Today's reading.
Hagar had a rough life. She was a slave in the house of a wealthy family. Not only was she a slave, but she was far from home; she was from Egypt (16:3) but lived now in Canaan with her masters. Not only did she not have a choice when it came to her job, but as a slave she did not even get to exert her will when it came to her own body. She was forced by Sarai to sleep with 80-something Abram. Hagar was so poor, so oppressed, so dehumanized that she was used for her sex organs and then tossed away when no longer needed. Hagar had a rough life.
Two things strike me when I reflect on this passage. The first is that her oppressors are Christian. The second is that God cares even for those whom Christians treat shamefully.
No one forced Sarai to give Hagar to her husband. It was her idea. And Abram went right along with it. The one who "believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness" (15:6), shrugs his shoulders at his wife's suggestion and invites Hagar into his tent. Hagar suffers gross injustice at the hands of God's nascent church. That fact makes me take a step back and wonder where my own blind spots are. How am I tempted to treat those outside the church with contempt? Where am I committing injustice? Abraham—the father of our faith, the one that Scripture says is counted as father to both the church and to Christ himself—forced a slave girl to have sex with him and bear his child! That sounds bad to us; is there anything in our lives that we take for granted that other generations would look upon in shock and horror?
Even in the midst of the worst sins of his church, God comes to the aid of the oppressed and afflicted. He comes to Hagar after she's been thrown out like garbage, meets her in the midst of her darkest hour, and saves her. And even in spite of the sin of God's people, Hagar comes to faith: "she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, 'You are a God of seeing,' for she said, 'Truly here I have seen him who looks after me'" (16:13).
God is able to take the worst of our sin, injustice and oppression and make it work together for good (Rom. 8:28). God used humanity's worst sin, the unjust murder of his own Son, to redeem us from that very sin! He takes Abram and Sarai's worst sin and uses it to reveal himself to their victim. God gives life where death reigned. That is the beauty of the gospel.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
March 12: Genesis 15
Today's reading.
God comes and talks to Abram who is starting to wonder if God will actually make good on his promises. He still doesn't have kids. Still doesn't feel like much of a worldwide blessing. Abe is focused on his circumstances; God points his eyes to the stars.
God says, that's how many kids you'll have when I'm done blessing you, Abram. "And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness" (15:6). Abram believed what God said, put his faith in God's promise, and that faith was the means through which God declared him righteous.
And just in case his words aren't enough to affirm this heavenly promise, God seals the deal by swearing to himself. God swears to God.
He tells Abe to cut a bunch of animals in half and line them up. Then there is a vision of a "smoking fire pot" passing between the pieces of animal carcass. The ceremony is meant to communicate the seriousness of the promise. God is saying, "If I don't make good on my promise, may I share the fate of these animals." God wants his carcass scattered in the dessert for the vultures to he doesn't do what he said he would.
What was the promise? What did Abram put his faith in? Why would God swear on his own grave?
The promise was Christ. Abraham's children would outnumber the stars because "it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham" (Gal. 3:7). All those who put their faith in Christ—in the promised blessing that would come through Abraham's offspring—receive the same righteousness that Abraham did. Because Abraham's Son came as God had promised, we can be counted Abraham's sons and daughters by faith in Christ.
God swore on his own grave that he would send Christ. And when Christ came, God still went to the grave for us. This is a completely one-sided deal, and we got the sweet end of the bargain. That kind of grace gets in you. Changes you. Takes hold of you and sets you free all at once. Let grace transform you. That's what being a Christian is.
God comes and talks to Abram who is starting to wonder if God will actually make good on his promises. He still doesn't have kids. Still doesn't feel like much of a worldwide blessing. Abe is focused on his circumstances; God points his eyes to the stars.
God says, that's how many kids you'll have when I'm done blessing you, Abram. "And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness" (15:6). Abram believed what God said, put his faith in God's promise, and that faith was the means through which God declared him righteous.
And just in case his words aren't enough to affirm this heavenly promise, God seals the deal by swearing to himself. God swears to God.
He tells Abe to cut a bunch of animals in half and line them up. Then there is a vision of a "smoking fire pot" passing between the pieces of animal carcass. The ceremony is meant to communicate the seriousness of the promise. God is saying, "If I don't make good on my promise, may I share the fate of these animals." God wants his carcass scattered in the dessert for the vultures to he doesn't do what he said he would.
What was the promise? What did Abram put his faith in? Why would God swear on his own grave?
The promise was Christ. Abraham's children would outnumber the stars because "it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham" (Gal. 3:7). All those who put their faith in Christ—in the promised blessing that would come through Abraham's offspring—receive the same righteousness that Abraham did. Because Abraham's Son came as God had promised, we can be counted Abraham's sons and daughters by faith in Christ.
God swore on his own grave that he would send Christ. And when Christ came, God still went to the grave for us. This is a completely one-sided deal, and we got the sweet end of the bargain. That kind of grace gets in you. Changes you. Takes hold of you and sets you free all at once. Let grace transform you. That's what being a Christian is.
Friday, March 11, 2011
March 11: Psalm 27
Today's reading.
This psalm both expresses confidence in the Lord and calls us to confidence. God is our light and salvation and stronghold (27:1); he is in his temple, where his beauty may be found (27.4); he is a shelter where we are safe (27:5), and the one who leads us on a straight path (27:11). If we are ever tempted to fear, we can find comfort, not only in who God is, but in who he is for us.
In Christ, God has made himself available to us in ways beyond all comprehension. The fact that we could claim to know God in a unique way is simply galling to the wisdom of this world. How could we believe there is something unique about the way we know God that other religions don't have? What makes us so special? Who do we think we are?
The answer to these questions has nothing to do with us or what we could say, and everything to do with God and what he has said: "You have said, 'Seek my face.' My heart says to you, 'Your face, LORD, do I seek'" (27:8).
Our response of humble faith comes from what we have heard, not from what we have seen or done. We have heard God's command. We have heard his gospel. We seek the Lord's face in humble, obedient response to the grace of his gospel. We desperately seek God's face, his ways, his call, because of grace.
We could never seek God's face if we didn't hear his voice. Thank God we've heard, not the terrible voice of Sinai, but the peaceful sermon of our faithful Savior (Eph. 2:17). In Christ, we hear divine peace. And so we respond as servants who seek his face.
This psalm both expresses confidence in the Lord and calls us to confidence. God is our light and salvation and stronghold (27:1); he is in his temple, where his beauty may be found (27.4); he is a shelter where we are safe (27:5), and the one who leads us on a straight path (27:11). If we are ever tempted to fear, we can find comfort, not only in who God is, but in who he is for us.
In Christ, God has made himself available to us in ways beyond all comprehension. The fact that we could claim to know God in a unique way is simply galling to the wisdom of this world. How could we believe there is something unique about the way we know God that other religions don't have? What makes us so special? Who do we think we are?
The answer to these questions has nothing to do with us or what we could say, and everything to do with God and what he has said: "You have said, 'Seek my face.' My heart says to you, 'Your face, LORD, do I seek'" (27:8).
Our response of humble faith comes from what we have heard, not from what we have seen or done. We have heard God's command. We have heard his gospel. We seek the Lord's face in humble, obedient response to the grace of his gospel. We desperately seek God's face, his ways, his call, because of grace.
We could never seek God's face if we didn't hear his voice. Thank God we've heard, not the terrible voice of Sinai, but the peaceful sermon of our faithful Savior (Eph. 2:17). In Christ, we hear divine peace. And so we respond as servants who seek his face.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Sundays, Not Fridays, Off
Hi everyone,
Rather than take Fridays off from now on, I think it would be more helpful for us to take Sundays off from reading. Seems like the weekdays are generally more consistent in terms of our schedules than the weekends, so it seems it would be most helpful to take off a weekend day than a weekday. If you have any thoughts or questions about that, or would like to keep things the way they are, please comment below. Here is an updated schedule:
So, expect to be in the Psalms tomorrow morning!
Rather than take Fridays off from now on, I think it would be more helpful for us to take Sundays off from reading. Seems like the weekdays are generally more consistent in terms of our schedules than the weekends, so it seems it would be most helpful to take off a weekend day than a weekday. If you have any thoughts or questions about that, or would like to keep things the way they are, please comment below. Here is an updated schedule:
So, expect to be in the Psalms tomorrow morning!
March 10: Genesis 14
Today's reading.
In this passage we learn that Abram is kind of a bad ass. This story has the makings of a Liam Neison movie: "he was a mild-mannered shepherd... until they messed with his family."
Five kings take on another four kings (14:8-12), and the four beat the five. The four kings make off with the loot and take a few hostages, including Lot, Abram's nephew. When Abram hears about it, he gets on his general's robe, gathers his own private army (you can tell he was rich; can you afford a private army of 318 mercenaries?), and takes off after Lot. And where five kings couldn't win the battle with their combined forces, Abram wins the day single-handedly.
If ever there were a moment for a person's head to get big, this was it. Abram had beaten four serious military powers with his own army. I don't know about you, but if I were in Abe's shoes, I'd be pretty tempted to pride.
In his grace, God sends a preacher to keep Abram grounded. Melchizedek greets him after his victory and preaches this message to him: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" (14:19-20). In his finest hour, Abram is reminded that he achieved victory at the pleasure of the Almighty. Success came, not from his military might or skill, but by God's grace.
Abram is presented with the chance to respond to God's work with faith. And he responds well: "Abram gave him a tenth of everything" (14:20). Tithing, giving sacrificially to the Lord, is not a legalistic obligation, but a natural response of faith to God's grace.
Our faith has to make it's way to our possessions. Do we believe what we have is the result of our hard work? Do we believe that our success is our own making? If we do, we'll keep what we have for ourselves. If we believe, however, that God graciously provides for us, that he opens doors, that every good and perfect gift is from him (James 1:17), then how can we be selfish with his gifts?
In this passage we learn that Abram is kind of a bad ass. This story has the makings of a Liam Neison movie: "he was a mild-mannered shepherd... until they messed with his family."
Five kings take on another four kings (14:8-12), and the four beat the five. The four kings make off with the loot and take a few hostages, including Lot, Abram's nephew. When Abram hears about it, he gets on his general's robe, gathers his own private army (you can tell he was rich; can you afford a private army of 318 mercenaries?), and takes off after Lot. And where five kings couldn't win the battle with their combined forces, Abram wins the day single-handedly.
If ever there were a moment for a person's head to get big, this was it. Abram had beaten four serious military powers with his own army. I don't know about you, but if I were in Abe's shoes, I'd be pretty tempted to pride.
In his grace, God sends a preacher to keep Abram grounded. Melchizedek greets him after his victory and preaches this message to him: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" (14:19-20). In his finest hour, Abram is reminded that he achieved victory at the pleasure of the Almighty. Success came, not from his military might or skill, but by God's grace.
Abram is presented with the chance to respond to God's work with faith. And he responds well: "Abram gave him a tenth of everything" (14:20). Tithing, giving sacrificially to the Lord, is not a legalistic obligation, but a natural response of faith to God's grace.
Our faith has to make it's way to our possessions. Do we believe what we have is the result of our hard work? Do we believe that our success is our own making? If we do, we'll keep what we have for ourselves. If we believe, however, that God graciously provides for us, that he opens doors, that every good and perfect gift is from him (James 1:17), then how can we be selfish with his gifts?
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
March 9: Genesis 13
Today's reading.
In this passage, Abram returns with his family and Lot to the Promised Land. The two part ways, and we find out how exactly Lot came to live in Sodom (which is ominously described in 13:13). Abram returns with quite a bit of cash (13:2), much of which he acquired by pimping out his wife in the previous chapter. When he returns, though, Abram reaffirms his faith at the altar he had made earlier and calls "upon the name of the LORD" (13:4). And a few verses later, the Lord comes calling on Abram in return.
God's promises are grandiose in his exchange with Abram at the end of the chapter. He tells Abram to look north, south, east and west; God's going to give it all to him (13:14-15). The horizon can't contain God's goodness. And Abram's offspring will be "as the dust of the earth," so numerous as to defy computation (13:16). Then the Lord gives Abram an interesting command: "Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you" (13:17).
Why does God ask him to do that? Why does he tell Abram to, basically, go for a stroll in this land?
Because Abram doesn't own it yet. Abram hasn't seen the fulfillment of God's promised inheritance, and he won't in his lifetime. Going out for a walk in someone else's land is an act of faith. And Abram responds well: he moves his tent someplace else and builds another altar there (13:18).
Abram could have kept a low profile and taught his kids to do the same. He could have lived in a little corner of the Negeb (a desert in southern Palestine) and stayed out of the way of the Canaanites and Perizzites. But God doesn't call his people to passive, fearful retreat. He calls us to confident, faith-filled, abundant life.
Abram was an heir to a Promised Land. In Christ, you and I are heirs of everything (see this message for more on this idea). Abram, though he didn't see the fulfillment of that promise, lived as a stranger in a place that God said would one day be his. Similarly, you and I—as children of our Father who made and owns everything—walk, live, eat, sleep, work, pray and die in a world that we will one day inherit at the end of all things. In Christ, we've received everything. It's kind of like being the world's richest trust fund kids. All the stuff we're tempted to covet, pine after, idolize isn't ours yet. But it will be.
The question for us, then, is how will we walk. Will we live in a little corner of the universe, afraid to step out in faith? Or will we hear God's promises to us and boldly live in their radiant shadow? Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). In light of the love of Christ, how will we walk?
In this passage, Abram returns with his family and Lot to the Promised Land. The two part ways, and we find out how exactly Lot came to live in Sodom (which is ominously described in 13:13). Abram returns with quite a bit of cash (13:2), much of which he acquired by pimping out his wife in the previous chapter. When he returns, though, Abram reaffirms his faith at the altar he had made earlier and calls "upon the name of the LORD" (13:4). And a few verses later, the Lord comes calling on Abram in return.
God's promises are grandiose in his exchange with Abram at the end of the chapter. He tells Abram to look north, south, east and west; God's going to give it all to him (13:14-15). The horizon can't contain God's goodness. And Abram's offspring will be "as the dust of the earth," so numerous as to defy computation (13:16). Then the Lord gives Abram an interesting command: "Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you" (13:17).
Why does God ask him to do that? Why does he tell Abram to, basically, go for a stroll in this land?
Because Abram doesn't own it yet. Abram hasn't seen the fulfillment of God's promised inheritance, and he won't in his lifetime. Going out for a walk in someone else's land is an act of faith. And Abram responds well: he moves his tent someplace else and builds another altar there (13:18).
Abram could have kept a low profile and taught his kids to do the same. He could have lived in a little corner of the Negeb (a desert in southern Palestine) and stayed out of the way of the Canaanites and Perizzites. But God doesn't call his people to passive, fearful retreat. He calls us to confident, faith-filled, abundant life.
Abram was an heir to a Promised Land. In Christ, you and I are heirs of everything (see this message for more on this idea). Abram, though he didn't see the fulfillment of that promise, lived as a stranger in a place that God said would one day be his. Similarly, you and I—as children of our Father who made and owns everything—walk, live, eat, sleep, work, pray and die in a world that we will one day inherit at the end of all things. In Christ, we've received everything. It's kind of like being the world's richest trust fund kids. All the stuff we're tempted to covet, pine after, idolize isn't ours yet. But it will be.
The question for us, then, is how will we walk. Will we live in a little corner of the universe, afraid to step out in faith? Or will we hear God's promises to us and boldly live in their radiant shadow? Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). In light of the love of Christ, how will we walk?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
March 8: Psalm 26
Today's reading.
I read this a couple months ago, and I was struck by 26:3: "For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness." I wrote myself a note there that said, "only Jesus could have prayed this." Now, on another reading of it, I'm not so sure.
The thing is, I think Jesus could have prayed this, but I think we can too. My natural tendency is to read the Bible in a totally self-centered way, but it is always about God first and only later about me. What does it say? "Your steadfast love," "your faithfulness." The pray-er is looking at God, who he is, and what he has done. The psalmist's work doesn't enter into it. This is about faith.
Why else would he ask the Lord to "redeem me, be gracious to me" (26:11)? If he trusted in his own works, he wouldn't need grace or redemption. So, when he opens by talking about his "integrity" we can understand that that integrity comes because he has "trusted in the Lord" (26:1).
Our integrity comes from faith, never in its place. We work because we believe. And though we may not have a stunning track record to point back to, we have all the righteousness we need. Christ is our righteousness! Only he has perfectly done all the good works laid out in this Psalm. By faith we wash our hands in innocence in his redeeming blood (26:6).
By faith we walk in our integrity (26:11). Its name is Jesus.
I read this a couple months ago, and I was struck by 26:3: "For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness." I wrote myself a note there that said, "only Jesus could have prayed this." Now, on another reading of it, I'm not so sure.
The thing is, I think Jesus could have prayed this, but I think we can too. My natural tendency is to read the Bible in a totally self-centered way, but it is always about God first and only later about me. What does it say? "Your steadfast love," "your faithfulness." The pray-er is looking at God, who he is, and what he has done. The psalmist's work doesn't enter into it. This is about faith.
Why else would he ask the Lord to "redeem me, be gracious to me" (26:11)? If he trusted in his own works, he wouldn't need grace or redemption. So, when he opens by talking about his "integrity" we can understand that that integrity comes because he has "trusted in the Lord" (26:1).
Our integrity comes from faith, never in its place. We work because we believe. And though we may not have a stunning track record to point back to, we have all the righteousness we need. Christ is our righteousness! Only he has perfectly done all the good works laid out in this Psalm. By faith we wash our hands in innocence in his redeeming blood (26:6).
By faith we walk in our integrity (26:11). Its name is Jesus.
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