Day 43 – Wednesday
The Presidential Prayer Team
One of the things I want to do when these emails are over, is to leave you with a tool-kit for prayer. Hopefully, we’ve talked a lot about different kinds of prayer, various ways to pray, and some issues relating to prayer. I hope you’ll consider renewing your commitment to praying for an hour every day, not simply during Lent.
One of the things I believe we desperately need to pray for is our government. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NIV) says, “1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” No matter what your political stance, it’s clear that our national leaders need our prayers.
While exploring the internet for good prayer websites, I came across a wonderful resource for praying for our President. The Presidential Prayer Team (http://presidentialprayerteam.com/prayertools/) is a great website that promotes praying for our Commander in Chief. It offers prayer tools such as guides for how to pray for our leaders; the President’s daily schedule; discussions of some of the issues facing our President; places where visitors can join in prayer for common concerns, and areas where visitors can post their opinions. I highly recommend this site, if you want to keep our President in your prayers.
Praying for the President has nothing to do with your agreement or disagreement with his issues. It has to do with respecting God’s authority over our nation, and over our President. It has to do with believing that God can speak directly to our President’s heart and lead him in all truth. This is our prayer for President Obama—that he will hear God’s voice, and follow with all his heart.
And who wouldn’t want that for their President? I hope you’ll pray for President Obama today.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Partnering in Prayer - A Lenten Devotion - Day 43 - The Presidential Prayer Team
I live in the beautiful Pacific Nothwest, where I work as a case manager with formerly homeless people and those currently experiencing homelessness. Prior to that, I was a pastor in Virginia for twenty-six years. My wife, Christina, and I have seven children between us, and we are still collecting grandchildren.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Partnering in Prayer - A Lenten Devotion - Day 42 - Meditation: Prayer with an Attitude
Day 42 – Tuesday
Meditation: Prayer With An AttitudeI have a bad attitude today. My schedule didn’t work out like I wanted it to—and when my schedule gets messed up, it really gets me off-kilter. On top of that, it seems like everybody in our family was arguing with everybody else—me included. Today, my prayer time was broken into parts—half in the morning, and half at night. The morning prayer time went well enough, but at night, after all the discord, my nerves were a wreck. I didn’t want to pray. And I also didn’t want to sit down and write this email. To tell you the truth, I just wanted to say, “forget it—we’ll chalk today up as a loss,” and go to bed. I didn’t feel right about taking my bad attitude into God’s presence. I would rather just avoid Him.
Have you ever felt that way? Or when you have a sin on your conscience and you know that if you pray, you’ll have to deal with it before God—so instead of praying, you just avoid God altogether? It seems easier, doesn’t it?
Well, it’s not. God is big enough to handle my bad attitude. He’s not going to be offended by my honest acknowledgement of anger and exhaustion. He’s going to meet me right where I am, without expecting me to approach Him with high and lofty spirituality.
I really didn’t feel like praying. And since I didn’t feel like praying, I didn’t feel like writing about praying. Yet, I am aware that my need for prayer has nothing to do with whether I feel like it. It has to do with the fact that, as Daniel Henderson says, “God is worthy to be sought.” So if God is worthy despite my mood, and prayer is indispensable to me whether I feel like it or not, then I determined to settle into prayer.
So, what kind of prayer is appropriate when you just don’t feel like praying?
I turn to the simple practice of Christian meditation. In meditation, you choose a word or phrase from the Bible that embodies your intention as you pray, or embodies your understanding of God. It might be “grace” or “Hosanna (a good Holy Week one, which means “Lord, save!”) I chose “Maranatha,” which is a time-tested meditation word, passed down to us from the desert fathers of the early church. “Maranatha” is an Aramaic word which means, “Come, Lord!” It is the final word Paul uses at the conclusion of the book of 1 Corinthians. The book of Revelation ends with a similar phrase from John, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” So it’s great for meditation. It’s one word that simply invites Christ’s presence into the meditation time.
As you meditate, simply repeat your word or phrase. Breathe deeply, and let each syllable of that word or phrase last the full length of your deep exhaling breath. With your next inhalation, pronounce the next syllable (without using your vocal cords, because that’d just sound silly). So Ma-ra-na-tha would be exhale (Ma) – inhale (Ra) – exhale (Na) – inhale (Tha). Take your time with it; you’re not in a hurry. Or, if you have chosen a full verse from the Bible, make sure it’s one that you can repeat in the course of one long breath. When I do something like this, I use “My grace is sufficient for you,” or The Jesus Prayer (click here for more information on this prayer, which is drawn from scripture).[i]
Meditating on God’s word isn’t the “vain repetition” which Jesus denounced in Matthew 6:7. It’s repetition, but it certainly is neither pointless nor ego-centric. It’s a way to let God’s word get inside you, like hitting a long nail with a hammer over and over again. Only with repetition will it finally sink in.
So when you’re too worked-up to pray, either from anger, or despair, or whatever emotion grips you and threatens to take away your time with God, remember that your prayer words don’t have to be your own. Choose the words of scripture for your prayer—you can’t go wrong by praying God’s word. God already knows if you’re in a bad mood, so you might as well not try to hide it. If you have a bad attitude, then try prayer with an attitude—try meditation. You’ll be glad you did.
Meditation: Prayer With An AttitudeI have a bad attitude today. My schedule didn’t work out like I wanted it to—and when my schedule gets messed up, it really gets me off-kilter. On top of that, it seems like everybody in our family was arguing with everybody else—me included. Today, my prayer time was broken into parts—half in the morning, and half at night. The morning prayer time went well enough, but at night, after all the discord, my nerves were a wreck. I didn’t want to pray. And I also didn’t want to sit down and write this email. To tell you the truth, I just wanted to say, “forget it—we’ll chalk today up as a loss,” and go to bed. I didn’t feel right about taking my bad attitude into God’s presence. I would rather just avoid Him.
Have you ever felt that way? Or when you have a sin on your conscience and you know that if you pray, you’ll have to deal with it before God—so instead of praying, you just avoid God altogether? It seems easier, doesn’t it?
Well, it’s not. God is big enough to handle my bad attitude. He’s not going to be offended by my honest acknowledgement of anger and exhaustion. He’s going to meet me right where I am, without expecting me to approach Him with high and lofty spirituality.
I really didn’t feel like praying. And since I didn’t feel like praying, I didn’t feel like writing about praying. Yet, I am aware that my need for prayer has nothing to do with whether I feel like it. It has to do with the fact that, as Daniel Henderson says, “God is worthy to be sought.” So if God is worthy despite my mood, and prayer is indispensable to me whether I feel like it or not, then I determined to settle into prayer.
So, what kind of prayer is appropriate when you just don’t feel like praying?
I turn to the simple practice of Christian meditation. In meditation, you choose a word or phrase from the Bible that embodies your intention as you pray, or embodies your understanding of God. It might be “grace” or “Hosanna (a good Holy Week one, which means “Lord, save!”) I chose “Maranatha,” which is a time-tested meditation word, passed down to us from the desert fathers of the early church. “Maranatha” is an Aramaic word which means, “Come, Lord!” It is the final word Paul uses at the conclusion of the book of 1 Corinthians. The book of Revelation ends with a similar phrase from John, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” So it’s great for meditation. It’s one word that simply invites Christ’s presence into the meditation time.
As you meditate, simply repeat your word or phrase. Breathe deeply, and let each syllable of that word or phrase last the full length of your deep exhaling breath. With your next inhalation, pronounce the next syllable (without using your vocal cords, because that’d just sound silly). So Ma-ra-na-tha would be exhale (Ma) – inhale (Ra) – exhale (Na) – inhale (Tha). Take your time with it; you’re not in a hurry. Or, if you have chosen a full verse from the Bible, make sure it’s one that you can repeat in the course of one long breath. When I do something like this, I use “My grace is sufficient for you,” or The Jesus Prayer (click here for more information on this prayer, which is drawn from scripture).[i]
Meditating on God’s word isn’t the “vain repetition” which Jesus denounced in Matthew 6:7. It’s repetition, but it certainly is neither pointless nor ego-centric. It’s a way to let God’s word get inside you, like hitting a long nail with a hammer over and over again. Only with repetition will it finally sink in.
So when you’re too worked-up to pray, either from anger, or despair, or whatever emotion grips you and threatens to take away your time with God, remember that your prayer words don’t have to be your own. Choose the words of scripture for your prayer—you can’t go wrong by praying God’s word. God already knows if you’re in a bad mood, so you might as well not try to hide it. If you have a bad attitude, then try prayer with an attitude—try meditation. You’ll be glad you did.
I live in the beautiful Pacific Nothwest, where I work as a case manager with formerly homeless people and those currently experiencing homelessness. Prior to that, I was a pastor in Virginia for twenty-six years. My wife, Christina, and I have seven children between us, and we are still collecting grandchildren.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Partnering in Prayer - A Lenten Devotion - Day 41 - Targeted
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-->Day 41 – Monday
Targeted!
9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him (John 12:9-11 NIV).
Has God done a miracle in your life? Has He brought you up from the grave of powerless prayer, into the light of a new day? Have you, like Lazarus, shaken off your grave clothes that once held you bound in sin and darkness? You are a living testimony to the glory of God—what He can do in the life of one who hears His voice as He calls you forth from the tomb.
The miracle of Lazarus’ resuscitation (resurrection for believers will come later, at the return of Christ) brought attention to the greatness of God, and His miraculous power in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Every breath he took bore testimony to Jesus’ messianic authority. The world and the devil want to do everything they can do to suppress such a powerful testimony. So it says that Jesus’ enemies sought to take Lazarus’ life as well.
This is the last time we hear about Lazarus in the New Testament. We aren’t told what ever became of him. Easton
The desire of the early Christians, as many scholars think to screen the family from danger may have kept the story from becoming current in the oral tradition where the Synoptics drew their materials, though Matthew was probably an eyewitness…John, knowing that the others had omitted this, tells us what he had himself witnessed,since all danger to the family had long ago passed away.
Today I lift a special prayer for you, Dear Lazarus—Dear Reader whose Christian life bears witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ. I pray for you who are the target of the world’s schemes to suppress the truth of God’s redemptive work. Once you have aligned yourself with the Messiah, His enemies become your enemies. You are targeted. They are out to destroy your witness, your faith, your hope. They are out to distract you, to rob you of your prayer time, to whisper reminders of the grave into your ears. May God protect you. May He preserve your testimony. May His Holy Spirit intercede for you during your prayer time, so that at all times your life will give glory to His holy name.
I live in the beautiful Pacific Nothwest, where I work as a case manager with formerly homeless people and those currently experiencing homelessness. Prior to that, I was a pastor in Virginia for twenty-six years. My wife, Christina, and I have seven children between us, and we are still collecting grandchildren.
"Betrayed and Denied" - My Article in the Southside Messenger
Spirit & Truth # 174
“Betrayed and Denied”
By Rev. Greg Smith
It was meant to be. There was no getting around it. Jesus was destined for the cross. In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Let this cup pass from me,” yet he realized that it wasn’t His will that mattered. So he also told His Father, “Not My will, but Yours be done.”
Facing an inevitable crucifixion, what Jesus needed most were good friends to lend their comfort and care. Yet that was not what he found in his disciples. “Watch and pray,” he told them as he went off to pray alone in the garden. Yet when he returned to them he found them asleep at their post. What a disappointment his friends could be! And that was only the beginning.
Waking up with a start, his disciples realized too late that a squadron of temple guards was upon them, armed with swords and clubs and torches, ready to arrest their Lord. Those who had been sent to make the arrest could not identify which one was Jesus. That situation was soon remedied when the betrayer Judas, one of Jesus’ twelve closest friends, identified his Lord by greeting him with a kiss. Betrayed with a kiss! How could it get any worse? The scripture says that in his remorse, Judas went out and hanged himself.
Peter took Jesus’ betray from bad to worse, in two ways. First, he drew his sword and violently attacked one of the men who were sent to arrest Jesus. With that aggressive act, he completely violated all the teaching he had received from the Prince of Peace. The disciples all scattered into the night when their Master was taken into custody, but Peter followed at a safe distance. While he was warming his hands by the fire, Peter was accused three times of being a follower of Jesus, and three times he denied even knowing his Lord. Scripture says that when he realized what he’d done, he went out and wept bitterly.
I’m glad I’m not the one who denied Jesus. Aren’t you glad you’re not the one who betrayed the Lord?
Before we get too self-satisfied, though, we need to hold the magnifying glass to ourselves. I betray the Lord every time I commit a sin, every time I sell my allegiance to Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, or whatever I hold to be more precious than Him at the moment. I deny the Lord every time I choose to be anonymous, rather than standing up and being counted as a follower of Christ. Yet while I weep bitterly over my sin as Peter did, I do not allow my guilt to lead to self-destructive tendencies like Judas. You see, unlike Judas, I have heard the words that Jesus said from the cross:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” No words could be more beautiful than “Father, forgive them.” In these words we have hope. These words can take a betrayer like me and a denier like you, and give us eternal life.
“Betrayed and Denied”
By Rev. Greg Smith
It was meant to be. There was no getting around it. Jesus was destined for the cross. In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Let this cup pass from me,” yet he realized that it wasn’t His will that mattered. So he also told His Father, “Not My will, but Yours be done.”
Facing an inevitable crucifixion, what Jesus needed most were good friends to lend their comfort and care. Yet that was not what he found in his disciples. “Watch and pray,” he told them as he went off to pray alone in the garden. Yet when he returned to them he found them asleep at their post. What a disappointment his friends could be! And that was only the beginning.
Waking up with a start, his disciples realized too late that a squadron of temple guards was upon them, armed with swords and clubs and torches, ready to arrest their Lord. Those who had been sent to make the arrest could not identify which one was Jesus. That situation was soon remedied when the betrayer Judas, one of Jesus’ twelve closest friends, identified his Lord by greeting him with a kiss. Betrayed with a kiss! How could it get any worse? The scripture says that in his remorse, Judas went out and hanged himself.
Peter took Jesus’ betray from bad to worse, in two ways. First, he drew his sword and violently attacked one of the men who were sent to arrest Jesus. With that aggressive act, he completely violated all the teaching he had received from the Prince of Peace. The disciples all scattered into the night when their Master was taken into custody, but Peter followed at a safe distance. While he was warming his hands by the fire, Peter was accused three times of being a follower of Jesus, and three times he denied even knowing his Lord. Scripture says that when he realized what he’d done, he went out and wept bitterly.
I’m glad I’m not the one who denied Jesus. Aren’t you glad you’re not the one who betrayed the Lord?
Before we get too self-satisfied, though, we need to hold the magnifying glass to ourselves. I betray the Lord every time I commit a sin, every time I sell my allegiance to Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, or whatever I hold to be more precious than Him at the moment. I deny the Lord every time I choose to be anonymous, rather than standing up and being counted as a follower of Christ. Yet while I weep bitterly over my sin as Peter did, I do not allow my guilt to lead to self-destructive tendencies like Judas. You see, unlike Judas, I have heard the words that Jesus said from the cross:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” No words could be more beautiful than “Father, forgive them.” In these words we have hope. These words can take a betrayer like me and a denier like you, and give us eternal life.
I live in the beautiful Pacific Nothwest, where I work as a case manager with formerly homeless people and those currently experiencing homelessness. Prior to that, I was a pastor in Virginia for twenty-six years. My wife, Christina, and I have seven children between us, and we are still collecting grandchildren.
"Painful Parenting" - My Article in The Southside Messenger
Spirit & Truth # 173
“I Have Issues – Painful Parenting”
By Rev. Greg Smith
Soren Kierkegaard said, “The loving mother teaches her child to walk alone. She is far enough from him so that she cannot actually support him. She holds out her arms. Her face beckons like a reward, an encouragement. The child constantly strives toward a refuge in her embrace, little suspecting that in the very same moment he is emphasizing his need for her, he is proving that he can do without her.”
Sad but true. They grow up before we’re ready, asserting their need for us while at the same time insisting on their independence. Sometimes they make good decisions, and sometimes they follow a path that we never would have planned out for them. David’s life gives us an example of painful parenting. He shows us that childrearing, while often a joy, can also be a heartbreak. Perhaps you have something in common with him.
David experienced something a parent should never have to face—the death of his newborn baby. He and his wife Bathsheba grieved terribly. The family drama continued when David’s son Amnon raped David’s daughter Tamar, Amnon’s own half-sister. David’s son Absalom took two years before exacting his revenge on Amnon, killing him in cold blood. Absalom fled for a time, but eventually David forgave him and invited him back to the palace. Absalom became very popular among the people, and since he thought he was more fit to rule than his father, he led a rebellion which resulted in his death. David’s lament echoes in our ears, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"[i] Even on his deathbed, David’s family knew no peace, as tensions arose between his sons Adonijah and Solomon, concerning who would succeed their father on the throne. David’s was a family gone horribly wrong.
Maybe your family hasn’t known all the travails that David’s family experienced. But perhaps you can identify with his sense of loss, betrayal, disappointment, grief, and self-blame that David felt. No father or mother is exempt from the pains of parenthood. Even God Himself saw His two children Adam and Eve rebel against Him. Then His Son Jesus had to pay the price for their sins, through an agonizing death on a cross. You can rest assured that God understands your pain. He’s felt it, too.
You can also take comfort in the knowledge that God’s hand of correction, discipline, love, and grace can reach farther than yours ever could. Even when your children are out of your reach, they are never out of His. Though Jesus could cry from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,”[ii] God answers back, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”[iii] God promises, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.”[iv] You can know that He also loves and cares for your children.
[i] 2 Samuel 18:33 HCSB
[ii] Matthew 27:46
[iii] Joshua 1:5 NIV
[iv] Psalm 91:4 NIV
“I Have Issues – Painful Parenting”
By Rev. Greg Smith
Soren Kierkegaard said, “The loving mother teaches her child to walk alone. She is far enough from him so that she cannot actually support him. She holds out her arms. Her face beckons like a reward, an encouragement. The child constantly strives toward a refuge in her embrace, little suspecting that in the very same moment he is emphasizing his need for her, he is proving that he can do without her.”
Sad but true. They grow up before we’re ready, asserting their need for us while at the same time insisting on their independence. Sometimes they make good decisions, and sometimes they follow a path that we never would have planned out for them. David’s life gives us an example of painful parenting. He shows us that childrearing, while often a joy, can also be a heartbreak. Perhaps you have something in common with him.
David experienced something a parent should never have to face—the death of his newborn baby. He and his wife Bathsheba grieved terribly. The family drama continued when David’s son Amnon raped David’s daughter Tamar, Amnon’s own half-sister. David’s son Absalom took two years before exacting his revenge on Amnon, killing him in cold blood. Absalom fled for a time, but eventually David forgave him and invited him back to the palace. Absalom became very popular among the people, and since he thought he was more fit to rule than his father, he led a rebellion which resulted in his death. David’s lament echoes in our ears, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"[i] Even on his deathbed, David’s family knew no peace, as tensions arose between his sons Adonijah and Solomon, concerning who would succeed their father on the throne. David’s was a family gone horribly wrong.
Maybe your family hasn’t known all the travails that David’s family experienced. But perhaps you can identify with his sense of loss, betrayal, disappointment, grief, and self-blame that David felt. No father or mother is exempt from the pains of parenthood. Even God Himself saw His two children Adam and Eve rebel against Him. Then His Son Jesus had to pay the price for their sins, through an agonizing death on a cross. You can rest assured that God understands your pain. He’s felt it, too.
You can also take comfort in the knowledge that God’s hand of correction, discipline, love, and grace can reach farther than yours ever could. Even when your children are out of your reach, they are never out of His. Though Jesus could cry from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,”[ii] God answers back, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”[iii] God promises, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.”[iv] You can know that He also loves and cares for your children.
[i] 2 Samuel 18:33 HCSB
[ii] Matthew 27:46
[iii] Joshua 1:5 NIV
[iv] Psalm 91:4 NIV
I live in the beautiful Pacific Nothwest, where I work as a case manager with formerly homeless people and those currently experiencing homelessness. Prior to that, I was a pastor in Virginia for twenty-six years. My wife, Christina, and I have seven children between us, and we are still collecting grandchildren.
"Making Peace with the Past" - My Article in the Southside Messenger
Spirit & Truth # 172
“I Have Issues – Making Peace with the Past”
By Rev. Greg Smith
"Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him (2 Samuel 9:3)?”
When someone has hurt you, you’re usually not very likely to want to make peace with them. Honestly, you’d rather keep them at arm’s length. A wise friend once told me, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.” That way, you can keep an eye on them. You might think that this was David’s motivation in inviting Mephibosheth to his table, but there’s no indication that David’s heart was filled with anything but grace.
King Saul, who had pursued David for years in an attempt to take his life, was now dead, along with his son and David’s best friend, Jonathan. David finally had assumed the throne, and now he desired to make peace with his past. He remembered the covenant he had made with Jonathan, and because of that covenant he realized he had to forgive Saul’s family for their offense against him.
One day when he was at court, David said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul?” and I can imagine his servants’ expectations. The practice in those days, when a new dynasty came to power, was that all descendants of the former king were put to death. That way, none of them could rise up and claim to be the rightful heir to the throne. But instead of saying, “Bring Mephibosheth to me that I might kill him,” David said that he wanted to “show the kindness of God to him.”
In an article entitled “Mephibosheth and Me,”[i] David R. Reid says that for the modern Christian reader, David represents Jesus and Mephibosheth represents humanity. Just as Mephibosheth had been alienated because of his grandfather’s sin and brought back into the household of the king because of David’s covenant with Jonathan, so we who were once estranged from God are restored by the blood covenant of Jesus. Reid says, “Notice that David took the initiative in searching out Mephibosheth. How characteristic of our sovereign Lord. He took the initiative and found us, not vice versa.” The then points out that all the properties that had once belonged to King Saul were restored to Mephibosheth, just as God restores that which sin has destroyed in our lives.
God calls us to radical forgiveness of our enemies. From the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing (Lk 23:34).” He taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us (Mt 6:12).” He reminds us to make peace with our enemies before giving a gift to God (Mt 5:23-24). Otherwise, if we are not at peace with them, our gift is no good. To be at peace within yourself means to make peace with your past. I pray that God will give you that peace today.
[i] http://www.growingchristians.org/dfgc/mephibos.htm. March 15, 2010.
“I Have Issues – Making Peace with the Past”
By Rev. Greg Smith
"Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him (2 Samuel 9:3)?”
When someone has hurt you, you’re usually not very likely to want to make peace with them. Honestly, you’d rather keep them at arm’s length. A wise friend once told me, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.” That way, you can keep an eye on them. You might think that this was David’s motivation in inviting Mephibosheth to his table, but there’s no indication that David’s heart was filled with anything but grace.
King Saul, who had pursued David for years in an attempt to take his life, was now dead, along with his son and David’s best friend, Jonathan. David finally had assumed the throne, and now he desired to make peace with his past. He remembered the covenant he had made with Jonathan, and because of that covenant he realized he had to forgive Saul’s family for their offense against him.
One day when he was at court, David said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul?” and I can imagine his servants’ expectations. The practice in those days, when a new dynasty came to power, was that all descendants of the former king were put to death. That way, none of them could rise up and claim to be the rightful heir to the throne. But instead of saying, “Bring Mephibosheth to me that I might kill him,” David said that he wanted to “show the kindness of God to him.”
In an article entitled “Mephibosheth and Me,”[i] David R. Reid says that for the modern Christian reader, David represents Jesus and Mephibosheth represents humanity. Just as Mephibosheth had been alienated because of his grandfather’s sin and brought back into the household of the king because of David’s covenant with Jonathan, so we who were once estranged from God are restored by the blood covenant of Jesus. Reid says, “Notice that David took the initiative in searching out Mephibosheth. How characteristic of our sovereign Lord. He took the initiative and found us, not vice versa.” The then points out that all the properties that had once belonged to King Saul were restored to Mephibosheth, just as God restores that which sin has destroyed in our lives.
God calls us to radical forgiveness of our enemies. From the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing (Lk 23:34).” He taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us (Mt 6:12).” He reminds us to make peace with our enemies before giving a gift to God (Mt 5:23-24). Otherwise, if we are not at peace with them, our gift is no good. To be at peace within yourself means to make peace with your past. I pray that God will give you that peace today.
[i] http://www.growingchristians.org/dfgc/mephibos.htm. March 15, 2010.
I live in the beautiful Pacific Nothwest, where I work as a case manager with formerly homeless people and those currently experiencing homelessness. Prior to that, I was a pastor in Virginia for twenty-six years. My wife, Christina, and I have seven children between us, and we are still collecting grandchildren.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Partnering in Prayer - A Lenten Devotion - Day 40 - Arise, Take Up Your Mat, and Walk!
Day 40 – Sunday
Arise, Take Up Your Mat, and Walk!
1Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem Bethesda
7"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
8Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked (John 5:1-9a).
Tonight, I want to share with you some of what we talked about in Bible study tonight at church. Notice that the New International Version skips over verse 5 entirely. This has to do with comparing the oldest, most reliable manuscripts—something we won’t get into here. A footnote includes verse 4 which reads, “and they waited for the moving of the waters. 4 From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease he had.”
In our study, we figured that the “angel” that stirred the waters couldn’t have been a holy angel, because the people who waited by the pool were seldom healed. The “angel” stirred the waters just often enough to give the people hope, and to keep them waiting for their healing, but not often enough to spread the blessing around to everybody who needed it. As a result, many waited by the pool for years, while whatever spirit moved the waters enjoyed its “congregation” that seemed to worship its healing waters.
Jesus saw the man who had been bound by some crippling disease for the past 38 years. “Do you want to get well?” he asked—because many people really don’t want to get well. The man made excuses why everybody else always got in the water ahead of him, but Jesus would allow no excuses. “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk,” Jesus said, and the man was healed.
Why did Jesus tell the man to take his mat with him? We enjoyed some discussion about this, and came to the conclusion that Jesus didn’t want the man to leave his mat, because if he did, that would enable somebody else to comfortably sit and wait for the “angel” to stir the waters. Also, if the man left his mat, it’d be like he was reserving his spot there by the pool. If he was healed, he was healed, and didn’t need to reserve his space for an eventual return.
Often, when we’re healed of a sin in our lives, we like to leave our mat behind. We receive Jesus’ forgiveness, but reserve a space for us to return again later, should the mood strike us.
Jesus says, “Arise, take up your mat and walk!” Don’t leave room for return. Don’t allow for a relapse. Claim your healing. Receive your forgiveness. Be healed—and expect your healing to last forever!
I live in the beautiful Pacific Nothwest, where I work as a case manager with formerly homeless people and those currently experiencing homelessness. Prior to that, I was a pastor in Virginia for twenty-six years. My wife, Christina, and I have seven children between us, and we are still collecting grandchildren.
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