Thursday, February 28, 2013

Seek the Straying


"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" -Luke 15:4 (NIV)

On most Sunday mornings, I can look out into the congregation and quickly discern who's not at church. That's because most people typically sit in the same exact seats if not the same general area. Unless someone has informed me, I try to reach out to every regular attendee who has missed two weeks in a row. I want them to know that it's just not the same when they're not there.

When you get to worship on Sunday morning, I invite you to take note of the people that you don't see. Commit to calling or writing those people even if you don't think you know them well. You could say something like this: "I missed seeing you at church on Sunday. Perhaps you were under the weather. Perhaps you were traveling. Perhaps you had an ox in the ditch that needed to be rescued. Whatever the reason, I just want you to know that it's not the same worshiping without you."

When someone comes to church that hasn't been in a while, avoid saying things like, "I can't believe the roof didn't cave in when you walked into the sanctuary." Just smile, greet them warmly, and say that it's so good to see them. Invite them to sit with you. Contact them later in the week and say that their presence is important and a blessing.

Isn't that exactly what Jesus is modeling in the suggested scripture for today? He tells the parable of a shepherd who has one hundred sheep. One of them is missing so the shepherd seeks out the one that has wandered. Why would a shepherd do this? Is it really worth leaving the ninety-nine to go after one that has strayed? Apparently so. The shepherd realizes that if the wandering sheep is not found, it will likely be devoured by a predator.

Jesus knows that it's to the wandering sheep's benefit that it be brought back to the flock. Indeed, Jesus goes looking for wandering sheep. How would church attendance and even more importantly the heath and welfare of all God's sheep be different if you, as a faithful member of his flock, did the same?

May God grant you the grace to seek out straying sheep of the fold today.

NOTE: I'm back from my clergy retreat and back to the land of internet and cell service. I missed writing and sharing my devotionals.



Tomorrow's Reading:  Luke 16

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, February 25, 2013

Be On Guard


Then Jesus said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. -Luke 12:15 (NIV)

Have you ever seen the 1979 movie, "The Jerk?" It's judged by many to be one of the funniest movies of all time although (as I recall) it has quite a bit of offensive and objectionable content. (Disclaimer: I'm not endorsing the movie but I am going to use it as an illustration in today's devotional).

In the movie, Navin Johnson (played by Steve Martin) is a simple-minded man who is on a quest to "find himself." Along the way, he invents the "Opti-Grab," a device that prevents eyeglasses from slipping off of a person's nose. Navin subsequently gets rich and it goes to his head. He becomes consumed with "stuff". Later, his wife confesses that she misses the way things were before they became wealthy. This infuriates Navin and he tells her that he doesn't need her or anything else. As he's storming out the door, he changes his mind and says that all he needs is an ashtray...and a paddle game...and a remote control...and matches...and a lamp...and a chair. (You can watch the entire scene here. Don't worry: it's clean.)

Navin thinks that "stuff" is all that he needs to make himself happy. We have a tendency to think this in our own lives too, don't we? "If I just had that house, or that car, or that job, or that shirt, then I'd be happier." The problem with this approach to life is that we always want something else. Our greed can prevent us from being content with what we have and make us unwilling to share what we have with others.

In today's suggested scripture reading, Jesus cautions his disciples to "be on guard against all kinds of greed" and tells them that "life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." He then uses a parable to communicate the danger of storing up things for ourselves instead of being rich in the things of God.

May God grant you the grace to be on guard against greed today, to find contentment with what you have, and to be willing to share what you have with others.


Note: I will be at a Clergy Spiritual Life Retreat through Wednesday of this week. I may not have time (or internet) to post devotionals. Thanks for understanding.


Tomorrow's Reading:  Luke 13

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, February 22, 2013

How the Kingdom Grows


And he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. -Luke 9:2 (NIV)

When someone visits our church for the first time (if they leave an email or snail mail address), we send them a survey that we call "First Impressions of First Church." We are constantly seeking to make people's experience at our church more meaningful and feedback from our guests is vitally important to that end.

One of the first questions on the survey is: how did you hear about our church? There are about ten choices to choose from, one of which is "other" (in which case a blank is provided so that they can be more specific). Would you believe that most people don't hear about our church through our local advertising efforts? Or the United Methodist Find-a-Church page? Or through these awesome morning devotionals? I know...shocking, right? No, of all the different ways that people possibly hear about our church, the most cited response is "from a friend." Word of mouth. One person sharing with another person.

In the suggested reading for this morning, Jesus calls the disciples together and sends them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. We're told that they then go from village to village proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and that they are agents of healing to the people with whom they come in contact. The early church is not unlike the church I serve today: its growth came from word of mouth. Friend to friend. Neighbor to neighbor. One person sharing with another person.

I believe that Jesus is still in the business of empowering people to share the good news and be agents of healing in the lives of others. I believe that Jesus empowers you! You don't need much for the journey. If people don't welcome you, just shake it off and move on to someone else. But your willingness to share the good news will result in lives being changed. Healing will take place. And maybe...just maybe...in addition to doing those two vitally important things, you'll get to celebrate your successes over a fish fry later (the feeding of the five thousand happens immediately after they return from their travels).

May God grant you the grace of empowerment to proclaim the good news and be an agent of healing today. That's how the kingdom grows.



Tomorrow's Reading:  Luke 10
Sunday's Reading: Luke 11
I'll be back on Monday with a devotional from Luke 12

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, February 21, 2013

Warning or Encouragement?


When he said this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear." -Luke 8:8 (NIV)

I teach a Wednesday night Bible study at the church I serve and it just so happens that we were studying Luke 8 last night. During the course of our conversation, the observation was made that the "Parable of the Sower" can either be read as both a warning and an encouragement.

Just in case you haven't read the parable yet, let me frame it. A farmer goes out to sow seed. Some of the seed falls on the path and is both trampled on and eaten by birds. Some of the seed falls on rocky ground and dies from lack of moisture. Other seed falls among thorns and the thorns choke out the good seed. Thankfully, some of the seed falls on good soil and produces a wonderful harvest.

If this parable is read as a warning, the message is this: what happens to the seed (which Luke says is the word of God) is dependent upon the ground, or heart, onto which it falls. Read in this way, you and I are to realize that, if our hearts aren't fertile ground, the word of God can be trampled, eaten, withered, or choked. You and I should therefore make sure that the word of God finds fertile soil in which to grow.

Another way of reading the parable is to see it as an encouragement. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law are already furious with Jesus for what he has said and done in the synagogue (6:11). They are looking for reasons to bring charges against him (6:7). Perhaps the disciples are growing discouraged because the seed that Jesus is planting isn't quite growing in the way that they want or hope. The parable could then be Jesus' way of reminding the disciples that farmers plant seed knowing full well that not all of the seed will grow...and yet that doesn't stop them from sowing. They simply trust that enough seed will grow and a good harvest produced. Similarly, the setbacks that Jesus and the disciples are experiencing will not stop the eventual fruition of God's word. That's an encouraging word if you're beginning to have some doubts about the harvest.

As you read the parable this morning, do you think God intends it to be a word of warning or a word of encouragement for you? Are you being urged to improve the soil quality of your heart in order that God's word might produce a bountiful harvest? Or are you a faithful sower who needs assurance that, despite no evidence of God's word taking root in the places where you're throwing seed, in the end the harvest will happen? Could it be that God intends the parable to be both a warning and an encouragement?

May God grant you the grace to hear this parable in the way that God desires for you to hear today.



Tomorrow's Reading:  Luke 9

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, February 20, 2013

How to Spot a Disciple

In those days he went away into a mountain to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he called his disciples and from them he chose twelve, whom he designated apostles. -Luke 6:12-13 (NIV)

"Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii and the other 50. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which one will love him more?" -Luke 7:41-42 (NIV)

Yesterday, I failed to send out a devotional. This morning, I'll briefly touch on yesterday's suggested scripture reading and then move on to this morning's suggested reading.

The thing that struck me about yesterday's reading is that Jesus took time to get away and pray before choosing the people that would become his apostles. If Jesus took time to get away for prayer and discernment, how much more should we?

Today's reading calls to mind a conversation that I had with someone yesterday. A friend was commenting that church folks often like to pick the people that they want responding to the Good News of Jesus. My friend's point is that the people we would be tempted to choose often look like us, sound like us, and believe like us.

In chapter 7, Jesus is in the home of a Pharisee. The word "Pharisee" itself means "separate." These are strict adherents to the law who have added layers of interpretation to it to make the law even stricter. A sinful woman enters, someone a Pharisee normally wouldn't be caught dead near, and anoints Jesus' feet with perfume. Simon the Pharisee is astounded that Jesus would associate with such a sinful woman like this, which prompts Jesus to tell a story about two people being forgiven of a debt. The one forgiven of the larger debt is said to love the gracious moneylender more.

In Simon's eye, this woman doesn't look the part of a faithful follower of God. And yet Jesus suggests that she is more grateful for the forgiveness that she has received because she has been forgiven of more. The woman's salvation and her peace is credited to the faith that she has.

So what might be said about these two stories from two chapters together in this one devotional? Perhaps the word that God speaks to Samuel back in 1 Samuel 16:7 says it best: do not consider a person's outward appearance. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

May God grant you the grace to, like Jesus, spend time in prayer considering what a disciple of Christ really looks like. As you pray, remember that the Lord looks at the heart and not at a person's outward appearance.



Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 8

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, February 18, 2013

Another Way


One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and the teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village...and the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. -Luke 5: 17-19 (NIV)

This has always been one of my favorite gospel stories because of my father. For much of my life, my father did not profess to be a follower of Christ. To be honest, I had almost given up hope that he ever would. But I had a group of friends who were committed to faithfully placing my father before Jesus in prayer...just like the friends in this story were faithful in placing the paralyzed man before Jesus.  When my father finally became a follower of Jesus, I am convinced that it was in part because of the faith of those who continually placed him before the Lord.

But as I reflect on this text for today's devotional, something else stands out to me. The reason why the friends had to resort to lowering the paralyzed man through the roof is because the "religious people" were in the way.

We are told that Pharisees and teachers of the law come from everywhere to hear Jesus teach. These are the so-called religious "experts". When the friends arrive to place the paralyzed man before Jesus, they cannot find a way to do it because of the religious folks who have gathered; these religious people are an obstacle for the paralyzed man who would be placed before Christ.

I wonder: how many times have you and I (as religious people) gotten in the way of others coming to Christ? How many times have we been an obstacle to someone because of our attitudes, our indifference, or or arrogance? How many times have we said or acted some way that does more harm than good for the cause of Christ?

My mind drifts back to my father in the days before he became a follower of Jesus. Preachers from denominations other than mine would visit my dad on a regular basis. They'd try to convince him that he needed Jesus or else he'd perish in hell. What I realize now is that, though perhaps well meaning, these preachers were actually obstacles to my father getting to Jesus. He simply wasn't going to respond to that kind of reasoning. But when a United Methodist colleague of mine went to visit my father, he never even mentioned God or faith in the first few visits. He met my father where he was and talked about the things that my father enjoyed talking about; only much later (after a relationship of trust had been developed) did the subject of faith get introduced. Like the friends in the story, this pastor found "another way" to help get my father before the feet of Jesus.

May God grant you the grace: to continually place others before Christ (like the friends), to not be an obstacle to others who might come to Jesus (like the "religious" crowd), and willing to find "another way" if obstacles are encountered that prevent people from coming to Christ.




Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 6

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, February 15, 2013

Bitter or Better?


There was a prophet, Anna...she was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after their marriage, and then was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. -Luke 2:36-37 (NIV)

Of all the people of scripture that I'd like to meet, Anna would be at the top of the list. Here is a woman whose husband died seven years into their marriage; she is now 84. No doubt her husband's death dashed many of her dreams. I can only imagine the hardship that his death placed on her life and the sorrow that filled her heart.

You and I both know people who have known heartache like that...people whose spouses have died or left, people who seem to have a dark cloud always floating over their heads. I once heard a preacher say that people can respond to such affliction by either getting "bitter or better."

Anna does not choose bitterness. In fact, Luke tells us that she spends all of her time at church, worshiping God night and day. She practices the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. Her misery does not push her farther away from God; it brings her closer to God. She is looking forward to the redemption of Israel and not backwards lamenting the past.

As we continue through the season of Lent, a time of confession, repentance, grace, and forgiveness, I'd like to extend the same invitation to you that I extended to our congregation on Ash Wednesday. Use this time to take a self-inventory of your life. Do you have any baggage that you're carrying around that is weighing you down or slowing you down? Are you holding on to something that is making you bitter instead of better? What would it take for you to lay those burdens down or, better yet, allow Christ to take that baggage upon himself? Isn't that exactly what his intentions were when he went to the cross?

May God grant you the grace to let go of that which would make you bitter or use those experiences to make you better.



Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 3
Sunday's Reading: Luke 4
I'll be back on Monday with a devotion on Luke 5

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, February 14, 2013

Write It Down


Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you... -Luke 1:1-3 (NIV)

At yesterday's Noon Ash Wednesday service, when I placed the sign of the cross on worshipers' foreheads using the ashes from last year's palm branches, I handed out a laminated card. On the card was written basic information about why we observe Ash Wednesday as well a prayer of confession and an assurance of pardon. I encouraged those in attendance that, if they were asked why they had a big smudge on their foreheads as they went about the rest of their day, to share the laminated card as a way of explaining this meaningful act of confession and repentance.

Later that afternoon, two people stopped by my office to tell me that they had gone to the store following worship. A young woman approached them about the sign of the cross on their foreheads. Being good listeners, they handed the woman the laminated card and informed her that there was another Ash Wednesday service to be held later that evening at our church. The woman, new to our community, promised to be there... and she came, bringing her children with her to our third Ash Wednesday service of the day.

I'm so glad that I decided to print those cards with information about why we celebrate Ash Wednesday along with a prayer of confession and an assurance of pardon. It's important information. If you're like me, I write down important information because it's something that I don't want to forget. It's something that I want to be able to refer back to over and over again. It's something that I might want to share with others.

In this morning's scripture, Luke realizes the importance of writing down an orderly account of the teachings of Jesus. He claims that this account comes from the testimonies of eyewitnesses and servants. It's important information that he doesn't want people to forget. It's information that he wants people to be able to refer back to over and over again. It's information that he wants to share with others.

During the season of Lent, when we journey with Christ to the cross, many believers "take on" something in the same way that Jesus "took on" the cross for the salvation of the world. Let me suggest one thing that you and I might "take on" this Lent: writing "it" down. By that, I mean keeping a journal for the next 40 days. Write down the ways in which you see God at work or write down the things for which you're thankful. It doesn't have to be long. It doesn't have to be deep. But it is important. What a gift it would be to share with your children or your spouse! What a gift it would be to your family if you could all participate in "writing it down" together. I'm convinced that this discipline would not only draw you closer to God but to all those who read or hear your account of God's faithfulness. It may never win a
Pulitzer Prize but it may help draw someone closer to Christ...just like the laminated card of important information that two people passed out yesterday at the grocery store.

May God grant you the grace to "write it down" this Lent- an account of the things that have been fulfilled among you.



Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 2

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, February 13, 2013

In This Life and the Next


"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'" -Mark 16:6-8 (NIV)

I confess. You've probably read this devotional before. I originally wrote it last year at about this time. The truth is that I don't have time to journal this morning. I'm at Elk River Coffee Company placing the sign of the cross on anyone who desires it with some of my clergy colleagues. What's Ash Wednesday and what are we doing at the coffee shop? Read about it here. And keep reading the devotional. Even though I wrote it last year, I pray that it blesses you today.

Over the last several days many people for whom our church has been praying have received discouraging reports. I've found myself weeping on several different occasions because people I love have been rocked to the core with bad news.

Maybe that's why I needed Mark 16 today. It's a resurrection text, which seems rather odd to be reading at the beginning of the Lenten season. But it speaks of a great truth.

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome are on their way to the place where the crucified Christ has been buried. They're worried. They're worried that his decomposing body is beginning to smell. They're worried that a huge stone is blocking entrance into the tomb and that they won't be able to enter. But they're greeted by a messenger of God who proclaims that Christ has risen and has gone ahead of them into Galilee. This messenger promises the women that they will see Jesus again.

Like the women of the text, maybe you've recently witnessed or received some discouraging news. Maybe you're worried. Maybe you're afraid. Maybe what you need more than anything else this morning is a message from God: that Jesus has defeated death, that he goes before you with the promise of a better future, and that you will see him again.

Even with such a promise, perhaps you're still afraid (the women in the text are). But may God grant you the grace that, in the midst of worry, discouragement, and alarm, you be assured of God's great love for you. Christ is risen. And you will see him. This isn't just a promise that is fulfilled after you die. It's a promise that will be fulfilled both in this life and the next.



Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 1

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, February 12, 2013

Women of Faith


Some women were watching from a distance. Among them was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee, these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. -Mark 15:40-41 (NIV) 

In today's suggested scripture reading, Jesus is dying on the cross. Peter, the rock on which Christ plans to build his church, has denied even knowing Jesus. Judas, the Chief Financial Officer of the disciples, has betrayed Jesus. The other disciples have all deserted Jesus and fled.

But Mark says that there were some women there watching from a distance. These women do not abandon Jesus. These women cannot abandon him. These women have followed Jesus throughout his ministry (if not his whole life) and care deeply for him.

As I read these words this morning, I find myself thinking about my own life and faith, recalling all of the women of the Way who have had such a huge impact on my life. The person who introduced me to faith so many years ago and helped create in me a hunger for God was my mother. The most influential Sunday School teachers in my life were women. When I think about the people who have cared for me, encouraged me, followed me, and been there for me in difficult times, it seems as if a majority of these people have also been women. When I consider the most gifted pastors and preachers, educators and administrators, it's not surprising to me that there are lots of faithful women at the top of that list.

Certainly, there have been many men who have been these things to me throughout the years. But today, I feel prompted to thank God for the women of the faith that have blessed my life.

May God grant you the grace to spend today recalling with a grateful heart the women who have followed Christ, modeled faith, and expressed love and care for you.



Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 16

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, February 11, 2013

What You Can


"She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial." -Mark 14:8 (NIV)

In today's suggested scripture reading, Jesus is reclining at a table in Bethany. A woman enters the room with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She breaks the jar open and pours the perfume on the head of Jesus. She is quickly reminded, as all of us often are, that you cannot please everybody.

Some of the guests around the table are immediately bent out of shape. "How could she be so wasteful? That's expensive stuff! She could have sold it, taken the money, and helped the poor." They reprimand her for her seeming stupidity.

But Jesus sees things differently (surprise). He praises the woman, saying, "She has done a beautiful thing. She has done what she could. And from this moment on, wherever the gospel is told, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."

Have you ever felt prompted by the Spirit to do something that others might think is wasteful, silly, or insignificant? Have you ever felt like your contribution to the kingdom has been undervalued, under-appreciated, or misunderstood?

Then perhaps you could stand to hear these words of Jesus today: "What you're doing is beautiful. Not everyone may understand or appreciate it. But I do. You're doing what you can and I appreciate it. And your story, your contribution to my story, will be remembered and celebrated long after you're gone."

May God grant you the grace to do what you can for Christ today. It's going to be beautiful.




Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 15

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, February 8, 2013

Start the Demolition


Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. -Mark 11:11 (NIV)

Almost four years ago, I visited the Holy Land. It was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life. As I read Mark 11 this morning, I could picture myself standing on the Mount of Olives again, looking across the Kidron Valley toward the old city of Jerusalem.

Jesus was on the Mount of Olives when he ordered two disciples to go fetch a colt for him to ride into Jerusalem for the final time before his crucifixion. Jesus is believed to have entered the city through the East Gate.

Today, that gate is sealed. Our tour guide told us that Suleiman the Magnificent sealed it around 1541 (although there is disagreement about this claim). There are two prevailing theories behind the sealing of this gate. One theory is that Suleiman was aware that the Jewish people expected their Messiah to descend from the Mount of Olives and enter the holy city of Jerusalem through this gate (fulfilling Zechariah 14:4). Closing the gate, then, is seen as an effort to prevent the fulfillment of this messianic expectation. Another theory behind the sealing of the gate is that it was simply the fulfillment of Ezekiel 44:1-2 which says that after the Messiah enters through it, the gate was to be shut and remain shut. Once Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem on a colt, it was sealed, not because Suleiman wanted to prevent the Jewish Messiah from entering, but because God said that it would be sealed and used Suleiman to do it.

Today, the East Gate is visited by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. For the Jews, it is the gate through which their Messiah will enter Jerusalem. According to Muslim belief, Allah's final judgment will take place in front of the East Gate. For Christians, Christ will once again enter the Holy City of Jerusalem through this East Gate.

As I viewed that sealed gate during my Holy Land trip four years ago, I found myself asking: Jesus, how have I closed off the entrance of my heart to you? It's a question that I find myself asking again as we approach the season of Lent.

I've got a hunch. If the Messiah wants entrance into the city of Jerusalem, those bricks will come down. So why bother sealing it? That leads me to a question that I want to leave with you: why have you built a wall around your heart in an effort to keep Christ out? Don't you think that if Christ wants in, he'll find a way to get in?

May God grant you the grace to examine your heart today. If there's wall around it trying to keep Christ out, why not start the demolition and invite Christ in?




Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 12
Sunday's Reading: Mark 13
I'll be back on Monday with a devotional from Mark 14

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, February 5, 2013

Give What You Have


"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. -Mark 8:5 (NIV)

Through the years, I've heard financial planners say that people should purchase with cash rather than credit. I understand their rationale: many people purchase things on credit that they really cannot afford. But I'm on the other side of the fence. I think more before purchasing something when I use a credit card than I do with cash. If I have cash, I'll buy a candy bar here and a pack of gum there. Before you know it, I'm all out of cash. That's what happened last week.

I was making an unplanned purchase because I thought I had cash in my wallet. When it came time to pay, I realized that I didn't have enough cash to pay for my purchase. When I attempted to pay with a credit card, I was told that they were temporarily unable to take credit cards. I guess I had the "What Am I Going to Do Now" look on my face when I was asked, "How much cash do you have?" I told her, embarrassed at how little it was. "Well, just give me what you have and I'll take care of the rest," she said. I guess it pays to be a frequent customer.

In today's suggested scripture reading, another large crowd has gathered around Jesus. Perhaps people have heard about how Jesus healed the deaf and mute man from chapter 7. Jesus is worried about sending these people on the long journey home without something to eat. The disciples, on the other hand, are worried about where they're going to come up with enough food to feed four thousand people. McDonald's may serve billions, but not at all at one time...and besides there weren't any Golden Arches in Jesus' day.

Jesus responds by asking the disciples, "How many loaves do you have?" Implied in his question seems to be this thought: "Just give me what you have and I'll take care of the rest."

Don't you think that Jesus asks that same question and implies that same statement today? "What do you have that I can use to provide sustenance for the long journey of life, Tommy?" "What do you possess that I might use to satisfy others, Tommy?" "Would you be willing to give me what you have and let me take care of the rest?"

May God grant you the grace to offer what you have to God and let God take care of the rest.




Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 9

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, February 4, 2013

That Kind of Friend


There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. -Mark 7:32 (NIV)

When we are going through a rough time, we need good friends.

Make no mistake about it, despite being a pastor, there have been times in my life when my faith has wavered and waned. It's not something I'm proud of... but it's true. I can recall moments of disappointment and despair when I questioned whether God was there or whether or not God even cared. I can recall instances when a prayer would not form in my mind or would not escape from my lips. What I am most thankful for during those times is that I had friends, faithful followers of Jesus, who prayed when I didn't and who believed when I couldn't. Their faith and their faithfulness helped me to reclaim my own faith.

I wonder if that's what happening in today's suggested scripture reading. Some people bring a man was who is deaf and can hardly talk to Jesus. They beg Jesus to place his healing hands upon this man. There's no evidence or indication that the man himself has any faith. Maybe he has resigned himself to always being deaf and mute. Maybe he questions whether God cares or whether there even is a God.

But his friends? They have faith that this man is not destined to be deaf and mute. They have hope that if Jesus can just place his hands on their friend, he will be healed. Their faith and their faithfulness motivate them to place their friend before Jesus. And Jesus heals.

I love how Jesus takes the man aside. He's not interested in making this healing a public spectacle. This poor guy has been a public spectacle all of his life. I love how Jesus touches the man. If you've ever had a massage, you know the healing power of touch. As a self-described germ-a-phobe, the fact that saliva is involved in the healing (even Jesus' saliva) sort of freaks me out. But then I recall as a child when my mother would often clean my face or get my hair to lay down with her saliva and it didn't bother me at all...and I lived to tell about it and looked better for it.

I'm guessing that this man is glad that he has faithful and faith-filled friends. I'm guessing that he's glad that when he couldn't talk, his friends could and it was their talk with Jesus (and the faith that inspired it) that brought about his healing. I'm guessing that that he's glad that when he couldn't hear about the healing power of Jesus, his friends could hear and they believed what they heard. I'm guessing that this man is glad that his friends were willing to place him before Jesus that day and intercede with Jesus on his behalf. And judging by the fact that he can't stop talking about his healing (even when told not to), this man is thrilled that this friends brought him before Jesus.

May God grant you the grace to have that kind of friend and to be that kind of friend today.




Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 8

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, February 1, 2013

What You'll Get


"Consider carefully what you hear," Jesus continued. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you- and even more." -Mark 4:24 (NIV)

I once had two interesting conversations. One was with someone who was telling me why she enjoys teaching Sunday School. "When I'm teaching Sunday School, I always pray more, read more, and study more. I learn so much about the scripture or the subject that I wouldn't have known by simply reading the biblical text. Then I can't wait to get to my Sunday School class and share it." Interestingly enough, this Sunday School teacher is universally regarded by her classmates as one of the best Sunday School teachers that the class has ever had.

I was sharing this conversation with another person from another Sunday School class: how this teacher prepares so well and is so well regarded by the class. The person with whom I was speaking said, "Wow. I'm not even sure that some of our teachers have read the chapter before coming to church that morning. And I'm fairly certain that most people in the class haven't read it either."

In today's scripture, Jesus is saying (as one translation puts it), "What you get depends on what you give. What you give, you will get back, but only more so." To use the examples above, the more you pray, the more you study, and the more you prepare, the more that you'll get out of your Bible study. You'll learn things that you did not know. These new truths will lead you to other truths. You'll likely be more excited about these new discoveries and cannot wait to share them with others.

But if you wait until Sunday morning to read your lesson (or even worse don't read it at all), you won't get as much out of it. You won't be as invested. You won't be as interested. You won't be as excited. You'll get out of it what you put into it.

You'll never learn to swim if you don't venture off into deeper water. If you fall out of bed, it's more than likely because you slept too close to where you got in.

May God grant you the grace to realize that you'll get out of life what you put into it.



Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 5
Sunday's Reading: Mark 6
I'll be back on Monday with a devotional from Mark 7

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."