Thursday, January 31, 2013

Failure to Recognize


And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons." -Mark 3:22 (NIV)

I probably spent two hours looking for the form. I was sure that it was in this one particular folder in my filing cabinet because that's where it was supposed to be. I was certain that the form was green so that's the color paper that I was looking for in the folder. As it turns out, the form was yellow. I had been shuffling right past it the entire time but didn't recognize it because it wasn't the color for which I was searching.

In this morning's assigned scripture reading, Jesus enters a house that is so crowded with people that he's unable to eat. His family, presumably because he won't stop to eat, assumes that Jesus has lost his mind. The teachers of the law that have come from Jerusalem conclude that he is possessed by Satan. Jesus was right there in front of them, full of the Holy Spirit power, having taught with authority and healed the sick, and his family and the teachers of the law are unable to fully recognize it. What happened to me with the form appears to have happened to them. It's as if they were looking for Jesus to look and act one way and because Jesus looked and acted another way, they failed to get it.

The way Jesus comes, the way Jesus calls, and the things Jesus does may not be exactly what you've come to expect. There's a chance that you don't recognize Jesus because you're shuffling through life looking for Jesus in one way when he's trying to reveal himself in another.

May God grant you the grace to be open to whatever way Christ would come, be, and do in your life today.





Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 4

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The First Step


On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners." -Mark 2:17 (NIV)

Note: No school today resulted in a devotional delay. Sorry to just now be sending out today's devotional.

I have friends and family members who are recovering addicts of one kind or another. Most of them are in some sort of support group like Alcoholics Anonymous or Celebrate Recovery.  Groups like these are often built on the premise that the first step to recovery is acknowledging that one has a problem and that by her or himself  are powerless over that problem. These people reach out to a Higher Power and others with similar addictions for help.

In the suggested scripture reading for today, Jesus is having dinner with sinners and tax collectors. This is not acceptable behavior to the religious leaders of Jesus' day. They consider such sinners and tax collectors unclean and a "ritually clean" person risks becoming unclean when associating with such people. The religious leaders are upset that Jesus is associating with these unclean people.

Jesus responds to their questioning his choice of dinner guests by saying, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." One might interpret this statement as Jesus essentially saying, "Yes, these folks are sick with sin and they need The Great Physician in their life." True enough, I suppose. But I think Jesus is also saying, "Yes, these folks are sick with sin but so are you, religious leaders. These sick people need the healing touch and presence of The Great Physician, but so do you, religious leaders. If you'll acknowledge that you too are sick with sin, The Great Physician will make a house call and bring healing to you too. But if you don't realize that you're sick, you won't seek healing from a Great Physician like me."

I wonder how much healing (emotional, spiritual, and physical) you and I miss because we're not even cognizant of the fact that we're sick?

May God grant you the grace to see the need for the healing touch and presence of The Great Physician today. That's the first step.





Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 3

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

It's Time


"The time has come," Jesus said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news." -Mark 1:15 (NIV)

The year before I enrolled at Ole Miss, on an October afternoon in Oxford, the Rebels were playing host to the Vanderbilt Commodores. Vanderbilt had the ball and called the play: Slot Right 150 Up. At the very moment the ball reached Vandy receiver Brad Gaines, an Ole Miss nickel back named Chucky Mullins made the hit. Chucky immediately fell to the ground unable to move. The collision resulted in four broken vertebrae and the Ole Miss player was paralyzed from the neck down.

That year, the Ole Miss battle cry was "It's Time." Two months after the injury to Chucky, he was brought by ambulance to the Ole Miss locker room to address his teammates moments before they took the field to play Air Force in the Liberty Bowl. Chucky whispered something to Head Coach Billy Brewer. Brewer then repeated it to the team: "It's Time." It was time to go win the game. It was time to win it for Chucky. After Chucky said that, Air Force never had a chance. (If you want to watch a beautiful piece on how Chucky's injury changed the lives of countless people, click here- but have Kleenex handy).

When I read today's suggested scripture, the phrase "It's Time" comes to mind again. Jesus says, "The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news." It's time, not to win a game, but to return to God.

Let's begin today by examining our hearts and minds to see how we've wandered away from God. But let's not stop with simply acknowledging the ways that we have wandered. Jesus says that we must actually repent, which means to have a change of mind. It's more than just feeling sorry for the consequences of our sin; it's actually feeling sorry for the sin itself and turning away from that sin and turning back to God.

I haven't met a lot of people who really like to admit their sin. But it's necessary. It's also dangerous. Why? Well, when confessing sin, it's easy to get stuck dwelling on the sin, becoming overwhelmed by it. "How could I have done that?" "I am such an awful person." "God must really be upset with me." It's so tempting to beat ourselves up when confronting our sin.

Please don't beat yourself up. Jesus tells us to repent, to turn back to him, to heed his voice instead of the other seductive voices out there. He invites us to believe
and to trust him. But he doesn't want us to beat ourselves up over it. Repenting and believing is not meant to bring us down; it's meant to lift us up. Jesus wants us to repent and to believe because good news follows.

Today, may God grant you the grace to acknowledge the ways you've wandered from God. Confess these things to God. Turn away from these things and turn back to God. Believe in God. And receive the Good News that comes from being forgiven. It's Time!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Too Good to be True?


Then go quickly and tell his disciples : "He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.There you will see him." -Matthew 28:7 (NIV)

Last week, I received an email claiming to be from State Farm Insurance. The email said that I had been randomly chosen as a State Farm customer to conduct an online survey. As an incentive to participate, the email promised a $10 gift card from www.amazon.com.

My first thought was that the email was a scam. When Subway Restaurant asks you to complete an online survey, all they offer you is a free cookie. When Walmart asks you to complete an online survey, you waste twenty minutes of your life to be entered for a chance to win some money (I've never won). But a $10 gift card from Amazon? That's enough for a free book or CD download! It sounded too good to be true.

I emailed my State Farm agent to see if the email was legit. I later learned that it was legit and I am now checking the mail each day for the arrival of my free gift card for participating in the survey. Although it sounded too good to be true, it wasn't!

In today's suggested scripture reading, Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" return to the tomb where Jesus has been buried. An angel comes and rolls away the stone that has been blocking the entrance to the tomb. The guards witness this miraculous event and shake with fear. The angel informs the women that Jesus has been raised from the dead and that they are to go tell the disciples that Jesus will meet them in Galilee.

Perhaps God realizes that, when the women tell the other disciples what they have witnessed, the disciples will be tempted to doubt and conclude that the message is too good to be true. Perhaps that's why Jesus himself also graces the women with his post-resurrection presence. Yet after hearing the testimony of the women and even after the disciples themselves have a personal encounter with the risen Christ, the scriptures says they worship him...but some doubt (Matthew 28:16).

You too may have doubts about the resurrection or about faith. It may seem as if it's too good to be true. I would suggest to you that such doubts are not unusual. Even his closest disciples who walked alongside him everyday for three years had doubts. And yet it was to these doubting disciples that the Great Commission is entrusted: go and make disciples. Along with this Great Commission is a great promise: Jesus is with you always.

It may sound too good to be true...but it's not.

May God grant you the grace, even in the midst of doubt, to hear Christ's commission and Christ's promise for your life today.




Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 1

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Friday, January 25, 2013

Are You Ready?


Therefore keep watch, because you don't know the day or the hour. -Matthew 25:13

You know what's better than my Ole Miss basketball Rebels beating the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville a few weeks ago? Beating the Tennessee Volunteers in Oxford last night! (Sorry, Vol fans) As the game ended, you could hear all the rowdy Rebels beginning their popular cheer with the words, "Are you ready?"

In today's suggested scripture reading, readiness is one of the central themes. Ten virgins want to take part in a wedding party. Unfortunately the bridegroom does not come back for the girls as quickly as they expect. Five of them have enough lamp oil for the delayed return; five of them do not.

This appears to be a story about the second coming of Christ. But it's not only just a reminder that we need to be ready for Christ's return or  that we need to be ready to meet Christ when we die. It's also a helpful reminder for the present moment.

You and I have no idea what today holds. We know not what we will face. Yet if we try to live each day fully in the presence of God, if we faithfully seek God in God's Word and in prayer, we will be better prepared for whatever we might face and better prepared to respond.

May God grant you the grace to do the things that will help you to be ready for today.





Tomorrow's suggested reading:  Matthew 26.
Sunday's suggested reading: Matthew 27.
I'll be back on Monday with a devotion from Matthew 28.


If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Stay Warm


Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. -Matthew 24:13-14 (NIV)

Someone walked up to me the other day and asked me how I liked my muffler. I thought that was a strange question, but I'm quick witted and so I said, "Like my day has been, it's exhausting!" (Get it? Mufflers are attached to the exhaust systems of automobiles) I know...you can thank me later for a joke you'll be telling all day. Okay, so absolutely no one reading this will ever tell or act like they've ever heard this joke.

Actually, this person wasn't talking about the muffler on my car. I didn't realize it at the time but a muffler is also another term for a scarf. And I had my scarf on that day.

Someone from the church gave me the scarf for Christmas. A quick Wikipedia search reveals that scarves are used for one or all of the following purposes: cleanliness, fashion, religious purposes, or warmth. I'm hoping that I didn't receive this scarf because someone thought I needed to keep my neck clean. But it is fashionable, I am religious, and it definitely keeps me warm. If I had known that scarves keep you so warm, I would have been wearing a scarf my entire life! I love my scarf!

In the suggested scripture reading for today, Jesus talks about growing cold. When we fail to love God with our whole heart, when we fail to love our neighbor as ourselves, and when we listen to voices other than the voice of God, wickedness (sin) inevitably follows...and our love for God and others grows colder and colder.

I love the scarf that I received for Christmas because I enjoy being warm in cold environments. And I want to stay warm when it comes to my love of God and my love of neighbor. I don’t want my love to grow cold in what can often appear to be a cold world. I want to stand firm to the end. I want to  avoid sinking further into wickedness and sin. To stay warm, to stand firm means continuing to grow in my love for God and others. Today I'll be intentional about finding ways to grow in that love.
 
May God grant you the grace to be warmed by His love and to love those around you warmly today.




Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 25

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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

How's the Inside Looking?


You clean the outside of the cup and dish but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean. -Matthew 23:25-26 (NIV)

In this morning's suggested scripture reading, Jesus is speaking to religious leaders who on the outside appear to be devoted followers of God and God's word but who on the inside have not been cleansed.

I appreciate the fact that Jesus often addresses his remarks to church leaders like me. As a pastor, it's important to be authentic. I try to acknowledge where I struggle in faith and life. I try not to act as if I've got it all figured out or as if I have it all together. But there is a lot of pressure on a pastor to be something we're not- to keep up an outward appearance that suggests we never have doubts or fears, temptations or trials. I've known a lot of pastors through the years who were wrestling with some pretty big demons on the inside, while from all outward appearances they were fine. Unfortunately, when these demons aren't brought to the surface and exposed to the light, they usually win.

And this doesn't just happen to pastors either.

Many times, the outside of our cup and dish appear clean...but we know (and so does God) what the inside looks like. Sometimes we try to convince ourselves that if the outside appears clean to everyone else and if only God can see what the inside of our cup really looks like, then we don't have to clean it. But the reality is that the outside won't stay clean if the inside is so filthy; sooner or later the filth inside the cup will contaminate the outside of the cup.

Jesus suggests that we shouldn't be so concerned about keeping the outsides of our cups clean if the inside is so dirty. He says that we should clean the inside first and then the outside will be clean as well.

How's the inside of your cup looking? May God grant you the grace to focus on the inside of your cup today.





Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 24.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Have You Changed?


But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, "How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?" The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, "Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited but few are chosen." -Matthew 22:11-14 (NIV) 

As I watched the presidential inauguration yesterday, I remembered a story that Pastor Adam Hamilton shared in one of his sermons. Each Sunday before people arrive for worship, Pastor Adam walks around and prays in all the places where people will soon gather. Once, as he made his way to the balcony to pray, he discovered several Starbucks coffee cups strewn on the floor underneath a row of seats. Like the contemporary service at our church, people at his church often bring in their coffee or breakfast pastries into the worship space. But usually they throw their trash away when they leave. Pastor Adam found himself wondering, "If whoever left this trash had been invited to the White House to meet the president, would they have brought their Starbucks into the Oval Office with them? And if they did, would they have left it on the president's desk when they left?" Pastor Adam reasoned that if those who had left their trash had been invited to the White House, they likely would not have brought in Starbucks in the first place and they most certainly wouldn't have left it on the Oval Office desk when they left. After all, it's the President of the United States, right? You do things a little differently when you respond to a presidential invitation.

In our suggested scripture this morning, a king sends his servants out into the street to gather up anyone they could find to attend a wedding banquet. The invitation is extended to any who will come. The invitation has nothing to do with whether they are good enough or deserving enough when they are invited. But apparently once they respond to this invitation, a change is expected. People are not supposed to stay the way they are when they are first called. I reach this conclusion based on the fact that one of the people invited to the wedding banquet shows up not wearing wedding clothes; he hasn't changed and as a result he is dismissed.

To be sure, this parable is an allegory. It's not really about a wedding party or what a person wears to the party. It's not really about whether people should bring in drinks and pastries to worship. I don't think it's meant to be read so legalistically so I hope you won't. Instead, this parable is about the age to come, when we will stand before the One who has extended an open invitation to anyone who would respond. If we have accepted that invitation, there is the expectation that we will conform to the message of the One who offers it, that we will allow ourselves to be changed, to be different.

You (yes you) have been invited to Christ's banquet. If you have said yes to the invitation, have you allowed yourself to be changed by the One who calls? Or is there little difference since you said yes to the One who has said yes to you?

If you have not said yes to the invitation, I'd just like to invite you to do so. Banquets are always full of abundance and joy, especially when the one hosting the party is Jesus. Let me suggest that the way Christ can change you and the world, though often not easy, is well worth it.

May God grant you the grace today to say yes to Christ's invitation and to be changed.





Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 23.

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

Monday, January 21, 2013

Actions Speak Louder


I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. -Matthew 21:31 

Last week was one of those weeks. I knew that I was going to be out of town on three different days which would make sermon preparation more difficult. I kept saying that I would be much more intentional about carving out time to work on the sermon but I never did. Consequently, I didn't feel as prepared or as polished when I stepped into the pulpit yesterday to preach. I said some things that I probably wouldn't have said if I had taken more time to prepare. At the very least, I would have said some things differently. There were other things that I should have said that I did not. Needless to say, as I left church yesterday, I was disappointed in myself for having said that I was going to protect sermon preparation time but then failed to do so.

In today's suggested scripture reading, Jesus tells a parable about two sons. One son is asked by his father to go to work in the vineyard. The first son says that he will not go but then goes anyway. The second son assures his father that he will go to the vineyard but then never does. Jesus asks the chief priests and elders present which son has done what the father wanted. The elders correctly reply that the first son is the one who did what the father wanted. Jesus responds by saying that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of chief priests and elders.

It appears that this parable is an indictment against the people of Jesus' day who say that they are people of God but whose actions do not match their words. Others who do not make such claims to be godly people nevertheless go and do what people of God are supposed to do.

This morning, I am reminded of the truth that actions speak louder than words. I want greater consistency in the words that I speak and the things that I do.

May God grant you and me the grace to do the things that God wants you and me to do. I think I'm going to get started on next week's sermon preparation right now.




Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 22.

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."


Friday, January 18, 2013

A Shepherd's Love


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)

Today's suggested scripture reading is one of the more beautiful images in all the Bible to me. As long as there is one sheep that is not with the flock, the shepherd is not content. He does not wait on the wayward sheep to come to him; he goes searching for wayward sheep. There is not a single sheep that isn't important 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 by someone else). 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.



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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 19
Sunday's suggested reading: Matthew 20.
I'll be back on Monday with a devotional on Matthew 21.

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."



Thursday, January 17, 2013

Mountaintop Experiences


Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." -Matthew 17:4

When I went to seminary, I met a group of guys that to this day remain good friends. After we graduated, we made it a regular point to get together at least once a year for a reunion at a lake house. This was before all of us had children and/or big churches. When we'd get together, it was just like old times. We'd play darts. We'd listen to Shania Twain. We'd grill out huge steaks. We'd play NCAA football on the Sony Playstation. We'd tell funny stories. And yes, we'd even take time to study scripture and pray out by the lake. It was so much fun. I recall that on a number of occasions, I didn't want our time together to end. I didn't want to return to a world of church meetings and sermon preparation, a world of people suffering from cancer and job loss. I just wanted to stay there by that lake with those friends.

Peter had a similar experience in today's suggested scripture readings. What he encountered on the mountain was so special that he did not want it to end. Perhaps he knew what awaited him at the bottom of the mountain; perhaps he just wanted to stay and enjoy his mountaintop experience.

Jesus knew that we can't stay on the mountaintop forever (at least not on this side of eternity); we must return to the work that God has called us to do. We need mountaintop experiences, to be sure, because they breathe new life into our sails and renew us for the unfinished and important work to be done once we descend from our magical (not in a sorcery kind of way) moments on the mountain (or by the lake).

Today, I thank God for the mountaintop (lakeside) experiences that I have had, confessing that I'm ready for another one (I bet you are too), and praying that all such experiences would prepare and sustain me for the unfinished and important work ahead.

May God grant you the grace to have a mountaintop experience soon...and may it strengthen you for the important things that God has called you to do.





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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 18

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."


Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Let Christ Build


"And I  (Jesus) tell you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." -Matthew 16:18 (NIV)

When I went to the Holy Land in 2009, each member of my group took turns reading scripture associated with the different sites that we visited. I read today's suggested scripture reading when we went to Caesarea Philipi.

Not everyone reading this devotion wants a history lesson but this place was not always called Caesarea Philipi. It once served as a shrine to the Greek god Pan and was called Paneas or Banias. It was believed that Pan, along with many other gods, would go to Sheol (some might say the underworld, Hell, or Hades) during the winter months which resulted in the dry, barren season common to this part of the world. How did Pan travel to and from the underworld each year? Through the cave in front of which I read scripture, of course.

The people believed that the dry, barren season would end only when Pan returned from the underworld. In an effort to entice him to return and bring rain and fruitfulness back to the land, people would gather at the entrance of the cave and offer up rituals that involved sexual encounters with prostitutes and even animals. Because of the kind of activities that took place there and because the cave was viewed as the gate to the underworld, the entrance to the cave became known to many as the Gates of Hell (or Hades).

You can imagine, then, what the disciples must have been thinking when Jesus takes them to this place where these sorts of rituals were taking place, the very Gates of Hell. There, in the midst of the worshiping of other gods, Jesus asked, "Who do people say that I am?" He was inviting people to contrast how he was seen as opposed to how the other gods being worshiped were seen.

Peter piped up and said, "I say that you are the Messiah, the son of the living God." Jesus responded by saying, "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." It's as if he was saying, "We're standing in a place that worships and serves everyone and everything but me but you have been given the truth. I'm going to use you, my disciples, to build a church. And that cave over there, the very Gate of Hades, will not overcome that which I'm building."

That's why I follow Christ...because I live in a broken world that worships all of the wrong things. But the God that I serve is able to overcome all of that brokenness. The God I serve doesn't run away from all of the evil that exists, but stands in the middle of it, inviting us to consider who this God is and what this God longs to do for the world.

In the midst of your brokenness, may God grant you the grace to consider who God is and what God wants to do in your life today. Let Christ begin to build something in you and on you that cannot be overcome by the Gates of Hell.



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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 17

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Context


Then Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment. -Matthew 15:28 (NIV)

On Sunday, I preached a sermon on how all of us could use an use an upgrade in life. I tried to help people determine if they needed an upgrade by making statements like: If you think an apple is only a fruit and not a computer, you might need an upgrade. If you're trying to watch Netflix movies on your dial-up internet connection, you might need an upgrade. And then I did it...I went from preaching to meddling...I woke up the sleeping giants... and I said: If you're still a Tennessee Volunteer fan after the football and basketball season that they've had, you might need an upgrade. (Yep, saying that to a room full of Tennessee fans will likely mean that I'll need an upgrade in next week's offering).

Hopefully those of you who were there and heard my crack on the Vols know that I wasn't serious. I was smiling when I said it. I realize that The Big Orange Nation won't be down forever so I figured that I'd go ahead and make a jab while I could. Don't hold it against me Volunteer fans! I love the Tennessee Vo...nope, can't go that far.

All of this reminds me that context is important. If you didn't know the context of my sermon, that I was using an opening illustration to try and get people to think about the need for an upgrade in a humorous way, you might not have understood my comment. If you were not there to see the twinkle in my eye or the smile on my face when I said it, you might not have known that I was trying to be more funny than mean. Knowing the context is important.

In today's scripture reading, I'm not sure that the text tells us enough about the context in which Jesus and the Canaanite woman converse. She comes to him asking for mercy and help because her daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly. We're told that at first Jesus doesn't even answer her. When he finally does say something, it's not to the woman but instead to his disciples, saying in essence, "I was sent to the people of Israel, not to people like her." When he finally does speak to the woman, he implies that she's a dog. On the surface, it appears as if Jesus is being cruel and hurtful and arrogant.

But imagine Jesus saying these things with grace on his face, a twinkle in his eye, and a smile on his lips. Imagine that his facial expressions clearly communicate that he is not trying to shame or hurt this woman. Imagine when he initially doesn't answer her that he's looking at her and nodding his head as if to say, "Don't worry. It's going to be okay. I just want to use this as a teaching moment for these disciples." Imagine when he says that he came only for the lost sheep of Israel that he glances over at the Canaanite woman with a look that says, "I don't believe this at all, but unfortunately these disciples do." Imagine that when he says it's not right to take the children's bread and give it to dogs that he's being sarcastic, inviting her to stand up for herself and defend her dignity. Maybe in addition to her faith that it is some nonverbal communication cue from Jesus that motivates the Canaanite woman to be so persistent and so determined. Maybe she knows by his body language that he is not being ugly or hurtful but is instead inviting her to respond in faith.

I've asked you to imagine these things but the reality is that they're entirely possible: context is important and impacts the way things are heard and received.
   
Reading the Bible by yourself can be difficult because it was never really written to be read in isolation. It was written to be read in the context of community. If you're not involved in some kind of small group study of scripture, let me encourage you to find an existing one or start one of your own. Context is important when seeking to understand the words of God and you need that context!

May God grant you the grace to understand the importance of context today.




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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 16

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Monday, January 14, 2013

Satisfied


And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. -Matthew 14:19-20 (NIV)

Several months ago, a friend of mine was coming to visit and wanted to go to Lynchburg, TN while he was here. If you know anything about Lynchburg, you know that they have some great places to visit: the Moore County Library, several United Methodist churches, and at least one other place full of the spirit. One of the places my friend definitely wanted to visit was Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House.

Despite growing up in this area, I'd never been to Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House. When we got there, they seated us at a large table with complete strangers. The food was delivered in communal bowls and placed on the table. We were instructed to take as much as we wanted from each bowl and then passed it to the person next to us. When a bowl was empty, they brought another to the table.

Being seated at the table with people I didn't know and having to share food with them forced me and my friend to talk with the strangers at our table (not that I really have to be forced to talk to strangers). Before the end of the meal, we knew where each other was from and we were laughing and joking together.

In the suggested scripture reading for today, Jesus encounters a large crowd of people, has compassion on them, and heals their sick. As evening approaches, the disciples encourage Jesus to send the people home so that they can eat. Jesus responds by telling them that the crowd doesn't have to be sent home to eat; they can eat right where they are. He then commands the disciples to give the huge crowd something to eat.

The only problem is that there doesn't appear to be enough food for everyone. The disciples only manage to scrape up five loaves of bread and two fish.  But Jesus directs the huge crowd to sit down nevertheless. He blesses what little food has been collected, instructs the disciples to distribute it to the crowd, and everyone eats and is satisfied.

If their dining experience was anything like my Miss Bobo's experience, everyone was satisfied with their meal but they were also connected to people in a way that they had not been before the meal. They knew more about where people were from. They enjoyed a joke and a laugh. They knew something about each other's story that they did not know before the meal began.

One of the reasons why I love our church's hot meal ministry to the hungry is because we sit down with people that I might not otherwise meet or know. We share food and we share our stories. We joke and we laugh. And the best part is that we leave the table satisfied..and it's not just because of the food either.

May God grant you the grace to be satisfied not just by the food you eat today but by the people with whom you eat it.





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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 15

If you're new to this site, I try to write daily devotionals each Monday-Friday.


Friday, January 11, 2013

Need Some 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?" -Matthew 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 like John, I have moments where I have my doubts: "Is this what I'm supposed to believe about Jesus or is it something else?" Like John, I find myself seeking assurance that Jesus is who I think he is. Thankfully, Jesus offers assurance to John and through the years he has offered assurances to me.

 Do you have doubts this morning? So does Philip Yancey, one of my favorite Christian authors. Here's what he has to say about doubt:

"Doubt is something almost every person experiences at some point, yet something that the church does not always handle well.  I’m an advocate of doubt, because that’s why I became a Christian in the first place.  I started doubting some the crazy things my church taught me when I was growing up!  (This was a most unhealthy church, I must say.)
I’m also impressed that the Bible includes so many examples of doubt.  Evidently God has more tolerance of doubt than most churches.  I want to encourage those who doubt, and also encourage the church to be a place that rewards rather than punishes honesty.”

May God grant you a safe place to openly share your doubts and the great grace to find the assurance you seek today.



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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 12. Sunday's suggested reading is Matthew 13. I'll be back on Monday with a devotional thought from Matthew 14.

If you're new to this site, I try to write daily devotionals each Monday-Friday




Thursday, January 10, 2013

The Grace to be Grace


These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: "The kingdom of heaven has come near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." -Matthew 10:5-7 (NIV)

This is one of those times when I like the way that Eugene Peterson's The Message presents this scripture: "Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: 'Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.'"

Peterson's words personalize the language. I like that he eliminates terms like Gentiles and Samaritans. Gentiles and Samaritans represent non-Jews, groups that the disciples would have considered outsiders from other communities. We have different terms to describe such people today. Jesus does not say to avoid these groups because he doesn't love them or because they're not important. Instead, many believe that he says these things because he understands that he comes first to the Jews and then to others. You have to start somewhere, right?These disciples start with the people and the geography with which they're familiar. In time, the territory that they cover will increase...and so should ours.

One of the things that excites me most about the church I have the privilege of serving is our church's commitment to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the people right here in our community. Yes, we do mission trips to faraway places but those mission trips do not come at the expense of local mission work. We're not opposed to going off to other places and we are most certainly blessed by going, but we also realize that we don't have to travel  to some far-away place to share our faith: we can do that right here where we live.

May God grant you the grace to see the needs not only a world away but right where you are. And may God grant you the grace to be grace to the lost and confused: healing the sick, raising the dead, touching the untouchable. You have been treated generously, so live generously.




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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 11


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Time for Something New?


No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wine skins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wine skins, and both are preserved. -Matthew 9:16-17 (NIV)


Note: For some reason, yesterday's devotional did not "send." As a result, you'll get two devotionals today.

If you know anything about me at all, you know that I'm an Ole Miss graduate and Ole Miss athletics fan. Last weekend, Ole Miss played in its first bowl game in three years. The game was at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

Legion Field was completed in 1927. If I didn't know better, I'd say that they haven't renovated it since that time. I saw advertisement signs on the wall for products that no longer exist. It took us twenty minutes to find our seats because there were no numbers on the aisles in our assigned section. The aisles were so small that two-way traffic was impossible. You get the picture.

The game-day program that I read said that the stadium was renovated as recently as 2005. I'd hate to see what it looked like before then. At some point, pouring money into this dilapidated stadium seems pointless. If they're really serious about hosting a bowl game, I'd suggest doing some significant patchwork or tearing down the stadium and building a new one.

That seems to be what Jesus is saying in today's suggested readings. There comes a time when patching up an old garment is useless. There comes a time when the best thing to do is get something new.

Of course, Jesus is not just talking about clothing. He's talking about faith. Jesus came to bring something new to a religion that was based on legalism. He came teaching that salvation comes not by adhering to laws, but by grace (an undeserved and unearned gift) through faith (belief and trust).

I'm all for patching something if, after it's patched, it works. To get rid of something that can be successfully patched only because we want something new is a big problem in our culture. But if patching isn't working and won't work, maybe it's time to try something new.

What in your life have you been trying to patch unsuccessfully? Is the poor patchwork the result of you not really trying or because you haven't included God in the repair? Or is what you're patching just un-patchable and trying to do so only makes the tear worse?

May God grant you the grace to know what's worth patching and what's not.





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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 10


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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Some-Daying God


Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead." -Matthew 8:21-22 (NIV)

When Bishop Dick Wills was in Tennessee, I recall him saying that he wanted the lives of his pastors to reflect three priorities: God, family, and church...and he wanted them prioritized in that order. He freely talked about the danger to pastoral families of putting the church before our family. Children and spouses begin to resent the church because they never feel as important as the church.

So then I read today's suggested chapter of the New Testament about a man who is commanded not to return to bury his father but instead to follow Jesus. I don't know about you but I can't imagine how missing your father's funeral is going to improve your standing at the next family reunion.

But many scholars suggest that this man's father had not just died; in fact, these scholars don't think that the man's father was dead at all. Instead, it was the man's way of putting off Jesus, saying, "I know I need to follow you and one day I will. But I can't right now. Some day, after my dad dies, after I receive my inheritance, after I've done some other things, then I'll follow." If that is true, Jesus wasn't rudely insisting that the man not even take the time to go to his father's funeral. What he was instead saying is, "You'll always find a reason to put off following me. And if you don't do it now, you may never do it. Do it now."

I've done this a lot in my own life. Some day, after I retire, I'll go on that dream vacation. Some day, after I'm finished with this project, I'll read my Bible more. Some day, when I'm not on so many conference committees, I'll start exercising more regularly. Sound familiar? It's the danger of some day!

 Are you some-daying God? Is there something that God is clearly calling you to do, to be, or to say and your response has been, "Well, I'm doing this right now. But some day, God, you'll have more of my attention."

May God grant you the grace to stop some-daying God today.




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Tomorrow's suggested readings: Matthew 9


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Monday, January 7, 2013

Is There a Plank in Your Eye?


"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of our own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." -Matthew 7:3,5 (NIV)

I don't know about you but I don't want to be a hypocrite...although it happens more times than I care to admit. But I don't want to say one thing and do another. I want consistency and authenticity in my life and in my faith. It's tough and it's hard work.  It's even tougher when you and I are not engaged in the discipline of regular self-examination.

Why not join me in that discipline of self-examination as the new year begins? Why not focus on the planks in our own eyes in 2013 rather than the specks in the eyes of others?

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement which eventually became the United Methodist Church had what he called a "Test for Self-Evaluation." Perhaps you will find it helpful should you decide to join me in a new discipline for a new year. Ask yourself these questions:

"Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I'm a better person than I really am? Do I laugh at the mistakes of others, reveling in their errors and misfortunes? Do I insist on having my own way? Is there a tendency for me to put down others so that I'll be thought of more highly? Do I pass on to others what is told to me in confidence? Am I thoughtful in expressing "thanks" to people for what they've done for me, no matter how insignificant it seems? Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits? Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying? Did the Bible live in me yesterday? Did I disobey God in anything yesterday? Did I insist on doing something about which my conscience was uneasy? Did I handle discouragement well or did I have to be coddled? Am I enjoying prayer? When did I last speak to someone about Christ? Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, or hold resentment toward? If so, what am I doing about it? Is Christ real to me?"

May God grant you the grace to focus on the planks in your own eye instead of the specks in the eyes of others.



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Tomorrow's suggested readings:
 Matthew 8

If you're new to this site, I try to write daily devotionals each Monday-Friday.

Friday, January 4, 2013

The Most Tempting Times


Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. -Matthew 4:1 (NIV)

Whenever you read about the wilderness in scripture, it's usually not just a geographical reality; it's also a spiritual reality. And one of the things that I've learned over the years is that, for me, the temptations to do things that are not pleasing to God always seem more prevalent when I am in a wilderness, when my spiritual life has plateaued or is dormant. When I am daily immersed in the word of God and surrounded by the faithful people of God, it's been my experience that I am usually less tempted.

In our scripture today, Jesus is in the wilderness. And it's there (as opposed to being in the temple when he's immersed in scripture and surrounded by spiritual friends) that the devil comes and tempts him. Thankfully, Jesus has at sometime previously immersed himself in God's word and is able to use scripture to resist the devil's temptations. Hopefully when our wilderness comes and we're tempted by the evil one, we will be able to do the same.

Someone reading this today may be in the wilderness. The temptation to do that which does not please God may be stronger now than it's ever been. May God grant you the grace to draw from your past knowledge of scripture to get you through this time of temptation. But may God also grant you the grace to realize the importance of immersing yourself in God's word now and of the importance to seek out and surround yourself with other faithful followers of Jesus. It just may make your temptations less appealing.  



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This weekend's suggested readings:

Saturday: Matthew 5
Sunday: Matthew 6
Monday: Matthew 7

If you're new to this site, I try to write daily devotionals each Monday-Friday. I hope you'll worship at a church of your choice on Sunday and that you'll return here for another devotional on Monday. 

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Turn Around


In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near." -Matthew 3:1-2 (NIV)

Happy New Year! After taking a week or so off for Christmas, I'm back with what will hopefully be another year of God Morning God daily devotionals. When I began writing these devotionals last year, I had no idea just many people would read them.

I figured that I could probably talk my mother into reading them (if she only had a computer and internet access). I figured that I could get my wife to read them (especially if I threatened to write things about her from time to time). But I had no idea that you'd be reading.

Just how many people are reading? Well, my website received 19,875 visits last year, which averages 1,656 visits a month. Additionally, 205 people receive the devotionals directly to their email account each morning. Hardly a week goes by that I don't receive a visit, a note, or a call where someone tells me how blessed they are by these devotionals. One family even donated enough money to revamp the website and pay for the program that I use to email the devotionals each day. God is good.

This year's devotionals will focus only on New Testament readings. Each morning, I'll suggest reading a chapter of the New Testament. We'll work our way from Matthew to Revelation. Once we reach the end of Revelation, we'll return to the gospels and read them through a second time. On most days, the devotional that I write will come from the chapter suggested for reading that day. Sometimes, however, I might go in a completely different direction if the spirit leads.
 
Today, the words of John the Baptist ring in ours: "repent". The word that John uses here is the verb "metanoeo," which means to change one's mind or purpose. I've heard others say that "repent" means "to turn around" or "turn back to God". So perhaps it's a much needed word for us as we begin the new year.

Have we turned away from God? Was our primary purpose for 2012 to live and love as God lives and loves? Or was there some other purpose or focus to our lives? How might God be calling us to live differently in 2013?

Those that responded to John's preaching were the people of Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the region along the Jordan - people who wanted to get turned around and headed in a new direction.

May God grant us the grace to turn around if the direction we've been headed has not been toward God. Happy New Year to you and your family!



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You may want to go back and read Matthew 1-2 as those were the chapters for the first two days of this year. Tomorrow's suggested reading is Matthew 4.