Pentecost Sunday

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Pentecost Sunday

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”—Luke 24:49 (NIV)

The disciples obeyed the command of Jesus. They stayed in Jerusalem. They waited. And while they waited, the city began to fill with pilgrims, faithful Jews from around the world who had journeyed to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost or Shavuot, ordained by God in the book of Leviticus:

“From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord.”—Leviticus 23:15-16 (NIV)

When the Spirit falls on the disciples, it is during a harvest festival. What an appropriate image…calling to mind the words Jesus spoke to his disciples:

“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”—John 4:35b (NIV)

When the Spirit comes, the harvest begins. Souls respond to the message of salvation preached through Peter, about 3000 on that Day of Pentecost alone. It is all the work of the Spirit, but it is not all the Spirit does. Luke tells us more of how the season of harvest changes the life of the disciples:

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”—Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

When the Spirit comes, so many things take place:

  • the word of God goes forth

  • teaching and fellowship take on new life

  • wonders and signs bring awe to the people

  • hearts are united in shared life and purpose

  • sacrificial living becomes the norm

  • God is praised

  • the love, joy, and sincerity of the disciples is noticed

  • the community of faith grows daily

These are marks of God’s people when completely yielded to the work of the Holy Spirit. This is what the Day of Pentecost is all about. In some congregations it is celebrated as “the birthday of the church,” which is true, but it is so much more than that. It is a day to be reminded of the power given by God to his people, and the fruit that comes from our surrender.

Today wraps up our Eastertide Song Devotions journey, and we close with songs that remind us of these different aspects of the Spirit’s work. Each of these songs is paired with a passage of Scripture assigned for today from the Revised Common Lectionary. You are invited to click on the link to read the passage, listen to the song, and then reflect on the questions posted after each song. You may wish to do them in one sitting as an extended time of devotion, or you may wish to spread them out over the day or even the week.

This pairing of Lectionary texts with music is similar to the format we’ll be using for a new weekly devotional/study tool starting tomorrow, May 24th. While we will no longer be sharing a daily journey of song reflections, it’s our prayer that each Monday’s offering of Scripture and song will provide you with worshipful, prayerful, and meditative moments for week, and will help you prepare for worship on Sundays with your own family of faith.

May the God who sent and still sends his Spirit to his people, providing for their every need and empowering them for their every call, bless you and keep you as you draw closer to him and know more and more the depth of his love and power in your life. Amen.

Lectionary Readings for Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd, 2021

Reading One: Ezekiel 37:1-14 (NRSV)

Song: Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God (lyrics here)

Reflection

Can you identify with the cry of Israel, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely,” and the despair and emptiness it reflects? Spend some time before God asking him to breathe new life into those areas of life where you feel dry and lifeless.

Reading Two: Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (NRSV)

Song: Creation Song (lyrics here)

Reflection

The images in this psalm of all creation being part of an offering of praise to God are powerful and beautiful. How have you experienced the worship of God in the midst of his creation?

Reading Three: Romans 8:22-27 (NRSV)

Song: Come Holy Spirit (lyrics here)

Reflection

This classic song of praise offers many images for the Spirit’s work in our lives. Which speaks most to your soul today?

—wisdom to children
—new sight to the blind
—strength to my weakness
—rest to the weary
—a balm to the sore
—a dew to my dryness
—a spring in the desert

Reading Four: Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)

Song: Fill This Place (lyrics here)

Reflection

The disciples receive from the Holy Spirit the power they need to fulfill their calling and commission from Jesus. Spend some time praying for yourself, for your local community of faith, and for the church around the world…that the Spirit would empower and fill us all in new ways as we seek to live out the mission and calling Christ has given to us.

Glorious The Three

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Day Forty-Nine

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”—John 16:13 (NRSV)

One aspect of Pentecost that often gets overlooked is the opportunity to think about what the gift of the Holy Spirit means for our understanding of God. When the Spirit comes, the phrase “God with us” takes on a whole new meaning. And as the early church experiences the movement of the Spirit, they understand it to be the very presence of God dwelling and working in their midst. These words from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians are profound in their understanding of who the Spirit is and how the Spirit works:

“The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for,

‘Who has known the mind of the Lord
    so as to instruct him?’

But we have the mind of Christ.”—1 Corinthians 2:10b-16 (NIV)

In this passage there is no distinction made between the work of the Spirit and the work of God, because they are one and the same. To know the thoughts of the Spirit is to know the thoughts of God. To speak the words of the Spirit is to speak the words of God. The question that Isaiah asked, “Who has known the mind of the Lord?” now finds an answer in this New Testament reality: the Spirit imparts to us the very mind of Christ.

It’s from this understanding of the Holy Spirit that we develop a deeper and more complete theology of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one in essence, one in purpose…God the three-in-one. It is a mystery, to be sure, but in an attempt to address the mystery we must be careful not to lose the central truth. We do not worship three divine beings, each a different expression of God. We worship one God, Father, Son, and Spirit, co-existing eternally in a mysterious relationship that doesn’t separate them from one another. They share the same essence and the same mind, and as Paul points out, they share the same purpose and work in the world. The ancient church fathers had a phrase for this: “opera Trinitatis ad extra indivisa sunt,” meaning, “the external works of the Trinity are undivided.”

What does this mean for us? I think if we really sit with this truth we gain a much deeper perspective of our mission as followers of Jesus. We often treat the Holy Spirit as an impersonal force, a sort-of “power supply” for the mission that God has set before us. But that’s not what’s going on. The Spirit is not mission-neutral. In that kind of thinking, there can still be all sorts of doubt that we’re fulfilling God’s will, as if we somehow have the ability to wield the power of the Spirit in a way that doesn’t align with God’s purposes.

But when we are surrendered to the Spirit, we have the very mind of Christ. When the Spirit is given true freedom to move in our lives and our churches, he will not accomplish things that are contrary to the will of God. This should give us incredible confidence, not in ourselves, but in the power of God to guide us, transform us, and use us. As Paul says in Romans:

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”—Romans 8:11 (NLT)

As we celebrate Pentecost tomorrow, may the Spirit guide us into a fuller understanding of his full divinity, his oneness with the Father and the Son. May we be brought into a deeper appreciation of the mystery of the Trinity, knowing that as we do we then receive a deeper revelation of who we are and how we are empowered for mission.

Glorious, oh glorious,
Glorious the Three
Who co-exist in perfect harmony
Father, Spirit, only Son, Holy Trinity
Exalted for all eternity

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) As you contemplate the mystery of the Trinity, what feelings arise within you? Do you sense awe and wonder, or are you perhaps aware discomfort with the idea of mystery? Spend some asking God to open you even more to the beauty that exists in the mystery.

2) What does it mean for you to know that the Spirit gives us “the mind of Christ?” How have you experienced that in your own walk?

3) Here are some other songs that speak to the wonders of the Trinity. Can you think of others that have helped you build this language and understanding in your own life?

“Wonderful Merciful Savior” by Selah

“Praise the Father, Praise the Son” by Chris Tomlin

“One God (Rewritten)” by Ghost Ship, new words by Ron Offringa

4) Spend some time contemplating this quote about the Trinity from Eugene Peterson:

“We cannot live as spectators of the dance of the Trinity. A hand reaches out to pull us into the Trinitarian actions of holy creation, holy salvation, and holy community. There are no nonparticipants in a Trinity-revealed life.”—Eugene Peterson, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places

5) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”—Matthew 3:16-17(NIV)

Spirit of God

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Day Forty-Eight

George Croly was a somewhat brusque preacher, apparently.

Appointed in 1835 as rector of St. Stephen Walbrook in London, Rev. Croly quickly became a well-known preacher in the early days of Queen Victoria’s reign. The church, which had struggled in attendance, soon became filled on Sundays as people came from miles away to hear the dynamic sermons offered by the new rector.

They weren’t coming to hear a “feel good” sermon, though. At least that’s what we learn from Irish journalist S.C. Hall, who described Croly as having “‘a sort of rude and indeed angry eloquence that would have stood him in better stead at the bar than in the pulpit." In 1847 Rev. Croly was appointed day preacher at a city hospital for foundlings and orphans, but that position quickly came to an end when the governors of the hospital complained that his style wasn’t suitable for young children.

Apparently, George Croly did not coddle from the pulpit.

But there was apparently another side to him, one that we see in our song for today, Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart. George Croly was clearly also a poet, capable of beautiful turns of phrase and tender words that revealed a tender heart. There is no “rude and angry eloquence” in the words of his only surviving hymn:

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The presence of Thy descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

But this is what the Spirit of God is capable of doing—he is able to pierce our sometimes harsh, exterior shell and reveal a heart inside that is capable of great warmth and gentleness. When we fall on our face before God in surrender to the Spirit, the desires of our heart are laid bare and find expression in ways that can sometimes surprise us.

George Croly was already an author when he began his ministry as a preacher and pastor, so there are clearly natural gifts he was able to draw upon in writing this hymn. But there is something more at play in this hymn—it is both a plea for the Spirit and an example of being touched by the Spirit. As one music professor declared, “The words of this sung prayer are among the most passionate in the history of hymnody.”

Before our time of reflection, you are offered here two different versions of this well-loved hymn. One is a choral version set to the traditional hymn-tune MORECAMBE (please note—this version has four verses only). The second is a contemporary version with new music written by a group of musicians known as City Hymns.

Listen to the passionate pleas of this hymn, and as you listen…make them your own.

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel vision, no op'ning skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross; there teach me to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The presence of Thy descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

Time of Reflection

For today’s time of reflection, we will sit prayerfully with each verse of this hymn. Take a verse and read it through slowly, perhaps more than once. Maybe even read it out loud one time. As you read, make note of which words or lines in each verse speak most powerfully to you. Before you move to the next verse, offer to God that which stood out to you and ask him to show you what it might mean for your own spiritual walk.

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel vision, no op'ning skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross; there teach me to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The presence of Thy descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”—Luke 11:9-13 (NIV)

Awaiting

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Day Forty-Seven

One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit, Paul tells us, is helping us to pray. He offers this teaching in the context of a passage all about suffering, reminding us that when we feel we have no words to offer in prayer, the Spirit comes to our aid:

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”—Romans 8:18-27 (NRSV)

The exact workings of this intercessory ministry of the Spirit are a mystery, and depending on your theological tradition there are differing interpretations of what Paul is referring to here. Perhaps it resists an exact definition because it defies an exact definition—the Spirit’s work is always part of the present moment, and in different situations this intercessory work might take different forms, allowing the Spirit freedom to work as each moment demands. The “sighs too deep for words” at times might be completely silent, or at times they are expressed vocally…or sometimes a mixture of both. Reducing it to a formula is not what Paul had in mind.

But the central truth is this: in those times when we find it difficult to pray, the Holy Spirit helps us. And we all know what it’s like at one time or another to find prayer difficult. In fact, I’d be willing to guess that right now in your life there is at least one situation that, echoing Paul’s description of the “sufferings of this present time,” is extremely perplexing and confusing, making it hard at times to pray. Perhaps it’s so overwhelming that you don’t know where to begin, or maybe you’ve already offered prayer after prayer after prayer, and the words seem to have run out in the face of what seems an endless wait.

Whatever situation in your life echoes these thoughts, for today’s time of devotion we are going to offer it (or them, if more than one) to God, and we are going to let go of the need to find the perfect words to do it. We’re going to sit and ask the Spirit of God to intercede on our behalf for the situation, person, or problem that weighs heaviest on our hearts and minds.

There are no reflection questions for today. In fact, in just a moment you will be guided into a a time of prayer and invited to listen to a reflective instrumental piece while you offer your request(s) to God through the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Or you may wish to not play the song at all until your time of prayer is over, using it close your time simply resting in the presence of the Spirit. Use the music in a way that best suits your needs.

Before we begin, sit for a moment with the question: what situation(s) in your life right now are you finding it difficult to pray for?

When you have spent some time contemplating that question…then begin.

A Time of Prayer

You may wish to play the song below before you begin, or wait until your time of prayer is drawing to a close.

  1. Begin by taking a few deep breaths in and out, perhaps reciting a favorite verse of Scripture as you do so. Use this step to clear your heart and mind as best you can of any distractions.

  2. As you sit before God, offer to him the situation(s) in your life right now that you find difficult to pray for. Acknowledge to him that difficulty, knowing we have a High Priest who is able to sympathize with us in our weakness (Heb. 4:15)

  3. Having named what your concern(s) to God, ask him to fill this time of prayer with the Spirit’s presence and power. Offer to the Spirit your difficulty in praying, and ask him to intercede on your behalf.

  4. Sit again in silence. If any distractions enter your mind, don’t fret over them. Offer them to God, and center your thoughts again on the situation(s) you’re praying over. You do not need to come up with words to pray. Ask the Spirit to offer the “sighs too deep for words” on your behalf.

  5. There is no minimum or maximum time for this exercise. When you sense the Spirit is bringing this time of prayer to a close, you may wish to offer a word of gratitude for his ministry of intercession. Then release the things you’ve been meditating on into God’s hands, trusting he has heard.

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…”—Psalm 37:7 (ESV)

Fruits Of The Spirit

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Day Forty-Six

One of the very first verses of the Bible I ever memorized was about the Holy Spirit, or more accurately, the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christ’s disciples. It was from Paul’s letter to the Galatians:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”—Galatians 5:22 (ESV)

That early in my Christian walk, however, I had a warped understanding of this verse. I looked at this list of qualities and assumed that it was kind of a “spiritual to-do list.” In other words, I had to work at getting better at all of them.

It wasn’t until a few years later, during a study of the gospel of John, that the meaning of Galatians 5:22 became clear. We were in the 15th chapter of John’s gospel, and these words from Jesus seemed to jump off the page for me:

“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”—John 15:4-8 (NRSV)

An interesting thing happened to me as I went back and read over those words a couple of times—I started feeling very tired. Not sleepy, but worn out. Those words from John 15 exposed something in me that had been draining my spiritual energy for a long, long time: my false belief that becoming like Jesus was something that depended entirely on me. And it was like a flood of frustration rooted in self-effort washed over me, and I suddenly understood how much it had been exhausting me.

When preaching on Pentecost I would often refer to the Holy Spirit as the “forgotten member of the Trinity.” It’s not that we don’t mention him—we sing songs about the Spirit, and include language about the Spirit in our lessons and our liturgies—but I’m not sure we take time to fully understand his ministry in our midst. For many Christians their understanding of the Holy Spirit is based more on emotion than on any real sense of empowerment or transformation.

I can’t say all these years later that the realization I had while reading John 15 has completely taken root in my life. Too often I still operate in my own strength. I am like a branch trying to will fruit into being. But fruit is born only by faithfully clinging to the vine and letting the life of the vine flow through us.

The Spirit is that “life of the vine,” and as we yield to him we find that the list from Galatians is not a “to do,” but a “to receive” list. The more we surrender, the more he gifts us with the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that would otherwise elude us.

Not that we are passive in this equation. We cooperate with the Spirit in this work, but our cooperation is not the primary factor in this equation—it is the supernatural power of the Spirit.

It seems like such a basic lesson, but so many of us are prone to forget it. As we prepare for Pentecost, perhaps today is a good day to be reminded. The song for today does that for us by starting with three simple words: You give me.

You give me
Love joy peace patience and faithfulness
Your goodness is here now
Self-control kindness and gentleness
Oh You give Your heart to me

Questions for Reflection

1) Spend a few moments meditating on each of the fruits of the Spirit that Paul lists. Which stand out to you as areas in your life where you might need to yield more to the Spirit’s supernatural work? Spend some time in prayer offering them in openness and surrender.

  • love

  • joy

  • peace

  • patience

  • kindness

  • goodness

  • faithfulness

  • gentleness

  • self-control

2) Do you know the exhaustion that comes from trying to do in your own strength what only the Spirit can do? If that’s where you find yourself, offer it to God and ask him to demonstrate his peace and power to you in a new way.

3) Spend some time contemplating this quote from Watchman Nee:

Some seek the gifts of the Holy Spirit with genuine earnestness. Yet often what they crave is but some joy, for the "I" is hidden behind their quest.

4) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit.”—Romans 3:5 (CSB)

Come Holy Spirit

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Day Forty-Five

As you imagine the disciples of Jesus gathered in Jerusalem, waiting for the promised Spirit who would empower them for their mission, what are they doing? How are they spending the time of waiting and anticipation?

We see some mentions in the biblical texts of some of the things they did. Luke mentions in his gospel that they “stayed continually at the temple, praising God,” (Luke 24:53, NIV) and then in Acts 1 he tells us how they chose a replacement for Judas. Apart from that, we don’t have anything but speculation.

I think one safe guess would be that they prayed. A lot. They knew a change was coming, even if they didn’t know exactly what it would look like. So I can certainly imagine them spending time before God in prayers of submission and surrender. And I can imagine a simple prayer of supplication as well, one of only three words:

“Come, Holy Spirit.”

Well, maybe not that exact prayer. Their Trinitarian understanding wasn’t yet fully formed, so the idea of actually praying to the Holy Spirit and asking him to come in power probably didn’t occur to them. But I’m sure the spirit of that prayer, asking that the Holy Spirit would fall on them and fulfill the promise Jesus had left with them, was something they knew in some form or another.

But for those of us who live post-Pentecost, “Come, Holy Spirit” is a beautiful and completely valid prayer to offer. Over the centuries it has been expressed in many forms, perhaps most famously in a 13th century Latin prayer. Here is one English translation:

Come, thou Holy Spirit, come,
and from thy celestial home
shed a ray of light divine;
come, thou Father of the poor,
come, thou source of all our store,
come, within our hearts to shine.

Thou of comforters the best,
thou the soul's most welcome guest,
sweet refreshment here below;
in our labor rest most sweet,
grateful coolness in the heat,
solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine,
shine within these hearts of thine,
and our inmost being fill;
where thou art not, man hath naught,
nothing good in deed or thought,
nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds; our strength renew;
on our dryness pour thy dew;
wash the stains of guilt away;
bend the stubborn heart and will;
melt the frozen, warm the chill;
guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore
and confess thee, evermore
in thy sevenfold gifts descend:
Give them virtue's sure reward,
give them thy salvation, Lord,
give them joys that never end.

This is a wonderful prayer to offer as we prepare for the celebration of Pentecost Sunday. It is filled with beautiful, poetic language describing the Spirit’s work in our midst. It asks for the Spirit to pour out what some churches call the “seven-fold gifts,” which are a reference to Isaiah 11:2-3:

“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear…”—Isaiah 11:2-3 (HCSB)

In the coming days we will be examining some of the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst, but for today let’s put all of the theology and application aside and simply pray that the Holy Spirit would come…to us, to our churches, to our nation, and to our world. We are in such desperate need of the Spirit’s work right now. For today’s devotion, could we turn to God in intercession, asking him to send the Spirit anew into our midst?

For our songs today we will have three different versions of this prayer, and you can choose one to focus on in your time of reflection and worship. One is a liturgical piece by John Michael Talbot, another is a more contemporary folk/worship rendition by a group called Liturgical Folk, and one is a traditional hymn version. Pick whichever one best suits your own musical tastes, or listen to all three and let them each lead you into prayer in their own unique way.

After listening to the prayer, the text will be repeated in our Reflection Section for you to sit with, reflect upon, and offer to the Lord, along with a Scripture text for contemplation.

John Michael Talbot, traditional liturgical/reflective

Liturgical Folk, modern folk/worship style

University of Texas Chamber Singers, traditional hymn

Time of Intercession & Reflection

Come, thou Holy Spirit, come,
and from thy celestial home
shed a ray of light divine;
come, thou Father of the poor,
come, thou source of all our store,
come, within our hearts to shine.

Thou of comforters the best,
thou the soul's most welcome guest,
sweet refreshment here below;
in our labor rest most sweet,
grateful coolness in the heat,
solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine,
shine within these hearts of thine,
and our inmost being fill;
where thou art not, man hath naught,
nothing good in deed or thought,
nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds; our strength renew;
on our dryness pour thy dew;
wash the stains of guilt away;
bend the stubborn heart and will;
melt the frozen, warm the chill;
guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore
and confess thee, evermore
in thy sevenfold gifts descend:
Give them virtue's sure reward,
give them thy salvation, Lord,
give them joys that never end.

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.”—Ezekiel 36:25-28 (NIV)

Waiting Here For You

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Day Forty-Four

Today we begin a time of preparation for the celebration of Pentecost, which will happen this coming Sunday.

Yesterday we examined the ascension of Jesus, and as the story ended the disciples were left with a very clear promise from Jesus:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”—Acts 1:8 (NIV)

They had been instructed to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes (Luke 24:49), and as we considered yesterday, there must have been a great deal of excitement and anticipation. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was also a little bit of uncertainty and trepidation—they had absolutely no idea what to expect. All they knew is that something was about to happen. Something big. Something important.

Even though you and I live in what’s often called the “church age,” after the day of Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can identify somewhat with that kind of uncertainty. We all have known (and perhaps know in this very moment) what it is like to be waiting for the Spirit to move in a particular situation. God does not comply with our schedules, and we often find ourselves facing times when we are impatient for him to move.

I wonder if the disciples felt a little bit of that as well. Were they impatient? Eager to get started in their work? Did they ever stop in those days following Jesus’ ascension and wonder, “What’s taking God so long?” They’re human, so I wouldn’t blame them if they did.

But I also assume they spent much of that time praying through their waiting, preparing themselves for the coming gift, even though they didn’t know what to expect. And when we are waiting on God to move, but unsure just how he will, there is really one prayer we can offer—surrender. The prayer of one who waits is a prayer that declares, “Lord, I trust what you are up to. I trust your timing in this. I offer myself to whatever you have planned, and joyfully anticipate the move of your Spirit.”

Psalm 27 is a wonderful prayer for the waiting soul. Written by King David, it is clearly a prayer birthed out of crisis…a crisis that has yet to be resolved:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.

The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord with music.

Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
Even if my father and mother abandon me,
 the Lord will hold me close.

Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.
Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.

Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”—Psalm 27 (NLT)

David’s words are filled with heartfelt praise, honest heartache, passionate pleas, and powerful declarations of trust. Each of these are part of waiting—in waiting we worship, we cry, we ask, and we cling to God.

If you are in a season of waiting right now…take David’s words to heart.

If you are not in a season of waiting right now…take them to heart anyway.

And as you approach a day celebrating the gift of the Spirit, let this reflection on waiting help you enter into the hearts and minds of Jesus’ disciples. May you find in this week a sense of excitement and anticipation, knowing that two thousand years later, God is still up to something.

Something big.

Something important.

Waiting here for you
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
We're singing Alleluia

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) Think back over your journey with God and reflect on seasons of waiting you have known. How has God shaped you through those times when he didn’t move as quickly as perhaps you had wanted?

2) If you are in a season of waiting right now, think through the movements of Psalm 27 and examine your heart and soul to see which of these resonate most with you right now and why:

  • Praising God for who he is

  • Expressing heartache to him

  • Pleading and interceding for the situation you are facing

  • Declaring your trust in him despite your current circumstances

3) Spend some time contemplating this quote about waiting:

“This is the most precious answer God can give us: wait. It makes us cling to him rather than to an outcome. God knows what I need; I do not. He sees the future; I cannot. His perspective is eternal; mine is not. He will give me what is best for me when it is best for me.”—Vaneetha Rendall Risner, The Scars That Have Shaped Me: How God Meets Us in Suffering

4) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“I waited patiently for Adonai.
He bent down to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire.
Then He set my feet on a rock.
He made my steps firm.
He put a new song in my mouth—
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and trust in Adonai.
Blessed is the one
who put his confidence in Adonai,
who has not turned to the arrogant,
nor to those who fall into falsehood.
Many things You have done, Adonai my God
—Your plans for us are wonderful—
there is none to be compared to You!
If I were to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to count!”—Psalm 40:1-5 (TLV)

Majesty of Heaven/All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name

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Seventh Sunday of Easter

In many churches across the world today they will be marking a celebration of Christ’s ascension to heaven. For those who follow a liturgical calendar, Ascension Day was technically this past Thursday, but many churches celebrate it on the Sunday that follows.

Luke describes the ascension of Jesus in the opening chapter of Acts:

So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’  He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’”—Acts 1:6-11 (NRSV)

As we approach Pentecost there is a sense of anticipation, which I’m sure was something the disciples also knew after the ascension. Jesus had left them with a promise: that the Holy Spirit would be given to them soon, and by the Spirit they would be empowered for their mission. I’m sure the days of waiting for that gift were filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation—how would it happen? What would it be like? How would they be changed?

During this coming week we will be allowing space for that anticipation by focusing on the work of the Holy Spirit and the way the church is empowered for mission, but for today it is enough to ponder the ascension of Jesus. It’s an event that calls to mind images of kingship, exaltation, and glory. Whenever language of ascending of being “lifted up” appears in the Bible, it is usually associated with worship, as in Psalm 47:

“God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.”—Psalm 47:5-7 (NIV)

So this is a good day to worship, specifically to focus on what it means for Christ to be exalted and lifted up. Today we offer two songs of celebration which focus on that theme. One we’ve offered before in a more reflective version, now as an upbeat, celebratory anthem of exaltation. As we lift him up in praise, may he be lifted up in our hearts and lives as well.

To You, the nations bow down
To You, creation cries out
Majesty
All things You hold together
Your name will stand forever
Majesty
You are, Majesty

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Let every kindred, every tribe
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all.
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Scripture for Reflection and Worship

Philippians 2:9-11 (CSB)

For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Psalm 57:9-11 (Nin)

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

Take My Life/I Will Follow

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Day Forty-Two

During this week we dwelling in Isaiah 6 and the call of the prophet. We are specifically examining the pattern of worship found in Isaiah’s encounter which also shapes the way many Christians and churches understand worship.

We are in the midst of exploring six distinct movements in Isaiah 6 that model a flow of worship for us. So far this week we have noted five:

  1. We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)

  2. We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)

  3. We are made aware of our own sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5)

  4. God assures us of his mercy and forgiveness (Isaiah 6:6-7)

  5. We hear the word of the Lord (Isaiah 6:8a)

Today we come to the last of our six movements, and it flows directly from #5:

We respond to the word of the Lord.

When I was a worship pastor, this was one of my favorite parts of the service to plan, because it’s an opportunity to encourage people and “bring home” the word given in the sermon. Having listened to what God is saying to his church, this final movement of worship is an invitation to respond in faith, trust, and surrender, offering ourselves to his kingdom work.

But truth be told, this final movement has two parts to it. You can see them at work in the way Isaiah responds:

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’

And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’’—Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)

Isaiah does two things in his response. First he offers himself to God in surrender, saying “Here am I.” He has heard the voice of God calling out for someone, and in response Isaiah offers himself. To stand before the Lord and say, “Here am I” is to place ourselves in his hands, trusting that his plan for us is right and good.

But, and I speak from personal experience here, we are sometimes prone to offer ourselves to God with a couple of caveats. We may have heard his word to us, but often we reinterpret it so that we can give ourselves to it in spirit, while ignoring the parts that are inconvenient or even scary.

Notice that Isaiah doesn’t ask God what exactly he’ll be commissioned to do. He doesn’t say, “Hey, God, I’m willing to go. Can you give me an idea of what you’re looking for, and I’ll let you know what parts of it I think will work well given my personality and gifts?” No, it’s not until he has given himself wholly and without reserve that God tells Isaiah the message he will be asked to preach. And it’s not a pleasant one, not in the slightest.

But Isaiah will fulfill his call because all that matters to him is that God needs a messenger. Again, he trusts God’s plan completely. So after he offers himself to God by saying, “Here am I,” he then offers himself to God’s work, saying, “Send me.”

That’s the approach I would take in planning the end of a worship service: after the sermon we would typically sing one reflective song, with a theme of surrender. It was our “Here am I” response to God’s word. Then to close the service we would usually sing a song that conveyed the work we’ve been given to do, our offer of “Send me.” In it we declared our trust that whatever work God had for us, he would give us everything we need to fulfill it.

So in light of this deeper examination of Isaiah’s response, maybe we can tweak our final movement of worship:

  1. We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)

  2. We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)

  3. We are made aware of our own sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5)

  4. God assures us of his mercy and forgiveness (Isaiah 6:6-7)

  5. We hear the word of the Lord (Isaiah 6:8a)

  6. We respond to the word of the Lord in surrender and commitment (Isaiah 6:8b)

As we conclude these six reflections on worship, I hope they’ve conveyed how applicable these movements can be in our own personal walk with God. They are not just for planning Sunday morning services. Isaiah 6 can shape our daily time with the Lord in a way that fills us up and sends us out into the world with renewed understanding of God’s might, mercy, and mission.

For today’s songs, we will attend to both parts of Isaiah’s response. First a reflective song of surrender, then an upbeat declaration of commitment to God’s mission. May these words always reflect our heart’s desire.

Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine
Take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne
Take my love, my Lord I pour at Your feet, it's treasure store
Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee
Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Where you go, I’ll go
Where you stay, I’ll stay
When you move, I’ll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I’ll love
How you serve I’ll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) What disciplines or practices in your life help you keep a posture of surrender? How might you build into your daily walk a reminder to simply be before God saying, “Here am I?”

2) How have you sensed in your life ways that God is calling you into his kingdom work? If it’s not something you’ve spent much time thinking or praying about, spend some time before the Lord offering yourself to his good and perfect plan, knowing that he equips us with everything we need for the work he calls us to do.

3) As you think about these six movements of worship we’ve been examining, how might you seek a more intentional time of worship in your walk with God? What about Isaiah’s call speaks to you and invites you into a deeper reflection on the role worship plays in your life?

4) Spend some time reflecting on this quote by worship leader Gerrit Gustafson:

“If you truly meet God, you will worship; and if you truly worship, others will be drawn to God.”

5) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.”—Romans 12:1 (TPT)

Speak to Me

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Day Forty-One

During this week we dwelling in Isaiah 6 and the call of the prophet. We are specifically examining the pattern of worship found in Isaiah’s encounter which also shapes the way many Christians and churches understand worship.

We are in the midst of exploring six distinct movements in Isaiah 6 that model a flow of worship for us. So far this week we have noted four:

  1. We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)

  2. We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)

  3. We are made aware of our own sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5)

  4. God assures us of his mercy and forgiveness (Isaiah 6:6-7)

Yesterday we were reminded of just how important it is to not take God’s mercy for granted. Part of me wishes we could just hit “pause” and keep sitting with that important truth. I don’t want to be guilty of the same “rushing past forgiveness” that is a common temptation. But the text urges us on, and Isaiah’s encounter with God is reaching its climactic moment.

There is a very distinct flow to what his happening, and having encountered the holy God of the universe, having been made aware of his sin, and now having received forgiveness for his sin…Isaiah is in a state of mind and heart to hear what God has to say to him. And what God has to say to Isaiah will forever change his life:

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’”—Isaiah 6:8a (NIV)

Then I heard the voice of the Lord.

Take a moment and just breathe those words in deeply, because the same experience Isaiah had is available now to all those who have trusted in Christ and open themselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is the fifth movement of our worship pattern:

  1. We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)

  2. We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)

  3. We are made aware of our own sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5)

  4. God assures us of his mercy and forgiveness (Isaiah 6:6-7)

  5. We hear the word of the Lord (Isaiah 6:8a)

In other words, we’ve arrived at the sermon. Well, sort of.

In these post-Pentecost days, hearing God’s word spoken to us is not the exclusive venue of prophets and those to whom they are sent—as followers of Christ, the word of God comes to us through Scripture, through the inner voice of the Holy Spirit, through the wisdom of trusted Christian friends, and yes, through the guidance of those God equips to teach and lead us, like pastors in the context of a Sunday sermon.

God’s word can also come to us during a time of personal worship, as the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and guides us more into the people he desires us to be. And at the heart of that kind of experience you’ll find a seemingly simple question:

Are we listening?

It seems an obvious question, but it isn’t. We can spend hours reading God’s word, soaking in wonderful worship songs, taking in sermons and teachings, and even sitting in silence and still not really listen to God. Listening means putting aside all of our presuppositions of what God is trying to say to us. It means placing ourselves before the Lord without agenda or assumption and being willing to hear whatever he says, even if it challenges or frustrates us. Listening is not just about hearing. It’s about humbling as well. As the writer of Proverbs says:

“My child, listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.”—Proverbs 2:1-5 (NLT)

These are words spoken from teacher to student, but they also speak to the relationship between God and us. The invitations in this passage ask us to be attentive, patient, and passionate as we seek the things God would say to us:

—Tune your ears to wisdom
—Concentrate on understanding
—Cry out for insight
—Seek insight and understanding as you would a hidden treasure

This posture of patient, attentive listening is rooted in what we’ve already learned about worship from Isaiah 6. It comes from a spirit of humility—humility birthed as we acknowledge who God is, bring our sin to him, and receive his forgiveness. The first four movements of worship prepare us for the fifth. They till the soil of our hearts until we are ready to receive the word God desires to speak.

The question is…are we listening?

Oh Lord, Speak to me
Face to face
By Your Spirit, by your word
For your servant is listening
How I long to hear your voice
How I need to hear your voice

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) What times in your life have you felt God speaking most clearly to you? What did he use most significantly in those experiences—Scripture? Inner guidance from the Holy Spirit? Wisdom from a loved one or church leader? Spend some time giving thanks to God for his willingness to reveal his wisdom to his children.

2) Do you consider yourself a patient person when it comes to listening for God to speak into your life? Offer to him in prayer your desire to be open to both his methods and his timing for revealing wisdom to you.

3) Are you waiting on a word from God for your life right now? What would the posture of patient, attentive, and passionate listening look like for you right now? Are there things that need to be built into your life, or removed from your life, to facilitate that posture?

4) The chorus of today’s song links receiving God’s mercy to receiving God’s word:

Oh Lord, have mercy
Oh Lord, have mercy
By your great love, God most high
Speak to me

How do you see mercy and hearing from God being related to each other?

5) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”—Psalm 25:4-5 (ESV)

O Come To The Altar

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Day Forty

During this week we dwelling in Isaiah 6 and the call of the prophet. We are specifically examining the pattern of worship found in Isaiah’s encounter which also shapes the way many Christians and churches understand worship.

We are in the midst of exploring six distinct movements in Isaiah 6 that model a flow of worship for us. So far this week we have noted three:

  1. We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)

  2. We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)

  3. We are made aware of our own sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5)

As we examined yesterday, some may not find that third step very worshipful. And if Isaiah’s vision ended there, it would be depressing indeed—it would mean that we come into God’s presence and see our own sinfulness, and there is nothing that can be done about it.

But something has been done about it.

Isaiah, in the presence of the holy one, immediately feels overwhelmed by his sinfulness and the sinfulness of his people, and he cries out to God:

‘“Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’”—Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)

And just as immediately, God answers his cry:

“Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’”—Isaiah 6:6-7 (NIV)

The altar Isaiah sees is likely the altar we read about in 1 Chronicles, describing the priestly responsibilities of Aaron’s line:

“But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.”—1 Chronicles 6:49 (NIV)

The altar is the place of atonement, where offerings were presented to be consumed by fire as a sacrifice to God. The imagery would have been clear to Isaiah: the coal represents purification, drawn from the fires of atonement. His sin is burned away and he is cleansed in the fire of God’s mercy. It does not happen because of anything Isaiah does. It is a servant of God who comes to Isaiah with the means of forgiveness, and it is that servant who proclaims Isaiah’s guilt absolved and his sins atoned for.

This is the fourth movement in the Isaiah 6 pattern of worship:

  1. We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)

  2. We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)

  3. We are made aware of our own sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5)

  4. God assures us of his mercy and forgiveness (Isaiah 6:6-7)

In churches that use a weekly prayer of confession, this is often called the Assurance of Pardon, where a pastor or worship leader speaks a word (usually from Scripture) declaring our sins forgiven. For many this is a standard part of the service that sometimes can seem rote and familiar…a necessary stepping stone to the real “meat” of worship, which is usually the sermon.

But if we glance over this part of worship with too casual an attitude we miss the absolutely profound and powerful experience of being reminded that we are a forgiven people, washed clean because of the sacrifice of Jesus. That isn’t a mere formality in our experience of worship—it is the very essence of why Jesus came to earth. The Apostle Paul made that clear in his first letter to Timothy:

“The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,—of whom I am the foremost.”—1 Timothy 1:15 (NRSV)

We receive forgiveness in a way that echoes Isaiah’s vision. It does not happen because of anything we do. It is the servant of God, this time his only Son, who comes to us with the means of forgiveness, in this case drawn from the altar of his own willing sacrifice. And it is that same servant who proclaims our guilt absolved and our sins atoned for. How amazing is it that the same words Jesus spoke to the woman who anointed his feet and washed them with her tears, he now offers to us:

“Your sins are forgiven.”—Luke 7:48 (NIV)

There is always a danger in our Christian walk that we will begin to take God’s mercy for granted. This is not a new phenomenon…the Apostle Paul even saw it in the early church. In Romans 2 he warns Christians about “despising the riches of God’s kindness,” and in 2 Corinthians 6 he urges believers to guard against accepting God’s grace “in vain.”

I remember hearing a story about a professor at a Bible college who extended grace for late papers twice during the semester, and each time the students responded with great thankfulness and appreciation. But then at the end of the semester, when the final paper was due, he had a number of students who not only didn’t turn it in on time, they didn’t acknowledge that it was late. When he confronted them about it, they would reply with something like, “Don’t worry, teach, I’ll get it to you in a couple of days.”

They had gone from being appreciative and thankful for his grace to taking his grace and forgiveness for granted (and in turn received an “F” as he told it).

Friends, let’s not do that in our Christian walk. Let’s return each day to a worshipful response of awe, wonder, gratitude, and praise for the mercy God has extended to us. Let’s pray that we never despise the riches of God’s kindness of accept his grace in vain.

Our sins are forgiven. This is cause for worship.

Oh what a Savior
Isn't He wonderful?
Sing Hallelujah, Christ is risen
Bow down before Him
For He is Lord of all
Sing Hallelujah, Christ is risen

O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Time of Reflection

For today’s time of reflection you are invited to read passages of Scripture that are often used as an Assurance of Pardon in worship services. Sit with the truth they proclaim. Let it bring you to a place of worship and gratitude, renewing your trust in God’s mercy and your appreciation of Christ’s sacrifice.

Joel 2:12-13 (NRSV)

Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.

1 John 1:5-9 (NRSV)

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Titus 3:4-7 (NRSV)

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Psalm 103:8-12 (NRSV)

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.

Psalm 51

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Day Thirty-Nine

During this week we dwelling in Isaiah 6 and the call of the prophet. We are specifically examining the pattern of worship found in Isaiah’s encounter which also shapes the way many Christians and churches understand worship.

We are in the midst of exploring six distinct movements in Isaiah 6 that model a flow of worship for us. So far this week we have noted two:

  1. We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)

  2. We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)

Yesterday we saw how it is God’s holiness that inspires praise, as the seraphim in Isaiah’s vision proclaim:

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.’

Standing before a holy God will cause us to fall on our face in worship. It will cause something else in us as well: an awareness of our sin. Standing in the presence of the Lord we see ourselves clearly, as Isaiah experienced:

“‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’”—Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)

I appreciate how the King James Version translates the beginning of Isaiah’s cry: “Woe is me, I am undone!” As we come into God’s presence every pretense fails, every mask falls away, and every lie we tell about ourselves unravels. We are undone. This is the third movement of worship in Isaiah 6:

  1. We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)

  2. We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)

  3. We are made aware of our own sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5)

This may not seem very worshipful at first. What part does confession of sin have in a time of worship? Isn’t that something we do in private, so that it’s not hanging over us and casting a shadow over our time of worship? Wouldn’t confessing sin as part of worship just make it depressing, which would defeat the purpose?

Maybe that would be true…if the purpose of worship was to feel good. But that isn’t the purpose of worship. The purpose of worship is to live out our faith in God through song, prayer, Scripture, and fellowship in a way that it comes alive, bringing glory to God and transformation to our lives. And God is glorified when sin is confessed and hearts are opened. It’s a cleansing act that brings rejoicing in heaven (Luke 15:10) and also prepares us for the work of God in our lives (Hebrews 10:22). In fact, in James’ epistle he puts confession squarely in the context of our experience as a community:

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”—James 5:16a (NIV)

This worshipful aspect of confession is true in our personal times of devotion as well. Remember it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4), and it is an acknowledgment of his love and of the work of Jesus when we come to him humbly and openly.

In Scripture there are powerful moments of repentance and confession. The citizens of Nineveh in the book of Jonah, the tax collector in Luke 18, Jonah in the belly of the great fish…all of them significant examples of people who, like the prodigal son, "came to their senses” and confronted the reality of sin in their lives.

But perhaps the most poignant insight we have into confession and repentance comes in Psalm 51, where King David pours his heart out to the Lord following his sin. It is heart-wrenching and intensely personal. It is, to borrow language from the King James version of Isaiah 6, an example of being completely “undone.”

But in the presence of a merciful God, being “undone” is a glorious thing, because it opens the door for us to be “re-done.” We will delve more into this movement of worship tomorrow.

For today, let’s re-examine the concept of confession and see it as an act of worship. David acknowledges this in his prayer:

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.”—Psalm 51:16-17 (NIV)

David clearly saw his confession as a sacrifice to God that was an act of worship. May we do the same. After all, this is why Jesus came—that our sins might be forgiven.

Glory to God.

Save me from the guilt upon me, Lord who saves me
And my tongue will sing of Your righteousness
O Lord, the God who saves me
Open up my lips and I will declare Your praise, O Lord

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) Have you ever considered confession as an act of worship? How does that idea sit with you? Do you embrace it or resist it? Spend some time thinking about your response and offering it to God.

2) Are there places in your life right now that need to be “undone?” If so, perhaps the best thing to do right now is to turn off your computer/phone, open a Bible to Psalm 51, and sit before God with David’s words and make them your own.

3) The 19th century pastor Phillips Brooks said this about repentance. Spend some time considering these words and how they speak to you.

“Repentance, not proper behavior or even holiness, is the doorway to grace. And the opposite of sin is grace, not virtue.”—Phillips Brooks

4) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

Holy Is The Lord

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Day Thirty-Eight

During this week we dwelling in Isaiah 6 and the call of the prophet. We are specifically examining the pattern of worship found in Isaiah’s encounter which also shapes the way many Christians and churches understand worship.

As I mentioned yesterday, there are six distinct movements in Isaiah 6 that model a flow of worship for us. First is the invitation into God’s presence, which in the context of a worship service might be referred to as the “Call to Worship.” But it’s not an invitation that comes to us only on Sunday (or whatever day you go to worship). Every day God’s voice is calling us to be a worshiping people, and the invitation is always before us. Acknowledging and accepting it is the first step.

When Isaiah accepts that invitation and is given a vision of God, everything fades away but worship. There is nothing known in that moment but the reality of God’s supreme holiness:

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.’

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.”—Isaiah 6:1-4 (NIV)

The imagery and language here is all about awe, wonder, and praise. As the mysterious seraphim declare the holiness and glory of God, we find echoes of the psalmist:

“Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.”—Psalm 29:1-2 (NIV)

This is the second movement in our pattern of worship:

  1. We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)

  2. We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)

At this point you might be thinking, “Well…yeah. Isn’t that obvious? Aren’t we talking about worship?”

Yes, we are. But in this 6-fold pattern of worship it’s important to note that the hymn offered in Isaiah 6:3 is entirely about God. The focus is outward, and the language is vertical. That is crucial for both our corporate and personal experiences of worship.

If I have one concern about worship music today, it’s that sometimes the songs we sing speak more about our experience of God than they do about God himself. The focus is inward. And the danger is that we become the subject of worship more than God. Don’t get me wrong—there is a place in worship for songs that speak to God’s ability to change our lives and our gratitude for that truth, but it’s so easy to lose our sense of balance. If we leave a worship service or a time of personal worship and we’ve thought about ourselves more than God, something is wrong.

One way to guard against that is by beginning our time of worship by focusing outward with a song of praise that both calls us and causes us to “see the Lord, high and lifted up.” After all, what other response is there to being in the presence of the one, true, holy God of the universe but to fall on our faces and lift up his name?

Lately I’ve been thinking of this as a personal spiritual formation issue, because each day, as we’ve already seen, is an invitation to worship. And yet some days that spirit of worshipfulness seems to take root, and others it doesn’t. And it brings me to a question:

What difference would it make if I began each day, or each time of the day set apart for God, meditating on a song or passage of Scripture that was nothing but pure, outward-directed, vertical praise?

I am so quick in my times of devotion to jump to the question, “What’s in it for me?” I want to know the application, the nugget of wisdom that’s going to help get me through the day. But maybe I’m jumping to that question too quickly. Maybe what I need to do first is stop and do what Isaiah did: pay attention to the holiness of God and the fact that he alone is worthy of worship and praise.

Before I seek what needs to be applied, maybe I need to offer what needs to be ascribed: the glory due his name.

And together we sing
Everyone sing
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) What has the ability to draw your attention to the holiness and worthiness of God? How can you build that awareness more regularly into your personal walk of faith?

2) Isaiah mentions how the train of God’s robe “filled the temple.” This is an image of supreme kingly rule and authority. Are there voices or forces in your life that you sometimes give more weight and authority to than is healthy? What thrones in your heart and soul need to be abdicated and given back to God?

3) Psalm 34:3 says, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” How do you understand what it means to “magnify” and “exalt” the Lord? We can’t make God any greater than he is, so what do you think this call means for us?

4) Here are some other worship songs that have a strong outward, vertical focus. What others can you think of? Which ones resonate with you and why? Post any favorites in the comments section below.

I See The Lord

We Fall Down

Holy, Holy, Holy

5) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

Psalm 66:1-4 (TLV)

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of His Name—
make His praise glorious.
Say to God:
“How awesome are Your deeds!
Because of Your great power,
Your enemies cringe before You.
All the earth bows down to You,
and sings praises to You.
All sing praises to Your Name.”

Christ Our Hope In Life And Death

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Sixth Sunday of Easter

The song of hope and celebration for this Sunday is based on a question that was first asked (at least in written form) in 1563. It was the opening question of the Heidelberg Catechism, a tool designed for three purposes: 1) to teach the faith to young people, 2) to provide a preaching/teaching tool for pastors, and 3) to help Reformed churches in 16th century Germany define their theological unity and identity.

The Heidelberg Catechism is set up in a question/answer format, with 129 questions that are posed to the listener about everything from sin to conversion to worship and more. Adherents learned the answers to the questions, as well as the Scriptural basis for each question and answer.

The catechism begins with this question:

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

And the answer:

That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

The catechism, like any human-derived document, is not perfect by any means. But I do love the way it begins, because this first question calls us to remember whose we are and from where we derive our hope. In a time when hope often seems in short supply, it is important to remember that Christ is our only hope. When there is a shortage of hope, we will often seek it in ways that will ultimately come up empty. This song calls us to not only remember, but also to declare:

Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.

It reminds me of a lyric from another song:

In Christ alone, my hope is found.
He is my light, my strength, my song.

The song for today, like a catechism, consists of a number of questions, many of which ask us to consider what it is we cling to when the storms of life are raging. And the invitation is clear: if we are clinging to anything but Christ, we need to let go and return to “the rock of Christ.” He alone will see us through.

He alone gives us hope.

O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Scripture for Reflection and Worship

1 Corinthians 3:23 (GW)

You belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Ephesians 1:3-14 (NRSV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

Different

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Day Thirty-Five

“There’s something different about you.”

Depending on the context, hearing those words can be disheartening or encouraging. Thankfully, the person sitting across the table from me meant the latter. We had just finished a ridiculously stressful shift at the restaurant where I was working, and after it was over the manager offered to buy me lunch while we both took a break.

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for free food, so I said, “Sure.” We got our food, sat down at a table, and then he started to share his reason for wanting to have some time together:

“During that lunch rush, everyone on staff was a stressful mess…except you. You never lost your cool. You continued to be kind and gracious to customers, and even managed to crack some jokes to lighten the atmosphere. There’s something different about you.”

And then the question, “What’s your secret?”

Thankfully, the reason I was able to keep calm in the midst of impatient customers, malfunctioning drive-thru speakers, and overflowing shake machines wasn’t a secret, and so I was glad to share it with him. It was my first experience sharing my faith in Jesus.

When I was a kid in Sunday School, we used to sing This Little Light of Mine, which declared our desire to let our “light shine before others” (Matt. 5:16):

Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm going to let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm going to let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

But there’s a problem letting your light shine…it will make you stand out in the world. People will notice, they will note that there’s something different about you. And truth be told, we don’t always want that. A lot of the time we just want to keep our head down, tend to the concerns of life, and make it to the end of the day. We don’t want to call attention to ourselves.

But the thing is…if it’s the Holy Spirit causing light to shine, that light will not shine on us. It will illuminate the work of God in our lives. Jesus made that clear in his Sermon on the Mount:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

When it’s Jesus in us that stands out, it’s Jesus who will ultimately be seen. And the result will be glory given to God.

So much teaching on evangelism in the church these days is about methods and strategy, which can have their place, but in the end it will be the witness of a transformed life that draws someone to Jesus. Evangelism is not a program, it is a supernatural act. This supernatural dimension is clear in Jesus’ final commission to his disciples (Acts 1:8), where he tells them they will be empowered by the Holy Spirit, then they will be his witnesses.

When it comes to sharing our faith, the first step is yielding our lives. The more we allow the Holy Spirit transform us, the more the light of Christ will shine through us.

Even if it means…we’re a little different.

In fact, maybe that should be our prayer.

I wanna be different
I wanna be changed
'Til all of me is gone
And all that remains
Is a fire so bright
The whole world can see
That there's something different
So come and be different
In me

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) This song links spiritual formation with evangelism. Is that a connection you’ve spent time considering before? How do you see them interacting in your life? Spend some time before God asking him to continue his work of transformation in you, that your life might be completely yielded for his purposes.

2) Think of people in your life to whom you would hope to show the life-changing power of Jesus. What can you build into your daily walk that will remind you to pray for them, asking God to touch your relationship with them and show them the depth of his love?

3) The opening lines of this song are worth sitting with. Read them slowly and consider what it is they say to you personally:

I don't wanna hear anymore
Teach me to listen
I don't wanna see anymore
Give me a vision

4) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”—1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

Word of God Speak

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Day Thirty-Four

What do you do when you feel completely drained of spiritual energy, when you sit down to be with God and feel like even just sitting still in his presence takes more than you have to give? Maybe the worries of today are weighing heavy and don’t seem willing to quiet down, or perhaps it’s the worries for tomorrow. Or maybe it’s both.

We all know what it’s like to “hit a wall” spiritually.

Let me throw out a hypothetical situation for you as an example—suppose you’ve been writing an online daily devotional for a number of weeks, and after a particularly exhausting day you’re finding it difficult to put thoughts together for the next day’s entry. Again…completely hypothetical, right? How would you respond in that situation?

What do you do when you feel you’ve got nothing to give?

The question itself, however, hints at the real problem we often face: when we hit those “brick wall” moments, our inclination is to try our hardest to figure out what to do. In other words…we try to push through it and move beyond it by the force of sheer will. That’s a recipe for disaster. It will compound the exhaustion. It will deepen the pit we feel we’ve fallen into. Like being trapped in quicksand, our efforts to free ourselves will often make us even more stuck.

A few days ago we talked about finding peace by abiding in the one who is our peace. And yesterday we talked about the gift of God’s Word. What if we were to combine those two thoughts for today’s devotion? Could we find in that combination one potential answer to the question “What do we do when we hit a spiritual wall?” I suspect it’s an answer that many of us knew at one time, but have maybe drifted away from over the years:

When we are at our spiritual wit’s end, sometimes we need to just sit and read the Word of God.

I remember when I first came to faith in Christ and bought my first Bible. I couldn’t wait to read it. I didn’t necessarily study it…I just read it. And in reading it, I met with God. But as I grew in my faith, I moved into different ways of reading Scripture—ways that were wonderful and helpful, but in a way distanced me from that intimate fellowship I knew at first.

Our more involved ways of approaching Scripture can sometimes block us from the simple joy of meeting God in the pages of his Word. Don’t get me wrong—I am all for studying the Bible seriously, and I am an advocate for spiritual practices that engage Scripture meditatively and contemplatively.

But as I sit here tonight feeling a bit drained (Surprise! The hypothetical situation was me!), I find my heart wanting to just open a Bible and let the Word of God wash over me. No commentaries, no questions to answer…not even a spiritual practice to try and discern, “What is this passage saying to me?” As wonderful as those can be, sometimes even they can get in the way of simply dwelling in the gift of Scripture and the one who has given it to us.

Sometimes we just need to stop, grab a Bible (and maybe a cup of tea), find a comfortable place to sit…and read.

I’m finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Time of Reflection

It would be a bit counter-productive to offer reflection questions after speaking about the need to sometimes simply read Scripture. If it’s true that questions and methods of study can, at times, distract us from the simple fellowship with God that comes from spending time in his Word, then let’s embrace a different approach for today.

What I’d like to suggest is that you pick a favorite passage of Scripture. If one doesn’t come to mind, the book of Psalms is always a great place to go for a time of reading. Do what you can to decrease distractions—maybe turn off your phone and close the door to the room you’re in, whatever might help create a quiet and reflective space.

Below you’ll find an embedded piece of instrumental music that has been born out of a prayerful time of fellowship with God. The invitation to you is to listen to the music…and read. Read slowly and with no objective but to “be still and know.”

Let the Word of God “pour down like rain.”

The Word Is Alive

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Day Thirty-Three

The date this particular devotion is being published, May 6th, is an interesting one in church history. It was on May 6th (there is some disagreement about the year, but it was probably 1539 or 1541) that King Henry VIII issued a proclamation that an English-language Bible should be placed in every church of the land.

The reasons for and history behind Henry’s proclamation are long and involved, and may very well have been driven more by power than piety, but there is no ignoring the fact that making English-language Bibles available to the common person was a significant moment for the Christian church. The translation of the Bible into a language other than Hebrew, Greek, or Latin was a long time coming, and in fact it boggles the mind to think that it took a millennium and a half for it to happen. If you think about it…the body of Christ has had the Scriptures available in common languages for only about a quarter of the church’s long history. And this fact leads to a thought that sometimes hits me hard:

We take it so much for granted.

As I sit here writing this, there are a half dozen Bibles within my reach. And of course, I can log on to any number of sites and read Scripture from just about every translation available—it takes only a nanosecond to pull up any passage I choose. How amazing is that?

And yet, like many things that are readily available, we can sometimes forget how remarkable and unique it truly is. The very word of God, the record of God’s self-revelation to humanity, the story of our salvation, the testimony of those who knew Jesus Christ and began his kingdom work in the world—the Bible is all these things and more. It is truly a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path. (Psalm 119:105)

And it is available to us.

Of course, there are many in the world for whom this is not yet true. For some, it is because the Bible is denied them by political forces. For others, it is because they are still awaiting a translation in their own language. According to the Wycliffe organization, “There are currently 3,945 languages with no Scripture. 167 million people, speaking 2,014 languages, still need translation work to begin.”

In light of those humbling figures, we find ourselves even more appreciative of the fact that we can sit down, right where we are, and find ourselves immersed in the word of God. And in that immersion we are met. We are formed. We are spoken to.

As one of the most recent English translations renders a teaching from the Apostle Paul in Romans 15:

“For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.”—Romans 15:4 (NET)

So on this day when we seek to not take God’s Word for granted, let’s spend some time reading and meditating on it. Following our song, you will find a number of passages of Scripture…about Scripture. You’re invited to sit with these words and offer this time as extended gratefulness to God for the gift of his Word.

The Word is alive
And the world and its glories will fade
But His truth it will not pass away
It remains yesterday and forever the same

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Time of Reflection

You’re invited to sit with these words from God’s Word, each passage using a different English translation. You may choose to simply read them and sit in silence. You might wish to pray with these passage, using the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. Choose whatever posture and practice might help you engage with the Word and lead you into gratitude for the gift that it is to us.

Psalm 1:1-3 (New international version)

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

2 timothy 3:16-17 (THE VOICE TRANSLATION)

All of Scripture is God-breathed; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right so that God’s people may be up to the task ahead and have all they need to accomplish every good work.

psalm 19:7-10 (THE PASSION TRANSLATION)

Yahweh’s Word is perfect in every way;
how it revives our souls!
Yahweh’s laws lead us to truth,
and his ways change the simple into wise.
Yahweh’s teachings are right and make us joyful;
his precepts are so pure!
Yahweh’s commands challenge us to keep close to his heart!
The revelation-light of his Word makes my spirit shine radiant.
Yahweh’s decrees are trustworthy.
The fear of Yahweh is pure, enduring forever.
The rarest treasures of life are found in his truth.
That’s why God’s Word is prized like others prize the finest gold.
Sweeter also than honey are his living words—
sweet words dripping from the honeycomb!

Hebrews 4:12 (NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION)

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The Road Home

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Day Thirty-Two

There are lots of images and metaphors we use to try and capture what God has done for us in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We refer to it as…

—a rescue of dying souls
—a payment of immeasurable debt
—a satisfying of divine justice
—a ransom of captive prisoners

…and more. But for today’s purposes, let’s focus on this one:

—a guiding of lost wanderers

As the hymn says, we are all “prone to wander.” And before the cross and the empty tomb, we were all wanderers in a spiritual wilderness, unable to make our way home to the God who created us for relationship with himself.

But Jesus leads us out of that wilderness. He comes to us in our wanderings and shows us a way back to God. As he said in John’s gospel:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”—John 8:12 (ESV)

Whenever we talk about a soul that had been wandering far from God making their way home, the Biblical story most think of is the parable of the prodigal son. It’s an apt and powerful image—the lost son who rejects his father, claims his share of the family fortune early, and leaves home, only to find himself quickly bankrupted financially, emotionally, and spiritually. While earning a living tending to pigs (a particularly offensive job for a practicing Jew), he has a realization. As Jesus tells the story in Luke 15:

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”—Luke 15:17-20 (NIV)

It’s a beautiful image that echoes the love and patience of our heavenly Father who longs for his children to come home. But there’s a part it that, for me, doesn’t quite capture the experience of many lost souls who have found their way back to God—the son isn’t able to hear his father’s voice when he’s far from home and living among the unclean pigs. In our spiritual wanderings, the Holy Spirit is always active in the work of repentance and return. It’s not as much that we come to our senses, but that we hear the call of the one who loves us and desires that we find our way back.

Throughout our spiritual journey there are seasons when we drift away, as the hymn writer says, “prone to leave the God I love.” But God does not give up on us. He tenderly calls us to himself from whatever distant place we have run to, eager to see us renewed and restored.

At the cross and the empty tomb God called us out of death and into life. And he is still calling, still guiding lost wanderers home.

Rise up, follow me,
Come away, is the call,
With the love in your heart
As the only song;
There is no such beauty
As where you belong;
Rise up, follow me,
I will lead you home.

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Time of Reflection

For today’s reflections, you’ll be asked to sit with each verse of today’s song, followed by a question to ponder.

Verse One

Tell me, where is the road
I can call my own?
That I left, that I lost
So long ago.
All these years I have wandered
Oh, when will I know
There's a way, there's a road
That will lead me home?

1) What seasons of wandering have you known in your spiritual journey? Spend some time reflecting on what brought you to those seasons—are there patterns or common themes that can often prompt such a season in your life? Offer anything you notice to God, asking him to teach you about your own inclinations to wander.

Verse Two

After wind, after rain
When the dark is done
As I wake from a dream
In the gold of day,
Through the air there's a calling
From far away,
There's a voice I can hear
That will lead me home.

2) In seasons of wandering, how did God’s voice call to you? What did he use to show you the road that leads home? Spend some time in prayer offering gratitude to God for his faithful pursuit of us, even when we run the opposite direction.

Verse Three

Rise up, follow me
Come away, is the call
With the love in your heart
As the only song
There is no such beauty
As where you belong
Rise up, follow me
I will lead you home

3) Spend some time pondering this lyric: “There is no such beauty as where you belong.” Spend some time reflecting on what it means to find our home in God, where we belong.

4) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“Send me your light and your faithful care,
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.”—Psalm 43:3-4 (NIV)

Even Still

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Day Thirty-One

We continue to journey through this season of Eastertide, reflecting on the wonderful gifts that are available to us as a result of the cross and the empty tomb. We have forgiveness for sin, the offer of new life, and the promise of life eternal…all available to us because of Christ’s sacrifice and his victory over death.

But even in the light of all these promises, we are not spared the trials of this world. Jesus himself proclaimed that we will face troubles in this world:

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.”—John 16:33a (ESV)

But he followed that proclamation with a promise:

“But take heart; I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33b (ESV)

This is a promise we need to breathe in. We need to let it take root in our soul and allow it to transform us. Martin Luther said of these words from John 16:33, “Such a saying as this is worthy to be carried from Rome to Jerusalem on one’s knees.” It is a promise that we should never let out of our grasp.

But we do. We forget it so often. We look at the struggles in this life and so often we think they are ours alone to bear. Why do we do that?

I remember a friend who used to have a poster on their wall that said something to the effect, “Lord help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I can't handle together.” I think it’s that word “together” that we sometimes forget. We remember that God has promised to be with us through every trial, but for some of them it’s as if we barrel straight into them on our own and assume we have everything we need to conquer it.

We don’t. In fact, that’s not our job. Jesus didn’t say, “Take courage, you have overcome the world.” He said “Take courage, I have overcome the world.” He didn’t say, “In your ability to persevere you may have peace.” He said, “In me you may have peace.”

Whatever the reason we sometimes forget this important truth, there is a spiritual practice that can help us recenter when we feel the troubles of this world are too much. And it’s pretty much a single word:

STOP

When the storms of life seem overwhelming, rather than attacking them straight on we need to stop and be still. We need to stop and listen, because there is an invitation to us being spoke amidst the clamor and chaos:

Come to me.

If we’re going to know what it means to find peace, we need to center ourselves in the one who said, “In me you may have peace.” The image here is not finding peace because the trials stop. It’s of an abiding peace that comes from an abiding faith. And the one who offers that peace calls us to come to him even when the wind and waves are battering against us.

Will we stop and hear his invitation?

Come, you disconsolate, where'er you languish;
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) How is God calling you to STOP in the midst of your life right now and simply dwell in his peace and presence? If you are sensing that call…close your computer (or turn off your phone) and make it a priority before reading another word.

2) What can you build into your life to abide more regularly in the peace Christ offers in the midst of storms?

3) Do you resonate with the temptation to “barrel through” difficulties and try to take care of them in your own strength? Spend some time before God relinquishing any false self-empowerment that leads you astray, and receive the peace and power that only he provides.

4) Today’s song, based on a classic hymn, contains some wonderful names and images for God:

Joy of the desolate
Light of the straying
Hope of the penitent
Comforter
Bread of life

Do any of these resonate with you today? What about them speaks to you?

5) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”—Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

My God Is Still The Same

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Day Thirty

Change is hard. And there has been a lot of change over the past year.

Some of the changes we’ve experienced in this season of chaos will eventually settle back to something that looks familiar, but there are some things that will look drastically different. Our world has been permanently altered by the events of this pandemic.

The way we work…
The way we communicate…
The way we travel…
The way we interact in public…

…these are just some of the things that will likely be significantly affected moving forward, needless to say the countless lives that have been impacted and will never be the same.

And it’s just so hard.

More than ever we need a firm foundation in the midst of a shifting world. We need to be reminded of the eternal truths of God that give us solid ground on which to stand. We need these truths right now. We need to take them into our souls and let them be rooted deeply within us. Without them we can easily falter and fall, and so we do well to fix our eyes firmly on them in these changing times.

In the letter of James we find this beautiful promise:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”—James 1:17 (NIV)

The King James translation of this verse inspired the famous hymn lyric, “There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not.” James describes God as the “Father of the heavenly lights,” and like a strong and sturdy lighthouse he shines out the light of his good gifts that can pierce any darkness and shadow. It will not fail in even the heaviest storm. The language James uses echoes the imagery in the psalms describing God as a rock, a fortress, and a refuge—he is the one who is forever stable, forever trustworthy.

Many other Scripture passages speak to this immutable quality of God:

“I the Lord do not change.”—Malachi 3:6a (NIV)

“But You are the same, You will never change;
Your years will never come to an end.”—Psalm 102:27 (VOICE)

and of course…

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”—Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)

Friend, if the foundations of your life are shaking right now…you’re not alone. Let’s all take heart in the truth that the God to whom we belong is the God who is steadfast and sure. Not even death was able to alter his plans, which are good and trustworthy.

The world may be different, by our God is still the same.

When did He break His promise?
When did His kindness fail?
Never has, never will
My God is still the same
When did He lose His power?
When did His mercy change?
Never has, never will
My God is still the same, yeah
My God is still the same

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) Spend some time with God reflecting on ways your life has changed. How difficult have you found those changes? Be honest with God, and take heart that we can bring him all of our sadness and grief.

2) What does the unchangeable nature of God mean for you? How might you more firmly center yourself in this truth as you make your way through a chaotic world? What Scripture, what practices, and even what physical reminders can you use to remind yourself that God never changes?

3) Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on this quote from C.H. Spurgeon:

Consider what you owe to His immutability. Though you have changed a thousand times, He has not changed once.

4) Read these lyrics from today’s song slowly…one line at a time. Spend some moments prayerfully reflecting on the truth the represent and what it speaks to your soul.

Not once did He ever stop moving
Not once has He ever let go
Not once did He ever stop proving
Our God is in control

5) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”—Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)