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Freedom to serve.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:19-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul writes this phrase, “I am a free man.” It doesn’t seem like much to a western-world, U.S. Citizen, because we’ve been “free” for hundreds of years.

In Paul’s day, many people were not free. Slavery, servanthood, was common. He lists the the classes of people of his culture at that time, the Jews and the Greeks (gentiles). And, he writes about how one group had been raised on the Torah, the Laws of God, the other had no real moral or religious code. The gentiles were anyone not Jewish, so it was not exactly a racial issue.

Paul says some interesting things about these laws of God. He was raised and trained in strict Judaism. He held title and authority as a Pharisee. So he writes, “I am not subject to the law,” then later writes, “I obey the law of Christ.” We can’t fathom the massive shift in belief and behavior that this phrase means.

Most of us have only and always been free from the “Law of God,” meaning the 10 commandments and the five books that make up the Pentateuch. And yet, though we are free from that “master,” Paul wants us to understand that all humankind is under another master, another law – the lawlessness of sin.

So when Paul writes of being under Christ’s law he has transferred his servanthood, not just from the Old Testament Torah, but also his slavery from sin itself.

Lastly he adds another object lesson, or a picture to illustrate the true nature of being under the mastery of sin, he writes about the weak. “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” Paul list “those without strength.” Paul’s desire was to win over the Jews, which he did with limited results, the Gentiles, which Paul had huge success setting up dozens of churches in multiple Gentile cities. And he also reached the poor, the weak, the disenfranchised.

Paul found “common ground,” for him to present the gospel all may be free, from the Torah (Law), free from the chains of sin and become a servant, a bond slave to Jesus Christ and truly be free! Our biggest issue today is finding the common ground of those who are still in slavery to an ideology, a social virus, or cultural religion that masks the truth and gives aires of superiority. We cannot, we must not walk with hubris religiosity, political morality or calloused judgment to reach this generation. He have to walk in the humility of love and grace to do everything we can to save them!

Prayer

Dad,
I just love your whole plan on calling and transforming the Apostle Paul – great move! This guy ends up writing the majority of practics in our understanding of the New Covenant (Testament) and how it interweaves with the gospel. As a Gentile myself, I love the simplicity of obedience to the law of Christ – love others just like You loved me! May we find the common ground that Paul writes about in our current culture that lives in the most upside down thinking ever! And may we be exactly like the father who runs and welcomes prodigals coming home!!!

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What does God want?

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “Consider all this, and call for the mourners. Send for the women who mourn at funerals. Quick! Begin your weeping! Let the tears flow from your eyes. Hear the people of Jerusalem crying in despair, ‘We are ruined! We are completely humiliated! We must leave our land, because our homes have been torn down.’” Jeremiah‬ ‭9:17-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​Learning from discipline.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a child being properly disciplined, but it is quite a difficult scene to endure. I’m not talking about abuse or harsh corporal punishment from parent to child. I’m just talking about the extraordinary patience as a toddler melts down in public! Of course the child is crying, but often I’ve seen the child’s mother break down in exhaustive tears in complete frustration. There is wailing for sure.

As I read through the God-spokesperson’s words, His prophets, warning, imploring God’s own people to stop their temper-tantrum, destructive behavior. I understand why God would…. discipline them – severely! God does so as the most loving, merciful acts ever. Israel (and ALL of humanity) just won’t listen and stubbornly, even defiantly CHOOSE to go their own way, choose their own path. Even if it’s right off the cliff to their own death and destruction. They don’t, we don’t care – we want what we want when we want it and we won’t let anyone tell us any different!

What’s God to do with that total toddler behavior showing up constantly in grownup adults? Back then, God said, enough is enough! He has plans and God will have His way and nothing, NOTHING is going to stop Him from getting what He wants.

What does God want? YOU. He wants you back. He wants what is best for you, for me. He wants everything and everyone to be made right, whole, at peace, and back in the family. What if humans don’t want that? Well there’s the rub, right? There’s the struggle, the WAR, the problem. What if humans WANT to go their own way? Sure, God will eventually let them, but not without a fight.

What does it take to get it through our thick skulls – there is NOTHING else out there but chaos, death and destruction! And that world, that existence has its own ruler with his own ways of doing a life without God – that’s Satan’s realm and his plan to take as many as possible away from God and drag them to the eternal pits of despair!

For those humans who “live” it up here and just hope for annihilation, a eternal state of nothingness, it’s a lie.

For those promised some kind of union with “all” things and experience karma (with is nothingness) being “one” with all matter, it’s a lie.

For those who think they get to do life here, then come back, reincarnated to try again, hopefully as a higher life-being, it’s also a lie.

ALL those paths are shams leading to the same place, death and destruction away from God for all eternity. When God comes across harsh in His discipline methods, like stripping Israel of everything they knew and everything they owned – He does so out love! Because the alternative is eternally worse. So when you see people angry at God, or bitter because they believe God isn’t fair (which He is definitely not fair, but He is just), or they struggle and fight to run into the street like a wild, willful toddler – yeah, you’ll see some serious tears and tantrums going on.

Prayer

Dad,
Even though I completely acknowledge my sins, I have no intention of trying to get away from you to do “my own thing.” My life was a wreck before you got ahold of me. I remember your discipline in my youth. I remember how stubborn and feisty I was towards the things of God and how hard it was for me to just be obedient. Honestly, from my chaotic past, a lot of what you were teaching me did not make sense. If felt extremely counterintuitive from everything I had learned on my own. If it were not for your grace and persistent patience, I would not have made it this far. So, thank you for your steadfast hand of love.

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Life long learners and old wisdom.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.” Proverbs‬ ‭18:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Old wisdom is still good wisdom. Wisdom writers captured a truth that made its way into modern leadership principles even today. Smart people are CURIOUS. Leaders are curious. And curious people do not behave brash and have a hubris oder about them. No, they are learners. Smart people are lifetime learners.

Proverbs identify learning as “open ears.” We now know that we can open all our senses to learn new things. So we not only listen with curiosity, we can also see, smell, taste and touch. Stopping to see a beautiful sunset, to smell the roses, to taste a new cultural food vastly different than our favorites, and to touch a worldly-wise, weathered hand of our super seniors.

Smart people are eager, joyful, even giddy to experience new things. And, I believe that as long as we hold a curiosity and pursuit of being learners, it has a way of sifting, processing all that new knowledge into wisdom.

No one wants to simply be a Snapple Cap to impress their friends. Pithy quips and useless facts can get so tiring! Believe me, I’ve tried it, it doesn’t win friends.

Prayer

Dad,
Thankfully I’ve been the curious one since my earliest memories. Taking things apart and just hoping I could remember how to put them back together 🥴. That natural bent has help me be adventurous and kind of an explorer in most areas. You know this about me, I love new tech and new ideas and have a tremendous amount of respect for inventors and dreamers, even if they fail. I’ve always want to invent stuff! I am also thankful that I love and serve a creative God! That’s probably what frustrates me about the Church the most. We have total access to the Holy Spirit and we keep dragging along, often a decade or more behind the times and it just sucks the life out of a LIVING community called the church. I don’t want us to be cool, trendy or really even relevant. I just want us to reflect you in everything you do. You can do something new every second of every day for all eternity and NEVER run out of creative ideas. I just us to live that kind of life – full and ever curious for good, godly ways.

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Party with Jesus.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’” Luke‬ ‭14:15-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One man comments about how fun it will be to break bread in heaven – when the Kingdom of God is fulfilled. Something he said kind of triggered Jesus, because he keeps the “dinner party” discussion going.

This whole passage that Luke writes about is in the context of Jesus having a meal ON the Sabbath WITH religious leaders. So, Jesus didn’t just eat with street sinners, he also ate with religious sinners 😀. “One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching him closely.” Jesus WANTED them to watch him closely – in fact he wants me to watch him closely as well.

The dinner has the usual conversational conflict that both Jesus and any other self respecting rabbi would live for. It was entertaining for the really smart religious lawyers and pundits to start an argument. It was like watching British parliament with lots of fast words and emotional explosions. One guy there had swollen arms and legs and was obviously struggling. Was he a plant? Just for an conversational appetizer for starters? Maybe. Jesus, loving the opportunity to poke the Pharisees where God’s sonshine should shine, heals the guy…again on the Sabbath.

Then Jesus observes and comments on the natural order of human behavior at a honored guest invite in fancy pants houses of the rich and powerful. Everyone is jockeying for the best seat, the closest to the host. The aura of power that supposedly surrounds the master of the house. It’s so ironic that Jesus just gives out some free advise, you know, etiquette tips for the swanky. One, let the host decide who should be given honor, don’t assume it’s you. Two, don’t just invite a bunch of “kiss-ups,” friends, relatives and rich – that’s boring. Come on, that’s just a narcissistic love-fest. Mix it up by inviting the disenfranchised, the outcast, folks that never get invited because they’re marked as marginalized. This is when some guy raises his wineglass and says, in toast-like fashion, “won’t it be so much fun to hangout with friends like us in the future fulfillment of God’s Kingdom?” Oh! Oh OH! Jesus just can’t leave that comment hanging in the air, sucking the life out of everything he believes in!

So, Jesus tells a story. A massive dinner party story. A dinner party so grand and glorious that it’s declared a BANQUET, a feast. All the who’s who will be invited. All the “A” listers, influencers and mover-shakers in town. But oh-no, plot twist!

One by one, these upper-echelon guests start turning the host down, they’ve got scheduling “conflicts” and passé, snooty excuses. A strange list of reasons for turning it down follows. A field, oxen and newlyweds and all send their regrets. At this moment, every socialite in the room is furiously hanging on every word as Jesus weaves in the truth. The room must be mumbling, “how rude,” “so disrespectful,” “How uncouth!” Who would ever do such a thing.

Jesus lands his point. The host, the master was FURIOUS.

Every person at that dinner party agreed with Jesus. “That’s right, the host should be enraged…I know I would be!” they must have thought. Then Jesus tells them the host went out and invited the opposite of what was fashionable, popular or elitefully expected! Oddly, the room probably shifted to cheer this as well. “Yeah, that’s right,” they might have yelled, “that’ll show those deadbeats who embarrassed their host.” And all of a sudden they have found themselves thinking differently about these former “F” listers, who would have never been considered worthy to attend such a feast. There’s a chance, as they were carried along in the story, they thought, “those people deserve to be a part too!” Then Jesus dropped the last line and it had to have hit home in the hearts of the hearers – “For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.” Go Jesus… bread and mouths drop. His job is done here.

Prayer

Dad,
Not only do I want to be at that Kingdom of God, wedding feast of the lamb, I want to invite and hope to see as many there as possible.

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And lightning didn’t strike.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? Is he deaf—the one who made your ears? Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes? He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you? He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing? The Lord knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless!” Psalms‬ ‭94:8-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Psalmist reminds me of something I think we forget about.

Just because God doesn’t immediately smite us for horrendous behavior does not mean we got or will get away with it!

God’s spokespersons (prophets) wrote about this all the time. Prior to this verse, he writes, “They kill widows and foreigners and murder orphans. “The Lord isn’t looking,” they say, “and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.” It’s odd that every FIRST act of violence, betrayal, or dishonesty has a moment of expectation that surely someone is watching and there will be swift and severe consequences for our actions. Nope. Rarely does that happen. And because we think we get away with it, the next dastardly deed is easier to do.

When I was in middle school I was walking home and chose the route that went through our school sports field. It was huge. As I walked I decided to see what would happened when I spoke a curse word out loud. My family was big time cussers and creatively used crass words in combinations that seemed to amplify their coarse effect on my ears. I had never cursed up to that point. Oh, most of my friends cursed like sailor siblings, but I didn’t. So out in the field I let it rip, yelling the word SH*T to the sky. I was not a follower of Jesus, but as you could tell, I did believe in God. What kept me from cussing all this time? One, my parents didn’t lead a great example in good behavior – smokers, drinkers, gamblers, and cursers. I didn’t really want to be like them. But two, I thought God could see and hear everything I did and would swiftly punish me for stepping out of line. Where’d I get that idea? I don’t know. Maybe a few Sunday School stories put that thought in my head. As I yelled out in the open, empty field, expecting a thunderclap and possibly lightning of God disapproving of my language, I just waited in silence. What? No lightning, no response from heaven? Nothing. In my little grand example of an experiment, I did think, “He’s not listening or does not care.” I was disappointed. I didn’t think it was all that “cool” to curse. I didn’t feel older, more mature or even more like a “bad boy.” I felt nothing. I decided in that field that day that cursing is really stupid and that I would never participate in it. My mother did tell me one time, “only uneducated people curse.” Whoa. That was odd hearing her say that. She explained that educated people use words that are far more effective than just grabbing a cheap, crass curse word. I never forgot that.

The point of the psalmist and of the prophets is this, just because God doesn’t immediately respond doesn’t mean he doesn’t hear, see or know what we are doing. He is neither threatened nor impressed with our creative ability to do evil. It simply breaks his heart to see us wallowing in our own stupidity. Sorry for the using the preschooler curse word, “stupid” so much, “stupid is as stupid does,” someone once said 😀.

Prayer

Dad,
This is the way it goes. Life and living is amazing! However, carrying, managing or trying to get away from our own sin, brokenness, and weakness is really hard and honestly, pretty crummy. I know you see, hear and know all and now that I’ve committed my entire life and future to you, it’s still embarrassing 😳. Of course I am thankful for your grace, mercy and most of all your patience.

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God is outside of time.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.” 2 Peter‬ ‭3:8-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​Time is a physical reality for us, but not for God. Robin and I were just talking about this. The beginning and end of the world all take place at the same “time” with God. God is outside of time, He always was and always will be. But also, every moment of then, now and when is all NOW with Him.

He knows (and has always known) when we pray and ask for something. He has always answered that prayer and knows (and always known) it’s outcome. Nothing sneaks up on God, nothing catches Him by surprise. Throw in our free will or choices in all this and it becomes very difficult to comprehend.

In Peter’s words, one day being a thousand, it’s more like one day and a thousand are all NOW with God. So, this idea of Him being patient should also blow our minds! To us everything to do with waiting for a promise to be fulfilled is painful. But that waiting is learning patience, the Bible word is far more colorful – long suffering.

We wait, God doesn’t.

In our understanding of time and this idea of a past, present and future we can understand that the “delays” in the “Day of the Lord,” finality and judgment of all things are for us, our sake not His. God is not waiting for the end, it’s all happened to him. We wait.

And, I wonder if there is something in all of us that yearns for finality. For believers there is the end, but there is also a new beginning. End of this earth and a new one redesigned to perfection. For non-believers, there is no new, no karma, no oneness with “creation,” not even annihilation or nothingness. It’s judgment and separation from God and all things that connect them with humanity. The Bible calls this place reserved for the devil and fallen angels and those humans desperate to get far away from God – hell.

After the end of all things, when “eternity” begins for those who believe God at His word, I wonder if humans still exist in a framework called time? I think we will, but the Bible doesn’t talk much about what the new heaven and earth will be like in those terms. Or will we be outside of time as well?

The New Testament writers are correct, these things (time & eternity) are not the primary discussion in the gospel or letters to the churches. The main focus is Christ and Christ alone. Christ is God’s grand story and spectacular conclusion, not judgement or hell.

Prayer

Dad,
Of course these are things I never understood and probably will not understand until that moment that I die and cross over to be with you or you come back and wrap this story up! I don’t want to or plan to be separated from you nor experience hell. I didn’t believe trying to escape hell, it was because of your love and grace to adopt me. You chose me, I simply responded with a lifelong YES. I remember thinking as a young man, even if my sin sends me to hell, I planned on loving you from there! I now know that’s not possible, but I wasn’t really disappointed that being “saved” did not stop me from sining. Your love and long suffering is so vast, it’s hard to realize that so many want nothing to do with it. I can’t force them to see it, and I take it that you won’t force it either.

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Similar biases about the poor and rich.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Then I said, “But what can we expect from the poor? They are ignorant. They don’t know the ways of the Lord. They don’t understand God’s laws. So I will go and speak to their leaders. Surely they know the ways of the Lord and understand God’s laws.” But the leaders, too, as one man, had thrown off God’s yoke and broken his chains.” Jeremiah‬ ‭5:4-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I read Jeremiah’s words spoken to himself and I agree with him – we both have these strange stereotypes and biases about the poor (followers) and the rich (leaders).

Fair warning, there are some big assumptions coming up next.

I struggle with a belief that the poor, and disenfranchised do NOT have sin. I don’t quite think they are perfect, but I have a weird framework that puts them in a far more angelic posture than the rich. They’re poor! How can they possibly do any wrong or get into trouble – they are broke!

I dismiss so many behaviors for them. They lie, well it’s because they’re poor. They cheat, they steal because they’re poor. They are angry, violent at times, aimless, weak and frail – all because they are poor. How can they possibly be wrong? How can they sin, they’ve been sinned against so many times?

I live in a “below poverty level” neighborhood. And for the majority of my neighbors I just feel sorry for them. They work so hard to make money, mostly with side hustles. They walk or bicycle everywhere. They drive slow and cautious. They do so many things together as families. Many of my neighbors still WALK with grandparents, parents and children to a local church!

But It’s not just poorer families, we’ve got more homeless wandering the streets than anywhere else in our County. They are not just poor, they are mentally unstable, like a scene out of the walking dead. They walk across traffic without looking. They wander about ranting and raving, cussing at the air while standing on the corners. They walk our sidewalks completely naked, except for shoes. They huddle against the walls and front doors of our local businesses and stores, shaking from drug use and frightening anyone who just wants to be a customer.

Other than constant annoyance and pure pity, I still can’t judge, blame or otherwise see them as sinners. I agree with Jeremiah – they seem ignorant of God!

Oh, but the rich, the wealthy, the powerful – oooh baby, they are the sinners. They know better, they have more! They live a better life. Yeah, they should be judged, blamed and held accountable for their behaviors. Like Jeremiah insinuates, they are NOT ignorant! Earlier in this text, God tells Jeremiah something we all know to be true, “Run up and down every street in Jerusalem,” says the Lord. “Look high and low; search throughout the city! If you can find even one just and honest person, I will not destroy the city.”

It is ridiculous for me or Jeremiah to believe that the poor are angelic and the rich (leaders) are just evil monsters. It’s not right for me to excuse, my behavior, the poor’s behavior or the rich’s behavior based on these equitable qualities of money or influence. All of us have sin! All of us do sin well in our own ways! All of us find ways to be creative in our sin to get what we want, when we want it. Sadly, none of us are innocent and should be given a “pass” or excuses to make wrong choices.

I’m neither poor nor rich, but I could easily blame my past or my parents for my bad choices today. And it would just be the same smokescreen justification as the rest of humanity. It’s not my fault! Well, it’s a hard reality – it is my fault, and yours too.

Prayer

Dad,
Wherever I go, whatever I do, I cannot get away from who I am. I am still just a regular old sinner saved by grace. And, as I look at the world around me, rich and poor, I have to remember that we are all at fault for own decisions. We are all responsible for those choices. As much as I do not want judge nor pity, I have to give every person their own dignity of being human, created in your image. And still keep in mind that we are all broken and in need of rescue and redemption.

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Jerusalem, the city where messengers go to be murdered.

Reading Time: 4 minutes 
“At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!” Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem! “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers!” Luke‬ ‭13:31-34‬a ‭NLT‬‬

Pharisees WARN Jesus? How strange is that? Of course it was only “some” of them. Who was Herod Antipas and why did he want Jesus dead? Herod’s the guy that married his half brother’s wife, Herodias. Then hosted a party where his step-daughter did the magic-mojo dance and in his own inebriated state offered her whatever she asked. Then, daughter and wife asked for John the Baptist’s head! So Herod’s reputation for murdering a prophet had ruined the already thin popularity with the people.

There’s no way Herod would have followed through on this veiled threat. In fact, it is said that Herod himself instructed the religious leaders to spread the rumor so Jesus would take off for Judah and leave Jerusalem. That would be a win-win for Herod and the Pharisees. Clearly, the Pharisees were not trying to help or “save” Jesus. This is one of the reasons Jesus called Herod the “fox.” He was wicked-crafty!

It doesn’t surprise me that Jesus publicly declared, I’m not going to stop pursuing my mission because of threats. Herod didn’t control Jesus’ destiny! Maybe we put to much stock in threats, as if they determine our own calling, mission and destiny?

Then Jesus says the most shaming Jewish people phrase ever! It wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed anywhere else. Whoa.

Jerusalem, was the city known for where prophets go to die? All those Old Testament prophets that the leaders and likely, the people, just didn’t want to listen to – gone, killed to shut them up. That’s not a compliment on God’s own people, killing God’s actual spokespersons. Jesus’ stinging words echo out, Jerusalem, the city that kills God’s messengers… and, even God himself!

Whew, this puts a dark perspective on those stories Jesus told about the land owner leaving his property and entrusting it to others to manage. When violent men show up to take it over, the owner sends someone to warn the squatters. They beat the messengers and chase them out. Then the owner sends his own son, the heir to his own property. The squatters say, “if we kill the owner’s son, then the whole thing will be ours!” Not ever thinking, the owner will come back, not to claim his property but to enact justice for such disregard of life and ownership.

Jesus is telling the religious leaders and ALL OF CREATION, it’s once thing to claim ownership, it’s another thing to kill the owner’s son and believe they can; one, get away with it and two; control their own destiny.

There are those outside of God’s grace, belligerently denying God’s existence, and denying His ownership of EVERYTHING that exists. Plus they disdain God’s own plan to repair and restore the vast breach between himself and humankind. What else is God supposed to do?

This little scene should send shockwaves through humanity, especially in this “God is love and grace” era. Of course God is those qualities. However, we can’t excuse the brash, rude, entitled attitude literally challenging the creator to a old fashion stand off! Us, like tiny little fleas, shaking our fist at heaven and saying, “yeah, what are you going to do about it?” Not a good posture at all.

I believe in Christ and committed my life to him, NOT to escape hell or even judgement. I didn’t believe just to go to heaven. I could not comprehend either heaven or hell as a fifteen year old. I believe because I heard his invitation to be his. That he did love me and he would guide me. Looking back, I didn’t realize what a mess I would have been heading into without him. I came to understand that Jesus seriously DID rescue me and transform my life. He rescued me from myself and the path I would have taken to search for love and meaning. Jesus rescued me from bitterness and anger over several dad abandonment issues and not having a “normal” childhood or life at that time. I believe because I came to know Him through his word – the Bible. I have no intention or desire to run from God or to pretend He doesn’t exist or to be god myself. Nope, I’m his forever.

Prayer

Dad,
It is so good to read about Jesus’ determination of mission yet profoundly sad to read the resolution and disappointment in his words about the “City of God,” you’re city, your people. It breaks my heart to also see a mirror reflection of our own human stubbornness. In a sense, it’s like our “free will” went awry to not just do what we want, when we want but to also do so while running away from you and simultaneously blaming you for our evil decisions and outcomes. It just doesn’t seem fair that you have given us, all of us, so much and we just try to use that against you. That is the wickedness bound up in our human hearts. I ask for forgiveness and mercy, for we do not REALLY know what we do.

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Dictators as slaves to God?

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” Psalms‬ ‭2:1-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​I am not a big pundit on the geopolitical landscape of our globe. However, as I see it, there is someone, somewhere that is shaking their little dictator fist at the heavens and with that little squeaky voice of a shrunken toy screaming, “I am the king!” And, with either their hand positioned over an imaginary “nukes” button or control over the flow of massive natural resources, they just rant and rave nonsense and wield unfettered power over the masses of their domain. You know who they are, I don’t need to write down any names, lest their virtual tech-terrorists turn to torture me as well.

The psalmist, in his own wisdom of his time, asks a really good question. “Why are all these Kings so angry?” And, when David say they plot against God and “his anointed” one, we see the words as the messiah or Jesus. Likely David was talking about the supernatural plans of God in choosing and using the “rulers” of this world to do His will. Just Google “world’s worst rulers,” and you’ll be shocked at who shows up on that search.

However, even the worst of them were certainly wicked smart, paranoid and eventually mental! We’re they angry? I’m sure they were. They must have figured out how they could get away with anything they wanted while in power, and could wield unfathomable fear on the masses, but they could not BE God.

Sadly, people see God through these warped lenses of being like a dictator. In every one of those men in history or current events (And, it is almost 100% men) there’s a seen struggle to break free from “slavery” to God. Why does humanity want to get away from their own creator? If you see yourself saying, “But I’m not a dictatorial leader,” or don’t you believe this selfish thread runs in your own DNA, you would be wrong. It’s in all of us, it’s sin, it’s free choice constantly choosing the wrong path, the shiny selfish route.

We all have these little voices saying, “let’s break away and free ourselves from God.” Weird huh? It takes faith and fortitude to keep looking for God options, narrow paths, tough choices, suffering over revenge, generosity over stingy, and service over power. Godly results yield a life more free of anger and definitely control. The real freedom Jesus gave me was the freedom to chose to run to God, not away from Him.

Prayer

Dad,
I am so glad you are in control and I’m not! I’m so glad that you hold all truth, justice and finality in your hands – not mine. I’m so thankful for mercy instead of what I desire. And, even though I can’t completely understand why you allow wicked men so commonly rule and cause enslavement, suffering and death for far too long, I can trust you because you are God. I trust you with my life.

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To thine own purpose be true.

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“Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.” 1 Timothy‬ ‭4:14-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​“This above all: To thine own self be true.”William Shakespeare wrote this in Act 1, Scene III of the famous play, Hamlet. The Apostle Paul writing centuries before, told Timothy something far more eternal, and far more profound. Paul’s version would be, “This above all: To thine own calling and purpose be true.”

Not only does every person carry a purpose from God within, but each person is encouraged to find it, let others help shape it and then fan the flames of that calling into an effective, God-glorifying pursuit. You can only be you! You SHOULD only be you! God’s purposes, His truth is eternal, so Timothy as well as you and I should be completely focused on that.

No matter how we may fantasize or compare to others with more wealth, influence, fame or following – we cannot be someone other than ourselves! Several phrases come to mind to help me deal with my own deficiencies. My favorite, God works in and with my weakness. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I have no idea how or why God continues to see my sin and weaknesses, yet still uses me to participate and accomplish His will.

I love how Paul closes this thought with Tim. “Stay true,” he writes, “for the sake of YOUR salvation and OTHERS.” I am leading my own life in godliness, attitudes, loyalty, discipline and persistence. However, in that pursuit, there are others watching, learning, listening and some are following. That’s a huge weight of responsibility on every believer. That’s a responsibility as a parent, with our own littles, teens and twenties following. That’s a responsibility as a husband or wife with our lifemate following. That’s also a responsibility as a good friend with our community following.

I cannot neglect those gifts of purpose, I must pursue them and focus on being and doing what no one else on this planet can be – ME.

Prayer

Dad,
I may not like what I see in my sin or the reflection in the mirror each day. However, when I look back and see who I used to be, the way I used to believe and behave – wow – you have changed me significantly! I press on, with your grace. I press on in my weakness as your power is perfected in my life. I keep moving forward with faith in who you are and who you have made me to be. Amen.