Tuesday Refocus: August 15

“Lament will not allow us to revert to the easy answers.” - Soong Chan-Rah

Our church has been studying the Gospel of Mark this year. Throughout the book we see glimpses of the humanity of Jesus grieved over sin and death. Jesus weeps, groans, and sighs as he encounters the brokenness wrought by sin in the world and on people made in the image of God.

We are so quick to avoid pain and suffering. We numb, distract, ignore, and brush past the brokenness of the world. And when we are left without option we even use Scripture to shield ourselves: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Of course this passage is true. But isn’t it interesting that Jesus never settles for Bible bandaids? We see in Scripture that he enters into the suffering of others, even though he knows he will heal, restore, and reconcile people. Jesus - though fully God and fully man - gives voice to the pain of the world, and people.

People are limited in our ability to heal, but by entering into the suffering of others (rather than avoiding, or Bible-bandaiding) we can give presence and peace that glimpses Christ for others. And as we enter in, we can celebrate that Christ has come to enter into the suffering of the world by taking our sin upon Himself at the cross (1 Peter 2:24). And we can look with hope, longing, and expectation to the day where he will return to wipe every tear, and set all things right (Rev 21:1-4).

Jesus, give us the courage to enter into the suffering of the world. In Your name we pray, amen.

With,

AB

January 25: Tuesday Refocus

“As God took Eve out of the side of Adam and formed a woman, so out of the wounded heart of Jesus, God is forming a new race, and that new race is going to be the ultimate human race.” - A.W. Tozer

We do not have a God who is unable to sympathize with us (Hebrews 4:15).

We have a God who bears eternal scars (John 20:27).

We have a God who has brought healing to our sin-sick hearts through His suffering (Isaiah 53:5).

We have a God who has brought peace to His people for enduring our punishment (Isaiah 53:5).

We have a God who for the joy set before Him endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).

Peace, joy and life to the full are the new reality for this new humanity, thanks be to God.

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” Ephesians 2:14-16

God, may the peace that we have with you through Christ make us peacemakers among friends and enemies alike. May we live like the representatives of this new humanity - live as carriers of the light and life of Jesus. In His name, amen.

Grateful,

AB

November 9: Tuesday Refocus

'[Prayer] is an earnest and familiar talking with God.' — John Knox

Something about prayer always seems mysterious - even to the most deeply discipled among us.  The disciples of Jesus felt this was an area that they too needed His coaching (Luke 11:1-13).

Most people probably assume that prayer is mainly intercessory prayer.  Praying to God, that He would move on behalf of myself or another.  Lord, please give me what I want kind of requests.  Although this is certainly one form of prayer, if we are to pray without ceasing as the Scriptures instruct (1 Thess 5:17), then our prayers must be more than wishlists.  

The Psalms are the prayer book for God’s people.  We see intercession and petition in the Psalms of course, but we also see that prayer is a posture of heart, a rhythm of life, and shaped around the contours of every day.

‘…pour out your heart before Him…’ (Ps 62:8)

‘O Lord, all my longing is before You…’ (Ps 38:9)

‘For God alone, my soul waits in silence…’ (Ps 62:1)

‘I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways.’ (Ps 119:15)

‘With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of Your righteousness, Yours alone.’ (Ps 71:16)

For prayer to be an earnest and familiar talking with God, we must continue to posture our hearts toward communion, union, and relationship with God.  

Open hands, 

open hearts, 

open ears.  

Speak Lord, your servant is listening… All the amens.

Amen,

AB

February 2: Tuesday Refocus

‘The early Christians did not say, in dismay, ‘Look what the world has come to,’ but, ‘Look what has come to the world!’ - E. Stanley Jones

For all of our hand-wringing have we forgotten?  

Our Savior dwelt among us (Jn 1:14).

For all of our uncertainty have we forgotten? 

Our Savior lived, died, and was buried (1 Jn 3:5, Rom 6:10, Is 53:9).

For all of our short-sighted fear have we forgotten?  

Our Savior has been raised and ascended (Acts 13:30, Acts 1:9).

For all of our current and future anxiety have we forgotten?  

Our Savior will return to dwell among us once more:

‘And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”’ - Revelation 21:3-4

For our troubled hearts, for our troubled world, this is good news.  

Thank you, Lord, that the Gospel is true.  That Jesus is on the throne, and we have nothing, and no one to fear.  In Your name, amen.

Resting,

AB