I Will Not Stop Praying – 2020

John 3:16-17

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

I like to play golf. The weather has been great for some time and the fairways are firm and you get lots of roll. I like golf. Golf doesn’t always like me. I take lessons – but – the improvement is minute and often doesn’t last very long. I took a chipping lesson today. I have a tournament next week. I hope I remember what I learned.

I enjoy playing golf and the good friends I play with when we get get out. Some say – golf is a good walk – spoiled. Not me – I love the nature in golf – but I also like the game itself. I plan to improve my game this fall (like every year) – with my continued weight loss – I plan to get back to walking the course some too. I usually play better when I walk the course – and the weight loss (65 plus pounds from my max) should help (my goal is 100 pounds). I’d like to play in the 70’s (not the temperature folks) on a regular basis. This summer I only hit the 70’s ten or so times. Most of the year I played in the 80’s with a few really bad round. We shall see! I’m trying to be more consistent.

I do what some think the most boring thing imaginable – I watch golf on TV (I’d rather be playing – but I do enjoy a good match on TV). When you watch golf – many times in the crowd around a tee-box – you see someone with a sign that simply says John 3:16. The assumption is that most people know what that verse says – or maybe it will cause them to go and look it up. It is part of this morning’s passage. John 3:16-17 – ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

2020 – A Time for More Love Not Less

Deuteronomy 6:5

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

I’m sure you have heard this before – love is a core value in the Christian faith. Showing love to one another is a significant characteristic of our Christian walk – or at least it is supposed to be. I believe that love seems to be missing from our society these days and also from many who claim to follow Christ. Some folks who claim to be Christians – like some of our politicians today – tend to take sides on issues and show anything but love to those who disagree with them. Like some – we tend to forget that even when we disagree – we should show love. Even when our disagreements are over our theology!! Loving one another – even in the face of disagreement – is something we are called to do by Jesus.

I created a song for my grandchildren. I sing it with them whenever they’re here or on FaceTime. It goes like this – I love Pop, Pop loves me, and that’s the way it’s going to be! If I have written it before (and I know I have) – I just love being a Pop. I love my five grandchildren – a sixth one will join them soon – from South Korea! I love showing them how much I love them – by giving them my focus when they are around. I didn’t always do that with my children. I want to be a better Pop than I was a Dad. They love to sit with Pop and comb his greying hair (it may be greying – but at least it’s staying). I also love getting kisses from my girls.

In Christ – we are called to love others – even as we love ourselves. Jesus was asked what were the greatest commandments – and part of His response is to love our neighbors – those around us – even as we love ourselves. Matthew 22:39 – And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

We Gotta Tell Somebody

Luke 19:40

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

How many of our readers today enjoy a good detective/police show like me? Some of my personal favorites over the years are shows like Hill Street Blues – Dragnet – Blue Bloods – NCIS – and yes – Baretta. On these TV shows victims are often encouraged to speak out or to witness so that someone else will not have to suffer what they have suffered. Trying to keep others from being hurt is a strong argument and many times a victim will cooperate to put the bad guys behind bars.

An episode of Blue Bloods had Erin Reagan use that very approach with a young woman who had been attacked – trying to get her to testify so that others wouldn’t be attacked. Many detective shows use this approach or episode design. Speak out so that others will be protected or saved.

Today’s passage records the words of Jesus speaking about His disciples to the Pharisees – if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to make His disciples keep quiet. Jesus told them – if they did keep quiet – the rocks would cry out. Are the rocks clearing their throats in our life dear readers? Here is today’s passage in partial context – of course you will recognize it as part of the Palm Sunday story. Luke 19:35-40 – 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

We Do Not Walk Alone!

2 Timothy 4:17

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.

Have you ever been in a tough place because of your faith? A place where the enemy was out to get you? A place where those around you were beating on you – seemingly from all angles? A place where there seemed to be no way to safety? I would imagine we have all faced such times. We recently talked about witnessing our faith in our Bible studies and when we do so in an unsaved world – we will come under attack. Remember the words from yesterday’s devotion and from our Lord – John 15:18 – If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

When I think of being attacked for my faith I think of the stories in the Bible of Daniel and of Shadrach – Meshach and Abednego. Daniel was thrown into a Lion’s den – a den filled with very hungry lions! The three boys were thrown into a fiery furnace – so hot that the heat killed those taking them to the furnace. Each time it was because they were being faithful to God and wouldn’t disobey Him. Each time God delivered them – or as Paul writes – stood at my side and gave me strength.

Our Hope Is In Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 15:19

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men (and women).

Over the years – in the churches I have been blessed to serve – there have been a number of babies born into the church family. It is only natural that these parents – some first time parents – would have hopes and dreams for their children. Just this week I watched as one new parent held their new child and stared into their eyes. Parents have hopes for her their children! It is normal for parents to want more for their children than they had even. Hopes and dreams might run along the lines of: a love for Jesus – to do well in school – to find a way to be a useful part of our society – to be athletic – to love the arts – to find someone to spend the rest of their lives with (when the time is right—like 25) – and more.

What are/were your hopes for your children or even your grandchildren? Did those hopes all come true or were some of them dashed by decisions along the way – yours – theirs or someone’s?