What Is v. What Ought to Be

In this evening's scripture reading I was struck by the reoccurring juxtaposition of things that are (or were) apparent in the world and those things that ought to be. The Lord repeatedly in His Word seeks to show us the difference and encourage us not to 'be conformed to the patterns of this world'. Instead, we should live a counter-cultural existence... truly following the Lord and not our own desires, seeking peace and promoting justice.

Straying v. Following

¹⁶ This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' (Jeremiah 6:16)

In much of Jeremiah, we listen as the Lord laments about Israel and how Israel has left Him. Here is one example. The Lord mourns the fact that although He holds the path to rest for His people, they have turned away from Him. It's so easy to look at the Israelites and think, "Silly people!" But aren't we often so much the same?

There are often so many voices telling us where to turn and what to go seek out, when we should only be following Jesus. We can have faith in His promise that after seeking first the kingdom of God, "all these things will be added unto you." But I am also guilty of of not following the only one worth following. In fact, I'm just now feeling the effects of high stress about my program. I've developed an acute case of gastritis, and this evening I told Brad that I realize "it's just not worth it to get stressed out. You end up worse off than you started." And if I were focusing on following the Lord, I imagine that things would be different.

War v. Peace

¹¹ They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
"Peace, peace," they say,
when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 8:11)

Sometimes I do feel pretty radical, being a pacifist... especially being a Christian pacifist in Tucson. To most people around here, I think it seems quite contradictory to some. But not to me. As I read these words, I can see God's disappointment at the wounds of His people, personalizing the pain. The Lord further laments that this is done 'as though it were not serious.' The way this is stated implies that it is very serious to the Lord that His people are in pain. He's further upset at people who claim there is peace when there is none.

We here in the U.S. may easily be tricked into thinking that we are living in a time of peace. Yet the U.S. itself is still involved in war, not to mention the war in many other parts of the world. It is our place, instead of shouting 'peace, peace' where there is no peace, we exist to be a living peace church in the world. By creating peace at home and living in a way that is at peace with people and our environment. I can't help but remember the amazing testimony of the Nigerian Church of the Brethren. In the midst of terrible religious unrest, this church boldly proclaims and lives its commitment to peace. There is violence here at home as well; it is our time to be the peace we want to see in the world.

Justice v. Injustice

¹Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,²older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.

²¹I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. (1 Timothy 5:1-3, 21)

In Timothy, we read a long list of 'shoulds', and wherever there is advice, we can imagine that there was a reason this advice was given. If everyone did this already, there would be no context in which the advice would be applicable. Instead, this meant that there were some who were harshly rebuking older men, treating people unlike they would their own family and not taking care of the widows who needed them. Then comes the advice- that we would not be impartial or show favoritism. Jesus calls us to live lives of justice and to treat everyone fairly, loving everyone equally. There are no exceptions for Jesus. He came for everyone.

The other night I was sad to hear a part of a conversation in which people were mentioning our Lord as someone who "is gonna send me to Hell, cuz I did that." They've somehow missed the message. Jesus did not come to judge or condemn the world... but to save us. He did not even just issue justice... He gave us more than we deserve... all of His life, all of His love... so that we may extend that love to every single person "without favoritism or partiality". Since He loved us so fully while we were sinners, we can extend more than justice... Jesus' perfect love. Spread that message, not one of judgment but of an eternal love.

100% Effective Fitness Program

...rather, train yourself to be godly.

⁸For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:7-8)

There may be some of us who are looking forward to the holidays with the photos and people we will see, hoping to get in tip-top shape for that special holiday dress or party. And while it's find to have goals for fitness and health, God reminds us that there's a much more important training schedule. We are to be following a 100% effective fitness program that focuses not on our weight or muscle build, but on our our spiritual well-being... which has value for all things.

Though not explicitly stating so, I believe this scripture suggests: If you spend 1 hour running/biking/lifting/walking/doing yoga/at the gym a day, you should spend at least that much time in the word. It is that much more important. So let's begin the program with 3 steps...

Be It: Live By Example

¹¹Command and teach these things. ¹²Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. (1 Timothy 4: 11-12)

We've heard the ironic saying "Do as I say, not as I do." And we're also familiar with the saying "Actions speak louder than words." Both sayings underscore the importance of our 'doing' aligning with our 'saying.' If we are truly working on our spiritual selves, we should set an example in our entire life: what we say, how we live, how we love others, how we express our faith and how we live with pure thoughts and actions.

This week I saw such a beautiful example by many of my friends who lived out their faith. I was presenting a poster on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, and my friends came to visit me at my poster and hear about my latest research. It's a busy time in the semester, and everyone has a lot going on, but they made time on a Friday afternoon nonetheless (!) to come and visit me. As I told my friend Tova on Friday, their presence and encouragement "made me feel so loved." It meant so much to me - their actions said more than words could've said.

Read It: Know God's Word

¹³Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. (1 Timothy 4:13)

We are also reminded to devote ourselves 'to the public reading of Scripture.' It's interesting that it's not just the reading of scripture, but the 'public' reading of scripture. There is something special about reading scripture together with others. That's why I so much value our time in Bible study together on Tuesday nights. We have time in which we are sharing about the Bible with one another. I'm always blessed by the insights the Holy Spirit provides through those in our Bible Study as we read through Esther.

In grad school, I read countless pages a week. Although I could count them, I often avoid it in order to get me through. While reading so much for my classes, I need to remember the most wonderful book... the book the Lord has given to me... the one I should turn to every day, the one I should devote myself to, for my spiritual fitness program.

Obey It: Use the Gifts God Has Given You

¹⁴Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. (1 Timothy 4:14)

And with this verse, the image of 'the body' comes back to my mind. As members of the body of Christ, we each have gifts that God has given to us, and it is our responsibility to use that which God has given to us. Some are amazingly friendly and social. Others are wonderful servants and workers. Others are great listeners and provide encouragement. Others are wise and intelligent. We are all probably some mixture of these, but we probably have a few gifts that resonate with us. It's what people say to us, "You are so.... [hospitable, kind-hearted, generous, insightful, dedicated, musically talented]."

Whatever it is, there is a way to use that for the Lord, for our Christian family... to practice and use the gift the Lord has given us... an important part of our training.

Family of Faith

I took a break from journaling during my Bible reading, but I realized that I really missed it. So I'm really going to try again to make time for it every day. I might just have to make myself into a night time devotion-er.

What I read today reminded me of the image of the family of faith that surrounds us and that we enter into as we confess our faith in Christ. We become Jesus' children and gain an adopted Father who guides us and leads us and fills us with His Spirit. And at the same time, we enter into a family in our church family... with responsibilities for all of each other, but also for our individual families.

Taken Care of By Our Family (Our Father)

⁴ The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

⁵ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew ^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

⁶ "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."

⁷ But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

⁹ Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." (Jeremiah 1:4-10)

I have always found this scripture encouraging, because I often feel like Jeremiah. I am so small. I am just a child. How can I do something for the Lord? Something that will truly bring Him honor and glory and further His kingdom? Right now... it's especially strong. As Brad and I work with a new church start, it's so easy to get discouraged, to feel like nothing's happening, to wonder if we can ever really make a difference, grow a church, be His servants and bring more to Him. But, that's just it. We can't... but God can. "Apart from Him, we can do nothing."

Just as the Lord replies to Jeremiah, so it is with us. In recognizing that we are just children, unable to do anything on our own, we open ourselves to God... that He may work through us. And we trust that He will give us the words we need and He will send us to the people He knows need to hear about Him. Lord, I trust that You will lead us into conversations with those who need You, that it will be Your power that guides us, that You will grow the church and it may be Your power and strength working in us that allows more to know You.

Taking Care of Our Family

¹Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} he desires a noble task. ²Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. ⁵(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) ⁶He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

⁸Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁹They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons...

you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:1-10)

Though some may use this passage as a measuring stick for who can be an overseer or a deacon, I view this passage differently. If you look at what is being repeated throughout this chapter, there is the theme of 'family'. In fact, verse 15 reminds how people 'ought to conduct themselves in God's household'. To me that makes a lot more sense, since (after all) everyone should be doing all of these things. There would be few to argue that a non-deacon shouldn't be "self-controlled, respectable", etc.

Instead, I see this chapter as reminding us how important it is not only to know the scriptures, to study the word, to be in church, etc. God also calls us to care for our family. Now that certainly means our earthly family... the child, the wife, the husband, the cousin, the brother, etc with whom God has blessed us. In fact, this might've been revolutionary when it was written. Judgments of who should be a deacon were probably decided based on who had best studied all of the ancient writings, who had enough memorized. (I imagine an intense comps exam with the ancient rabbis!) But I doubt they ever went into the applicants homes to look at the relationships there or asked if the deacon-to-be spent time with his kids, wife, parents. How did he treat them? Did he love and appreciate them? If we are not taking care of our family at home, how can we venture to take care of others outside of our home?

But additionally, it means those in the "household of God". Think of the Lord healing on the Sabbath and all that He did for so many people. He was taking care of His family. When we follow Jesus and live as He did, we study His words, but we also act as His hands and feet... looking at the world around us and serving our family- those in our own home, those with blood relations as well as those beyond our doorways.

Lord, show me how to serve all of Your children, all of my brothers and sisters. Show me the places where You would have me be Your hands and feet in the world.... taking care of this family of faith... with the strength You give me.