Week of 11/28/21 - Pages 439 - 452

When I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, I didn’t realize my work would be such a

challenge and lifelong journey. At the time, I was pompous and self-opinionated. Through the

years, God has softened my heart, and I’ve tried to be a better, more compassionate person.

One of the Ten Commandments is to love one another as God loves us. Being in retail, I’m

exposed to many stressful situations. In my previous incarnation, I’d handle shoplifters with a

heavy hand, no compassion or grace. I even had a holding area while I waited for the police.

Today, not so much. I’m more inclined to let the shoplifter go, even give them food if their

situation warrants it.

I thank God he’s allowed me to be more in tune with my heart. At times, I still revert back to my

previous self, but most times, I’m able to check myself: “Am I being a Light?” For how I handle

myself will be how I’ll be judged.

As I mature in Christ, I find my decisions based in the Holy Spirit rather than from a secular

viewpoint. I still have a long ways to go, but with God’s grace, he’ll mold me into a better

Christian.

Week of 11/21/21 - Pages 413 - 437

In this section of our reading, I have always been drawn to Jesus’ prayer on pages 429-430.  First, he prays that God would glorify him so that he could bring glory to God.  To glorify means, “to honor with praise, admiration, or worship; extol.”  Jesus had an excruciating time in front of him, yet he was obedient to God.  He is looking forward to returning to the glory that was shared between Father and Son before the world began.  

He then prays for the disciples that he had spent years with during his time on earth.  His love for them comes out so clearly in his prayer for them.  He says, “now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we were.”  He prays that they would be kept safe from the evil one, and prays that God would, “make them holy by your truth, teach them your word, which is truth.”  Only through the sacrifice Jesus was about to make, would these disciples be made holy.  Jesus prays for their protection, unity as a family of God, and for their holiness, for them to be set apart, knowing, and obeying the Word of God.  His complete love for them just leaps off the page.  

Jesus even prayed for you and me that night, which moves me deeply.  What did he pray for us?  Unity.   Unity with each other as believers of Christ Jesus, unity with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The sharp contrast of unity against a world that is ever divided and fractured for so many different reasons will make us stand out.  When we are united in Jesus, we show a different loyalty, obedience.  Jesus prays, “may they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”  Our unity, with each other and with Jesus, act as a testimony, a light in this dark world of God’s love.  God’s love in us will be a beacon in this dark world.  Thank you, Jesus!

Week of 11/14/21 - Pages 397 - 412

Oh my gosh! This reading just nails what Christianity is. These chapters give you Jesus in a nutshell. I think I should read it once a month to remind me of Him from the beginning through his teaching that set the Pharisees (Jewish leaders) off, and caused them to conclude that he must be killed.

When I read this, Christianity is so simple. Do you believe Jesus is who he says he is in these chapters? If you answer yes, you are a Christian. If you answer no you are not. If you want miracles, there are miracles, if you want brilliant teaching there is brilliant teaching, if you want simplicity there is simplicity.

Several weeks ago, my niece made a simple decision. She decided that she believed that Jesus is who he said he was, and that she wanted to follow him. She is 16 years old, had done her own exploration and decided! It was a simple service where she answered two simple questions walked into the water and was baptized. For me this was one of the most moving spiritual moments of my life. Our Church of The Chimes community erupted in celebration when she came out of the water and she dissolved into Pastor Lee’s arms. It is as if she were born again. If you have ever witnessed a birth it is indescribable. This too was indescribable!

Oh how I wish more people saw the decision to follow Jesus as simple. A simple decision with implications for today and eternity.

God bless you as you read and learn about Him.

Week of 11/7/21 - Pages 389 - 396

James letter to Jesus disciples in his day can overwhelm me given all the things we are called to “DO” to reflect God’s LOVE in the world.  That “DO” must be sourced from the outward flowing of God’s vessels of Living Water.  James reminds us that the inward condition of being recipients of God’s Grace and Mercy for salvation does have a CALL TO  ACTION for the Jesus follower. In this reading I’m reminded of the posture/response to take when struggling deeply (in trials) James calls us to respond with joy and perseverance. The benefit of this is endurance, that you and I may grow in faith. James is saying we need to bank on this truth. Our heavenly Father is for us and not against us.  His goal is to build our character toward the righteous person he already sees.

This process of shaping does not happen once but over and over throughout our lives. Sometimes those sinful behaviors that God helps us dismantle take many ‘visits’ until they are destroyed or have no hold on us.

James gives me/us a strong admonition to work on acting on God’s word in our own life for this shaping process. What I call ‘my specific assignments’.  I find zero wiggle room in verses James 1:19-27 to avoid this. Especially when I remember this letter is addressed to those that follow Jesus.

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

It is brilliant that God is shaping and blessing us while demonstrating His presence in the world through care for others when we OBEY His assignments!

Week of 10/31/21 - Pages 367 - 387

Faith is easy until it is tested. The letter of Hebrews is more like a sermon, delivered to a group of people who are thinking about giving up on the Christian faith. Sometimes, in our darkest of times, we too may question our faith. Hebrews is such a powerful letter because it was written to challenge a group of fragile believers to persevere in their commitment to Christ which of course also has application today. The author of Hebrews established Jesus’s credentials by stating that He is pre-existing and sovereign; He is the only sufficient sacrifice; and He understands our weaknesses and speaks in our defense. This is the Christ in whom we put our faith and hope, and He will never let us down. The audience of Hebrews, and all faithful believers then and now, are to persevere by fixing our eyes on Jesus, by imitating Godly examples, learning from God’s Word, and by allowing the Spirit of God to lead us. We are journeying toward a heavenly city!

Week of 10/24/21 - Pages 337 - 366

The book of Matthew provides an account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.  So, who is this Jesus?  Throughout the story, we encounter many people with differing answers to that question.  To those who grew up around Jesus but didn’t really know him, he was just the carpenter’s son.  Others thought Jesus was a prophet that had come back from the dead.  Some viewed him as one who could heal, feed the masses, and perform other miracles.  Many saw him as a good teacher.  Still others saw him as a threat to their way of life.  His closest companions came to realize that Jesus was the Son of the Living God.  However, it wasn’t just his friends that held this view; even the Roman officer and soldiers overseeing his crucifixion came to that conclusion.

We must also answer that same question, who is Jesus?  Some of us may dismiss him as just another man.  Others of us might revere him as a good teacher, while others of us might find his teachings uncomfortable.  We may view him as someone to call upon to meet our needs.  Or, as we read the accounts of Jesus, we may come to realize that he is the Son of the Living God.

Jesus spoke much of the kingdom of heaven; and as Son of the Living God, he is king of that kingdom.  But, unlike Herod, who sacrificed his subjects to save his reputation, Jesus sacrificed his life and reputation to save his subjects.  By so doing, Jesus enabled us to enter into his kingdom and become his subjects, and as such, to become truly free.

Within the book of Matthew, how does Jesus describe his subjects within the kingdom of heaven?  They are to turn from their sins and become like a humble little child.  They are to forgive one another just as they have been forgiven, and they don’t take offense when God extends grace to others.  Any follower of Jesus is to give up their own way, take up their cross, and follow him.  The leaders within the kingdom are to be servants of all.  The subjects are to use what Jesus has given them for the growth of the kingdom.  They are to wait expectantly for his return.  They are not to be hypocrites, but to have hearts and actions consistent with their king, Jesus.

I find this description of a subject within the kingdom of heaven convicting, knowing that I have not lived up to it.  But, even Peter had times of failure.  That’s why Jesus died that horrible death, to save us from our sins and put his spirit within us.  He overcame sin and death and rose from the dead.

Matthew ends with Jesus’ words, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Week of 10/17/21 - Pages 311 - 336

Pages 311-336 cover the first half of the Book of Matthew.  Matthew was one of Jesus’s 12 disciples who traveled with Jesus and documented His teachings.  Matthew’s account shows Jesus as our King, the long-awaited Messiah of the entire world, and begins from Jesus’s human genealogy through His life and teachings to show us the uniqueness of Jesus as the Messiah—our God who took on flesh. 

In these pages, Jesus taught us to discern God’s purpose through prayer, to follow Jesus’s teachings, and to prepare for and go to the frontlines of our communities to share His message.   Jesus said so much in these pages that it was hard for me to focus on only one idea that stood out.  However, Jesus’s responses to the temptations he faced in the wilderness struck me in their power and scope.

Jesus had fasted and prayed to His Father for 40 days and nights to prepare for His ministry.  Even during this intimate time with His Father in Heaven, Jesus allowed the devil to interrupt and tempt Jesus three times in strong and powerful ways.   For me, this means that temptations come at any time and often when we least expect them. 

When tempted by his arch foe, Jesus used each of the temptations and His responses as an opportunity to teach God’s Truth not only to us, but also to the devil, himself.   Jesus misses no opportunity to witness to anyone who comes forward to Him, no matter how lost that being is or how wicked their intent may be.

In Jesus’s responses to the temptations, we are reminded to put God first in our lives and to respond in faith and trust God in everything.   Below are Jesus’s responses to the 3 temptations and what stood out to me for each one.

1 “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”   

We as humans are tempted to think that abundant food, nice clothes, and a sheltering roof over our heads, all of which show our standing in the community, will satisfy us.  But, for me, Jesus’s response shows that physical needs being met—bread alone—will not sustain us.  Our spiritual need is paramount and can only be met by God’s Word, Jesus.

2  “You must not test the Lord your God.”

We may be tempted to make decisions and act on our own intellect, power, and strength without seeking God’s Will.  Jesus warns us to seek God first and trust Him, not ourselves, in all our circumstances.  We live for His God’s glory, not to display our own courage and valor because of risks we take.  We are not to think of ourselves as invincible and expect God to protect us and bail us out while we take credit for the recovery.  

3 “You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.”

We may be tempted to seek fame and fortune or other pursuits as our priority instead of putting God first in our lives.  But Jesus’s response reminds me to seek God first—to seek the Kingdom of Heaven first, and all other needs will be met by God.

No one and nothing else deserves our worship or service except the Lord.  This reminder was a complete rebuff to the devil who wants first place in our lives.  Jesus’s behavior models a response for whatever temptations we face.  His Kingdom and our future home are not of this world.  

Week of 10/10/21 - Pages 303 - 310

License to Sin

The books of 2 Peter and Jude focus on an insidious teaching that had found its way into the early Christian community.  False teachers sought to teach early Christians that God’s grace provides covering for believers to commit every kind of sin without reproach from God.  In so doing, they falsely appeared to extol the great value of God’s atoning power over all our sins.  In reality they were simply seeking a license to sin, to do as they pleased and, in effect, to be their own god.  

Underneath this bargaining arrangement lies another belief.  That belief is the strong hunch that God must be holding out on us.  That God is not to be trusted and that we will miss out on good things if we were to ever actually submit and surrender to His divine plan for each of us.

Human control is a funny thing.  We believe we are in control when we have the freedom to put ourselves into bondage.  What an odd thought.  And put ourselves into bondage we do.  Whether it’s the freedom to engage in sexual sin, the right to sin against our brothers and sisters, the arrogance to sin against God – whatever the sin might be.  We press on, even gleefully, into sin only to find that we are in the worst kind of bondage with no way out.  At such times, our burden is not easy and our yoke is not light.           

Living in such a way reminds me of “sowing skimpily”.  Galations 6:7-9 talks about how we reap what we sow.  In fact, the very act of obedience to God, of surrendering to Jesus Christ, of submitting to the Holy Spirit is what sets us free.  We reap what we sow and it is both a present and future reward to us.  

At the bottom of page 303 (Messiah), Paul urged the early Christians to “grow in the (actual) grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  To know God, to taste and see that He really is good, to experience His peace that passes all understanding, cures us from wanting to be at the bargaining table with Him.  Instead, we know the truth of Proverbs 10:22…

“The blessing of the Lord makes us rich (in every good thing), and there is no sorrow added.”  

The goodness, grace and mercy of God deserves nothing less than our full devotion, our full trust as we allow ourselves to fall into His arms, to enter into His plans with confidence.  Let’s throw all caution to the wind and claim Him - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - as our one and only plan.  He is our Plan A, Plan B and our Plan C and without Him we have no other plan.  No bargaining, no holding back.    

Week of 10/3/21 - Pages 293 - 301

Foreigner!

“I am writing to you Church of the Chimes folks who are living as foreigners in Silicon Valley.”

Although not a direct quote from Peter himself, this statement certainly correlates to the striking introduction to 1 Peter, with much relevance for us!

The label of “foreigner” is often accompanied by a negative connotation – kind of a “you don’t belong here” feeling. While this is part of the intended message, Peter is conveying something much more captivating – a concept of familial identity. This truth becomes clear as we study Peter’s actual introduction to this very rich letter to the Christian churches in Asia Minor:

I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:1-2

So yes, you are a foreigner…and yes, you are family! If you’re like me, perhaps you’re feeling a bit better – or at least a touch more comfortable – with this broadened view. As God’s chosen, you have a priceless inheritance beyond the reach of change and decay (1:4). What Good News! Yet especially here, be careful to capture the complete context. Peter was intentional in the ingredients of his introduction, and he is preparing you to receive a very real (not comfortable) message.

Foundationally, you have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. This is what makes you holy (set apart, chosen, a family member) in God’s sight. As such, you are expected to be obedient to (with reverent fear of) your Heavenly Father. Often your obedience to the Father will run fully counter to Silicon Valley values. As a result, expect to feel like some kind of temporary resident, and on some level, expect to have your perceived rights impinged.

Do you feel like a foreigner in Silicon Valley? 

If so, good! You are called to embrace your identity even if (especially when) you meet with resistance or trials in this fallen valley. As you seek to obey the Lord, the sufferings you encounter are a delivery vehicle for God’s grace specifically for you (5:12)! vSo, be the foreigner you are expected to be! And rest in the secure knowledge of your fully paid (with Christ’s blood) membership in God’s family.

You are hereby a duly appointed Foreign Ambassador to Silicon Valley!  In this constantly challenging, life-long post, may God give you more and more grace and peace. Amen!

Week of 9/26/21 - Pages 278 - 292

Whenever I read the story of Jesus' last week of his earthly life, I usually get so emotional about how badly he was treated by everyone leading up to his crucifixion, I sometimes forget the purpose of his last few days. 

I think of how he was beaten so badly by the soldiers that dragged him through the courtyard to nail him to the cross and the immense pain he endured. It brings tears to my eyes and hurts my heart every single time as I am so moved by the sacrifice he made for us, and then I wonder why Peter and Judas, two chosen  disciples, betray and deny him as they did?  Of course, this always then leads me to think about how many times I've disappointed God and how he always forgives me for all my sins.  He's not only a forgiving God, but he does it compassionately and gives us His unconditional love.  Hope for a new start completes forgiveness.  He time and time again, gives us second chances when we confess our sins and ask for repentance.   

And so the circle is complete each time I read this story.  I am humbled by the love he has for me and his desire to keep me close through fellowship with him and that is what I like to focus on instead of the extreme pain he endured that week.  Either way, from beginning to end and all through the processing of the events that led to his death, I can't help but pause and take a moment to thank him and surrender to him for all he's done for me.