Monday, April 30, 2012

Not One Who Doesn't Matter

If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. –Matthew 18: 12-14 (NIV)

Yesterday was Good Shepherd Sunday in our church and I preached on the lectionary text of John 10:11-18. I focused especially on verses 14-16: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father- and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

I don’t usually have three-point sermons but yesterday I did. First, the Good Shepherd knows everything about you- your joys, your pain, what you want, and what you need; He loves you so much that he’s willing to give it all- his very life- for your safety and salvation. Second, the Good Shepherd wants you to know him. To know the Good Shepherd, you must spend time with the Good Shepherd every day. Third, there are other sheep not in this pen (Which I interpreted as the church) that need to hear the Good News of the Good Shepherd. Knowing the Good Shepherd isn’t enough in my estimation; giving voice to the voice of the Good Shepherd in the world so that the world might know him is essential.

How fitting that in today’s assigned readings, there is another passage about sheep. It’s one of the more beautiful images in scripture for me. As long as there is one sheep that is not with the flock, the shepherd is not content. He doesn’t wait on the wayward sheep to come to him; he goes searching for the wayward sheep. There is not one sheep that doesn’t matter to the shepherd.

Why would you leave the ninety-nine obedient sheep to go after a wayward one? Isn’t that irresponsible? (My guess is that there was more than one shepherd watching the sheep; when one shepherd left in search of wayward sheep, the other ninety-nine were being tended to and cared for). But I’m thankful for a Shepherd who loves enough that, when one of the sheep strays or has never yet been in the pen, He is not willing to let us perish and goes looking.

May God grant you the grace, If you’ve been faithful and haven’t wandered off from the Shepherd, to love the wayward sheep as much as the Shepherd does. And if you’ve wandered away or have never been in the pen to begin with, may God grant you the grace to know just how much you matter and how much you are loved by the Shepherd.



If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's readings are 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17, Psalm 2, and Matthew 20.


Friday, April 27, 2012

Resist the Dismiss

So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” - Matthew 15:23 (NIV)

Nearly every single day, someone comes to our church asking for help. Most of the time, they’re wanting assistance with their electric bill or rent. Sometimes it’s food or gas money that they seek. Often time, these requests come when we’re trying to get the newsletter out or when we’re on our way out the door to a make a hospital visit or go to a meeting. It’s often tempting to do one of two things: just give them what they want so that everyone can go about their day or to simply say that we’re unable to help so that everyone can go on with their day. The more difficult thing to do is to stop and listen to the situation and the need.

In the assigned scripture readings for today, Jesus and the disciples travel to Gentile territory where they encounter a Canaanite woman who asks Jesus to exorcise a demon from her daughter. The disciples don’t appear too concerned about this woman’s situation or her need; they just want Jesus to get rid of her. Help her or refuse to help her, but just get this crying woman away from us, they seem to say.

What happens next is one of the more perplexing exchanges that scripture records of Jesus and another human being. Jesus tells the woman that he came for the Jews (the lost sheep of Israel) and not the Gentiles (dogs) like her. I’m hoping that Jesus said this with a smile on his face and that he was just being sarcastic, exposing the absurdity of such a belief, but it’s not stated in the text. What is clear that Jesus didn’t just help her so that she’d go away and he didn’t just ignore her need. Instead, Jesus engages the woman in conversation and is impressed by her comments and her faith.

Today, someone may approach you with a need. Perhaps they simply want to talk. Perhaps what they seek is more tangible. It’s Friday and you no doubt have a lot to do today before the weekend begins. You may be tempted to just help or even ignore the person so that they’ll go away. May God grant you the grace to engage the situation and the need, value the person, and do what you can as the Lord leads.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Recharge, Refresh, and Renew

When Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself...and after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up to the mountain by himself to pray. -Matthew 14:13-14, 23-24 (NIV)

In between all of the episodes of Jesus having compassion for others and curing them of their infirmities, Jesus withdraws to a quiet place. Although he does not say it expressly, I know from personal experience how time away can recharge, refresh, and renew a person for the tasks ahead.

It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day demands of ministry and life. If I am going to be faithful and fruitful to what God calls me to do, be, and say, I must make time for recharging, refreshing, and renewing my faith.

May God grant you the grace to be reminded that it is not only appropriate but necessary to get away from the office, the phone, from everything, to seek renewal from God.


Tomorrow's readings are 2 Samuel 3, 1 Chronicles 12, and Matthew 15.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

What Have I Missed?


And he did not not many deeds there because of their unbelief. -Matt 13:58 (NIV)  

I wonder how much more God would do in my life and in the life of the church if I truly believed that he could and would? I am such a skeptic at times, doubting that certain things are possible. What if I never doubted that God could or would do anything? What if I lived every day expecting to see God's power revealed in unexpected and surprising ways?

Yesterday was the first day in a long time that I avoided the office, found a quiet place, and pondered God's power. I've been running on fumes lately but after a day of being still and knowing that God is good, I seem to have rediscovered an awareness of God's power.

May God grant you the grace to believe in God and God's ability. May God's power be revealed to you in amazing ways today. 

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's readings are 2 Samuel 21 Chronicles 11Psalm 142, and Matthew 14

Monday, April 23, 2012

Assurance

When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come? Or should we expect someone else?"       -Matt 11:2-3 (NIV)

 Back in chapter 3, we read that John's mission is to prepare the way of the Lord. John has his own idea about who the Lord is, how the Lord will act, and what the Lord will do. He expects the Lord to be powerful- cutting down trees that don't produce fruit- separating the wheat from the chaff. But then Jesus starts healing the sick. He says that the poor in spirit are blessed. He says that peacemakers are sons and daughters of God. He says that we should turn the other cheek when someone strikes us. John begins to wonder if this Jesus, acting so differently than he anticipated, is indeed the one to come.

 I have my own understandings and expectations of who Jesus is...and I believe- like John- that these expectations are grounded in scripture. But then I find myself questioning, "Is this what I'm supposed to believe about you or is it something else?" Like John, I find myself often seeking assurance that Jesus is who I think he is.

 May God grant you the assurance that you need and seek today.


If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's readings are 1 Samuel 30-31, 1 Chronicles 10, and Matthew 12.


Thursday, April 19, 2012

God's Wonderful Love

Praise be to the Lord, for He showed his wonderful love to me while I was in a besieged city. -Psalm 31:21 (NIV)

This morning's assigned scripture readings are about children of God under siege. David is running for his life in the 1 Samuel text and the psalmist is under attack in Psalm 31. Yet even while the psalmist is under attack, God shows God's wonderful love.

If it's not happening now, sooner or later we will find ourselves under attack. Most of us are not looking for such confrontations and most of us are not looking forward to them. But when they come (we'd like to say, "if they come," but that isn't realistic), I pray that we'll still be able to see God's wonderful love for us.

May God grant you the grace, in all things good and bad, to see God's wonderful love for you today.


If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's scripture readings are 1 Samuel 24, Psalm 57 and 58, 1 Chronicles 8, and Matthew 8.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Something I Don't Want to Forget

Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. -Matthew 6:11-13 (NIV)

My first Sunday as a United Methodist pastor, I was asked to lead a closing communion service for a Disciple Bible Study. I was given the liturgy minutes before the service started and didn't have a chance to look over it. As I stood before that group of complete strangers, leading liturgy for the first time as a newly appointed pastor, I came upon the line that said, "The Lord's Prayer." I was supposed to lead the group in this prayer that has become central to life and faith in the Christian community.

There was only one problem: I couldn't remember the Lord's Prayer. My mind went totally blank. The only thing that I could think of was The Apostles' Creed, which begins, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth." After what felt like minutes (but was probably only seconds) of not being able to recall the Lord's Prayer, I said to the group, "And now let us pray the Lord's Prayer silently."

After the service, several people came up to me and said, "Wow. I've never prayed the Lord's Prayer silently before...that was awesome." If they only knew why they prayed it silently that night! (Some of you that were there that night are probably reading this, so now you know)

I now have a copy of the Lord's Prayer taped to the inside of my Bible in the hopes of avoiding another situation where I forget the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray. And I hope I never forget. I also hope that I never forget the important theological statement that The Lord's Prayer makes about our past, present, and future. In The Lord's Prayer, we ask God to give us our daily bread (the present), to forgive our debts (the past), and to lead us not into temptation (the future). It reminds us that we can trust God with our past, our present, and our future. Oh that I never forget that!

May God grant you the grace to believe and never forget that you can trust God with your past, present, and future.



Tomorrow's readings are: 1 Samuel 23, Psalm 31, Psalm 54 and Matthew 7.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

A Different Prayer List

You have heard it said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemies." But I tell you: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...if you only pray for those who love you, what reward will you get?" -Matthew 5:43,46 (NIV)

I often spend my mornings thinking and praying about people whom I love. Seldom do I devote any significant amount of time thinking and praying about people for whom I don't have special regard. Take yesterday for example. I spoke with two different friends who were upset because of hurtful things that others had said about them. I know for a fact that the things being said about these two friends are not true.

For the rest of the day, I found myself praying for these two friends whom I love, asking God to heal their hurt, affirm their value to Him and to me, and make them more keenly aware of God's presence and peace. What I didn't do was pray for those who hurt my two friends. I didn't ask God to soften their hearts. I didn't ask God to give them more information in order to see that what they said was not true and not fair. I didn't ask God to help them realize that the tongue is a deadly poison (James 3:7) and that one day we will all have to give an account of the empty words that we have spoken (Matthew 12:36). I prayed for my friends who had been hurt but I did not pray for those that hurt my friends. But then I wake up this morning to the assigned reading about loving enemies and praying for those who persecute. Could God be trying to tell me something?

Today, in addition to praying for those I love, I feel compelled to pray for those I do not love. I confess that I am reluctant to pray for those who hurt me and/or the people I love, but Christ calls me to pray for them.

Today, may God grant you the desire to pray for those whom you're tempted not to pray.


If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's scripture readings are 1 Samuel 22, Psalm 17, Psalm 35, and Matthew 6.

Monday, April 16, 2012

It is Written

After fasting forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" -Matthew 4:2-4 (NIV)

Jesus has just been baptized. Heaven has opened up and the Holy Spirit has descended upon Jesus like a dove. A voice from heaven has said, "This is my Son, whom I love, with whom I am well pleased." Then Jesus is led out to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He doesn't eat for 40 days and nights, no doubt weakening him physically but also mentally. It is at this point of weakness that the devil comes. And it is during this time of weakness that Jesus' knowledge of scripture helps keep him from giving in to the devil's temptations.

High holy moments are often followed by times of wandering in the wilderness. Thid just seems to be a rhythm of life. I'm involved in this daily discipline of reading scripture and journaling not just because I want more high holy moments but also because I want to be prepared for my days in the wilderness. I want scripture to be so much a part of my life that when the tempter comes, I can say, "It is written..."

May God grant you the grace to be faithful in reading and remembering God's word.


Tomorrow's readings: 1 Samuel 20-21, Psalm 34, and Matthew 5.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Look at the Heart

Do not look on his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things humanity looks at. We look at the outer appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. -1 Sam 16:7 (NIV)

In the assigned scripture readings for today, the Lord has had enough of Saul's disobedience and rejects him as king. God then tells Samuel to go to Bethlehem where he will find the next king of Israel.

Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Samuel meets Eliab, son of Jesse, and wrongly assumes that Eliab is the one that God wants to be anointed king. God cautions Samuel not to look at Eliab's outward appearance because God does not look at such things; God looks at the heart.

I am often guilty of sizing up people based on their outward appearance and I have often been frustrated when people have failed to live up to my initial impressions. Sometimes they surpass any expectation that I had of them. Other times, they fell far short. Today I am reminded that the heart is a much better indicator of the kind of person someone is rather than outward appearance.

Are you guilty of judging others more by their appearance than their heart? May God grant you the grace to resist this temptation today. Seek instead to look at their hearts.




The Good Morning God daily devotionals are based on assigned scripture readings from The Life Journal, designed to encourage people to read through the entire Bible in a year and then journal about it.

I'll return with another devotional on Monday (from 1 Samuel 19, 1 Chronicles 7, Psalm 59, or Matthew 4). In the meantime, if you're reading through the Bible in a year, here are this weekend's readings:

Saturday: 1 Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2
Sunday: 1 Samuel 18; 1 Chronicles 6; Psalm 11; Matthew 3

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Christ in You

Examine yourself to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless, indeed, you fail the test. -2 Cor 13:5 (NIV)

A year ago, when I journaled on this day and on these readings, it was not a good day. I didn't make any specific references to events taking place in my life but I did say that I felt spiritually dry and empty (yeah, pastors feel that way at times too). In my estimation, I had failed the test. This morning, as I once again reflect on this verse and examine my life, I feel more confident than I did a year ago about where I am in my faith. There is always room for improvement but I do feel Christ in me today.

Being hungry for a greater awareness of Christ's power and presence in your life is important. Seeking to sense this presence and to find power in this presence is crucial. A daily examination for evidence of Christ in your life is a good place to start.

May God grant you the grace to examine yourself today to see whether you are living in the faith. I hope you pass the test and claim the power that is available because Jesus Christ is in you. And take comfort: His presence in your life isn't dependent upon your perception of it.


If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are 1 Samuel 15-16, 1 Chronicles 5, and Matthew 1.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

You've Got the Power

Three times I pleaded to the Lord about this, that the thorn would leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in witness." So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for wherever I am weak, I am strong. -2 Corinthians 12:8-10

I'm not sure if it's helpful or productive to boast of weakness. But it is helpful to acknowledge weakness and limitation and in those moments to seek God's power. It seems as if I always rely on God more in moments of weakness and it also seems as if I make room for God's power more often in those moments of weakness. It's often only when I've exhausted all other options that I am able to embrace the belief that God's grace is sufficient.

Today, in all things, I am going to trust that God's grace is sufficient. I'm going to acknowledge that the power of Christ dwells in me at all times, but especially when I am weak.

May God grant you the grace to trust God completely, to help you to believe with all your heart that His grace is sufficient and to sense that the power of Christ dwells in you.



Tomorrow's readings: 1 Samuel 14; 1 Chronicles 4; 2 Corinthians 13

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

A Sin Not to Pray

Note: I sent out yesterday's devotional by email but failed to post it to the blog site. It has now been posted and can be accessed by clicking on the "From Looking to Leading" link to the right. Here's today devotional:


As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. -1 Sam 12:23 (NIV)

In chapter 12, Samuel is obviously preparing for his death or departure. He calls Israel together and makes sure that he has always dealt fairly and truthfully with them. If he has not, Samuel plans to make things right before he leaves.

Samuel also expresses his frustration with the Israelites. Time after time, God has heard their cries and delivered them from oppression, sin, and death. Yet despite God's continued faithfulness, the Israelites do not place their trust in God as King and instead want an earthly king of their own.

God gives them the king that they seek, but neither God nor Samuel are happy about it. In fact, Samuel calls upon God to send a great thunderstorm to help the Israelites realize that they have done evil in asking for an earthly king. The thunderstorm comes and leaves the Israelite people in awe of the Lord and Samuel.

The Israelites then ask Samuel to pray for them. Samuel promises to pray and he reminds them that there's still time for Israel to serve the Lord with all of their heart; the Lord does not want to turn His back on His people.

It strikes me that it would have been easy for Samuel NOT to pray for the Israelites. He was upset with them and he was frustrated with them. But Samuel prays for them nonetheless because, in his words, to fail to pray for them would be to sin against the Lord.

No matter how often people turn away from God, no matter how much they frustrate and upset us, we must pray for them because (according to Samuel) it would be a sin not to!

May God grant you the grace to pray for others today, especially those who are difficult to pray for!




Tomorrow's Readings: 1 Samuel 13, 1 Chronicles 2-3, and 2 Corinthians 12.

From Looking to Leading

As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. -1 Samuel 9:20 (NIV)

Today's assigned reading begins with Israel asking for a king. The elders are tired of judges. Samuel is old and his sons are not honest enough to lead. Israel thinkd that the answer to its problem is a king to lead them...just like all the other nations have. This doesn't sit well with Samuel so he prays about how to respond. Israel's desire for a king doesn't sit well with God either; God interprets this desire as a rejection of God's own kingship. Nevertheless God instructs Samuel to give the Israelites what they want and to warn them about what a king would mean for them.

When we're introduced to Saul, he isn't looking for a kingship. He's looking a donkey (actually more than one).

The donkeys belonging to his father are lost. Saul and a companion go looking for them. After an unsuccessful search and rescue mission, Saul and his companion seek out a seer for clues as to the whereabouts of the donkeys. That seer is Samuel.

God informs the one looking for a king (Samuel) that the one looking for donkeys (Saul) is to be the new king. Obviously, this is news to Saul; donkeys are the only thing on his mind at the moment. Samuel tells Saul not to worry about the donkeys (they've been found) and then informs him that all of Israel will eventually turn to him. Saul objects, pointing out that he is from the smallest clan from the smallest tribe in Israel. But God changes Saul's heart and mind, anoints him with the Spirit of God, and Saul becomes king.

Like Saul, you may think that you know what your purpose is in life. For Saul, his journey was all about looking for lost donkeys. But God has other plans; Saul goes from being a looker to a leader.

There's nothing wrong with looking for donkeys. But does God desire for you to do something else? Is God calling you to stop being a looker and start being a leader? Can the same God who equipped Saul for a radically different purpose equip you for something radically different?

May God grant you the grace to hear God's will for your life today and to experience a fresh anointing of the Spirit for whatever God is calling you to do.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Keeping Promises

And Hannah made a vow saying, "Lord, if you will look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord." -1 Samuel 1:11 (NIV)

Hannah was without child and deeply troubled by it. She was being ridiculed by Elkanah's other wife and children. It was almost more than she could take. And yet somehow Hannah found the faith to pray. What I find interesting is that Hannah bargains with God, saying that if God would grant her a child, she'd give that child back to God. It sounds like such a desperate prayer and I wonder if she really stopped to think about what she was praying. And yet, when God did answer her prayer, she kept her promise. It had to have been difficult for her to do it but she did it. We're later told that her faithfulness resulted in five more children.

All of us like people who keep their word- who do what they say they're going to do. All of us have been disappointed by people who didn't keep their promise. Today I'm mindful of the importance of doing what I say I'm going to do and I'm pondering the blessings that often follow such faithfulness.

May God grant you the grace to keep your promises to God and others today.



You're invited: If you're in the Fayetteville area, I invite you to St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church today at noon for our final Community Holy Week Service. A light lunch will follow. Then at 7pm, our church is hosting a Good Friday service depicting the final moments of Jesus' life. Please join us.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Taking Grace for Granted

As God's co-workers, we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. -2 Cor 6:1 (NIV)

Paul reminds those who have heard the good news of God's love and grace that their lives should reflect that love and grace. It should change the way they live...it should change the way they react and respond to the world around them. They cannot, according to Paul, receive this good news and do nothing with it or not allow it to change their lives.

I am often guilty of taking God's grace for granted. I know that I don't deserve it. I realize that, if I had to earn God's love, I would fall short every single time. But I also know that I don't always allow God's grace to change the way I treat or respond to others. What if God forgave me only inasmuch as I forgave others? What if God's love were conditionally based on my love for God?

Today, I want to be more mindful that I am most unworthy of God's grace and yet it has been extended to me nonetheless. I don't want to take this grace for granted or receive it in vain. And I want to extend that grace to others, even (especially) when others don't deserve it.

May God grant you the grace to not take grace for granted or receive it in vain. And may you who have received grace upon grace extend it to others today.


Tomorrow's readings are 1 Samuel 1-2, Psalm 66, and 2 Corinthians 7.

If you're in the Fayetteville, TN area tonight, please join us for our Maundy Thursday service at 7 pm in our church sanctuary. The church is located at 200 North Elk Avenue.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Bringing Out Goodness

Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband- how you left your parents and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know...may you be richly rewarded." -Ruth 2:11-12 (NIV)

This is a beautiful story of love and faithfulness. When Naomi's husband and her two sons die, Naomi is forced to move back home in the hopes that one of her relatives will provide for her. Ruth, her daughter-in-law, chooses to go with Naomi despite the fact that it would have been in her best interest to stay in her own country with her own family. Ruth is willing to put the interests of her mother-in-law ahead of her own. What marvelous devotion! Ruth is rewarded for her selfless sacrifice and is blessed in a special way. Boaz is mindful of her character, her goodness, and her loyalty and rewards her for it.

People are watching you and me every day and drawing conclusions about our character based on the decisions and actions that we make and take. I want to be more mindful of that today, not necessarily because I want to be blessed like Ruth, but because goodness and faithfulness in my life might bring out goodness and faithfulness in others.

May God grant you the grace to exhibit goodness and faithfulness in your life today and may the way you live your life bring out those qualities in others.


If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are Ruth 3-4, Psalm 53, Psalm 64 and 65, and 2 Corinthians 6.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Where's Your Focus?

Therefore do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. -2 Cor 4:16 (NIV)

God longs to make God's light shine in our hearts. This doesn't mean that we won't experience heartache and despair. On the contrary, our despair provides a greater stage for God's glory to be revealed. God seeks to be our strength in the midst of our weakness.

My problem and indeed the problem of many Christians is that sometimes I focus more on the despair or the source of my pain than I do the source of my strength. My help comes from the Lord! Paul reminds us that we have been given a treasure. We should not ignore our problems but we should not lose sight of what is ours in Christ.

When problems come, may God grant you the grace to not lose focus and to not lose heart. No matter what you face, God's desire is to bring renewal to your spirit. God's strength is made perfect in your weakness.


Tomorrow's readings are Ruth 1-2, Psalm 53, Psalm 61, and 2 Corinthians 5.

P.S. I am preaching at today's Holy Week Noonday Service here in the Fayetteville, TN. If you're in the area, please consider joining us for worship at First Presbyterian Church.

Monday, April 2, 2012

What God Sees Fit

S: In those days, Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. -Judges 17:6 (NIV)

Micah shows how quickly and perhaps unintentionally people can fall away from God if God is not the King and Lord of their lives. Micah returns some silver that he has apparently stolen from his mother. She asks God to bless Micah for safely returning the silver and she consecrates the silver to the Lord. Her actions seem sincere enough but then she gives Micah a portion of the silver to make an idol to be placed in Micah's house. Even though the mother had uttered a curse against whoever stole her silver, she prays that the Lord would bless her thief of a son who has returned the silver.

Micah then hires a Levite to be his priest, presumably after the Levite leaves Bethlehem because the people were not honoring God's command to support priests. Micah is certain that the Lord will be good to him because he has hired his own personal priest.

It doesn't take long for the newly hired priest to change his allegiance. Six hundred soldiers from the tribe of Dan convince the priest that it's better to be the priest of a clan than a single man. The priest takes Micah's idol and leaves with the Danites.

When Micah placed that idol in his home and when he hired his own personal priest, he was confident that God would bless him. But it appears as if what Micah was really trying to do was manipulate God, to do his own thing, whatever he saw fit. And when those things were taken from Micah, when his priest and his idol left town, he had nothing.

This morning, I am wondering what idols are in my life. In what ways do I try to manipulate God? In what ways do I try to do whatever I want and then rationalize it by saying that it's what God would want me to do?

What about you? What if the idols in which you place more confidence than you do in God were taken away? Unfortunately, as I said in yesterday's sermon, sometimes the only way you and I learn that Jesus is all we need is when Jesus is all we have left.

May God grant you the grace to know and do what God sees fit today.


Tomorrow's readings are Judges 19-21 and 2 Corinthians 4.


P.S. This is Holy Week and if you live in the Fayetteville, TN area, I invite you to our Community Holy Week services at First Presbyterian Church at noon each day for worship and lunch. The best way to prepare our hearts and minds for the joy of Easter is to walk with Christ to the cross of Calvary.