Obstacle or Opportunity?

Scripture: And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to reveal what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. Deuteronomy 8:2

Observation: God led his people into some strategic situations where their patience and obedience would be tested. He did this to reveal what was really in their hearts. All people can promise obedience, but the true test is obedience under fire—how we act when our comfort and desires are challenged.

Application: I tend to look at challenges and problems as obstacles to me getting where I want rather than opportunities to obey. Chances to demonstrate to God that I will keep his commandments. These tests reveal what is really in my heart.

Prayer: God, help me today to see the tests I face as opportunities to obey you. Let me find joy I choosing your leading over me.

Jesus Wants Us to Know He Loves the Father

Scripture: I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. John 14:31 ESV

Observation: Jesus is teaching his disciples during his last night before the cross. He is sharing some important last minute instructions. In a section about the imminent departure of Christ, and the future arrival of the Spirit, Jesus makes this statement: I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Why is it important to Jesus that I know he loves the Father? Is this to give me comfort, like a kid going to sleep at night secure in the love his parents have for each other? Is it a model of life for me, that I am to obey God out of my love for him? Is it a hint at something mysterious and deep, a unique relationship Christ shares with his father? Is it a subtle reminder that I am not the center of things, that before I or humanity in general showed up, God was already in a perfect relationship with Jesus (and the Spirit)?

Application: I don’t know what this means. Jesus wants me to know that he obeys God, and he wants the world to know that he obeys God so we will know he loves him. I have to think more on this.

Prayer: Jesus, you thought this was important for me to know. Why? Will you help me hear from you? Will you show me why your love for the father is good for me to see and know?

To What Do I Sell Myself?

Scripture: There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. (1 Kings 21:25 ESV)

Observation: God told Ahab to kill the defeated king of the Syrians. In Ahab’s mind, sparing the king and making a treaty with him seemed more profitable than obeying God. So he spared his life. Later, Ahab decided he wanted a certain vineyard. He had this man murdered so he could profit from his land. Ahab spared who needed killing and killed who needed sparing. He sold himself to do what was evil. His choices were up for bidding. Whatever would bring him profit, he did.

Application: What is my price? For what would I sell myself? Maybe money is not my price, but what about comfort, or escape? Do my ends justify my means? How do I rationalize decisions in spite of God’s word? Ahab was able to come up with all kinds of reasons why his way was better than God's, but in the end, he simply sold out.

Prayer: Lord, let me not be like Ahab. Help me to obey you even when my way seems better or more ‘profitable’ to me. Help me put to death what is earthly in me that I might sell myself to do what is right in your eyes.

With One Stroke of the Spear

Scripture: The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD's anointed. 1 Samuel 26:23

Observation: Saul is still persuing, to take his life. David learns Saul is camping in the wilderness, and sneaks over one night with Abishai. They see Saul asleep, along with all of his guards. With one stroke of the spear, Saul’s terror campaign against David would end. And even better, David doesn’t have to get his hands dirty—Abishai volunteers to do the deed himself.
But David knew better than to take the life of God’s anointed. Saul may have been a murderous jerk, but he was still the king. David had respect for the office, if not the man. Instead, he steals Saul’s spear, then calls out to him from a distance. Saul and David talk and Saul ends up apologizing for his sin and calling David to return. He would no longer chase David.
David trusted the hand of God more than his own. He knew that if he stuck to God’s ways, things would work out. He thought they would work out through Saul’s death. He had no idea Saul would end up offering peace. Doing things God’s way instead of his own brought reward. The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness.

Application: I have been discouraged lately with some struggles I am having with one of my kids. I keep stooping down to his level in our arguments. I keep trying to do the techniques and strategies from people that I see are teaching God’s way. But when they don’t work, I get frustrated and want to tell those people, “I did that and it didn’t work.” I think God is telling me today that just like David, I have a choice. I can either take things into my hands and do them my way (which may seem to solve the problem, but really only multiplies them). Or I can continue to be courageously patient, faithfully obedient, and let God do his work. God could work in Saul more than David ever could dream. God can work in my kid’s life more than I could ever dream.

Prayer: God, help me stick to your way with my parenting. Regardless of the response, let me not stoop to doing things my way. Help me keep the high road and trust you can work it out.

He Did Not Save Himself

Scripture: He saved others; let him save himself…If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself! … Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us! Luke 22:35,37,39

Observation: Jesus deliberately chose to not save himself at the cross. He would not save himself to prove a point. He would not save himself to confirm his identity. He would not save himself to stop his pain. He would not save himself to stop the suffering of others. Jesus Christ was committed to the Father’s will, and just because he could save himself did not mean he would. His focus was to do the will of his father.

Application: As someone who likes to fix things, I am often tempted to “save myself” in many situations. To prove that I was right, to say I told you so, to exercise my authority, or to maintain control. And in many cases, I have the power to do so. But just because I can does not mean I should. I need to be crystal clear on what my Father’s will is, and do that. Saving myself in this way cannot trump his plans. Knowing God’s will helps me maintain focus and gives me freedom from the need to save myself. I can do what he said and let the jeers, the suffering, the consequences go. They are not my job to fix.

Prayer: God, help me keep my eye on the ball, to know when to stand and when to submit. To not be concerned about the opinions of others, or try to save myself. My salvation in a situation is not my job, it is yours. My job is to do the will of my father who has sent me. So help me know what that is. Thank you for the utter commitment of Christ upon the cross. He was able to save me because he did not save himself.

Faithful...and Barren

Scripture: And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.

Observation: Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous. They were faithful. They believed God. They had been this way all their lives. Yet all of this obedience did not shield them from the pain of barrenness. Elizabeth refers to this as her “reproach.”
Now, ultimately, God does bring a child into their lives—and what a child he was! But at the time of verse 7, this couple had felt God’s silence into a deep area of life.
So obedience and faithfulness do not always equal timely blessing, as far as our timing is concerned. Even good-hearted believers, faithful followers, can know the pain of unmet dreams. They can feel like God has not looked at them.

Application: I live in a Proverbs theology: Generally, faithfulness equals blessing. It does, but not always in the timing and manner we expect. This is a good guideline for me as I begin 40 days of listening and expecting from God. Can I expect blessing? Yes, but it may not come in the shape or timing I want. Some blessings come much later, but as I learn from Elizabeth and Zechariah, they do come.

Prayer: God, let me be faithful. Let me obey even if I do not see the fruit. Even though the barrenness. And let me trust you these next 40 days that you know the best time and way to bring blessing into my life.

Thomas, a Slave of God

Scripture: And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect… And if by this discipline you are not turned to me but walk contrary to me, then I also will walk contrary to you. Leviticus 26:13, 23-24.

Observation: God has delivered his people from the bondage of slavery. They are free. This freedom from bondage gives them freedom to have covenant with God. God here lays out the terms of his covenant with his people. If they are faithful, God will bless. If they are unfaithful, God will curse. So have the people exchanged one slave master for another? Both God and Pharaoh had terms that were similar. Obey and live. Disobey and suffer. How is God’s mastery over people different from Pharaoh’s?
Later, in the New Testament, a dominating term for followers of Christ was slave (Colossians 1:7, 3:22-23, 2 Timothy 2:24, Titus 1:1, James 1:1). These early believers saw themselves as slaves to Christ.
How do we reconcile such a negative word, fraught with baggage of abuse and mistreatment, with the freedom of Christ?

Application: Maybe I can’t, not fully. I could talk about the difference in serving a dictator like Pharaoh, and a benevolent God. Or I could try to downplay the terms of the NT and say that slave really means servant. Or I could let it be what it is: I am free to be a slave to Christ. As Lord, he has the right and authority to direct my life and lead me. He has the right to expect from me loyalty and faithfulness. When I do not provide that—he disciplines me in love. His goal is always that I would turn back to him and walk with him.
In the words of John MacArthur:

You’re going to be a slave to someone. Being a slave to Jesus Christ is beyond any kind of slavery that anybody ever knew because this master makes us sons and gives us all the rights of His own sons. He adopts us into His family, calls us joint-heirs with Christ, takes us to heaven where we rule and reign from His own throne and pours out all the lavish riches in His possession forever and ever and ever for our own unmitigated joy and His own glory. Who wouldn’t want to be a slave under that master? What a joy to be a slave of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Today, Lord, I reaffirm my chains. You have set me free from the chains of bondage. You have also chained my life to yours. You are my Lord. I turn to you and walk with you. Help me serve you.

Because I Am the Dad, That's Why

Scripture: For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11:44

Observation: God gives several chapters of explicit instructions on what his people can and cannot eat. While it is not clear why some animals are acceptable and others are not (no geckos!), the reason for these rules is more clear. God wants his people to practice cleanliness in their rituals so that they might practice cleanliness in their actions and attitudes. The reminder not to eat a pig would help them remember not to speak in anger. After this long list, God says something for the first time, “For I am the Lord your God.” God’s people might have questioned the makeup of the list, but they could not question its authority. God gets to make the rules because he is God.

Application: Did God just pull the, “Because I’m the dad and I said so,” line? I think He did. This line trumps all arguments and ends all discussion. It is often the last resort for a frustrated parent, tired of trying to explain why. As a father myself, there are times when I have to say, “Because I am the dad.” Times when my kids just would not understand the explanation. Times when they might understand, but disagree. But when God uses this line, it is infused with an authority that no earthly father can possess. God is able to ask this of his people because he is God and he said so.
Are there times when I do not understand what God has directed in my life, or I don’t like it? Sure. Do I think God is being a little harsh with some of his commands to me? Yes, but the bottom line is, he is God and he said so.

Prayer: God, I want to be holy as you are holy. I pray specifically for the things I allow my mind to meditate on. You have told me to take every thought captive. I want to do this because you said so. I can only do this through your power. Please teach me how to keep my mind holy, as you are holy.

You are Not Blessed by Hearing the Word...

Scripture: Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3

Observation: John says that those who read this book (in the early church, these letters would have been read aloud to an audience of listeners like our modern day preaching) are blessed. And those who hear and keep, or obey are blessed. In other words, you are not blessed by hearing the words, but by hearing and obeying them.

Application: This is a common theme in scripture—that we are expected to do what we hear from Jesus. Often I get well-meaning people who will share with me observations on my sermons like, “Great sermon today,” or “we need more good preaching like this.” I take those words in the spirit that they are intended. But I wonder if they reveal a misalignment between us and John’s words. The blessing does not come from hearing a sermon, but from taking to heart the truth of God within. In other words, preaching is only “good” if the hearers hear and obey what God has said to them through it. The criteria for good preaching is not how many hear, but how many hear and keep. This is a good reminder that the goal of preaching is to glorify God, and that happens when people apply the word to their lives, not simply listen.

Prayer: God, keep me laser focused on being a doer of the word and not a hearer only. And help me keep that as a focus for Pulpit Rock as well. We have been known for decades as a church that preaches the word. May we become known now as a church that does the word.

Before The Leading

Scripture: From you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel…Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him…Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 2:6, 3:13, 4:1

Observation: King Herod’s wise men quote to him from the Old Testament, to explain the rumors of a king who was just born. They say that this baby will be a ruler who will shepherd Israel. But the first two things we see this Ruling Shepherd doing are being baptized and being tested. Before a disciple is called, before a lesson is taught, before a sickness is healed, there is obedience and testing. The obedience was necessary for Christ to identify with sinful people in need of cleansing. The testing was needed to demonstrate that Jesus identified with God as a sinless man.

Application: God has called me to leadership. But before the leading, there is being led. Jesus was led to the Jordan to obey through baptism. Jesus was led into the wilderness to endure testing. What must I also be led in before I lead others? It seems the twin lessons here are obedience and Spirit-powered endurance. Are there areas where I am not obeying? Are there areas where I am not enduring through Spirit’s power? One area for me is the area of prayer. A friend joked with me this week about how I always say I don’t pray enough. He thought that was funny, but I thought, “When does that stop being something I say?” Prayer—specifically praying for God to bring people to Christ through me and through our church—is something I need to do in obedience, and will require Spirit-powered endurance. Today I will build into my weekly schedule specific time devoted towards prayer for the mission of God to succeed in me and our church. I think right now, the Spirit is telling me 40 minutes a week to correspond to the 40 days of prayer Jesus prayed.

Prayer: God, help me pray. Let me be led by the Spirit in prayer before I lead others. Let me do this in obedience and Spirit-powered endurance.

God Was Not Pleased with Most of Them

Scripture:
For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 1 Cor. 10:1-5

Observation: What a stunning, out-of-left-field comment! Paul says that our fathers all experienced the same things, did the same things, looked the same. Yet God was not pleased with MOST OF THEM. Why? Because of their lack of faith, as evidenced by disobedience and grumbling.

Application: Could it be true that two people could do the same things, go to the same church, eat the same food, live the same life, and yet because of an attitude or lack of faith, risk God’s displeasure? Does God value faith and attitude more? Could I do the same things others do, and yet incur God’s displeasure because of disobedience or grumbling or lack of faith? God, you are telling me that action is not enough. I need to not merely imitate others who are successful. I need to have faith. For example: A witnessing program is not what our church needs to get on board with the mission of God. What we need is faith in God and obedience to his calling.

Prayer: God, as you are stirring me to see how we have neglected your call to share the gospel, please keep me centered in prayer, in asking the Lord of the harvest to raise up people who will go into the fields and seek and save the lost. Help me to think prayer and faith first, action second.

Remind Yourself!

Scripture: They refused to listen and did not remember your wonderous deeds which you performed among them so they became stubborn. Nehemiah 9:17

Observation: Nehemiah 9 is a long song recounting the ongoing cycle of God's people who forget God's deliverances and blessings, only to suffer his discipline. But time after time God deals faithfully even with the unfaithful.

Application: How do I break this cycle in my life? I forget God and beleive my own press clippings until I need his rescue. I think the key word is forget. When we forget God's wonderous deeds we become stubbon and self-reliant and refuse to listen. The secret, then, is to remember God *before* the discipline is needed.
A friend of mine told me he called spankings "reminders.". When his kids said they did not want a "reminder," he said, "Then remind yourself!" I remind myself by reading God's Word and by rereading God's words to
me in my journal. I need to reread my old journals this week and the upcoming weeks to remind myself.

Prayer: God, help me remind myself so I do not forget you and become stubborn.

We Don’t Want the Man To Reign Over Us

Scripture: “We do not want this man to reign over us.” Luke 19:14

Observation: Jesus is telling a parable as he nears Jerusalem about a nobleman who goes away and leaves servants in charge. The citizens of the kingdom rebel against his choice of authority. They plead with the nobleman—“we don’t want that man to reign over us.” This parallels the attitude of the Jews who rejected the Messiah. It also parallels our attitudes today—we really don’t want this man Jesus to reign over us.

Application: Jesus is fine as long as he is a role model or spiritual guide. He is fine as long as his words line up with what we want. But the moment that he begins to make demands on our lives, we rebel. I see this in how this world interacts with Jesus, and I see it in my life. I still have areas of my life that I feel are mine, outside of Jesus. Not necessarily bad things, but my things. Will I submit to the authority of Christ? He is more than a good buddy or spiritual guide. He is the man appointed to reign over me.

Prayer: Jesus, I cling to you as savior but recoil from you as Lord. Forgive me for resisting the man who reigns over me. I am asking the Spirit all week to use me throughout the day. Please let me connect this to your authority. To see that these are not suggestions from a guide, but calls from a commander.

Give From Within

Scripture: But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, n everything is clean for you. Luke 11:41

Observation: Jesus is responding to a religious professional who is aghast that Jesus did not ceremonially wash his hands before a meal. Jesus retorts that the real rules people should keep are not external, but internal. Instead of following traditions of men to please God, give your heart.

Application: Someone who prays before the meal is holding to a tradition, but if the ensuing conversation is dishonoring to God, then what is the point of the ceremony? Jesus would rather me give of my heart—thankful for the meal, seeking His opportunities during the conversation—than he would a tip of the hat to Him which I promptly ignore. What are rituals I follow that are external? Where is God calling me to give from what is within? I happily give 10% of my income back to God; where is the tithe of my heart?

Prayer: God, show me today traditions I follow that are not in sync with my heart. Show me where I need to give alms from within.

When I Know I Won't Catch Anything

Scripture: And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets”…And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” Luke 5:5,10

Observation: Simon had no success fishing all night, as hard as he worked. Yet because Jesus asked, he lowered the net again and caught tons of fish. Later Jesus says that if Simon will continue to follow him, he will catch men in the same way. I am sure Simon thought Jesus was crazy, or knew nothing about fishing, yet he gave it a shot anyways.

Application: There are times when Jesus’ call for me to share my faith seems like it will also be unsuccessful. Especially when I have shared and shared and felt that no men were ever “caught.” Yet instead of giving up, I need to listen to Jesus and heed his call to put my net in the water again. As crazy as Jesus leadings might be, as unsuccessful as his plans may seem to me, I need to follow him. I might be just as surprised as Simon that God will use my worn and weary nets to catch men for him.

Prayer: God, don’t let me decide ahead of time that I won’t see anyone come to Christ today. Give me the faith of Simon, even if I am tired or worn out, to take whatever shots you give me to share my faith with others.

What I Can Learn from Other Religions

Scripture: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. Jeremiah 35:13-14

Observation: God commends the Rechabites for obeying the commands of their forefather not to drink wine or build houses. These are not biblical commands, but these people are obeying them out of respect. Yet God’s own people are not obeying God’s very own commands. These guys might have been following man-made rules, but at least they understood the value of respectful obedience—this is what God is looking for from his own people.

Application: Sometimes I look at other religions with their man-made rules. Some don’t drink caffeine. Others have to pray 5 times a day. Yet while these are not biblical commands, I can learn from these people the value of respectful obedience. Instead of looking down on them, I need to look inside me—do I follow the commands God has given or do I hide behind freedom and grace? These people follow the traditions of their forefathers; can I do less for the living truth of my Father?

Prayer: God, the Rechabites listened to their forefather. Do I listen to You? Help me to “turn from my wicked ways and reform my actions.” Today, show me areas of disobedience I can turn from and turn to you.

Whoever Believes in Me Will Also Do the Works that I Do

Scripture: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12

Observation: Jesus says that those who truly believe in him will do the works he does, and even more than he does. These works include evangelism, teaching, acts of mercy. His followers will do greater works—not necessarily greater in power, but greater in scope. His followers, larger in number and scattered across the globe, will do more (greater) works worldwide, and throughout history than Jesus was able to do in his short, localized ministry here on earth.

Application:

If I do not do the works Jesus did, do I truly believe in him?

Here is the faith/works question again. As I read through Acts, preparing for this fall’s sermon series, I am struck by the works the followers of Jesus did in his name. I know that some of them are not things we do today since it was really the “Grand Opening” of the church, much like how the grand opening of a store does many things (balloons, bands, food) that they do not do once the store is established. HOWEVER, I wonder how much of Jesus’ works I am to be about today. And if I am not sharing my faith, if I am not discipling others, if I am not doing acts of mercy, then how can I claim true faith?

Prayer: God, open me up to the book of Acts, and what faith-driven works you would have be do as your follower. Point out to me areas where my claim of faith and my doing of works are not in sync. If I believe, I will do.

Where Most Discipleship Methods Get it Wrong.

Scripture: So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

Observation: Probably the most used-out-of-context quote in the whole bible—“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” We apply it to knowledge and education. As if the key to freedom and enlightenment is more knowledge. But Jesus in the previous verse explains how we know the truth. Is it through studying? Is it through education? Is it through lectures or sermons or reading? No. The way to know the truth that sets you free is to abide in God’s word. This means to believe in and obey the word of God. Faith and obedience unlock truth.

Application: Some discipleship methods seem to focus on knowing the word. Memorizing, studying, etc. But true disciples of Jesus are not knowers of the word only, but doers. Of course I must have some level of study to know God’s word. But the key—as always with Jesus—is that I believe in and act upon the word that I hear. Then I will be his disciple, then I will know the truth, then I will be set free.
Do I know the truth? That is nice. Do I believe and obey the truth? That is a disciple.

Prayer: Lord, let me continue to fight for application of your word. Even as I meet with someone today to talk about discipleship, let me focus on believing in and obeying your word as the key to discipleship.

Routine Obedience Can Unearth Treasures

Scripture: While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD that had been given through Moses. 2 Chronicles 34:14

Observation: Josiah had been king over 20 years. During the last 10 of those he began to seriously seek the Lord. He purged the land of idols and altars. He began to repair the temple of the Lord. It was while repairs were undergoing that the word of God, lost so many years, was discovered. This discovery led to a national renewal of commitment to the Lord.
Josiah was not looking for this book—that was an unexpected result of a decade of obedience. Sometimes the blessings of God come as unexpected results of obedience in other areas. Sometimes a routine repair of obedience will unearth the lost treasures of God.
Sometimes a little boy who is simply trying to hear more about Jesus gets picked to help provide food for 5,000 people (John 6).

Application: I tend to think in direct, linear terms. If I do X action, X result will follow. Yet Josiah did X action and Y result followed—after ten years. God’s blessing can be unexpected, and can come from an area of obedience unrelated in my eyes. Simple acts of obedience—striving for purity in my online life, spending time reading my devotions, praying diligently for God to work in the life of my kids, working faithfully at my job as unto the Lord—can result in God blessing me in unexpected ways. This tells me that every area of obedience, no matter how small, is important.

Prayer: God, help me to be obedient and faithful in all areas of my life. I never know when a routine repair will unearth the lost treasures of God.

Tearing Down High Places and Pillars July 21

Scripture: He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it. 2 Kings 18:4
“Be patient…be patient…Establish your hearts…do not grumble” James 5:7-9

Observation: The Bible so simply records these actions of Hezekiah, almost as simply as, “So Hezekiah went to buy some milk.” But behind these actions there must have been incredible opposition. If removing the high places, breaking the pillars, cutting down what had become idols were easy, anyone could have done it. I imagine the questions and challenges. There must have been many who liked the high places and pillars. Maybe even those who thought they were godly. I am sure many thought, “this is not why Hezekiah became king! I don’t think this is right.” Maybe even some who agreed in principle with the changes, but thought Hezekiah went too far or too fast. Yet Hezekiah was able to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

Application: Change is hard, whether it is changing an organization, changing a family, or even changing myself. Temptation is to give up, to gripe, to blame. Yet James 5 gives me the application: “Be patient…be patient…Establish your hearts…do not grumble.” As a leader of change, I must be dead sure that I am doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord. I must also be sure that the way I am going about it is also right in the eyes of the Lord. But having this does not mean it will be easy. High places and pillars, and even the sacred cow (sacred serpent??) are still around for a reason. They will take people of humility and conviction. They will take people of hope like St. Augustine wrote of: “Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage. Anger at the way things are and courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”

Prayer: God, give me your anger over the high places and pillars and bronze serpents in my life, and the life of our church. Show me what they are. Help me be driven by what is right in Your eyes. And then give me the courage to see they do not remain. Give me the patience to be patient, not grumble, and keep moving forward. With love, with grace, with humility, but with step by step progress, one pillar at a time. Thanks for Hezekiah. I cannot wait to meet him! Amen