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Welcome and Prayer: Nancy Lopez

Good morning, RefleXion!           Grace and Peace to you!

I’m reading a passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and I quote.  “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,  having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”

Do you remember perhaps when your kids were little and you tucked them in bed, and then turned off the lights to leave the room.  Did they say, “Oh, it’s too dark in here!”  and you might have said, “Just wait; your eyes will adjust.”  And they do, don’t they?  If we wait long enough in the dark, our eyes do adjust, and we are able to see more than we thought.  In our lives, we, too, experience the dark and cry out for more light.  And we might go about trying to find some book or some teacher or some way of escape that might give us light.  That’s fine, and then we may find that  we are asked just to wait in the dark.  Paul talks about the eyes of our hearts being part of our rich inheritance and having the eyes of our hearts enlightened so we may know hope.  That’s the kind of light we need.

King David knew the distress of darkness; many psalms reflect his crying out to the LORD.  In Ps. 18, David said that God heard his voice and, “He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. …  He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.”  We trust that even the darkness is not dark to God and that what is concealed may be revealed.  And I love that God made darkness his covering, his canopy, his hiding place, like a cloak. 

I’ve never been a true photographer, but I know that the desired images are developed in a darkroom, and that it must be really dark.  Waiting in darkness is a contemplative practice, and contemplation doesn’t always imply quietness or withdrawal.  Instead, it is a willingness to fully enter life just as it is, to open our eyes to hope in the light of God’s Presence.  If you’ve ever been, or are now, in what feels like the darkroom, may God enlighten the eyes of your heart to his Hopeful Presence.

Let’s pray:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.  Though darkness covers the earth, you will rise, God.  Let your light rise in our hearts, let the eyes of our hearts be enabled to see the contours of your shape, the hope of your presence.  Amen

Morning Talk: chuck smith, jr.

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near Revelation 1:1-3

Intro: You may wonder, Why the book of Revelation?

I admit, it is the most confusing and frustrating book in the Bible
– it’s not an easy read – some images are very strange
• they seem fairytale or mythical, except but even weirder
◦ for instance, we find, not just a beast with ten horns,
◦ but it has seven heads (?) and ten crowns on its horns
• there’s not another book in Bible exactly like this
– but it is also one of the most fascinating books in the Bible
• Revelation can work in us in ways like no other book
• if it disturbs us, it also calms us; if it frightens also reassures; if it is structured, it is also free;
and if its meaning is hidden, its overall effect is Revelation

From the start I want to warn you,
– if you’ve heard teaching on Revelation or read a commentary,
• what you will hear from me will probably be very different
◦ among Evangelical teachers, we hear four different views
◦ I am not going follow any one of those four streams
• to me, it is not a crystal ball in which we can see the future or discern current events
◦ the message is more personal – and is addressed to churches and individual believers
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:7)
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20)
– Revelation begins as a letter that quickly becomes seven letters
• after that, it turns into a different type of literature
◦ this other genre is known as “apocalyptic”
◦ this is derived from the Greek word for revelation: apokalypsis
• writings that use the same fantastical style as parts of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel
◦ but with one significant difference: in Daniel, every strange image is explained
the remainder of the book a history lesson that is told, mostly, in normal language
◦ that’s one reason why I do not see Revelation as depicting literal events like other apocalyptic books,
there is little clear explanation for the symbols in Revelation

If Revelation does not provide a clear map of the future, what is the value of reading it?
– after all, we’ve already seen there’s a promised blessing in it for those who read or hear it and keep what is written in it
• we will come to six more promised blessings in Revelation, for a total of seven
1.) in Revelation we will discover God’s work within us
• the system of education with which we are most familiar usually aims for our rational minds
• Revelation works at a deeper level – the heart, yes, but also at the unconscious level
2.) most books we read and think about, but the Revelation we experience
• to fully enter Revelation, is to allow it to change us
3.) Revelation prepares and equips us to live in the world as it is
• we are shown this troubled world, and in a way that affects us
• Revelation enables us to live through the worst times in human history
4.) Revelation encourages us with an ultimate destiny in God
• it brings heaven near us today and the eventual promise of a future fullness

The introduction provides a simple background statement

First, the central message is Jesus Christ, revealed
– God communicated this to John, sending it by way of an angel
• this is not merely information like what we get from a lecture
◦ this was shown to John (a visual extravaganza) so he could show it to others
◦ the words translated make known mean to give a sign or to signify
A. T. Robertson, this “suits admirably the symbolic character of the book.”
• the “things” shown occur in our immediate future, they will soon take place
◦ as soon as we here about these upheavals, we’ll be living them
◦ this will be clearer as we move through Revelation
– John gives us a brief bio of himself (more details in v. 9)
who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ
• “witness” and “testimony” translate different forms of the same Greek word
◦ and this brings us very close to the Gospel of John
◦ in some form the word and is cognate occur once in Matthew, three times in Mark, twice in Luke, and forty-five times in John
(in all of Paul’s letters ten times and in John’s three letters, fourteen times)
• the “testimony of Jesus” appears again in verse 9
◦ this refers to Jesus’ witness regarding God, his Father
Truly, truly, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things (Jn. 3:11-12)
Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the So does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. (Jn. 5:19-20)

Here is how I plan on walking us through Revelation

I am going to treat what’s in here the way we work with dreams
– I realize this is unusual
• most commentaries take a very rational approach
◦ their aim is to decipher the meaning of every sight and sound
◦ connect every vision to an event in the physical world
• people who are locked into rational, linear thinking have difficulty interpreting symbols
◦ they look for a perfect fit between the imaginary statement and solid fact
◦ they feel obligated to connect symbols to literal events
Merrill Tenney (wrestling with seven trumpets in ch. 8) “So strange are they that there has been a grave question as to whether they should be taken literally or not. If they are understood literally, it is hard to comprehend how any life on earth could survive their terrible onslaught. If they are to be regarded as figurative, the criteria of interpretation are not clear” [italics added]
– that is precisely the struggle of hyper-rational thinkers
• how do you make sense of bizarre or impossible symbols?
• that’s also why most people don’t pay any attention to their dreams

Dreams are our own personal and private universe
– that doesn’t mean we own this strange world, because it is not under our conscious control
• we don’t control:
the setting (could be a street, the ocean, the sky)
the plot (whatever action, problem, danger, or conflict)
the characters (who enters, who exits, their power)
could be family, friends from long ago, strangers
what is possible and impossible (you fly or be unable to lift your hand)
the sudden or abrupt scene changes or shift to a different dream
– to interpret dreams requires an approach that is both:
• rational and spiritual; science and art; structured and free
• but we must also be open to experiences our minds cannot comprehend

Why would I want to read Revelation’s visions as if its symbols were dream images?

The obvious answer is because the scenes are weird, like dreams
– but I could also say, for same reason Jesus taught in parables
• our awake minds are limited to what we perceive and analyze with our five senses, our reason, and our imaginations
• but the things of God’s Spirit are beyond our ordinary perception
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14)
◦ dreams are not bound to reason or laws of nature
◦ they can bring our attention to things we could not see any other way
– dreams are not produced by our conscious minds
• they rise from what stirs deep in the unconscious
◦ when awake, we’re unaware of these subterranean influences
• studying Revelation is like studying dreams
◦ both range from the everyday to the fantastical
the everyday: court proceedings, sealed document, messengers on horseback
the fantastical: odd creatures, catastrophic events, impossible phenomena–like a city descending from the sky

In scripture, God frequently spoke to people in their dreams
– he revealed himself, gave warnings and instructions, and guided them
– Revelation will give us insight into our deeper selves
• one benefit is therapeutic
• another is our spiritual enlightenment and development

Conclusion: I believe venturing into Revelation will be eye-opening

That it will help us deal with the current insanity of our world
We will get a better understanding of
• why it’s so difficult right now to keep our balance
• what is most important right now regarding our decisions and commitments
I am certain that we can be more useful “servants” of God,
and that through Revelation God’s Spirit will point the way

God wants to share with us his dream of a glorious future

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Welcome and Prayer: Nancy Lopez

Welcome to our RefleXion Community.  The Lord is with you!

I’m reading a bit of the Tao Te Ching, which was probably written about 2500 years ago, probably by a man named Lao Tzu who may have lived about the same time as Confucius. The Tao Te Ching is roughly translated, “The Way of Integrity.” It’s a slow read.   As I read this chapter by this ancient Chinese philosopher, something connected in me.  I’m sharing “The Uses of Not.” 

THE USES OF NOT

            Thirty spokes meet in the hub.

            Where the wheel isn’t is where it’s useful.

            Hallowed out, clay makes a pot.

            Where the pot’s not is where it’s useful.

            Cut doors and windows to make a room.

            Where the room isn’t, there’s room for you.

            So the profit in what is in the use of what isn’t.

We make a bowl, but it’s the hollowed-out space that’s useful.  We build a room, but it’s the space inside the room that we enjoy.  We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and it’s the space inside the temple that’s the sanctuary of our souls.  The actual temple structure in the Bible was a place where God’s people could go to be in his presence, preparing them to become that holy presence on earth.  It played a crucial role in God’s plan to dwell with humanity.  If we identify as Holy-Spirit-filled Christians today, our role is the same.  We spend time in God’s presence and become his holy presence on earth.  Do you remember that Jesus said that he would destroy the temple (the earthly temple) made with hands and would build another, not made with hands.  He was speaking about the temple of his body.  And you’ve heard it said that we are his body. Paul says that we are the temple if God’s Spirit dwells in us. We are the spiritual temple consisting of the saints of all ages joined together by and in Christ. 

And, back to Lao Tzu’s idea.  More than being the temple, it is the space provided by the temple that matters.  How will we engage the Holy Spirit in His dwelling place in us? 

I wanted to read the entire passage from 1 Kings 8:22-53, when Solomon was dedicating the first temple: it’s beautiful, but long.  But I’ll share these verses:  Solomon asks in prayer: “ Is it true that God will live upon the earth? The heavens and even the highest heaven are not big enough for You, so how will You live in the house I have raised? Please listen to the prayer and humble request of Your servant today, Eternal One my God, that Your gaze might fall upon this temple all night and day, that You might look upon the place about which You said, “My name will be there,” and hear the humble request of Your servant when he prays in the direction of this place.”   And then he prays:   ^“Whenever a foreigner, a person who is not a part of Your community of Israel, comes from a distant land in honor of Your name (for everyone will hear about Your great reputation, mighty actions, and outstretched strength), when he prays in the direction of this temple; then You will hear in heaven where You dwell and grant the foreigner’s requests. (he is praying for us!)  This is so Your reputation will spread all throughout the earth and so all may live in awe and fear of You.” And let me make the last part of his prayer our prayer this morning.  Join me:

O Eternal One, there is no other God who compares to You in heaven or on earth. You have guarded Your covenant and revealed Your loyal love to those who serve You with all their being.   Let your gaze fall upon us night and day, that you may look upon us and say, “My name is there.”   We add our prayer, Lord Jesus, that you will fill the temple of our hearts today. Amen

Morning Talk: chuck smith, jr.

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.” Matthew 15:21-28

Intro: I begin my talk this morning with a confession

I’m stalling for time . . .
– because I’m not ready for where we’re going next week
• I am referring to the scariest and most confusing book in the Bible
• WARNING: I won’t be teaching it like anything you’ve heard about it in the past
– that’s all I have to say for now – except,
• I may chicken out and not start next week, but sometime later

Today’s story is challenging and difficult to understand

It turns everything we think we know about Jesus on its head
– it involves a foreigner in a different region of the map
• the setting for the life of Jesus is mostly in Israel
◦ he passes through Samaria, and briefly sets foot in Gadara
◦ but in this story he goes north – the one and only time
• it is most likely that Jesus wanted to get away from the crowds
◦ to be someplace where he and his crew could rest
He “went away from there and withdrew”
In Mark’s telling of this story, we read, “And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know” (7:24)
◦ the last think Jesus needed during this break was one of the locals coming to him with a consuming need
– And behold – ta da! – the “behold” indicates a shift in the point of view
• away from the storyteller’s perspective, to those in story
◦ and then that becomes our point of view
• we see a woman coming to where Jesus is, and making a lot of noise
Listen to her loud, desperate cry:
“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon”
◦ she demonstrates great respect for who Jesus is and his destiny (Lord and Son of David)
◦ “oppressed” softens the Greek word which means demonized or possessed

What happens next is totally out of character for Jesus

He has never denied anyone’s request for help or healing
– not even a Roman centurion who came to him (Mt. 8:5)
• the centurion was also a foreigner, stationed in Capernaum
◦ but when this woman came crying for Jesus’ attention and help,
he did not answer her a word–not a word!
• Jesus went silent, unreachable, unresponsive
– we know what this is like! What we ask of God is not given instantly
• every prayer is immediately followed by silence
◦ we may eventually come to trust the silence
– even appreciate the break from all the noise in our head (once we’ve prayed it out)
◦ still we know God is at work – he doesn’t need to tell us
• however, the Lord’s silence here is the worst
◦ when Jesus has nothing to say to a person, it can mean they’re doomed–cf. Luke 23:8-9
◦ Jesus had nothing to say to this woman, because he had nothing for her

Although Jesus could calmly ignore her, the disciples could not
– it wasn’t because they were more caring than Jesus
• after all, they did not ask Jesus to grant her request, but to send her away
Helmut Thielicke, “They can’t take the woman’s misery. But that doesn’t make them one bit more merciful. . . . the disciples are not at all merciful when they give in to her cry for help. They just have weak nerves.”
• so, first Jesus is silent – but that’s not the worst of it
◦ when he speaks, it’s to the disciples – he gives them the explanation
◦ “I’m not here for her. She’s not on our list”
– the people of Israel were like lost sheep – when Jesus sent the disciples on their first mission, he told them:
Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter now town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mt. 10:5-6)
• there were insiders and outsiders
◦ Jesus had his eye out for his own people
When he saw the crowds he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Mt. 9:36)
• let’s pause here and take a breath

It is looking hopeless for this woman – but she’s sharp!
– she knows an opening when she sees it
• though Jesus was not talking to her, she jumped in
But she came and knelt before him
• she made it past the Lord’s bodyguards – got to HIM
◦ she shortens her pray to three words, “Lord, help me”
• I pray that, a lot!
◦ Peter’s prayer in the previous chapter is also just three words, “Lord, save me” (14:30)
◦ short prayers work as well as long prayers!

Since she’s now made it to Jesus, everything should be alright

However, this is the worst moment of all – Jesus rebuffed her
– I wanted to use a different word besides rebuff, which means:
“to reject someone or refuse a request in an abrupt or ungracious manner”
• and that is a perfect description of how Jesus treated her
• what I find most distressing is his analogies!
– the people of Israel belonged to a household;
• they were family; they were children; they were lost sheep
• but weren’t this desperate woman and her daughter lost sheep too?
◦ No! They were dogs
◦ a dog might be a pet and eat table scraps, but it’s not family
– she is a dog – so the door inside is closed and locked to her
• she and her daughter will never evolve into “children”
Jesus came for Israel’s sheep, not Gentile dogs

The way I see this, Jesus was playing with her

I don’t mean he was toying with her or teasing her
– that would be a cruel way to deny her request,
• like a cat playing with a mouse before killing it
◦ if so, there would be no depth or meaning to the story
◦ he was not having fun at her expense
• I read something yesterday that speaks to this:
James Brownson, “You cannot violate the honor of another [person] and also love that person.”
◦ what I believe is that Jesus was guiding her to a deeper level of interaction,
◦ as if he were inviting her to play a game of chess
– I’m convinced Jesus determined to grant her request from the moment he first saw her
• then, did he want to test her? I don’t think so
◦ I think he knew already she would fight for what she wanted
• did he want to see how creative or clever she could be?
◦ again, I don’t think so
◦ and I don’t think he was trying to see how much faith she had

What was Jesus’ purpose in this quirky story?

First, he ignored her; next, he defined the parameter of his ministry;
– then he disqualified her from receiving her help
• Jesus made it difficult for her to get what she wanted
◦ in fact, he placed obstacles in her way
◦ now I ask you, Is it ever easy?
– how often do we see immediate answers to our prayers?
• do we ever feel ignored?
• do we ever feel that God is giving us the silent treatment?
• do we ever feel rejected?
◦ in the next chapter, Jesus will call Peter “Satan” — that would make me feel like a reject
• did Jesus ever make it easy for his disciples?
◦ prayer is not sending letters to Santa Claus
• a motto of the Benedictine order is ora et labora, “work is prayer”
◦ they also teach the reverse: prayer is work
◦ we learn from this story, that this is normal; prayer is work

What Jesus put her through would make anyone want to give up
– but not her! The lesson she learned is a lesson for everyone
• give prayer all you’ve got and don’t ever give up
◦ keep working at it
And [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart (Lk. 18:1)
• we can use God’s own words to wiggle our way into his presence
◦ “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs”

A few years ago, my cousin, Chuck Fromm, was playing doubles tennis with my dad. One of Chuck’s greatest interest was people. He always wanted to talk with, learn from, and bond with people he cared for or admired. During the match, Chuck was trying to continue a conversation with a man on the other side of the net. It wasn’t an involved conversation, merely light chatter. At one point Chuck missed a shot he should have had, and my dad–ever the intense competitor–growled at him,
“Get your head in the game, Fromm!”

• I think that is what we can take from this story
◦ we’ll do well in prayer if we get our head in the game Jesus wants us to play

Conclusion: Each time the woman spoke to Jesus, she called him Lord

Even in last round, when she uses his own analogy on him “Yes, Lord”
“I’m willing to be a dog, if I can eat up the scraps under your table”
She played his game, and she won!
“O woman, great is your faith” — Jesus never said this to one of his disciples
(he did tell them they had “little faith”)
“O woman, great is your faith”
And right then, the miracle occurred
The woman and her daughter became sheep,
They became family,
They became children,
and demon was gone!

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Welcome and Prayer: Nancy Lopez

Welcome!  The Lord is with you!

Last week I mentioned the Father’s love and its importance in my own life.  I’d like to offer a few more thoughts about receiving the Father’s love.  I’m reading here a quote from Richard Rohr:  “This whole human project pivots around Divine Love. Because our available understanding of love is almost always conditioned on “I love you if” or “I love you when,” most people find it almost impossible—apart from real transformation—to comprehend or receive Divine Love. In fact, we cannot understand it in the least, unless we “stand under” it, like a cup beneath a waterfall. When we truly understand Divine Love, our politics, our anthropology, our economics, and our movements for justice will all change.”

We’ve been with Jeremiah and Chuck in the Old Covenant, which some people would say, “that’s when we had an ‘Angry God.’” I hope that we have seen that God does not love His people if they change, but so that they can change.  The Father’s Love is not a reward for good behavior, as we might fear.  Again, from Rohr, “It is a larger Life, an energy and movement that we can participate in—and then, almost in spite of ourselves—we behave differently.”

How can we participate in it?  I had some thoughts about that this week.  I’ll share them, and you can see what you think. 

In a love relationship, one party declares their love for the other.  Then the other declares their love in return.  This creates a possibility for relationship and intimacy.  If our Heavenly Father declares His love for us, what must we do to participate in that love relationship?  We must say “I love you too.” In a wedding ceremony, one party says, “I do,” and the other party must also say, “I do.”  Have you ever told someone “I love you” and not gotten a response?  That’s the worst, right? 

It’s not a love relationship yet if we say, “I’ll love you if” or “I’ll love you when.”  And that’s not how God loves us. As we spend time standing under God’s love, like a cup beneath a waterfall, can we feel the invitation to participate?  And what do we believe we’re participating in?  A love relationship with the Divine – what will that be like? Oh, there will be many times we’re invited to participate:  in the next moment, the next movement, the next season or stage of our relationship with God.  Our “yes (you are my God)” our “I do (love you)” will carry us across each threshold.

Will you pray with me: 
Father, thank you for your love.  We receive it, as much as we are able.  We say yes with each step where we find our willingness.  Let the Spirit carry us where we are willing but not able to move.  We lean in to your Divine Love, a love that is for us, an empowering Presence.  In this next hour, may we be receptive to your invitations to enter a deepening relationship with you.  Amen

Morning Talk: chuck smith, jr.

Intro: The stories we hear today will serve as an illustration

They illuminate a line from the prayer Jesus taught us
– you know it and you’ve prayed it–maybe many times
• it is one-third of a petition
“hallowed [revered] be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:9-10)
• it is that last line I hear in these two stories
◦ one teaches us what happens when we resist God’s will and the other when we surrender to his will
– I don’t expect you to remember the names of the characters, so I’ll give their brief biographies
• the three key figures are Jeremiah the prophet and the two kings Jehoiachin and Zedekiah

Zedekiah played a major role in the last days of Judah

He was the last king of Judah, and we’ve met him before
– for instance, last week we learned that:
• he first allowed Jeremiah to be left to die in a cistern,
• but then he allowed Ebed-melech to rescue Jeremiah
◦ Ebed-melech was a foreigner, an Ethiopian Eunuch who took seriously the word of God through Jeremiah
– we pick up the story after Jeremiah was lifted out of the pit

Immediately, Zedekiah summoned Jeremiah for an interview
– the king thought he wanted to hear from God
Zedekiah: (began the interview with a condition) “I will ask you a question; hide nothing from me. Give it to me straight”
Jeremiah: (skeptical) “Why should I? If I give you an answer, you’ll order my execution. Besides, you won’t listen to my counsel or accept my advice.”

Zedekiah: swore an oath to Jeremiah that he wouldn’t be harmed
Jeremiah: “Thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: If you will surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then your life shall be spared, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live” (Jer. 38:17)
– That was the first half of God’s word to Zedekiah, but there was also a second half
• if the king did not surrender, Jerusalem would be leveled and he and his family would not escape
• Zedekiah had asked for it, and Jeremiah answered
◦ the choice was clear, and the right response was straight forward
– however, Zedekiah had a concern
• there were Jewish citizens who opposed the war
◦ especially those living outside Jerusalem and most vulnerable to the enemy’s invasion
◦ they had nothing to gain and everything to lose from the current war
• these people had already gone over and joined Babylon
◦ Zedekiah feared, if he surrendered, they would have access to him and assassinate him

This is a common reason why people resist God’s will

We’re afraid it might be something awful, afraid of what it might cost us
– that’s a valid concern – when Jesus prayed, “Not my will,” it cost him his life
• on the other hand, before Jesus taught us to pray “your will be done,” he taught us to begin with, “Our Father”
• and Jesus was constantly revealing the Father’s heart in the way he treated the lost, and broken, and possessed
– whenever I pray, “your will be done” I feel hope
• living in the world as it is, the idea of God’s will transforming it comforts me
• but I admit, sometimes I fear what his will may be for me, now
(However, I’m more afraid of my own will, because that is what will ruin me)

Jeremiah assured Zedekiah, he did not have to worry
“You shall not be given to them. Obey now the voice of the LORD in what I say and it shall be well with you and your life shall be spared. But if you refuse to surrender [here’s what will happen: defeat and disgrace]” (Jer. 38:20-23)
– from Jeremiah chapter 7 and on, at least fifteen times, God tells his people, “obey my voice”
• a voice is more personal and present that “commandments”
• to ignore his voice is different from rolling through stop signs or driving five miles an hour over the speed limit
◦ my parents would sometimes refer to my behavior as “direct disobedience”
◦ they meant that I had intentionally disregarded them
◦ that is what obeying God’s voice is about — to hear it and then disregard him is direct disobedience
– what did Zedekiah decide to do regarding God’s will?
• Zedekiah’s reign over Judah is summed up in 2 Chronicles
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel (2 Chr. 36:12-13)
• when the Babylonians breached the wall of Jerusalem,
◦ Zedekiah and some of troops escaped through a secret door through the city wall
◦ he was captured in plains of Jericho and taken to Nebuchadnezzar, who
passed sentence on him – slaughtered his son before his eyes – put out his eyes – took him to Babylon (where he was in prison until his death; Jer. 52:9-11)

Zedekiah did not have to suffer these tragic losses
– his future was not inevitable, it had not been written in stone
• there was a moment when he was given a choice
– I wonder if during his imprisonment, he ever regretted not listening to God’s voice and not surrendering to God’s will

Prior to Zedekiah, there was a lesser known king: Jehoiachin

His rule lasted for only three months – and like Zedekiah,
he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD (2 Ki. 24:9)
– there is one significant difference between him and Zedekiah
• Babylon laid siege to Jerusalem during his reign too, but,
Jehoiachin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself and his mother and his servants and his officials and his palace officials (2 Ki. 24:12)
◦ the gave himself up translates same word for ‘surrender’ in Jeremiah 38:21
• like Zedekiah, he was also taken to Babylon and imprisoned there,
◦ however, neither he nor those with him were killed
◦ and neither Jerusalem nor the temple were destroyed
– Jehoiachin spent more than three decades in prison
• it was not a pleasant or easy life and we’re not told what sort of effect it had on him
• perhaps he repented and returned to the LORD, the God of Israel

There is one other fascinating development of Jehoiachin’s story
– the last sentence of Jeremiah chapter 51 reads:
The words of Jeremiah end here (Jer. 51:64, GNB)
• that means, the last chapter–chapter 52–is a postscript
◦ and it is taken directly from Israel’s history books
◦ the end of the postscript contains a surprising footnote:
And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah . . . [the] king of Babylon, in the year he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison. And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table, and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, until the day of his death, as long as he lived (Jer. 52:31-34)
• his story ends very differently from Zedekiah’s
◦ and it is because Jehoiachin surrendered – to the king of Babylon and he surrendered to God

I’ve been reading in Genesis, and yesterday came to the story of Joseph

He also spent some time in prison – in Egypt
– in fact, a long stretch of his life could be described as being “in the pits”
• his brothers threw him into a pit hoping he would starve to death (Gen. 40:15)
• later his prison is referred as the pit (the same Hebrew word; 41:14))
– there are two other similarities:
1. in both stories there is mention of someone’s head being lifted up (in Jer. 52:31 translated “graciously freed”)
2. in both stories, when the hero leaves prison he puts off his prison garments
• from the jailhouse jump suit to clothing fit for a king
• this represents a change of status – and this is how God’s will works when we surrender to it
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me . . .
to grant to those who mourn in Zion–
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit . . . . (Isa. 61:1-3)
– God had appeared and spoken to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob
• he revealed to them his will for their lives and the future of their descendants
◦ but God never appeared to or spoke to Joseph
• Joseph was given an ability to interpret dreams,
◦ but the interpretation of his own life was hidden from him
◦ until by time his brothers arrived in Egypt–and then it all made sense
(see Genesis 45:5-8, where Joseph tells his brothers, “God sent me before you . . . God sent me before you . . . for it was not you who sent me here, but God”

Conclusion: Few people know God’s will for certain

Many find themselves later in life in a place where they say, “I never saw this coming”
We don’t have to worry about, or fear God’s will
We don’t have to know every moment exactly what is his will for us

God’s will finds us where we are

God’s will is finding you right now and right where you are

We discover God’s will for our lives as it unfolds
What matters most, is that we surrender to it
What matters is that even to our last breath we can pray, “Not my will, but Yours”

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Welcome and Prayer: Nancy Lopez

Welcome to the RefleXion Community!          The Lord is with you!

Last week, Chuck taught from the book of Haggai, a prophet who was on the scene after the Babylonian exile, when the Israelites were returning and rebuilding the Temple. Remember how Haggai saw that they were slacking off and prioritizing building their own houses instead of the house of God.  Haggai tells them “Consider your ways.”  There was more than one time in Biblical history that the temple fell into disrepair and had to be cleansed and repaired.  At one earlier time, there began a restoration under King Hezekiah.  First, there was the building of an altar and setting up the temple foundations  And then there needed to be cleansing by removing all the things the priests had stored there. I was thinking how in the New Testament, Paul tells the Corinthians that we are His temple, if the Holy Spirit is dwelling in us. We may have set up our altar and laid the foundations of our faith.  And now there’s more work to be done; we, too, must “consider our ways.”

While we prioritize our time with God, we give him all our hindrances. We notice things that need to be repaired or carried out in our temple.  We invite Him to make it His dwelling place.   Maybe it is obvious what doesn’t belong in here, we think of bad behavior, immorality, addictions; but maybe there are some big bricks that we’ve been sitting on, calling them stones of remembrance, that block and distort the Spirit’s way in us.

I brought another book today, The Father Loves You, by our friend, Ed Piorek.  Though I might not resonate with everything here, it held some gifts for me.  Many years ago, when I was in a spiritual leadership program, we were asked to sit with a scripture passage about our Father in heaven.  I recall we were given hours to ponder our earthly fathers and our Father in Heaven. Many participants returned to the group with stories about their own fathers—punitive, passive, demanding–“father issues” abounded.  When my turn came, I said, “Well, my biological father was an alcoholic and my mother left him when I was five.  She remarried my stepfather who never had a hand in my development, never spoke into my life.  I didn’t really have a father, so I don’t have father issues.”  Wow, yes, I got some serious pushback.  I had to deal with my broken lenses, how I had been protecting myself from deep pain and rejection, what unbelief and shame I had been carrying that distorted my relationships.  Reading Piorek’s book reminded me of those days when I identified  that I did, indeed, have father issues.  Maybe you do too.  Anyway, I’m passing the book along to whoever wants to pick it up. We look at what we’ve stored in our temple, not to blame but to unearth, to allow cleansing and repair.  Jesus came expressly to reveal the Father and His great love for us.  Knowing our Father’s love is critical to our spiritual progress.

Join me to pray will you:  Thank you, Father God, for your original and eternal love.  Heal us and help us to realize it.  We turn our attention to you this morning, trusting that you know what we need to hear about your love.  We welcome you; we welcome each other, and we trust in your faithful love for us.    In Jesus’ Name.  Amen

Morning Talk: chuck smith, jr.
In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke you, from the days of Josiah until today. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin Jeremiah 36:1-3

Intro: I decided to continue in Jeremiah for another week

There are two stories we will consider that I’ve always enjoyed
– one reason they appeal to me is because they’re interesting
• another reason is that they are meaningful
• although the main character in each story is connected to Jeremiah,
◦ they have nothing else in common
– both stories have two parts, found in two different places
• so we will begin with the first part of each story, and then move to the second part
• I hope you enjoy them as much as I do,
◦ and that we get something worthwhile from them

Baruch’s (Jeremiah’s sidekick) story begins during the reign of King Jehoiakim

The timestamp in this verse is important for two reasons:
– first, there was still hope for Judah
It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that everyone may turn from his evil way . . . (v. 3)
It may be that their plea for mercy before will come before the LORD, and that every one will turn from his evil way (v. 7)
• unfortunately, there was no change of heart
• as we’ll see, Jehoiakim rejected God’s message–defiantly
– second, it was at this time that Babylon first became a threat
• when Babylonian army arrived, Judah surrendered without a fight
◦ but three years later Jehoiakim rebelled
• the nation was quickly torn to pieces
◦ troops from Babylon began to make raids on Judah,
◦ and forces from three other nations also crossed Judah’s border to attack and plunder
– eventually, Babylon’s entire army returned and took Jerusalem
• after eleven years on throne, Jehoiakim died
◦ his son’s reign lasted only 3 months
◦ the king of Babylon carried him off to Babylon,
◦ and with him, the temple treasures, many aristocrats, and many skilled workers (those they did not kill)
• at that point, Zedekiah became Judah’s last king

So here we are in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign
– Jeremiah received instructions to compose a prophetic message
• but he couldn’t read it himself
Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll all the words at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD that he had spoken to him. And Jeremiah ordered Baruch, saying, “I am banned from going to the house of the LORD, so you are to go, and on a day of fasting in the hearing of all the people in the LORD’s house you shall read the words of the LORD from the scroll that you have written at my dictation. . . .” And Baruch the son of Neriah did all that Jeremiah the prophet ordered him about reading from the scroll the words of the LORD in the LORD’s house Jeremiah 36:4-8
(Forgive me, but I think it’s funny to hear Jeremiah say, “I’ve been banned from going to the house of the LORD.” It is as if he is saying, “Yeah, I sort of stirred things up, angered some priests, and they said I could not come back to the temple.” My new beatitude: “Blessed are the troublemakers, who do not allow us to destroy ourselves without fair warning.”)
◦ when Baruch read the scroll, it caught the attention of a court official
• he reported it to the king’s secretary and the other officers who were present
◦ they called for Baruch and had him read Jeremiah’s prophecy to them
◦ then they panicked, ordered Baruch to get Jeremiah and hide, and then carried the scroll to the king
– Jehoiakim was in his winter house, where a fire warmed room
• someone began reading from the scroll (which was either a parchment made from reeds or animal hide)
◦ after reading three or four columns, the king cut them off the scroll and threw them into the fire
• then Jehoiakim gave orders to seize Baruch and Jeremiah
◦ but they weren’t able to find them (the LORD hid them, v. 26)

That is part one of Baruch’s story

The hero of the second story is Ebed-melech

He’s an interesting character – we do not know his actual name
(Ebed-melech is a title that means “servant to the king”)
– he was an outsider – an Ethiopian and a eunuch
• in other words, he had no skin in this game — nothing to gain from getting involved
◦ and there was a potential downside
• but even still, he did get involved

Zedekiah was the last king of Judah
– when Babylon was waging its final siege on Jerusalem,
• God’s message through Jeremiah warned the people:
◦ anyone who held-out in the city would die
◦ but whoever went out of the city and surrendered to Babylon would live
• this angered the army’s officers and other leaders
◦ they went to Zedekiah and told him to have Jeremiah executed
◦ Zedekiah capitulated to their demand
So they took Jeremiah and [threw] him into a cistern . . . letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud (Jer. 38:6)
– that is when Ebed-melech stepped up
• he went to the king to argue on Jeremiah’s behalf
“My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city” (Jer. 38:9)
◦ Zedekiah commanded him to take thirty men and rescue Jeremiah
• Ebed-melech first went to a storehouse and grabbed worn-out clothes
◦ he lowered them to Jeremiah by a rope, and told him to put rope around him and the clothes under armpits
Then they drew Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard . . . . until the day that Jerusalem was taken (Jer. 38:13 and 28)

So these two accounts are the first part of each story

Ebed-melech reappears in chapter 39
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard: “Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. But I will deliver you on that day, declares the LORD, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in m, declares the LORD” Jeremiah 39:15-18

Ebed-melech was rewarded, because he put his trust in Yahweh
– where does his trust appear in the story?
• when he rescued Jeremiah from the cistern
• trust is not only security that holds us through difficult times
◦ trust is dynamic – it is a motive that results in action
◦ trust cannot stand by in the face of injustice — trust in God drives people to intervene
– the reward Ebed-melech received was his life
• “prize of war” translates the Hebrew word for plunder or loot
◦ what we know as “the spoils of war”
• this is a precious gift when the whole world is on fire

Baruch reappears in chapter 45
The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: You said, ‘Woe is me! For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.’ Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the LORD. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go” Jeremiah 45
(Previously, we were not told about Baruch’s emotional state at that time)

Baruch’s whining is reminiscent of Jeremiah’s complaints
– and God responds to him in the no-nonsense way as he did Jeremiah
• there’s always something bigger than prophet’s well-being
• big enough that is does not matter if we have to take up our cross to follow Jesus
– the entire nation was on the verge of collapse
• everything God had built over hundreds of years was coming down
• every time I read this, the effect I feel is personal
◦ I find this to be a challenging question: And do you seek great things for yourself?
◦ I think it was in 1986 that I wrote this:
My meditation: “Baruch’s desire to seek greatness was not unusual. His problem was his timing. Everything he knew in the world was about to go up in smoke. Gates would be burned to the ground, buildings torn down, and the nation’s leaders disappear. To seek great things in that moment would be like trying to be the most attractive person on the Titanic.”
◦ then in 1991
My meditation: “I don’t think there is anything wrong with seeking great things. We were made for greatness. But to be running around looking for loot or seeking great things for myself, especially in a doomed society, is problematic. For us to seek great things for ourselves is placing the weight of our lives on too small a goal. We were made for God and others, not our little selves.”

As different as they were, Baruch and Ebed-melech received the same promise
“I will give you your life as a prize of war”

Conclusion: Suppose God is saying something like this to us

“You have your life–I have given it to you. It is a resource.
What are you going to do with it?”

Am I going to look for the beauty that lies in every day?
And if I can’t find beauty, will I make beauty?
Poetry and painting – music and song – kindness and generosity

Will I add goodness to the world?
Will I practice friendliness wherever I go?

Will I search for truth? Will I embrace it when I find it?
Will I speak and advocate truth?
Will I be true?

We have these choices,
these opportunities
and this one lifetime

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?”
Mary Oliver, from “The Summer Day”

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Welcome and Prayer: Nancy Lopez

Good morning and welcome to the RefleXion Community.  The Lord is with you!

We’ve been celebrating Advent for the last four Sundays (and thank you so much for the beautiful opening meditations and prayers we received from Jim, Karyn, Christine, and Barbara).  Advent is often reduced to preparation for Christmas, yet it also  points toward and prepares us for Epiphany.  In many Christian traditions Epiphany is celebrated on January 6, celebrating the “wise” men who recognized the Light that had entered the world. We believe that they were witnessing the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 60:1–3  “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” The magi sought out Jesus and so they were called the wisemen. If we want to become wise, we too can seek Jesus.  And so, this day is called  the Feast of Epiphany, Theophany, or Three Kings’ Day.

The word Epiphany is defined as “a revelatory manifestation of a divine being, or a sudden insight or intuitive understanding.” And we deeply desire those personal epiphanies for ourselves and to really be impacted by them.  Epiphanies transform how we see; they are a gift of wisdom.

Did you know that Chuck wrote a book called Epiphany?  Chuck is a reliable witness of how regular Bible reading can enrich our spiritual life.  For months Chuck has been sharing his notes and journaling over years of studying and pondering scripture…remember Mark?  How rich that was.  In this book Chuck offers several ways of paying attention to gain these riches and to develop a love for the Bible.  Lectio Divina is one way we as community make space for epiphany–the appearance, or manifestation of something from God.  If you’re not yet involved in a Lectio Divina group, I encourage you to do so.  We use scripture, yet this is not Bible study but a prayerful, receptive way of listening to God through scripture (scripture as a door) with the Holy Spirit’s escort, of course.

Turning the page to a new year, many of us are discerning what God is doing in our lives, what He is inviting us to, and what practices we will include to support our journey.  Whatever practices you include in 2024, I hope you will include space for epiphanies.  Study the Word, Sit with the Word, and make Space to be changed by the Word.  May this next season be one of our realization of the Light that has come.  May we become wise. 

So, we pray:  O Jesus, let your Light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD God rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night may cover all the nations of the earth, but your Glory is our doxology.  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.  We praise you; we bless you; we adore you; we glorify you; we give you thanks for your great glory,  Heavenly King, may nations come to your Light and all earthly kings make way for You, the King of Kings.  Amen

Morning Talk: chuck smith, jr

Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.” And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people Haggai 1:13-14

Intro: The two chapters of Haggai are about putting God first

Israel had been driven from the land of Judah for seventy years
– on returning to their homeland, one of their priorities was to rebuild the temple,
• but there was a lot of work to be done, few workers, and limited resources
◦ they also had to construct homes for themselves
• after awhile, a few setbacks, and discouragement,
◦ they began to slack off and, instead, they were making improvements to their own homes
◦ the danger of not having the temple was the possibility of losing the nation’s spiritual center
– two times in both chapters of Haggai, God challenged them to “consider”
Consider your ways (Hag. 1:5, 7; 2:15, 18)
• first, they were to consider their shortages
You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes (Hag. 1:6)
◦ it must have been similar to our frustration with inflation — at the grocery store, we’re paying more, but buying less
• second, they were to consider what was going to happen next, after they put God first
◦ he would turn things around
“from this day on I will bless you” (Hag. 2:19)

I also want to point out–because it’s important to me–that two times in Haggai, once in each chapter,
– God tells them, “I am with you”
Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts . . . . My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not (Hag. 2:4-5)
• this could be our reminder for the New Year
• whatever happens, God is with us
◦ the more we own and internalize this promise,
◦ the greater our confidence and security will be in difficult times
– but that is not what my talk is about – instead, I am focusing on Haggai 1:14
And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel . . . and the spirit of Joshua . . . and the spirit of the remnant of the people
• in a year that will likely be disruptive for our entire nation, I hope we will discard complacency,
◦ I hope God will be stirring up our spirits toward his will

We make a big deal about New Year’s Day, don’t we?

The crowd in Times Square, the parties and parades, the noise
– but the whole idea of a “New Year” is fake
• there’s nothing in the laws of nature that indicates a new year begins on the first day of January
◦ in many ancient cultures, the New Year began in the spring
• in Judaism, there are two New Year days
◦ the religious New Year begins in spring with Passover
◦ the civil New Year begins in the fall with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
– think about it. What really changes between December 31 and January 1?
• unless we’re traveling on January 1, we will wake up in same house,
• begin our day with the same routine, and, other than having Monday off, our week will be like any other week this past year

I think we enjoy the illusion of annually starting a New Year
– we welcome it as a fresh start – the chance to have a do-over
• wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have a fresh start at the beginning of every year?
◦ if all debts were erased? – if we were caught up on all our projects?
◦ if all wars and oppression ended in last hour of 2023?

If we could drop all that has held us back, we could make resolutions that would really stick
– Jonathan Edwards is known mostly for his sermon, “Sinners In the Hand of An Angry God”
• but he had a more positive influence on Christianity in America
◦ he was one of our nation’s most insightful theologians
◦ he laid a foundation for Biblical Theology, which did not become popular until the 20th Century
◦ he was a central figure in a widespread revival known as the Great Awakening
• Edwards wrote the longest list of resolutions I’ve ever seen
◦ one of his biographers wrote:
“Mr. Edwards was too well acquainted with human weakness and frailty. He therefore looked to God for aid, who alone can afford success in the use of any means. This he places at the head of all his other important rules, that his dependence was on grace . . . .”
◦ Edwards wrote:
“Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.”
Then above his list of resolutions:
“REMEMBER TO READ OVER THESE RESOLUTIONS ONCE A WEEK”
There were sixty-seven resolutions in his list!

The most typical resolutions people make today are self-improvement goals
– diet and exercise, limit or stop drinking or smoking, work at better mental health, spend more time with family; that sort of thing
• we know the changes we need to make–but life gets in the way
– I dial back to the Christmas story, where the shepherds had a radical experience
• angels appeared to them – they received the revelation regarding Jesus – they ran off to Bethlehem and found him – they told others about their experience, and those people witnessed their excitement
• and then!–they returned to their sheep and went back to work
◦ no more angels, just the same old environment
• but did they take something new with them?
◦ a new awareness of God perhaps? Or a new sense of what is possible?

Can we carry Advent into the New Year?

In the past four weeks we have focused on the Advent themes of Hope, Joy, Love and Peace
– can we continue to pursue these qualities?
• make them our normal response to life circumstances?
◦ to the mundane and routine? to the crises? to other people?
• I am not asking if we can make resolutions
◦ it’s not about what we can do,
◦ but about what kind of people can we be?
– the most natural way to make important changes is as a response to something that stirs us
• that either excites us or disturbs us
◦ or a desperate need we have, a severe physical pain, mental anguish, or a relentless desire
• we call this experience of being driven to action “motivation”

Jesus was intent on affecting the motivation of his followers
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you (Jn. 6:27)
– he urged people to question themselves regarding what was behind their words and actions
• he asks them, “Why do you?” or “Why did you?”
• he was asking, “What was your purpose and what was its motivation?”
– Jesus also exposed our wrong motivations – for instance:
Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them (Mt. 6:1)
• I am usually the center of whatever motivates me
◦ I want to be healthy and fit, to be liked or admired, to be well off
• Jesus tells me to surrender those motives – if I want to see the kingdom of God
◦ when we’re no longer dominated by the motivations of the ego-self,
◦ we acquire a new perception of the world and our place in it

God stirred up the spirit of the leaders and the people

I am not going to try to stir up your spirit
– I can’t even stir up my own
• too many preachers today are trying to stir people up
◦ with fears related to Jesus’ soon return and hell-fire if they’re not ready
◦ with conspiracy theories or inflammatory political rhetoric
◦ or to enhance their self-interest, their image, or acquiring wealth
• I want to discover what God is stirring up in us
– I have an idea what that might be
• we can join protests against atrocities in our world or pending legislation
◦ we can send email to our state and national representatives
• but our one voice and participation will not end any war, act of aggression, or change any law
◦ the effect we have on the world will be closer to home

Conclusion: I’m going to suggest a place where we begin

As far as we are concerned with motivation and changing the world,
let us stir up one another to love and good works (Heb. 10:24)

This is a consistent emphasis in our Reflexion community
To love God with our whole being
and to love our neighbors as ourselves
Thirty or forty people doing little things can make a large impact in the world – it’s the domino effect
◦ Working with, or supporting charitable organizations
◦ Showing mercy to people who need forgiveness rather than lectures
◦ Handing a few dollars to a homeless person
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith (Gal. 6:10)
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone (1 Thes. 5:15)

We can love, rejoice, hope, be at peace and bring peace . . . and we can pray

The people who disparage “thoughts and prayers” underestimate how great God is,
how responsive he is to people who have no money, power, or influence,
and how prayer really can make a miraculous difference
One of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century, Karl Barth, wrote:
“To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”
Perhaps a small beginning at first;
nevertheless, a beginning