Philippians 2:1-18: Avoiding Reorbiting The Universe Around Me

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. - Philippians 2:1-18

Take as much pleasure in the success of another as with your own success. Don't just think less of yourself, think of yourself less. The situation that you are in right now is not about you. These are all things I try and remember when I try to live with humility. I repeat them over and over to myself, sometimes to no avail. 

Part of this is from a sneaking suspicion that if I don't look out for my own interests (v.4) then no one else will and I will get blindsided by their ambition and their conceit. When I am more aware of myself, I realize that this is just another attempt to re-orient the universe so that the story is about me and-to be more exact-about me being the successful hero of the story. I am not the center of this story. I am not even the center of my own story. So I pray for reminders and I run phrases like the ones above as matras repeatedly through my head.

Grumbling and complaining are symptoms of this attempted ill-fated reorientation. I got a phone call the other day from a person who wanted to write a story about me for her publication. I got a note from a guy this past Friday asking if he could call me to talk about an article he is writing. The worst part is: to some extent these are part of my job, so I am always battling to check my motives. Am I doing it to help my company or am I doing it to build up my own reputation-my own brand? Worse, the truth is often a mixture of these. So the policy has become not to respond immediately and think about my motives. In the end, I ignored one and accepted the other.

I wonder if this is what Jesus had to go through when people wanted to shout to the world about his miracles and words. I do not know. But I do know that he had to tell some who witnessed what he did and what he said to be quiet. Being humble can sometimes be a complicated business.

Zephaniah 3:God Leads the Proud to Humility

Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God. Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning. Her prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law. The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.

“I have destroyed nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are laid waste; they are deserted and empty. Of Jerusalem I thought, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her place of refuge would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did. Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them—all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. 

“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings. On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord. They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”

Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

“I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you. At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord. - Zephaniah 3

The central idea of this chapter is at the end of verse 8 and the start of verse 9, The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. Then I will purify the lips of the peoples that all of them may call on the name of the Lord. God attempted to convince his chosen people to choose a better, more productive course by showing them the result in the other countries that they could watch. But they didn't get the hint and so God judge the other countries and then Israel. Then he tried another course of action. Rather than a negative example: don't do what they did-he gives a positive example: watch how they are coming back to me and then you, too, will come back to me. 

He makes the heroes of his people the meek and the humble (vs. 12), the oppressed, the injured, the dispossessed (exiles, vs. 19) and give them the praise and honor that used to be heaped on all of the corrupt officials (vs. 3-4)

This really sounds like the sermon on the mount. Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Like the hearers of Zephaniah, they would be the ones who would see and experience the kingdom of God.

Humility seems to be the key. God wants his people to be humble and let him be the one who raises them up. If we push hard to be bigger or more important, we find out how small we really are because God will show us so that we will give him credit for any promotion. 

Romans 13:1-10: How Love is Like Paying Taxes

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. - Romans 13:1-10

Unpopular laws, corrupt leaders and unreasonable taxes are often cited as reasons why people don't follow their leaders in government. Certainly the Roman empire had been no friend to Christians, with bouts of official and unofficial persecution since before Jesus' time. In Paul's recent memory, all of the Jews (and the Christians with them) had been kicked out of Rome and only recently allowed back.

But Paul (along with Peter) followed a line of thinking that can be traced back to Jeremiah when it comes to living in an unsympathetic and sometimes outright hostile civic environment. It says that God has set up government for his purposes-even if that government is made up of crooked and evil mean and women. It is their job to reward good behavior and punish evil behavior and God holds them accountable. Jeremiah told his fellow citizens, forced to relocate to Babylon, ...seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. (Jer. 29:7) 

It appears that Paul's audience particularly objected to paying taxes to the Roman government and giving respect before the various Roman officials. Again, Jesus had given clear guidance on this, saying Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's. 

But then Paul takes that a step further: what if we thought of the taxes and the respect in the same way we thought about loving other people? What if we only loved people who we thought loveable or lovely, would that be truly love? Would we really be fulfilling the law of God? No. Love is proved when it is shown even to the unlovely. Again, Jesus' words guide us, If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? (Matthew 5:46)

Submitting yourself is hard. Loving other people is hard. Truthfully, paying taxes is a lot easier than loving some people. In doing the former, maybe I am being trained in the latter.

Amos 5:13 "Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil."

 

Matthew 10:24-42: The Consequences of Wanting to be Like Jesus

“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” - Matthew 10:24-42

This is a warning that it is dangerous to want to be like Jesus. To be like Jesus, we should expect that people will have the same respect or lack of respect towards us that they have towards Jesus. To be like Jesus is to take on the same burdens that Jesus is taking on. To be like Jesus is to put God first, even before your own family. So choose carefully.

But interspersed with these warnings are reassurances. That God values us very much, the way he values Jesus. That God supports us by supporting those who support us during tough times,.

So I should welcome people. The person I am welcoming might be Jesus. So I should refresh people. The person I refresh might be Jesus. 

So I should focus on knowing what God wants me to be doing, regardless of how other people will think about it.  And doing what God wants me to be doing, regardless of what it costs. I shouldn't worry about whether it is "significant" or not. I should only worry that it is what God is asking me.

Matthew 10:16-23: Tough Choices

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. - Matthew 10:16-23

This passage is hard to read, not because of the difficulty of the scenarios that Jesus' disciples might find themselves in, but because it is hard to image the scenarios happening to any family.  How many dramas are built on the backs of a family at odds with each other, whether for the favoritism from one, the inheritance from one, the perceived slight from one, the failures and disappointment. The list goes on and on. I don't like to think of these scenarios because the thoughts in my head required to imagine such circumstances are painful and my brain shies away from them. None of Jesus' disciples were strangers to how this could play out in ordinary life in 1st century Israel. 

Now the disciples were followers of a man-a rabbi-Jesus, who they are alternately mystified by or enthralled by. And he seemed to know them so well that he could speak directly to their souls. Sure, he said some pretty abrasive stuff. Sure, he was pretty good a put downs for those who had an overinflated sense of self. Sure, he was really zealous when God's reputation was in question. But to imagine a course of events that would lead people against Jesus and against his followers to such a degree that their own families would turn against them. That's harsh.

I think this is the difference between spiritual childhood and spiritual adulthood. Spiritual adulthood comes when you own what you believe as your own, not as the pattern of spiritual rituals inherited from your parents or learned from the culture around you. Spiritual adulthood is when God is actually your God and not someone you just heard about. In many ways, God can end up being like your unpopular friend. You like him and everything, but who-through no fault of his own-everyone else doesn't like and ridicules. With your friend, you have a choice-you can continue to sit with him at lunchtime or you can pretend that you didn't bring your lunch for a few days so you don't have to sit with him like you used to. I know its weird to put God in that sort of role. Now increase the heat: not only is he unpopular at school, but now your siblings pick on him and your parents don't want you to hang around with him. What to do then? How to navigate "love your father and mother" vs. "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength"?

Jesus says those tests will come. Maybe not one of the ones listed in these verses. But God will subtly or obviously bring us to a test over and over again and ask us who is more important. He isn't pining away for us, wishing we would choose him. No, instead he is bringing out truths about ourselves and our loyalties that we may not be aware of ourselves. Just like Peter, who thought he was loyal to Jesus, up until the time the rooster crowed. Jesus knew Peter's weakness and told him about it, so he wasn't surprised. The choice became a point of self-knowledge: do I want to be closer to God or not.

I've always asked God to change me slowly, because I am really a coward when it comes to the big failures in my life in terms of choices. I really don't want those super testimonies about failures and God's amazing redemption. I would rather a 1,000 small failures and a 1,000 small redemptions to help me see my need for Jesus and his unmitigated love for me, his son. So I must be willing to be a failure that many times and not grow weary of my missteps because they are all course-corrections in my coming closer to Jesus.

Matthew 10:1-20: On the Road with Sheep, Snakes and Doves

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

“Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. - Matthew 10:1-20

On average, I doubt if there were 6 good public speakers among the disciples. We know that Peter, James and John were public speakers later, enough so that the chief leaders took notice of their speaking (see Acts 4:13, 5:21, 28) but the other 9 were probably not. But Jesus sent them out and he gave them a very simple message: "the kingdom of heaven has come near." and some miracles. I think that since we don't see the miracles very often today, we feel like we have to make up for it with a lot more words. 

They were supposed to be dependent on the hospitality of people along the road, looking for "some worthy person" who would welcome them and in whose house they would stay. Some would be receptive to the simple message of hope and some would not. Some would be keen on having miracles performed in their neighborhood and some would be suspicious of charlatans. 

I think the lesson for us is in the offer of the peace, the words and the miracles. While we may prefer unambiguous situations where everything is clear and the good guys are good and the bad guys are bad, that is not the situation that we live in. Many times, in order to give other people the chance and not pre-judge them, we place ourselves in situations where we are "sheep" among "wolves", where we could be taken advantage of. The disciples would give their peace upon every house they entered-a chance for their host to act welcoming and listening. If they didn't, they would take their peace back. But they didn't proactively shake the dust off their sandals. They gave the people they dealt with the chance to do the right thing. It did require discernment (like snakes) and a care to avoid compromising situations (innocent like doves)

The disciples were going to be outside their comfort zone, in towns they didn't know, with people who they didn't know and populations who might respond suspiciously. That can be dangerous, because some react to strangers in ways that range from fear to intimidation. Not always honorable. For the disciples, they could be in trouble with local powerful people, who might hand them over to the local councils or be flogged in the synagogues either for what they did, who they represented or just general suspicion of outsiders. For us, people can try to shun us, or scam us or call the police. But even in these situations, Jesus promises his disciples that they didn't have to worry about it because the Spirit would speak on their behalf, even if they were novice public speakers. Like Moses who wasn't confident about his public speaking, God provides the words to represent him well in any situation where we are trusting him.

 For me, rather than avoiding strangers and conversations, which can be my tendency, especially if they are not part of my crowd or church, I will plunge in like "sheep among wolves" with discernment and care and try to be hopeful and edifying (Eph. 4:29)

John 15:1-17: If Connected, Would It Be My Native Language?

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. - John 15:1-17

The key word for this section is remain: We remain in Jesus. He remains in us. There is a unity, facilitated by the Holy Spirit (see John 14:16,20) but it seems to be something that vary. His remaining in us does not change, but our remaining in Jesus seems to be able to wax and wain.  What are the symptoms of this variability? Our obedience (15:10) and our fruitfulness (vs. 8).  If we take the fruit to be similar to that listed in Galatians 5:22-23, then this makes sense because John ties his commands back to: Love each other as I have loved you.

At this point, we are in Sunday School-land: God loves us so we should each other. I think that is because we don't think fruit has a cost. How much of the God-infused life is required to be fruitful in other people's lives? We miss verse 13, where Jesus tells his disciples that "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." If it was easy to being loving, joyful, patient, peaceful, forgiving, etc. then Jesus' words would have just provoked a "Duh" moment. To provide our fruit to those who are unlovable, depressing, impulsive, quarrelsome, and unforgiving, is even more difficult, but it is exactly that which shows that we are changed and that we are connected to Jesus.

Sometimes, I try to imagine what it would be like for the connectedness to Jesus and the fruit of the Spirit to simply flow from me naturally, like I was speaking my native language. It isn't my native language. My normal expression is some weird pidgin conglomeration of who I was and who I am becoming. But this thought exercise produces in me a longing for the better, giving self that Jesus is trying to produce in me. Sometimes when I am struggling, I will pray for that natural part of remaining in Christ, and strive towards it, however imperfectly.

We remain in his love. In the previous chapter, Jesus has told his disciples that he is going away and they freak out. Then he tells them that he will leave them the Holy Spirit and by the Spirit's means we will realize that "I am in my Father, and you are in me and I am in you." Almost a duplicate of what he tells them in this passage in John 15.

Remember you did not choose me, no I have chosen you

Remember you did not choose me, no I have chosen you

The world will show you hatred, the Spirit show you truth
That where I am, there you may also be - That Where I Am, There You, Rick Mullins

Jeremiah 31:23-34: New Start without a New Heart is a Non-Starter

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain.’ People will live together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks. I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will plant the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. 

“Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the Lord.

“In those days people will no longer say, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 

“It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. 

“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 

“No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. 

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” - Jeremiah 31:23-24

Without a change of personality, having a new start really isn't going to do you much good. God promises that he will return the people of Israel from captivity. God will "refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." He will build the people up and the mistakes of all of their parents and grandparents won't be held against them and won't determine their future. There is no baggage in God's eyes.

But God is going to make a change. He had given the people of Israel a chance for a fresh start when he led them out of Israel and gave them the covenant on Mt. Sinai. There were guidelines for nearly every circumstance, a complete list of bonuses for fulfilling the covenant and penalties for failure to fulfill the covenant (Deut. 28). But that covenant hadn't worked out so well and God had invoked the penalty clauses and brought the people into exile. 

This time, he was trying a different tack, one that would zero in on the source of the problem: the human heart. He will make a new agreement with the people of Israel, but it would be different "because they broke my covenant" (v. 32) He would take on the role of the father and inscribe the laws on their hearts (see Deut. 6:7) More importantly "they will all know me" (vs. 34). Who? Not some "Lord" as in master or ruler, but Yahweh. Six times, it is Yahweh who says these things and it is Yahweh that they will know. 

I think this is a reminder that God is a person, not a concept ("foundation of all being") or a role ("ruler of the universe") God may be different that all of the other people of our acquaintance, but he is still someone who wants to be known by name. I may have a new heart because of what Jesus sacrificed and what the Holy Spirit continues to do in me, but I am still prone to put God at a distance. Maybe I am more comfortable that way, like the distance ruler of Jesus' parables. But a ruler who greets me by name, no. That distance sometimes allows my indifference towards him and his desires. I pray for difference, not indifference, towards God.

Hebrews 13:1-21: The Lure of Conspiracy and Special Knowledge

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.  We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. - Hebrews 13:1-21

We are always tempted to conspiracy theories. Since the time of the Gnostics and the apocryphal gospel of Thomas, these theories promise us a special blessing for those who are in possession of special knowledge. Life can be hard and frankly, mundane. So there is always the lure that says, "If only we knew X" or "did X" or in the case of these verses, "ate X" we would be partakers in a special blessing from God, bypass the lines of ordinary believers and achieve status before the throne of God. In both of his letters to Timothy, Paul has to warn to "avoid the worldly and empty chatter which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith." That chatter is the delicious but ultimately hollow knowledge that makes up conspiracy theories of the faith.

But the author of Hebrews says that Christ is the mystery. There is no more special place than where God transformed the place of Christ's execution into an altar. There is no special food or drink, just the remembrance of his body and blood shed. (see John 6:54-55). There is no special act of obedience, just doing the ordinary acts of hospitality and love of brother and sisters well. There is no special act of purification, just the keeping of marriage as holy. There is no special act of humility, just giving honor to those who God is using as your leader. I want to do the ordinary things as if they were holy; as if each one is on the altar.

I will take the author's prayer, that I would be able to live with a clear conscience and a desire to live honorably in every way. Even as Paul said, My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. (1 Cor 4:4) I want to do the ordinary things as if they 

 

Amos 5:4b-15: Holding Me to Account

“Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing." Seek the Lord and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire; it will devour them, and Bethel will have no one to quench it.

There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground. He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land—the Lord is his name. With a blinding flash he destroys the stronghold and brings the fortified city to ruin.

There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth. You levy a straw tax on the poor and impose a tax on their grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins.

There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts. Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil.

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. - Amos 5:4b-15 

Here is another chiasm example: the first paragraph and the last paragraph talk about people seeking God's will. The central three paragraphs are three examples of how the people who say that they are pursuing justice are in fact taking advantage of the poor and the powerless. The central part says that God will hold people to account.

Part of this is deliberate ignorance: these people know, at some level, about God, how he created the universe and how God is good. Yet at another level, they act as if God doesn't care, is weak and ignorant and, ultimately, not going to do anything about it. These rich people use force of arms, their position of authority and their ability to buy off the courts to act with impunity. But God does care and he is both powerful (maker of the stars, the sun and the waters) and deeply familiar with our deeds and misdeeds. 

Why does God withhold his judgement? It seems he prefers to let those who are doing all these to dig our own pit to fall in. I remember an example mentioned to me while several of us were working to clean up the house of a aging church member were talking about the Varsity Blues scandal, where a few people solicited funds and were paid to get the unqualified children of the wealthy into prestigious colleges. One comment stuck out: "If the people doing this had just stopped, they probably wouldn't have been caught. But they got over-confident and did it again and again. With each success, they were sure that they weren't going to get caught." Whether they were caught, the creators of this scheme continued and cemented their characters as scam artists. 

For me, I seek discernment about those people around me. Some I like, but they are scammers. Some I don't like, but they are earnest and straightforward. And every possible variation in between. These are real people and some of them I don't like. I want to give each one a fair shake and even a merciful shake. But I have gut feelings that tell me not to trust them, for whatever reason. So I pray for God to teach me in each situation when judging people, between different solutions, for the right reasons. One of the greatest lessons I have learned in my job it recall how many sayings from a boss that I didn't really like still stick with me and to admit they are true and to give my former boss credit that is due. 

2 Timothy 2:1-13: Soldier, Athlete, Farmer

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. - 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Timothy obviously needed some encouragement and, in writing this letter which would be read by at least the elders of the church where he was working, they were also being informed to encourage Timothy in what was apparently a difficult and contentious ministry assignment.

There were some real temptations in these kind of pressure cooker situations. You can get distracted, like a soldier who forgets his commanders orders to get involved in some sort of side gig. You can cheat, like an athlete that tries to take the easy way by not competing according to the rules. You can give up early, like the farmer who gives up the hard work before the crops are ready.  I recognize these temptations in my own life. 

Really the theme of these verses is: there is no failure, only lack of perseverance. "God's word is not chained, therefore..." Even in the midst of the worst situation for him personally, he is not worried about his own failure but rather insists that he will continue on, using Jesus as his example. 

The goal is always about other people. What Paul had found-how God was rescuing and changing people-was worth it. One of the reasons he could carry on was he was doing it for the right reasons. Not to satisfy my pride (whatever excuse I may give publicly). Not to appear holy or smart or competent or well read or even to appear caring and considerate or even to appear sacrificial in our giving and life stress. Selfishness can spoil even the most beautiful truths,  like the gospel.

Have I found the right goal, even if it isn't grand? Is it really about other people or a subtle way of redirecting focus back on myself. And, if I have the right goal, am I willing to persevere up to the point of my own failure? 

1 Samuel 2:27-36: More Than Me

Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites. Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’

“Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.

“‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.”’” - 1 Samuel 2:27-36

There is one main point here: "Why do you honor your sons more than me." The priestly office had become a way for Eli's children to live well. "Eli's sons were scoundrels." Eli knew it was wrong. He told them their behavior was "wicked" However, he did not stop them and, in fact, he enjoyed the perks that came from their bad behavior. Maybe Eli was complacent because of God's promise to him that "members of your family would minister before [him] forever." Maybe it was too much effort to rebuke them time after time or to expose his family to public shame by removing them from priestly duties. Whatever the reason, he did not and God chose the not-son-Samuel-to be the next priest while removing the two sons.

There are a lot of things that can take God's place in our hearts and our children are one of them. We value them so highly and our self-worth is tied to their success. It is easy to excuse their faults, overlook their excesses and even cover for their lacks. I think this is why Jesus said If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even their own life-such a person cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26) It was a problem for Abraham, which was why God asked him if we was willing to sacrifice Isaac even though he was the promised heir. It was a problem for Leah and her envy of her sister Rebekah. We invest so much in our children-after we should love our children-that they can take unsupportable importance in our lives. Would God say of me, "Why do you honor your children more than me?" Because of that God took drastic action to remove them and replace them (and their father) in his plan for Israel. I pray that I will not allow my children that place of honor. 

Philippians 4:10-19: Generosity and Contentment

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:10-19

Generosity can come from two sources: either you feel like you have enough or you feel like you must appear like you have enough. One is born out of trust and the other out of fear. In 1 Timothy, Paul said, But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that, Food and clothing are a long way from what my minimums would be. Why could Paul be content? Because he knew that God would provide. There was a patience in knowing that God had plans already in motion that would take care of him. God's people were already concerned. Epaphroditus was on his way. Knowing that God already had things in hand allowed Paul to live with the minimum in patience.

I find I am not content often. I am waiting for the next thing to happen. The next paycheck to appear in my bank account. The next meeting to further the agenda. If they don't happen, I grow anxious, short tempered, and I can't focus. What would contentment look like for me? Maybe lower blood pressure, a continued acknowledgement to God that I trust that he has things in hand, a recounting of the number of times that he has proved faithful to give me strength in the past. Paul knew this isn't automatic, which is why 4 verses before these he wrote Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. So I will pray and, in turn, be generous for the right reasons: out of God-given contentment based on my trust in him.

2 Corinthians 10:1-18: The One Whom the Lord Commends

By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. - 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

It must be really difficult to defend yourself remotely, by letter. It must be really difficult to defend yourself without resorting to the sorts of strategies that your accusers can employ.. Paul had to do his convincing remotely, by letter. I can sympathize, especially in these days of the pandemic when it is not possible for me to go and visit in person. I can exercise my authority as a manager and override decisions and opinions made by those who report to me. Bit I don't like to do that. I like to appeal to the truth and common shared goals. After all, as my grandfather used to tell me, "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." 

Paul's critics said he was so forceful when communicating remotely, but rather unimpressive and passive in person. Paul's critics built up their own credibility by bringing up their own prowess and successes. Paul's critics said he wanted to take credit for the work done by other people. 

I hear Paul telling me not to build myself up at the expense of others, not to promote myself but let others speak about me based at their discretion, to be bold when convinced of the truth, but sensitive to causing unnecessary hurt. 

I pray that I use the right weapons and not to win by any means necessary, but to win others to the right path, whether that is is spiritual things or every day things. And ultimately, to let God be the one whose opinion I value. "For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved but the one whom the Lord commends."