Tag: hope

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Read the season.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses. You have been angry with us; now restore us to your favor. You have shaken our land and split it open. Seal the cracks, for the land trembles. You have been very hard on us, making us drink wine that sent us reeling. But you have raised a banner for those who fear you— a rallying point in the face of attack.” Psalms‬ ‭60‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David writes the song, “Lilly of the Testimony.”

War, war, war and more war – this is one of the major themes of how God either showed His favor or displeasure with Israel. So many wars! Israel wins, God is for them. Israel loses and clearly God used other nations to discipline them. Can you even imagine that battle barometer being used today? Don’t we view war as a straight up attack from Satan lashing out on nations, killing, maiming and displacing the innocent around the globe?

David clearly knew how to read the times and lay the responsibility on God himself. Other than Job and a few other references, Satan is a minor figure in the Old Testament. Fact: The Old Testament emphasizes God’s sovereignty over all nations and events, including wars. God is often depicted as orchestrating events to fulfill His purposes. Satan is primarily seen as an accuser or adversary rather than a direct instigator of war. Is it just me, or do we clearly see war differently today? Oh, we give the nod of sovereignty to God, but oooooh it’s the devil that makes men go mad and drive rulers to evil. When nations attacked Israel, David knew – 100% it was God talking. This song/psalm was one of victory where David’s bloody general, Joab, wiped out 12,000 Edomites. That was just one war out of HUNDREDS.

I am so not qualified to even begin to understand the context of global wars today. But I do know they are very controversial, and in the U.S. folks are super opinionated about these complicated issues. Like we don’t have enough issues of our own 🤪. Every one of these wars go back to deep and divisive conflicts that are older than our country’s existence! It is so arrogant of us to think we have a solution. David was wise enough to go to the source, the truth of God in His justice and judgment. Whose banner did David wave? He said God raised the banner on behalf of those who fear Him. Those who humbly admit their guilt, followed by repentance. That’s what God still wants from us today!

There’s an old song I remember from my youth. It had a line in it that asked this question – “Who’s side are you leaning on?” The song response is “I’m leaning on the Lord’s side!” Truth in such simplicity. Discovering and discerning the times, we can be like David and read the season by starting with God. This would be such a reprieve from all the noise and confusion. For us to hear from God and listen – instead of giving our attention to world leaders and protesters attempting to ferret out the truth.

Prayer

​Dad,
It is psalms like this where I see David’s wisdom of seeking you, understanding what he had done, and quickly humbling himself in repentance. That’s a pattern I can subscribe to. It seems silly for us to try to mentally meddle or verbally engage in global affairs just to feel like we have answers solving eons of human problems. We cannot resolve our own sin, let alone the world’s conflicts. I will continue to lean on the Lord’s side to discern the times in which we live.

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The art of the evangelism deal.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul was a working Apostle. Paul’s business was tent making and repair, but really he focused more on disciple-making and soul-repair.

Paul worked a side gig for two reasons:

  1. To not be one of these itinerant preachers who roll through town, spewing heresy and disunity, which was common during ancient times. The Judaizers were especially unhelpful at this way of life. I believe Paul was an excellent businessman! He knew his craft, but more than that he knew people and felt at ease in the open-air markets in every major city. These swap-meet style businesses would line the main streets of the city where thousands of shoppers would buy and sell their goods and services.
  2. Even more impressive, was the fact that Paul knew how to make the art of the deal in evangelism! To “euaggelizó” bring the good news of Jesus to anyone who was seeking God. Paul’s most successful disciples became Pastors, Teachers, Deacons, Deaconess’ and host homes for churches everywhere Paul travelled.

When Paul writes to the churches in Colossae, he did so out of experience, not theory. Paul LIVED these verses well before he taught these practical concepts. When he writes “walk” in wisdom, he uses a very familiar Greek word, “peripateó,” to walk or really to conduct oneself. The New Living Translation captures it well – LIVE wisely.

Then Paul kicks in his real strategy that everyone who has ever shopped to scoop up a bargain, a prime-day, coupon-ish, can’t pass-it-up sale is familiar with. Paul is saying that everywhere people are, where people gather, hang out, just go about living life is the absolute best place for believers to be! Paul knows what we forget, God is at work all-the-time! God is revealing himself to every single person on the planet. The moments where we collide with someone searching isn’t coincidence it’s providence!

Business man Paul says, “Don’t miss this fire-sale moment where God is supernaturally working for us to have conversations about the gospel – the good news!” Paul uses this Greek business word, this swap-meet bargain, grab-it-now word. He says make the most of EVERY OPPORTUNITY. The word opportunity is ​agorázō, “buy-up at the marketplace!” Everyday that Paul showed up at the “agora,” the city’s bazaar, was going to be a hot, flash sale of God rescuing a soul! Another way to say it is that believers need to show up where people work, live and play. Start chatting people up with gracious, kind, authentic conversation! NLT translates it as “attractive,” but Paul’s actual words are “seasoned with salt.” Because, who wants to be a part of a tasteless, dull conversation. Make it spicy, or at the least flavorful!

This is Paul’s secret-sauce to making the art of the evangelism deal. God does 100% of the work and asks us to join Him in the miracle of transforming a life. But how do I do this you ask? What do I say? Well, it’s really important that you begin by just being a normal human being who enjoys people. Come on, it’s not that tough. Quit the nonsense of “but I’m an introvert,” or “I don’t even like people.” You cannot be a part of the Kingdom of God without behaving just a little bit like a citizen of God’s economy. Just being nice is a good start. Practice in the mirror 🤣.

What Paul did next is genius. He would wait, watch and listen for someone to ask him, “so what’s your story?” Or, how’d you become a tent maker guy? At this point Paul and every single believer in Jesus would simply and briefly share their own story, their own testimony – the personal witness of how they met God.

So the next time you see a sale, a bargain, and you feel the need to jump on it before that discount slips through your fingers, just remember – you can also seize these kind of life moments that God customized for you to be a part of the miracle of new life!

Prayer

​Dad,
You know I LOVE this strategy! It is so natural, so easy, so non-threatening. For years I thought evangelism or sharing my faith was a confrontational, three-step method of memorizing Paul’s Roman’s Road or a script I was taught that made me so nervous. What a relief to know that I can’t and don’t save anyone! That’s all You. What a joy to just be normal and enjoy the moments that you have ordained to allow me to be a part of Your story, a true citizen in the Kingdom. Oh, how I wish everyone would follow Paul’s simple way of just being themselves. And when you show up, wow – it is spectacular.

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Solomon’s oxymoronic dilemma.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I read about Solomon, in the early years I am impressed by his humility, loyalty and wisdom as he ruled the Israelite Empire. And, an empire it was for sure. Israel extended into the Sinai desert near Egypt in the south and to the Euphrates River in the north. It was roughly three times the size of Israel today and would have included parts of present-day Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. Solomon himself was “greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.” God also granted him wisdom beyond any other human being. And yet Solomon finds himself searching, wanting, still “seeking wisdom.” In chapter two, he goes looking for trouble – “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life,”2‬:‭1‬.

It’s the next sentence that boggles my mind. “And while still seeking wisdom… I clutched at foolishness.” What a strange oxymoronic pursuit! God gave him more than enough smarts for several lifetimes, but it wasn’t enough? Proverbs and Ecclesiastes is filled with unfathomable wisdom, plenty to know about God, to love God and how to do right. Everything one needs to fulfill Micah’s self-examined question – what does the LORD require of us? Solomon started out with a life of acting justly, loving mercy, walking humbly with God! It seems as though Solomon’s pursuit of MORE had the strange effect of bewitching his life, family and future.

Solomon had the means and the shadowed motivation of experiencing the only “happiness” most find in the brevity of life? He bought and built anything his heart desired. He was consumed with this one idea, “Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure,” ‭2‬:‭10‬. He did the most dangerous, crazy social experiment any human would attempt, ”So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?).” Solomon did it so that we wouldn’t have to… or want to? Plunging himself into deep stupidity. Who would aspire to simultaneously be the smartest and dumbest human? What drove him? I have no idea!

I do know folks that have an insatiable hunger for more. And, conversely, I also know people that seem insanely driven to failure and oddly addicted to foolishness! Both are so sad to watch. I’m not trying to be self effacing, but I am just not smart enough to be one and certainly not dumb enough to be the other! Oh, I want to be wise, but not so much that it drives me to the edge of insanity. I have learned so much from the wisdom God gave Solomon. I’m hoping I will never need his tips on foolishness, other than avoiding them.

Prayer

​Dad,
When I started following Jesus I dove deeply into Proverbs because I was socially delayed as well as lacked discipline. Going through relationships and exploring love for the first time I also spent time in Psalms to learn how to both express and understand the disappointments of life as a teenager. I never did spend too much time trying to understand Solomon and the life lessons he provided. Now, all these years later I understand a little more, but I am still missing the big WHY of his life and Ecclesiastical writings. To have so much and yet still succumb to all the traps of sin and the lusts in our soul, leaves me puzzled still. I do trust you and know there was great purpose in having Solomon record his experiences as the “teacher.” Maybe by the time life ends I’ll figure it all out. Then again, maybe I won’t 🤨.

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Only God can win for us.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

”You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel. Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us. O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭44‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The descendants of Korah writes this Psalm, so who is Korah? Korah is a significant figure in the Bible, particularly known for his rebellion against Moses during the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness. He was a Levite, specifically the son of Izhar and a cousin to Moses and Aaron. His lineage is traced back to Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob.

However, Korah led a revolt against Moses, questioning why Moses and Aaron held positions of authority. He gathered 250 prominent leaders to challenge their leadership. This rebellion is detailed in Numbers 16, where God punished Korah and his followers by causing the ground to open and swallow them, while fire consumed the 250 men who offered incense.

Despite Korah’s fate, his sons survived the rebellion. They are known as the “Sons of Korah” and are credited with writing several Psalms, including this Psalm. Maybe the story of Korah’s sons rising out of their father’s rebellion is just as important as the Psalms they contributed to.

This Psalm was written about a massive dust up between the blasphemous message of Rabshekeh given to king Hezekiah. So Hezekiah went to Isaiah, who in turn prophesied against the kings of Assyria. In all of the arrogance and bravado of the Assyrian kings, Isaiah declares that no one mocks God and gets away with it. Korah’s sons capture the moment by declaring that God and God alone will fight against the enemies of Israel – not its king, not its might nor weaponry!

It’s still very much like that today even though the wars and warlords look very different today. God is still our refuge and our redeemer when it comes to global events that we have no control over. It should be a constant reminder in our own battles, that it is not our leaders nor our military might that we find our confidence- it is still in God!

Prayer

​Dad,
The story thread continues all through the Old Testament, You give, we falter. You forgive, we forget. My life is but a short puff of smoke, but wow – the human saga is so very long. It’s not just that the cycles of sin and redemption travel through our existence, it’s that each generation, even each nation has their own private experience. Each one facing the exact same human dilemmas, yet behaving as though we are unaware of anything or anyone living before or after them. It’s so weird! Even Israel, which has a good grasp of their very long legacy – can’t even recognize Jesus as THE messiah. Oh Lord, your patience is unmatched. One thing is clear, You are in control, You have the one and only plan of redemption for all who would believe and You know when the end will come. Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

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Relentless Pursuit – Part 2

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is so interesting that I providentially landed on these verses this morning. I just finished off a sermon series yesterday called, “A Better Us – Relentlessly Pursuit.” (https://bit.ly/chasinghumans).

From Adam & Eve, to Moses, to David, to Hosea and more, God has come after us. He comes after us in our disobedience, our disagreements, our depression, even our denials! An 1890 poem by Francis Thompson captures it. God is the Hound of Heaven.

God pursues us because he loves us, He wants us to walk with Him, find beauty, strength and freedom in Him. The Hosea story is the wildest twist of an awkward, even controversial love. God tells Hosea to marry Gomer, a known prostitute. This whole story is a physical, marital, family object lesson about how unfaithful Israel has been with their love covenant with God. In the end, Hosea has to pay to buy his own wife back, out of the sex slave industry – ”So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine,” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬.

It was not so easy to buy back Israel though. God promised that one day it would happen and it did 800 years later! The price to buy Israel back from their sex (idolatry) and death slavery was the death of His own son, Jesus. God chased humans then, He still chases humans today – all over the globe, in every minute of every day. God still chases after YOU and me. In the sermon I talked about how wonderful it is for someone to pursue us (not it a stalker kind of way).

For someone to know whether I live or die, when I love or lose love, when I’m healthy or sick? To be known and loved by God is the greatest feeling and experience we will ever know. Even when we run, hide, rebel or become an enemy of God – He yet pursues. Read these verses David wrote in Psalms.

Psalm 23:6 – “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will
pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house
of the LORD forever.”

Psalm 139:7-12 “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.”

Let God catch you ALWAYS.

Prayer

​Dad,
I am so thankful you pursued me and you still come after me! I am in awe to see your patience and mercy in the very long story of your people – Israel. Yet, you do not withhold judgment nor justice. And, You are the only one qualified to make those justified decisions.

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Relentless Pursuit

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Is your calling to go or stay? After a terrorizing night on the beach, where Jesus (a Jewish Rabbi and his 12 Jewish disciples) landed on the shores of Gerasenes. Gersa was a part of the larger Roman Decapolis or ten cities. Jesus purposely crossed the Galilee for an appointment with divine destiny.

No self respecting Jew would have anything to do with this area of the eastern shore. It is believed that the Decapolis was the “Las Vegas” of its day, where there was entertainment, exploration and excitement galore. Gerasenes was known to the locals as “pig island” because of the vast herds providing pork meat products supplying the massive festivals in the arenas. Where there were personal vomitoriums, like public toilets, surrounded the outdoor stadiums, whether it is true or not, decadence was absolutely a big part of the Roman celebrations.

We don’t know where the “tomb man” came from, nor his history. But we do know where he ended up! Out of his mind, and the under control of thousands of demons – his body was like an influencer’s party at an Airbnb. After Jesus exercised the demons out of the man and allowed them to take temporary residence in a large herd of pigs, the response was immediate. The locals wanted Jesus to GO, but the exercised man wanted to go with him! The villagers and the previously demon possessed man were apparently afraid. The difference is, the villagers were afraid of Jesus bringing this kind of power over demons but they also saw that Jesus had power over their entire economy! The pig herders didn’t want Jesus to wipe out any more of their financial income.

The now safe-n-sane man was also afraid. He was afraid to go back to his own community, realizing that his previous life had likely burned all of his relational bridges. He was afraid of the power of his past. The now freed man begged Jesus to take him with them, but Jesus told him “No.” Jesus wanted him to go back to his family, back home where everyone knew his story. Interesting that his “discipleship” path led him back, not forward to follow the savior. Jesus gave him one simple but profoundly difficult command, “Tell them everything that God has done for you.” Some folks journey doesn’t lead them off to extraordinary adventures where life is hard, where the mission field requires language and cultural training. Some are called, chosen to go back to where they came from. Back to the familiar place, where people know them and know their story well.

Jesus was telling him to go back and live a whole different story, starting with the one where he was roommates with 2,800 devils. He had crazy fits of rage, and was a constant danger to anyone that tried to come near to help. But the new story, where he had been set free, now had the power of the love of God radiating from every pore of his soul! This amazing story shows us that Jesus clearly wanted the previously known mad-naked-man to follow him, but to do so by going back to his people, immediately illustrating that God wants us to both BE a disciple but also MAKE disciples. This story also illustrates how God relentlessly pursues the human heart, stopping at nothing to free us and give us a whole new story to tell.

This is how God pursues – endlessly, constantly. Mad naked man only knew how to cut himself, to fend off suicidal whispers. He only knew how to scream from the intense pain of torture and imprisonment. He ran towards Jesus in hope that he could help him, save him! You don’t think God pursues you? Look again. In your torment, fighting to stay alive while whispers of death haunt your mind – scream out to Jesus! He will meet you on the beaches of your own pig island and set you free.

Prayer

Dad,
My life had nowhere near the trauma of the mad naked man, but who knows where it might have gone. All I know is that you saw me, spoke to me and offered me the relationship I needed most – to be my Father. You saved me and are constantly setting me free from my past. I live because you re-wrote my story and now I am yours forever.

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Visions of disaster.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

”The Sovereign Lord showed me a vision. I saw him preparing to send a vast swarm of locusts over the land. This was after the king’s share had been harvested from the fields and as the main crop was coming up. In my vision the locusts ate every green plant in sight. Then I said, “O Sovereign Lord, please forgive us or we will not survive, for Israel is so small.” So the Lord relented from this plan. “I will not do it,” he said.” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Amos has three visions in this chapter. The first, a swarm of lolkus eating up every plant. The second, a great fire, devouring the land. And the third, a plumb line showing how off, how crooked, Israel had become. In the first two it is clear that these “natural” disasters would decimate the people of Israel. Amos asked for God’s forgiveness saying, “Israel is so small.” This little country had seen so much wealth, and so many miracles allowing them to hold off the larger countries surrounding it. It was because God was for them, not against them.

But Israel, like us, believed it was their own might with skillful leadership, with each passing year paying tribute and worship to fake gods and mocking their own history and heritage. They believed their good fortune was tied to their ability to be cool and trendy idolaters like their enemies. Generation after generation, king after king, they slid further into breaking their promises and forfeiting their rights to God keeping His end of the covenant.

What is so interesting is this idea that God tells Amos what He will do, Amos ask Him not to. God “relents,” Hebrew: nacham – To comfort, to repent, to relent, to be sorry. So, is God’s sovereignty open to negotiation? Or maybe it is better understood as God being open to humble repentance.

On the third vision, Amos sees a plumb line showing just how far off the King of Israel really is. God will no long ignore the discrepancy, but tells Amos that the judgment will come against all the pagan shrines, the temples and King Jeroboam himself will be destroyed. God’s long suffering has limits, His patience will not be tested to endure forever.

Where does that leave us, as a new covenant believer under the covering of Jesus sacrifice for our sins? It leaves us forgiven from the judgment of death, but not from experiencing the consequences of our sins. It is the same today as it was then – God desires obedience over sacrifice! Hebrews 6:4-6 talk about the impossibility of those who have fully experienced the grace of God, tasting of the gift of the Holy Spirit and then turning away, denying it all – they are in danger of not being able to come back to repentance and thereby rejecting the Son of God. They themselves are nailing him to the cross once again! We too must be careful of not living a life of consistent worship of our own modern idols, with patterns of sin and disobedience without repentance.

Prayer

​Dad,
These Amos prophecies are encouraging on one hand and frustrating on the other. Encouraging because you are perfect in your justice and judgments. Frustrating because sin is very much a human frailty and is most insidiously designed to hit us in the most intimate ways. It’s powerfully alluring. Without your help, your strength and your Spirit working in us, I don’t see it even possible to bear it or beat it! I am thankful for your grace and mercy that covers my sin. I cannot wait until the day that it does not invade my life any longer.

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The Parable with a light twist.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus, using common situations to tell simple truths with profound depth, talks about light and lamps. For a very long time, we have found a way to extend daylight by using fire, or now electricity, to enjoy our evenings.

Jesus states the obvious, no one lights up an oil lamp to then cover it or hide it. We turn on lights to make things bright – not dark! It is so clear that everyone hearing this parable might say, uh yeah that’s a given. Jesus then takes the story even further, driving a spiritual point home. He says, “a lamp is put on a stand.” Again, placing light up higher, increases its effectiveness. It doesn’t make it brighter, but it does make those beams of light go further, allowing more people to enjoy its beauty for – “all who enter the house.” The light is not discriminatory on who it reaches. Everyone who is in its presence benefits from its properties.

Jesus then moves to apply the parable to another truth. Light doesn’t just benefit all who experience its illumination. It also exposes everything hiding in the dark! Jesus, being THE light of the world declares the logical next deeper truth – “all that is secret,” will be exposed. No amount of darkness or deception can hide from His eternal glory of the brightest, truest light humans have ever known.

All our sin. All our shadows. All our secrets will be exposed. Nothing has ever been, nor will ever be HIDDEN from the purity that comes from the light of Christ shining on our souls. Is it possible that ALL of our sins, even those forgiven, will be exposed for all to see. Is this exposure part of the “bema” – the judgment seat of Christ. This is where all our deeds are brought before Jesus and weighed for their eternal value? Not a judgement of our sin, but a judgment of our works? Wow. The judgment seat of Christ involves a time in the future when believers will give an account of themselves to Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:10. We don’t hear about this much, do we? I have often thought about what my pile of works will look like when the fire of Jesus torches it to see what is wood, hay and stubble verses what is gold!

Prayer

​Dad,
I still remember hearing about the judgment seat of Christ in one sermon by Raul Reece. I have always known that even though my sins are forgiven, my deeds and my actions that affect others would be judged as worthy or not worthy. It is a sober thought for sure. You are keeping score in so many ways, right? I wonder how many folks know this? May your grace and mercy continue to transform my life to good works – deeds that glorify you and add to the Kingdom of God!

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Demetrius – riot starter.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.” Acts 19‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“At this their anger boiled!” Riots and angry mobs are very much a human response to what is perceived as something or someone is unfair, unjust or touching an issue close to one’s heart. This disturbance was about the loss of money, but one man decided to make his case public, making it about a supposed personal offense made towards the city’s most beloved icon.

Attaching people’s income to a deeply held religious practices is certainly a recipe for explosive behavior. One Greek merchant is specifically mentioned in the Bible for doing so. Demetrius sparked a wickedly successful uprising by tying money to city pride! He blamed Paul for his loss of idol sales.

First he starts with the truth – the gospel causes people to rethink their beliefs. Ephesus was filled with an extraordinary amount of idol worship attributed to the belief that Diana/Artemis was the god of fertility and the reason for the city’s success. It was world renowned for its citizens flourishing in love, family and wealth. Paul’s message of hope and truth were twisted into a personal vendetta against their way of life. There in Ephesus a 9 foot marble statue of Artemis stood in her massive temple – this temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Paul doesn’t attack their deity, he didn’t demean their little idols or sacrifices to a cold, useless statue. Even the mayor of Ephesus admitted, “You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.” In other words, you got all worked up about nothing. And then the mayor flat out told Demetrius, “If you’ve got an issue, take it to the courts where evidence can be presented!” A calm sensible leader in a highly volatile situation. Don’t ya wish we had such mayors, governors and leaders today? There are so many better ways to solve things rather than useless protests and riots.

Besides, the best thing Paul did – he just told them the truth. But when facts clash with preferences, opinions and personal truths, there is bound to be high emotions mixed with lawlessness and incivility.

Prayer

​Dad,
It seems like over the past couple of years there has been a tremendous rise in both lawlessness and incivility. Folks in cars running over pedestrians, flying through red lights, and darting in and out of traffic at high speed. That along with brazen smash and grab break-ins on small businesses already struggling to make a living. It’s like we are living another cycle of last days. We ache, we cry and wait for justice Oh Lord. Come and make things right in our city, our state and our nation. May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done!

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Refusing gifts of gratitude.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused. Then Naaman said, “All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the Lord. However, may the Lord pardon me in this one thing: When my master the king goes into the temple of the god Rimmon to worship there and leans on my arm, may the Lord pardon me when I bow, too.” “Go in peace,” Elisha said. So Naaman started home again.” ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

After Naaman is miraculously healed of a deadly skin disease, he was not only convinced of the one true God, he was also grateful. When facing death and escaping it via a miracle – gratitude races to the top of the heart. When you’ve been given to, there’s supposed to be a desire to give back – at least when one recognizes how the Kingdom of God works. Naaman came prepared, I doubt the guy travelled with a a caravan of expensive clothes and large amounts of silver just to take a trip to the hill country above Samaria.

Naaman’s gratitude was a key part of his transformation. He wasn’t just healed of Leprosy, he got wrecked by the reality of God’s undeserved goodness.

The shocker is Elisha refused the extravagant gifts.

Naaman insisted, Elisha resisted.

I wonder why? Did he not need the money? Couldn’t he have received it so that he could give it away to the poor?

Money does strange things to people. Obviously Naaman had a lot of wealth and had no problem trying to give it away. And sadly, we know what even the idea of having some money, snuck & tucked away for oneself, did to Gehazi. Did greed just creep in so fast that it overwhelmed the young man – Gehazi just couldn’t let it go. ”But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.” ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬. It was for “Elisha…” – right?! Greedy people always believe they are going to get away with it.

Maybe Elisha had learned some lessons and already figured out that he was just a steward for his own master, he didn’t need to own or keep anything. God was the one that healed Naaman, not Elisha. Elisha just sent Naaman on the humiliating task of dunking his pride in the dirty Jordan river.

After refusing Naaman’s gifts, Naaman seemed so caught off guard that he asked to take some Samarian dirt home with him! Plus – Naaman swore off of pagan sacrifices to fake gods. He truly was a changed man! I love it when new believers get so confessional because the Spirit of God brings freedom in repentance!

As a pastor, I can tell you that it is humbling to receive gifts. Cards of appreciation are definitely encouraging, but I often tell folks who give me money or gift cards out of their generosity – I’m going to be saving this gift and giving it to someone that God directs me to bless! They have to be okay with that.

Prayer.

​Dad,
I love the fact that Elisha refused Naaman’s grateful gift. And, I’m sad that Gehazi couldn’t handle Elisha refusing to receive that much money. It looks like greed, but I have no idea what was going on in Gehazi’s heart. I do see what gratefulness looks like from such a powerful commander of the Syrian army who had it all, but almost lost it because of a deadly skin disease. I hope to live a life of both gratefulness and generosity – I think they go together.