Where is God Looking?

For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face. (Psalm 11:7 NRSV)

Where are the decisions for me today about being righteous? Will it be the way I respond when neglected or wronged?

Where are the decisions for me about doing righteous deeds? Will it be "going the extra mile" or loving my enemies?

The promise is that the upright will "behold his face". (The KJV reads, "his countenance doth behold the upright".)

Do you need to see God's face? Do you need to know that the King of Kings is looking your way and you have found favor with him?

Jesus promises, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matt. 5:8 NRSV)

Certainly we believe this means in the future, "in heaven"; that we will see and be with God. But I suspect there are some of us who are looking to see God here, now.

Where do you need to see God today?

In the surgical waiting room waiting for a family member?

In the life of a friend or relative who seems to have cooled on the things of God?

In a place where you feel forgotten or alone?

In the place where your energy and enthusiasm seem puny compared to your responsibility and tasks?

My prayer for you is that God would make your heart pure; that you would see God today.

My prayer for you is that you would sense God's presence as you seek to DO and BE righteous.

Grace & peace

Where Days Collide

Today is a Monday. Many of us begin our week anew today. We start back to school for 5 days. We start back to the office or the shop or the sales route for the week.

And Monday collides with Sunday.

Sunday when we gathered as the people of God. Sunday when we received the bread and the cup, confessing to be the Body of Christ. Sunday when we heard the Bible read. Sunday when we sang together, asking God to "Open Our Eyes".

As these two days collide, sometimes we find it difficult to get our worlds to "sync".

Jesus tells us, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33)

But how? How do we do that in this place where days and worlds and kingdoms collide?

Poet, William Blake tells us the one "who would do good must do so in minute particulars". (Some of us will read "minute" to equal 60 seconds. And that is probably not a bad idea either. But I am meaning extremely small [my-NOOT].) The tiny, seemingly insignificant places of your day are the places where God seeks to make you holy and bring in the Kingdom.

When you decide whether to talk to or ignore the person you pass in the hallway.

When you decide whether to follow through with that thought or idea you had yesterday in the worship service or simply ignore it.

When you decide whether or not to spend time in prayer or reading your Bible today.

When you decide whether that new habit or new thought pattern will take root or melt away.

The minute particulars. Those are places where Sunday and Monday collide. Those are places where you decide if Sunday will transform Monday or if Sunday will be forgotten. Those are the places where the "Kingdom comes and God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven"...or we snuff it out by our lack of cooperation.

May Christ be formed in you today and his Kingdom come...in the minute particulars.

Grace & peace

Some Assembly Required

Let the assembled peoples gather around you. Rule over them from on high; (Psalm 7:7 NIV)

Did you see yourself in this verse? I saw you.

Maybe you should read it again.

Let the assembled peoples gather around you. Rule over them from on high;

This Psalm is largely a call for judgment. The Psalmist is asking God to "save and deliver me". The image used in verses 6 and following are of a God who "bring(s) to an end the violence of the wicked and makes the righteous secure".

The vision in verse 7 is of the throne from which God rights wrongs and rewards the righteous. And I saw you in there.

You and I may be separated physically today. But in the Spirit we are united, "assembled". You who are holding a wrench in your hand. You who are sitting at a computer screen. You who are pouring over a book. You who are taking a break for lunch. You who are standing at a counter at the store. You who are in a cubicle or an office at work. You who are watching little ones while their parents are away. You who are reading this while you are driving. (Please don't DRIVE while reading!)…

The "assembled" people of God. The Kingdom of heaven is made up of "such as these". The Kingdom is wherever God is in control. Wherever we cooperate with God's rule and reign. We "assemble" under God's Lordship, even when we are scattered. Piece by piece. Cell united to cell. All connected as we make up the Body of Christ.

In the New Testament we are told to not stop gathering or assembling together. God's collection of people is called "the church and the assembly of the firstborn" (Heb. 12:23 NIV).

Is it possible that there is meaning and depth of life in God that we are unable to comprehend unless we "assemble" with other believers? I think that is the perspective of the Bible.

And tonight we offer a chance to "assemble".

6:15 Dinner 6:45 Worship 7-8PM Breakout Groups

I hope you'll join us. Let's see what God has waiting for those who are willing to come together, to participate in the"assembly". Grace & Peace

Leading People or Lining Pockets?

Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. (Matthew 21:12 NRSV)

We've been talking about stewardship recently; how we use the time, talents, and treasures that have been placed within our hands for a time.

In this passage, Jesus confronts people who are "doing business" in the name of religion. It is a warning to us about the relationship between making a fortune and nurturing faith. Jesus goes on to say,

It is written, "My house shall be called a 'house of prayer'; but you are making it a den of robbers.

I wonder…

...what would cause Jesus to overturn tables and chairs in our church?

...how would Jesus describe the way we view & use our money?

...where have we become more concerned with fortune or fame than with faith?

Matthew Henry commented upon the application of this passage to our lives:

"How many things daily practiced under the cloak of religion would (Jesus) show to be more suitable to a den of thieves than to a house of prayer?"

God, forgive us for times we've looked to prosper off of things that should be freely given to those in need. Help us to be more concerned about leading others to you than lining our pockets. Turn over the habits and attitudes in us toward money that you find unacceptable for your followers.

Grace & peace

2 Kingdom Questions

"...seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

But HOW do you seek the kingdom?

Sunday we talked about this verse in the larger context of Matthew chapter 6 and stewardship (of time, talents, and treasures). But it goes beyond that to our relationships...our thoughts...EVERY aspect of our life.

Here are 2 questions we might find helpful in this endeavor of seeking the Kingdom first.

1.) "Who Owns It?" It is a question we should ask ourselves anytime we get ready to pull out our credit card, get frustrated with a relationship, or get ready to invest time and energy. If we are seeking the Kingdom, then the first principle of the Kingdom is GOD OWNS IT..whatever "it" is.

2.) "What do YOU want me to do with it?" After we have established that God OWNS IT, we need to find out how GOD wants us to USE "it".

Seems simple. Two questions that are easy to understand.

May we train ourselves to cooperate with the Spirit and ask them regularly.

Grace & peace