Lamp . . . Light – April 30, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Revelation 3

Revelation 3:1 …you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. NIV.

How tragic are some of the accounts in Scripture. The foundational record regards the temptation of Adam and Even in the garden. This illustrates the destructive power of self-deception. God clearly instructed the original couple of His prohibition from eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (The fruit is usually depicted as an apple, but I think it was a banana – because it was so appealing!) Eve chose, instead of obedience, to deceive herself (and Adam was right there silently approving) and decided, since the fruit was lovely and desirable to make her wise, to ear the forbidden fruit.

Most of my understanding of God’s will is derived from God’s inspired Word and the counsel of Christians over the centuries. I do not have direct personalize communication from God. If Adam could deceive himself after speaking directly with God in the cool of the evening, how much more powerful a danger is self-deception to me. I need a continual process of accountability to God through prayer and meditation; and with others through worship and fellowship.

One of my areas of weakness and susceptibility to self-deception is assuming that right knowledge is what makes me acceptable to God. An extreme form of this is someone I know who stated that he had accepted Christ as his Savior.  Thus, he now had his “fire insurance” and it didn’t matter how he lived. This is an extreme view and clearly a distortion of the belief that genuine believer will persevere in their faith. Yet, the assumption of the priority of belief remains a challenge today for man, even entire denominations.

I believe God uses various denominations to remind the church as a whole of the broad applications of his intentions for ministry and understanding. How tragic, though, when denominations feel that it is their way or the highway. They hold that they have rediscovered the “pure” doctrine of the New Testament church. Therefore, anyone who disagrees with them is opposed to the Bible. With vitriol, anger, and deprecating words they defame others who are not of their group. In holding to a set of doctrines they deceive themselves and justify unloving behavior and thus, in my opinion defame the Savior who bought them.

May I (and all who read this) submit both our thoughts and actions to Christ and His mission.

May the meditations of my mind, the words of my mouth, and the actions of my life be acceptable in your sight. Amen.

Lamp . . . Light – April 29, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1:3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just. NIV.

I read Proverbs on a monthly schedule. Today I experienced a spiritual de ja vou. Yesterday I meditated on the 31^st chapter and the description of the virtuous woman. I concluded God was not dictating what a woman must do, rather describing how a person can apply wisdom to the practical affairs of life. Today I consider Solomon’s stated rationale for the entire book. In this verse alone he provides five results of acquiring wisdom. They are: developing consistent discipline; becoming prudent in perspective; doing what is right; living a just life; and being fair in one’s relationships. (If you have time do this exercise of Proverbs 31. Use five colored highlighters or pencils, assign a color for each result, and then highlight each result the virtuous woman exhibits.)

If I am to accurately apply the book of Proverbs to my life, I can examine how I express these characteristics. Here are some reflections questions:

1. Disciplined life: How consistent am I in my sleep schedule? Do I retire at an appropriate time to maximize my rest? How punctual am I to appointments, work, church, and meetings? How often do I feel I have spent too much time on social media? How consistently do I connect with God in Bible reading, prayer, and medication? How intentional am I in spending time with my spouse, children, and close friends? How consistently do I work toward my highest priority goals?
2. Prudence: What have I come to see as God’s overarching purpose for me and my life? When I make decisions and goals, how consistently do I prioritize based on fulfilling God’s overarching purpose? How easily to I say, “no” to commitments which either do not directly further God’s purpose in my life or which actively undermine that purpose? How frequently do I ask God to show me His will for my day and the power to do it?
3. Doing what is right: Am I committed to accepting God’s direction as to what is right and wrong? How frequently when faced with life’s challenges do I look to the Bible and wise godly friends for advice on the correct path to take? When I do something wrong, how quickly to I acknowledge that and correct my actions?
4. A just life: Do I make excuses when I mistakes or take personal responsibility for my actions? When someone asks my opinion, how honest and forthright am I in my response, or do I try to say what the other person wants to hear? Do I forgive others as God has forgiven me? How consistent are my standards of behavior for others as compared for myself?
5. Fair in relationships: How frequently am I judgmental toward others and how often do I forgive and affirm them? Do I criticize others more often than I thank them or ask clarifying questions? Do I try to motivate people by sarcasm as opposed to stating facts and expectations? How negative (expecting the worst in others) am I instead of looking for the good in people? Would others describe me as a complainer or as someone who attempts to see the good in live?  How often do I gossip about others rather than speak with them directly to resolve and issue or support someone who struggles.

My hope is these questions will facilitate our growth in practical wisdom in daily living.

Let me grow in wise practical live and so become a beacon of light in a darkened world. Amen.

Lamp . . . Light – April 28, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Psalm 92

Psalm 92:5 How great are your works, O LORD, how profound are your thoughts. NIV.

This psalm commences with high praise in worship of God. What is it that the psalmist emphasized in his song of praise? He first surveys God’s marvelous acts. God created the universe from nothing. We can survey all around us, from a sunrise, to the ocean vista or majestic mountain heights, the intricate wonder of a flower, and the seemingly never-ending array of stars in the night’s sky. All of this comes from the hand of God and by His powerful speech. We, along with the psalmist, can find throughout nature a seemingly endless array of marvels for which to praise and honor our God.

God is also the One who sustains His people and provides all good things for us to enjoy. As Jesus said in the New Testament, God allows the sun to shine on the just and the unjust. He placed us in a world with ample resources for our needs. We have air, water, crops to grow and eat, animals with which to farm, clothe ourselves, and eat. He also provided us minds to create order out of disorder and to tame the earth. When we think on a personal level, we can also see how God has protected and guided us throughout our lives and blessed us families and relationships.

The psalmist also praises God for His marvelous redemptive acts. For the ancient Hebrew peoples the focus of that redemption was the deliverance of the nation from slavery in Egypt and the provision of the promised land. To a lesser degree the victories over their enemies provided ongoing reassurance that God cares and delivers them from their enemies. We, in the church, worship God for His redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus. We praise God every time we worship, share communion, and baptize people on their profession of faith. We also see how God delivers us from the ongoing practice of sin into growing godliness and service.

Beyond these things the psalmist reminds us to praise God for His marvelous thoughts. How can we possibly know the thoughts of God? By reading and meditating upon His inspired Word recorded for us in the Bible. I have found the more I read and contemplate God’s Word, I find more of His amazing wisdom, which helps me grow and serve Him. Let us continually meditate on God’s word as we saturate our lives with praise and worship.

I will praise You for who You are, what You have done, and the truth and wisdom You have entrusted me in Your inspired Scriptures. Amen.

Lamp . . . Light – April 27, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31:30 …but the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. NIV

I fear that some preachers, teachers, and individuals have misused the 31^st chapter of Proverbs. How I wish I am free from my concerns, but I have joined those who have made this chapter and incredible burden on women. We have used it as a cudgel to emotionally browbeat women to a standard impossible for anyone to meet. In doing so we have not only misused scripture as a weapon (rather than a source of encouragement and hope), we have also ignored Jesus’ admonition that we examine the log (major weaknesses) in our own lives before we demand others remove the speck (some minor irritation).

What then is the purpose of this chapter? Throughout Proverbs Solomon spoke about two contrasting women. One is the wise woman who has filled her banquet hall with every delicacy. The other is the foolish and wayward woman who fills her tables with stolen meals. One leads to wisdom and life; the other to death and destruction. Solomon then concludes with a practical illustration of applying the way of wisdom in one’s life. He continues with his feminine theme.

I suspect that this paeon of praise for the woman is more of a description of all the varied ways a godly person manages their household. He is not providing a list of mandates for all women to uphold. The underlying principles and themes include: prudence, thrift, compassion, and worship, all of which are themes reiterated through out the book of Proverbs. One example of this is the statement that her lamp does not go out at night. This does not mean that she stays up all night, rather that she has the foresight to insure the household has a supply of oil sufficient to their daily needs and so has no fear of plunging the house into unexpected darkness at night.

Much of Proverbs, and not just this exhortation to the godly woman, reiterates the truth that the Christian life is to be live and not simply believed. Godly living, though not a requirement to receive God’s offer of redemption, is a natural outflow of the new life we receive and an offering of gratitude for God’s love and faithfulness.

I offer myself to You today. Do with me and build with me as You please. Amen.

Lamp . . . Light – April 26, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Psalm 91

Psalm 91:14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges my name.” NIV.

One of the most frustrating conversations consists of someone concluding, “If you don’t know what the issue is, I’m not going to tell you.” Having been at the receiving end of such a comment I have felt genuine confusion. The reality is I need the other person’s help to see what I have missed. Blind spots are exactly this – actions or attitude I cannot see and therefore do not know unless someone tells me. For example, how much better to say something like, “When you interrupt me, I feel dismissed and disregarded. Could you please listen to what I have to say.” With that I can understand how my behavior affects another and take appropriate actions to improve.

Isn’t it beneficial that through His scriptures, God clearly tells us what He expects from us. We are not left to guess or muddle around by trial and error to find what pleases Him. In this verse God, through His inspired servant, tells us one of the ways in which we can express our love. God promises to protect us because we acknowledge His name. This is not some magic word or phrase, but to claim a relationship with God. We do this when we accept the name Christian, which means little Christ. So, to acknowledge the name of God is to claim allegiance and loyalty to the holder of that name.

When I was deciding on a seminary to attend, I narrowed the choice to Westminster in Philadelphia and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois. One of the factors in selecting the Illinois seminary was that my father was a recent graduate from Westminster. Since I attended the Bible college where he taught, I wanted to make a name for myself and go to a school where he was unknown. In the subsequent years I have come to value my father’s name and am deeply grateful for his legacy to me.

In a far greater way, I value my identification with my Savior, whose love is immeasurable and who provides me with life and purpose in serving Him.

As people saw the Father in Jesus, may Jesus so abide in me daily that people see Jesus in me. Amen.

Lamp . . . Light – April 25, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29:26 Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice. NIV.

We live in a goal-oriented world. This includes the desire for justice for the oppressed, the trafficked, and the disenfranchised. In our culture we will impanel a group to examine the problem, determine the root causes, explore alternatives for solutions, and to present a plan, which will be implemented by another group. Personally, when wronged or advocation for another, I consider the problem, ask others for advice, plan a strategy to resolve the issue. Then I implement that plan, with or without the aid of others. In this implementation I may advocate, appeal for others to join the cause, connive, badger people, and mobilize other to actively pursue a solution.

When I act this way, I frequently end up physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. A major source of that depletion derives from the assumption that I am responsible for restoring justice to this world. Like the person, referred to in this psalm, who presents a petition to the king for justice and for whom the psalmist reminds that justice comes ultimately from God. The psalmist encourages this individual to rely not on their own persuasiveness but upon God.

Does that mean any appeals to authority are prohibited? I believe not. This passage refers to an inner attitude. God desires that we rely upon Him and turn to Him. I am grateful I life in a free society where seeking redress for wrongs is an acceptable option. People like Wilberforce advocated over many years for the abolition of slavery before God granted success. If God grants people a passion for that level of involvement, God will also provide the grace and strength to persevere while relying on God.

Ultimately our hope rests in the hope that one day a heavenly trumpet will blow, clouds will open like a massive door, and Jesus will return. At that moment, every person, living and dead, will bow in complete submission to the Lord will judge with righteousness.

May I live a life of personal devotion to Christ and His justice, even as I work for God’s justice to be fulfilled on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Lamp . . . Light – April 24, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

John 17

John 17:23 . . . May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. NIV.

One interesting phenomenon is how often it seems as if church members assume some special efficacy to me, as a pastor, as if God will listen better if I do the praying. Sometimes I wonder if people believe no one but pastors can pray! I hope that is not the case and that when people ask me to pray, they are simply honoring the role to which God has called me.

I understand, though, better than most how inadequate my praying can be. I can lack faith, fall into a performance mentality, and express myself in rote recitations. I have much to learn about the depth and wonder of prayer as communion with God. Then again, I realize how feeble and inadequate my prayers are when compared to Christ’s. If anyone’s heart was united with the Father’s and passionate to see God’s will fully implemented on earth as it is in heaven, that one was Jesus.

Here He prays an audacious prayer when He requests complete unity among His followers. I look around the church situation today and observe many different denominations which often squabble with each other. Within individual denominations there are often competing factions striving to achieve differing agendas. How tragic that even within local churches there is ongoing strife and division over the style of music, the priority of programs, the maintenance of buildings, and outreach programs (to name just a few). Churches have even split over the color of the carpet. I inwardly weep and ask, “Where is the unity Jesus prayed for?”

I may not be able to fix the world’s denominational rivalries. I can work to live in loving unity in my local church. I can remind all of us that our loyalty is to Jesus, the Head, and follow His guidance. Within my denomination I can strive for unity of purpose – to make disciples – a to increased devotion to Christ’s leadership.

May my union with You unite me also with all who call upon the Risen Savior as their Lord. Amen.

Lamp . . . Light – April 23, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25:12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear. NIV.

Once I saw a pen catalogue. Yes, there are catalogues for those who fancy fountain and other high end writing instruments. One was encrusted with black diamonds and sported a band of rubies. It was highlighted against a white background and I thought the pen looked very attractive. That is all except the $110,000 price!

What is it about jewels and gold which we find so attractive? It cannot be simple the presentation. I think there is an inherent beauty with faceted gems which are polished to reflect the light or opal with their vibrant coloration draws our eyes. Regardless of the cause I find myself drawn to the beauty of fine jewelry, although my finest jewelry is my college class ring and my smart watch to track my steps.

Solomon also finds beauty in fine jewelry and uses the desirability of that to emphasize the value of wise counsel. Rather than placing jewelry on a piece of complimentary fabric to enhance the appear, he places wisdom side-by-side with jewelry. As painful as a rebuke is (I have never enjoyed being corrected) I have found that one who cares enough about me to speak to me truthfully can teach me far more than continued silence. One such rebuke produced a ten year deeply mutual friendship, one which lasts until today even though we are separated by hundreds of miles.

Here we are challenged to have listening ears to receive wisdom, however it come. I wonder. Did Jesus have this verse in mind when He repeatedly challenged His audience to have “listening ears”?

God, I choose to open my ears to Your voice. Speak, for Your servant listens. Amen.

Lamp . . . Light – April 22, 2024.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24:19 Do not fret because of evil men, or be envious of the wicked, NIV.

I suspect there is a little bit of Eeyore in all of us. This sorrowful creature not only loses his tail but he also loses his perspective on life in such a way he transforms even the good in life to envision the worst possible scenario. How often have I, too, felt (if I have not said) on a sunny day, “Tut, tut, it looks like rain!”

One area about which I have worry and fret is how much evil and unrest there is in the world. It appears that many people do wrong and get away with it. Just set your cruise control at the speed limit on an interstate highway and see how many people pass you. Many may even share some sign language or musical car horn composition (especially if you are in the “wrong lane”). My concerns go beyond speeding. I lock my car, stow valuables in the trunk, and insure my house windows and doors are locked. I check my bank and credit card statements to insure there are no unauthorized charges.

Yet, our culture also admires wrong-doers. Think of the popular Godfather movies or the Soprano series. In those productions evil doing is almost elevated to a place of admiration and desirability. Solomon urges us in Proverbs to neither fear about the success of evil doers not to envy them and their apparent immunity from disaster. He assures us that God will vindicate His name and will. Eventually those who defy God’s preferred manner of living will face the consequences and God will reward those who are faithful in obeying Him.

So, when we look around us and observe the current state of affairs, let us cling to the hope that God sees and knows. What is done in secret will one day be exposed. Let us live in integrity doing in private nothing over which we would be embarrassed if it came to light.

Father, You are not just a loving Redeemer, You are also the righteous Judge. May I trust in You to provide and protect. Amen.

Lamp . . . Light – April 21, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Psalm 86

Psalm 86:6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? NIV.

I meet almost weekly with five or six other ministers to discuss how to best utilize the lectionary reading in our preaching. Although I rarely use the lectionary, I value the fellowship with my peers as well as the stimulating discussions. Frequently I come away with ideas which I can apply in my preaching preparation. We often “talk shop” also. One of the common denominators of we who are pastors in a rural area is the condition of our churches. Most of them are small and have declining membership and attendance. Our group is comprised of Lutheran, Congregational, Methodist, and Nazarene pastors. We try to maintain a positive attitude but the sense that the church in North America is facing deep challenges persist.

Like Asaph who wrote this psalm, I feel like we, as God’s people, face aggressive foes who seem to be gaining ground at our expense. The foes of business, children’s sports activities, increasing cultural secularization, overt materialism, blatant sensuality and pornography, and political polarization are encroaching on our churches’ effectiveness and outreach. The COVID epidemic of 2020-2022 also had mixed results. For some (including my church) it jump-started technological advances and streaming service. In other situations, it resulted in people dropping out of in-person services in favor of isolating through streaming worship.

It will be beneficial if we, like Asaph, turn to the source of renewal and power. Let us also invoke God’s blessing to revive us again. May His power and love flow through us, so that we experience His transforming grace and extend that grace to others.

Revive us again. Fill us with Your love and power. Amen.