Tag: freedom

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Positive spin on Exodus.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold; and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled. Egypt was glad when they were gone, for they feared them greatly. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David composes a psalm to thank the Lord when the ark of the covenant was brought into Jerusalem. He quotes identical verses in 1 Chronicles 16:8-22 which David also wrote. These short summaries are interesting because they become a commentary on the original story of Israel’s exit out of Egypt. This intentional, repeated story is clearly positioned as praise to God! David cuts to the core, taking multiple chapters of the Exodus, and reduces it down to just several verses.

David’s highlights are all about God’s supernatural provision, God supplying: protection, a cloud above them; a nite-light in the desert with a great fire; meat, flown in with quail; nutritious manna—bread from heaven; water flowing from a rock, out to form a river through the dry wasteland. The way David sees it, God watched over and provided everything they needed for one reason: God remembered his sacred promise to his servant Abraham. It’s all POSITIVE. None of David’s comments mention the mumbling, grumbling attitudes of the people, that constantly threads in and out of the original story. Then, David brings it home with a crescendo closing – “So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy, his chosen ones with rejoicing. He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops that others had planted.” What a reminder for us! David writes, “All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions. Praise the Lord!”

Every time I read the long story of the Exodus, I see so many conflicting behaviors coming from the people. I can’t imagine shifting heart and mind out of 400 years of slavery and a multigenerational settling into the norms of captivity. Yes, God freed them, but everyday brought massive change filled with the fear of the unknown. They were forced to be 100% dependent on God.

In those scenes we see the results of the oldest generation who felt so uncomfortable and displaced that it continually expressed a lot of negative complaining. But mixed with all that, there was also a weird free expression of completely unacceptable of idolatry seen in sexual revelry – obviously picked up from Egyptian culture. God wasn’t just leading them out of slavery, he was leading them into a new state of freedom forming new beliefs and behaviors.

Prayer

​Dad,

David’s psalm really helped me see the difficult dynamics of this massive cultural change the people experienced. They were far more than just physically enslaved, they were emotional and spiritual slaves as well. The only way out, the only way to get Egypt out of their hearts was through obedience to a new master, a good and faithful Lord. The old generation just could not deal with the changes and because of that, they could not enter into the land promised to them. Forty years of struggle to learn obedience and faith and they just couldn’t soften their hearts fast enough. It’s a warning and an opportunity for all of us as we get older and struggle with change. Help us keep our hearts open and obedient Oh Lord.

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A way out.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul, just before this summary about temptations, commentates on the Israelites and the errors of their ways. He lists the things they participated in: celebrations with feasting, drinking and pagan worship (revelry); engaging in sexual immorality; and grumbling. If we wondered why God was so upset with them and judged them harshly, like 23,000 of them dying in one day. Now we know.

Paul takes the examples of the Israelites and brings it to the believers in Corinth. Corinth was a cesspool of sexual experiences, all under the guise of freedoms and rights to express themselves. Corinth went far beyond Israel’s own lust for idolatry. Paul makes it clear to believers – the “freedoms,” sexual interactions and feasts offering food to idols are in actuality participating with demons! In vs 19-20, he writes, “What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons.” This is why it is critical that we get control of our own desires so that the Holy Spirit can help us not sin, but also not play with demonic forces.

Verse 13 is powerfully famous for a reason. When (not if) we are tempted, the Holy Spirit will show us a way out! We have to see it and seize that lifeline to bear it or escape it. The commonness, or humanness that Paul writes about, is comforting to know that EVERYONE experiences temptations. They are not from God. They tailored from our own desires and specifically targeted by Satan. Our sins, although common are not similar to others sins. One person’s taste for an addiction has little to no effect on someone else. Paul’s words, inspired by the Holy Spirit are convicting and correcting, but they are also comforting! We all get attacked from within and without. But we are also all given a chance to escape and get free of those traps and snares designed to destroy us.

Prayer

​Dad,
As I read about Israel’s sins and begin to think how awful they were, my own soul bears witness that my sins are also before you. This makes it hard to see that I have been made clean by Jesus, but still face my own brokenness. I ask for courage to take that exit that is given to me at the time of temptation, so that I can truly be free. Thank you for your long suffering and mercy on me.

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Freedom flaunters ruined communion.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized! When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Apostle Paul is really hard on the churches in the bougie metropolis of Corinth. There was a lot of money, influence and notoriety in the coastal port of the region. And, there was a tremendous success of the gospel penetrating a progressive, multicultural city, where money and power could get you anything you wanted. All of this, of course, is if one had money! But, as it goes with money, if you’ve got it – it changes how one thinks, lives and behaves towards others.

Paul is so frustrated with the Corinthians believers that he writes a biting, snarky comment about their behavior because it in no way reflects the phrase, “love one another.” He writes, “there must be divisions!” Paul taps into the utter disaster of what happens when believers are willing to raise their “freedoms,” above doing what is right. In this case it would mean a raucous, drunken party which immediately causes schisms, division and bad behaviors. Paul recognized the effects of these alcohol fueled parties along with the sin of gluttony. It was exactly opposite of the purpose of communion! Flaunting freedoms and treating others poorly Paul writes, is so evil that it reaches the level of being heresy. “Hairesis” primarily refers to a group or faction that arises from a division or choice, with a negative connotation of causing division or promoting false teachings.

Paul, with tongue-in-cheek, says, oh – this is a great way to get God’s attention – for those who would grab God’s approval by what Christ said would happen in a “divine economy of permission,” such divisions will arise (Matthew 18:7, 24:10, 12). The recognition is not good! God sees us because of our arrogance of liberties instead of our humility in love. Our freedoms in Christ are for doing good, not indulging to press the edge of our sin (Galatians 5:13, 1 Corinthians 6:12). Certainly the “freedom” to party at an alcohol fueled gathering, would not include stuffing our faces with food, and putting ourselves above others.

These “love feasts” were supposed to be common meals, a communion focused on sharing, serving one another and remembering what Jesus had done for us. These excessive “celebrations” became so problematic, that early church leadership had to shut them down, forbidding these kinds of gatherings. This seriously affected the way the church did communion for years to come. The love feasts being banned meant that the bishop would then need to administrate and personally administer communion, changing the experience into a highly controlled sacrament instead of family gathering of stories, laughter and prayer. It became a religious experience for and of individuals, even though they would participate together in a church building. The early church was able to stamp out the abuses of the freedom flaunters but the results were a much different communal experience within the church, the body of Christ.

As I have written about this before, we have reduced a beautiful gathering of family enjoying a meal, similar to what Jesus did with his disciples, to a thimble-cup and cracker. Of course this made it possible to serve communion to hundreds or thousands of people, but it lacks the intimacy of being with close friends and family. We are still able to “remember,” just as Christ commanded, but we do so far more individually, rather than communally. Being in a room with a hundred, or a thousand people is not the same as having a long, leisurely meal discussing the way Jesus’ love has revolutionized our lives.

Prayer

​Dad,
I certainly understand that we can still make communion memorable and effective by sharing our modern communion elements in a church service together. And, I understand how flaunting our freedoms at any gathering can be problematic. But I still long for the intimacy and deep connections that happen around a meal, in this case a very special sacred meal of conscience and consecration. This is just one of those experiences I just wish we hadn’t streamlined for convenience and control. I am happy to think about the future, amazing communion meal in heaven where I am positive it won’t be served in a thimble with a tiny cracker.

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Wickedness Within.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city. Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city. Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets. Psalms‬ ‭55‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

On the run again, David is hiding and being hunted from his own son Absalom. Absalom wins the hearts of the people, plotting to take the throne away from his father. David has to run. At sixty years old, David feels completely exhausted to have to return to a life he had long forgotten – life on the lamb! In David’s mind he wishes he could escape this reoccurring nightmare, ”Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude How quickly I would escape— far from this wild storm of hatred.” Yet, within this prayer, is an interesting perspective on the state of Israel.

From David’s view, the city, the kingdom is in trouble – but not from a foreign enemy. He sings, there is “wickedness within.” David’s song makes me reflect on our own country and the condition of its own constituents. What if the enemies within, the rampant evils within are greater than any threats from others? What defenses are prepared to hold off the disunity, the lawlessness and violence within. Since our 9/11 attacks, I wondered if our own enemies have figured out that they do not need to declare war on America. We have tremendous internal divisiveness, coupled with selfish desires to be free in a “self-proclaimed” liberty. We have thrown off OG morality and decency, which alone, is enough to destroy us from within!

Our sacred individualism over community, our personal rights over what’s best for our country, has left us weak and defenseless with our internal struggles. We are just weeks from a highly divided and controversial national election. And what are the debates and the divides, our personal preferences above anything else! Who will guard our independence, interests and individualism? Oh, how desperate we desire to escape the boundaries and restraints of what is good and right, true and just. Forgive us oh God, for we know not what we do! Save us from ourselves. Restore us to yourself. No matter who wins the white-house, may we rise to be one nation under God, indivisible and with justice for all!

Prayer

​Dad,
I can clearly see in Your Word that you care deeply about how we live our life, especially when it comes to subjects like justice and mercy. Maybe true justice IS mercy? Being right and doing right is a mystery of life. Even in all the pain and mayhem that Absalom brought to Israel and his own father, David would not raise his hand to participate in his end! Similar to King Saul, David must have had enormous internal conflicts navigating the extremes. In the end You Oh Lord are the only one capable of delivering justice and mercy! Have mercy on us Lord, but let your justice rise to destroy evils in our land. Amen.

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The suburbs of Babylon.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Lord gave Jeremiah the prophet this message concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians. This is what the Lord says: “Tell the whole world, and keep nothing back. Raise a signal flag to tell everyone that Babylon will fall! Her images and idols will be shattered. Her gods Bel and Marduk will be utterly disgraced. For a nation will attack her from the north and bring such destruction that no one will live there again. Everything will be gone; both people and animals will flee. ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭50‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God finally tells Jeremiah, God’s spokesperson, it was time to start announcing the end of the 70 year captivity in Babylon. Cheers erupt that Babylon will fall! God tells Jeremiah that the destruction will be so great that “no one will live there again.” Which was true, and oddly it is still true. The ancient city and the attempts at resurrecting a modern city by Saddam Hussein, have both fallen. But mysteriously and spiritually disturbing, the spirit of the city lives on until the end of all things. Babylon shows up in Revelation 😱!

Babylon is the city of the antichrist that has existed since the first anti-God city in history (Gen 11:1–9). God used the world leaders of Babylon to discipline Israel (2 Chronicles 36). And, it will continue to exist until Jesus returns and destroys it (Rev 17:1–19:5). So although the city was sacked and rebuilt several times in ancient times, it is common knowledge that the city is an archetype of evil. Evil that is perverted and pervasive through the entire human experience on the planet! Babylon’s great object lesson is its self-will to BE God.

A place where every leader, every resident has one common unquenchable desire – to be and do whatever they want! Babylon is the personification, the epitome of sin itself. The idols of Babylon are all spiritual, dark, demonic forces all providing “alternatives” to God, but also promising things that only God can provide – fake gods of weather, wealth, power, sex, and even eternal life! So whether they are stone or wooden poles or statues, shiny golden facsimiles of ancestors or enlightened humans – they are all lifeless objects that can do nothing, nor fulfill nothing. These are physical idols that humans worship because their own disorder desires are drawn to anything other than the real God, creator of all things.

So as a representative of all that is fake, unforgiving, dead and worthless – idols play a role in substitutionary fakery still today! And will do so until the very end, when Babylon the great, the “mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations,” will find its finality in fire 🔥. You can read about her ending and all who desire to follow after her in Revelation 18.

Ripping off the mask, subterfuge and subtlety of Babylon the “great,” we find the essence of sin and disobedience to God. It is not to difficult for me to look inside my own heart and see glimpses of the cursed city. At times, I see myself and others secretly wishing to live in the suburbs of Babylon. Oh, not the center, nor downtown Babylon, but rather the short drive to the outskirts and edges of the city where fake promises seem to be within reach. Where will I live? The city of self, or the city of God?

Prayer

Dad,
It doesn’t take much to realize that Babylon is far too accessible and alluring even for those who love you and want to be obedient to your will and not our own. It seems that the fancy bright lights, exhilarating sounds and delightful smells of Babylon are seductively powerful. But it is with your grace, mercy and power that is also calling, begging me to come away and be centered on the city of God, the Kingdom of Heaven. I pray that I will resist the suburbia of the fake city and focus on the city designed for me to live abundantly within it. Thank you for your warnings and your Word! Amen.

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Change Orientation.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do? Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Mark records an interesting conversation with Jesus that seemed to start with an amazing spiritual discipline, like fasting and end with a couple of object lessons about change. First of all, the NLT (New Living Translation) makes it sound like the disciples of John and of the Pharisees are using the old avoidance phrase, “some people” say. The original language is not so loose. In the Greek, it’s just “they came.” Pastor’s hate these kind of scenarios when “some people” say… who is “some people” we ask?

Jesus answers the thinly veiled question, but then goes for the motivation behind the question. Who does this? How does Jesus do this? Are there always questions behind the question? Jesus then switches to two object lessons about mixing old with new. It never works!

Jesus gives a quick, two-verse illustration, about patches and wineskins. Don’t both object lessons serve the point that old and new cannot exist in the same space? And isn’t it also clear that the old will not allow the new to coexist, but in fact will destroy both? Is this about fasting at all? It seems that Jesus is having a completely different conversation with these disciples.

They aren’t really asking about fasting and Jesus doesn’t really want to talk about fasting, in this context, either. They are both talking about change. Jesus knows that massive change is coming and he also knows that “some folks” are not comfortable with it. Jesus is, in fact, introducing a whole new way of doing everything. He knows that the fulfillment of the Law and everything under the Law will look completely different under a new freedom, and a new perspective on grace and mercy. The entire Old Testament system will go through cataclysmic change now that God has become flesh and that God will fulfill his promises to redeem humanity!

Christianity is not a patchwork, nor an old-wine way of life. Christ did not come to patch up the Law to keep it limping along, forever failing to change our hearts. He also did not come to allow a flat, fervent-less wine to try to express the exuberant joy of walking with God. The Law was a temporary stop-gap, a burden! When we grab the ethos, thinking or application of the Old Testament Law into the new and better experience of Christ’s efficacy and efficiency for our salvation, we are trying to patch God’s plan. When we keep trying to introduce the effervescent, actively expanding grace and joy of new life into the forms and confines of the Old Covenant, it will blow up!

Jesus couldn’t wait to introduce the fresh air of living by the Spirit but folks wanted to keep living in the caves of the law, breathing staleness of dead air! No wonder people would give up everything to follow Him! Jesus brings life to the fullest, no longer dimmed or dinged by our sin! Who doesn’t want that? I’ll tell you who. Folks who desire the guardrails of the Law, because a life in the Spirit feels like a lack of control. And it is. It’s a surrendering of faith to the control of the Spirit. I’ll take the new clothes of Christ and the bubbly joy of the new wine thank you!

Prayer

Dad,
I love your Law as instruction and to know you better. But I also love living by Your Spirit! The fresh, exhilarating wind of hope, mercy and grace is intoxicating. I will gladly give up control of my will to accomplish Yours. I will gladly walk in the Spirit, rather than my own flesh. Getting my way not only brings death it means crushing disappointment! It’s Your way now. Thank you for freedom to do what is right, and not just anything I want to do.

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The demon dilemma.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. The whole town gathered at the door to watch. So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak. Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭32‬-‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Mark is the journalist giving us the eyewitness account of Peter, as a disciple and friend of Jesus. I notice that Mark had just recorded a demonic episode in the previous verses. Mark jumps right in after some introductory remarks about John the Baptizer, a short four verses about Jesus temptation and first mention of Satan (the adversary), by name.

It didn’t take Mark long to setup the perspective and proof from which he writes – Jesus has power over all things! Mark first recorded miracle story was about the authority to exercise demons (“akathartos” unclean, impure spirits). And, he notes that the synagogue attendees were astonished that Jesus not only had a powerful way with words, speaking with authority and power. But that power was not just in speaking deep, penetrating thoughts, Jesus had a command of the world like no one had ever seen.

Commanding unclean spirits to vacate a human soul and forbidding them to even speak! Mark is just getting started building his case. Here, in this follow up account, Jesus dismissed Simon’s mother-in-law’s sickness simply by touching her hand and helping her out of bed. Word of the miracles spread fast and soon Mark notes that the sick and “daimonizomai” – demonized, were brought to Jesus. Jesus healed many and cast out many. For the second time Mark mentions that Jesus forbid the demons to speak because they knew he was.
We don’t like to talk about this whole idea of a “spirit recognition,” because it comes off sounding kind of cultish. The Apostle Paul mentions something similar in Romans 8:15, writing about our spirit “bearing witness.”

The fact is that the spiritual realm is very real, more real than even our physical one. That’s hard for us to comprehend, but it was not difficult for demons to recognize their creator! It’s strange that many people don’t or won’t recognize their creator. If you follow Mark’s proof throughout his gospel account, you’ll find that Jesus starts with the “easy” miracles, like sickness and ekballism, but crescendos by calming nature’s storms – the winds and waves. Then finally, raising Lazarus from the dead. But even more powerful than that was when Jesus himself conquered sin, hell, death and the grave! Mark’s gospel asks the question, “who else has done this?” Who else could do this? No one! It’s why the most powerful proof about Christianity is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and resurrected!

The entire spiritual realm knows who Jesus is! James, Jesus’ brother writes in 2:19, “for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” It should make us think. It should remind us that even though people say they don’t believe in God, that there are forces that do and are fully capable of causing chaos, destruction and even death. Where do folks go to for help these days?

Prayer

Dad,
I read these early accounts of Jesus living as a human among us and realize, every single story was about real people, suffering with real problems. Problems like sickness is one thing, but DEMONS? I can’t imagine the families trying to care for their own with some kind of soul co-habitant bent on making people suffer and taking control over their lives. That still happens today doesn’t it? The demon dilemma may be far more subtle and folks can pretend it doesn’t exist or that it’s completely a psycho-medical issue, but we should know better. God help us! Please God, pour out your Spirit and do a work that we cannot do! Help us see what you are up to and join with you. Amen.

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No secrets in heaven.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If our lives were portrayed in a book, a memoir containing the entirety of our life and legacy, what should be written? The early years, of course. The backstory to who you are, or were growing up. The “origin” story, they call it. Many have wonderful childhoods, solid families and lots of great memories. Those would make it into the book, right? Some have difficult family stories, filled with dark traumas and secrets not whispered.

It is believed that David wrote half of the 150 Psalms! And, in all those writings, we find a plethora of emotions – high highs and devastating lows. Psalms is the best for teaching folks to not only spend time WITH God in his Word, but also to be genuine and honest in our conversations with Him. Maybe even using some of David’s language as “training-wheels” to find our own authentic expressions of praise, frustration, anger, depression or repentance!

Psalm 51 is unique, even among David’s gut-wrenching epitaphs. It’s a whole chapter dedicated to an open confession and admission of guilt! Would we write a memoir that contained a chapter of our worst decisions, our biggest failures and our deep cries for forgiveness? David did.

David spends time translating FEELINGS into words, a talent few men have access to. Getting away with sin and regret is harder than we think. Our rebellion, our determination to protect self-will and desire is so strong, yet hiding sin has awful side effects and outcomes. Doing sin is just part of the process. But hiding it, masking it, scheming to cover our tracks, so to speak – that’s where our consciousness gets the best of us. Running, hiding, covering, lying and maintaining secrecy is the weapon of darkness, Satan himself. Keeping sin in the shadows eats at us. It consumes us, swallowing life and light around us. We can bury it, but sin’s wretched smell reeks and leaks no matter how hard we suppress it.

David knew sin is the joy sucker of life! He pleaded with God to restore his joy because JOY was missing, marred under the blackened ooze of fear and the hubris pretense of denial. He writes, FORGIVE ME! Whether we write a life legacy or just live one, we cannot escape or outrun our sin! It will come out. It will be revealed. There are no sin secrets in heaven. Get em out while we can.

Prayer

Dad,
Wow God! I don’t think David was trying to be a pseudo-psychologist or social scientist, but his godly wisdom is spot on. I am both convicted and convinced when I read this Psalm to see that MY sin is nasty and destructive. And, by holding onto it, being haunted by it, sucks joy out of my life and my walk with You. Please, forgive me of my sin. But also, forgive me for trying to manage or manipulate it away. I confess my sin to you so you can properly dispose of it, cleaning my soul and restoring what has been wasted and stolen from me. Thank you for your forgiveness and mercy. Amen.

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Tripping up a child’s innocence.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus, answering the disciple’s question, puts a child in front of them and that child becomes an object lesson for his answer. The disciples ask about greatness. Presupposing that Jesus’ kingdom is similar to the great kingdom of King David or even Solomon, it makes sense that the guys would want to know about the royal positions available to be filled. The royal court works on a hierarchy of authority, power and influence. Thinking that Jesus is forming his cabinet as he plans to take over Rome to rule as the promised successor, the messiah that ushers in God’s plan to restore Israel to greatness, they excitedly wait for the answer. Maybe Jesus wouldn’t just talk about positions, he might throw in some hints about the men he’s thinking about appointing to those high places. They must have been so eager to hear his answer.

When Jesus pulled in a child, probably a young boy, and stood him in their midst, they must have been confused. “Who’s this, they might have thought to themselves?” Some random child, we’ve never seen, is going to become the next chancellor (chaplain), chamberlain and or marshal? But Jesus doesn’t intend to install this young child to a future position. In fact, the child already has a highly regarded and treasured position in the Kingdom of God – he’s an innocent kid! He’s not sinless, but he certainly has sinned less than the adult disciples!

In vs 10, Jesus even says that the children have a special protection, ever-watchful eyes of angels that have God’s full attention saying, “their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.” I’m not sure the focus is so much about, being just “like a child,” as it is a harsh warning to watch out for, watch over how one should treat the innocent, the fragile faith of those who are more pure and unprotected. Of course, as adults, we gravitate towards the childlike faith ideals, but Jesus is discussing something far more serious.

Jesus starts by telling his guys to turn from their own sin. Why? Because, it’s well known, but paid little regard – adults, in their pursuit of their own sin cause irreparable damage on the most innocent among us. Haven’t you noticed? How could we not see it? Adults can be full on predators and perpetrators in their own selfish pursuits of getting what they want! The “freedoms” we propose always spiral down to destroy the innocence of the children we are supposed to protect! It’s not just straight out child abuse, abandonment or neglect either. It’s adults making decisions that make a child’s life and home unsafe or filled with chaos and trauma. Adults want their drugs, their drinks, their pleasures, their partners, their addictions and what does the child get? Pain. Confusion. Instability. Adults want and get their “choices,” that children are forced to live with and try to figure out what’s right and wrong on their own.

Of course there are good parents and good adults, but no one is perfect. Jesus made a startling statement when he said, “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” He said this right after the famous mafia threat to any who would purposely harm a child – harm a kid and be fitted for a cement necklace to be drown in Lake Tahoe (or Galilee). Even Jesus conversation about losing an eye or hand that sins is directly connected to the evils of playing life so loose that you lead a child down a dark path of death with you.

We want to be great in God’s kingdom? We need to be more conscious, more consistent and careful of who we are and what we do when little eyes are watching and little ears are listening! And, for the love of God – quit pitching our “adult” freedoms to sin as possible life-choices for our little ones! God is watching. Being like a child is being extra careful around those who are childlike, those who are simple and innocent in their faith.

Prayer

Dad,
I saw far too much as a child. Far too much chaos, pain, addiction and broken promises. I heard too much angry, foul language. I did not feel safe or protected. And in observing hundreds of children of foster care, those who were tortured, starved and abandoned, I witnessed the effects of what you hate, what you have warned us about. Our sin has its own consequences. But even worse, it can destroy the little lives around us. Help us God. Rescue the Fatherless and uphold the weak with your strength. Protect our children from our adult sins! Amen.

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Pep talks from prison.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

….so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬b-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God is still working even when it looks absurdly bleak. Paul’s situation is very real and should be seriously depressing. Prison is prison, ancient or modern, it still has to be one of the worst places to find yourself or to find God at work!

The Apostle Paul is the author of 13 epistles. That is almost 50% of the New Testament, and 62% of the letters written to churches. Paul wrote four of those letters from prison or house arrest (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon).

Paul knew he wasn’t free to share Christ in the marketplace as he made and repaired tents in open air malls throughout the city. He was an effective witness to the business community, leading dozens to Jesus (especially women business owners). Some of them had wealth and status in the city. He would disciple them and oftentimes ask them to open their homes to meet for Church. Many of the prominent churches in these cities were held in large homes and the home owners had large networks of friends and colleagues themselves. It was a brilliant plan that God used often. But for a couple of years, Paul found himself in lockdown. And, although he struggled with that for a number of reasons, he still found a purpose in his loss of freedom.

He was not free to work or travel, but he was free to have visitors and write letters. The visitors both carried the news of how the churches were doing, with letters back and forth. Letters were super effective in a lengthy question and answer format of that day. Paul’s teaching from these letters were a powerful example of God’s continued work among the believers and the churches they attended. And, in God’s providence, we are the beneficiaries of the Holy Spirit directed theology and conversations captured thousands of years ago.

Here in the letter to the churches in Philippi, Paul writes his most earnest, humble and beautiful expression of the gospel (Good news) at work even in the worst of times. Paul was simultaneously defending himself as a legitimate Apostle and equally “dividing the Word of truth (apologetics)” while his challengers and fake teachers continued to spread falsities among the churches he started. But even Paul admits, God will be honored and have His way no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in. Paul often wrote about being in states of plenty and going without, full of food and forced fasting, ease and extreme discomfort. The gospel of Jesus, God’s work continues regardless of our situations.

Paul’s famous phrase, “whether I live or die,” sums up much more than his own perceived restraints. Paul wanted his life to honor Christ – and he did just that! Paul’s teaching with phrases like “rejoice in the Lord always,” come from the worst possible circumstances. It should remind me that God is with me even when I am down, sick, or forced to be still. And, if I can get a proper perspective of my own purpose in the Kingdom of God, it should remind me that God still works in me and through me to accomplish His will. I am comforted and challenged by Paul’s pep talks from prison!

Prayer

Dad,

There is no place, no situation that I find myself alone. You are with me! And, there is no circumstance, no matter how disabling or debilitating it may seem, that you are not at work in me and can also be at work through me. Nothing catches you by surprise, Nothing can thwart your plans. Nothing can stop you from accomplishing your will. Help me when I feel the “prison” seasons in my life, to rejoice, to consider it pure joy because you are with me.