Overlooked

Matthew 25:37-40 (Message)

"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about?

When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?'

Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

The most familiar versions of this scripture have Jesus saying, "when you did one of these things for 'the least of these...'"

But this version is pretty striking, because it puts a little clearer face on just who those folks are: the "overlooked or ignored."

So overlooked, in fact, that even those good people who are being rewarded by Jesus in heaven for their care of others are surprised to hear what Jesus is talking about.

"When did we do good things for you, Lord?"

"When you did them for the overlooked and ignored."

Have you ever been ignored?

Sure you have.

At one time or another we've all had that feeling of being overlooked. And it doesn't feel good.

Being overlooked and ignored challenges our feelings of identity and self-worth.

The one who chooses to see us and care for us becomes pretty special in our lives.

Those moments of recognition don't make the news. They may not even register in our hearts or minds in the course of a day. But they do matter.

Steve Sjogren, one of the founders of the "servant evangelism" movement, has famously said that, "Small things, done with great love, will change the world."

Jesus seems to say the same.

Looking at the overlooked has eternal significance.

May God give us the grace to see the people and places that are so easily overlooked.

Prayer: Knowing that we are saved by grace, we pray that you would transform us into true servants of those in need all around us. Show us the depths of your teaching, and help us to know that serving those in need is the very same as serving you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Neighbor

Luke 10:25-37 (Message)

The Good Samaritan

25Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. "Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?"

26He answered, "What's written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?"

27He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself."

28"Good answer!" said Jesus. "Do it and you'll live."

29Looking for a loophole, he asked, "And just how would you define 'neighbor'?"

30-32Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

33-35"A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'

36"What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"

37"The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded.

Jesus said, "Go and do the same."

"How do you define neighbor?"

Well, for me it's the folks who live at 3780 and 3800 Georgia Drive, Douglasville, Georgia, 30135.

We each own our little square thirds of an acre in the Ashworth subdivision and that's where the daily drama of our family lives play out.

Neighbors.

I've had good ones and bad ones. I bet you have too.

The best of the folks who occupied space next door were "neighbors," not just because of where their house was located in proximity to mine.

The best ones were our friends.

They chose to love us, above and beyond the call of duty. In fact, some of our old Augusta neighbors still read this blog (Hi Shane and Shannon), even though they too have since moved on to other locations.

The man who questioned Jesus in the story above wanted to limit his definition.

He thought he knew who was in and who was out. Samaritans, certainly, were among the "out" folks.

Jews like this man considered them dirty, other, foreign and generally hostile. Even though they lived next door to the people of Israel, the relationship wasn't a good one.

Jesus' story blows up those kinds of foregone conclusions.

Your neighbor can be anybody, regardless of who they are or where they're from.

"Neighbor" is a condition of the heart. "Love God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and heart." "And love your neighbor as yourself."

It's easy to love the neighbors who love us.

It's easy once we know people and trust them. It's easy when they look like us and share our worldview.

But God has created neighbor-folks who have hearts for service and love...and put them everywhere...even where we'd least expect.

What kind of neighbor do we make? A heart full of grace and determined to serve is the most neighborly...and God-filled of them all.

Prayer: May we hear the words of your parable, and bring them to life in our own lives. Help us to be the neighbor to others that we should be.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Matthew 25:37-40

Clothe

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

For me, this passage of scripture has come to have unbreakable ties to weddings.

It's been the scripture that I've read at most of the weddings I've conducted during my years as a pastor.

I love the picture of love that we're given, and I find that this vision in Colossians stands in nice contrast to the usual things that surround a wedding.

I've just been part of way too many weddings in my life where nobody can remember anything of significance that happened because they were all consumed with worry over the things that didn't really matter.

I always find myself wondering whether folks realize that there's more than a cultural ceremony going on --- but the beginning of a lifelong covenant?

Here, Paul isn't worried about the right clothes, the placement of the wedding party, the trappings of the day, or who is impressed and made happy.

He's concerned with the clothing of love.

The images are those of serving, giving and unity. But of course these aren't just ideas that apply in a marriage.

How can we move through all the deep places of life with spirits of forgiveness, love and unity? How can we remember that there's more than silly details happening each day? That there are deep things of covenant and truth...and God?

Live...Paul says..."as the Lord forgave you." A joyful heart for serving starts with that kind of clothing...humble and forgiven, fresh and clean. Focused on all the things that really matter most.

Prayer: Our prayer is that we might be "clothed in love," putting the interests of others even ahead of our own.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Wash

John 13:3-17 (The Message)

Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God.

So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron.

When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"

Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."

Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!"

Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."

"Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!"

Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene.

So now you're clean. But not every one of you." (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.

Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet.

I've laid down a pattern for you.

What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious.

A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

"What I've done, you do..." Jesus says.

And what Jesus does, over and over again throughout scripture, is to give and serve.

The disciples were appalled at his scandalous display of servitude.

He washed their feet, taking the role of the lowest-on-the-totem-pole servant. You can almost reach out and touch Peter's palpable discomfort.

And who can blame him? Nobody wants to let someone who is an authority figure stoop to a role that doesn't "become" them.

But serving becomes Jesus. And he says that it becomes his disciples.

Jesus' very character is that of a servant. And maybe we can see ourselves in that role, even more readily than that of the person who is in need, receiving what the Master has to offer.

Christian life is about serving...but only once we have received from Jesus. Knowing what it feels like to receive freely inspires us to serve.

Service can happen with humility, and no record of who-owes-who because we realize that everyone needs to receive sometimes, as well.

Jesus the teacher...teaches by doing. The master who serves his students.

Only simple words are needed after that sort of example..."Now do what I've done."

Prayer: We are amazed at Jesus' example of washing his disciples' feet. May we learn from this master-servant how we can love and serve those around us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Lift

Luke 5:17-20 (Message)

One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and religion teachers were sitting around. They had come from nearly every village in Galilee and Judea, even as far away as Jerusalem, to be there. The healing power of God was on him.

Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus.

When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief, he said, "Friend, I forgive your sins."

Jesus was impressed "by their bold belief."

Impressing Jesus is a pretty awesome thing in the New Testament.

It does happen a few times. And it seems always to have to do with the individual's (or in this case, the group's) willingness to accept and believe.

The action here...the serving...shows their faith.

And before Jesus even heals their friend physically, he provides for his healing spiritually.

"Friend, I forgive your sins."

Who are we in this story?

Part of the watching crowd? The Pharisees on the sideline, hoping that someone will trip up?

Are we the paralytic on the stretcher, dependent on his friends, hoping they don't lose their grip?

Are we the friends, straining hard and working with focus to bring their friend close to Jesus?

It probably depends on the day.

If we're honest, sometimes...maybe many times, we do sit out on the sidelines, out of fear, or judgment, or uncertainty.

Sometimes we are truly helpless, and maybe that's when we're most open to help from God and other people.

And sometimes, we have the opportunity to be servants.

Be thankful for those moments when you've been helped, and have the opportunity, means and motivation to help someone else.

Serving is an act of faith, and it deepens our relationship with Jesus, every single time.

And, with a special nod to SOTH's Carlton Moore for the reference, I thought I'd include the lyrics to "Gotta Serve Somebody" by Mr. Bob Dylan:

You may be an ambassador to England or France,
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance,
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage,
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage,
You may be a business man or some high degree thief,
They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk,
You may be the head of some big TV network,
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame,
You may be living in another country under another name

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a construction worker working on a home,
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome,
You might own guns and you might even own tanks,
You might be somebody's landlord, you might even own banks

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride,
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side,
You may be workin' in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair,
You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk,
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk,
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread,
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy,
You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy,
You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray,
You may call me anything but no matter what you say

You're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

Prayer: Like the friends of the paralyzed man, teach us to work hard to bring others close to Jesus.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: John 13:3-17

Selfless

Philippians 2:5-8 (Message)

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.

He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.

Not at all.

When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!

Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process.

He didn't claim special privileges.

Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

The heart of God is that of a servant.

This passage of scripture, often referred to as the "Philippian Hymn," shows us that heart.

The Christian idea of incarnation is radical. God becomes human, with intent.

Jesus is a picture of self-imposed humility and servitude.

But that's not to be confused with a picture of weakness. That's the mistake that many made when they first experienced him. It was the mistake of those who rejected his message, who arrested him, convicted and mocked him.

But, at the foot of the cross, even the Romans soldiers were moved to profess faith.

Even in his death, Jesus didn't curse God or those around him. He served them by asking God for their forgiveness.

Finally convinced, the Roman centurion uttered the words, "Surely he was the Son of God."

There is great strength in service. And there is no greater strength than humility.

If this is the heart of God, embodied in Christ, then it must be the way of life that's best for us as well. We will need God's help, every day, to get there. But with his grace, we can begin taking steps.

Prayer: We know that your nature is to be self-emptying, giving and serving. May we learn to serve others, in the example of Christ, having the same mind that is in him.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Luke 5:17-20

Measure

Luke 6:38 (NIV)

Give, and it will be given to you.

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.

For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Jesus says that giving results in more giving.

More precisely, he says that giving results in receiving.

Others have noticed this phenomenon too.

The Beatles wrote about it in their song, "The End." John Lennon said, "Paul had a line in it, 'And in the end, the love you get is equal to the love you give,' which is a very cosmic, philosophical line."

Not just cosmic and philosophical...Christian, it turns out, too.

At least according to what Jesus had to say in today's scripture.

Now, there are preachers out there who will tell you that you should give to their church or ministry because if you do, God will bless you and you'll get rich. I don't think that's right at all.

But I do think that it's an undeniable fact of the universe, that giving begets more giving.

Or more precisely, that giving does impact receiving.

I'll never forget "Pauline." She was the first terminally ill person whom I'd ever served as pastor. I was 23 years old, and the thought of death scared me to death. But it didn't scare Pauline. In fact, she was at peace, and probably did far more to counsel me through the situation than I ever did for her. I watched as the people around her...family, friends, church members...circled around her in care. I learned that this was what Pauline had faithfully done for others throughout her life.

And in the end, it came back to her many times over.

There was a full house of family and loved ones at her funeral. She touched a lot of people with her love.

"Give," Jesus says... "And a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall be poured out into your lap."

May God use us to start this cause-and-effect cycle of giving and receiving his blessings.

Prayer: Show us how "generosity begets generosity" in our own lives. May we give to other people just as we would like to receive: with kindness, goodness, and grace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Romans 8:32 (No blog)

Worship at SOTH this Sunday --- we'll be talking about the 6th spiritual discipline that God uses in moving us into deeper relationship with him: Serving others. Worship at 9 and 11 AM with Sunday School for all ages at 10:15.

Cycle

From 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 (NIV)

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality...

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.


God seems to really like "cycles."

There is a beautiful elegance to these neatly intertwined, cause-and-effect cycles of life.

For instance, Paul points out to the Corinthians in today's scripture, God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others.

Those acts of giving and Christian charity show thankfulness and bring glory to God, who was the original giver...the real source of all generosity.

It's a cycle.

And it's a shame for us to break the beauty of that chain.

God's desire is for balance...that his children would have neither too little, nor too much.

And the amazing part is that he allows us to participate.

The sun gives energy to the plants that feed us. Eventually, all things return to the soil through which God makes us. These cycles of God's design are all around us.

When we learn to "excel in giving," we help others see how good life lived in harmony with God can really be.

Prayer: We pray that our hearts would turn to you, so that our hands will be regulated by the truth of love that we learn. May giving flow naturally from hearts that overflow with your abundance.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Luke 6:38

Rob

Malachi 3:8-10 (The Message)

Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day.

You ask, 'How have we robbed you?'

The tithe and the offering—that's how! And now you're under a curse —the whole lot of you—because you're robbing me. Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple.

Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams.

When we talk scripture, and giving...this is the scripture people usually want to read last, if at all.

This is good, old fashioned, Old Testament honesty.

And it's pretty tough for all of us to hear.

And like most tough things, it's something we really need.

"Be honest," God says. "You're stealing from me if you don't learn how to give."

Stealing from God and a lack of honesty.

God just slices through all of our good excuses.

"I can't afford to give..."

"I'll start giving next month..."

"I don't have enough to live on now as it is..."

"Why should I?"

All those excuses start from a faulty view of the world.

We forget that we don't provide for ourselves, but that everything is a gift from God.

God's reaction seems to say, "You're stealing what's mine."

But that's not the end of the message. God has some very good things in store.

"Test me," God says.

Really, God says, "test me."

Isn't that great?

"Give me what's mine," God says, "and see what happens in your life."

God is the God of blessings.

If we believe that all things belong to him, and that he clothes the "lillies of the field" in splendor, then how much more will he take care of us? At least, that's what Jesus said.

So, here's our promise for the day: "Test me in this, and see if I don't open up heaven itself and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams."

May it be truly so for all of us.

Prayer: Teach us to "test" you and not "rob" you, our God. We seek to learn the grace of giving so that we can bring the whole tithe into your storehouse.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

Giver

Deuteronomy 8:18 (The Message)

If you start thinking to yourselves, "I did all this. And all by myself. I'm rich. It's all mine!"—well, think again.

Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today.

We would do well to realize the truth of this scripture.

I really believe that it's the beginning of what giving is all about.

Anybody who gives, participates in an act of humility.

It's hard for me to give away what I got for myself...what I worked hard to obtain for my own well being, and that of those I love.

In fact, it just wouldn't make any sense to give that kind of possession away at all, would it?

But what if you really believe that you're not the source of your own sustenance, in the first place?

That's a pretty radical idea, but without it, giving can't even really find a place to start in a person's life, much less grow and flourish.

Within just a few generations of their arrival and the Promised Land, the people of Israel had begun to prosper.

These were the people of God's covenant with Abraham, and they were receiving the blessings that God had always promised.

But God knew that they would be tempted at that very moment of blessing to stop giving thanks...and start believing that they had done it all themselves.

Sound familiar? It sounds a lot like my own life sometimes...and a lot like the culture in which we live.

Jesus-followers can show the world another kind of life. One that's radical and counter-cultural. A life that's about giving...a life that knows we didn't do this ourselves.

Be thankful and remember that God is the real giver.

Prayer: May we learn the lesson and always remember: It is you who gave us the strength to produce whatever wealth we have. We thank you for your love and grace that knows no end. You are a giving God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Malachi 3:8-10

Fighting

I Corinthians 1:10-17 (The Message)

I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master.

I'll put it as urgently as I can:

You must get along with each other.

You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common.

I bring this up because some from Chloe's family brought a most disturbing report to my attention—that you're fighting among yourselves!

I'll tell you exactly what I was told: You're all picking sides, going around saying, "I'm on Paul's side," or "I'm for Apollos," or "Peter is my man," or "I'm in the Messiah group."

I ask you, "Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic all our own? Was Paul crucified for you? Was a single one of you baptized in Paul's name?"

I was not involved with any of your baptisms—except for Crispus and Gaius—and on getting this report, I'm sure glad I wasn't. At least no one can go around saying he was baptized in my name. (Come to think of it, I also baptized Stephanas's family, but as far as I can recall, that's it.)

God didn't send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him.

And he didn't send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center—Christ on the Cross—be trivialized into mere words.

Human beings tend to naturally segregate themselves into like groups.

What about human beings in a church?

Well...the same can certainly be true.

We find people who share a similar world-view, who have similar backgrounds and interests...and we can become a little "pocket" of sorts within the larger body.

To some degree, that kind of grouping really is natural and can even be healthy. Folks do need other people to feel connected to, and everybody needs to feel like they can be accepted and at home with one another.

But the problems come when sub-groups within a larger whole begin to do that other thing that comes naturally.

Comparison and maneuvering.

When group A decides that group B is wrong...and that they're right...and then they spend their time together complaining about the ins and outs of group B's position...

Uh-oh.

In the early Corinthian church, this kind of thing had already taken root.

Based on today's scripture, we know that there were "Paul people," "Apollos people," "Peter people," and "Messiah people," just to name a few. So Paul gives that group...and us as well...a reminder that we all need.

"You must get along with each other."

Notice that he says, "must." Not "should," or "maybe," or "it would be nice if..."

It's an urgent matter that the people of Christ get along with each other.

If we don't, we lose our witness to the world. Instantly.

Further, we trivialize Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

What personal agenda could be worth that?

Prayer: May we remember how important "agreement" really is in the life of the church. Forgive us when we cause division and harbor it in our hearts. May we truly be one in Christ.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: (No blog) Proverbs 27:17

Worship services this Sunday @ SOTH -- 9 & 11 AM with SS for all ages at 10:15. This week's step on the path: Giving. See you there!

First

Mark 10:35-45 (The Message)

James and John, Zebedee's sons, came up to him. "Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us."

"What is it? I'll see what I can do."

"Arrange it," they said, "so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left."

Jesus said, "You have no idea what you're asking. Are you capable of drinking the cup I drink, of being baptized in the baptism I'm about to be plunged into?"

"Sure," they said. "Why not?"

Jesus said, "Come to think of it, you will drink the cup I drink, and be baptized in my baptism. But as to awarding places of honor, that's not my business. There are other arrangements for that."

When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John.

Jesus got them together to settle things down.

"You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around," he said, "and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads.

It's not going to be that way with you.

Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage."

Jesus came to pour himself out in service to the world.

His followers are called to do the same.

Christian faith and practice follows a model which stands in opposition to the culture that surrounds us.

"Power" isn't the goal. Neither is influence, control, or fame.

The goal is voluntary servitude. That's the basis of real community.

How could Jesus limit himself as he did? How could he who was all-powerful choose to stoop and wash the feet of his stiff-necked disciples?

Because he loves us that much.

Because God, in Jesus Christ, honors that which he has made.

What if we honored each other in that way as well? Could we form a wonderful kind of counter-cultural community?

No, it's not easy. Not at all.

Everybody knows those people who can "punch their buttons." When buttons get punched, serving one another is usually about the last thing on our minds.

Even in the scripture above, Jesus had to break up a fight among his disciples.

That's why it's important to sometimes hear what Jesus tells us:

"It's not going to be that way with you."

May it be so among us.

Prayer: We sometimes struggle for your attention, hoping that you will seat us in the place of honor ahead of others. Help us to learn Jesus teaching...that the first will be last, and anyone who would be great must first learn to love.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: I Corinthians 1:10-17

Body

Romans 12:3-8 (The Message)

In this way we are like the various parts of a human body.

Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around.

The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body.

But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we?

So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.

Casting Crowns has now famously asked the question:

But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the Body Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

Romans 12 seems to pretty clearly imply that the answer could be ...jealousy.

Maybe arms don't reach because they're more worried about hands that heal than what they're actually called to do.

Maybe feet don't go because they're too busy having a pity-party for themselves about not being words, arms or hands.

Ouch.

That spiritual trap is definitely one I've fallen into before, and I imagine we all have at one time or another.

When we think about relationships ---- we have to start by acknowledging that sometimes evil lurks in our jealousy of each other's good, God-given gifts.

What might be possible if we spent time really knowing which part of the body we are...and how we add to its overall unity and effectiveness?

What if we believe that God's love for us is displayed in making us a "foot," or a "hand?"

It's really an amazing and humbling metaphor given to us in scripture...we are the body of Christ.

What a wonderful thing to know.

We really do need each other...and the world needs us to get our act together, in love.

Prayer: In your wisdom, you have given us different gifts. It is so easy to despise our own gifts and covet someone else's. Forgive us when we sin in that way and help us to see the special roles that you've designed each of us to play.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Brothers

Psalm 133 (NIV)

How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron's beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.

It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

If you have kids, how does it make you feel when they fight with each other?

There's the noise, of course, the general static and discomfort that siblings' strife introduces into the house...but I think that kind of fighting is tough for mom and dad for deeper reasons.

It's tough to watch fighting and disagreement between two people you love.

Parents love all their children equally. Even though every child is different, and for that reason their relationship with each child is different...the love is exactly the same.

Psalm 133 tells us that God has a similar experience.

Sometimes we forget that God can have experiences of that which is "good and pleasant," and that there are things that really do please and displease him.

Unity among the brothers and sisters seems high on God's list of good things.

Knowing that can be a good first step on the path of putting relationships back together when they break. We know that's what God wants, and we know that he will help us.

Prayer: We know that it pleases you, God, Our Father, when we live together in peace and unity. We need your help to put others ahead of ourselves, and to live in the peace that only you can give.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.


Tomorrow's Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Relationships

Acts 2:44-47 (NIV)

All the believers were together and had everything in common.

Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

This picture of Christian community has always left me in awe.

They took all their "stuff," sold it, and pooled the money. Then, they gave it out to those as they had need.

Can you imagine that level of trust?

What can possibly be behind that kind of counter-cultural community?

I think we can only chalk it up to shared experience and common goals.

These people were powerfully bonded together by an experience of faith in the risen Christ. Beyond that, they had experienced the Holy Spirit. They had seen miracles and wonderful affirmations happen in their midst.

They believed the Gospel, and experienced it first hand.

Their goal became living in community, illustrated by common love and care for each other and the world until the return of Christ.

Churches, of course, are notoriously famous for silliness and in-fighting.

And, we should remember that the world is watching.

But when Jesus becomes central and there is a common mission and purpose, those kind of situations have a way of falling by the wayside.

Life is too short, and the calling is too important. If God could form a community of amazing trust and hope 2,000 years ago, he can do it still today.

What it could mean to be that sort of "city on a hill."

Prayer: May we learn to be the image of Christian community, as found here in the early church. By shared experience and common goal, form us into a community of faith.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Psalm 133

Praise

Psalm 100 (The Message)

1-2 On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter,
sing yourselves into his presence.

3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.
He made us; we didn't make him.
We're his people, his well-tended sheep.

4 Enter with the password: "Thank you!"
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.

5 For God is sheer beauty,
all-generous in love,
loyal always and ever.

The heart of worship has to be a deeply held belief that we are part of something so much bigger and greater than ourselves.

But let's be clear...we're not just talking about "something," we're talking about a very specific and someone bigger than us.

God has personality, attributes, and can be described and known.

God is completely beyond our imaginations and yet personally available.
If we have the capacity for love, it is because God is love and has first loved us. If we have the capacity to know beauty and to be beautiful, it is because God is "sheer beauty" himself. God is the very definition of the concept and the reason for its existence.

God made us, we didn't make him.

And we human beings have the deep-down, cellular level need to acknowledge that truth.

The consumption-driven world in which we live can color our thoughts about worship. Sometimes, Christians believe that worship is the primary product of a church's staff. We apply the world's model to church...we pay for worship, and we expect to consume a good product.

What a shame.

The heart of worship isn't consumption...it's offering.

The people gather and do their "work" of connection to the source. We sing songs, because it's a powerful physical expression of our thanks and praise to God. We pray prayers, lifting our hearts to God. We give from our money as an act of worship and trust, acknowledging that we're just caretakers of that which God has first given us. We bring our laughter and fellowship and acknowledge that only God can make us a real community. And we bring open hearts, a willingness to be shaped by the scripture that we hear.

That is worship.

That kind of understanding...of participation and offering, not worldly consumpion...could go so far toward healing many hurts in the churches of today.

It's about God...not style...not place...not the preacher...or the choir...or the band.

It's about our need to be thankful, and to offer back some portion of the beauty God has shared with us.

Prayer: God, we pray that this day and every day we might learn to enter your courts with thanksgiving and praise. Show us your goodness, deliver us from evil and help us to respond with joy and worship.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

No blog tomorrow, but we'll see you at SOTH this Sunday! Worship at 9 and 11 AM with Sunday School at 10:15.

Waves

James 1:5-8 (The Message)

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father.

He loves to help.

You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.

Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.

People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

So...who out there knows what they're doing this morning?

Really?

I'll be the first to say that one of the great hopes of life is that as we move through it, we grow and mature. We should learn important lessons, become wiser with the passing of time, and hopefully more at peace, fulfilled, and in perspective.

But...

It seems to me that a key component of the Christian life, no matter how long we live it, is knowing what we do not know.

I do love this translation of James 1: "If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help."

Amen to that.

The scripture is much more clear on this than we tend to be in our own faith.

Ask for help and you'll get it, James says.

But you need to believe it.

There's the tricky part, right? Once again, we learn that prayer is about letting go. It's about trusting God, not ourselves.

Belief is the difference between worry and real prayer.

Worrying says, "God please help me...but I figure that you won't, so I'll do it myself and stress out over whether I'll be able to or not."

Prayer says, "God, I need your help, and I can't do it myself. The answer is yours to give and unfold. I'll respond as you lead me, but I'm not driving this thing or believing in myself. You can do it, and you will."

That's a faith position. Take it from a world-class worrier. Being like a "wind-whipped wave" isn't the life God wants for us. Find a small place (or a big one if you're ready) to trust him today, and see what unfolds into tomorrow.

Prayer: Teach us to ask in prayer...to believe, and not doubt. We grow tired of being tossed about in every direction and seek your strength and direction in our lives.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Psalm 100

Pray

"Hill of Crosses," near Silaulia, Lithuania

Note: This is a really long scripture reading, but I promise it's worth the time investment. This is Psalm 22 from Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, "The Message." It's very powerful, and from the opening of this Psalm came Jesus' quote from the cross, often translated, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me..."

Psalm 22

A David Psalm

1-2 God, God...my God!
Why did you dump me miles from nowhere?
Doubled up with pain, I call to God all the day long.
No answer. Nothing.
I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.

3-5 And you!
Are you indifferent,
above it all,
leaning back on the cushions of Israel's praise?
We know you were there for our parents:
they cried for your help and you gave it;
they trusted and lived a good life.

6-8 And here I am,
a nothing—an earthworm,
something to step on, to squash.
Everyone pokes fun at me;
they make faces at me, they shake their heads:
"Let's see how God handles this one;
since God likes him so much, let him help him!"

9-11 And to think you were midwife at my birth,
setting me at my mother's breasts!
When I left the womb you cradled me;
since the moment of birth you've been my God.
Then you moved far away and trouble moved in next door.
I need a neighbor.

12-13 Herds of bulls come at me,
the raging bulls stampede,
Horns lowered, nostrils flaring,
like a herd of buffalo on the move.

14-15 I'm a bucket kicked over and spilled,
every joint in my body has been pulled apart.
My heart is a blob of melted wax in my gut.
I'm dry as a bone, my tongue black and swollen.
They have laid me out for burial in the dirt.

16-18 Now packs of wild dogs come at me;
thugs gang up on me.
They pin me down hand and foot,
and lock me in a cage
—a bag Of bones in a cage,
stared at by every passerby.

They take my wallet and the shirt off my back,
and then throw dice for my clothes.

19-21 You, God—don't put off my rescue!
Hurry and help me!
Don't let them cut my throat;
don't let those mongrels devour me.
If you don't show up soon, I'm done for
—gored by the bulls, meat for the lions.

22-24 Here's the story I'll tell my friends
when they come to worship,
and punctuate it with Hallelujahs:
Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers;
give glory, you sons of Jacob;
adore him, you daughters of Israel.

He has never let you down,
never looked the other way
when you were being kicked around.
He has never wandered off to do his own thing;
he has been right there, listening.

25-26 Here in this great gathering for worship
I have discovered this praise-life.
And I'll do what I promised
right here in front of the God-worshipers.
Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill.
Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him.
"Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!"

27-28 From the four corners of the earth
people are coming to their senses,
are running back to God.
Long-lost families
are falling on their faces before him.

God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word.

29 All the power-mongers are before him —worshiping!
All the poor and powerless, too —worshiping!
Along with those who never got it together —worshiping!

30-31 Our children and their children will get in on this
As the word is passed along from parent to child.
Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news
— that God does what he says.

Isn't it amazing that this is an example of prayer, given to us in scripture?

If God was worried about looking good...is this the kind of scripture that we would receive? If God believed in censorship, would such a psalm ever have seen the light of day?

This psalm represents a deeply honest, painful struggle against reality. And it also represents the first and very best prayer: "Help Me!"

So much has been written about prayer.

So many Christians carry guilt, afraid that they don't do it right, that they might say the wrong thing to God, or that they're just not faithful enough or don't "feel" all the tingles that they think they should when they pray.

"My prayers don't get any higher than the ceiling," a faithful Christian person once told me. He was deeply frustrated and felt like he was failing in this spiritual discipline.

Stop for a moment, and really take another look at this prayer.

It is amazing.

It is open. It's beautiful, but not necessarily eloquent or elegant.

It's earthy, full of guts and pain. It is a cry for help, a cry of outrage, and an affirmation of faith...all at once.

Most of all, it is a plea..."help me."

Powerful things begin to happen in our lives when we earnestly let our heart and lips express that appeal to God. "Help me."

He will respond.

Let it go, whatever it is...because that is the heart of real prayer.

Prayer: We give you thanks for this psalm that teaches us that sometimes everyone feels the depth of pain and struggle. Even so, we remember these words, quoted by Jesus on the cross, and know that the deepest pain can be redeemed into resurrection in your love.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: James 1:5-6

Worship

John 4:19-26 (NIV)

"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet.

Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

Scripture...Prayer...Worship...Relationships...Giving...Serving

At SOTH, we believe that these 6 gifts from God are some of the most powerful paths He uses to reach us, to touch our lives, and to move us further down the path of discipleship.

That's not a new idea...but it is a powerful one.

Two Sundays ago, we talked about the role of scripture in our Christian lives. This past Sunday was all about prayer and worship.

The encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well carries within it some of the most powerful commentary on scripture that we find in Jesus' teachings.

The woman knew all the things that should have divided her from this Jewish rabbi:

She was a Samaritan.

She was a woman.

She had led a "disgraceful" life of many marriages and unhealthy relationships with men.

She may well have been ostracized by others in the community.

She wanted water, and this man wanted to talk philosophy.

But in spite of all those differences, Jesus saw the things that united them. Worship isn't about "where," and not even about "how." It's about the posture of the heart toward God.

"God is spirit," Jesus says, "and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth."

People across time and place...with pipe organs or electric guitars...in cathedrals or gymnasiums or storefronts...can be united by worship filled with "spirit and truth."

The Samaritan woman's life changed forever because of her conversation with Jesus. I bet her worship changed forever, too.

If we know that God is delivering us...moving us from death to life, from sin to salvation, from brokenness to redemption...our worship will surely show it.

Our faces will too.

Prayer: Like the woman at the well, we too have questions about redemption and "living water." With all our hearts, we pray that you will teach us what it means to worship in "spirit and in truth." May we know that you will deliver us from spiritual death to life, and may we respond with joyful worship.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Go check out what's happening with the SOTH FLOCK, our youth ministry!
www.mikeinaminute.blogspot.com

Tomorrow's Scripture: Psalm 22

Servant

In honor of Dr. King...