Getting Dead-er

For Tuesday, May 22

Romans 6 (click to read)

In the same way look upon yourselves as dead to the appeal and power of sin but alive and sensitive to the call of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (J. B. Phillips New Testament)

This verse, from this translation, has been one of the most encouraging, most enlightening, most valuable verses of the Bible for me. The adjectives describe precisely my struggle with sin and my desire to follow Jesus. "Dead to the appeal and power of sin" he says - the appeal of a wrong choice is big, and the power of making that choice a number of times just grows and grows. The solution - to act like and to become more of "alive and sensitive to the call of God." The more I practice being "alive and sensitive," the more I become that way. When I let the practice and the perspective go, I become less alive, less sensitive and less responsive to God. It is clear. And this I do not have to do myself, but can and should seek the Holy Spirit's help each day and each decisions. Wow - it's still got the impact - and I still need to live it.

Lord God - though I am not yet as alive and sensitive as I want to be, or as You plan for me to be, I want to make progress today. I want to increase my sensitivity and response to You today and tomorrow. Build again this perspective into my life, my spirit and my moment to moment choices.

(You can download the Pathway 2012 Bible reading list here.)

Spinning Around Now!

For Wednesday, May 16

Romans 2 (click to read)

4 You surely don’t think much of God’s wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don’t you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?

Right in the middle of these really negative verses is this great one. It echos a verse from Peter and I am sure all the leaders of the Faith had a similar way of saying this: "How could you keep ignoring Jesus' instructions and help when it all comes to you by way of His wonderful grace and love?" That really is a key to Christian discipleship. My personality might be motivated by wanting to avoid judgement or being looked down upon. But the really positive motivator is "all is known, all is forgiven, let's move up and toward our goal of becoming like Jesus." And - that last phrase - every time I find I have failed or forgotten, each time I discover my sin or weakness - it is an invitation to "turn to him." Wow - an invitation to be greeted, hugged, welcomed, forgiven, cheered up, cheered on, helped. Just....wow!

Lord - Help me remember this every day. That my discovery of sin or weakness is an invitation to turn to You, to accept Your welcome and help to go a different way.

(You can download the Pathway 2012 Bible reading list here.)

Herbs of Justice

For Monday, May 7

Matthew 23 (click to read)

23 You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you’re in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your garden, such as mint, dill, and cumin. Yet you neglect the more important matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

For the last number of years, this chapter has become very important to me. Since Jesus was talking to the most spiritually oriented people of his time, AND He has much negative to say about them, I conclude that we believers have much to learn from this section. The verses I picked today remind me that there are grand macro issues that Jesus is concerned about. For me to go around checking off my list the things I do and decide all is well - that doesn't cut it with Jesus. He wants me concerned about the major issues of life, not just my personal attention to details. I am aware that many of us believers feel overwhelmed by it all, but that does not give us a pass. Each of us - I - have to find our way of being active for Kingdom Values and "Thy Will be done on Earth." Either that, or we risk the same condemnations. 

Jesus - You are so clear in these verses that the grand values of life on earth must be my concern. I ask You to continually lead me to the macro issue You want my attention and energy directed toward. Let my action match my prayer - Thy Will be done on earth.

(You can download the Pathway 2012 Bible reading list here.)

Faith Issues

For Thursday, May 3

Matthew 21 (click to read)

21 But Jesus said to them, “If you have faith and don’t doubt, I promise that you can do what I did to this tree. And you will be able to do even more. You can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. 22 If you have faith when you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for.”

I have tended to leave the various passages of "if you have faith" alone. I have generally thought that a) God knows what's best and will do it and b) I'm not supposed to "manipulate" God. And I do not believe that God withholds His blessing or guidance because I "don't have enough faith." But I am also seeing that this faith issue is not about whether a mountain moves, but whether I believe enough in what God shows and says that I make choices depending on that. The faith issue is really about what I can "access" because I believe and go for it, rather than tentatively moving and hoping. If prayer is mostly about getting myself in line with what God wants to do, then faith is going for it whenever I understand that next step. It may not move a mountain, but it should certainly move ME!

Lord Jesus - there are ways in which my faith and trust in You have caused me to be spiritually lazy. I want to have my anxiety and worry under control because I trust You, but I don't want that to become laziness or lack of attention. Whisper, speak and show, and I will believe and act.

(You can download the Pathway 2012 Bible reading list here.)

An Ultimatum from Jesus to Me

For Monday, April 30

Matthew 18 (click to read)

35 That is how my Father in heaven will treat you, if you don’t forgive each of my followers with all your heart.

Jesus came to show us what God was really like. He came to correct the ideas given by the Pharisees, the ideas of the teachers of the Law, and the ideas of the every day person. His primary message was God is love and grace, eager to give mercy if you will receive it. But he also told us of a few non-negotiables. One had to do with the "Unforgivable Sin" - for another time. Another was about our need to forgive - to really forgive and to be ready at all times to forgive. Jesus was clear that the forgiveness God freely offers us through Christ would be forfeit to us if we did not offer forgiveness to others. That includes my forgiving people who have hurt me, some very deeply. That includes those who have attacked my reputation and mis-labeled, mis-represented me. This is no "waa-waa poor me" story, only me reminding me of the areas of my mind, psyche, memory and history I must search for "forgiveness targets." It doesn't matter is they want forgiveness or not, it doesn't matter if they have accepted responsibility or not, it doesn't depend on them at all. This time, it IS all about me...and my willingness, openness and growing skill and devotion to forgiveness.

Lord Jesus - reading these words, this demand from You, also reminds me of all You have suffered for me, and the times I have hurt You and the Father, intentionally or not. I so deeply need Your forgiveness, and I will know more about it, treasure it more, as I do as You say. I will work at forgiving.

(You can download the Pathway 2012 Bible reading list here.)

Whose Words Do I Follow?

For Wednesday, April 25

Matthew 15 (click to read)

Isaiah the prophet was right when he wrote that God had said, 8 “All of you praise me with your words, but you never really think about me. 9 It is useless for you to worship me, when you teach rules made up by humans.”

Jesus pulled up these Old Testament words to tell the Pharisees and others how they were, in fact, not following God's instructions to them. (We often think the Old Testament has little to teach us, but remember, that's what Jesus learned from.) If we look at the verses Jesus used from the Old Testament, we can see that God was pretty clear as to what it meant to be in a following relationship with Him. In these verses, two instructions stand out: 1 - Thinking about God and His Will for me during the day and at decision time; 2 - Making sure I know what God wants and have not substituted something "human" (like my own wishes) instead. The Pharisees had their own problems. I have mine. I want to be sure I am accurately reflecting on God's Will and then trust that choosing His Way will lead to the life He has designed for me.

Lord God - It is so easy to replace Your Instruction with my own interpretation of them. Help me to know You so well, know Your Will and Values so well, know Your Goals for my life and for human life so well, that I am - as Isaiah instructed - thinking about You and worshiping You.

(You can download the Pathway 2012 Bible reading list here.)

How Come Its NOT Easy Like He Said?

For Thursday, April 19

Matthew 11 (click to read)

29 Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. 30 This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.

This verse comes right after Jesus has been telling his disciples how tough things are gonna get, how dangerous (but don't fear) the future will be and how their current assignment is as "sheep among wolves." And then Jesus says, "my yoke is easy to bear." I have to ask myself how Jesus can put those things together, or at least how Matthew can understand them together. Part of my explanation (to myself) comes from some reading I was doing on "faith soaring." The key idea is to seek after what God wants and be confident that God leads and provides at the right time. No panic, just taking it each moment as His best for me. "Rest for my soul" comes partially from being convinced that I am experiencing what God wants for me - or that God is using whatever I am experiencing. So one of my conclusions is: if the yoke (the job, the role, the challenge, the expectation) is not easy, is rubbing wrong, is too big to pull, it's not HIS yoke. It is somehow a misguided replacement for His. Hmm, definitely need more reflection on this.

Jesus, my Lord - I want to be fully fitted and working with Your yoke for me. Help me with the indications and pointers that direct me what to keep, what to throw off, and what to receive. I want Your yoke.

(You can download the Pathway 2012 Bible reading list here.)