Weekly Sermon: Dear God, How is The Father, The Son And The Holy Ghost One?

Pastor Diehl answered the doctrinal question, 'Dear God, how is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit all one, yet different? And how were you created?' This continues our Summer Series, Dear God...

Weekly Sermon: Dear God, How is The Father, The Son And The Holy Ghost One?

Positive Thought For 06-27-13

Maybe you could use a Positive Thought today: God can take the bad things in your life and turn them into something good! See Psalm 18:28

Prayer: Kyrie Eleison

Prayer: Kyrie Eleison
Scott Lyons
6/25/2013
In my last article, I wrote about the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. I want to continue to focus on this parable and our great need for mercy. In this parable we read the words that gave birth to an Orthodox Christian prayer, the Jesus Prayer. In the liturgy of the Church, the Jesus Prayer began with the Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy). And the prayer grew. Part of the prayer comes from the parable itself when the tax collector prays, "O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner" (Luke 18:13, NLT). He prays from the heart and goes home justified. Part of the prayer comes from the blind beggar at the end of the same chapter as the blind beggar cries out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Luke 18:38, NLT). The beggar finds healing. There is a similar cry from the ten lepers in the previous chapter. The Jesus Prayer grows out of these verses into the traditional form, which is, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Tax collectors, blind beggars, and lepers—this is what we are. This is our prayer.

This prayer flows from an awareness of my littleness, my nothingness, in the presence of God. It is not a plea for mercy from an angry god. It is not a belief that, if we say something over and over, a distant god might possibly hear and answer. Rather, it is trusting in God, being aware of his presence, and being aware of one's own constant, desperate need for his presence, just as one needs breath and life.

Because of our constant, desperate need for God, the Scriptures exhort us to pray always (Luke 18:1; 21:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18). This is understanding and practicing the presence of God, as Brother Lawrence wrote of it. God is with us, but we are not always conscious of his presence. When we pray continually, we draw our thoughts back to the reality of his presence throughout the day.

Having a prayer such as the Jesus Prayer is also useful in the fight against temptation. Barsanuphius, in Guidance toward Spiritual Life, says, "The incessant invocation of God's name, is a medicine which mortifies not just the passions, but even their influence. Just as the physician puts medications or dressings on a wound that it might be healed, without the patient even knowing the manner of their operation, so also the name of God, when we invoke it, mortifies all passions, though we do not know how that happens."

You can send up many different kinds of short, “arrow” prayers throughout the day. For instance, the people of God have always cried out the ancient prayer for help: "O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me!" These kinds of prayer draw our minds and hearts to God, like little children running to the skirts of their mothers or reaching up and taking their fathers' hands.

If you are tempted to disregard the Jesus Prayer simply because of its constant cry for mercy, please do not yield. Instead, let's learn something of the word "mercy." Our modern sense of this word is more along the lines of, "Jesus, forgive me!" But this is not the primary intention of the prayer (though often it can and should be so in our lives). The word mercy comes from the same root: the Greek word for olive and olive oil. In the ancient Near East, Olive oil was used for a variety of purposes. Kings were anointed with it, signifying the presence, choice, and favor of God. More widely, it was used medicinally. It is perhaps best to view this constant cry for mercy as a cry for God to heal us, to make us whole, to be near—something which Christians from any faith tradition can understand and pray for wholeheartedly. When we ask for the mercy of God, we are asking for his nearness and for our healing, the necessary healing of our human brokenness. We continually need that healing until that time when we are like Christ himself.

So begin praying as the tax collector, as the blind beggar, and as the ten lepers: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Pray always, and be healed.

Devotional For Leaders

I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

John 13:15, NLT

The qualifications for being a leader do not consist solely of sitting behind a desk and barking out orders for others to accomplish. If that were the case, life as we know it would come to a standstill, with lots of talk but no action. Successful leaders are able to delegate duties to others but are also willing to perform them if necessary. I know of one grocery store chain where the CEO and his team of vice-presidents attend the grand opening of each new location. Instead of simply basking in the spotlight of another success, they get to work, helping the new staff. They can be seen stocking shelves, performing price checks, helping customers, and bagging groceries. They even gather shopping carts from the parking lot. Talk about setting an example for the new employees to follow! Jesus set the perfect example on the night he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. As the evening meal was being served, he got up from the table, grabbed a towel and basin of water, and proceeded to wash the feet of his disciples. Such a task was supposed to be done by a servant, but Jesus was willing to take on that role. Peter wasn't sure what to think of this, rejecting the foot washing at first. He had to be convinced. Later, Jesus informed Peter and the other disciples that leadership equals servanthood. It's not an easy truth for many leaders to apply to life, but Christ’s example that night makes an eloquent case. So the next time you're ready to tell someone what to do, think back to that evening meal when the Lord, on his knees, washed the dirty, smelly feet of those he loved--and for whom he later died. That's leadership in its highest form. How can you follow that example?

Following Your Feelings

Following Your Feelings

Numbers 25:1-18

Read While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women. These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab. In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the LORD's anger to blaze against his people. The LORD issued the following command to Moses: "Seize all the ringleaders and execute them before the LORD in broad daylight, so his fierce anger will turn away from the people of Israel." So Moses ordered Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death the men under your authority who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor." Just then one of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman into his tent, right before the eyes of Moses and all the people, as everyone was weeping at the entrance of the Tabernacle. When Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest saw this, he jumped up and left the assembly. He took a spear and rushed after the man into his tent. Phinehas thrust the spear all the way through the man's body and into the woman's stomach. So the plague against the Israelites was stopped, but not before 24,000 people had died. (Numbers 25:1-9)

Reflect Dealing with emotions and desires can be tricky. When do you listen to them, and when do you hold them in check? This story illustrates both sides of that issue. Phinehas's actions reveals that some anger is proper and justified. Phinehas was angry because of his zeal for the Lord. But how can we know when our anger is appropriate and when it should be restrained? Ask these questions when you become angry: (1) Why am I angry? (2) Whose rights are being violated (mine or another's)? (3) Is the truth (a principle of God) being violated? If only your rights are at stake, it may be wiser to keep angry feelings under control. But if the truth is at stake, anger may be justified, although violence is usually the wrong way to express it. The Bible doesn't say how the Israelite men got involved in with the Midianite women. At first, they didn't think about worshiping idols; they were just interested in sex. Before long they started attending local feasts and family celebrations that involved idol worship. Sacred prostitution was a common practice among Canaanite religions. Soon the Israelite men were in over their heads, absorbed in the practices of the pagan culture. Their desire for pleasure loosened their commitment to God's laws.

Respond Have you relaxed your commitment in order to indulge your desires? Are you tempted to redefine God's standards to get what you want? When you are overwhelmed by your emotions and desires, talk with God about them and where they're coming from. Ask God for strength to handle your emotions rightly—whether to act on them or to control them—and ask for strength to live his way.

Hebrews 10:24-39

Hebrews 10

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
  26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.27 There is only the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to us.30 For we know the one who said,

"I will take revenge.
  I will pay them back."*

He also said,

"The LORD will judge his own people."*

31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
  32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ.* Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
  35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

37 "For in just a little while,
  the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 And my righteous ones will live by faith.*
  But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away."*

39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

Our Daily Bread 06-27-13

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

For in fact the body is not one member but many. —1 Corinthians 12:14

Most regions of the world are familiar with the amazing phenomenon of snow. Snowflakes are beautiful, uniquely crafted ice crystals. Individual snowflakes are fragile, and they quickly melt if they land on your hand. Yet, en masse they create a force to be reckoned with. They can shut down major cities while creating beautiful landscapes of snow-laden trees whose pictures decorate calendars and become the subject of artwork. They provide pleasure on the ski slopes and joy for children as they make snowmen and ammunition for snowball fights. All because they stick together.

So it is with those of us who follow Christ. Each of us has been uniquely gifted with the capacity to make a contribution to the work of Christ. We were never intended to live in isolation but to work together to become a great force for God and the advance of His cause. As Paul reminds us, the body of Christ “is not one member but many” (1 Cor. 12:14). All of us are to use our gifts to serve one another so that together we can make a significant difference in our world.

Put your giftedness to work, joyfully cooperate with the giftedness of those around you, and let the wind of the Spirit use you for His glory! —Joe Stowell

Lord, teach us to use our strengths in cooperation with
the strengths of others. Help us to serve as one so that
we might know the joy of the power of our togetherness
for Your name’s sake and the advance of Your kingdom.

We can accomplish more together than we can alone.

Sculpting a Stump

Exodus 2:11–15

One morning, I noticed a man with a chainsaw cutting down a large tree in front of some local farm buildings. He was still there in the afternoon, working on the tree stump with his power tool set at an unusual angle. Days later, I passed the place again and noticed the stump had been transformed into a replica of a corncob. The man hadn’t been merely toppling a tree; he had sculpted vertical rows of corn kernels framed by a husk—the agricultural icon of the Midwestern United States.

That sculpture reminds me that God can take a life that is the spiritual equivalent of a tree stump—unfruitful, unsightly, and unusable—and transform it into a work of art for His glory (Ephesians 2:10).

God used Moses to escort the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10-12), despite his severe moral misstep. Born into a Hebrew slave family, Moses grew up as Egyptian royalty. As an adult, he was out among his own people and witnessed an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. Moses made sure no one was watching, and then he “killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand” (Exodus 2:12). The killing wasn’t an act of self-defense. It was unrestrained violence. It was impulsive sin.

Although most of us have never considered taking anyone’s life, we can relate to the familiar sequence of sinning—the sudden urge to violate God’s ethics, the act itself, and then the dismay and remorse that follow (James 1:14-15). Fortunately, God’s forgiveness and grace allow us to forget the past and look “forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13).

God used Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and He can use us too. Let’s put on our “new nature,” “learn to know [Him],” and “become like Him” (Colossians 3:10).

— Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Look up Isaiah 64:8 to see a picture of our relationship with God as His creation. Read 1 John 3:20 to see why guilt over past sin holds no power over Christians.

What might short-circuit God’s transforming power in our lives? In light of God’s grace to us, why is it wrong to cite past offenses when dealing with others?

Positive Thought For 06-24-13

Mondays can be tough, hopefully this Positive Thought will help =>> Absolutely nothing can separate you from God's love! That's from Romans 8:38

Devotional For Women

For the Scriptures say, "If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies."

1 Peter 3:10, NLT

We are all familiar with a common struggle of our tongues "speaking evil": we call it gossip. From childhood we know what it's like to be the one gossiped about--and to be the one gossiping. Either way, gossip hurts. I have found myself on both sides. I know the hurt of having my character questioned and my life becoming an open book; I know what it feels like to have exposed another to such hurt. I've also realized how easy it is for the pain of the sinned-against to become the solace of the sinner: to quickly move the target off ourselves and onto someone else. It can become a vicious cycle. As women, we have a healthy, natural desire to share our lives with one another in story, and we can experience intense emotional involvement with daily situations. This gives us a powerful means of connection with others. But it can also leave us vulnerable to the sin of gossip. We may be tempted to gossip to make ourselves look or feel better, but don't we find it does just the opposite? We end up looking and feeling worse. As the verse above tells us, in order to enjoy life--a life centered on Christ--we need to control our tongues. Perhaps you know the pain of hearing yourself spoken ill of. Or maybe you’re the one who's been talking about other people. It's never too late to ask for forgiveness--from the person whom you’ve hurt or from God. God will always forgive you, and he will give you the strength to walk away from any temptation, including the temptation to speak poorly about others.

Has God Given Up on Me?

Has God Given Up on Me?

Numbers 22:1-20

Read So the Moabite officials returned to King Balak and reported, "Balaam refused to come with us." Then Balak tried again. This time he sent a larger number of even more distinguished officials than those he had sent the first time. . . . But Balaam responded to Balak's messengers, "Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the LORD my God. But stay here one more night, and I will see if the LORD has anything else to say to me." That night God came to Balaam and told him, "Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But do only what I tell you to do." (Numbers 22:14, 15, 18-20)

Reflect The story of Balaam would have baffled the Hebrews when they first heard it. Here was a famous diviner who was not a Hebrew, yet he invoked the name of their God, Yahweh. Here was a man whom God prohibited from cursing Israel, but then after a second visit from the king's ambassadors, God surrendered and let Balaam to go with them. Would God really let Balaam curse Israel, his chosen people? For the Hebrews, this was a real fear. After all, they'd been living in the desert for decades. It seemed like God had turned against them. They'd been told the stories about Abraham and about God's promise to bless his descendants, but his descendants—the audience hearing this story—were now living in the wilderness with no sign of improvement. Maybe God had changed his mind, just like he did with Balaam, and maybe God really had decided to curse God's people. But as Balaam's story continues, a bit of humor relieves some of the tension. Balaam the famous "seer" proves blind to the spiritual realities around him, realities that even a donkey could see. And Balaam the eloquent oracle finds himself earnestly arguing with his donkey, and even loses the argument. By now, God's people are feeling a little hope. Yet still Balaam continues on and meets up with King Balak. Eventually, despite his agreement with Balak, Balaam ultimately blesses the people three times. For the people, this story brings hope: God's promises to Abraham have not failed. God will use any means necessary, even a non-Hebrew, to bless his people.

Respond Maybe you've started to wonder if God's given up on you, or maybe you feel like God's promises don't include you. The story of Balaam is a reminder that what God has promised, he will do. Look throughout the New Testament for the promises God has for you. God has not changed his mind. Will you continue to trust God to come through at the right time?

Hebrews 6:1-20

Hebrews 6

1 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds* and placing our faith in God.2 You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.
  4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit,5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.
  7 When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God's blessing.8 But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.
  9 Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers,* as you still do.11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance.

God's Promises Bring Hope
13 For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

14 "I will certainly bless you,
  and I will multiply your descendants beyond number."*

15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.
  16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Our Daily Bread For 06-24-13

READ: John 16:25-33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. —John 16:33

When airplane pilots are training, they spend many hours in flight simulators. These simulators give the students a chance to experience the challenges and dangers of flying an aircraft—but without the risk. The pilots don’t have to leave the ground, and if they crash in the simulation, they can calmly walk away.

Simulators are tremendous teaching tools—helpful in preparing the aspiring pilot to take command of an actual aircraft. The devices, however, have a shortcoming. They create an artificial experience in which the full-blown pressures of handling a real cockpit cannot be fully replicated.

Real life is like that, isn’t it? It cannot be simulated. There is no safe, risk-free environment in which we can experience life’s ups and downs unharmed. The risks and dangers of living in a broken world are inescapable. That’s why the words of Jesus are so reassuring. He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Although we can’t avoid the dangers of life in a fallen world, we can have peace through a relationship with Jesus. He has secured our ultimate victory. —Bill Crowder

Outward troubles may not cease,
But this your joy will be:
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace
Whose mind is stayed on Thee.” —Anon.

No life is more secure than a life surrendered to God.

A Baby's Cry

Luke 2:1-14

Recently, one state in the US instituted a law requiring each pregnant woman considering an abortion to watch a sonogram of her unborn child, receive medically accurate explanations of what she views, and listen to her baby’s heartbeat. Following the law’s passage, a blogger who supports abortion raised money and bought iPods for abortion clinics. Her purpose? To provide each patient with a way to drown out the sound of her baby’s heartbeat. By cranking up the volume, she can stifle the sounds of life within her.

Mary could feel the life within her. The promised child (Luke 1:30-32) stirring in her womb stirred her heart with joy during the final days of her pregnancy. When she and Joseph reached Bethlehem, Jesus was born and she tenderly held Him in her arms for the first time. Lovingly, she “wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger” (Luke 2:7). This was the normal behavior of a loving mother—tenderly cradling human life created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).

Sadly, a ruthless king would try to destroy Mary’s child, out of fear that Jesus would ultimately seize his throne. Herod “sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16). This horrific act led to “a cry . . . heard in Ramah—weeping and great mourning” (Matthew 2:18). Women wept as they heard their babies’ final cry.

When a child is aborted, it defies normal, motherly love, and it destroys life made in God’s image. It’s not normal; it’s aberrant. By God’s grace, those who have allowed a baby to be taken through abortion can find forgiveness (1 John 1:9). But if you’re considering abortion today, don’t drown out the truth of God’s view of life and the sound of a baby’s heartbeat and cry.

— Tom Felten

Read Deuteronomy 30:19 and Psalm 139:13-16 and reflect on God’s view of human life.

How does abortion defy God’s plan for life? Why is it so harmful to the overall moral and spiritual fabric of a society?

Rocking Out

Rocking Out

Numbers 20:1-13

Read There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. The people blamed Moses and said, "If only we had died in the LORD's presence with our brothers! Why have you brought the congregation of the LORD's people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!" Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to them, and the LORD said to Moses, "You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock." So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the LORD. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. "Listen, you rebels!" he shouted. "Must we bring you water from this rock?" Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. (Numbers 20:2-11)

Reflect Thirty-seven years had passed since Israel's first spy mission into the Promised Land (Numbers 13–14) and 40 years since the exodus from Egypt. The Bible is virtually silent about the 37 years of aimless wandering. The generation of Israelites who had lived in Egypt had almost died off, and the new generation would soon be ready to enter the land. Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb were among the few who remained from those who had left Egypt. Once again they camped at Kadesh, the site of the first spy mission that had ended in disaster. Moses hoped the people were ready for a fresh start. Unfortunately, the Israelites had forgotten that their wanderings resulted from their parents' and their own sin. Instead of acknowledging that their faithlessness had brought on their problems, they blamed Moses for their condition. Often our troubles result from our own disobedience or lack of faith. Until we face this reality, we will have little peace and no spiritual growth. The Lord had told Moses to speak to the rock; however, Moses struck it, not once, but twice. For this he was forbidden to enter the Promised Land. Was God's punishment of Moses too harsh? After all, the people had nagged him, slandered him, and rebelled against both him and God. Now they were at it again (Numbers 20:5). But Moses was the leader and model for the entire nation. Because he was an example in his obedience, he was now an example in his disobedience. By striking the rock, Moses disobeyed God's direct command and dishonored God in the presence of his people.

Respond Both Moses and the people had their own reasons for disobeying God, but those reasons led them away from trusting God. Maybe you're tempted by "good reasons" to disobey God, but you may be giving up the opportunity to see God deliver on his promises. Take time to decide: Do you want God and his promises, or do you want your own way?

Psalm 33:22

Psalm 33

22 Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD,
  for our hope is in you alone.

Our Daily Bread For 06-22-13

READ: Job 26:5-14

He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing. —Job 26:7

A world map published by the National Geographic Society has this notation: “Earth’s mass is 6.6 sextillion tons.” And what supports all that weight? Nothing. The planet we inhabit spins on its axis at 1,000 miles per hour as it hurtles through space in its orbit around the sun. But it’s easy for that to remain unnoticed in the midst of our daily concerns about health, relationships, and how to pay the bills.

The Old Testament character Job repeatedly considered God’s creation in his struggle to make sense of the numbing loss of his health, his wealth, and his children. “[God] stretches out the north over empty space,” Job said. “He hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7). Job marveled at the clouds that did not break under the heavy water inside them (v.8) and the horizon “at the boundary of light and darkness” (v.10), but called them “the mere edges of His ways” (v.14).

Creation itself did not answer Job’s questions, but the heavens and the earth pointed him to God the Creator, who alone could respond with help and hope.

The Lord who upholds the universe by the “word of His power” (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17) is in control of our everyday lives. Experiences that seem “empty places” are all undergirded by our heavenly Father’s power and love. —David McCasland

Dear Lord, we praise You for Your infinite power.
You created the world out of nothing and uphold
it by Your word. Help me to remember that You
are also in control of every part of my life.

When we reflect on the power of God’s creation, we see the power of His care for us.

Drowned By Love

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

One of my deep joys as a pastor has been to baptize both of my sons. I have a picture taken just before I went into the baptismal pool with one of my boys. I’m crouched down, eye-to-eye. I don’t remember what I was saying, but I remember the tears. God was pouring grace on my son, and my church was welcoming him into its fold.

Baptism is a visceral, physical moment. It contains mysteries, for sure, but God intends for grace to be tangible—something experienced. Baptism provides a moment when we encounter the love of Christ, and we remember that Jesus went to a cross and into a grave for us. As we emerge from the water, we remember that He rose from the grave victorious. God has joined us to Jesus, and we are truly alive.

To be baptized offers another physical reality, however. It joins us not only to Jesus but also to His church. Baptism expresses our personal decision, but it does much more. In baptism, God’s grace surrounds us; and in baptism, God joins us to the new creation community that the Scripture speaks of as the body of Christ—the church (1 Corinthians 12:12).

Paul told the Corinthians that through the work of God’s Spirit they were being made into a new kind of community, a new way of living, a new way of being human. Where once there had been Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free, they were now known as God’s people and Jesus’ body (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Baptism tells the story of individual lives set free through Jesus’ work, but it also tells the story of new communities of grace and truth coming to life through that work. Our prayer is that the whole world—and every community—would be drowned in the love of God.

— Winn Collier

Read Romans 6:1-14. What does baptism do for us? What story does baptism tell?

Where do you need to allow the grace and love of God to “drown” you? How can we help create communities by living out the calling of our baptism?

Solitude: Finding a Desert in the Oasis

Solitude: Finding a Desert in the Oasis
Scott Lyons
6/21/2013
Our great need as human beings is communion. We need and ought to desire communion with people. And this need is perfectly fulfilled in our encounters with a person, Jesus Christ, and in the communion with God (who is himself perfect communion) that flows through that encounter. We can meet Christ in many places, but one place we must purposely seek him is in solitude. Solitude leads to communion, to that encounter with Christ, and away from isolation and hell.

Most of us do not stumble into the discipline of solitude. While many of us have grown up with quiet times, or devotions, which can be moments of solitude, they sometimes are not enough. Often they are so filled with our speaking, with sound, or with distraction that they cease to be solitude at all. When this happens the purpose of our quiet time is undercut; we miss the encounter with Christ for which we set aside the time in the first place.

Solitude is increasingly hard to come by. We live in an age of distraction. Distraction is constantly available to us, often no farther away than our smartphones. We have integrated technology into nearly every aspect of our lives. And we want (and are getting) more and more of it. In a way, we eliminate the opportunities we formerly had for encountering Christ. We interiorize our anger and our greed; we are deluded with a false sense of ourselves. We possess Huxley’s soma; we call it technology.

Now, we have been distracting ourselves forever. It is certainly not new with smartphones, but these devices help us to realize the prize of constant distractibility. We used to complain of people walking around with headphones over their ears. Now we have also covered our eyes with our smartphones.

I like technology. I find it terribly useful and even enjoy its distractibility. I’m not a Luddite. But we must seek out periods of downtime, of solitude, by unplugging (not necessarily in order to recharge or to smell the roses, though both of these activities are good). We unplug and seek out solitude in order to come face-to-face with ourselves, to lose the facade of virtue with which we walk around. As we come to terms with ourselves, we understand our need for Christ. And when we call out to Christ, he is near.

In Henri J. M. Nouwen’s The Way of the Heart, he writes of how our great danger is “living the whole of our life as one long defense against the reality of our condition, one restless effort to convince ourselves of our virtuousness.” That’s really the crisis of our lives, our self-justification: That we simply are not that bad. God loves us, after all, so what is so great about solitude? The short answer is that it is the place of our salvation—we are deluding ourselves about death, distracting ourselves to death. We cannot be saved if we do not know we need saving. We cannot be healed if we do not know that we are wounded. We will not be fed if we do not know our hunger. Christ does not call the virtuous, but the sinner (Matthew 9:13). Solitude shows us who we are—sinners. When we come to this realization, we are free to see Christ waiting to save us, bind up our wounds, take us to the inn, and entrust us to the innkeeper.

Solitude is, at first, neither pleasant nor pretty because we are not. “As soon as I decide to stay in my solitude, confusing ideas, disturbing images, wild fantasies, and weird associations jump about in my mind like monkeys in a banana tree. Anger and greed begin to show their ugly faces. I give long, hostile speeches to my enemies and dream lustful dreams in which I am wealthy, influential, and very attractive—or poor, ugly, and in need of immediate consolation. Thus I try again to run from the dark abyss of my nothingness and restore my false self in all its vainglory” (Nouwen, p. 18). But solitude opens our eyes “to the truth of ourselves as well as to the truth of God” (Nouwen, p. 76). The place of solitude is the place of prayer—prayer from the heart. Stop running, put away your distractions, and seek out solitude in order to be healed and made whole in that encounter with Christ.

Positive Thought For 06-21-13

Start the weekend off with a Positive Thought! ==>>> Hot tempers start fights, but a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace. See Prov 15:18 (The Message)

A Devotional for Students

Which is more important, living like a Christian or telling others what I believe about God?
Try to remember the best gift you ever received. What did you do after you opened it? More than likely, you called your best friend to tell him or her about it.

Forgiveness from sin is the greatest gift you will ever receive! It is impossible to keep quiet about it if you truly recognize how important this free gift really is.

Check out the story of the four men with leprosy who discovered the empty camp (2 Kings 7:3-15). All of their enemies were gone! They couldn't wait to share the good news with everyone.

The choice for the four men with leprosy--keeping their discovery a secret or telling others about it--probably was tough to make because their disease separated them from other people. But they didn't hesitate to make their choice.

Our sin is like leprosy. We cannot always tell its effects, but left unchecked, the 'disease' gets progressively worse. But forgiveness is the antidote for this disease. Our response in thankfulness to God could cause us to tell all who will listen!

Holier Than Thou?

Holier Than Thou?

Numbers 16:1-50

Read They united against Moses and Aaron and said, "You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the LORD's people?" When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell face down on the ground. Then he said to Korah and his followers, "Tomorrow morning the LORD will show us who belongs to him and who is holy. The LORD will allow only those whom he selects to enter his own presence. Korah, you and all your followers must prepare your incense burners. Light fires in them tomorrow, and burn incense before the LORD. Then we will see whom the LORD chooses as his holy one. You Levites are the ones who have gone too far!" Then Moses spoke again to Korah: "Now listen, you Levites! Does it seem insignificant to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the community of Israel to be near him so you can serve in the LORD's Tabernacle and stand before the people to minister to them? Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well? The LORD is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?" Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, "We refuse to come before you! Isn't it enough that you brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your subjects? What's more, you haven't brought us into another land flowing with milk and honey. You haven't given us a new homeland with fields and vineyards. Are you trying to fool these men? We will not come." (Numbers 16:3-14)

Reflect Korah and his followers had seen how priests benefitted in Egypt. Egyptian priests had great wealth and political influence, something Korah wanted for himself. Korah may have assumed that Moses, Aaron, and his sons were trying to make the Israelite priesthood the same kind of political machine, and he wanted to be a part of it. He did not understand that Moses' main ambition was to serve God rather than to control others. Moses saw through Korah's accusation to the true motivation—some of the Levites wanted the power of the priesthood. Like Korah, we often desire the special status God has given others. Korah had significant, worthwhile abilities and responsibilities of his own. In the end, however, his ambition for more caused him to lose everything. Inappropriate ambition is greed in disguise.

Respond What sorts of ambitions do you have? Are you vying for a position with power and prestige? How does your ambition fit together with your life as a follower of God? Is there a place for God in your goals and plans?

Philippians 4:6-23

Philippians 4

  6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.7 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
  8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Paul's Thanks for Their Gifts
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn't have the chance to help me.11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.13 For I can do ev-23erything through Christ,* who gives me strength.14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
  15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.17 I don't say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
  18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
  20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

Paul's Final Greetings
21 Give my greetings to each of God's holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings.22 And all the rest of God's people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar's household.
  23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Our Daily Bread For 06-21-13

READ: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you . . . may have an abundance for every good work. —2 Corinthians 9:8

Every year when I put out the hummingbird feeder, the busy little birds start battling for position. Even though there are four places at the “table,” the birds fight for whatever place one of their neighbors is using. The source of food at each place is the same—a reservoir of syrup in the bottom of the feeder. Knowing that all the feeding stations are equal, I shake my head at their greediness.

But then I wonder, Why is it so much easier to see the greed of the birds than it is to see my own? I often want the place at “God’s table” that someone else has, even though I know all good things come from the same source—God—and that His supply will never run out. Since God can prepare a table for us even in the presence of our enemies (Ps. 23:5), why be concerned that someone else might have the station in life that we want?

The Lord is able to give us “all sufficiency in all things” so that we will have “an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). When we recognize the importance of our work as ministers of the grace of God (1 Peter 4:10), we’ll stop fighting to take over someone else’s position and be grateful for the place God has given us to serve others on His behalf. —Julie Ackerman Link

Thank You for the privilege we have to serve You by
serving others, Lord. Help us to be content to fill
the place where You have put us, so that
You might be glorified through us.

Resentment comes from looking at others; contentment comes from looking at God.

We Are Family

Ephesians 2:11-22

We often say in the church that we’re a family, and we address each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. But what does that really mean? What implications does the word family hold?

We read in Ephesians 2:19, “You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” Note that the word you refers to the Gentiles. In other words, the Gentiles are now members of God’s family with the Jews. It might be difficult to fully appreciate the significance of Paul’s statement, so let’s check out some of the ancient Jewish laws according to one scholar:

• It was unlawful to render help to a pregnant Gentile woman during the birth of her baby, for that would simply result in another Gentile coming into the world.

• If a Jewish boy married a Gentile girl, or if a Jewish girl married a Gentile boy, the death of that Jewish boy or girl was required.

Until Jesus came, the Jews had an immense contempt for the Gentiles. But He reconciled both the Jews and Gentiles to God—and to one another (Ephesians 2:14).

So the word family connotes unity, and it also suggests a bond deeper than citizenship. It’s a relationship made possible by the blood of Christ, and it has nothing to do with how we feel about one another. It also necessitates that we put aside our prejudices, and that we should serve and care for one another, for we are God’s family.

Songwriter Bill Gaither wrote, “You will notice we say ‘brother and sister’ ’round here. It’s because we’re a family and these are so near; when one has a heartache, we all share the tears, and rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.”

— Poh Fang Chia

Read Hosea 2:1 for the new way God wants us to see our brothers and sisters in Jesus.

How have you not been treating members of God’s family as your brothers and sisters? Why do you think God wants us to know that in Him we are family?

Positive Thought For 06-20-13

Here's a positive thought for a beautiful day! ==>>> It's the most amazing thing...Jesus' wounds bring you healing! That's from Isaiah 53:5 

Weekly Sermon: Why Does God Allow Suffering

On June 8/9, Pastor Diehl launched the summer series Dear God... attempting to answer the question, 'Dear God, why do you allow suffering?'

Weekly Sermon: Why Does God Allow Suffering

A Devotional for Leaders

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9, NLT

At once. Now. Immediately. Deadlines. These are words that come to mind regarding the fast-paced lifestyle many of us find ourselves in. We expect our newspaper to be on the front porch when we wake up. We expect traffic signals to turn green the instant we approach them. We expect a bag of popcorn to explode into light, fluffy goodness in exactly three-and-a-half minutes. But what happens when our desires don't materialize in what we consider to be a timely fashion? We may experience frustration, grumpiness, possibly even anger. As one of the fruits of the Spirit, patience is a character trait God desires to produce in us (see Galatians 5:22-23). Yet the only way to really learn what it means to be patient is to experience it firsthand. Patience is an oh-so-gradually unveiled gift. Noah lived in a time when lawlessness and sin were the rule, not the exception. Imagine his reaction when God told him about his plan to destroy humanity! Picture Noah's reaction when God told him to build a boat, giving him specific dimensions and directions! Imagine having to wait 120 years to see it happen! I wonder if Noah ever said to himself, "Okay Lord, things are getting worse instead of better. Aren't you going to execute your plan? After all, it's already been fifteen years!" Thankfully, Noah learned the lesson of patience, trusted God's timing, and was spared from the flood as a result. Our response when something doesn't happen on schedule speaks to how well we have learned to be patient. Maybe God has something better just around the corner. He will let you know when he's ready--or perhaps when you're ready. That's something to consider the next time you throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave.

Destined to Wander

Destined to Wander

Numbers 14:26-45

Read "'Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years—a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.' I, the LORD, have spoken! I will certainly do these things to every member of the community who has conspired against me. They will be destroyed here in this wilderness, and here they will die!" The ten men Moses had sent to explore the land—the ones who incited rebellion against the LORD with their bad report—were struck dead with a plague before the LORD. Of the twelve who had explored the land, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive. When Moses reported the LORD's words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief. Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. "Let's go," they said. "We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the LORD has promised us." But Moses said, "Why are you now disobeying the LORD's orders to return to the wilderness? It won't work. Do not go up into the land now. You will only be crushed by your enemies because the LORD is not with you. When you face the Amalekites and Canaanites in battle, you will be slaughtered. The LORD will abandon you because you have abandoned the LORD." (Numbers 14:34-43)

Reflect God's judgment came in the form the people feared most: dying in the desert. God punished them by making them wander in the desert until they died. Now they wished they had the previous problem of facing the giants and the fortified cities of the Promised Land. Was this judgment—wandering 40 years in the desert—too harsh? Not compared to the instant death that God first threatened (Numbers 14:12). Instead, God allowed the people to live. God had brought his people to the edge of the Promised Land, just as he said he would. He was ready to give them the rich land, but the people didn't want it (Numbers 14:1-2). By this time, God had put up with a lot. The people had repeatedly refused to trust and obey him (Numbers 14:22). The whole nation showed contempt for and distrust of God. But God's punishment was not permanent. In 40 years, a new generation would have a chance to enter Canaan (Joshua 1–3). When the Israelites realized the consequences of the disobedience, they were suddenly ready to return to God. But God didn't confuse their admission of guilt with true repentance because he knew their hearts. Sure enough, they soon went their own way again. Sometimes right actions or good intentions come too late. We must not only do what is right, but also do it at the right time and with the right attitude. Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons is still the wrong thing. God doesn't want outward conformity but inward submission to him (Matthew 15:7-9)

Respond What have you been putting off that you know God wants you to do? Surrender your control and ask God for the strength and humility to follow him.

Galatians 6:9-18

Galatians 6

9 So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Paul's Final Advice
11 NOTICE WHAT LARGE LETTERS I USE AS I WRITE THESE CLOSING WORDS IN MY OWN HANDWRITING.
  12 Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don't want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save.13 And even those who advocate circumcision don't keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.
  14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross,* my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died.15 It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.16 May God's peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.*
  17 From now on, don't let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.
  18 Dear brothers and sisters,* may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Our Daily Bread For 06-20-13

READ: Psalm 94:3-23

The Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge. —Psalm 94:22

One year during my vacation, I walked along the shoreline of a large lake. As I approached a pile of boulders, I noticed a small alcove between the rocks and observed that a tiny plant had taken root there. The plant appeared to be absorbing the right amount of sunlight and water, and it was also getting something else: protection. No downpour or windstorm would ruffle its tender leaves.

The plant’s secure habitat reminded me of these familiar hymn lyrics: “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.” Those words express what many of us want when we encounter people with evil intentions—people characterized by pride, cruelty, and a lack of regard for God (Ps. 94:4-7). When we are the target of someone’s wrongdoing, we can remember the testimony of the psalmist: “The Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge” (v.22).

As our rock, God is dependable and strong. As our refuge, He can provide safety until problems pass. The psalmist reminds us: “Under His wings you shall take refuge” (Ps. 91:4). With God as our defender, we don’t have to fear what others will do. We can trust that God will support us when trouble comes. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Thank You, God, for Your stable and unchanging
nature. Help us to hide ourselves in You
when trouble comes our way. Remind us that we
don’t have to fight our own battles.

Refuge can be found in the Rock of Ages.

Walls

Nehemiah 1:1-4

Walls are designed to keep people safe. But walls also divide, keeping people apart. The 96-mile (155 km) Berlin Wall kept the East Germans in. The Great Wall of China, which was believed to be 5,500 miles long (8,850 km) and is now estimated to be 13,170 miles long (21,196 km), kept enemies out.

In 586 BC, the Babylonians tore down Jerusalem’s walls and destroyed the city. Nehemiah experienced many sleepless nights as he considered the ramifications of the broken-down barriers (Nehemiah 1:4). But what was all the fuss about a broken wall? (Nehemiah 1:3). Without the safety and security of the wall, very few Jews wanted to live in the city.

So Jerusalem, the city of God, remained a deserted and dead city, a disgrace and a shame. Her enemies taunted and mocked the people saying that Israel’s God was too weak to protect her (Psalm 79:1-4; Lamentations 2:15-16; Joel 2:17). In fact, lots were cast to force people to relocate to the city (Nehemiah 11:1-2). So it was imperative that the wall be rebuilt so that Jerusalem could once again be the glorious city of God (Psalm 48:1-14).

Today, we need to be wall-builders if we’re going to survive and thrive in the broken and dangerous world around us. We need to build . . . a wall of protection to keep us from the attacks of Satan, giving us safety and victory; a wall of separation to keep worldliness out, excelling in our purity and integrity; a wall of devotion to keep and protect our fellowship and communion with God, growing in our spirituality and maturity; a wall of unification to keep God’s people together, dwelling in unity and community.

What about your “Jerusalem”? Are your walls torn down and in need of urgent repair? “Let us rebuild the [walls] and end this disgrace!” (Nehemiah 2:17).

— K.T. Sim

Ezra 4:6-23 tells of an earlier attempt to rebuild the walls that ended in failure. What might hinder or stop you from rebuilding the walls in your life?

What are you trying to keep in and what are you trying to keep out with your walls? What walls do you need to rebuild?

Positive Thought For 06-18-13

It's a STAR 88.3 Positive Thought that speaks to every one of us:
God CAN take all the bad stuff in your life and make something good!
- Psalm 18:28

What God Destroys – Micah 5:10–13

What God Destroys – Micah 5:10–13
Jack Klumpenhower
6/17/2013
You know that God gives blessings, but when is it a blessing for him to take away something you love? When that thing is an idol, of course.

Anything you love more than you love God, or anything you trust more than you trust God, acts as an idol. It takes a role in your life that only God should have. Idols don’t have to be carved images or even religious things at all. They can be deceptively nonreligious yet still take the role of false gods.

The prophet Micah spoke of both kinds of idols. Micah ministered at a time when God’s people were threatened by powerful enemies. He told how God would first save some of his people, and then take some things from them:

“In that day,” says the Lord,
“I will slaughter your horses
and destroy your chariots.
I will tear down your walls
and demolish your defenses.
I will put an end to all witchcraft,
and there will be no more fortune-tellers.
I will destroy all your idols and sacred pillars,
so you will never again worship the work of your own hands.” (Micah 5:10-13, NLT)

At first glance, Micah seems to start by saying that God will fight his people—kill their horses, wreck their chariots, topple their walls. But when he moves on to witches, fortune-tellers, and sacred pillars, what’s really happening becomes clear. God has saved his people, and now he wants to purify them. He’s removing all idols, both religious and nonreligious ones.

The people had relied on those horses and chariots and walls to keep their enemies at bay. They’d thought those things were the key to survival in the world. They’d trusted them ahead of God. Those things had become idols, every bit as much as the sacred pillars.

Today, we have the same kinds of idols. Some are old-fashioned religious ones like statues and charms and, as in Micah’s day, fortune-tellers. Others are religious but perhaps not as obvious. It’s easy to put our trust in spiritual habits, the right church, superior theology, or ministry work. All of those are good things—but not if we trust them ahead of God himself. If we do that, they’re idols.

Our most dangerous idols of all, though, might be our equivalent of horses and walls. First, there are those things that our culture assumes everyone must love and pursue. Sex, money, power, comfort, and reputation seem to top the list. Which do you love more than God? Second, there are those things we trust to make us feel safe and successful in the world: a good education, a fine career, a happy family, healthy living, bankable skills, and personal appeal. Which of those do you trust instead of trusting God?

Because God loves us, he will destroy those idols. That shouldn’t really be a surprise. We’ve known from the start that none of them is lasting. None wholly satisfies. No matter how much we love them, none will ever love us back as God loves us.

There’s no reason to wait for God to bring some crisis into our lives that smashes our idols despite our wishes. God’s saving grace includes the power to say no to idols—to destroy and slaughter and tear them down ourselves—and turn to God alone. So what’ll it be? What are your idols? And how will you, with God’s help, start bashing them to smithereens?

This is the sixth in a series of articles about the shorter books of prophecy known as the Minor Prophets.

Jack Klumpenhower is a writer and children’s ministry worker living in Colorado.

Content with… What!?

Content with… What!? Jack Klumpenhower 6/13/2013 A friend who serves God in one of the world’s more remote jungles sent me a message this morning, asking for prayer. It seems he has malaria. The weather is stiflingly hot. And the supply boat scheduled to bring food for him and his family is past due. What did my friend ask me to pray for? That he would be content. My friend is wise. He realizes that discontent is dangerous to faith. To be able to serve God under harsh conditions, like the apostle Paul did, requires being able to say what Paul said: “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have” (Philippians 4:11, NLT). I suspect contentment is even harder for those of us who live in comfortable places, because we can quickly start thinking that God owes us an easy life. We too must learn contentment. So let’s answer some questions about what the Bible says on the subject. What is Christian contentment? It’s a heart-level satisfaction that overrides outward troubles. It’s knowing what joy, honor, and nobility comes with being an heir of God—and therefore being okay with any temporary condition he gives you. “True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth” (1 Timothy 6:6, NLT). How is Christian contentment different from other ideas about contentment? Many of those other ideas suggest that to be content you need to think less about your situation in life. Escape. Clear your mind of what’s happening. But Christian contentment comes from seeing more of your situation in life. You see what hope you have in Jesus. You see the hidden blessings your loving Father is surely giving you, and this makes you content. “What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later” (Romans 8:18, NLT). Does that mean I shouldn’t work to make my life better? The Bible says that you should work diligently to care for yourself, especially in spiritual matters, but that you should get neither anxious nor greedy. Instead, trust God. When life gets hard, take your complaints to him and rest in him, accepting what he gives you without grumbling or despair. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7, NLT). Why is it good for me to be content? Contentment shows that you trust God. It means that you accept him being in charge instead of thinking things would be better if you ruled the world. Contentment is fitting for a creature before his Creator and for a child in the lap of his Father. “Be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you’” (Hebrews 13:5, NLT). How will contentment help me? It keeps you focused on God and all that’s yours in Jesus. It dissolves the burden of relentlessly chasing after one empty idol or another. Instead, it fixes your heart on God above all else. “My heart is confident in you, O God” (Psalm 57:7, NLT). Will contentment make me a better person? Yes, it makes you ready to serve and worship God. It lets you rejoice and be thankful. You can set aside impatience, complaining, and bitterness. You become able to resist all the sins that begin with thinking God has not been good enough to you—greed, envy, boasting, lying, and every kind of lust. You rise above self-seeking, and practice God-seeking instead. You learn humility. “Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words!” (Psalm 119:57, NLT). Is there anything I should not be content with? Oh, never be content with your sin. Never think that you’re holy enough and don’t need to become still more like Jesus. Always hunger for more grace from God: to obey more completely, to pray more sweetly, to plant yourself more firmly in his love. A Christian is continually restless, actually—but restless for more of God! “I thirst for God, the living God” (Psalm 42:2, NLT). How do I get contentment? Look to God for contentment. Your contentment must be in him—based on his goodness and beauty—and he will help you see it. When Paul wrote of his contentment, he said the secret to it was his closeness to Jesus: “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13, NLT). My friend in the jungle is right to pray and to ask for prayer. That in itself is an act of trusting God, a sign of a person on the path to contentment. Jack Klumpenhower is a writer and children’s ministry worker living in Colorado.