Devotion: Where is God?

One day in seminary a student asked a prominent theology professor, if we believe that Jesus is bodily resurrected and profess in the Apostle’s Creed that he “sitteth on the right hand of the father,” where is he?  The professor took a deep breathe and then responded “class dismissed” with a chuckle in his voice, leaving us to discuss this issue.

While any attempt to explain this will fall into speculation, it does touch upon a very critical spiritual and pastoral question:  where is God?  Is He residing way above us and distant from us or is He down on the ground with us and nearby?

It is interesting to notice that scripture, like my professor, does not give us a clear answer but allows us wrestle with the fact that God is both removed and intimately nearby.  Christianity is unique in its belief that God is set apart—universal to time and space—but also engaged in every moment of our lives—particular to our experiences. 

Strangely this tension can give us tremendous comfort.  On the one hand we can be assured that God is sovereign over all things and as Paul professes: “we know that all things work together for good for those who love God.”  On the other hand, we can be comforted that God is walking alongside us through the highs and lows of life, because as Jesus Christ, God experienced the highs and lows.

Are you more likely to believe that God is removed from your daily life or actively involved?

Where is God in your life?  What role does he play?

Devotion: Gird Up Your Loins

“Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you and you declare to me.  Will you even put me in the wrong?  Will you condemn me that you may be justified?”  Job 40:7-8.

 

One of my favorite lines of Scripture is when God tells Job to “gird up his loins” as the Lord begins to speak to Job.  I have this image of a frail Job covered in ashes with clothes that no longer fit from the months of anguish and depression he has battled, when suddenly God appears in a windstorm telling Job to pull up his britches and hold on…

            God’s pastoral care from the whirldwind seems more like a drill sergeant than grandmotherly comfort.  He calls Job to attention and then blasts him with the Truth.  God is in control of our lives.  He has been active in the beginning, he is active still and he will continue to be active in our lives forever; so, we better hold onto our pants because it is going to be bumpy ride.

            I believe we misunderstand Job’s story if we imagine Job happily praising God after the tragedy that befell him and the response from the whirlwind.  The end of Job never mentions Job’s reverence or worship of God like the opening does.  Job’s life was radically altered by God; their relationship was forever changed.  For the remaining years, Job had to have carried the scars of a failed marriage, the untimely death of his children, the loss of his fortune, and his own physical abnormalities.

            But what changed for Job?  Job saw God; he realized that God was with him through all the pain.  Job sees that God is not always in the business of removing our pain, but is in the business of walking alongside us through it. 

It says in Deuteronomy 31:6  Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Have we domesticated God too much that we forget to gird up our loins when we come before him?  How can we see God in the midst of our own pain?  Who is someone that you might walk alongside to support, encourage and pray for?

Matthew 19:13

Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray.

Devotion: Offering

Last week I received a letter informing me that a charity I support would be increasing its monthly sponsorship by $6.  Immediately I got on the Internet to research this charities financial ratings and reviews, wondering if something fishy was going on.  Then it hit me, due to the recent front page articles about the United Way and David Cerullo’s ministry in South Carolina, is it not harder to trust that our giving is being effectively used?

Tithing and giving to the church, while similar to charitable support, is also radically different.  Tithing is not just about providing financial support to the institution of the church, but it is also a spiritual discipline of letting go of a prized possession we work so hard to earn and to trust that it be used for God’s mission.

One of biggest complaints for young adults regarding the Church is its emphasis upon money.  Yet I strongly believe that if we looked at our bank statements and our day planners we can see where our priorities lay, and therefore the church has a responsibility to talk about money.  We will only give our time and our money to things that we trust will provide a strong return on investment for us. 

But as Paul says in Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy—present your entire selves as living sacrifices, pure and holy.  This is your spiritual act of worship.”  It is through the offering of our whole selves—our work, finances, dreams, desires, hurts, friends, family, everything—to God that we worship Him.

What is it about the church’s mention of “money” that may irritate so many young adults?  What prized possessions do we not want to trust God with?

 

Getting too Personal...

Things I have learned that people do not want to see their pastor doing...

1)  Playing poker,

2)  Smoking a cigar,

3)  Exercising in tri-shorts.

and now...

4)  mowing the yard topless

(for those who don't know me, I am male...for those who don't know me well, I tend to sweat alot).

Scripture Memorization

One of the things I found annoying as a Young Life Church Partner was having to memorize short pieces of scripture, because they were often proof texts to a contrived evangelical message.

Today, I was reminded of the power of God's word that becomes imbedded into our hearts, not by our forced memorization but by God's constant speaking to us.

I just received one of the most difficult phone calls of my ministry of someone in crisis, and I felt as though I failed mesirably. Seeking God in prayer afterwards; hoping that God could clean up the bigger mess I just made a simple verse came to mind: "Father forgive us, for we do not know what we are doing." Not only a prayer for this person, but more importantly a prayer for myself. Reassurance that as some Reverend Pastor guy, I am still forgiven for my ineptitude.

This small piece of scripture coming to life gave has given me the biggest sense of peace.

And it recalled another time where scripture came alive. Having just learned about my cancer the verse of the leper resonated on my heart: "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean."

Neither of these verses were part of the Topical Memory System implemented by YL. Neither had I exegeted or heard a profound sermon exposit it's merit. Rather these scriptures emerged deep from within; These experiences help me understand what we talk about God's ability to have the Spirit move through our situations to place God's word upon our hearts.