Ponderings

Devotionals, prayer & insights from my Bible reading

Worst-case scenario (Prayer Devotional for the week of August 11, 2013)

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Imagine relaxing at home one evening watching the news, and you receive a call out-of-the-blue from your boss. Your boss says that there was a hostile takeover of your company and you are being laid off, effective immediately. In the background, the newscaster reports that the stock market closed at a record low, and your retirement plan is now worthless. Meanwhile, a neighbor knocks on the door to let you know that a tree branch just fell onto your car and totaled it. While you are talking, a text message buzzes with news from the vet that your dog died. Then, the police show up to let you know that several family members have been killed in a terrible wreck. How would you react to such a horrible chain of events?

A similarly tragic tale unfolds in Job 1:13-19. Job was devastated with grief by all that happened, but v. 22 reveals that he did not disrespect or blame God for his plight. Things got even worse for poor ol’ Job. He became physically ill, and even his wife thumbed her nose at him. He stood his ground, though, and Job 2:10 says again that he did not mouth off about God.

Three of Job’s friends to came to visit him. At first, they sat with him quietly for moral support, but one by one, they became tired of the pity party. They took turns giving Job some so-called advice about his predicament, and it boiled down to his fault. They suggested that surely, he must have sinned against God, or perhaps it was even his children’s sin that led to their untimely demise. Job did not take the criticism lightly, and he pleaded his case and begged for answers from God.

Job’s story is a worst-case scenario that I hope none of us ever experience. You can read more to find out how it ends, but suffice it to say that Job learned a thing or two about trusting God. There is a lot that we could learn from his situation, as well. How we respond in times of trouble can communicate volumes about our faith. Are we critical, complaining and ranting about how the world is always against us? Do we blame others for our “bad luck” and vow to get even someday? Do we listen to the naysayers and turn our backs on God? God is not daunted by our questions, frustrations or fears. Sometimes, though, what God wants to teach us isn’t just about the solution to our problems. It’s about the process in getting us there.

1,000 days (give or take a few)

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My sweet pastors pointed out something from the pulpit on Sunday that caught me by surprise: One of the other folks on our media ministry team realized that I’ve written 1,000 devotionals, so they recognized my efforts with a round of applause. It was very kind and a little embarrassing (especially with my kids pointing at me to draw even more attention, LOL!).

It’s hard to wrap my head around 1,000 posts, but I started them in January 2011, so with 8 posts a week (2 on Sundays), it’s pretty close, give or take a few. I’m grateful, first of all, that y’all read anything I write. 🙂  I’m even more touched that the prompts are meaningful to folks and utterly blown away by the kind words that people have to say about what they’ve gotten from it.

I can’t help but write — it’s an extension of who I am, in a lot of ways — but seeing God use it is exquisitely gratifying and very humbling. So, here’s to 1,000 days of walking and growing together! The journey has been wearisome, at times, but it’s a joy to be on this adventure with each one of you. Thank you!

Wash up (Prayer Devotional for the week of August 04, 2013)

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As I was thumbing through the Bible this week, I came across a verse that I had forgotten about in Matthew 15. To set the stage, we need to flip back to chapter 14. John the Baptist (Jesus’ dear friend and cousin) had been beheaded at the whim of Herod, and verse 13 tells us that Jesus sought solitude by taking a boat out into the lake by himself. He couldn’t get away, though, because thousands of people were clamoring to meet him on the other shore. After performing a miracle to feed the crowd, Jesus tried again to get some quiet time, so he sent his disciples out on the lake while he hiked the mountain to pray. In the wee morning hours, Jesus walked on water to meet up with his disciples. They freaked out, of course, and then Peter tried to walk out to meet Jesus, started to sink, and Jesus saved him.

After all that, I imagine Jesus was emotionally sapped. Enter chapter 15. Some religious uppity-ups came all the way from Jerusalem to badger Jesus about something apparently heinous that his disciples were doing: they weren’t washing their hands before they ate! *gasp! I can imagine Jesus rolling his eyes at the ridiculousness of it all.

Granted, I tend to be a stickler about hand-washing. The last thing I need is a virus running through my house, so I try to make sure that the kids wash up before they eat. However, is that really the biggest issue that I ought to address? Will having clean hands matter if the food they eat is foul? Or, is having clean hands more important than having a clean heart? That’s where the Pharisees missed the boat. They got so hung up on one minor issue that they ignored the major issues that they were flouting, themselves.

In response, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 29: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules” (Matthew 15: 8-9, NIV). So, by all means, wash up before you eat. Become a germaphobe, if it makes you feel better, but not at the expense of clean living in other areas of your life.