Not Like Men In Trees

1 Peter 1:21-2:17

A couple weeks ago, I saw a story on the news about some students at UC-Berkeley who have been camping out in trees on campus for quite some time in an effort to protect the trees. The University has decided to cut down those trees and put up a new building there (and has promised to plant three trees for each one they cut down for the project). But a small group of students believe the trees should not be sacrificed for the University's plans for growth, and they have even attacked the police sent to get them out of the trees. The case went to court, and the students' behavior was defended as an expression of free speech. But the judge ruled against the students, saying that their tree-sitting protest is not a protected expression of free speech and that they would have to vacate the trees. In response, one of the students on camera said something like, "If they think I'm going to leave, just because some judge said I should, they don't know me. That's not how I work. This isn't over, yet."

Have you ever acted like this Berkeley student? Ever believed that the rules didn't apply to you, because you were following some higher standard? I know I have. Sometimes we disagree with those in authority over us because we voted for the other person. Sometimes, we convince ourselves that they have to earn our respect before we give it. Sometimes it's because we've been at our job longer than our boss, and we know his way won't work well.

God, through Peter, tells us: For the Lord's sake, respect all human authority - whether the king as head of state or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God's will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone and love your Christian brothers and sisters.

When Peter wrote this, he was living in a place ruled by a tyrannical dictator, and many of Jesus' followers were imprisoned or killed before "the ignorant people who made foolish accusations against them" were silenced. God doesn't give us a lot of wiggle room here. We are not to wait until the authorities in our lives earn our respect before we give it to them. We are to honor those authorities as servants of God, even when they don't act like it. It's a challenging thing for us, especially in a country where we have the freedom and responsibility to speak out. But as we speak and conduct ourselves in society, we are responsible to do so not just as individuals but as followers of Christ.

May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen us, so that we might "Fear God, and respect the king" for God's glory.

Three years ago, on Thanksgiving Day, my dad and I sang together for the last time in this life.  He was scheduled to go in for cancer surgery which would result in the removal of an entire lung, and I knew how hard it was going to be for him to never sing again.  That day, with tears in my eyes, my sister-in-law played the piano as we sang these words:

 

Why do I feel discouraged, why do the shadows come?

Why does my heart feel lonely, and long for heaven and home?

When Jesus is your portion, a constant friend is He

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me

 

So I sing because I'm happy, and I sing because I'm free

His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me

 

I thought of those words and of that day when I read today's passage from 1 Peter about enduring hardship.   This Thanksgiving, despite the joy of family reunions, good food, football and shopping, some in our church family will nonetheless be clinging for dear life to Peter's words about the glorious, inexpressible joy that will follow the trials of this life.  In the midst of refreshing laughter and reminiscing, fleeting thoughts will go towards those who are missing from the celebration - the prodigals, those who have gone to be with the Lord, and those who are simply unable to come home. 

 

The ultimate Thanksgiving Day and the penultimate feast will one day be ours when our faith is in Christ.  We are to live with a great expectation of a priceless inheritance - an inheritance kept in heaven for us, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. Peter wrote that our many trials last but a little while and that there is wonderful joy to come.

 

I want to live with that kind of great expectation; don't you?  I need to remember that we are foreigners in the land.....and that the great glory is yet to come.  And through our faith, God is protecting us by His power until we receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

 

My dad is singing today.  Many of your loved ones are with him, giving thanks and enjoying a banquet fit for The King.  So be truly glad - there is wonderful joy ahead.

 

Karen Peikert

 

Life Lessons

We begin with cautions to rich people.  Just a minute!  Is James writing to folks like the readers of these lessons?  Rich?  What do you mean by rich?  Well, I have to admit that most of us do have quite a lot of money, comforts, and things.  Maybe we need to remember to put is this way: Compared to whom?  To other folks doing well?  To really needy people around the world?  Do we love money and things too much?  Let’s not just skip over this part of our lesson.  We are not only to hear His Word, but also to heed His Word, you know.  Ask yourself - what can I do to really help folks in real need?  Then do it!  John Wesley wrote in his dairy, “Lord, help me to do it now…before my heart gets cold.”

v. 7 – Am I living in wait for the Lord’s return?  V. 8 – In what way do you understand that the Lord’s return is near.  V. 10 – Suffering for the faith.  Maybe I will experience that…someday.  Am I willing?  V. 16 – What is the role of confession?  Both confession to others and especially confession to the Lord?  James writes, “pray with each other”, do you do that?  v. 19 – We are to bring back to the Lord those who have strayed.  How much do I really care about folks who are strayed?  Lord, help me to be more fully committed to You and Your service.

 

Donald E. Pardun

 

Showing Favoritism

As a student I worked behind the front desk in the library.  One evening a fellow student approached wearing a suit & tie.  I thought her comes a nice fellow.  He was rude, arrogant, and his speech was, well, less than gracious.  Moments later I was approached by another student who had long messy hair, sloppy clothing.  I thought her comes trouble.  He proved to be a very pleasant young man.  As he walked away the Spirit of God spoke to me.  I was judging by appearances, and it was wrong.

 

Although I was polite to both, my heart gave me away.  God’s love for both these young men was the same.  I was showing favoritism, I was the quinte essential hypocrite, and it was sin.  It is the same today.  Lord, give me the wisdom of heart to see others through your eyes.

Steve Louden

Thanks / James 1:1-25

“Our generous God…” Generous with His wisdom and His blessings. “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father.” All of creation, salvation through Christ – all ours from our generous Father.

Our generous loving God, who allows trouble and trials and allows us to suffer and struggle.

Why, Lord?

James offers this: “When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” Excuse me? Is James like the “friend” who reminds you in your crisis that, “Someday you’ll laugh at this…”?

No. Not if we think about what “joy” really is. Joy is not the same as “happiness.” Joy rises above circumstances, lifting our gaze from the pit of life to look into the face of the One who cares for us. The One who invites us to give our troubles to Him.

Joy helps us to see that in all our troubles God is working in us, transforming us into the people He wants us to be. The choice is ours. We can grumble and rebel, refusing the growth, or we can accept and pray and receive the “blessing,” trusting God to make something good out of it all.

We can pray, echoing James, to our Generous Father, who with the trials will also supply everything we need, not just to endure, but to grow.

We can thank Him that it is in our struggles that Christ is born anew in us.

Lord, provide all I need for the troubles of today. Lift my eyes to You today...

I'll Never Leave

As usual, there are lots of important reminders as this letter comes to a close. One of the most precious promises offered to us is that God will never fail us and never abandon us. I've memorized that promise, but I often forget what it's tied to at the beginning of the verse. How about you? Verse 5 says, "Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.'"

There are few things that cause us to feel insecure and uncertain in life quite as easily and thoroughly as financial matters. Regardless of the plans we have or the good intentions we have of trusting God with our finances (or despite our finances), surprise car repairs, medical bills, etc. challenge our resolve almost constantly. But here God promises to be present in every stressful situation with us. In verse 6, he takes it beyond money matters and declares, "So we can say with confidence, 'The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?'"

A friend of mine was telling me that this week is the first anniversary of a nasty flood that caused her family to have to evacuate their home and caused a lot of damage. She still has so many questions about why it happened, and fears about whether it might happen again. But she finds peace in knowing that God was present in the flood. He is here with us in the midst of all our circumstances, ready to care for us, ready to carry us, providing for us (sometimes in ways that we don't notice), and ready to teach us more about His Kingdom.

What challenge are you facing today? Of what are you fearful? Have you been feeling alone? Does it seem like God is silent? In the midst of the uncertainties of life on earth, in the midst of the fears we face, in the midst of our confusion about what God is trying to teach us or accomplish in our lives, we can be confident of this: God is present; He is with us, and He will never abandon us or fail us. We long to understand what's happening to us. But sometimes a better question for us to ask than, "Why is this happening?" is "Where is God in this?" And as we wrestle with the answer, let us be confident that He is indeed with us in whatever it is.

Come to Mount Zion

Hebrews 12:14-29

I've been thinking about times when I have been taken for granted,
times I didn't feel appreciated. These memories came unbidden as I
pondered today's passage:
First, the physical mountain where the Lord met with Moses, a
foreshadowing of the heavenly Jerusalem. Then, "You have come to the
assembly of God's firstborn children" – we who have become heirs
together with Christ.

The Israelites near Mount Sinai experienced something so terrifying
they could not bear it. The Lord was not Someone to take for granted.

Jesus, our great High Priest, has made possible unlimited access to the
Father. We are now invited to draw near to God. To a joyful gathering
of angels and saints. To a sovereign who is majestic in his holiness.
And, I believe, no less awesome than the voice heard that day in the
Sinai desert.

Enter boldly (Hebrews 10:19) into his presence. Confidently.
Purposefully. Yet neither presumptuously nor haphazardly. Not taking
him for granted. Not like Esau. We are told in Genesis 25 how Esau
traded his birthright for a meal of bread and lentil stew. "Thus Esau
despised his birthright" – his inheritance, especially the covenant
promises God had given to Abraham.

Thus, we are reminded to cherish the inheritance that is ours through
the blood of Jesus. We may need to guard against a casual attitude
toward the things of God – toward worship. Be grateful for the new
covenant which is ours. Count as precious our times of fellowship with
God. And may our love for him inspire holy living.

Together, we look forward to the time when earth and heaven will be
shaken and all be made perfect.

Deetje Wildes