Lent 2009 #16

Psalm 19:7-13   

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

THOUGHTS:

God's laws are more to be desired then "much find gold."  We tend to think of laws as merely a list of things we can't do.  The law restricts us from speeding, killing, parking certain places, etc.  To be sure, that's a common view of God's commandments too.  People don't like that God made us  how we are, then tells us "thou shalt not" do whatever you want. 

Yet the psalmist rejoices in these "rules." Why?

Many of the decrees found in scripture aren't about controlling people, but rather they teach us how to live in community with each other.  Maybe that's why, when asked what the greatest commandment is in Matthew 22, Jesus replied, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Next time you are reading God's "rules" -- try reading them through a lens of love.  Ask yourself, how does this commandment help me understand love?  How does it help me share God's love with those around me?

 

PRAYER:

Lord, help us to see those around us as you do.  Help us to love as you love.  Help us to serve you with our whole selves, as Jesus did.  AMEN.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University .  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

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Lent 2009 #15

Acts 7:31-34  

31 When Moses saw [the burning bush], he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 'I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, I will send you to Egypt.'

THOUGHTS:

In Acts 7, Stephen is recounting a brief and broad history of Israel in which Moses gets the most space.  In this brief excerpt, we see God coming down to be with Moses.  God has heard the people suffering and says, "I have come down to rescue them".  

Throughout scripture, God comes down to people again and again:  

God walked in the garden of Eden.  

God instructed Noah.  

God confided in Abraham.  

God talked to Moses.

God put on skin and walked among the people as Jesus.

God came down as the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and lives within us.

And how does God rescue the people in this passage?  God calls Moses and sends him back to Egypt (which he's fled) to free the people.  God uses prophets to call attention to injustice.  God uses people like you and me to help the Kingdom of God take hold here on earth.

Through other people and the Holy Spirit, we encounter God every day and every place.  Wherever you feet are right now could be holy ground...

 

PRAYER (Psalm 19:14):

O God, let the words out of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  AMEN.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University .  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

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Lent 2009 #14

1 Peter 2:4-10 

4 Come to [Christ], a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and 5 like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture: "See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." 

7 To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner," 8 and "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

THOUGHTS:

One of the things that strikes me here is community.  Followers of Christ are to be as "living stones" that are "built into a spiritual house".  We're to allow Christ to knit us into community, regardless of where we have come from or how dissimilar we may be.  Symbolically, since we stones continue to live, we must work together to hold the community together.

Verse 9 using the language echoing back to Exodus 19:6 and Hosea 2:23 -- yet the audience is Gentile Christians living in what is now Turkey.  The "chosen race" and "holy nation" therefore aren't representing a specific ethnicity, but rather are used in naming all Christians as "a royal priesthood" and "God's own people".  Then verse 10 tells us that although we weren't a community before, we are now God's people and we have received mercy.

These verses are the foundation for the "priesthood of all believers", which states that we are all priests, each able to directly connect to the divine and each able to minister to others, doing God's work on earth.  It is more than that too: we aren't in this alone!  We are all part of a priesthood: a community of priests who work together and support one another!  

As God's community of priests, how do we "offer spiritual sacrifices" (verse 5)?  

How do you minister to those around you? 

Spend some time today thinking about your role as a minister in a royal priesthood.  How are you offering spiritual sacrifices?  

How are you serving as the hands and feet of Christ today?

 

PRAYER:

Lord God, thank you for entrusting us duties we can scarcely comprehend.  Please be patient with us when we struggle, and help lead us and guide us as we do our part in your community.  We pray this in the name of Christ Jesus. AMEN.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University .  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

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Lent 2009 #13

John 12:36-37,42-43 

36 "While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light." After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them. 37 Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 42 Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.

THOUGHTS:

Do we love human glory more than the glory that comes from God?  I expect we all struggle with this a little.  

Someone says they "like" your Facebook note, status, picture, etc....

You sink a sweet 3-pointer in a game of pick-up basketball and your team gives you a high-five...

You get a bunch of compliments about how you are dressed...

You finish a concert and receive a boisterous round of applause...

You get some raving comments on your blog...

Your name is called for an award and every eye in the room turns to you...

These things give you a boost -- an odd burst of pride -- it makes you feel good!  And then it fades.

I'm not saying to avoid compliments or applause.  We all occasionally do things that others appreciate, and it's great when people share their appreciation with others!  The issue is when we spend our time and energy fishing for compliments, seeking adoration, or hungering for applause.  

Love of human glory is about allowing other people to determine our value and worth in the world.  When we focus on our own gratification, then we lose sight of the glory of God.

The point: Have you ever been embarrassed to share your faith?  Do you worry that if people know what you believe, then they'll lose respect for you?  Have you let human opinions control you ... even when you think God may be calling you down a different path?  (I know I have!)

Take some time today to think about whether you love human glory more than the glory that comes from God ...

 

PRAYER:

God, thank you for loving us as we are.  We are sorry for the times that we allow ourselves to be controlled by our hunger of glory from others.  We humbly offer ourselves to your service.  For the sake of your son Jesus the Christ. AMEN.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University .  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

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Lent 2009 #12

Hebrews 11:1-3,17-19  1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 

17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom he had been told, "It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you." 19 He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

THOUGHTS:

Hebrews is in interesting book in the Bible.  Scholars can't agree on when it was written or who the author is.  It was probably originally a sermon rather than a letter.  The main image developed in this sermon to a mixture of Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians is of Jesus the Christ as the eternal high priest who fulfills and completes the Jewish system of sacrifice.

In the passage above, we see Abraham's faith that God could raise Isaac from the dead if he went through with the sacrifice.  (If you don't know this story, see: http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com/search/label/Isaac ).  

The writer here is almost like saying "Abraham knew God could resurrect someone before it has been done, and now it has been done..."  Abraham's faith in God is so great, that he is the bedrock character of faith for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.  Many of us read the story of Abraham in Genesis 12-25, and seeing Abraham's faith, we are blown away.  The amount of trust he places in God seems utterly crazy!  

Yet, we too are called to place our trust in God.  Most of tend to want to call the shots ourselves.  (I know I do sometimes.)  Take some time to think about how you can more completely trust in God.  Think about how your faith is your conviction in things that cannot be seen.

 

PRAYER:

God, sometimes we think we already have all the answers, and we want to take control of our world.  Thank you for reminding us in scripture an din our lives that everything belongs to you.  Help us to trust you more, and to follow where you lead us.  In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University .  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

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Lent 2009 #11

Genesis 18:16-33

     16 Then the men [who were God and two angels] set out from there, and they looked towards Sodom; and Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice; so that the Lord may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.' 20 Then the Lord said, 'How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! 21 I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.'

     22 So the [angels] turned from there, and went towards Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham came near and said, 'Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?' 26 And the Lord said, 'If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.' 27 Abraham answered, 'Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?' And he said, 'I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.' 29 Again he spoke to him, 'Suppose forty are found there.' He answered, 'For the sake of forty I will not do it.' 30 Then he said, 'Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.' He answered, 'I will not do it, if I find thirty there.' 31 He said, 'Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.' He answered, 'For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.' 32 Then he said, 'Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.' He answered, 'For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.' 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

 

THOUGHTS:

Let's set the context just a little bit.  God and a couple angels just came and told Abraham and Sarah that they were going to have a son.  Sarah laughed, God called her out on it, they banter a bit, etc. 

 

After we have the passage above.  God decides he trusts Abraham, and that this faithful servant deserves to know what is going to transpire.  God is on the way to see if all the compaints going around about Sodom and Gomorrah are true.  Abraham knows God is planning to wipe these cities off the map, and what is his response?  He basically lays a guilt trip on God: "Oh God, don't be that kind of god!  You are much better than to wipe out the innocent along with the guilty!  Don't punish the righteous because of the wicked!"  Abraham wants things to be fair.

 

We might think Abraham is out of line for implying God doesn't know how to act, but God says, "OK, you're daring me to prove I'm merciful?  Let's try this: if I find 50 righteous people in the cities, then I'll forgive everyone who lives there."  Do you notice that it still isn't fair.  Now, instead of the good people suffering along with the evildoers, God offers to forgive the evildoers because of a small righteous minority.  Yet, Abraham isn't initially satisfied, and he barters with God, wheeling and dealing until two cities will be forgiven if God finds just ten righteous people living there.  The whole community appears to stand or fall together.

 

Would you ask God for this kind of radical forgiveness?  Do you?

 

I love how this story shows that God takes the time to listen to people.  God trusts Abraham enough to tell him the plan.  God listens to Abrahams objections.  God is persuaded by Abraham's arguments.  Sure, God ends up destrying the cities in the end because they showed no hospitality to the strangers in their midst, but that doesn't diminish for me that God valued Abraham's opinion.

 

 

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for your mercy, and for loving us before we even knew anything about you.  Help us to be willing to share our desires with you even as we work to fulfill your desires with our lives.  All this we pray in Jesus name, AMEN.

 

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University .  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Lent 2009: Second Sunday

As I mentioned last week, Sundays are not part of Lent, but rather always celebrations of the resurrection.  To mark this distinction, instead of my thoughts on scripture, here's some bits by others that I find interesting...

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"The challenge for each of us is to let God take [our cross], to give our cross over to God so God can act with it and upon it as he goes to his own. The amazing yet horrifying premise of Jesus upon the cross is God's very life in our lives, God's very participation in all the crosses of humanity. The Christian hope is founded upon God's presence with us in all things, and despite all things, in God's activity that brings newness to life."  -- Michael R. Sullivan, ExploreFaith.org Signpost 3/8/2009 

"There is no way to peace along the way to safety. For peace must be dared. It is the great venture."  -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Address at Fano, Sojourners Voice of the Day 1/26/2009 

"MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."  -- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"

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These devotions are provided by Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University.  Feel free to share them with your friends!  For more information on our ministry and events, see http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran  

You can subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com