Monthly Archives: June 2020

“Faith Spurs”

“Continue to pray and do not lose heart,” are words of encouragement that Jesus gives to his followers.

There are many situations and events in our world, our country and in each of our personal lives these days that can cause us to lose heart.  Jesus’ words give a sense of comfort and peace.

? Are you growing weary of:

  • social distancing
  • return spikes in the COVID virus
  • working at home
  • not working
  • limiting activities outside your home
  • issues in our society such as justice and equity that do not really change
  • concerns about marriage; being single; parenting ?

Are you weary of praying about these concerns and other problems and not seeing definitive answers?

Jesus Speaks to Weariness
Jesus “gets it,” and he addressed this weariness regarding prayer. In fact he addressed it using a parable concerning a social injustice.

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tells his followers a parable to reinforce the truth that they should continue to pray and not lose heart. To emphasize his point, Jesus tells the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. (See Luke 18:1-8)

The widow had been unjustly treated, cheated out of what was rightfully hers (Luke 18: 3-4).

She went to the “source of justice” for help, but found more corruption there (Luke 18: 4).

The widow did not shrink back, she continued to speak out and seek justice from the “corrupt, uncaring” judge.  In the end her perseverance was rewarded, not because of the “good heart” of the judge towards her, but because he did not want to continue to be “annoyed” by her (Luke 18:5).

Jesus then assures his followers that God is the righteous judge who sees and will answer (Luke 18:7-8).

Know These Truths
Jesus teaches several truths here:
1. God is good and just unlike the unrighteous judge.

  • “He (God) loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” Psalm 33:5
  • “For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice. The upright will see His face.” Psalm 11:7

 2. God is the sovereign righteous Judge; he will see to it that justice and righteousness are brought about. 

  • “God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.” Psalm 7:11-13

 3. Do not lose heart, keep praying. Prayer is to evidence true faith.

  • “… praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints… ”  Ephesians 6:18

“Do Not Lose Heart”
In Luke 18:1, Jesus states the purpose of this parable; “Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart…”

What does it mean to lose heart? In the Greek New Testament the word is ἐykakein meaning: “to be fainthearted; to have inner weariness; to be exhausted; to be utterly spiritless; to lose enthusiasm and to become fearful.” Have you been feeling this way?

When we lose heart, we lose faith in the sense that we stop trusting in the goodness and faithfulness of God. When we become fainthearted and weary, we lose the ability to envision God answering our prayer.

When we persevere in prayer we continue to trust God. As Jesus walked and talked with his disciples he knew that keeping faith over time in difficult circumstances would be a challenge for his followers.

Jesus Increases Faith
Jesus understands how difficult it can be for us to believe what we cannot see; to trust that God will help when a situation seems beyond help; or to wait over extended periods of time to see God working.  Jesus understands that trusting God has its difficulties, so he provides truths and promises to help build up and increase our faith.

In Luke 17:5, a few paragraphs before Luke 18:1, we read that after Jesus taught on forgiving others, the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. They realized how challenging forgiving others can be.

Jesus responds with this encouragement: “He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke 17:5-6)

Jesus helps the disciples out.  He reduces faith to the size of a mustard seed. Mustard seeds are 1 to 2 millimeters or 0.039 to 0.079 inches in diameter.  Jesus uses this small measure to reassure us that we can have faith in seemingly impossible situations.

When I am faced with a difficult situation that overwhelms me, I remember the measure that Jesus gave. In my mind’s eye I see a tiny mustard seed, the tiniest one in the pack maybe the size of a pin prick, and I think, “OK, Jesus, I can have this little measure of faith to trust you.”

Another encouragement that Jesus provides regarding faith is in Matthew 7:7-11.

  • “Keep asking and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

Here, as in the parable in Luke 18:1-8, Jesus emphasizes the idea of “keeping on” asking; continuing to ask, persevering in prayer.

I believe Jesus spoke truths like this at varying parts of his life to provide “faith spurs,”or faith encouragements for us along the journey.

Find Faith Spurs
I am weary. Sometimes I feel weighed down by everything that is happening, even though I see good in these things. Maybe you are feeling the heaviness of life right now. Look for the “faith spurs” that Jesus provided in the Word. Read them, pray them, and allow the words of Jesus and the Spirit to quicken your spirit. Then share them with your fellow travelers.

Got Justice?

Justice is not necessarily found in or confined to the courtroom. Justice and righteousness are qualities of God’s love and are reflected in the heart and lives of his sons and daughters.

I believe that God is shining a spotlight on our nation today and showing us the inconsistency and hypocrisy in our lives, our hearts and in our “religion.”

True Religion
Righteousness and justice are facets of God’s love. The Word of God clearly connects love for our fellow man with our love for God. In fact scripture says it is impossible to have a right relationship with God while not loving our fellow man.

1 John 4:20-21 clarifies this connection.

  • “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

The two greatest commandments from God to mankind are to love God wholeheartedly and to love our neighbor as our self. Jesus states this clearly in Mt. 22:36-40

  • “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

In John 13:34, Jesus re-states the second command with a slight change that makes it more powerful.

  • “A new command I give you: Love one another.as I have loved you, so also you must love one another.” John 13:34

This new command of Jesus defines the love we are to have for one another as a “lay down your life for” kind of love, which is exactly what Jesus did. Such love is characterized by humility; recognizing the image of God in others; valuing them; and being willing to do what is right for another person even at personal sacrifice to ourselves.

The racism that I have been seeing and reading about is not love. The recent spotlight on racism in our country is teaching me about the scope and depth of racism. I am learning that racism does not recognize value in another person or people; it does not meet needs in fact most often hinders access to having those needs met. Racism is grounded in pride, fear, and hatred; and wears boots of injustice and unrighteousness.

Racism is incongruous with being a Christian. As I have been looking through scriptures, and I am seeing that justice and righteousness are core values to God:

  • “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” Psalm 89:14

Justice and Righteousness Matter
The Law and the Prophets have much to say about justice and righteousness, and therefore have much say to us in the 21st century. I put forward some of these scriptures for us to consider. While the passages included here from both the Law and the Prophets have a specific meaning in their context with Israel, these passages speak very loudly as to what God values in His people, or those who claim to be in relationship with Him.

Before we look at some of these truths, let’s review some general definitions.

  • Righteousness in many of these passages refers to what is right, what is ethical, what is equitable and just.
  • Justice has several definitions but all of them have the same related undertone. Here are a few of the meanings of justice: judge rightly with a sense of truth, equity and rectitude

Righteousness and justice are often paired together in scripture and at times seem to be used synonymously.

Other words such as humility, compassion/mercy and love are used in association with justice and righteousness thus further describing what justice and righteousness look like.  These passage make evident the will and heart of God. God wants to see justice, righteousness and compassion in our relationships!

  • “The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” Ps. 33:5

 Let Truth Impact
Please spend some time reading these and meditating on them. These passages are powerful in and of themselves, they need no commentary. They have much to say to the “church” today regarding racism in all its forms.

“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly…” Lev. 19:15

“Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.” Deut. 24:17

“Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”  Deut. 27:19

“Hear this, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right…” Micah 3:9

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

“All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.”  Proverbs 21:2-3

“For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice. The upright will see His face.” Psalm 11:7

“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute,” Psalm 82:3

“But you must return to your God, maintaining love and justice, and always waiting on your God.” Hos. 12:6

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amos 5:24

“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’” Zechariah 7:9

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow’s cause…” Isaiah 1:17

“This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.” Isaiah 56:1

“This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.” Jeremiah 22:3

A Concluding Reflection
Reading these passages one after the other screams out the heart of God and impacts my soul. As I read these passages, I am struck by God’s immense patience and grace, and his long held desire for us to love one another and treat each other with justice and righteousness.

In the late 60’s and 70’s, I studied about civil rights and racism and their impact on the education and development of young people. I was involved in preparing students for integration into formerly all “white” schools, but since then I have been distracted by life, even by my “religion;” and I have not been attentive to applying justice and righteousness in support of Black people.

I have not killed a black man out of uncontrolled rage and hatred; denied a black family a loan for a home; or equitable access to an education, but I deem myself a part of the problem. I have not given these injustices meaningful consideration. I have not spoken out against these and other injustices. Making “black lives matter” is part of my relationship with God and my love for Him.

I pray that you will not take offense at this article but rather I pray that all who read this will allow these truths to impact your heart and all your relationships.

Ask God to Teach You

Prayer is crucial to developing intimacy with God.  Engaging in prayer shows our desire to be in a genuine relationship with God.  There are many facets to prayer which lead us deeper into knowing God. The scriptures themselves help us understand how to pray; what to pray for; how God’s character is the basis for our faith and how His character reveals ways we interact with Him.

The “teach me/us” passages in the Bible lead us to pray in humility and dependence on God. When we ask God in prayer to teach us, we are opening ourselves up to God working His will in us. Asking God to “teach us” reveals if our heart is willing to surrender to God, Surrender is a foundational building block for developing intimacy.

Asking God to “teach us” comes from a humble heart that recognizes our need for God’s wisdom and help. It leads us to interact with God as close friends, and as His children.

Teach Us
The concept of God teaching us is throughout the scriptures. “Teach me, teach us,” expressions are throughout the text of the Bible.

In scripture we see numerous references to different things that men and women of God asked Him to teach them. Presented below are a few of these requests.

Teach Us Your Ways
Moses was a man of great intimacy with God, so much so that scripture reports that Moses face was radiant with light, reflecting the glory of God, when he returned from a time with God. Later in Moses’ life, after walking with God, gaining much knowledge about God and his law; and having many experiences, we still see Moses asking God to teach him.

If we look at the context, Moses seems to connect being taught by God with growing deeper in an intimate relationship with God.

In Exodus 33 Moses asks God to be able to see God. In a sense, Moses is asking God to teach him more about who God is. God answers Moses’ prayer by passing before Moses and allowing him to see the back of God’s glory.

Moses seems to have a deep relationship with God, yet he wants to know God more and prays to see Him more clearly and deeply. We see that even though Moses walked fervently with God, he knew he had more to learn and asked God to teach him. In Exodus 33:13, Moses prays,

“If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” Ex. 33:13

 King David understood the need to be taught the ways of God, the ways God wants man to live. In Psalm 25:4-5 David asked God to teach him God’s ways and guide him. This concept of guiding implies a continual teaching and leading, not just a one-time experience. David connects learning from God with salvation.

“Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.” Ps. 25:4-5

Teach Us Integrity of Heart
David, who the scripture describes as a man after God’s own heart, shows humility by asking God to teach him His ways. David wants to know truths about God, His character, and His will (way), so that David can apply God’s truth to his life and relationship with God.

David asks God to teach him His ways and  to have integrity of heart.

 “Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart
to fear your name.” Ps. 86:11

Our hearts are scattered by our seeking things for ourselves, such as power, position, titles, influence, relationships, or possessions. We can tend to seek these over God and over loving other people. It is important to ask God to teach us to have a oneness of heart that values God and other people. Our fleshly nature hinders us in having this integrity. Is not this in line with the 2 great commandments: loving God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength; and loving one another as Jesus loved us?

Teach Us to Follow You, God
It is difficult for me to understand the power of my own self will, but I am learning it is strong. I can misidentify self-will as creative thinking; as exercising freedom, or as merely seeking excellence in my performance.

Jesus understood the power of the “self,” and the need to be taught how to do God’s will. He knew it would be the thing that hinders us in following Him. So, Jesus commanded: “Then Jesus said His to disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Mt.16:24

King David understood the need to learn to follow God’s leading. David asked God to teach him to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.

“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143:10

Teach Us How to Live
When King Solomon dedicated the temple to God, he prayed a prayer asking God for many things for the people. One thing he asked was for God to teach the people how to live.

“When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.” 2 Chronicles 6:26-27

King Solomon was given great knowledge and wisdom by God (1 Kings 4:29-31). If this man prayed for God to teach his people how to live, perhaps we would do well to follow his example.

Teach Us to Pray
The disciples of Jesus saw the close relationship that Jesus had with the Father and so, they asked Jesus to “teach them to pray.”

“One day, in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord teach us to pray”  . . .  So Jesus told them, ‘When you pray, say’ …” Luke 11: 1-2

We notice that the disciples did not ask to have power to do signs and wonders. They did not ask for renown and reputation, or to be honored by men. The disciples saw the intimacy that Jesus had with the Father and they wanted to that kind of relationship with the Father.

Let’s Get Humble and Ask God to Teach Us
It is my conviction that as we relate to God and seek deeper levels of intimacy we will pray “teach me” prayers. As for me, these are some things I will ask God to teach me. As you can see from my list, I have much to learn.

  • teach me to see the pride and arrogance in my heart that leads me to do my own will;
  • teach me to trust God and wait on Him to work even in difficult and seemingly unfair situations;
  • teach me to listen to God; and to walk in step with His Spirit;
  • teach me to be more alert and aware of opportunities to obey God throughout each day;
  • teach me to see God’s value in me and others;
  • teach me to do the word of God and not just read it or hear it or agree with it;
  • teach me to love others the way Jesus did;
  • teach me to have a pure heart and a deep sense of honesty in all I do and say;
  • teach me how to speak God’s truth to others without harming them or being self-righteous.

What will you ask God to teach you? Please give this much consideration. Pray and note how this is deepening your intimacy with God.