Feeling Sheep(ish)

Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-16, I Peter 2:21-25, John 10:11-16

I'm a sheep, you're a sheep, we're all sheep...and that's no insult by a long shot. It's actually a joyful recognition. All of today's readings are the reassurances that only a very loving God and Savior would give His beloved children. We are the figurative sheep; God and Jesus are the ever-faithful good shepherds. Comfort words that aren't just words, but actions.

It's not an easy job to be a shepherd. It's life-threatening day after day. If you're the shepherd of the flock, you're solely responsible for their care, feeding, and well-being--day after day, night after night. No time off. You can hire help, but that hired hand certainly isn't expected to risk life and limb if the wolf or some other predator shows up suddenly; they are permitted to leave the flock and seek help--if they follow through which is solely connected to the faithfulness of the hired hand. "The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is the hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep" (John 12:12-13). But if you're the shepherd, it's a different story. Your flock, your responsibility--100%. Hard work indeed.

Why such a difficult job? Well...it's sheep. Sheep have a tendency to stray and get into all kinds of trouble. There's an animated series we watch on Netflix called "Shaun the Sheep"--if you've ever seen it, you too have laughed along with all the messes that sheep can get into in a short span of time. Of course, this is entertainment and exaggerated for that purpose, but think about it...anyone who has ever dealt with sheep can probably agree that they're not exactly a breed that you just leave to fend for themselves for any length of time. 

WE are the sheep in which Christ is the shepherd. Figuratively, of course, but our habits tend to make us appear pretty sheep(ish) much of the time. We constantly find ourselves straying into unknown or unnecessary territory. A misspoken word here, a bad choice there; sometimes we just flat our mess up and get in over our heads. We need rescuing and pretty quickly. "For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" (I Peter 2:25). How thankful we are that we have a shepherd to watch over us and look out for us.

Do we always come through unscathed from our wanderings? I think any of us who have lived very long on this Earth know the answer to that. But even when we feel like we've been a bit mauled by the "wolves", there is still rescue. Ezekiel 34:16 assures us that "I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak." However, we are also reminded in that same verse that we are to follow the gentle shepherd's teachings and guidance in being "gentle as a lamb" with our brothers and sisters in this life; if not, "..but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice." 

A beautiful verse also found in Ezekiel gives us comfort and shows just how much we are loved: "I will tend them in good pasture...and there they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture" (34:14). We are always, first and foremost, in the thoughts and cares of our Shepherds. All we have to do is remember to be a bit more sheep(ish) and less bull(y). We possess gentle natures; our souls feel right when we love our neighbors as ourselves, when we see needs and offer help or comfort. In these acts we follow the example of our Shepherds.

Our faithful Shepherds know us...really know us. Better than anyone else in our lives. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:14). We are loved and being watched over...what more proof do we need to feel secure and live our lives to the fullest?

Peace be with you.

There All Along

Readings: Exodus 15:1-18, Acts 10:34-43, Luke 24:13-35 


Ever been lost? Really, truly lost? Sitting with a map in hand, staring at it and nevertheless remaining lost? I think we've all been there. What a relief when, as we fumble along, we see something that looks familiar or finally matches up on the map we've been staring a hole through for naught. Everything falls back into place, and we once again feel that the world makes a little more sense. We relax a little knowing things are going to be okay. We smile in the fact that our destination was there all along.


Moses and Miriam did lots of relaxing to the point of singing, in Exodus 15:1-18. After being on the receiving end of the growing wickedness of Pharaoh's hardening heart, they took time to truly rejoice in the miracle of God's work in leading them in the first step of successfully escaping Egypt. They witnessed, with their own eyes, the parting of the Red Sea, allowing them to flee the oncoming forces of the warriors, horses, and chariots of the pursuing army. To their awe and amazement they also watched the Sea then return to its bed, thus swallowing up and drowning all their pursuers. Quite definitely something to celebrate! Did Moses casually go about his business leading up to this incredible event? Nope. Not even close. Like the rest of us, he doubted, he worried, he bargained. What he perhaps didn't truly realize until that very moment was that God was with him and the people of Israel...there all along.


In Acts, Peter extends the message that God is truly with us...all of us. "'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right'" (10:34). We don't need to feel left out from the knowledge that God is hearing our prayers and needs through his son, our Savior...all are served. Peter shares this good news that Christ, although viciously crucified, has arisen and is there with us all...always. All we need do is ask and know that through faith we will receive.


In Luke 24, we read of the memorable walk that two of the disciples took after Christ's crucifixion. The two were deep in discussion when a third joined them. Little did they realize as they told this stranger all the events of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection that they were actually speaking to the risen Christ. "'He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did you not then enter his glory?'" (v.25-26). He was there all along.


When our lives seem like the road map is not working, when we can't read the directions clearly, and we just can't find our way, we need to remember that God and his son, our Savior is with us...always. They are there all along.

Our Time in the Furnace

Readings: Daniel 3:8-25, I Corinthians 5:7-8, Mark 16:1-7

I think we've all had times in our lives that, at least on a figurative level, we feel we've been dropped in the furnace.  In Daniel, we read the account of the three believers being literally thrown into the furnace after it had been make so hot that it killed the soldiers who tossed the three in. Yet, as the King and his followers viewed from a safe distance, the three men (actually a fourth appeared) walked around the furnace area, unharmed. Complete protection from the heat.

There are times throughout life that we get, simply put, burnt. Well, singed at the very least. We go about our lives, day after day, humming along to our routines and knowing that things are generally okay. Then we smell the acrid smoke creeping in...the heat starts rising. How do these things just come out of nowhere? In retrospect, they were always there...the flames just hadn't spread to encompass us yet. But now it has; what do we do?

As difficult as it is...we have the faith of the three in the furnace. We keep our cool and start leaning very heavily on the infinite power of God. We pray and we are thankful for the blessing of discovery...now we begin the process of cooling the unbearable heat with God's guidance.

I Corinthians speaks of us becoming the "bread of sincerity and truth" (v.8). These days we seem to be inundated with "expanded" ways of thinking. We're not a nice person unless we're accepting of everything that our friends, family, and acquaintances favor. Rather than accepting our truths in their simplest forms, we tend to want them to be softened to make us more comfortable. Unfortunately, the most sincere truths are many times more like the unleavened bread--simple and direct. Not as tasty; not as pleasing. And sometimes, those truths make us feel that we've been once again thrown into  that furnace. We remind ourselves to reach out to God. The situation won't likely get immediately less frustrating or miserable, but we now have hope for that essential guidance that will being things to resolution. 

Mark 16: 1-7 is a translation of the resurrection. What a relief to us that the tomb is empty. Christ is back in control. When the furnace gets too hot, when the bread of sincerity and truth is too difficult to swallow, we lean heavily on our Savior and he cools our brows and makes our paths smoother. 

We don't get do-overs in real life, but if we only ask we do get guidance through the hot spots. There's a great deal of relief in that knowledge.

Peace be with you.

Inheritance Laws Anyone Can Understand

Readings: Isaiah 25:6-9; John 20:1-18; I Peter 1:3-9

I think anyone would agree that our world has become a mess of laws when it comes to almost any aspect of life. Want to get married? Here's the paperwork. Want to start a business? Here's the paperwork. Want to leave something to future generations? Here's the paperwork. 

Inheritance laws seem to have become a special pet project of our lawmakers. Page after page, volume after volume of instructions on what can be done, can't be done, shouldn't be done...little guidance and littler understanding. It's all so complicated and frustrating.

In I Peter, inheritance is also discussed; however, that's where the similarities with the laws of man end in its regard. We are told that "In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time"  (v.3-5). 

An inheritance that can never perish...never spoil...never fade...in safe keeping for us. An inheritance that is given to us through an act of infinite mercy and love. No signing on the bottom line, no legal jargon, no doubts if things were done correctly. An inheritance of perfection.

How can such a wonderful grace be given to us so freely? We are loved--eternally and unconditionally. Isaiah 25:6-9 tells us, "On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet...on this mount he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples...he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces...In that day they will say, 'Surely this is our God; we trusted in him and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.'" No matter how far we look, we will never find such assurances that will result in truth, not just words. We are loved beyond our greatest dreams.

All this is given to us by our loving Father, as Christ shared with Mary Magdalene in John 18:17, "...my Father and your Father, my God and your God."

Material inheritance can be a wonderful gift to leave future generations, helping assure that they will have an easier time throughout life; perhaps they can, in turn, leave a similar inheritance to the next generation. Eternal inheritance, given through the mercy of our loving God will give us eternal life in His presence...priceless.

Nature at Work

Readings: Exodus 13:17-22; I Peter 3:17-22; Matthew 27:57-66

Today was one of those "gift" days--unseasonably warmer and blue skies full of sunshine--wonderfully welcomed during the dreary days of the winter season.  All one needed to do to enjoy the blessings of God's beautiful works of nature was to walk outside and take it all in. Needless to say, I'm guessing many of us did that. To be a part of nature is to never tire of its many wonders.

All throughout the Bible, God has used nature itself to aid, defend, or protect his followers. In Exodus as Moses was leading the people away from Egypt, God instructed that there would be a pillar of cloud to lead them during each day and a pillar of fire to lead them each night. On the darkest of nights, when faith was waning, think of the inspiration of merely looking up and seeing the comfort of the flames never leaving, never weakening.

In I Peter, it is the miracle of water that we see as a saving grace. We all know that our bodies desperately need water internally for survival. We also need water externally to protect us from disease. Additionally, we need the power of the water to save us from missing eternity. "And the water symbolized baptism that saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God" (v.21). Whether we are sprinkled or submerged, when the cross is placed on our foreheads with water to show to the world that we are sealed with the mark of God, a miracle has taken place in our lives.

And finally, in Matthew, we are shown the power of Christ when we read of the magnificent stone that was used to close the tomb in which Christ's body was lain after the crucifixion. The sheer weight of the huge stone that was rolled in front of the opening would have been more than enough to keep mere mortals at bay.  The chief priests, ever skeptical and still filled with hatred, convinced Pilot to have guards posted and also to have the massive stone sealed. How they marveled later that none of these forces could keep the now-risen Savior imprisoned. What they overlooked was the fact that nature will also work in beautiful concert with God and through Christ.

So, the next beautiful day that finds you wanting to just set down whatever you're doing to head outdoors to feel the breeze and feel the sun--be sure to enjoy it.  Or, if a star-filled sky at night with a magnificent moon beckons you outside for a relaxing look--be sure to take the time. And remember how nature has been used to protect us, guard us, and present us with the blessings and gifts of its wonders. Thanks be to God.

Peace be with you.

Chaos Comes Creeping

Readings: Isaiah 53: 3-12, Revelations 5:1-14, John 18:1-19:42


I spent a couple of hours on a dreary Sunday afternoon immersed in a movie--the kind of movie I very much appreciate. It had a good plot, was well structured, had strong characters to carry out the story, and a beautiful setting. The movie had all the elements for which I have a true weakness-- lovely, sleepy English villages of stone homes, beautiful yet simple gardens, and quiet charm. Life doesn't get overwhelming often in these places--even when chaos tries to creep in as it did with the bombing of near-by London in the WWII story. Life in this village as was made up of good, sturdy neighbors, small homes, healthy gardens, and a simple lifestyle that was not devoid of surprise and chaos, but those times seemed to appear in much more subtle ways.


The result of life in that village? Perhaps not great volumes of anything of great worldly value of progress ever came from there, but the things that did matter tended to run deeply. Life there gave folks focus; it centered them in a way that they were then able to think upon what was most important--one's walk with God. In that setting, the chaos of the world  always attempted to creep in, but with the smallness of the surroundings, the townsfolk recognized it for what it was and were wary of its presence and effect. 


After the movie ended, I somewhat reluctantly returned to contemporary life--the Sunday paper was full of one dire story after another; television infomercials made one empty claim after another through boisterously speaking voice-overs; politicians were on the airwaves and in the news as well saying whatever it takes to woo one voter after another to see things their way and award them with votes.


Most folks these days tend to go through their lives at break-neck speed, making this change and that, all the time hoping, perchance, that the next transition will be the one that is the best, thus making all the chaos worthwhile. Usually the chaos just creates more chaos. 


Should we be against change for progress? Certainly not. Many wondrous things have come about with change. There is a fine line, however, that we're charged with recognizing when all the progress happens. It is progress for a clearer and closer walk with God or is the progress of the world, which creates more chaos? 


When the chaos comes creeping in this week, take a moment to remember, "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we were healed" (Isaiah 53:5). A clear and forceful message that we were, through Christ's ultimate act, given peace.  Not chaos--peace.  A gift we need to think about and appreciate each and every day. We are given permission and encouragement to take time to have peace in our lives. 


God offers the deepest, most internally satisfying peace we will ever know. He doesn't tell us that by amassing a certain amount of wealth, fame, or possessions we will earn peace. It is offered to all--period. Our simple acceptance is all that is needed.


Peace be with you.

Needed, Yet Unloved--The Story of Directions

Readings: Exodus 12:1-14; 1 Corinthians  11:20-32; John 6:28-37


Every time we roll the calendar around to a new year, we feel revitalized and full of hope--this time we'll be a success and follow through on ambitions that have, up to this point, eluded us. We'll learn a new craft, learn a new language, learn a new way to cook. We'll practice a strong sense of discipline in order to achieve these goals...we can do it!


Then reality hits--these new adventures, as wondrous as they sound, are actually very pragmatic in nature. In a nutshell...we will have to follow a set of directions. Yep, those directions that make every shiny new adventure seem somehow tarnished with the drudgery of shuffling through a list of directions. The idea of discipline weakens a bit. 


In Exodus 12, the first Passover is about to take place. God has commanded that this time be recognized as the beginning of the year for his chosen people. Even though it is spring, it is seen anew. A new year, a new sense of discipline. And with that comes directions...very specific directions. Directions that will determine life or death. If the blood of the designated sacrificial animal is not smeared in the doorway of the home, there will be no passover of that home and death will result. In addition, directions to be dressed and ready to leave quickly were given. This was a very dire time in Jewish history...only the love and power of God would prevail. Discipline was of the essence and following directions was literally a matter of life and death. These directions were certainly needed yet unloved...no other choice was offered.


In 1Corinthians Paul scolds the early Christians for their lack of following directions and, in turn, losing their sense of self-discipline regarding the agape meal shared before the Lord's Supper. Christ gave us all a set of directions during the sharing of the first Supper; once again, directions that will save our lives--for eternity. He told us to eat the bread that was now his body, given for us. Just as manna during Moses' time kept them alive during the trek from Egypt, now Christ becomes our manna, in giving his life for our continued eternal existence. He also told us to drink the wine--now his blood shed for us. Christ gave his life for us so we may live--and what have we done in return? We many times fail to follow the directions because we lack self-discipline. And the agape meal? We're not doing very well with its representation, either. We are to gather together to share our food for nourishment, yet millions starve every day while unruly sets of rules and regulations prevent tons of grains and other foods getting to them; many of these items are left rotting on docks all over the world. We need to go back to our original set of directions...perfection in their simplicity...Christ is in the details.


Even the disciples in the book of John, when sharing the Lord's Supper with Jesus, kept asking for more directions in the form of the "miraculous sign" (v.30) so they would better understand what Christ said when he told them, "For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (6:33). There he was, actually with them, giving them all the answers to the questions they sought, yet their own lack of understanding lead them to question repeatedly. Too caught up in the day-to-day, too worried with the day-to-day to truly hear the simple directives.


And where are we? We're bombarded with "how-tos", how to do things better, infomericals, direction pamphlets, books, and tutorials on practically everything, yet are we any better off? 


We have a new year and a fresh start any time we make our peace with God through Christ. We don't need to wait for a specific calendar to roll around to a specific time. We also don't need any other book of directions other than the one that was given to us long ago and continues to be as useful today as it was on day one--our beloved Bible. The best directions are those that are simple, direct, and meant for our well-being in this life as well as the next. 


Now those are some directions we both need and can love.


Peace be with you.