Tag: love

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Desires for justice.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips. Declare me innocent, for you see those who do right.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This past July 2026, we did a sermon series called FREEDOM. It wasn’t a patriotic series, but rather the beautiful mystery of God granting us free will, desires and aspirations. God allows us to choose? Yeah, all the things people blame God for, yet never think about our own human choices. In the message about freedom of desire, we looked at three seasons out of David’s life. Season:
● Shepherd (pure desire in the pasture)
● Anointed but waiting (deferred desire in the caves)
● King (disordered desires on the rooftop)

Psalm 17 was written in season two of David’s life, where he and his mighty men were on the run, outlaws hiding from King Saul. More specifically, it was written because of what happened in 1 Samuel 22:19. David and his men had taken refuge in the city of Nob and asked the priest, Ahimelech, if he had any food and any weapons. Ahimelech fed them sacred bread, and told David, “the only weapon I have is Goliath’s sword.” Goliath’s sword? Yes! That sword has a story all its own.

Ahimelech was completely innocent by the way, because David had told the priest that he was on a “special assignment” for Saul. Saul found out that David had been to Nob and received help from Ahimelech. “Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing there with Saul’s men, spoke up. “When I was at Nob,” he said, “I saw the son of Jesse talking to the priest, Ahimelech son of Ahitub. Ahimelech consulted the Lord for him. Then he gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine”” ‭‭(1 Samuel‬ ‭22‬:‭9‬-‭10‬).

Saul was LIVID! He just snapped. He sent word that Ahimelech and his entire family had to come and meet with the king. Saul laid out the accusation and Ahimelech answered: “This was certainly not the first time I had consulted God for him! May the king not accuse me and my family in this matter, for I knew nothing at all of any plot against you.” But Saul was mad with suspicion and jealousy. He screamed out, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, along with your entire family!” Then Saul ordered his own personal bodyguards, “Kill these priests of the Lord, for they are allies and conspirators with David! They knew he was running away from me, but they didn’t tell me!” But Saul’s men refused to kill the Lord’s priests.” So Saul turned to Doeg, to do the deed. Doeg didn’t even hesitate. “So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments. Then he went to Nob, the town of the priests, and killed the priests’ families—men and women, children and babies—and all the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.”

Now, when I read Psalm 17, I have context. What a deep, dark moment as David reflected on suffering and loss of those who were innocent. David gave them a voice, a prayer, a dedicated song of justice. A justice that only God could rightfully deliver. Also, David in that season of his own life, was very sensitive to justice issues. Being a fugitive and unknowingly triggering a cataclysmic injustice event, brought him to this sober song, where he internalized the reality and reach of Saul’s demented state. Saul wanted David dead and this was yet another reminder of what wickedness could do.

Prayer

​Dad,
Whoa, what a clear demonstration of Saul’s desires of revenge compared to David’s desires of protection and justice. To see the depths of where Saul’s desires blindly led him to massacre a family and Doeg’s desires to engage in genocide. We have capacity to be just or unjust. But you alone are righteous, true and just in all you are and do.

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Declared Truth.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

““So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”” Acts 2‬:‭36‬-‭37‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Peter, clearly under the influence of the Holy Spirit makes a declaration after this wide-reaching, powerful sermon. ““Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this” (vs 14). He kicked it off with a quote from the Old Testament prophet Joel, and finished it with a passage out Psalm 110:2 where Nathan is prophesying over David. Then Peter ends with these words above.

Peter, pulling from historical and effectual words of God’s spokespersons, lays it before the listeners, “let everyone know for certain.” Would they still, after all these years, be hearing but never understand, as Isaiah said (Isa 6:9-10)? Jesus preached that (Mark 4:12), and now Peter is using the plumb-line of truth to gauge where his listener’s hearts are at. I wonder: Did the declaration seem to hang in the air penetrating into their souls, “piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart,” as Hebrews 4:12 says it does? This isn’t a bully-pulpit move, nor weaponizing the Word of God for revenge, for personal gain or profit, nor to rain down justice on their heads. This was skillfully applying the eternal Word of God as a healing scalpel.

And it worked!

Luke records that Peter’s sermon had the intended results of reaching their hearts. When Luke wrote, “Peter’s words pierced…” I just had to look that word up. It’s “katanussó” – it “pierce all the way down, i.e. deeply (thoroughly) pained; “emotionally pierced through”; psychologically pricked, emotionally stunned (Abbott-Smith). It is used only in Acts 2:37. Short-code, it worked. How do we know it worked? Because they said, “Brothers, what should we do?” They heard, they understood and asked about their next step.

This moment wasn’t about hearing or understanding more truth, it was doing something with it. Isn’t this what every Pastor/Preacher wants? Not to just increase knowledge or comprehension, but have the listeners asking what they should do – How Should We Then Live? Now, in the great reversal of hard-heartedness, they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed! Oh, may the truth of God’s Word pierce all those have seen and have heard to then understand and turn to God, coming home that they would be healed.

Prayer

​Dad,
I never want to live under the curse of seeing and hearing only to ignore Your words of life! I want to remain open, tender, humble and quickly responsive to the truth and the move of your Holy Spirit. And, it breaks my heart that so many I know saw, heard and even understood, but no longer turn towards you, instead they continue to walk away from you. I pray your Holy Spirit pursues and pierces, contending for their heart, arresting their attention for them to come home.

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Paul’s Ask.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Pray for us! The Apostle Paul starts out strong and confident in his calling and writings to churches he started. For those who questioned his authority, he boldly told the story of how Jesus revealed Himself and called him to be the lead apostle to the gentiles. Paul is a major force in the New Testament! Paul is the author of 13 epistles. Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. (almost 50% of the New Testament, and 62% of the letters written!). He’s assertive about his apostleship. He received direct revelation from Jesus. And, after receiving this calling, he didn’t rush out to consult anyone about it. His authority was independent from Jerusalem’s approval, and that was recognized by Peter, James, and John. He went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter and later wrote about confronting Peter about his hypocrisy (Peter was sneaking around eating with gentiles, but later pretended that it was wrong to do so when the Jewish brothers showed up). Yet after many beatings, jail time, church launches and multiple confrontations with fake teachers, I believe it took a toll on Paul’s fiery core. Look at the difference at how Paul refers to himself over thirty years.

● ​Bold Authority (AD 48-49) – AD 49, Galatians 1:1 — “an apostle, not from men, nor through man.” Fierce independence.
● Pray for us (AD 50-51) – 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Relational dependency
● Least of the Apostles (AD 55-56) – 1 Corinthians 15:9
● Least of All God’s people (AD 60-61) – Ephesians 3:8
● Chief of Sinners (AD 62-64) – 1 Timothy 1:15
● Martyrdom (AD 64-68)

​We get a chance to see this amazing diminishment, this arc from hubris to humility. Not just tracking what Paul said, but where he was in life when and where he said it. The contrast with his earliest letters to his latter ones is striking. It can be noted that this request for prayer may have been the beginning of Paul’s realization that he needs others (which Paul always led thanking those around him). He goes from fierce independence, which caused some real heartache with young John Mark. Luke said there was a sharp contention between Paul and Barnabas. Enough for him and Barnabas (the peacekeeper) to part ways for a while. As Paul reached the end of his life and ministry, his tones and behaviors were far from hubris. Instead a beautiful humility emerged because of life, ministry, suffering and Christ’s mature agape love became the explanation point of his writings. Just read the boldness at the start in his thirties to the tenderness in his final letter to Timothy when he was sixty. Near the end of his life from a Roman prison, he tells Timothy: “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” Tender reconciliation from the now Chief of Sinners.

Prayer

Dad,
I was never super bold or brash as a young man, even though after surrendering my life to you in my teens I was not afraid to ask hard questions. But after almost fifty years of being a pastor in ministry, I just generally feel less smart, less wise and not so dogmatic about several things. I’m no Paul, but life, church-folk and church-systems, along with many, many emotionally hard deaths of friends and in families, I absolutely feel like the least of these. I am daily humbled by your amazing grace and mercy, where pure gratitude fills my mind as I sleep each night. I feel far more soft and squishy and far less judgmental about how people have lived, loved and suffered over the years. As I write, I could honestly and eagerly ask people to pray for me as well,

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The man who defied God.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“So the people of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses and Aaron. And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died.” Exodus‬ ‭12‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Pharaoh had withstood the devastation of multiple disasters over a period of six and a half months. The first plague began in late September and the last plague occurred around April. The 9 plagues would have substantially undermined Egypt’s economic productivity and fiscal base, strained social networks, increased poverty and displacement, and weakened political and religious legitimacy—together producing significant short-term disruption and potential long-term instability. All of this not because of Pharaoh’s political or economic aspirations. It was pure pride, believing he was a god that did not need to submit to THE God. His will would defy God’s will – so he thought.

How many leaders throughout history tried to defy God but lost? King Saul (Israel), Nebuchadnezzar II (Babylon), Roman emperors (Nero, Julian), Henry VIII (England), Louis XVI (France), Tsar Nicholas II (Russia), Kaiser Wilhelm II (Germany), Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (Iran), Saddam Hussein (Iraq), and Muammar Gaddafi (Libya). Every one of these men believed they could rise above all their opponents- including God! Amenhotep II, as the Pharaoh, responsible for the destruction of his own country and the deaths of every Egyptian first born, appears to be far and beyond the scope of other world leaders. His personal punishment vs. systemic consequences were enormous.

What has been on my mind for several years now, is what people do with power? What happens when a person or a group understands that they have a sway, a control over other humans? The phrase, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, by John Acton, penned in 1887,” stated the obvious truth. It not only corrupts, it becomes self consuming. I think about so many movements throughout history, that have seen a successful grab for power. But instead of spending that control, that magnanimous influence to help others, lifting them out societal struggles, they end up spending that capital on promoting and protecting themselves. All that effort towards aiding the disparity in the disenfranchised, or solving some of society’s worst problems, it became nothing more than stockpiling that power to pursue even more!

One of the powerful truths out of the gospels, is that Jesus knew that power had been given to him, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). John tells us what Jesus did with it! “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him” (John 13:3-5). All power, all authority… and Jesus picks up a towel to serve!

God will not share His glory, but He will share His power to serve His purposes! And God’s purpose is the reclaiming, restoring and redeeming human dignity and destiny. Pharaoh defied God because he wanted and believed he had rights to authority and power over God. Through 9 devastating warnings, God gave him a chance to relent, and he would not. What do we do with whatever power we may have over others? Do we yield it or try to wield it? Do we consume it for ourselves or turn and serve others?

Prayer

​Dad,
Seeing the power patterns and dynamics in the Bible, it helps me see areas in my own life where I struggle with trying to wield what little power I have or yield it to you by serving others. Also, seeing how leaders use or abuse power, I have observed power cycles in our churches, but also in other areas in our culture. Places like politics, business, education, health care and safety. I see similar missteps that are like those in the Bible. I am so thankful that You are God and I and others are NOT!

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When we invite Jesus.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”” Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Everyone has figured out that a Jewish accountant, working for the Roman empire is not an honorable, tasteful employment for a nice Jewish young man. However, it still happened. Some hated it, some understood its necessity. No matter what people felt about it, Jewish tax collectors needed God’s grace and mercy just like anyone else. Was it shocking that Jesus invited a tax collector (at the tax collector’s booth) to follow him, making himself a target for criticism with the religious leaders? Sure, but Jesus didn’t mind rubbing the religious the wrong way and seemed to handle negative publicity just fine.

Something extraordinary happened after the tax booth encounter. Matthew invited Jesus, the other disciples AND his friends to a meal! Jesus chose to recline at the table with Matthew and his friends. Matthew records his own admission about these “friends” of his. He calls them the (hamartólos) – deplorable sinners! Jesus was not shocked about being invited, nor was he surprised by who showed up. This is how life works, we share what we care about, it’s also how good news travels. When something significant, something spectacular happens in our life, we look for friends to share it with. We LOVE sharing hacks, tips, wins and life changing announcements with friends. Matthew was genuinely excited about deciding to follow Jesus, and wanted his work buddies to know about it. And, Matthew wanted those friends to meet Jesus.

The most effective moments in a new believer’s life is the first few years after coming to Christ. Every family member, every close friend, every co-worker has a front seat opportunity to watch the effects of Jesus in our lives. I don’t know what the stats are, but as believers go forward in their walk, they tend to have less connections with non-believers. That makes sense, right? Our ways change and it follows that our relationships change as well. My friend group in High School told me they preferred I not “hang out” with them at lunch anymore. They immediately saw the shift in my behavior after committing my life to Christ. I wasn’t hurt by that reality, I understood why – they thought I was going to get preachy with them. I don’t think I instantly began acting religious, but if they could see the changes Jesus made in my life in just a couple of days, I understood that they weren’t ready for how I might behave in the future. I spent the rest of my Junior year eating lunch alone. I later found out that one of my best friends (non schoolmate) did miraculously experience Jesus while on the way to a planned party weekend in the mountains.

The point is whether we’re surrounded by fellow tax collectors or just normal “sinners” like us, people tend to watch our lives and notice what’s going on.

Prayer

​Dad,
I often think of the immediate changes I saw in my life when I first surrendered my life to you. I didn’t realize then how many of those changes were apparent to folks close to me. If I understand this idea of constant and transparent change happening in my life, I also need to remember how many people see that change. Hopefully it’s especially seen when I am invitational in my own walk and talk. I saw two folks baptized yesterday and they invited friends to come and see their public declaration. I heard that those closest to them have already seen the changes you have made in their life. Your grace is so beautiful to see working in others! Thank You.

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Evil Consensus.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When Peter writes to the Church about ridding themselves of evil, he chose five words that every sensible person believes is WRONG. Peter says, “put these away!”

  • “dolos” – trickery, crafty deceit. The word comes from the word decoy.
  • “kakia” – malice, nasty naughtiness, wickedness, no shame in breaking the law.
  • “hypokrisis” – acting under a feigned part, a stage actor, a fake, a pretender.
  • “phthonos” – envy, spiteful jealousy.
  • “katalalia” – slander, backbiting, evil speaking.

Here’s what struck me. No one likes to be deceived. No one likes hypocrites. Everyone dislikes jealousy and nasty gossipers. And, when it comes to malice or a purposeful disregard for the law, it’s only those who are attracted to the bad boy/girl type who “like” it.

Point: You don’t have to be a believer, unbeliever, church or non-church goer, religious or non-religious to understand what Peter is writing about – they all agree! These are things we ALL hate and all struggle with. We have a general consensus and agreement that bad is bad.

We might not all have these behaviors frequently or all of them at once. But we do recognize them as wrong. Whether folks admit it or not, we have an internal, God-given conscience that tells us when we’re wrong. That means we have to actively override that conscience, struggling to silence it to continue to deceive, purposely pursue malice, hypocrisy, envy and be a backstabbing gossip!

Even still, the Apostle Paul tells Timothy that people can sear their own conscience in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, and get “life-advice” from demons! “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.” Our conscience is God-given and within each of us, Romans 2:15. “God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.” If the conscience is “seared”—literally “cauterized”—then it has been rendered insensitive and become ineffective! It is wild that folks can “fry” their conscience but continue to convince themselves and others that everything is alright.

Is it more egregious to see a follower of Jesus continue to practice these behaviors with no remorse? Yes, I believe it is! Followers of Jesus should be the first ones to recognize these common human behaviors/sins and the first ones to say “I’m sorry.” We should be humble enough to not deflect our bad choices, defensively blaming others or making it sound like it’s not that big of a deal. The consequences of deception, intentional nastiness, hypocrisy, jealousy and spreading gossip is primarily pain for others. It’s also a poor representation of Jesus to the world that already believes that “Christians” look down on everyone else.

Peter’s admonition (truthful encouragement) is to get rid of these behaviors, but when we do fail and hurt someone, we should be honest about it and be quick to apologize. Even though there is an evil consensus about what is clearly bad, we can be examples of owning our own sin and show contrition (remorse) for it.

Prayer

Dad,
I have to admit, even though these behaviors are awful, I have caught myself acting them out. Not every one of them is a constant battle, but checking my behaviors and the motives behind them is a regular part of struggling. Especially when I’ve been hurt, want to get even or just feeling spiteful or awry. It is when I see a poor reflection of myself in Your Word, that I feel the pinch of Your Spirit to own it, repent of it and apologize when necessary. Honestly, the pain of asking someone’s forgiveness should be enough to help me to not act on these nasty behaviors. I am so thankful for the Holy Sprit nudges, and your mercy.

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A 🐸 god?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land. The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Really? For most of my life as a follower of Jesus, I thought the plagues on Egypt were just strange and creepy. Just annoying enough to make people’s skin crawl and get nauseous just thinking about. Some people hate frogs and are terrified by them. I was forever years old when I heard that each plague was attached to the gods of Pharaoh – and all of Egypt WORSHIPPED them! They worshipped a frog god? Yep, it’s true.

The plagues were judgment on Egypt’s religious system, not random disasters. And, “Pharaoh is part of that picture too, because Egyptian kingship was religious, not just political. Pharaoh was regarded as a divine ruler and mediator of cosmic order, so the plagues also function as a humiliation of Pharaoh’s claimed sacred authority.” Some of the gods are speculative, but a few are historically documented!

Heqet – the frog god is one that is well known. She was an ancient Egyptian goddess, usually shown as a frog or as a woman with a frog’s head. Her main spheres of influence were fertility, birth, regeneration, and rebirth. She was deeply connected to childbirth and became especially associated with the final stages of labor. She was given the title “She who hastens the birth.” Frog amulets linked to Heqet were used by women in connection with childbirth. Sounds like a sci-fi right? Yet she was serious in the Egyptian culture, because she “controlled” the future generations of true Egyptians. Her favor meant increase, and conversely, her anger meant death. So for God to send a plague of frogs, meant that it was a clear sign to Pharaoh and the people that it was a source of judgment instead of blessing. And, more importantly, that God was over the gods of Egypt.

The Bible does not mention the god, Heqet, which I understand. Giving these hybrid or half-breed spirit beings any acknowledgment would be giving them recognition. History gives us these beings identity and role. We now know it was clearly to distort God’s truth and lead humans away from Him. These beings can’t create, only deceive. God mocks them by creating plagues showing the ridiculousness of trusting false gods.

I used to think these gods were just fakes, figments of our imagination and false projections of an actual being. Now, I’ve come to understand, they were and still are active spirit beings who’s sole purpose is to join with Satan in deceiving and creating havoc in human lives, keeping them from seeing and experiencing the one true God who has a plan and purpose for redemption and reconciliation to Himself.

These gods are very real and powerful, but many people dismiss them because they don’t understand how and why they exist. I don’t know if the “frog” god is still active like she was back in Ancient Egyptian days, but I can tell you similar gods exist around the world today, even in the “disbelieving” USA.

Pharaoh recognized the difference between his gods and the one true God, yet he still refused to submit. The Bible says that this act of arrogant defiance hardened Pharaoh’s heart and it cost him the life of his own son as well as every Egyptian firstborn in the nation. Only the Jewish people, with the blood-sign on their doorposts would be protected or “passed over” the Angel of Death. This was the meaning of Passover. We still have a “Passover” in place today, it’s Jesus blood covering over our sins, meaning the final death will pass us over when we die.

Prayer

​Dad,
I am so very thankful for your love, protection and provision. Even when I was duped into believing the subtle lies coming at me as a young teen, you broke through and made yourself known to me. I am forgiven and redeemed because of the price Jesus paid for me on the cross.

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Dilemma of the deceiver and our desires.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Apostle Paul gets gritty as he describes to the Ephesians what is really going on in us, around us, and specifically above us. He writes, “once you were,” and “we used to” obey the “archón,” the ruler/prince, the “exousia,” the authority of the air. This “pneuma,” spirit is working in the sons of “apeitheia,” disobedience – the willful refusal to be convinced by God’s voice. Wow! That’s a lot more going on than I ever understood. Paul bluntly writes, we were “walking in the ways of the world!” What? What way is that? It’s an order of disorder, a pattern, a flow. We THINK, actually we delude ourselves into believing that we are autonomously, independently following our true self – our will, our way. But Paul says, that is not TRUE. When we believe we are self-driven, we are really falling in line with a ruler, with an authority that lives in the unseen cosmos, an other worldly realm.

This entity is “energeó,” energized and working in the sons of disobedient. Who are these sons? This isn’t a demon-class of fallen angels, nor the ever mysterious “sons of God,” some sort of half-breed angel/human hybrids. No, these are people, just regular old human beings with one massive bent – they are people whose identity and conduct are shaped by disobedience. In other words, they are the true nature of the “worldly culture.” Their vibe, their end goal isn’t about freedom or some “true to thyself,” ideology. It’s much simpler, but darker – it’s just pure disobedience to God’s order. Their own personal “stick-it-to-the-man” isn’t a sixties mantra, it’s an all out flipping off God by purposely challenging Him on who He is and His will and ways. It’s choosing to be God’s enemy. Everything that God is, they are against!

And yes, they are being led by the “ruler” in authority over the air, but they do so in preference to rebellion, not naivety. Paul says “all of us” used to live this way – following our own “theléma,” things willed of the flesh. The disordered desires of our own heart and soul. The desires that may start off as real needs, neutral and harmless, but turn quickly to grasp what we want immediately and untimely, or obsess with something not good for us. That’s why Paul says we were “by nature deserving of wrath.” Not necessarily because of the desire or urge, but the actual follow through of rebellious disobedience. We know it’s bad, but choose it anyways – making us enemies of God and literally ourselves.

Thankfully, Paul writes that this “used to be us,” and we “were” under God’s wrath! For “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8). While we rebelled, and grasped for disordered desires and joined with the ruler of the air and the disobedience of the world culture – Jesus died to set us free from the deceiver and our mis-driven desires.

Prayer

​Dad,
I always bristled against doing whatever my friends did. I wasn’t a good follower of culture, even though I was often persuaded into doing some very foolish things. I had a conscience, but ignored it way too often to do my “own thing.” I wouldn’t have understood that as rebellion against you, nor complicity with the deceiver or my own desires at the time. It wasn’t clear until I saw my life following the disastrous pattern or my parents – that scared me! That’s what it took to see you as my only way out, my hope for a different future. You not only fathered me, you lovingly disciplined me and showed me how to live the life you always intended for me. Thank you for saving and transforming my life!

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Honoring Family Matters.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“So Moses went back home to Jethro, his father-in-law. “Please let me return to my relatives in Egypt,” Moses said. “I don’t even know if they are still alive.” “Go in peace,” Jethro replied.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A lot had transpired in a chapter and a half of Exodus, God won as well Moses won in many ways. Moses had no idea what the next 40 years would look like for him! Who really does know what will happen when you say “yes” to God’s will?

Remember what Moses’ day started like in Exodus 3? “Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian.” Jethro, or Reuel, was a well known, well established non-Israelite priest, a descendant of Abraham through Keturah. Jethro had taken in a fugitive, allowed him to marry his daughter and trusted Moses to care for his flock, becoming a vital part of the family business. Moses at forty, had found a new family. And, it’s likely that Moses brought God’s blessing for Jethro taking him in and helping rebuild his identity.

After negotiating with God for likely the whole day, Moses returns with the decision that he will obey God and must leave Midian and go back to Egypt. But before he does so, he meets with his father-in-law. Moses asks Jethro for permission to leave. He honored Jethro in his ask! Moses had not only become an integral part of family, giving Jethro two grandsons, Gershom and Eliezer, he had also become invaluable to the family business. Letting Moses go must have been difficult on the whole tribe. It must have been a difficult plea of reality, because he had become such a big part of family. Moses tells Jethro, I must go back to see my relatives (not knowing if they were even alive anymore).

Moses does not tell Jethro at this point, at least, “God spoke to me and I must obey!” Wouldn’t that sound like a better reason for leaving? Jethro, being a highly wise and religious man, would have understood Moses’ dilemma. But Moses chooses to tell him he had to return to his birth family. I just think it is significant that Moses records what had happened before he met with God and what happened after. Moses left Jethro one day and came back a much different man. Jethro releases Moses with a blessing, “Go in peace.”

The Bible is open and honest about the family dynamics throughout God’s grand story. Moses’ story is key in showing us the tragedy of a forced abandonment as a baby. Also a view into being raised by a foster family. Then, being received and accepted into a kind of adopted family – even as a grown man. And finally, Moses recognizing how to honor both his father-in-law and willingness to go back to reconnect with his birth family. God even reassures Moses on the trip back home, “the Lord said to him, “Return to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you have died.” Studying Moses’ family struggles and structure is fascinating and becomes very much a big part of the leader that God called him to be!

Prayer

​Dad,
I think about all that Moses went through to become the man you would use to lead Your people out of 400 years of slavery and head towards the land of promise that would be theirs. The land of Israel today is just as contested and controversial as it was in ancient history. And, the Jewish people, are still prominently involved in Your story. I am so thankful that you have included the raw truth of family struggles and redemption. It gives me hope for all those, like me, who have been adopted twice. Once as a child and again as your son!

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Trying to escape a calling.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Moses is the classic example of trying to dodge a clear, direct order from God. In Exodus chapter 3, God says, “Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

“I am sending you,” and “you must,” is pretty straightforward. Moses, having a common, self-reflecting moment, asks God the BIG question. “Who am I?” Wow. That’s a really good question to ask under normal circumstances!

We now live in a saturated milieu of self awareness – it’s expected that one knows their own faults and failures and are also well aware of their ability to harm others. Not everyone is there yet, but the expectation is culturally common. Comments like, “I didn’t know I was a bad mother”, or “I didn’t know I was an alcoholic, are met with suspicious surprise with little sympathy. The underlying idea is “you should have known, everyone else did!”

Did Moses know he had deep traumatic issues that grew into a hair-pin justice trigger, causing him to often snap with rage? Was he aware that his speech impediment was likely caused by his perceived abandonment and identity crisis? Moses question went far deeper than just a question of calling or capability, it hit a nerve of apparent failure to be the kind of man everyone expected him to be. “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬.

God patiently addressed his question, but doesn’t tell Moses who Moses is or what he will become. God just says, “I will be with you.” Anyone who has struggled with mother or father abandonment issues knows how difficult it is to trust anyone! In Moses’ case, he wasn’t abandoned, because he was supposed to have been murdered by drowning him in the Nile. Moses’ mother, Jochebed, hid him for 3 months, then saved his life by life-rafting him down the river.

In a second volley of trying to get God to just move on and leave him alone, Moses asked God, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” Which is interesting because God already told him who He was, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” causing Moses to pause and reflect on his extraordinary heritage. Moses’ father was Amram, but it’s unclear if Moses ever had a meaningful relationship with him. Moses was a rejected foster son in Pharaoh’s family. Moses boldly asks for God’s name and in that tender moment God tells Moses His personal, intimate name – “Yahweh,” God says.

Yet, even after God tells Moses He will go with him and allow Moses to use God’s personal credentials in an audience with the Pharaoh, Moses is still not convinced – he truly believes God is choosing the wrong man for the job! First it’s I’m not qualified, then it’s no one knows me, now it’s – what if they don’t believe me. Moses questions his convince-ability.

It is here that God allows Moses to have a crutch, a literal shtick, a physical object lesson to carry with him to boost his confidence – the humble shepherd’s staff that becomes a symbol of supernatural power! Moses continued beg God to choose someone else, even reminding Him of his speech impediment. Moses, was not able to get God to completely let him off the hook, but was happy that God allowed his brother Aaron to step in and be the spokesperson.

Prayer

​Dad,
What a journey to convince Moses not only of who he was – a leader, but who he would become, a great patriarch and hero in Your grand story, It seems as though Moses did grow to be a man of great faith, but always carried some of his sorrows and frustrations of his early life as a Jewish foster son in the house of Pharaoh. I see many folk’s trying to escape their calling, even when You assure them that You be will them and use them in the Kingdom of God. Thank you for your patience with all of us!