Translation anyone?

I wasn’t sure if I should laugh, be amazed, or be really weirded out. In any case, these little guys are good amusement!

What I REALLY Want—

Psalms 42 & 43

What do you really want? Right now or just in general. Just finish the sentence: What I really want is…….

What is it? I think I could fill in that sentence with a lot of things! There are a few things at the top of my “really want” list and I know they don’t have anything to do with needs- I just really want! I think we all have a few things that we would identify as things we want. But how strongly do we really want them?

The Psalmist wanted something. Look at 42:2. What does he want? What is he longing for? My guess is that everything else in life faded away when up against his longing to meet with God.

This challenges me. I don’t necessarily think there is something “wrong” with wanting things, but what am I doing to cultivate my longing for meeting with and worshiping God? Does my desire for God’s presence outweigh every other desire?

So what about you? Does your heart beat to the tune of Psalms 42 and 43? What part are you living in? Are you downcast? Or are you living in the midst of God’s presence in a way that you never have before?

I Don’t Like Suffering

Romans 5:1-11

Did you read this passage? No, really- did you read it? Because did you catch the part about “we rejoice in our sufferings…” Who in their right mind would actually enjoy suffering? I know I don’t. I do not like to suffer. I also do not like to see other suffer. But that’s for another time… Suffering absolutely implies that pain and discomfort are in the mix. I don’t think you could get around that.

But why in the world would suffering be something to rejoice over? Well, what else is written in this passage? There is a real reason to rejoice in our suffering. It is because it does something to us- or at least potentially.

I was with a group of people last week and we ended up talking about the potential that suffering and challenges has in our lives. Just look at what the passage is saying- suffering can produce endurance, endurance produces character, and character, hope. And, here’s the crux, when our hope is in Jesus then nothing can put us to shame. If we allow it, suffering can be one of the greatest tools that drives us closer to Jesus.

Our hope is fulfilled in Christ. He made the greatest moves towards us when we did nothing to move towards him. But he did it. Our hope is in him. And if there is something (like suffering) that can drive us to realize again our great hope in Christ, that it is worth rejoicing over. So maybe I don’t like suffering, but I am very okay with being driven closer to Jesus….

Word

As you read today’s passage, think about this: Is your passion for God’s word anywhere near the Psalmist’s? Why or why not? Do you spend enough time reading the words that you can recall them when needed like the Psalmist? What might need to change for you? Anything?

Psalm 119:97-120 (English Standard Version)

Mem

⁹⁷Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰I understand more than the aged,
for I keep your precepts.

¹⁰¹I hold back my feet from every evil way,

in order to keep your word.
¹⁰²I do not turn aside from your rules,

for you have taught me.
¹⁰³How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.

Nun

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your righteous rules.
¹⁰⁷I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!
¹⁰⁸Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD,
and teach me your rules.
¹⁰⁹I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
¹¹⁰The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
¹¹¹Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹²I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end.

Samekh

¹¹³I hate the double-minded,
but I love your law.
¹¹⁴You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
¹¹⁵Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
¹¹⁷Hold me up, that I may be safe
and have regard for your statutes continually!
¹¹⁸You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,
for their cunning is in vain.
¹¹⁹All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,
therefore I love your testimonies.
¹²⁰My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Psalm 78

What has God done in your life? What has God taught you? How do you share that with the next generation?

Everything that has happened, good times, hard times, difficult lessons, all are opportunities for us to be drawn closer to God. And the next generation needs to learn from us. So what has happened in your life? Do you have a list of things that you can identify as moments when God taught you?

The Heart of the Issue

Romans 4:1-12

Mark 10:5; 17-31

This just all seemed to come together this morning. I read in Mark to start my conversation with Jesus today and then jumped into the Lent reading in Romans to prepare a post for today, and the two just seemed to come together.

The first part of Mark 10, Jesus is asked about divorce, but what he identifies is that the act of divorce is not really the issue- it’s an issue of the heart, verse 5. It’s because of a heart condition that we end up with something like divorce. Then, he’s approached by a young man who seems to basically be seeking approval. He asks about getting into the kingdom of heaven. I think he was secretly thinking that he already knew the answer because when Jesus asks him about his behavior, he is able to say, “Oh, I already do everything correctly.”  It is at that point that Jesus digs into his heart… asking him to give up- actually sell- everything. And he can’t do it. His heart is more into his possessions than anything else.

So after reading that I flipped over to Romans. In Romans, Paul deals a lot with the “what really saves us” question. He basically tries to get his readers to conclude that salvation and righteousness are not about behavior or outward actions, but they are about the heart… It’s about having faith in the very core of our being- our heart.

This issue of the heart is a critical one. I can do a lot of things. I can chase after outward signs of goodness, but none of that really matters. What matters is the motivation of my heart. Is my heart in love with God? Or in love with myself? With money? With someone?

You Pig.

Mark 5:1-20

This is an awesome story. Jesus sends a bunch- literally a BUNCH- of evil spirits into a herd of pigs. I think it’s one of those stories that deserves a “Seriously? Did that just happen?!”  It’s a great story.

But here’s what I hope we take away from this story; verse 20 says, “And he went away and began to proclaim in the cities how much Jesus had done for him and everyone marveled.”

Jesus may not have cast out a bunch of evil spirits from your life, but what has he done? Are you telling others? Are you allowing your story of Jesus’ work in your life to amazing other people?

Law

Romans 3:19-31

I don’t know about you, but my lent commitment has been a challenge. There have been a few times I have thought to myself, “Why am I doing this? Does it really matter?” Yeah, this has not been easy. But this process made this passage come to life for me.

As I read this passage I realized something- I am very grateful that salvation and righteousness does not rely on my works. If Lent is teaching me anything, it is that I would totally fail if I had to rely on my good works or obedience to the law for justification and righteousness.

But Paul reminds us that salvation and righteousness really have nothing to do with us. It’s all about God. God who, out of God’s grace, justifies us and makes us righteous. It sure is good to know that being made righteous does not rely on me following every law…

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 5:1-9

This is not a passage that I have ever really heard anyone talk about. Actually, I can’t remember the last time I heard anyone teach or preach from Jeremiah… and even the times I do remember almost all revolve around the 29:11 passage; all about God knowing what good things He has in store for His people. We like that passage. But 5:1-9- not so sure we would like this one….

Jeremiah is often called the “weeping prophet.” He knows the destruction that is about to happen to his country, his family, and his friends. He knows that repentance and humility towards God could change that- but he watches as God’s word is rejected by everyone. He tries- he really tires to get their attention so they can learn and avoid being taken captive. But they refuse to listen. Chapter five is in the middle of that struggle.

It made me think. Lent is a time for us to really consider what it is we should repent of in preparation of the Easter celebration. But am I, are we, really willing to repent? Are we willing to pay attention to what God says to us? Then are we willing to repent? Will we be like Judah or learn from Judah?

Life

Psalm 71

Life. That one little word can mean so much. It insinuates good and bad all at the same time. There are moments when we love life and don’t want anything to change. But then there are moments when we desperately wish everything about our life was different. And that is Life.

The Psalmist understood that life was not always everything one hoped for. Life, in Psalm 71, does not look so great. Life is so heavy, the Psalmist is making statements about enemies pursuing him, accusers out to get him, going through troubles and calamities… Life is not so great.

But what does the Psalmist do with life? He takes it to God. Read verse 14… Life may be life, but the Psalmist is holding onto something greater- hope. And how? I believe his holding to hope is sustained by the constant decision to praise God. Yes, life is heavy. But the choice to praise God and focus on who God is is greater than any life circumstance.