th grade youth. As I was presenting the Bible study material, Alice’s voice kept ringing in my ear, “They just need to hear that they are loved.”

Sometimes God is presented in such a way as to make people feel that He is sitting up in heaven, waiting for us to do something wrong. And when we do, there is an assumption that God loves to wag His holy finger and shake His righteous head in disapproval.

That is simply not the case. God makes is very clear in His Word and through His Son how he feel about us. He absolutely loves us. He has always loved us. Everything He has done has been for us. As one of our youth put it this weekend, “God loves us and He is for us.”

Dear God, Thank you for your unbelievable love toward me. Help me to live each day remembering and sharing your great love. Amen.

As you go through your week, remember that you are loved. And remember that, those around you “just need to hear that they are loved.”

Day 2 – Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 145:8-9

Day 3 – Psalm 103:11; Romans 8:37-39

Day 4 – Ephesians 3:17-19; Hebrews 13:5

Day 5 – Romans 8:28; John 17:23-26; 1 John 4:7-11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“Hey! You Denied My Miracle”: 3 Studies on God’s Timing – Part 3

Reading for today: Luke 22:39-53

How many times have you asked God for a miracle? And how many times have you been denied? In our first two studies, Jairus and Lazarus’ sisters all asked for a miracle and got it. They struggled with God’s timing, but in the end, they all received a miracle, even better than they had expected.

What about when you, in faith, ask for a miracle but you don’t get it. What about when God chooses to deny your request? God answers your patient waiting, not with a “yes”, or a “maybe”, or a “later”, but with a cold, unexplainable “no”. When God says no and His timing seems to work against you, you have all the ingredients for despair.

So what better way to end a series on God’s timing, then with an example of Jesus’ own denied request. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus begged God to take away the coming cross and his death. And the answer he received was an unmistakable “no”.

Jesus denied? Up until this point, Jesus hadn’t been denied anything. He had asked for healing and got it. He had asked for understanding and received it. He had asked for miracles, and they came. He asked for the Spirit, and the Spirit was granted. But then one of his last requests was denied. Why? Because God’s timing for our salvation was right on track and Jesus’ request would have derailed God’s plan for us.

In his heart, Jesus knew this, so attached to his desperate prayer were 7 of the most important words ever uttered. “Not my will, but yours be done.” And thank God, that prayer was answered.

When you grapple with God’s timing in your life or in the lives of those around you, know that, like Jesus, you can ask God for wisdom, for clarity, for answers, and for a miracle. But also pray those 7 important words from Jesus, “Not my will, but yours be done.” It may not feel good, but God’s will being done is always best. Trust Him.

Dear God, Right now, I am asking for ___________________________. Not my will, but Yours be done. Amen.

Day 2 – Romans 5:6; Galatians 4:4-7

Day 3 – 2 Peter 3:8-9; James 1:5

Day 4 – Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 29:11-14

Day 5 – Matthew 6:9-13

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Hey! You Stole My Miracle: 3 Lessons on God’s Timing – Lesson 1

Read for today: Luke 8:40-56

“Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any more.” Luke 8:49

 

Lesson 1: God’s timing is never too late.

Jairus knew Jesus could heal his dying daughter. If he could find Jesus, then there might be a chance.

As if God had heard his desperate prayer, there was Jesus! Pushing through the crowd, Jairus threw himself at Jesus’s feet. Please come, heal my daughter. Desperation gave way to hope as Jairus led Jesus through the masses. Oh God, let us make it in time.

And then, out of nowhere, Jesus stopped. He began to search the crowd for something or someone else. Who touched me? Jesus asked. Nobody responded. Jesus continued to wait, looking around. Precious time ticked by.

There are hundreds of people all around, why are you stopping to ask “who touched me?” Then a woman stepped out of the crowd, revealing that she had touched Jesus and because of it, was healed from a twelve-year-old disease.

Twelve-year-old. The age of Jairus’s daughter. The daughter who also needed Jesus to touch her with his healing powers. But now it was too late. Men from Jairus’s house came and said, Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the teacher any more. It’s over. This hemorrhaging woman had stolen Jairus’s miracle! While Jesus had stood there commending her on her faith, Jairus’s daughter had died. Her life was over. They were too late.

But God’s timing is never too late. In fact, it is perfect every time. However, our response to His perfect timing is usually one of four reactions: fear (as in Jairus), annoyance (as in the disciples), cynicism (as in Jairus’s household), or faith (as in the hemorrhaging woman).

God’s timing is about getting us to that place of faith. His seeming delay afforded one woman another chance in life, healing her body and strengthening her faith. To a scared family, their cynical household, and a frustrated group of disciples who all wanted a healing, God’s timing allowed for a bigger miracle: a resurrection.

As you go through this week, what are you waiting on God for? Instead of responding with worry or fear or frustration, ask God to give you faith. Remember, God loves you and He has a plan for you. He will bless you abundantly and make you a blessing to others. Trust His way. Trust His timing.

Dear God, It is so hard to wait for you. Make me fearless and give me the strength to believe that you have everything perfectly timed. Amen.

This week read about the blessings of waiting on God’s timing.

Day 2 – Jeremiah 29:11-12; Psalm 27:14

Day 3 – Romans 8:28-32

Day 4 – Isaiah 30:18; Lamentations 3:22-26

Day 5 – Psalm 130

 

 

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Steps to contentment: Step 2 – Protect

Welcome to week 2 in our study on contentment. Contentment in the biblical sense is peace with God and satisfaction in the circumstances where God has placed you.

Contentment is what we want, but we cannot have contentment without faith. If contentment is that lush, green, fruitful garden, then discontentment is anything that endangers the growth of the garden.

Reading for this week: Luke 10:38-42

Over the summer, the kids and I weeded our overgrown yard for about 20 minutes a day. Even though 20 minutes doesn’t clear much, I have noticed that over time, we have slowly begun to open up the landscape to allow for my husband’s green-thumb creativity. It’s as if the yard finally has some room to breathe.

However, a new problem has made an appearance. Deer. They walk around the yard like they own it, eating anything that looks good. My superbells are chewed down; my new pineberries (a strawberry cultivar that tastes like pineapple) look like thick blades of sporadic grass. As we continue to develop our garden, we now have to research deer resistant plants and build deer fencing around our new vegetable garden. We need to protect what’s growing.

Being content is also a constant battle for turf. The story for today is one of our first encounters with Mary and Martha, two friends of Jesus. Both women are serving Jesus in the story. One is sitting and listening. The other is prepping a meal. I can relate to both women. However, I struggle with this passage because Martha’s service gets a bad rap. When Jesus denies Martha’s plea for help in the kitchen, it seems unfair. My gut response is to say, “Do you know what it takes to serve 13 plus hungry men? Good luck feeding those guys.”

 

Painting by He Qi

There are two problems with Martha’s service, though. The first, Luke says, “Martha was distracted.” And the second, Jesus says, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion and it will not be taken from her.” I love the firmness of Jesus’s response. It will not be taken from her. He is protecting Mary. But he is also protecting Martha from the dangerous assumption that service to God is more important than time with God.

Contentment is only possible with time with God. You can work and work and work in your garden, but if you haven’t spent time protecting it, if you haven’t spent time with the Master Gardener, you will never experience your garden of contentment.

In your pursuit of contentment, you need that valuable time with Him. And that time needs to be protected. Protected from distraction. Protected from worry. Protected from anxiety. And even protected from service. The kind of service that distracts from the very One who is to be served.

Step 2 in the pursuit of contentment: Protect your garden by spending time with the Master Gardener.

Dear Lord, I forget to spend time with You. Please forgive me. Never let my service to You replace spending time with You. Help me to encourage others to spend time with You. Grow my garden of contentment. Amen.

This week, let’s read about the blessings of spending time with God. As you read Day 2 – Psalm 23, take confidence in the fact that when the Lord is your shepherd, when you focus on Him, you realize that you have everything you need. And when you know you have everything you need, that is the beginning of contentment.

Day 2 – Psalm 23

Day 3 – Psalm 37:3-7

Day 4 – Ephesians 3:14-21

Day 5 – Matthew 6:19-21; 25-33

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Steps to Contentment: Step 1 – Weed

A friend of mine asked if I could write on the subject of contentment. (I do take requests!) So for the next few weeks, we will study the steps to contentment through the eyes of scripture.

Reading for this week: Luke 8:4-15

We recently bought our first home. As garden and landscaping enthusiasts, my husband and I have big plans to turn our overgrown yard into a small, botanical oasis. While there is a lot of potential, the yard has been neglected for years.

Think of contentment as lush, green, fruitful landscaping. Contentment is peace with God and satisfaction in the circumstances where God has placed you. Contentment is what we want, but before we can even begin to draw up the landscaping plans, we have an unbelievable amount of rocks, thorns, thistle bushes, and weeds to deal with.

In the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8), there are four basic responses to God: reject, forget, become distracted, or believe. Only in the last response lies the path to contentment. But even though I am a believer, I struggle with being content.

When I look more closely at the third response – becoming distracted – I see my problem. “They are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature” (Luke 8:14).

In other words, I wholeheartedly believe God and his love for me, but sometimes I mistakenly equate being content with experiencing the good life. I base contentment on whether or not I feel that life is good. And if the good life is endangered, missing, or lacking, if it is without health or without riches or without excitement, if it becomes monotonous, unforgiving, or difficult, I panic. In my distraction and worry, the threatening thorns, weeds, and rocks begin to take hold once again and jeopardize not only the growth of my garden, but also the very life of the garden.

So how do we grow our gardens? The last verse of our reading gives us a landscaping plan. “As for that in the good soil, they are those who hearing the word, hold fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” Hear the word, hold fast to God, and grow your garden with patience.

Step 1 in the pursuit of contentment: Weed out distraction by holding fast to God, your master gardener.

Dear Lord, Focus my heart and mind on You. Make me hold fast to You so I am not distracted by the cares of this world. Make me content in all circumstances. Amen.

Continue reading these well-known passages about contentment this week.

Day 2 – Philippians 4:11-13

Day 3 – 1 Timothy 6:6-12

Day 4 – Hebrews 13:5-6

Day 5 – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

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Don’t Worry

Some Bible passages need to be read on a regular basis. Luke 12:22-34 is one of those passages. If you already know this passage by heart, you and I could probably be friends. But even if you haven’t set Luke’s passage to memory, you can appreciate its importance. Let’s read it and while we do, take your time and deeply breath in these words of Jesus.

Reading for today: Luke 12:22-34

When you are struggling with worry or anxiety and the Holy Spirit is leading you to trust God, there always seems to be someone or something telling you to pick that worry back up again.

Part of the problem with worry is that we live in a world where it is almost socially acceptable to worry. It is your responsibility to worry. Worry, in this sense, is the precursor to taking things under control. If you are not worried about a situation, then you either don’t understand the seriousness of the situation or you aren’t taking care of things.

It’s as if total trust in God is irresponsible. But Jesus responds to worry by saying, “And which of you by being so anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?…O you of little faith” (Matthew 6:27, 30).

To encourage your trust in God today, I’d like to share a story about a woman I once knew. (I’ll call her Megan.) Megan and her family of five had just moved to seminary and were on an extremely tight budget. She shared that, at the time, they felt they had most of their finances under-control, except for gas money. They weren’t sure how they were going to pay for gas.

After they were assigned to a fieldwork church almost an hour away from seminary, Megan’s family sadly realized that their gas expenses would be even higher than they expected. As they drove to their church for the first time, Megan explained that there was a sinking feeling in her stomach as they saw how far of a drive their fieldwork church was from campus.

Anxious and upset, they finally arrived at their new church. As they walked into the unfamiliar building, however, a little, old lady greeted them and immediately handed them $50. Surprised and confused, Megan and her husband asked the generous stranger what the gift was for. The elderly woman replied, “I want you to use it for gas.”

Megan explained that this little, old lady handed them $50 every time she saw them in church, and her Spirit-led gifts covered their gas expenses for their entire time at seminary.

Isn’t that amazing?

Dear God, You know what I need even before I ask (Matthew 6:8b). Thank you. Amen.

This week, I challenge you to read Luke 12 everyday. See if by Friday these words from Jesus haven’t brought you closer to trusting the God who loves you and promises to take care of all your needs.

Day 2 – Luke 12:22-34; Proverbs 3:5-6

Day 3 – Luke 12:22-34; Philippians 4:4-7

Day 4 – Luke 12:22-34; 1 Peter 5:6-7

Day 5 – Luke 12:22-34; Isaiah 30:18-21

 

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The Power to Save: A six-week study on the power of Jesus: Week 1

We are in the season of Lent. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and culminates on Good Friday. For church people, Lent is traditionally the time to stoically remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. During this time, we tend to dwell on the fact that Jesus gave up all his power on our behalf.

While this is very true, I want to spend the rest of Lent looking at the power Jesus did not give up on our behalf. Specifically I want to discuss six powers, that when combined not only make Jesus the perfect sacrifice but also make him mighty to save.

Reading for this week: Luke 8:41-56

“I perceive that power has gone out of me.” ~Luke 8:46

At the time of this story, Jesus was still early in his ministry but famously known for his power to heal. He healed the sick, the lame, the blind, the infirm, and even the dead. Because of his power to heal anything, he had a following and everywhere he went, people gathered.

In this particular story, Jesus was heading towards Jairus’ home. Jairus’ daughter was very sick, close to death. Yet Jesus allowed himself to be delayed along the way by a desperate, sick woman reaching out to grab a bit of his power. And it worked. This woman, who had spent twelve years consulting experts, only to be left worse off, was healed in a second, simply by touching Jesus’ clothes.

Jairus’ Daughter by Barbabra Februar

After healing the woman and finally arriving at Jairus’ house, it was too late. The disease had killed the little girl. But Jesus seemed unfazed by the mourners. There was not a “let me see what I can do”. No, Jesus confidently walked over to the little girl and commanded her to arise. And she did.

There are two crucial distinctions in Jesus’ power to heal. First, unlike a doctor or an expert, Jesus doesn’t just possess a working knowledge of common diseases, ailments, and afflictions, he rules over them. That’s why he can demand Jairus’ daughter to rise up out of her death, and she does. That’s why he can rebuke a fever into submission, and it immediately dissipates (Luke 4:39). That’s why he can spit into the dirt, make mud, and smear it over a blind man’s eyes, to heal like no medicine available (John 9:6-7). He has complete power over disease.

Second, faith is involved. In both situations, Jesus links his power to their faith. In the case of the trembling woman, Jesus reveals that the power that had gone out of him was released by her faith. And to the mourners at Jairus’ house, Jesus says, “Believe, and she will be well.” In each situation, Jesus is not simply showcasing his power, but he is demonstrating that we have access to his power through faith. And that power, is life-saving.

Dear Jesus, You have the power to heal. Heal us. Thank you for your ultimate, life-saving healing where we, through faith, receive your salvation. Amen.

This week delve into the world of Jesus the Healer. As you read each story of healing, remember that the Bible does not expound on every healing. With that in mind, ask yourself the following questions: Why is this story included in the Bible? What can I learn about Jesus from this story?

Day 2 – Matthew 20:29-34

Day 3 – Matthew 8:1-17

Day 4 – Luke 6:6-11

Day 5 – Luke 17:11-19

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Reckless Generosity: Part 1

Reading for this week: Luke 10:25-37

“Which proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “Go, and do likewise.” ~ Luke 10:36-37

There is generosity – that of giving above what is expected. And then there is reckless generosity – that of giving in such a way which seems unreasonable, irrational, or even dangerous.

The story of the Good Samaritan is an example of reckless generosity. The Samaritan is generous because he helps a man in need, who may never be able to repay him. But he is recklessly generous because that man is his enemy.

The Samaritan passerby had no moral, legal, or cultural obligations towards this dying Jew in the road. Anything he offered this man would immediately fall under the category of generous. Yet because he offered everything – compassion, time, gentle care, medicinal bandages, food, water, transportation, continued medical care, shelter, and financial support – his generosity became absolutely reckless.

Jesus tells this story to address a lawyer’s question: Who is my neighbor? Yet Jesus’ answer reveals a deeper understanding of his own ministry of compassion. A ministry he has passed on to us.

Reckless generosity is not a requirement of our faith, but an outpouring of it. When we understand what we owe God – total righteousness. And then understand that it is impossible to pay Him that. It is in that moment that we recognize his reckless generosity towards us. Only by his generous mercy are we saved. Only by his outpouring are we even able to come before him.

It is in grateful response that we turn to our neighbors and joyfully offer that same kind of reckless love.

Dear God, I thank you for your saving generosity towards me. Remind me daily of your mercy. And in that mercy, make me compassionate and generous to those around me. Amen.

Throughout this week, use the following passages to meditate on God’s reckless compassion on us.

Day 2: 1 John 4:7-12, 19

Day 3: Luke 15:1-7

Day 4: Romans 5:1-11

Day 5: Romans 8:31-39

Next week: In Reckless Generosity: Part 2, we’ll discuss what it looks like to love our neighbor. I’ve got a great story of reckless generosity from a woman I just met this weekend.

*Additional sources: While writing this devotional, I listened to a Timothy Keller sermon based on the Good Samaritan passage entitled Blueprint for Revival: Social Concern. If you have 40 minutes, it’s thought-provoking.

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Why Christmas is so important: Week 4

Reading for today: Luke 2:15-20 (Click on the passage to read online.)

“The shepherd returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” ~ Luke 2:20

Why is Christmas so important? During week one, we discussed that Christmas is important because it was the day that Jesus, the incarnate promise, was born. Giving us…

HOPE.

In week two, we studied that Christmas is important because Jesus was God’s greatest gift to us. Showing us God’s abundant…

LOVE.

Last week, we understood Christmas as important because this promised child born was God’s ultimate peace offering to our broken world. Bringing us back to God and granting us…

PEACE.

This week, take some time to ponder the final answer in our series: Why is Christmas so important? It is important because it is a story of hope, love, peace, and finally…

JOY.

You see, the Christmas story is still being written. Christmas is the day that God’s long awaited action plan was set in motion. God’s plan to bring us back to himself started in the promise of a Savior. When that Savior Jesus was born, his very existence on earth set into motion a series of events, each strategically leading up to his necessary death and resurrection.

But the Christmas story doesn’t end there. Jesus said, “I will come back.” In Jesus, we have hope. We have his love. We have his peace, but we have yet to find full relief from the sin and death that pulls us away from God and from those around us. When Jesus returns to finish his story, when he returns to bring us fully back to God, the final result, the final ending to his story will be perfect, unending joy. And on that day, our hope will be fully realized. Our love will be complete. Peace will be permanent. And no one will take our joy away from us.

Merry Christmas.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Dear God, Thank you for Christmas. Thank you for your hope, love, and peace. Please give us glimpses of joy as we patiently await your return. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

This week, spend some time understanding God’s plan. (Click on the passages to read online.)

Day 2: Isaiah 25:6-9

Day 3: Philippians 3:12-14; 20-21

Day 4: Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 12:1-3

Day 5: John 14:1-7

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