Good Morning Friends,
There are many factors involved in making difficult choices when it comes to facing a hurricane that are not so different than the choices we make that are of a religious nature. The whole issue of whether to go or to stay is just one of them. The prospect of starting out on a new endeavor with new behaviors is just part of the challenge. We also must have the tenacity to make our creative ideas and resolutions stick when it comes to our expression of faith. One has to be prepared. One would think that the choice between good and evil is easy. But it is not always easy to know and to choose the good. But then, I wonder what faith expression help us most when the only choices are between several bad things. We may ask what is the lesser of all the evils. But I for one would rather not choose anything evil. We need more than information. And when all our choices are good, we certainly want to start by choosing God first and plowing a straight line to him without wavering. Maybe we are willing to have help in engaging God in the solution and maybe not. So, Are You A Fan Or A Follower When It Comes To The Opportunity Of Having Jesus As An Intermediary?
Scripture: Then Job answered: “Indeed I know that this is so; but how can a mortal be just before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength—who has resisted him, and succeeded?— he who removes mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger; who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the Sea; who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south; who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number. Look, he passes by me, and I do not see him; he moves on, but I do not perceive him. He snatches away; who can stop him? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ “God will not turn back his anger; the helpers of Rahab bowed beneath him. How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him? Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. If I summoned him and he answered me, I do not believe that he would listen to my voice.
Job 9:1-16 (NRSV)
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:57-62 (NRSV)
Message: Friends, the pilgrimage of life is filled with opportunities filled with pain and pleasure. Sometimes we go with the flow of people and at other times we are called to take the road less traveled. Sometimes we have a choice between something good and something bad. At least what we think is good and bad. And at other times we must choose between two good things. It seems easier when the choices are between good and bad. Yet sometimes people must choose between two things we find unpleasant, like sacrificing one’s own life to save someone we love. In today’s lectionary passages, we have the occasion to walk with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem and in Job, to glean from his insight that we all need an advocate when it comes to measuring up to God. Having an advocate is really necessary. Otherwise, all our choices have a double edge. In the story of Jesus, we see the process of value judgements in a specific instance. The choice is between burying a parent versus following Jesus in the moment. It is about saying goodbye to family versus following Jesus. All are good, but one is a greater good because in following Jesus our choices become clearer. You see, the kingdom of heaven has priority over all other good things that we could be doing. We are to move forward with faith. In the case of Job, his choices relate to the injustice of his current situation, he reasons, that he cannot get a fair trial, unless there is an arbitrator or mediator between God and himself. An arbitrator is one who is, by the consent of both parties, one to judge between them, and settle their differences. Job feels that he can speak without fear, only if God’s heavy hand of judgment is withdrawn. In a way Job recognizes that he needs Jesus.
And So, to make the right decisions during a hurricane as in life we are to stand in awe of God, and to fear the power of what might befall us given that we are sinners and make poor choices. We are to be led by the Spirit of Jesus. We are to show compassion for those wounded in spirit and pray for them because they are typically in no condition to pray for themselves. We are to be careful to retain good thoughts of God in our minds learning to trust the mind and Spirit of Jesus. We are to be blessed to learn from Job and Jesus so we can avoid having to go through all the pain they endured. We are to serve the Lord so that our choices become clearer and more whole in the love of God.
Pray that when opportunity strikes, we have the courage to choose wisely. Pray we have the heart to follow Jesus even when the path is difficult. Pray therefor that the God of peace equip us with everything good for doing his will. Pray we are prepared and positioned and engage God in the planning. Pray God work in us what is pleasing, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Pray we trust God and follow the opportunities for doing the greatest good even when it difficult. Pray we take advantage of the opportunities to walk with God. Pray we realize that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is progressive, personal, truth-centered, and Christ-centered and Christ-glorifying. Pray we are guided in the truth. Pray we trust Jesus. Pray we are empowered to live out the teachings of God’s Word.
Pray the Spirit of the Lord indwell each of us. Pray the Spirit of wisdom and understanding…the Spirit of counsel and might…the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord instruct us. Pray we remember what Jesus has taught us. Pray we learn to walk in dependence on the Spirit. Pray we are filled to overflowing with peace. Pray we learn to love and be loved. Pray we are led not only by what informs but moreover what transforms. Pray we are led on a path that goes from being a fan of Jesus to one of his followers.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 