Today's Word
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Salisbury PlainClimb a Hill, Look at a Rock Day
Our Lord is so good, He grants us many blessings. We can see Him in the daily course of events, in our homes, our jobs, our lives. I pray that these words help you to grow in your faith and recognize His hand in even the most mundane circumstances.
The picture to the right is of a Celtic Chapel located in Cornwall England. This building is approximately 1700 years old, and contains a holy well known for its healing powers.
(Click for enlarged)
“Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord. Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, ‘Rejoice!’ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think about these things. The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:1-9, WEB
Have you ever known anyone who was perpetually happy? Have you known one of those people that no matter where they are, no matter what is happening in their life they have a smile on their face? In the movie “Sister Act” starring Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Najimy played Sister Mary Patrick, an upbeat nun who helped Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopi) find her place in the convent. Sister Mary Clarence was actually Delores Van Cartier, a Las Vegas headliner who was in hiding because her boyfriend had threatened her life. The convent life was far from Delores s comfort zone and no matter how temporary it was to be, she needed people to help her adjust.
In one scene, Sister Mary Clarence and Sister Mary Patrick were sitting together, chatting about their lives. Slightly annoyed by the constant giddiness, Sister Mary Clarence asked Sister Mary Patrick if she was always so happy. Sister Mary Patrick answered, “Yes” and said that her mother thought she would grow up to be either a stewardess or a nun. Most of us look at people like her with the same annoyance as Delores. We can’t imagine always being happy. It is exhausting to be with them, how much more exhausting must it be to be them?
Yet Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, ‘Rejoice!’” Always is a very long time. Sister Mary Clarence seems to have found that place where she seems to be always rejoicing, but I don’t know many people who can get there. We go through a whole range of emotions, sometimes in just minutes. Even as we watch the movie “Sister Act” we experience fear, worry, sadness, hope, doubt and happiness. We react to the experiences of those characters on screen, and we respond with smiles as well as tears.
However, rejoicing need not manifest merely as giddiness. Sister Mary Clarence has that kind of happiness, even in tough times, because she always sees the glass as half full. But we can rejoice even as we cry tears of pain and doubt because in this passage Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord.” This is different than mere happiness. This is living out trust in God and responding to the world with a steadfast faith that is visible to the world. It does not mean we have to smile at all moments, but it means standing firm in the promises of God knowing that He is faithful. It means praising God even in the midst of the pain and trouble that we experience. It means being thankful, even when it seems like there is nothing to be thankful for.
Sadly, this letter was written by Paul in part because two fellow co-workers for Christ were at odds. We don’t know why Euodia and Syntyche were fighting, but I’m sure we all know people who disagree with one another. Each is passionate about their opinion and is willing to fight for what they believe to be right and true. That is certainly true right now in the United States as politics has divided our nation. Many are divided over religion, also, even Christians. Perhaps Euodia and Syntyche had differing opinions about certain doctrines of faith or the direction of the new and growing Church. It would be impossible to find full agreement in the pews of our churches today, let alone between church bodies.
But Paul said that we should “think the same way in the Lord”? Does this mean that we have to agree fully about every detail of our faith? Some might think so, but Paul goes on to talk about rejoicing in the Lord. Despite our differences (differences that occur because God has created us as unique individuals), we can be of the same mind, praising God in all circumstances, even when things are not going so well.
We can share the peace of God as we dwell in the love of God in Christ Jesus, instead of dwelling in our differences. As Paul wrote, “Whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think about these things.” Jesus Christ is all this, and in Him we can rejoice together, singing praise and thanksgiving to God.
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Lectionary Scriptures for September 22, 2024, Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Jeremiah 11:18-20; Psalm 54; James 3:13-4:10; Mark 9:30-37
“Hear my prayer, God. Listen to the words of my mouth.” Psalm 54:2, WEB
I was reading through Timothy Keller’s year long devotional on the Proverbs a few years ago, when I came across the day that focused on the dangers of windfalls. As it happened, the Megamillions jackpot at the time was about a billion dollars. I was never one in the habit of buying tickets regularly, but I did buy them occasionally, especially when the jackpot was huge. Keller’s words struck me, and I stopped immediately. The devotion was about Proverbs 13:11, “Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.” Some versions translate the beginning of this proverb, “Wealth gained hastily.” Keller wrote, “The word dishonest translates a Hebrew phrase that means literally ‘money out of the air,’ meaning wealth that comes suddenly rather than gradually. The warning is this: If you don’t grow wealth over years through diligence, vigilance, and skillfulness, you may not have grown the character and habits necessary to manage money well.”
This has proven to be true among lottery winners over the years. Still, I admit that I have wished for a lottery win. It is hard to see the signboard at the grocery store advertising incredible jackpots and not buy a ticket. After all, what’s a few dollars once in a while? What harm could it do? I always promised God I would use the winnings in ways that glorify Him. I know many charities that could use that money. I know a camp that needs a new dining hall. And yes, I wouldn’t mind using some of the money for myself. I’ve had moments in my life when I prayed for a lottery win in the hope it will make life better and easier for my family.
There is a joke that is popular among rabbis “There was a man who went to his Rabbi for advice on how he could win the state lottery. He was in dire need of money and that windfall was in necessity to him. The Rabbi gave him some advice and told him to start praying once a day. The man went home and followed the advice. Ten years later he had still not won the lottery. He went back to the Rabbi and this time the Rabbi told him to pray twice a day. The man went home and followed the advice and another ten years went by and he still hadn't won the lottery. Once again, he returned to the Rabbi and in desperation he promised to do anything to win. The Rabbi, a bit puzzled himself, advised him to pray three times a day. The man returned home and began to pray fervently three times a day, awakening the angels in heaven who in response to these heartfelt words of pleading by this human being beseech God to help this poor man. God looks at his angels and He Himself looked quite sad as he said, ‘I wish I could fulfill his request as he is definitely deserving; if only he would go out and buy a lottery ticket!’”
I don’t pray for a win anymore because I don’t buy tickets, though it would still be nice to have that windfall. At least that’s what we think. If you listen to the stories of lottery winners, however, you will find that it is rarely the solution to their troubles. As a matter of fact, things often get worse. Everyone comes knocking for a handout and will do anything from pleading to threats, to manipulation. They try everything to make you cave to their requests. Many people who win the lottery lose it within eighteen months. A million dollars sounds like a great deal of money until you start buying cars and houses and the best of everything. It doesn't take long to use up a million dollars when you treat your friends to fancy dinners every week.
When we hear about someone who has won the lottery, we wonder what they did to win. Did they pick special numbers? Did they buy the ticket at a certain time or in a certain place? We wonder what we can do to have the same kind of luck. We think about praying, recalling Jesus’ words in the scriptures that we need only ask and we will receive. When we find that nothing works. The wisdom of the winners is useless, and we become discouraged. We even become jealous.
James reminds us, however, that when we pray for this outside God’s will we ask wrongly. Even when we promise to God that we will use the winnings to His glory, we also have other things in mind. We might give ten percent or more to the church, but we are also thinking about that new car or the two-month cruise we want to take. If we do win, we quickly become cynical of those seeking aid because we see how much they are willing to do to get what they want. Praying for the lottery win is self-serving and creates walls between people. We are called to live according to the wisdom of Christ rather than that of the world, the kind of wisdom that considers what is best for all: for the community, for your neighbors, for your family. In God’s wisdom we’ll ask according to His will, not our own. He knows how He will accomplish those things we want to do with the money. They charities will be served, even if all I can give is a few dollars. The dining hall will be built in His time and way. I have to trust that it is better for me to be satisfied with what I have, rather than seek what I want, trusting that God will give me everything I need according to His heart and His wisdom.
It is such a temptation because we live in a world that has a very self-centered attitude. “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die,” is a common thought among human beings, not only today but from the very beginning of time. The apocryphal book named “The Wisdom of Solomon” includes advice for the carefree life that lives for today knowing that tomorrow may never come again. The people who lived at the time the book was penned were Hellenized Jews in Alexandria. They were torn between the life of faith and the tempting cultural life in Egypt. It was exciting to live there, with fascinating mystery religions, cults, astrology, and other religious perspectives. Who wouldn’t want to live by the doctrine, “Eat, drink and be merry”? It is better than a life of servanthood and of suffering.
In that kind of society, the righteous person is often targeted by the schemes of the wicked. Christians are the outsiders, the ones unwilling to go along with the crowd. The faithful, those who willingly submit to a life of servanthood, are inconvenient to the life the wicked want to live. Believers are both the doormats and the stumbling blocks in this world. Jeremiah was being persecuted. His words fell on unwilling ears and his expectations were unwelcome. He was opposed on every side; even his family was against him. His words brought the wrath of the leaders on his head, but they also had the potential of destroying his family. They would suffer, too, so they schemed to destroy him, to stop his words to protect their lives. The Lord made this conspiracy known to Jeremiah.
The brief passage from Jeremiah this week is a personal lament by the prophet over his suffering. It is difficult enough to experience persecution when it comes from the world and from the powerful, but it is even more difficult when it comes from your own family. Jeremiah was honest with God. He was hurt and angry, so he asked God for vengeance. This is not really the way we should be dealing with our enemies. As a matter of fact, from our Christian perspective we know we are called to love our enemies and to face the persecution with trust and faith. Yet, our human nature doesn’t think it is too much to ask God for a little vengeance.
Jeremiah shows in these words a deep trust in God. The trust is not necessarily that God will hear and answer our prayer as we might ask, but that God is big enough to listen even to our ranting and our anger. Jeremiah was honest with Him, speaking the words he felt and to admitting his desires. This display of anger and lament did not bring God’s wrath on Jeremiah; God answered with mercy and grace.
The early Christians faced their own persecution, just like Jeremiah, and they held on to his words as they tried to understand their suffering. They had faith enough in God to speak their fears and their anger, knowing that God is bigger than their human failings. He gives strength to those who call Him, even when the cry is one of anger and lament. He lifts us up and brings us through our troubles, forgiving our frailty, and giving us the grace to go on.
The disciples were afraid to ask Jesus what He meant when He said that He would be delivered into the hands of men, killed, and after three days rise again. They didn’t want to know. It is so much better to be ignorant, to be blind to the troubles that surround us. Many people within the church refuse to become involved as leaders, members of the council, attending meetings, because they simply don’t want to know what’s going on. Perhaps they have been there before. I worked for the church where I had my membership, and I have to confess that it made me hesitant to ever work for my own church again. I hated to see what goes on behind the scenes. Oh, I know we are all sinners in need of a Savior, but I like being blind to the drama. I, and many others, have learned the hard way what goes on behind closed doors, they’ve been hurt, and they really don’t want to know what’s happening.
Jesus Christ, our Lord and King, did not rule over us as a powerful monarch. He was a humble servant to His disciples, doing the most mundane and humbling tasks for them, like washing their feet. Jesus asked what they were discussing, the disciples were embarrassed to tell Him that they were arguing over who was most important. They wanted to know who would lead by His side, who was the boss? He explained that greatness in the kingdom of heaven was not as it is in the world where the rulers seek fame, power, and possessions. Greatness in God’s kingdom would never come with a windfall, whether it is cash or some other worldly bonus. In the kingdom of heaven, the least are the greatest. Welcoming a little child is like welcoming God Himself, and if they want to be first, then they must be the last and servant of all.
They always became quiet when Jesus taught them something important that they did not understand, but they were always vocal when they were thinking on their own terms, according to their wisdom. We aren’t any different. We all have a skewed idea of what makes a truly wise person. We think in terms of flesh, earth, and natural things. Jesus wants us to see something greater, something beyond ourselves.
I wasn’t happy when I realized how foolish I was for seeking wealth by playing games. I knew the downside, but it took a few words from a wise teacher to remind me to trust that God will give me enough to do what He wants me to do. Yes, with great wealth I could do great things, but is that what God has in store for me? When I read that devotion from Timothy Keller, I realized that it was enough to do what I could. I don’t have to be the lead disciple, the CEO, the General, or the boss. I just to believe I am a child of God and serve my neighbors for His glory.
Matthew Henry wrote that the key to today’s psalm rests in the title. “For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, ‘Isn’t David hiding himself among us?’” The Ziphites were traitors, men who turned David over to Saul, because they knew Saul wanted to kill David. David was God’s intended king, but Saul thought that if David were dead, he might be able to hold onto his reign. He relied on men like the Ziphites to betray David.
God’s people always suffer at the hands of those who are self-centered and self-serving. David and Jeremiah are just two of the stories of persecution that happened to God’s chosen ones. They faced threats from people who were close to them, people they trusted to protect them. In the midst of such betrayal, David lifted his voice to God and cried out for salvation from his enemies.
David sang, “Save me, God, by your name.” We all know name droppers, and perhaps do a little name dropping ourselves. Knowing the right people can get us a better table at a fancy restaurant or it can get us free ice cream at the local grocery store. Knowing the right people can get a road fixed more quickly or it can get a child into a better school. We rely on the clout that comes from the right name when we are job hunting or when we are making a major purchase. My Dad was once able to get me a better deal on a car and a friend once got me a discount on an electronics purchase; all I needed was their name.
The name of the LORD is the manifestation of His character and accessibility to His people. We cry out to Him by His name, and He hears our prayers. In the psalm we once again hear a cry for vindication. David asks God to judge him according to His own strength (the strength of God) not by the strength of David’s life or importance. Vindication will come not because David has done anything particularly important but because David is the chosen one of God. Vindication will come not to the glory of David, but to the glory of God.
David trusted that God is his helper. In this psalm David began with a cry for help, then a confession of trust in God, and finished with a vow to offer thanksgiving and praise. David was confident that God would save him from his enemies. He comforted himself in the knowledge that God is faithful to His promises. We can do the same thing. When we face persecution, we too can cry out to God with our worries and fears. Like David, we can do so with the assurance that God hears our prayers and is our helper.
This brings us back to the words of James, “You ask wrongly.” We want what we don’t need for all the wrong reasons. We pray with the wrong motives. We want vengeance on those who hurt us, crying persecution, but we think that way because we don’t trust God. Persecution exists and we might experience it. God knows and He responds appropriately. We are human. We are all sinners. Sometimes we are wrong. David was the great king of Israel, beloved of God, but he was not perfect. We are just like David, and he reminds us to trust that God knows what is right. He will make all things right in the end.
We need to be careful that we don’t think every hurt or disagreement is a matter of persecution. Ralph Waldo Emerson is reported as saying, “Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.” Ben Carson said, “Just because somebody happens to disagree with you about something doesn’t mean that they become your mortal enemy and that you should try to destroy them and destroy their life and destroy their family.” Morgan Freeman is quoted as saying, “Just because I disagree with you does not mean I hate you. We need to relearn that in our society.”
Martin Luther and other reformers understood that there are two kingdoms: the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God. They believed that God ruled both kingdoms, but He did so in the kingdom of the world through temporal authority. The left hand of God is found in the hands of kings and presidents, church leaders, bosses, parents and others who hold positions of authority. These temporal authorities have the power to rule through law, including the use of military power as necessary. The right hand of God rules the spiritual, and this authority is not given to man, but to the Holy Spirit whose power is the Gospel. A Christian can (and must) serve in the kingdom of the world but should never allow the kingdom of the world to usurp the authority of the kingdom of God. Notice that church leaders are appointed to rule in the kingdom of the world.
Martin Luther wrote, “God has ordained the two governments: the spiritual, which by the Holy Spirit under Christ makes Christians and pious people; and the secular, which restrains the unchristian and wicked so that they are obliged to keep the peace outwardly... The laws of worldly government extend no farther than to life and property and what is external upon earth. For over the soul God can and will let no one rule but himself. Therefore, where temporal power presumes to prescribe laws for the soul, it encroaches upon God’s government and only misleads and destroys souls. We desire to make this so clear that everyone shall grasp it, and that the princes and bishops may see what fools they are when they seek to coerce the people with their laws and commandments into believing one thing or another.”
Luther also said, “We are to be subject to governmental power and do what it bids, as long as it does not bind our conscience but legislates only concerning outward matters... But if it invades the spiritual domain and constrains the conscience, over which God only must preside and rule, we should not obey it at all but rather lose our necks. Temporal authority and government extend no further than to matters which are external and corporeal.”
We want the life in which we can “eat, drink, and be merry,” not the one where we lose our necks, a life that could literally happen if we are beheaded as so many of the martyrs both ancient and modern. We might not experience that kind of persecution in America, but Open Doors US reports that an average of thirteen Christians a day are dying for their faith. Many of my readers are from Nigeria, and we have heard the frightening stories of what happens to Christians at the hands of extremists there. None of us would choose that kind of life.
We might not choose it, but by choosing Jesus we are laying our lives on the line for Him. We are asked to sacrifice ourselves for His sake. This means ignoring the temptations of the world, like the possibility of a huge lottery win, to trust that God knows what is best. We are at even greater risk when we actively participate in the Kingdom by sharing the Gospel with others. It is a matter of trust, of course. Do we, like David, trust that God will make everything right even when it seems like everything is out of control? Are we willing to face persecution for His sake, humbling ourselves for His glory?
The disciples were thinking like politicians on that road through Galilee. They were arguing with one another about who was the greatest. In other versions of this story, some of the disciples insisted on being Jesus’ right hand and left-hand men. They wanted to be part of the ruling party and felt they deserved it. They saw themselves as better than the others and thought Jesus should appoint them to the positions of power and authority. Jesus had another way. He has a better plan for us, too; it is a plan that doesn’t include a billion dollars. It is a plan that He will fulfill by giving us everything we need.
Jesus answered their discussion by lifting a little child onto His lap and told them they should believe in His words the way a child does, without fear or worry or anxiety. They should just act in faith, doing what it is they’ve been gifted to do while trusting that God will make it work to His glory. Children aren’t afraid to hold someone’s hand when they are crying. Children don’t worry about whether or not they have the right words, they speak from their hearts. Children talk about Jesus and God and love and peace and hope in a way that we no longer understand because we have lost our innocence.
The disciples did not understand, but do any of us? We still want to live in that world where we “Eat, drink, and be merry” or chase after the lottery win. Who wants to be persecuted when going along with the crowd can be so much fun? Who wants to be a servant when there’s a chance for a position of power and authority? Perhaps we don't really want to be ignorant, but we'd rather follow our own wisdom. James asked where the fighting among them came from. Isn’t that what happens to the lottery winner who is inundated by everyone who wants something from them? Instead of responding with grace, they turn away from those relationships. We become involved with conflicts and disputes because we follow our cravings rather than trust in our God. We ask for the wrong things. We seek pleasure and in doing so we turn from God. We are motivated by our flesh rather than our spirit.
Most of the disciples were martyred. Jesus taught them that they did not need to be the best or the first or the greatest or the richest, they simply need to believe. That’s the kind of humility Jesus is looking for in our lives. The humble Christian is a servant that does not seek gold, power, or fame, but who walks and works in faith that God will accomplish His good work through those He loves. The world will think this attitude is ridiculous and we will struggle with their response, which can be violent because we won’t live as they demand, but we can trust that God will get us through to tomorrow, singing His praise and knowing that He is faithful to hear our cries and answer in His good and perfect way.
The following links provide some specially chosen scripture that tell the stories of the Birth and Passion of our Lord as Saviour Jesus Christ, as well as a fictional perspective of the Crucifixion. Spend time in God's Word, read about His life and learn of the wonderful gifts He has for you. Know Jesus Christ and honour Him today. Thanks be to God.
The Story of our Saviour's Passion
The Crucifixion, a fictional perspective
When researching, I use several versions of the bible, including the New International Version and English Standard Version. Due to copyright restrictions, I have not included quotes for the scriptures on some of the archives, but highly encourage you to open your own bibles to read the scripture passages for yourselves. Where scripture is quoted, it is usually the American Standard Version or World English Bible which belong to the public domain. Any other versions used in quotes are identified.
The devotion posted on Wednesday is based on the Lectionary texts used by millions of Christians each Sunday. The Lectionary consists of four texts: an Old Testament passage, a Psalm, a passage from one of the Epistles and a Gospel text and follows the church calendar. Archives for these writings are found at Midweek Oasis.
You are welcome to use these words to share the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. Please remember to give credit to the Author who has given you these gifts, and keep in remembrance the vessel which He used to bring them to you. We pray that this site may be a blessing to you and anyone with whom you've shared it. Peggy Hoppes
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