Don't Lose Heart

"We do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."

2 Cor 4:16

Why do we not lose heart, Lord?  Why should I continue to hope in the face of pressing,  perplexing need and sadness?   What keeps the Apostle Paul from despair when he's persecuted and struck down?  Why should I keep believing I can succeed? 


I guess the answer's in the verse: 'inwardly we are being renewed day by day.' It's true. Because the verb is passive - 'are being renewed' -  the grammar begs the question: who is doing the renewing?  You, of course, Lord God, are the active one here.  You are the Renewer. Despair has no claim on a believer's heart.  You equip me with your spiritual armor so that my mind and heart ever cling to the hope that is in You. 'We do not lose heart' because You are acting in our lives day by day.  

Be Faithful with Money

"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much...if you haven't been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon*, who will entrust the true riches to you? 

Luke 16:10,11

So here's the thing... In this chapter, Jesus tells the story of the dishonest manager and the 'very little thing' Jesus refers to is MONEY. 

This is revolutionary!  Already, Lord,  I suspect that my priorities are not your priorities, because to me money is not a 'very little thing'.  "Well, alright," You might be saying to Yourself,  "Since Jane views money as a big deal thing, she's surely faithful in it.  Right?"  Uh oh, again. 

There's a constant struggle going on in me about money.  I'm not a total slacker  in the financial stewardship realm, and I am faithful in a general sort of way:  tithing, giving, spending carefully, no debt, etc.   Yet, though I'm often openhanded, I'd often rather be tightfisted.  I get nervous - will there be enough?  I go back and forth between freedom and fear. Generosity and greed. Yet  this whole discussion misses the point.  Everything I have is your property  anyway, Heavenly Father, to be used as You direct.

 Holy Spirit fill me so full of confidence in Your provision that I recognize that money truly is 'a very little thing' which can't be compared to 'true riches'. Then I'll be released from the grip of fear and lean toward obedience remembering that  You entrust us with things expecting us  to serve you with them.   

Your real point here seems to be that stewarding money isn't the end-goal. It's a baby step along the way toward becoming a steward of your grace.  So the question I ask is the same as that of the manager, "What shall I do?"  Your answer is, "Better late than never!"  

OK, Lord.  The time to make good use of my material possessions and money in this world is now. And my ambition is that the investment I make now in this physical world for your kingdom will provide me a grand welcome in the heavenly world in the future. Is this line of thought theologically sound, Lord? It almost feels greedy to hope for reward, yet You seem to commend this way of thinking... Hmm.

*mammon = money and material possessions

Cut it Off; Throw it Out

"Cut it off... cut it off...throw it out"

Mark 9:43, 45, 47*

What captures my attention in that passage, Lord Jesus, are Your imperatives: "Cut it off... cut it off...throw it out" They're like the Nike commercials, "Just Do It." But, I think that You're really after my scrutiny of sins that cause me to stumble. The word 'stumble' comes up 4 times! You're telling me, "Sin matters! Don't ruin your own soul!"

So, it seems like you want me to choose pain rather than sin. You want me to contemplate and recognize, then avoid and part with things which lead to my destruction. And it doesn't sound like You advocate a slow and gentle weaning process. Cut off the sin! Starve it! Get rid of it! Deny it! Yikes!

I don't like to inspect my own sins and temptations. Of course, You know this is hard and I'm sure that's why You show me the stakes here, Lord. Thank you. The reward for taking radical action is entering life. The danger for ignoring Your warning is eternal death.

I have respect for veterans, especially those wounded on the lines in patriotic service. They served their county, they held nothing back.  Perhaps the scars I bear from cutting off my sins will bring honor to You. 

*Here's the full passage from Mark 9:42-47:

⁴² “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, ⁴⁴[where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] ⁴⁵ If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, ⁴⁶ [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] ⁴⁷ If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell"

Receive Children; Don't Despise Them

"Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me."

Mark 9:37

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones..."

Matt 18:10

This seems like an odd one, Lord.  When I look for Your will and direction in my life, I guess I have preconceived notions.  In my way of thinking, Your will for me should include bigger things.  Yet you're very careful to include receiving kids in your commands to your disciples.  It's not a suggestion.


But, Lord,  receiving little children means wiping noses,  getting sweaty and dirty,  endless games of Candyland, doing crafts, and TIME.  So much time invested in little people who don't even appreciate it!  Besides, little kids are just not my thing.   Hmm - or do I despise them?  Despise means to feel contempt or disgust for something. Uh, oh.  I now see that what I've really been trying to tell You is I'd rather do something else.  In fact, something more dignified that brings accolades would be nice.   


What You're trying to tell me is if I want be great in God's kingdom,  I better roll up my sleeves, and break out the Kleenex.  You've got noses that need to be wiped, basketball games that need to be played, and paper that needs to be glued.  And - wonder of all wonders - I've seen You do this before:  as I obey, You often  convert me, making me into a person who wants what You want. In this case, You want willing,humble service to children. Let it be so.




* Mark 9 and Matt 18 both talk about Jesus's disciples wanting to be the greatest.  He responds by teaching them about humility.  Receiving kids is just one of the examples Jesus uses.

Say to the Lord, "Command me"

"[Jesus] came to them walking on the sea... Peter said to Him, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You...'" 

Matt 14:25, 27

Lord, give me Peter's zeal  that says, 'Lord, command me to do the impossible,' and then obeys the command without hesitation.  Under Your authority,  all things are possible.   Let me shift my thinking - make a leap beyond the confines of what's safe.    Sometimes, when I get an idea, I'm not sure it's You.  Maybe it's just another one of my nutty whims.  But I'll never know if I don't  take the risk to find out.  I need to say with Peter, 'Lord, if it is you...' and then obey promptly when I hear you respond with 'Come!' I wonder how often I miss out on opportunities to grow my faith because I'm too fearful or apathetic to ask for your marching orders! God, grow my faith by making me bold knowing You are with me!

Be Merciful

"On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9:12,13

Father, You desire mercy, however I lean toward sacrifice.  I derive pride and satisfaction from accomplishing tasks that seem hard and religious thinking, 'I am sooo awesome because I tithe, I study my Bible, I home-school, I (insert task here).' The stuff I'm doing is fine, but my attitude is crap sometimes.

Lord, the mercy you desire is quite a contrast to the list of duties I pridefully check off. You’re interested in mercy that only flows from a humble heart. Mercy is a compassionate and forgiving way of thinking that my behavior should reflect.  Mercy finds ways to provide relief from suffering.  Mercy absorbs debts.  Mercy involves people, not just tasks.  

Who are these people, Lord, to whom I can be merciful? Who within my sphere of influence is suffering or needs my compassion or forgiveness? It's hard to know if I don't speak to folks, isn't it?  What about the guy who bags my food at the grocery?  How is he doing today?  And my neighbor?  Oh - her dad died a couple of weeks ago.  Hmm, how about my family?  Have I 'had it up to here' with them?   What about the Somali refugee who lives 10 minutes from my home.  There's an obvious opportunity - but yikes!  She doesn't even speak English.  

The tug of spiritual inertia seems overwhelming at times to selfish me.  But what’s going on inside my soul? I forget that being concerned chiefly with my own pleasure and profit brings misery, but selflessness brings joy.   Usher my will back into line with yours so I walk in mercy, not self-righteousness.

  

Bless

"And I will make you a great nation, 

And I will bless you, 

And make your name great; 

And so you shall be a blessing..."

Genesis 12:2

Father, I was saddened to read about how some tsunami-aid workers in Japan are being hampered by a cultural norm that we call 'pay backs'.   Some victims there are unable to receive, in good conscience, the help that's offered because it puts them even deeper in debt than they already are.  Social obligation chains them to poverty.


We all do this to some degree.  We hate to owe hospitality or help to anyone.  But it's a rough way to live!  How much better to pay forward* instead of keeping a tally of IOU's. What if I receive a favor with an open hand and instead of returning the blessing, I simply say, "thank you," then send some grace on to someone else?  Eventually, you change whole communities with this paying forward way of life that has it's source in Christ.  "We love because he first loved us."


Lord, you fill us up so we can bless others, not so we can play some kind of mutual happiness game of ping-pong with our buddies. Our pride is often the source of this whole trying to keep even scenario.  Help us swallow our pride and, rather than paying back, pay forward with blessings that you supply.




*From the commencement speech that Woody Hayes delivered at OSU in 1986, where he (mis)quoted R.W. Emerson:  "You can pay back only seldom but You can always pay forward, "Beware of too much good accumulating in your palm..."   

Hope

  "The LORD delights in those who fear him,

       who put their hope in his unfailing love."

Psalm 147:11 

So here's thing, Lord:  fear and despair always seem to be 'on the creep' in my life.  These two are the exact opposite of hope.  They have no place in a heart that is loved by Jesus.  Yet often I feel apprehensive about the future; I wonder if I measure up; I worry about failing.  I sometimes grow weary of the daily grind; I feel oppressed by the pain, cruelty, and disease in the world.  What is my problem?!

I think the answer is in the first part of the verse.  The psalmist writes that there IS one kind of fear that actually complements hope.  Holy Father, you DELIGHT in those who fear you!    That's it!  I'm fearing the wrong stuff. 

And if I'm fearing the wrong stuff, I bet I'm pinning my hopes on the wrong stuff, too.   I often depend on myself.  I hope  that my portfolio, my skills, and my winning personality will take care of my needs.  I  have a knack for leaning too much on others thinking that their advice,  talents, and presence will guard and guide me.  But you say to place my hope in your unfailing love.   You even say that I give you great pleasure  when I do this.  Wow.  Whenever your Word tells me about a way to bring you joy, I'd better pay attention!

Lord, remind me to continually expect good from you.  When I take time to consider You and the work of Your hands,  I find myself completely lost in wonder and admiration for You. I can walk through my days with joy and hope because Your love never fails.  

And how cool is it,  Lord, that MY hope and awe please you!  

Fear, Give, and Pray

 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to theJewish people and prayed to God continually. 

 Acts 10:1,2 

Father, Cornelius feared you, gave generously to the poor, prayed continually, and responded to divine direction. He was a man who had offered his life as a living sacrifice to you before he even knew Christ! The beauty of this man’s worshipful life and of your reception of his love touches my soul. You are so pleased by faith. Let me fear you more than I fear my peers, my family, my employer, my culture.  Open my hands to the poor so that the gifts you give me bless others.  Holy Spirit, let me view every experience I have as opportunity for communion with You so my prayers flow in a continuous stream. Make me sensitive to your Spirit so I’ll hear your voice and act without delay, just like Cornelius.

^{For Context, see Acts 10:1-45:}

¹ Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, ² a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to theJewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” ⁴ And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. ⁵ Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; ⁶ he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷ When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, ⁸ and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa...  ³⁰ [When Peter arrived,] Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, ³¹ and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. ³² Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ ³³ So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”...While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. ⁴⁵ All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.