Author: BJ Armstrong

1 Thessalonians 4

I tend to read scripture with a critical voice.  The Bible is written for instruction and correction, I think.  When I heed these words, I become closer to Christ, righteous, and worthy – right?  Sort of.  This is not entirely true.  Once in a while, it is worth reflecting on what is going right.  In fact, if you are a Christ-follower, you are honoring God.

Paul subtly reminds us of this today in 1 Thessalonians 4:1.  He says that the words that we have taken and brought into our lives have shaped the things that we do – the way we walk.  These things, he adds, are honoring to God.  As I sit and reflect on that, my body takes on a new posture.  It mimics a man of pride and joy.  I feel worthy.  Maybe you feel that too?

I know that these strange and great feelings are not a result of my great works.  No, they are the result of His great work.  Specifically, his work on the cross rids me of sin.  His work in the grave allows my old self to pass away.  Yes, and His work in ascension brings me new life.  Life that can never be taken away.  These are the words worth remembering.  These are the things that we should “keep doing.”

There are many things we are called to be good stewards of.  Time and money are the obvious ones.  Maybe you think about health or, gifts and talents. Good stewards of any of these are easily spotted.  You might even be able to identify what makes them a good steward. Today, in Ephesians 3, Paul suggests grace as an additional item to steward.

Each of the items I mentioned has significant value.  To maintain it, they require care. Vigilance even.  This is particularly true for grace.  Why?  Because we will always choose strength over grace.  To harsh?  Consider Peter.  He was sure that his strength of faith was enough to keep him clean.  He believed that right up until he heard the rooster crow (Mark 14:72).  Suddenly, he understood his greater need for grace.

There is a significant contrast between Peter and Paul.  First, Paul had a keen awareness of his weakness.  He testifies, “I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me (Romans 7:21-23).  This confession allows Paul to understand that there is no way out of sin.  Instead, he must have a way through it.  So do we.

Grace offers us a way through it.  It comes, fully and freely, upon our remembrance of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice.  Paul says it well in Romans 8:11, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Psalm 31

In this Psalm, we hear David remembering  God’s grace and generosity.  He’s been through some pretty tough circumstances and withstood some really bad choices.  In his reflection, David generates hope for the future.  Not because of a promise that was made – although it was – but because of God’s action.  God has proven himself over and over again.  Even though David was undeserving. 

David’s reflection of God’s greatness also gives him hope for tomorrow.  This hope is so real, and he is so connected to its source that his deepest desire is that everyone should experience it.  You see this clearly in verse 23.  David is passing along the blessing to us with instruction.  He has fully become the hope that’s been given.

These words are the promise of God.  It is our faithfulness that enables God to make them a reality

 Love God, all you saints;
God takes care of all who stay close to him,
But he pays back in full
those arrogant enough to go it alone.
Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up.
Expect God to get here soon. Psalms 31:23-24 (MSG)

Isaiah 54

Jennifer and I were once asked to talk about being fearless.   Her comment was something along the lines of “they should pick someone else to ask.”  I think that rings true for most of us.  We don’t feel fearless.  In fact, as soon as you bring it up, all I can think about is the things that I am afraid of!  On closer reflection, however, it is not true.

Let’s start with geography.  Living in America is pretty safe.  I am not afraid of invasion or enemy attack.  But, does that make me fearless?

What about money?  The median worldwide income is around $2,900 per year.  The median wage in America is about $34,000.  If you live with me in BloNo, it’s higher than that.  I am not afraid that I won’t be able to buy food or gas tomorrow.  But, does that make me fearless?

How about knowledge?  Our educational system and availability of resources provide more educational opportunities than ever before.  I’ve been to college and have a post-graduate degree.  I am not afraid of being uneducated.  But, does that make me fearless?

Did you know that the freedoms and privileges I’ve just described are the fulfillment of prophecy?  Isaiah 54 talks specifically about God’s provisions of peace, riches, and knowledge for his servants. We are living proof of his promise!  But, guess what?  That does not make us fearless.    Fearless comes only when we embrace the promise and the privilege.  What does that look like?   It looks like “living life with a single passion: to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives.” John Piper – Don’t Waste Your LIfe

Isaiah 35

And a highway will be there and it shall be called the way of holiness (Isaiah 35:8)

I am captured by verse 8 from today’s reading.  I suppose it is because it brings out the complex meanings of the simple word ‘way.’  Eugene Peterson explains it this way, “way: a simple noun designating a road that leads to a destination but then opening up as a metaphor that ramifies into many and various “ways” – not only the way we go, as in the route we take but the way we go on the way whether by foot or bike or automobile.  The way we talk, the way we use our influence, the way we treat another, the way we raise our children, the way we read, the way we worship, the way we vote, the way we garden, the way we ski, the way we feel, the way we eat…And on and on, endlessly, the various and accumulated “ways and means” that characterize our way of life.”

Wow.  Can I sum that up?  Our path in life is determined by two things.  First, the road we follow, and second the method or style in which we follow it.  While I often think about the road that I am on, I rarely think about how I follow it.  Both are worth our consideration.

Think first about the road you want to follow.  What’s at the end of it?  The pearly gates?  Successful children?  $1,000,000?  We pursue all manner of goals, some worthy and some not so much.  Yes, pick the right goal, but be careful.  This life is lived every day, not just on the last day.  What you do in between matters.

So, how do you want to follow the road?  Grumpy?  Enthusiastic?  Singing and dancing?  When I picture myself on the road to heaven, I see myself skipping and jumping like a little kid.  He’s enjoying the walk, with a smile on his face.  I see laughter and singing and sunshine.   I see holiness.   If I know where I am headed, why should it be any different?

Eugene H. Peterson. The Jesus Way.  Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 2007

Today, in Acts 1, we see Jesus appearing to the apostles after his death.  They are worried.  Even as Jesus is speaking to them, you can hear the anxiety in their questions.  Will you restore us now?  Will you make us free, finally?  They ask.  It’s funny, I find myself asking the same questions.  What is the point in Jesus if we cannot be free, right?   Of course, when I finally submit and ask the questions of God, I get the same answers.

You see, I have the same expectations as the disciples.  Now that I believe in Jesus and know that his work is complete, I expect life to get easy.  But that is not what Jesus does.  It never has been.  Take a look at Jesus’ response in verse 7.  Effectively, he says I cannot answer that.  That is for God to answer only.  So, no, I cannot do that for you.   Meh.  That is a tough answer!

Or is it?  Think about it.  Who would I become if everything was just handed to me?  So, short of death and perfection in heaven, Jesus offers something better.  Power.  “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8).  Now, before you dismiss that gift because it’s not what you want, right now, let’s consider what it is.

According to Strong’s Concordance, the word power is translated from the Greek word dunamis.   It is defined as power, might, and strength.  I get a better understanding of it, however, from studying how this word is used in the Bible.  Consider these: physical power, force, might, ability, efficacy, energy, meaning, powerful deeds, deeds showing physical power, and marvelous works.  That’s quite a list!

When I finally consider the power that the Holy Spirit provides, I see that my original question is the wrong one.  What if I began asking to be empowered by the Holy Spirit?  What might he choose to do in me and through me?  What about you?  There is only one catch.  In order to become it, we must first choose to accept and receive it.

1 Corinthians 14

“Pursue love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts.”  What does that mean exactly?  First, it means that the outcome of all things for us should be love.  No, it doesn’t just magically happen and there will be people that thwart it.  It won’t always feel good and we won’t always be successful.  That is why we must pursue it.  It’s an endless, consuming drive toward love.  We must bring it.  We must share it, we must become it.  Paul rightly puts the pursuit of love first.  Then, he adds, that we should desire spiritual gifts.  But, he adds, not all gifts are created equal.

Like Paul says here, it is good to desire the gift of speaking in tongues.  That gift, however, is not as good as prophecy.  Why not?  Because the gift of tongues is more about the individual than the group.  Essentially, it becomes a selfish desire.  On the other hand, Prophecy is  “for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:3-4 (ESV)

Paul’s conversation gives us a great opportunity to examine our own gifts.  To start, let’s consider how we are using them.  More directly, list the ways that you are using your gifts to build up the church.  Next, think for a moment about which gifts you desire to have.  I get that this gets a little scary, but it should not be.  It should be exciting!  From these desires come growth.  Not personally, but spiritually.   These gifts, when properly deployed, build the church and extend God’s love.  There is nothing more worthwhile.

Psalms 130

This world is a mess.  Ten minutes on your favorite news channel will remind you.  There are wars, droughts, economic turmoil and threats of depression, inflation, stagflation, diseases, murders, and thousands more problems.  Most of the time, I am able to narrow my focus from that macro view and pay attention to my own little world.  But, that’s not always enough.  Eventually, world events come to infect our own backyard.  They can no longer be ignored.  

You can no longer ignore world events when they begin having an effect on you.  Yes, that could be physical, or circumstantial.  If for example, you became sick or unemployed.  There are other effects, however, that are more insidious.  These are the things that affect our souls, our inner lives.

Maybe you know what I mean.  We have all experienced it.  The pressures of the world rob the joy from our daily lives.  It seems that nothing will restore the joy and vigor that we once had.  Today, in Psalm 130, this is exactly what we see.  The author cries out “from the depths.”  That means he has sunk low.  So low, in fact, that he cannot see a way out.  The light is disappearing.  As he sits, watching the light fade, he is reminded of his shortcomings, his sins, and iniquities.  Maybe you know how he feels.

Thankfully, this is not the end.  The Psalmist knows that this is merely a passing moment.  His hope is not in the things of this world, or even it God’s immediate rescue.  No, the Psalmist relies only on the promises of God. He is keenly aware that forgiveness and salvation await.  Someday.

As I read this Psalm, again and again, I am struck by his ability to wait.  “My soul waits,” he says.  Waits for the promises of God to be fulfilled.  Maybe that will be today, maybe tomorrow.  Either way, he watches and waits.  Ironically, it is in the waiting and hoping that the Psalmist experiences God’s love and the promise is once again fulfilled.

Sometimes, when our soul is tired, the hardest thing to do is cry out to God, and dwell on his promises, but that is precisely what he expects us to do.