Monday Discussion ~ Believing the Story ~ Luke 1:26-38

Each Monday I will be posting reflections from the sermon and discussion questions for any groups working through the sermon texts with us.

Every day we find ourselves fighting – fighting our circumstances, fighting others, fighting ourselves and our own tendencies. We tend to see the world as a place of opposition, where we must work and strive to get what we want and need. We are unused to receiving gifts and good news. So, when it comes – often we are unprepared. We ask ourselves, what is really going on? What’s the catch? What do I have do?

And this is why it is so hard for us to hear the gospel – because the only adequate response to the grace of God is the response we read today in Luke 1:38 – ‘Let it be to me, according to your word.’

Mary, from the film 'Son of Man'

The story of Mary is deservedly famous. A humble maiden, with little experience in the world, is met by a vision of possibility and transformation. She does not understand what it all means, what it will cost her, or even what it will look like. Yet Mary’s response of faith in the midst of great uncertainty is a model for us as we receive good news in our hearts.

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Introduction Question

Where in your life to do you most feel in control? (Work, family, body etc?) Where in your life do you feel least in control?

Questions

1. Mary has a visit from an angel, just like Zechariah. In fact, it is the same angel who visits her. How is Mary’s situation different from Zechariah’s? (See Luke 1:5-13).

3. Mary asks the same question that Zechariah asks – ‘how can this be?’ Zechariah is silenced, but Mary is encouraged. Why does Mary get different treatment from Zechariah?

4. The angel Gabriel says 3 things in verse 35-37 to Mary when she asks how it will happen.

a.       “The Holy Spirit will come upon…. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy.” God is going to do this through the Holy Spirit because he wants the fruit to be holy. God must be the one who does it.

-          Why is it important that this child be born of a virgin? 

b.      “Behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.” This is a hint that God has already done remarkable things. Perhaps this new thing might be possible for Him.  

-          Have you ever seen hints or clues of God at work that have encouraged you to be more trusting?

c.       “Nothing will be impossible with God.” Ultimately, this astonishing promise can be trusted because it is God who makes it.

-          What places in your life simply require a trust that God can do it when nowhere else can?

5. Mary responds with a very simple reply. “Let it be to me as you say.” Mary’s response is often seen as a perfect example of faithfulness. Do you agree? What does her response teach us about faith?

6. Where in your life do you simply need to say to God ‘Let it be’? 

Monday Discussion ~ Believing the Story ~ Luke 1:5-25

Each Monday I will be posting reflections from the sermon and discussion questions for any groups working through the sermon texts with us.

We began Advent last Sunday looking at the story of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptizer. Zechariah was a priest, educated and influential in his community. Yet, he was filled with disappointment. His faith in God was trembling because his people hadn't heard from God in centuries. No prophets had arisen and miracles were few and far between. Even worse, Israel was now under oppression by Roman rule. It seemed that God was silent and distant and all Israel was waiting.

And beneath all that disappointment, Zechariah had a secret hope that had gone unfulfilled. He and his wife were childless. Together, they suffered in silence - a private disappointment that lay alongside all the other disappointments.

We think of the Christmas characters as witnesses of wonder and astonishing miracles. But mostly, these people were more like you and me ~ Living with disappointment and learning to live by faith in a promise that doesn't seem possible. Let's look at Zechariah's story in Luke 1:5-25.

1:5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”     

Introduction Question
Do you recall a Christmas gift that you were really anticipating? Did you get it? What happened after you received it/ didn't receive it?

Questions
1. What do we learn about Zechariah in this story? What do you think his prayers might have been for? What do you think his frustrations might have been?

2. What are your prayers and frustrations as you enter into the Christmas season?

3. When Gabriel the angel appears, he promises joy and gladness for Zechariah as well as for many others. What is the good news he promises?

4. What promises do you feel like God has made to you? Any?

5. When Zechariah comes out of the temple, he cannot speak. What do you think he did and thought in those following months?

Practical Questions:

6. You are talking with a friend who has had a lot of financial trouble. They have been on and off of welfare, and have overcome a drug habit about a decade ago. They come to you one day and tell you that they feel like God is calling them to start a trucking business. He shows a pretty decent business plan - 2 trucks and a plan for marketing. This is not a person who talks a lot about 'God's plan' - they are usually pretty timid. This vision seems genuine.

The reason he wants to start the business is because his daughter is getting older and he wants to provide a home for her. His step-daughter is also moving home and he needs a bigger place.

"There are just too many obstacles," he says. "I don't have a degree. I don't have the money. I don't know where to start. I feel like God has given me this dream, but I don't know how to make it happen."

How will you counsel your friend?

What not How...

The poem from George MacDonald, quoted in last night's sermon. A great Christmas reminder that God makes his promises before he reveals his plan. God's WHAT comes before the HOW.

Are there promises you are waiting on? Things you hope God will do, but don't seem possible right now. Remember that Mary and Zechariah and all the Christmas characters received a promise that seemed impossible every step of the way. The answer is not HOW is this going to happen, but WHO is at work.

When you get anxious about the HOW, spend some time thinking on the WHO.

They all were looking for a king  

  To slay their foes and lift them high:  

Thou cam'st, a little baby thing  

    That made a woman cry.  

O Son of Man, to right my lot          

  Naught but Thy presence can avail;  

Yet on the road Thy wheels are not,  

    Nor on the sea Thy sail!  

My how or when Thou wilt not heed,  

  But come down Thine own secret stair,   

That Thou mayst answer all my need—  

    Yea, every bygone prayer.

George MacDonald

Amounting to Much

Spending a year as a chaplain at Matheny, a hospital for severely disabled children, was one of the most frustrating years of my life. Sure, it was sad and hard and tiring. But most of all, it frustrated my sense of accomplishment. I couldn't help these kids, fix them or help them become better people. Most were going to die young, with no hope of 'making a difference'. I could only love them  and that imperfectly.

I had been used to serving the high achievers. The people who were going to make a difference in the world. In these relationships, even as we talked about grace, we all knew that we had were supposed to do something great.

A harsh law that hangs over all of us raised in a culture of success - where doing good and doing well are equally demanding competitions. We must amount to something. People like the kids at Matheny reminded me that our achievements are not our final metric.

That’s why I loved this story on Slate. Cristina is a single mum raising her daughter, Eurydice, who has Down Syndrome. The whole article is a great read as a carefree and upwardly mobile woman comes to grips with the pain and joy of raising her daughter. But the part that jumped out at me was when she talked about her daughter's accomplishments. She says;

"Am I “cheerily generalizing” as [another author] says of other Down syndrome parents, “from a few accomplishments” of my child? Perhaps I am. But one thing I've learned these last four years... All of our accomplishments are few. All of our accomplishments are minor: my scribblings, his book, the best lines of the best living poets. We embroider away at our tiny tatters of insight as though the world hung on them, when it is chiefly we ourselves who hang on them."

When we can release on our pride in our achievements, we can focus on using our abilities great and small to love one another. That's a God perspective. Even our great achievements are pretty small in the scheme of things. But what if we already did amount to something? Not because we did something great - but because we were loved and got to love in return.

The joy Eurydice takes in each detail of life is the most infectious quality I’ve ever known. When she flings her arms around my neck as she does every day, every night, my most recurrent fear is no longer relapsing cancer, no longer early dementia or heart disease or hearing loss—or even the fact that Eurydice is growing up too slowly. It is a testament to how radically this child has transformed me that my most recurrent fear may be that she’s growing up too fast—that one day she could be too mature to give me those massive, resplendent, full-body hugs.

In our church, we are blessed with people who are very successful in the eyes of the world. And with people who don’t amount to much in the eyes of the world. But in truth, none of what we do amounts to much. It's what God has done that makes us amount to anything.

Glorify God Together with One Voice

A mark of the faithful church is singing praise to God together in unity. But worship can be one of the divisive practices of a church. We sing different songs, in different ways. When worship is about our preferences, it divides. When it is about God, it unites us.

As OCC grows, we are prayerfully seeking ways to unite our voices together in song, across the many styles that we bring together. So, each week, David is going to post a new song with a link that you can get to know so we can sing together on Sunday.

This week, we are trying something new! Instead of speaking our 'Call to Worship', we are going to sing it, in a call and response fashion.


Here's the words...

Congregational Response
Lord, our God
we give you praise!

From the rising of the sun to the setting of the same,

Lord, our God
we give you praise!

Leader:
Attend dear Lord
to Your people now...

Response

Leader:
There is none
like our God Jehovah!

Response

Leader:
Such mercy!
Your blood like cleansing rain has washed away our stains

Leader:
Humbled, dare we
gather to approach Thee...

Response

Leader:
Welcomed by the blood You've shed so freely!

Response

Leader:
Your grace is
sufficient for my case
my failures you’ve erased!

© 2012 by David Sovereign

Monday Discussion ~ A Work of God ~ Ephesians 4:30-32

Each Monday I will be posting reflections from the sermon and discussion questions for any groups working through the sermon texts with us.

Last week, Larry preached on Ephesians 4:30:32.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Paul finishes his call to maturity with a simple reminder. We are now in a new relationship. We are not talking about some abstract law or philosophy. God in Jesus has come close to us. More than that, through the Holy Spirit he has come to live with us. 'Do not grieve' the Holy Spirit! It's personal! Relationships are more powerful than rules every time*. A law can stop me from stealing or trespassing. But no law can make me sacrifice for my wife or my children. That's something I will only do out of love and affection. And so it is with God. We don't need more rules. We need a closer relationship.

QUESTIONS

1. How do you respond to this phrase 'grieving the Holy Spirit'? Can you imagine God grieving?

2. How might you try to see your obedience to God as a matter of relationship rather than rules?

Rules may help set boundaries and keep things clear. But no relationship can live by rules alone. I once knew a woman who had bought a TV with her 'allowance' from her husband. And since she had bought the TV with 'her' allowance, 'he' was not allowed to watch that TV. Her husband treated her legalistically, and she responded in the same way. Abundant grace only arises when we start to experience abundant grace. Deep, 'letting go' forgiveness only arises when we experience that kind of forgiveness.

Read Matthew 18:21-35

3. What law did the unforgiving servant break?

4. The servant was forgiven his debt, but he didn't receive forgiveness. What clues do you see in the story that the man never understood how much he had been forgiven?

5. How does the king respond to the unforgiving servant? Is this an overreaction?

PRACTICAL QUESTION

6. Greg is a member of your team at work. He is constantly critical of your performance. He sends emails that are rude, makes snarky comments during meetings and has talked about you behind your back. Your boss and co-workers are familiar with Greg's approach and they chalk it up to personality difference, so there is no substantial impact on your reputation at work. But the truth is, Greg just bugs you constantly. He's not a Christian, and you don't have any contact outside of work? How should you respond to him?

Javier is a member of your congregation. He attends Bible study with you. Javier has a short temper, and has sent 2 or 3 nasty emails to you, criticizing you. On one occasion, he yelled at you. Should you respond to Javier any differently than you would respond to Greg, as a Christian?

* An interesting TED talk reveals how increased legislation has failed us. What is needed is more wisdom from people who know the cases before them.

Kyrie Elieson

Lyrics to Kyrie Elieson

Last night we sang a 'Kyrie' which is an ancient song sung by Jews before Christ, and then adopted by the early church. It simply means 'Lord have Mercy'. similar to the expression Jesus quotes in Matthew In Rome and elsewhere it became a part of the formal liturgy of the church.

Together, these words summarzie the heart of the faith - Jesus is Lord, yet, he offers mercy.

Throughout the centuries Christians have sung these words to a multitude of tunes with additional words around it. Here is the version we sang last night. Getty is focusing on our communal sin and need to repent for our lack of justice.

CHORUS:
Kyrie Eleison, have mercy
Christ Eleison, have mercy;
Kyrie Eleison, have mercy,
Christ Eleison, have mercy.

VERSES:
As we come before You with the needs of our world,
We confess our failures and our sin,
For our words are many yet our deeds have been few;
Fan the fire of compassion once again.

When the cries of victims go unheard in the land,
And the scars of war refuse to heal;
Will we stand for justice to empower the weak
Till their bonds of oppression are no more?

 If we love our God with all our heart, mind and strength,
And we love our neighbors as ourselves;
Then this law of love will heal the nations of earth
And the glory of Christ will be revealed.

 Lord, renew our vision to be Christ where we live,
To reach out in mercy to the lost;
For each cup of kindness to the least in our midst
Is an offering of worship to the throne.

 Kyrie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy) Words & Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend © 2010 Thankyou Music & Gettymusic

 See Keith Getty's website for more info.

 See this for another version we won't be singing.

Study on Ephesians 4:17-28

Study on Ephesians 4.2

Study on Ephesians 4:17-24

Study on Ephesians 4.1

Study on Ephesians 3:1-13

Study on Ephesians 3.1

Study on Ephesians 2:11-18

Study on Ephesians 2.5

Study on Ephesians 2:19-22

Study on Ephesians 2.4

Study on Ephesians 2:10

Study on Ephesians 2.3

Study on Ephesians 2:6-9

Study on Ephesians 2.2

Study on Ephesians 2:1-5

Study on Ephesians 2.1

Study on Ephesians 1:13-23

Study on Ephesians 1.5

Study on Ephesians 1:11-14

Study on Ephesians 1.4

Study on Ephesians 1:3-10

Study on Ephesians 1.3

Study on Ephesians 1:5-8

Study on Ephesians 1.2

Study on Ephesians 1:1-6

Study on Ephesians 1.1

Study on Acts 19:21-41

Study on Acts 19.2

Study on Acts 19:1-20

Study on Acts 19.1

We'll be uploading the studies for Neighborhood Groups here 3 times a month. They'll be up the week before the sermon!

     

Through the Deep Waters -- April 7th

Revelation 21:5 -22:5

As we finish our walk through the story of Scripture, we come to this astonishing note of hope for the future. God is coming to make all things new, through Jesus' work in the incarnation, death and resurrection. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. All of history is encompassed in Christ and his work.

It is appropriate that we finish this series on Easter Saturday... the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. This is the day when we remember that we live in the promise of resurrection, the 'now, but not yet' anticipation of the coming kingdom. Our tragedy and grief is wrapped up and fulfilled in the cross of Christ. Our hope and future is wrapped up and fulfilled in the resurrection.

The vision of eternal life in the Bible is not one of disembodied, spiritual existence. It is deeply communal - described as a city. God is bringing his people together, and He will live with them. He will be their light, and their temple. A new community gathered around the presence and gracious rule of God is our future.

Even as we struggle to imagine and fight for a city that reflects the peace of God, we acknowledge that God is at work on this Easter Saturday, in the midst of struggles and hope... anticipating the joy of Easter... not just Easter Sunday, but an Easter Future that will never end. Even so, come Lord Jesus come.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your story. Thank you that you started it. Thank you that you will finish it. Thank you that you have made it a good news story. May we be a part of writing the chapters today. Amen

Through the Deep Waters -- April 6th

Isaiah 52:1-10

The hour is coming and is now here. The victory of God over oppression is now a reality. God’s reign is here and His sovereignty has overtaken us. This is a beautiful passage with dual meanings, with the first meaning describing the joy of seeing the messenger bringing the news of Jerusalem's deliverance from Babylon and the return of God's reign over Jerusalem. But this passage also has a second meaning, relating to the good news of the redemption of all creation in Jesus Christ. In both scenarios people hear the good news, in the practical that they can now leave Babylon and return to Jerusalem, and in the spiritual in that they can now escape the bondage of sin and have eternal life in heaven. But though they have heard and seen the messenger, they still must choose to act on what they hear and see.

In the previous chapter of Isaiah the people of Israel were lying in the dirt groveling and faint in their captivity but now it’s time to wake up, get up, and loose the bonds of slavery that were holding them captive and to dress themselves in splendor as their God reigns. Similarly, the powers of sin that have held us captive have been destroyed in Jesus Christ. We are called to wake, get up, and loose the bonds of sin that hold us captive as they no longer have power over us. We too have heard and seen the messengers, bringing the Good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we too must choose to act on what we hear and see and accept this Good News into our hearts. We too are to dress ourselves in splendor which is the robe of righteousness given to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who lives and reigns now and forever.

Prayer: O Lord Jesus how horribly you suffered in my place as you bore all of the pain and anguish of my sin. What kind of love is this? Help me Jesus by your grace to walk worthy of this love for you this day. Amen.

Living With Our Neighbors

Great quote from G. K. Chesterton:

"We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next-door neighbor."

This is why a church that reflects its neighborhood matters so much. Churches that only reflect a certain demographic miss out on the amazing joy and character formation that God gives us in our neighbor... whoever they might be.

Through the Deep Waters -- April 4

Isaiah 2:1-5

One of my favorite characters in literature is found in Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy; the character of Levin.He is a wonderfully imagined character who actually strives to be good. What makes him such a powerful character is that Tolstoy manages to imagine a character who is wonderfully, believably and truly good. That's really rare in literature. We can imagine bad things... its really hard to imagine new good things.

It's hard to imagine true good in our city; especially a city like Oakland that gets slandered all the time. This passage invites us to imagine a future where good is not an ideal, but a lived out reality. That incredibly pithy image of spears being bent around to become fishing hooks shows such an imagination. How do we see the streets, the stores, the cars, the buildings, the trees, the institutions around us as objects of real good.

God is imagining these good things as we speak. May we join him in that.

Prayer: Lord, may we walk in the light of your good imagination. While we wait for you, help us to build things that are really good in our homes, our streets and our workplaces.

Through the Deep Waters -- April 3rd

Luke 7:11-23

The Jewish people in their long history had long known YHWY to be both transcendent and immanent. YHWY was in heaven but they also experienced YHWY in their midst. When Jesus raised up the widow’s son from the dead the people who witnessed it began glorifying God saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited His people!” Jesus Immanuel means “God is with us”. Jesus, the Son of God, was walking in their midst and He demonstrated His power over spirits and nature and life and even death.  This resurrection miracle of the widow's son is one of the powerful signs of the Messiahship of Jesus Christ. Jesus says in Revelation, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades.”

John the Baptist was in prison and was soon to be martyred by Herod. John understood that his ministry was to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah but he was getting anxious to know if this was fulfilled in Jesus. The Jewish expectations were for a different kind of Messiah, one that would defeat the Roman army and bring judgment upon evildoers. Seeking peace of mind, John sends messengers to Jesus to inquire if he is the Messiah. Jesus answers John by pointing to the signs of the Kingdom of God already present within their midst, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” John received his peace as he would have recognized these signs from Jesus as the signs of the day of salvation of the Lord as foretold by the prophets. Jesus indeed is the Messiah, the Son of God, present and in our midst. Jesus Immanuel, "God is with us."    

Prayer: Gracious God we know that you are so very near to us and that you are always present with us. Forgive us when we doubt and look to our own expectations instead of to you. Help us today to see you and to hear you more clearly. Amen.        

Through the Deep Waters -- April 2nd

Psalm 47

How fitting to praise God this morning with this psalm after Palm Sunday. God reigns as King over all the earth and we are summoned to praise Him this morning. Shout to God with loud songs of joy and praise all throughout the day today as God is worthy of all praise! According to Jewish tradition this psalm was sung in the temple seven times before the trumpet blast inaugurating the New Year acknowledging the reign of God. The early church used this psalm to celebrate the ascension of Jesus acknowledging His reign over all the earth. Our Lord reigns, He has subdued the nations under His feet and He has ascended on high to rule over all the earth.

Sing praises to our God, sing praises!

Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

For God is the King over all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!

We celebrate because God has acted on our behalf in Jesus who has defeated sin and death and who has given us eternal life. We sing praises to God because of His victory and because He reigns over all and is worthy of all our praises. The Kingdom of God is at hand and our Lord reigns over all peoples and over all nations. We acknowledge His reign in this psalm and we sing to Him all our praises.

Prayer: O Lord we offer up to you all our praises today as we bow low before you to begin the day. We rise up to lift up our voices in praise to you all throughout the day. May all creation give you praise worthy of your holy name. Amen.

Through the Deep Waters -- March 31st

Ephesians 6:10-20

Jesus told his disciples, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” A world filled with wolves is a dangerous place for a sheep that is not immune to the threats and attacks and the distractions and temptations that press in on all sides. Yet Jesus sends us out into the world as His instruments of peace and healing for the world as we deliver and live out the Gospel message to the world. Paul teaches us here that we are to be strong in the Lord as we walk in the strength of His might by putting on the armor of God to protect us against the schemes of the evil one. Paul reminds us that as we go out into the world we are engaging with very real and powerful evil spiritual forces and we need God’s armor to withstand their attacks and to stand firm in the Lord.

When Paul wrote this letter he was in a Roman prison where he had ample opportunity to see Roman guards and soldiers with their heavy armor ready for battle. Paul uses this metaphor to teach us about the armor of God that we are to wear daily as we head out into the world. We are to fasten ourselves with the belt of truth upon which hangs the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. We have confidence as we have quick access to the truth as it is tightly fastened at our side. The breastplate of righteousness protects our heart where attackers will have trouble wounding us if we have done nothing wrong. Having shoes on our feet is a sign of our readiness to preach the Gospel message on the spur of the moment. The word Paul uses for shield here is the tall, oblong, thick shield that a soldier can protect his entire body with. We are to take up this large shield of faith which protects us from the fiery darts of the evil one. Even a small wound to the head can destroy us so we are to put on the helmet of salvation from Christ which protects us through every experience. We are to take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. The Bible is our sword – our only weapon that allows us to go on the offensive against our enemy. Finally, we are to pray in the Spirit at all times where prayer is our lifeline wherein God re-supplies us with everything we need for spiritual battle.

Prayer: O gracious God if you are for us who can stand against us? We praise you for the victory which you have given us through Jesus Christ. Encourage us today and give us wisdom to put on your whole armor as we venture out to share your Good News with the world. Amen.

Through the Deep Waters -- March 30

Stop, Watch and Shut Up

Stop, Watch and Shut Up! In the recent sermon on the Red Sea crossing, we made a big deal about Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you. You only have to be silent." Somewhat irreverently I said that the process of trusting God salvation is one of 'Stopping', 'Watching', and 'Shutting Up'. That is, instead of continuing our struggle for self-justification, when we hit a wall in our own habits or circumstances, we should stop striving, look to the cross... and shut up. Stop making excuses, complaining and rationalizing.... just wait for the Lord to act.

I thought I was being a bit naughty using this phrase. But then, just this morning, I found a quote by a theologian called Gerhard Forde. It made me feel less naughty. This is what he says.

From the point of view true sanctification is simply to “shut up and listen!” For there can be no more sanctification than where every knee bends and every mouth is silent before God, the only Holy One. And God is revered as the Holy One only where the sinner, the real sinner, stands still at the place where God enters the scene and speaks. That is the place where the sinner must realize that his or her way is at an end. Only those who are so grasped that they stand still here and confess to sin and give God the glory, only they are “sanctified.” And there cannot be more sanctification than that! Whoever knows this knows that there is an end to the old, there is a death involved, and that being a Christian means ever and anew to be blasted by that divine lightning (for we always forget it) and to begin again. As Luther said, “pro ficere, hoc est semper a novo incipere.” (To achieve means always to begin again anew).

Psalm 103 is a wonderful psalm for shutting up. In it, David tells his soul to stop worrying, stop fretting, stop running this way and that. Instead, he tells his soul to simply bless the Lord. In short, he tells his soul to shut up and listen. God is good. God is for you. God will redeem you! Bless the Lord indeed.

Prayer: Lord, speak to me and I will listen. Silence my accusers, within and without. Assure me of your love which is not guaranteed by my goodness, which always fails. Tell me that your love comes from Jesus' goodness, which never fails. Amen

Through the Deep Waters -- March 29th

1 Peter 1:3-16

There are times when we may get discouraged in our walk of faith. Our own brokenness or the brokenness of others can at times get the best of us. The daily pressures of life and the grind of living in the midst of so much need and so much unbelief can be disheartening. We may weaken when our mind or our emotions or our bodies let us down or when we experience coming under attack for our faith. Peter speaks to these moments which test and try our faith and he encourages us by reminding us where our hope lies and where our focus needs to be during such times.

Peter encourages us to place our focus on the eternal inheritance that we have already received through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As children of God our eternal inheritance is secure, imperishable, undefiled, unfading, and being kept for us and guarded by the power of God in heaven. Paul says this in 1 Corinthians about what is awaiting us in heaven; “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” During times of testing and trial we set our hope on this unimaginable reward which has already been prepared for us and is kept secure for us and guarded by the power of God. We are His children, and He delights in giving His children their inheritance.

Peter reminds us that He who has called us is holy and therefore we too are to be holy. God desires us to be obedient children who are not conformed to the passions of this world but who instead are conformed into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. We place our hope and our faith and our complete trust in Him and we walk in this hope by His grace knowing our eternal reward is sure through His resurrection.

Prayer: Gracious God we give you all our praise and glory this day for your precious gifts to us as we set our sights on Jesus the source of all our hope. Amen.

Through the Deep Waters -- March 27th

Mark 1:1-15

Mark begins his witness with an immediate trumpet blast – the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! Mark immediately recalls that the prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of this day by saying there will be a voice crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” This prophecy is fulfilled in John the Baptist who proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins to prepare for the coming of the Lord. The promise of God that an offspring of Eve’s would crush the head of Satan is now fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The promise of God to Abraham that in him all the families of the earth shall be blessed is now fulfilled in Jesus Christ as is the promise to David that through him God will establish an everlasting Kingdom.  The promises, the prophecies, and the time are all fulfilled in Jesus Christ as Paul said that all the promises of God find their Yes in Him.

The Kingdom of God is now at hand and this truly is Good News for all those who repent of their sin and who believe by faith in Jesus Christ. The Kingdom of Darkness and its evil structures of worldly power and authority have been overthrown not by the mighty warrior Messiah King that was expected but by the suffering servant Messiah King who humbled Himself, who became human, who got down into the water, and was baptized by John. This Son of Man is the Son of God whom God says, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This Messiah King resides and reigns in the very hearts of those who place their faith and their trust in Him. Here His Kingdom reigns in such things as love, mercy, kindness, justice, peace, humility, joy, and faithfulness and in this Kingdom there is no end.

How do we respond to this astonishingly Good News? What are we to do with this amazingly free gift from God? We simply believe and accept the gift in faith. We turn around from walking down our sinful paths away from God and we turn toward God and walk on His pathways of righteousness by faith. We walk in faith in Jesus Christ and we walk in community with each other as a people of faith elected by God to be the light of the world. We walk together in faith as we await the return of our King when He will rule in a new world where God’s peace and justice are known and lived out by all. Jesus says, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel”.

Prayer: O Lord how grateful and how humbled we are that you have done this for us. Who are we that you are mindful of us? We thank you and we praise you and we give you all glory. Help us to walk in your grace by faith throughout this day, to love and to serve you and those whom you place in our path today. Amen.              

Through the Deep Waters - March 26th

2 Samuel 7:1-24

In our reading, we now approach a new theme that arises in the narrative of the Bible. We have seen how God calls a people to himself, not because of anything that they have done, but because they are graciously elected. This people is raised up to be a 'display people' who show what it looks like to live under the faithfulness of God. Secondly, we have seen how God brings his people, and ultimately, his Son, through the crisis of death and judgment. The path of new life is not one of uninterrupted progress, but a path of sacrifice and suffering. Ultimately, Jesus fulfills this path by his death on the cross.

Now we turn to the theme of the coming kingdom. God's ultimate vision for his world is not simply a people chosen but not fulfilled. He seeks to bring about a completion of what he has done. He is building a kingdom that will last forever.

And again, it begins with a promise. Like Abraham receiving the promise that he would 'be a people', David receives a promise that through him, God will establish a kingdom that will have no end. And to this king, one day every knee will bow.

The vision of the coming kingdom in the Old and New Testament is a vision that is 'now but not yet'. We await the fulfillment of God's work in a new world where shalom, justice and God's rule is effectively known and lived.

Prayer: We thank you Lord that you do not simply promise us a personal spiritual renewal. Instead, you promise that you will bring about a new cosmos, where your will is done on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.

Through the Deep Waters -- March 24th

Acts 13:15-49

Here we have a desperate question in verse 15 and a blessed answer in given in verse 23.

The Question: "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it." God's gathering of his Covenant People centers on a word of encouragement coming to those who have so much to be discouraged about. They are a people who are broken, battered and bruised by sin. Threatened and shaken by the law and the impending judgment and wrath due to them because of their moral ineptitude. This word of encouragement needs to come to a group of people who are guilty and hear the tone of the law screaming at them saying, "Be Holy (morally perfect in thought and deed) OR ELSE." And through their whimpering cries, they whisper in confession, "I can't." Tough spot to be in, one where your life depends on you and your ability to meet a certain set of expectations and requirements and you just can't meet the demands placed on you. This is what makes their question of the Apostle Paul a serious and desperate one. Is there any "Good News" for sinners who are morally bankrupt?

The Answer: Paul answers their question giving a sweep of redemptive history starting in verse 16 and landing at the sweet spot in verse 23 saying, "God has brought forth a Savior, Jesus, as he promised." This Savior would redeem those desperate and longing souls who've discovered that they have nothing to commend themselves to God otherwise. They know that they have missed the mark of perfection but they hear the Good News that their perfection has come in the Savior. He has met the demands of God’s perfect and holy law on their behalf, having lived a sinless life and also suffering the just consequences that their sins deserved through his death on the cross. Thereby, creating a way that sinners can be justified (declared right) before God. This is what the scripture means in Colossians 1:12, "that we thank the Father who has made us meet (fit, qualified) to share in the spoils of Christ Victory over sin, death and the grave. We’ve been brought out of the Kingdom of Darkness and been transferred into the Kingdom of his dear Son." This is Good News, when Christ says to us who can’t do what desperately needs to be done, “I have done it for you, and IT IS FINISHED!!!”

Prayer: Jesus, help us to know what we have in and because of you!!! Amen…

Through the Deep Waters -- March 24th

Psalm 23

This lyrical and lovely psalm of David is a psalm of complete trust in the Lord. The psalmist makes no plea to God but understands his place and his vulnerability in the world as a lamb and submits his all unto the provision and protection of the Lord as his shepherd.  The Lord provides for the psalmist in such a way that there is provision all around him and he rests assured in this and this rest leads to the restoration of his soul. The Lord not only provides but the Lord also leads him into pathways of righteousness.

The psalmist is not afraid of danger because he understands that it is the Lord who protects and fights for him as a shepherd protects and fights for a defenseless lamb. He understands that the Lord will take action against his enemies and this gives him comfort and peace of mind. The Lord provides, restores, leads, and protects the psalmist and He is also a gracious host in providing abundant hospitality as the psalmist feasts in the presence of the Lord forever.  

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”(John 10:10-11)  It is the Lamb of God who is our King and who is our Shepherd. It is Jesus who provides for us, restores our souls, leads us in the pathways of righteousness, accompanies us through danger and protects us, spreads the holy supper before us in the presence of sin and death, and pursues us in His gracious love all the days of our lives. This understanding gives us a deep sense of peace as we rest in the presence of our precious Lord.

Prayer: Gracious God we give you all thanks and all praise for your daily care and provision, leading and protection. Thank you Lord for the wonderful peace this gives us as we rest in the confident assurance of your eternal presence.        

Through the Deep Waters -- March 22nd

Psalm 16

“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge”. Like the psalmist, we make the Lord our sole refuge and our protection. We entrust our life and our care and our provision to the Lord. He is worthy of our trust and we place it all in Him as He is the source of our life. He is our Lord and we have no good apart from Him. To part from Him is to misplace our trust and to run after other gods. Those who do so will multiply their sorrows. Our Lord tells us to consider the sparrow who neither sows nor reaps yet our heavenly Father feeds them. “Are you not of more value than they?” 

 

We see with the psalmist that the Lord who holds our life has indeed blessed our life and in gratitude we praise the Lord. As we praise the Lord for His goodness toward us we practice the presence of the Lord who counsels us and instructs us on the pathways of life. Because we practice His presence and know that the Lord is at our right hand we are confident in life and are not shaken even in the face of death. Our entire being is infused with the joyous assurance that our Lord will never leave us in this life nor abandon us to Sheol in our death.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is our assurance. Our Lord makes known to us the pathways of life and in His presence there is fullness of joy as we sing to Him our praises in gratitude. His presence is with us and He provides His pleasures to us not only in this life but He has saved us from our sins and He has bestowed upon us the gift of eternal life where we will enjoy His presence forever. 

 

Prayer: O Lord in you today we take refuge. We place all our trust in you for the comings and goings of this day knowing that you hold all things. Thank you for how you have blessed us and have given us our portion. We seek your presence today and trust that you are with us guiding us onto your pathways of life. All praise glory and honor to you now and forever. Amen     

Through the Deep Waters -- March 21

John 12:20-36

"Sir, we want to see Jesus." This is the cry of everyone - believer and skeptic alike. The believer wants to be encouraged. The skeptic wants to see proof. At the end of the gospel of John, we hear this question over and over again - show us the presence of God! In this case, visiting Greeks are curious. Who is this Jewish miracle worker? Jesus' fame has increased and more and more people want to see what the fuss is about. It is time for Jesus to be glorified!

But here we meet the strange truth of the cross. Jesus does intend to be glorified. He will be 'lifted up' so that all people will see him. But his glory will be his death. He will be lifted up... on a cross.

So often, we seek God in the glorious things. We look for wisdom, and peace, and victory. We think we will find his face in the great and beautiful things of the world. But Jesus reveals to us that God is present in the painful things, the hard things. In foolishness, suffering and defeat we see the face of God.

This seems like bad news when we are on top of the world, and on top of our game. But it is actually good news because we can't stay on top forever! One day we will stumble and fall. All our strength will be revealed as an illusion. And that is where God can meet us as a humble, servant king. The cross of Jesus shows us who the heart of God. God's heart is revealed to his sinful people not in glory or power. His powerful and glorious face would destroy us. His heart is revealed in his sacrificial and humble love.

Such a God also leads us to love the broken and the poor in our world. We don't seek glory or riches. We seek the glory of Jesus - in sacrificial and humble love.

Prayer: Lord thank you for showing your face to us. Thank you that the face we see is tender, gentle, broken, like ours. you became like we are, so that we might become like you are.

Through the Deep Waters -- March 20th

Psalm 130

Psalm 130 has a deep and rich heritage within the spiritual life of people of faith. Martin Luther called this psalm “a proper master and doctor of Scripture” meaning that this psalm teaches the basic truths of the Gospel. Indeed, this soulful psalm is a succinct yet powerful expression of the theme that is at the very heart of Scripture, the human predicament and our utter dependence upon divine grace.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord hear my voice! To find ourselves crying out to God from the depths is to find ourselves in the place where death prevails and where we stare face to face at all of our iniquities and realize we are lost. We cry out to God and we ask for mercy and for forgiveness and we wait…we wait for God’s attention and for God’s mercy. This psalm was found inscribed on the walls of Dachau where the depths of death were all around but where the waiting saw no response.

The psalmist reminds us that forgiveness is with the Lord who is to be feared and our hope is in His Word. We wait for the attention of the Lord for we are assured that there is where our hope resides and there is where steadfast love is found. It is only in the Lord where we find our forgiveness and our redemption in our Savior Jesus Christ who has indeed redeemed us from all of our iniquities. “Where O death is your victory? Where O death is your sting?”

Prayer: O Lord hear our voice and be attentive to our plea. If you should mark our iniquities O Lord who could stand? Forgive us Lord and bring us into the embrace of your steadfast love.

Through the Deep Waters -- March 19th

Mark 10:35-45

This passage helps us to get a grasp on the reality that left to ourselves what we desire and what God desires for us are diametrically opposed. In the text we see James and John asking Jesus to do for them or better yet give them whatever they wanted. Is this strange? Hardly, if I was able to ask and get from God one thing, what would it be? Money, A Life of Luxury, Ease & Extreme Comfort in Life, No more work, No Sickness or Worries would probably be at the top of my list. What would you ask for?

Well I believe that what James & John asked for is in accord with what all of us would ask for. What they asked for was honor, glory, and power. They wanted to be in the highest places, to be seen, to be known, to be in control or at least to look like it. All that we would ask for, just like James and John would render us less dependent upon God than he has created us to be. This is the same temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden, they were persuaded to take matters into their own hands and determine for themselves what's best for them and "become like God", reducing their actual dependence upon God.

Jesus replied to James & John, that they didn't know what they were actually asking for or how you really get what they were asking for. They wanted power, prestige, a good reputation, to be thought well of by the masses, but Jesus said the way to get those things is through suffering. More accurately, suffering on behalf of others and entering into their causes and troubles with no agenda other than helping them and being there for them. That was baptism that Jesus was baptized with. He entered the waters of our troubles for our good not his own. James and John were only seeking their own good and to be recognized by others for it. How selfish of them and US!!! We in our own ways, without the help of God’s Spirit seek the same things, mainly for our own benefit and we want others to take notice of it and celebrate us for who and what we are, with no real concern for who they are and their struggles. We want Easy and Cheap Glory!!!

Jesus says that the way up is down. The way to be someone noteworthy like Jesus is by serving, just for the idea of serving because others need you. This is what Jesus did for us. He was not self-seeking he was sinner seeking. The way he became glorious in our eyes is by what he did for us simply because he loved US!!! He knew we could never repay us but he still moved into our brokenness to make us whole. May God change us and give us the grace to ask for the power to serve others for their benefit and not our own, just as Christ served us. If you could ask God anything what would you ask him for?

PRAYER: Father help us to pray and ask for the things that matter to you and others, so that Christ may be seen in us more than we may be known…May he forever be known as the reason why we gladly take the low road of a servant. Knowing that your Kingdom should be full of servants!!!

Through the Deep Waters -- March 17th

Isaiah 53

This passage clearly points us to Jesus Christ our savior and redeemer. It begins with a question, actually two questions. The first question is: Who has believed the report about Christ, who is the only way out of sin and into right-standing with God. The passage tells us several clear things about Christ as the Suffering Savior...

1. Jesus Died FOR OUR SINS. Do you believe this Report? The passage says that he was wounded for our transgressions. That he received the "Whoopin" that brought us peace with God. It also tells us that the Lord laid on Christ the iniquity of all who believe. This is the testimony of scripture that God sent Jesus to save his people by dying in their place.

2. GOD PUNISHED Jesus as the Sacrifice for Our Sins. The passage also teaches us that the Lord was pleased to punish, bruise, and crush Christ. Sinful men carried out the plan of almighty God. It was God who put Christ through the misery and grief of the cross. It was God who put him on the altar as a sacrificial lamb to atone for the sins of his people. Do you believe this Report?

And the second question is: To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed. The second question actually answers the first question. The one who believes this report is the one to whom the arm, which means the saving power of God in Christ, has been revealed. Those who believe have witnessed something that others have not as of yet. They've been made to see the truth. The text speaks of our blindness in this way:

To the natural mind without spiritual illumination, Christ has no beauty or natural appeal that would attract us to him. Without divine light the bible says that regardless of what he has done for us we will never esteem him as we should. Without revelation we'll never give him the glory and the honor he deserves. We, if left to ourselves are prone to think great thoughts about our careers and academic achievements, our cars and houses, our friends and families, our bank accounts and investments, our plans and dreams and only small and even despising thoughts about Jesus as our Savior.

Prayer: Father help us to see the beauty of Christ and to know the weight of what he has done for us more and more. Left alone we esteem him not, but with your light shining in us we see him as he is: Our Hope and Redeemer...

Through the Deep Waters -- Mar 16

Romans 8:31-39

The promise of Moses in the Old Testament is revealed and fulfilled in the New Testament, and nowhere more explicitly than in Romans 8. God has every right to stand against us. Like the Israelites, we are threatened on all sides by enemies, and most of all, unsure of our own allegiances. We stand before a Holy God at every moment who loves us, but also cannot stand sin.

At every moment, and for every situation, we have a mediator. We can live in awe of a Holy God, completely acknowledging his holiness and purity. And we can live in fellowship with this same God because he has made things completely right between us because of Jesus.

So, with our mediator, our life will be one of tears and laughter. We will be free to grieve the very real and painful sins we commit. We will not try to patch them up or make them seem less bad than they are. We are not going to pretend that we will never do those things again. We will confess, whole heartedly. But we will also laugh and rejoice because our sin will never have the last word.

In yesterday’s reading, we saw that God is willing to be seen as changeable. This image of a God who changes his mind is concerning to us. In Romans 8, we see the good news that because of Jesus, God has changed his mind about us! Praise God!

Prayer: Thank Lord for the mediation of Jesus who allows to live with you in truth and enormous joy. Help us to think on Christ every time we wonder where we stand. Amen.

Through the Deep Waters -- Mar 15

Exodus 32:1-14

One of the most intriguing themes in the story of Exodus is the role that Moses plays as an intercessor. Throughout the story, the Israelites continue to fall short of God’s plan. They complain, they wander, they disobey. And in a strange recurring episode, God swears to destroy them. And then, as we see in this story, Moses intercedes and convinces God not to the destroy them!

Yes, I know, sometimes the Old Testament is weird. Reading this, we may think that God is simply capricious – changing his mind on a whim. It seems to take Moses to calm Him down. But we need to allow Scripture to speak for itself. These stories are a foreshadowing of the need for a ‘mediator’ in our relationship with God.

God allows Himself to be presented as changeable in order that we may see him more clearly – as a God who punishes sin, but also turns away his wrath because of a mediator. How else will we see a God is both perfectly just and perfectly merciful.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your gracious word to us – although we are deserving of your wrath, you allow yourself to be persuaded otherwise. Remind us to take sin seriously – that without the mediation of Jesus Christ, we would be utterly lost. Thank you for our redeemer.

Through the Deep Waters -- March 14th

John 3:16-20

What we have here is a statement or a declaration backed up by three indisputable facts. The statement is that God's love moved him to send Christ on behalf of his perishing people. What a beautiful picture. The God who we've offended, takes matters into his own hands with intentions to save us instead of destroying us. Mercy by an act of Grace was the mode of God's heart when we only deserved Justice by an act of his Wrath. This is surely the good news of the Gospel. God has acted in Christ on behalf of his people.

THE THREE FACTS THAT UNDERGIRD THIS GOSPEL DECLARATION ARE:

(1) There is no condemnation for those who believe. Christ has been condemned on our behalf. He has satisfied the righteous demands AND has received the just penalty of the law for us. Christ has brought an end to the law, so that there in now righteousness (right-standing with God) for all who believe. Because of Christ there is no condemnation for those that are in Him, trusting His work and not our own work.

(2) The only way to enter into this blessed state where your sins are not counted against you is by Faith in Christ. You must be brought to believe that God is satisfied with what Jesus has done for you. You must receive God's testimony about his Son, who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life our only way back to God in peace. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

(3) God's judgment doesn’t solely based on whether I’ve been good or bad. This is not the Santa Claus theory. But God's judgment is based on what have I done with Christ, who is the light that enables me to see God and myself clearly. Those who run from the light testify that they love darkness. Which means that they love themselves, and their agendas, and the way they want things to be; instead of God, his agenda and the way He wants things to be. But those who come to the light are humbled and blessed. They are humbled because they see that life is not all about them and their agendas or comforts or reputations or desires but about God's. They confess that they've put themselves or something/someone else at the center of the universe and not God. And they are blessed because they see that life is not all about them and their agendas or comforts or reputations or desires but about God's. And they praise God who has brought them to know the truth in Christ the light that God has sent into the world to show us the way out of the world!!!

Prayer: God open the eyes of our hearts and help us to see Christ as you see Him…

Through the Deep Waters - March 12

Luke 4:1-13

The story of Scripture, much like our lives, does not take a straight path. God desires a close and trusting relationship with his people, but to build this relationship, God must do more than call us. He must redeem us; that is, he must buy us back. We have wandered away from our original intention. We have stumbled on the path. We have fallen from the dignity where God placed us.

We know this in our relationships with each other. No relationship, however positive, is free of conflict, confusion, resentment and fear. To be in a flourishing relationship means to work at reconciliation - overcoming the obstacles.

Our reading yesterday was the mysterious interruption of evil and temptation into the garden. The Bible does not spend much time explaining the why of evil. It simply acknowledges its existence in our lives, and shares with us how God plans to overcome it. In the reading yesterday there was a 'proto-gospel'... that the son of Eve would crush the head of the snake.

In today's reading, we see that God fulfills this promise but allowing His Son to become a Son of Eve, one of us, and live in the same temptations we face. Jesus is tempted into the same suspicious, conflicted relationship with God as we have. He, unlike Adam, resists and restores the rightful relationship between humanity and God.

This is the great theme of Scripture - not only that God calls us, but that he reconciles with us as well.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that you do more than call us. Lord, you stick with us, even when we fall short of that call. Not only do you start a relationship with us, but you fight for that relationship even when we wander. Thank you for being a God who has paid the price to stay in friendship with us. Help us to fight for reconciliation in our relationships too.