A Holy People

Deut. 26:16-19

Bill Carbaugh

This week, I was negotiating a cell tower contract with a large carrier ... as we haggled over the price, I was told they had to send my proposed price to committee for "Justification".  Thank goodness I don't have to appear before a committee to be justified; I am justified by faith alone.  And while God does ask us to have faith in him, he also asks more?  The covenant between God and his people requires that we also observe his commandments, not with our head, but with our heart and soul - obeying God's rule is not simply a cerebral exercise, but rather something which is an integral part of our very being.  We are to walk in God's way and to be his treasured people.  Of course, like any contract, we get something out of it also - God promises to be our God and to set us high in praise and fame and honor.  I'd say we got a pretty good deal.  Did God?

Prayer:    Dear God, Be with us this day and always as we try to do your will and walk in your way.  Like the kids in Family Circus, we do not always take the straight and narrow path but find distractions and temptations along the way.  Be with us as we make Your Way part of our very being.  Keep us strong and steadfast.  We thank you for being our God and by our side always.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

What He Asks of Us

Matthew 5:20-26

Deb Cantrell

Understanding the words of the law can be quite different from understanding what was intended by those who wrote the law.  I have five children and I found them to quite good at using “the letter of the law” to their advantage.  I had one daughter who was, actually, quite brilliant at helping me understand the law, as it was written.  I cannot tell you how many conversations ended with the words, “I know that what I said; and you know exactly what I meant!  One conversation went something like this, “You’re right.  I did tell you to take a bath and your wet hair dripping all over my floor would tell me you did bathe.  However, we both know I intended you to use soap!”

We have a complicated legal system that spends huge amounts of time and resources trying to determine the intent of the law.  However, righteousness is more than law.  It is what is good and right and this is what God calls us to do as Christians. 

While the Pharisees were brilliant at interpreting the letter of the law in the Old Testament, Christ brought a new interpretation.  Something more is intended and expected.  Yes, God calls us to follow the letter of this world’s law by not stealing, not harming, and not lying.  We, on the other hand, are required to do more.  We are to feed, clothe and release the oppressed.  Even more, we are required to forgive.  Now there’s a tough one.

If this weren’t enough, our love of God and the love of our brother are intertwined.  So much so that he says something akin to, “Don’t come to me with your offering thinking you’re ‘all that’ after having a big ole’ argument with your brother.  Go and make up with him and then come back.”

God cares about the condition of our hearts.  What bitterness do we hide, what resentment do we conceal, what keeps us from giving ourselves completely to God.  I think God wants us to come to Him with a clean heart, clear conscience, and fully prepared to follow the intent of the law.


Prayer:  Lord, help us to come to You with a clean heart, clear conscience, and fully prepared to follow the intent of the law.

Our Model

Matthew 7:7-12

Kim Buckingham

You may remember the game shows where contestants were told to look behind Door Number 1!  Or Door Number 2!   It was always suspenseful because you never knew what to expect—it could be a new car! …Or just a ceiling fan light.  You may have heard that quote by Forrest Gump who said, "Life [is] like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

Well, this passage is so comforting because it says that everyone who knocks on God's door will find God behind it.  It's a certainty in a life filled with uncertainties. No guessing games, just the knowledge that He is there when you need him.  All we have to do it ask.  "For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:8).

God is certainly present and here for us whenever we knock.  The passage goes on to say that God is here for us just as parents are here for their children.  We should be there whenever our children or other loved ones knock - whether it be a knock on the fridge door to ask for a snack, on our car door to ask for a ride, or on our hearts for our love and attention - just to be present and there for them.  That's what God does for us and that we can do for others.

PRAYER:  Lord, you show us that you are here for us whenever we need you.  We are grateful and thankful for your love as a constant in our every changing lives.  Help us to be there for others as you are for us.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Comfort

Psalm 51

Steve Siebert

Psalm 51 is a one of 40 psalms of lament.  As a group, these psalms contain portrayals of personal agony repeatedly interrupted by requests for God's intercession.  In Psalm 51, the psalmist begs for release from sinfulness.  In doing so, he likens his separation from God to being physically broken (v. 8) and admits that he has never been all that God has expected.  It is from this expression of pitiful self depredation, that one of the most beautiful and succinct requests for intercession in scripture comes, starting at verse 10 ...  "create in me a clean heart O God, and put a new, right spirit in me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation in me and uphold me with a willing spirit."  I find it useful to reflect not necessarily on this psalm in times of difficulty, but on the psalmist who, it the midst of dispair, is able to conjure up such great beauty with the help of God.  It reminds me that God takes everything in our lives, the good, and the bad and uses it for his own purpose. From the psalmists anguish he created such a beautiful prayer for sustainance that has survived for 2500 years, is the lyrics for a hymn of the day in the former hymnal and a prayer countless have prayed. 

Prayer:  Dear God, I pray that you will uphold me in all that I do, guiding me away from sin and death and towards life with you.  Please be steadfastly beside me when I am my weakest and know that I love you always.

The Spirit Speaks

Matthew 6:7-15

Maia Spoto

Jesus gives us words to pray. I know that’s true, because usually when I’m in bed saying my prayers, the first thing that comes to my mind is ‘um’. But Jesus gives me words to pray, so my prayers aren’t “Dear God, um, um, um…In Jesus’ name we pray, Uhmen.”

This verse in Matthew says that I don’t need to focus on a long prayer- the best prayer is the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer says that we need to praise God, trust Him to do His will, and ask Him for the things we need.   It also says to ask God to help us avoid evil, ask forgiveness and forgive others.

When you think about it,that takes care of everything!

PRAYER:  Dear God, please give us words to pray when we have none. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. 

With Experience

Matthew 16:13-19

Julie Wainner

"Who do you say I am?"  This was a question Jesus put to Simon.  Through God’s grace, Simon answered correctly and succinctly - "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." In the year 2010, it seems like an easy question, and one might even wonder why Christ asked Simon such a question. But as you read on, you quickly realize that Jesus had not revealed that information to Simon, which makes Simone’s answer miraculous.  The answer was given to Simon directly from God. No one taught this to Simon. He was inspired through God Almighty. Because of this, Jesus made Simon the Rock of the Church. He was made the foundation.

I think about how I would answer that question should Jesus and I meet face to face. What would I say? I could respond with all of the usual, learned responses, such as, “Lord, you are King, Son of God, Master, Savior, Redeemer, All Powerful and Loving  God”, as well as  many other names that have been taught to me over the years.  As my faith became more apparent to those around me, this question was asked to me by friends, family, Christians, non-Christians, atheists, agonistics, etc. For many years I was afraid and embarrassed to respond, worried that others would ridicule me or put my answers to scientific tests.  Then, one day after arguing and defending my belief in Christ, my eyes were open to the Truth. 

"Who do you say I am?"   My answer was simple:  “Peace.”

Christ’s peace cannot be scientifically proven, or described, or explained to those who have not recognized it. Christ is comfort and warmth that one feels no matter what is going on around them. The times I have felt the most peace was when life was most bitter. Then a miracle would happen…. a new day would dawn and Peace was still with me – Christ was still with me.  Many times we are not aware of His mighty presence, but we feel something that we cannot name.  

This to me is Peace. This is Christ.  I believe that God, like Simon, opened my eyes to this awesome revelation.  It was not something taught, but something learned through time and trials.  The Holy Spirit touched my heart and soul and revealed to me that Christ is the King of Peace.

Life has been good to me, but not perfect. I have traveled over rough roads, but not hopeless roads. I have cried and laughed and hoped, but not until I prayed, did I experience Christ’s peace.   I believe God reveals many aspects of Christ to us without ever being taught or consciously thinking about it, and then one day, we wake up and see what and who Christ is to us.

Through God’s grace and the Holy Spirit, I finally understand the following Scripture reading:

“I am leaving you at peace. I am giving you my own peace. I am not giving it to you as the world gives. So don’t let your hearts be troubled, and don’t be afraid.”

Ask yourself today:  "Who do you say I am?" 

PRAYER: Dear Father, as we travel through life and the trials of the day, let me know your presence through peace that only you can give us. Let me know the difference between happiness and peace. We may not “be happy” with our current situation, but with your love, help and guidance, may we feel the peace that only you can give. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen

Listen

Romans 10:8-13

Kathy Zimmerman

Have you ever prepared a meal for someone and the only comment you hear is “This tastes…interesting.”  What does that mean?  Is the diner saying “What a fascinating confluence of flavors you have prepared to create the perfect culinary delight” or “It’s curious that you chose to put these ingredients together to create this inedible mess”?

If we only hear words, we miss so very much of what is said.  We need to use all of our senses to really understand the meaning, to really listen.  If we see that the dinner plate is left essentially untouched, we know the diner meant the latter.

The same is true of our relationship with God.  “That if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10).  If we proclaim that we believe Jesus Christ is our savior but turn our backs on our brothers and sisters in need, we have spoken only with our mouths and not with our hearts.  But if we profess our love for Christ and lend a helping hand to those who need it and share with others what we have, we are saying with our hearts that Jesus is in us.  That is a statement worth listening to.

PRAYER:  Lord, please help me to be a good listener.   Help me listen to my heart.  Amen.