Thursday, April 20, 2017

Day of Praise

Fri, 04/21/17, 6th of 50 Days of Easter, "Day of Praise"

Sometimes I just need to be quiet and let God tell us why we should praise him. Here ya go. 

Psalm 104
1 Praise the Lord, my soul.
Lord my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.
5 He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.
6 You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
8 they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.
10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
14 He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate--bringing forth food from the earth:
15 wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.
16 The trees of the Lord are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 

17 There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers. 

18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.

19 He made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.
20 You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
21 The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
23 Then people go out to their work,
to their labor until evening.
24 How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships go to and fro,
and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
27 All creatures look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
31  May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Praise the Lord.

Praise God!

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Day of Praise

Thur, 04/20/17, 5th (out of 50) Day of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." - Romans 10:4

I love the song "10,000 Reasons". (Google/YouTube it.)

And today's verse gives us one of the top reasons out of 10,000 why we sing to God -- "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." - Romans 10:4

Apart from Christ, the law is never ending because the law points out our sins and our shortcomings. With our sins and shortcomings in full view, we need the law to curb our sin and keep sin in check. Furthermore, the law just tells us what must be done, but it can't do anything for us. Therefore, the law creates a never-ending cycle that points out our sin but can't help us end our sin. 

Christ, on the other hand, is the end of the law. This doesn't mean that we get a blank check to sin. To the contrary, the holiness and perfect love of Christ stand in stark contrast to, and therefore reveal, our sin and our guilt. However, Christ, unlike the law, is alive and personal, so Christ can live in us and work in us by the power of the Holy Spirit, doing for us what we can't do for ourselves, namely, cover our sin and pay for our sin and give us a clean slate and new beginnings. 

This is why Christ is the end of the law -- because he does what the law does and more. He points out our sin, and he also deals with it on our behalf. 

But remember today's verse, Christ does this "to everyone who believes." If you don't believe in Jesus Christ, you're on your own, and the law will never end for you. But when you surrender to the Holy Spirit, which God sends to call us to faith, then Jesus comes faithfully and dwells in you so that you might have peace with God and a new life, characterized by humility, thankfulness, and the love of Christ flowing through you. 

It's a lot to think about, but it's a better alternative to remaining under the law!!!

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." - Romans 10:4

Happy Thursday!

Praise God!

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Day of Praise

Wed, 04/19/17, "Day of Praise"


"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." - 
Romans 5:3-5 

Dear Friends, 
Come what may, God is both with you in it and also working through it in order to build you up in his love. 

Trust him, and call on his name. 

Dear Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you know each one of us and the things that are going on in our lives. Lord, please bless us according to your word so that hope and love may abound in us, in our loved ones, and in all the world. 

Happy Wednesday! 

Praise God! 

Monday, April 17, 2017

Day of Praise

Tues, 04/18/17, "Day of Praise"


Having just preached an Easter sermon, calling worshippers to live as if the crucified and risen Christ has equipped us with everything we need to live a new life, I want to replay the following devotional and call all readers to live as if the crucified and risen Christ has equipped us with everything we need to live a new life.


"It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel." - Romans 9:6 

It's not a riddle. 

To say that "not all who are descended from Israel are Israel" (Romans 9:6) is to say something about what "Israel" means. "Israel" means "one who wrestles with God," which more fully means "one who wrestles with God by wrestling with God's word, believing there's a blessing within it." 

So to say "not all who are descended from Israel are Israel" is to say "not everyone who is Israel by birth is also Israel by belief" because they don't believe there's a blessing in everything God says. 

That's why, in Romans 10:16, God says, "But not all the Israelites accepted the good news." They didn't believe the good news because they refused to believe there was a blessing within it. 

It doesn't make much sense, does it? How can anybody not accept good news? How can anybody not believe that there's a blessing in good news from God? 

It doesn't make much sense does it? 

And yet, every time we disregard God's word (and there are all sorts of ways to do it), then we ourselves are not believing that there's a blessing in God's word. 

Soooooooo... 

Read your Bible. Obey God. Love your neighbor. Pray your prayers. Go to church on Sundays...at least. 

Take God's word for it. There's a blessing waiting for you. 

Praise God! 

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Day of Praise

Mon, 04/17/17, "Day of Praise" 

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." - 1 Peter 3:15 

For 20+ years, the DeGreen children have received messages from "The Easter Guy" during the 50 days of the season of Easter. There is only one reason why the Easter Guy visits, namely, to help the now adult children "give an answer to everyone who asks [them] to give the reason for the hope that [they] have" (1 Peter 3:15). 

The Easter Guy reinforces that Easter is not just a day. It is a season, just like Christmas. There are the 12 days of Christmas from December 25 - January 5. And there are the 50 days of Easter from Easter Sunday to The Day of Pentecost. 

The Easter Guy may leave a note and/or a treat. But what the Easter Guy always does is explicitly remind the children of two things: 1) Jesus is alive! and 2) You are Loved! 

Jesus is, and You are! 

So have a great day, believing that both are true! 

Because they are! 

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." - 1 Peter 3:15 

Praise God!

Friday, April 14, 2017

Day of Praise

Sat, 04/15/17, Saturday of Holy Week, Easter Eve, "Day of Praise"


"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." - 1 Peter 3:18


When I was a teenager, I slept in a basement room with no windows. Cool. 


When I was a little kid, if I'd had a basement room with no windows, that would not have been cool. I was a scaredy-cat. I thought everything that was down low and dark had a monster or a big bad wolf living in it. 


Apparently, that kind of thinking is not too far off. After all, Jesus went into a place that was down low and dark and had the worst monster ever living in it. 

And Jesus went down into that low and dark place for me. And for you. And for all people. (Although tragically, not everyone believes in that place nor believes that Jesus went down there and took care of that big bully monster for us.)


Actually, the big bully monster has a legitimate claim, just as the White Witch does in the Chronicles of Narnia. When we sin, when we rebel against the way that God made us, then we have to appear before The Accuser, The Big Bully, and we have to pay the penalty. And you get what you deserve.


Hmmmm. What's that sound like to you? You must 1) appear before an Accuser, 2) pay a penalty, and 3) get what you deserve. 


Sounds like hell to me. A living hell.


But through this night tonight, as we straddle Good Friday and Holy Saturday, we celebrate that Jesus 1) took our place, 2) paid our penalty, and 3) taught us about mercy (not getting what you deserve) and grace (getting what you don't deserve).


All this Jesus did when he went into a place that was down low and dark and had the worst monster ever living in it. 


And he did it all for you!


And for me! 


And for us all as God's dearly beloved children, who, if we have any sense about us, might still not want to go to the place that is down low and dark and has the worst monster ever living in it. 


But as we hear in 1 Corinthians 15:57, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."


"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." - 1 Peter 3:18


Praise God!!!

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Day of Praise

Fri, 04/14/17, Friday of Holy Week, Good Friday, "Day of Praise"


"Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, 'You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.'" - John 11:49-50


Caiaphas has no idea.


He thinks that by getting rid of Jesus that he's getting rid of a political enemy.


Caiaphas is in his own little world and, therefore, has no idea of the spiritual truth that one man must die for sin so that all people could be saved through faith in the one who dies. 


Caiaphas had no idea of the great sacrifice that was made for him. 


Usually, I don't either, that is, I also don't have any idea of the great sacrifice that was made for me. Oh sure, from time to time, usually in Lent, I'll stop and think about it, especially on days like Maundy Thursday and today, Good Friday. But there are so many days that I just blow through without considering, even for a moment, how much Jesus has done for me. 

 

Today, I woke up.


It's another chance to consciously live thankfully. To think about and be thankful for the one who died so all the rest of us didn't have to die "permanently." There are even chances for me to worship him today, to worship Jesus, to adore him, to remember him thankfully. Here, where I live, I have at least three (3) chances to worship. 


Maybe where you live, you have a chance to worship Jesus also. No matter, we all can stop, today, Good Friday, and think deeply, and gratefully, for what it means that one man, Jesus, died, so that the rest of us don't have to die, permanently. But instead of us having to die for our sin, we can believe that he took our place in death. And overcame it. So that we could join him in life. True Life. Abundant Life. 


We want to know what he did for us so we can Live Abundantly today and forever with him. 


Knowing and believing start by doing what Caiaphas didn't, long, long ago. Knowing and believing in and being thankful for and enjoying that one man died so the rest of us wouldn't perish, it all starts by surrendering to the Holy Spirit, who touches our hearts gently, but clearly, and whispers, "Stop! And think about the gift that is your life. Today. Think about the price that was paid so that you can have the gift."


God help me to do so. 


May God, in grace, help us all. Again. 


"Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, 'You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.'" - John 11:49-50


Praise God!

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Day of Praise

Th, 04/13/17, Thursday of Holy Week, "Day of Praise"


"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." - John 13:3-5


Tonight, our church, along with many others in the world, will observe Maundy Thursday with a worship service that includes Holy Communion, the stripping of the altar, and foot-washing.


There are two often misunderstood parts of this day's worship, namely, the word "Maundy" and the purpose of foot-washing. 


"Maundy" simply means "mandate" or "command" because this is the day when Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples and "commanded" them to "love one another."


And the way Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another was by washing one another's feet. 


If you go to a website like www.Biblegateway.com and put "wash feet" in the search, you will easily see a theme with footwashing. From the Bible's first book of Genesis and beyond, foot-washing is a means that God has ordained for giving rest to the body, renewal to the heart, and restoration to relationships. 


Need I say more?


How does Jesus love us in John 13? He washes our feet to give rest, renewal, and restoration. 


So doesn't it make sense that Jesus commands us in John 13 to love one another by stooping down in love and by washing each other's feet? For God has ordained that we share rest, renewal, and restoration to bring healing to our bodies, our hearts, and our relationships. 


I pray you'll believe Jesus and find a Maundy Thursday worship service today where you can experience foot-washing and, in so doing, practice what we're commanded to do everyday: stoop down and love one another as God, in Christ, stoops down and loves us. 


Today on Maundy Thursday and everyday, may God grant you the sure knowledge of his love through Christ, mutual love with all people, and the rest, renewal, and restoration for which all of us long. 


Praise God!

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Day of Praise

Wed, 04/12/17, "Day of Praise"

Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

Jesus came to us long ago to die in our place on that cross so that we might have forgiveness if we entrust our whole life to him and his saving work.

At the same time, it's true that Jesus comes to us today in each moment by the power of Holy Spirit so that we might joyfully live in him, remain in him, and bear much fruit to the glory of the Father, as we hear in today's Bible verse.

And at the same time, it's true that Jesus will come to us again when God the Father sends him on the Last Day in order to bring us both to the final judgment and also, by faith in his grace, to our everlasting home.

Live today, thanking Jesus for his saving work, finding strength in Jesus's presence, and anticipating him coming again with all that the end will entail.

And encourage others to do the same.

Happy Day!

Praise God!

Monday, April 10, 2017

Day of Praise

Tues, 04/11/17, "Day of Praise"

 

"Then [Joseph] sent his brothers away, and...said to them, 'Don't quarrel on the way!'" - Genesis 45:24

 

Good luck with that! Telling brothers not to quarrel on a road trip. Ha!

 

I remember my brother and I having some humdinger quarrels, and we were the best of friends! Still are.

 

Who do you quarrel with?

 

A quarrel is a pointless argument. It's arguing about Seinfeld--ya know, arguing about nothing.

 

Oh sure, it's something. But in the grand scheme of things...it's nothing. Do you really need an example? Quarrels I've heard as a pastor:

¤ direction toilet paper rolls out,

¤ whisker water drops on bath sink,

¤ what goes in the junk drawer!?!?

 

God says this in Proverbs 26:20, "Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down." Ouch! I think we all just got called "gossips" by the LORD!

 

Joseph said, "Don't quarrel on the way!"

 

Please God, help us!


Make it a great day with Jesus and his boundless love! And remember to spread it around! 


Praise God!

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Day of Praise

Mon, 04/10/17, "Day of Praise"

 

"Burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma." - Exodus 29:18

 

Smell is amazing, taking our minds to a whole other realm. Smell of mown grass? Reminds me of baseball. Cigars? My Pap DeGreen. Bacon? My Gram Yost. Cold air and wood? A church sanctuary.

 

From where do we get this? I guess from God because today's verse says God likes the smell of a ram that's burning on the altar; it's "a pleasing aroma"...


...as is the smell of Christians bearing Christ to the world. "We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other...life." - 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

 

God's saying some will receive us. To others we'll "smell like a rat," which is sad. But if you really care and want them to smell heaven, then share the aroma of Christ.


In the Bible, to "share the aroma of Christ" is 1) to care about other people's relationship with God, 2) to pray for them since incense represents the sweet smell of prayers to God, and 3) to act in a way that brings them blessing. This is what Jesus does for us and why he is our strength to do the same for others. 


Make it a great day with Jesus and his boundless love! And remember to spread it around! 


Praise God!


Friday, April 7, 2017

Day of Praise

Sat, 04/08/17, "Day of Praise"

 

"The LORD said to Moses, '...Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.'" - Numbers 20:7-8

 

You serious? Not sure I can believe that!

 

Please! Do! Believe God at his word! For unbelief has very undesirable consequences.

 

In today's verse, God asks Moses and Aaron to speak to a rock, and the rock "will pour out its water."

 

Instead, they struck the rock. Yes, the rock miraculously nonetheless poured out its water, but God tells Moses and Aaron that, since they didn't trust God's word by speaking to the rock, the consequence is that they would not enter the Promised Land.

 

Ouch!

 

Got any rocks in your life? Hard-headed people? Situations where you're stuck between a rock and a hard place?

 

God's promise to do something about it is tied to his command to speak his word to the person or situation.

 

God's word alone brings blessing.


Make it a great day with Jesus and his boundless love! And remember to spread it around! 


Praise God!

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Day of Praise

Fri, 04/07/17, "Day of Praise"

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4

God is always working to help us understand stuff in life. 

Like trials and tests and temptations. 

In today's reading, God, through James, says that we should "consider it pure joy" when we face trials because it "completes" both us and also our faith. 

Here's how it works. 

Trials come in two forms: tests and temptations. The purpose of tests is to build up faith. The purpose of temptations is to tear down faith. 

As is noted later in James 1, God never tempts because that would make God double-minded, both working to draw us to him in faith and also tearing down the faith by which we come to him. So God never tempts because God never works to tear down faith. 

But God is sovereign. God is Almighty. God is Lord. So God reigns over every trial, both tests and temptations, which means a couple things. First, it means that God at least permits tests and temptations to come our way, though God never creates a temptation. Second, it also means that, though God won't tempt us to tear down faith, God is sovereign so that God takes the temptations that other sources send our way and uses them for good. It's as we hear in Genesis 50:20, when Joseph is speaking to his brothers, who years earlier had sold him into slavery. Joseph said, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

So, Friends, all sorts of things will come at you today. But through it all, remember that God, who raised His Son Jesus from the dead, is the God who reigns. He's the only God. And this one Almighty God is for you! As you trust him, then you will see. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (James 1:2-3)

Make it a great day with Jesus and his boundless love! And remember to spread it around! 


Praise God!


Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Day of Praise

Thur, 04/06/17, "Day of Praise"

"The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you." - 2 Timothy 4:22

St. Paul went out in style. 

Most agree that today's verse contains the final written words of St. Paul. They're a final outpouring of grace in a letter that is packed with encouragement and counsel on the very most important things in life: Almighty God, God with us through Jesus, encouragement in Christ, and a call to trust the Lord in doing things that are hardest to do while we walk and live in faith. 

St. Paul went out in style with an outpouring of grace in a letter that is packed with encouragement and counsel on the very most important things in life. 

So, how do you want to go out? 

Well, let's concede that none of us is going to go out by getting a book in the Bible no matter how truth-filled our book might be. So, that pretty much leaves us with living our life (as the old saying goes) as if it's the only Bible that some people will ever read. 

St. Paul was imprisoned and sensed what was most certainly true, namely, that his end was near. And yet, instead of being bitter and withdrawn, he believed--in God, in the Son of God who's with us, and in God's children. Why else would Paul go out with a letter of encouragement? 

It's because he believed!

And out of that faith came an act of memorable goodness. So memorable that we're reading it over 2,000 years later. 

And God desires that, out of our faith in Christ, there would flow acts of memorable goodness too.

One morning, before he could drive, my son and I were stuck in one of the parallel-then- converging drive-thru lanes of the McDonald's between our house and his school. We sat there for 8-10 minutes at least. We were going to be late. But we let the car that was parallel to us merge into the single line ahead of us anyway. It must've been memorable to him/her because when we got to the window to pay our $2.39 we discovered that the person that we'd invited ahead of us had paid our bill. And that must've been memorable to us because, well, I'm telling you about it right now!

Two simple, brief, and inexpensive acts. But memorable nonetheless. 

There's a thousand of these opportunities every day. 

At least. 

Opportunities to make the last moment memorable, if indeed it happens to be. 

How do you wanna go out? How do you want to be remembered?

St. Paul wrote an amazing letter. As for us, let's just go live an amazing day, full of simple, brief, and inexpensive deeds of loving kindness and grace. 

Spread the love, friends, spread Jesus's boundless love!

Praise God!

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Day of Praise

Wed, 04/05/17, "Day of Praise"

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." - 1 Timothy 1:1-5

The world has lost its way. 

The only question is "when?"

Is the violence in our world really anything new?

In Bible days, as in today's reading, St. Paul is inspired by the Holy Spirit to give some simple advice to people who are asking, "What's going on in the world?"

Or "When did the world lose its way?"

Or "What can we do to change the course of the world?"

So what's his advice? What is the God-inspired word through him?

We are called to look in the mirror. 

Particularly at: 
our doctrine (what we believe), 
our love (how we relate to others), and 
our faith (how we relate to God). 

What we believe (our doctrine) informs how we relate to others. If we believe what God says in scripture, then we relate to others in a life-giving way. 

But if we believe (as many do in the world) that God's word is constraining and we do what we feel like (which is called sin), then our relating to others will create strife and conflict. 

In sum, St. Paul is inspired to say that the world is full of difficulties, but there is only one party that any of us can really do anything about, namely, our own self. 

If our doctrine, love, and faith are what God calls them to be through scripture, then we're a part of the solution to the world's troubles. 

If our doctrine, love, and faith are what we want them to be, then we're only making matters worse. 

Dear Lord, we live in a very troubled world. Give us a hunger for you and your word. For by your grace, we understand that "The goal of [your word] is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5). And your word alone can restore harmony to this world. Teach us, Lord, what to believe, how to love, and what it means to trust in you. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen. 

Praise God!

Monday, April 3, 2017

Day of Praise

Tues, 04/04/17, "Day of Praise"

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you" - Colossians 1:3

Have you ever heard of The Lord's Prayer?

I know it's a silly question, but what we call "The Lord's Prayer" is Jesus's reply to the disciples when they ask him to teach them to pray. 

Now then, have you ever heard of St. Paul's Prayer? I haven't either, but today's Bible section includes what could be called "St. Paul's Prayer" because there are clear elements teaching us how we should pray, just like Jesus was teaching us how to pray with The Lord's Prayer. 

Here's what Paul teaches. 

1 - Thank God for something good about the people you're praying for. Paul writes, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints" (Colossians 1:3-4). He's saying that he prays, thanking God for something good about the Colossians, namely, their faith in Jesus and their love for others. 

When we pray, let's also thank God for something good about the people we're praying for.

2 - Ask God to give something of eternal and everlasting good to the people you're praying for. Paul writes, "we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Colossians 1:9). He's saying that he prays, asking God to give something of eternal and everlasting good to the Colossians, namely, knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. There are all sorts of earthly and perishable things Paul could have asked from God for the Colossians, but he chose to ask for heavenly and enduring things. 

When we pray, let's also ask God to give something of eternal and everlasting, of heavenly and enduring good to the people we're praying for.

3 - Pray to God with a purpose. Pray for that good gift that you prayed for in #2 to lead to a God-glorifying outcome, end, and goal for the people you're praying for. Paul writes, "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light" (Colossians 1:10-12). Paul's saying that he prays to God with a God-glorifying purpose for the Colossians, namely, 
a) that they live a life worthy of the Lord and 
b) that they please God by: 
i) bearing fruit in every good work, 
ii) growing in the knowledge of God, and
iii) being strengthened with all power so they can have great endurance and patience and joyful thanks to God. 

When we pray, let's also pray to God with a God-glorifying purpose, goal, and outcome in mind for the people we're praying for.

To pray St. Paul's Prayer will take a little more time than usual because St. Paul's Prayer requires preparation. It requires us to think about these three elements. 

But the prayer preparation time will be worth it because thoughtful prayer makes everything better. 

God, through Paul, says so!

Praise God!

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Day of Praise

Mon, 04/03/17, "Day of Praise"

At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." - Acts 26:24-29

Have you ever been accused of being crazy? Ya know, like insane?

Lighten up, everybody probably has.

What an honor to be in the company of greatness. After all, St. Paul was accused of being insane and out of his mind in today's Bible verses. Just like Ezekiel and Isaiah the prophets. Hey, just like Jesus himself. 

It's been said that those who are accused of being mentally ill have an advantage over everyone else in that the accused know the truth, namely, that we're all crazy. 

Such is the life of a Christian. 

We wish that everyone was crazy. 

I mean, isn't that what Paul said? He's accused of being crazy. And after initially denying it, Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." (Acts 26:29)

He's saying, "If I'm crazy, then, oooooh, may all of us become so."

So what does Paul show us is so crazy about a Christian? Three things. 

1 - Unlike unbelievers, we Christians are crazy because we don't just stand in awe of creation and creations (like a tall building), we stand in awe of the Creator God. From the vastness of the universe to the detail of a flower we see God's handiwork and fingerprints everywhere. And we know through Jesus, through whom all things were made (John 1:3) that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we're a part of both the awesome creation and also The One who created it. In Acts 26:13-14, Paul said he saw "a light from heaven, brighter than the sun" and the voice of the Lord God sending him to witness to God in Christ. Awesome!

2 - Unlike unbelievers, we Christians are crazy because we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and at the last will raise us up too, either to everlasting joy or torment, depending on where we've placed our trust. In Acts 26:8, Paul said, "Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?" I guess, Paul, it's because they think we're crazy! Hallelujah!

3 - And finally, we Christians are crazy because we speak of and act on these awesome things of God not because we'll get anything more out of it but because we want other people to get what they're missing apart from this crazy faith. Because Jesus died that we might live, Paul, like all of us deeply believing crazy Christians, was willing to die so that others might live. Of course, it takes no faith to see that once you start living for others in this way, then you actually get your life back. Living for God and others is The Way to abundant and everlasting life. I love the quote by Malcolm S. Forbes, "You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them." St. Paul stuck his neck out for people who could add nothing to his life. To the contrary, they wanted to kill him. But Paul, like all us crazy Christians, was willing to die so that others might live. 

So in sum, Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." (Acts 26:29)

And what was he? CRAZY!

Praise God!!!