December 17: Tuesday Refocus

‘God hides His most precious treasures in our most difficult and painful experiences.’ - Jon Bloom

Over the last several years I have more closely followed the rhythms and seasons of the Church calendar.  As a worship leader, it has been helpful in my planning and preparation, as a Christ-follower it has helped me experience the connection to a diverse, global, eternal body of believers. (1 Pet 2:9, Rev 7:9, Is 9:7)

The older I get the more I see and experience the pain of living in a broken, fallen world.  And that is why I love Advent - because I have often asked God, ‘Do You know how hard it is down here?  Do You see how painful it is?’  And Advent reminds me that not only does He see the pain and difficulty, He answers it with Himself. ‘But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.’ (Gal 4:4-5)

Sin and brokenness do not just affect humanity - it is as offensive as it is painful for God.

He pursued relationship, we chose death (Gen 1:26, 2:17, 3:6-7).

We hid, He covered us (Gen 3:8, 3:21).

He came to His own, we did not receive Him (Jn 1:11).

We deserve death, He gives us His life (Rom 6:23).

The One who knit Mary together in the womb of her mother became humanity knit together in Mary’s womb (Ps 139:13, Lk 1:30-33).  The One who saw the sorrow we experience did not stand far off but became the Man of Sorrows - acquainted with all our grief (Is 53:3).  The One who saw us in our sin became sin so that we might become His righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).

Advent is the continuing story of a God who has never had a ‘plan B,’ but has always sought His Son’s greatest glory, and His children’s good.  ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…’ this is the joy and pain of God Himself experienced (Jn 3:16, Is 53:10, Heb 12:2).

This is the joy and pain of Advent.

’Everything sad is going to come untrue and it will somehow be greater for having once been broken and lost.’ - Tim Keller

Lord, thank You that You do know our sorrow and pain.  From the groans of ‘it’s not supposed to be this way,’ to pain that is soul-piercing, You know and You have experienced it all.  Allow us to approach this Advent season with gratitude, wonder, and worship.  In Your name, amen.

Waiting,

AB

December 10: Tuesday Refocus

‘It costs something to be a true Christian.  Let that never be forgotten.  To be a mere nominal Christian, and go to church, is cheap and easy work.  But to hear Christ’s voice, follow Christ, believe Christ, confess Christ, requires much self-denial.’ - J.C. Ryle

I want obedience to equal ease.

I want sanctification without the experience that brings it about.

I want to be a true Christian with nominal level commitment.

But my faith has been Authored by One ‘who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.’  He came with ‘…no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.’  He came to poor earthly parents, in a rural community (Phil 2:6-7, Is 53:2, Lk 2:22-24, Jn 1:46).

In the middle of this Advent season I am reminded that Emmanuel - God with us - was costly to God Himself.  Not only His entrance into time and place, but the ultimate purpose for which He came: the cross.

‘For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.’ Rom 6:5-11

He died that I might die, and He lives that I might live.

This is not an easy faith - it is of eternal significance, and immeasurable cost.

Spirit, enable us to hear the voice of Christ, to follow Christ, to believe Christ, confess Christ, and daily die to ourselves.  In Christ’s name, amen.

To remember and live,

AB

December 3: Tuesday Refocus

‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.’ - Isaiah 9:2

From darkness to light is a theme we see throughout Scripture.  We were those dwelling in deep darkness, darkened in our understanding, ignorant and hard-hearted (Eph 4:18).  We loved the dark, hid ourselves and our actions in its covering (Jn 3:19, Lk 8:17).

This would still be our reality if not for Christ… ‘In Him was the life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (Jn 1:4-5)  Now ‘…if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.’ (1 Jn 1:7).

Out of darkness and isolation, and into union and communion with God and one another.  In a small reflective way, this is what happens every week as we gather with the people of God.  We step into the light of the gathered Church to be reminded that we are people who carry Light into a dark world.  That we are the light of the world (Matt 5:14).

‘O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.’ Isaiah 2:5

Jesus, You are God with us - thank You!  Help us walk with You as You walk with us.  Bring us out of darkness into the Light of Your holiness.  We desire to be people who have fellowship with You and one another more than the darkness.  In Your name, amen.

Walking,

AB

November 26: Tuesday Refocus

‘Woe to the reckless soul who departs from God hoping to find something better than Him in the very things He has created.’ - Augustine

There is a rich young ruler in us all. Walking away sorrowful when God does not answer how we expect (Lk 18:18-30).  

We walk away from the Creator, hoping to find the answers we seek in creation.  We scour the earth only to realize we have exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of created things (Rom 1:23).

But nothing created can bear the weight of our worship.

And there can only be two responses to this reality: we turn back and no longer walk with Him, or we say ‘Lord, to whom shall we go?’ (Jn 6:66-68)

Lord, You have the words of eternal life, forgive us when we seek life apart from You.  We love You, in Your name, amen.

Walking together,

AB

November 19: Tuesday Refocus

‘For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more.  He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry.  As soon as He hears it, He answers you.  And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.  And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or to the left.’  – Isaiah 30:19-20

There is a day when every tear bottled and wept will be wiped (Ps 56:8, Rev 21:4).

He has come, and He is coming again.

But in this paradoxical life of faith, God is no less gracious in the wilderness than in Zion.

It is the Lord Himself who has entrusted to us the bread of adversity, to form our appetites for Him, the Bread of Life.  He has given the water of affliction, but also invites us to drink deeply of Him, the Living Water.

For those consuming this meal of adversity and affliction, He does not hide Himself.  He is gracious, He answers, our eyes see and our ears hear.  He has come, and He is coming again.

‘How precious is Your steadfast love, O God!  The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.  They feast on the abundance of Your house, and you give them drink from the river of Your delights.’  [Ps 36:7-8]

Lord, let us drink deeply from whatever cup You give.  You who drank the cup the Father gave to You down to the dregs.  We drink knowing that You go with us, You go before us, and You go behind us.  Thank you, Jesus.  In Your name, amen.

He has come, He is coming again,

AB

November 12: Tuesday Refocus

‘If I obey Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God.’ – Oswald Chambers

To be honest, I prefer a life full of big gestures.  Visible and obvious.  A life that is not so much concerned about the inside as the outside.  God on the other hand, prefers the opposite.  The quiet and humble.  Subtle and stable, because ‘…to obey is better than sacrifice.’ (1 Sam 15:22)

But it is not in my over-the-top and inconsistent displays, but in the walk of daily-death, being yoked to Christ that I see Him clearly (Matt 10:28, 11:29).  These are pinholes of glory.

In the moments of daily obedience, I see that He is completely trustworthy.  That there is joy ahead in this eternal weight of glory and I am steadied from sprinting into this long walk of obedience in the same direction (Heb 12:2, 2 Cor 4:17).

‘He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?’ – Micah 6:8

God, thank You that You faithfully walk with us, even when we wander off, run ahead, and attempt blaze our own trail.  Forgive us, help us to walk humbly with You.  In Christ’s name, amen.

To walk humbly,

AB

November 5: Tuesday Refocus

‘No one ever comes very close to God and remains proud.’ – Alan Nelson

‘Draw near,’ is the invitation James tells us is always met with God, in turn, drawing near (4:8).  As followers of Christ we can draw near with confidence (Heb 4:16).  But make no mistake this confidence is not in our own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21).

As we draw near we find grace and mercy, yet still fall down as though dead (Heb 4:16, Rev 1:17).  Because no one ever draws near to God and remains proud.  But do not be afraid – His nearness is your good (Ps 73:28). 

‘When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead.  But He laid His right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the First and the Last, and the Living One.  I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.’ – Revelation 1:17

Lord, You know the proud from afar, but regard the lowly.  Help us draw near with full confidence in the completed work of Christ.  Thank you for being Emmanuel, the God who is with us.  We are humbled and grateful, in Christ name, amen.

Draw near,

AB

October 29: Tuesday Refocus

‘Strengthen me that I may cling to Thee.’ – The Valley of Vision

In fear I reach for talent, experience, career, or others to be a firm foundation, only to find all things created collapse under the weight of my need.

It is only through faith that I do not cling to myself, but am led to the Rock that is higher than I (Ps 61:2).

By faith I know I am not an orphan but an heir (Rom 8:17).

By faith I know I am never forsaken, for He is always with me (Heb 13:5).

By faith I know I am not forgotten, but the beloved of God (Eph 5:1).

By faith I know I am saved (Rom 10:9).

Faith is a gift from God (Eph 2:8-9). 

And in it’s strengthening I loosen my grip on the created, and cling to the Uncreated One.

Lord, thank You that our faith in You is never put to shame.  Help us hold fast, and walk closely by faith in You this week. In Christ name, amen.

In faith,

AB

October 22: Tuesday Refocus

‘Jesus is the mercy seat, the place where sinful men may meet with the Holy God.’ – Lesslie Newbigin

From all of the postures, positions or locations – where does God always meet His people?  The place of mercy.

In wrath, He still remembers mercy (Hab 3:2).  In the morning, His mercies are new and never ending (Lam 3:22-23).  According to His steadfast love, He blots out transgression with abundant mercy (Ps 51:1).

We may find ourselves begging as Bartimaues for Christ to ‘have mercy on me…’ And in mercy, the invitation of Christ is to draw near, and receive the mercy we so desperately desire (Mark 10:46-52).  The invitation of Christ is to God Himself, the One who says of Himself:

‘The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.”’ Exodus 34:6-7

If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?  But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared. …hope in the LORD!  For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with Him is plentiful redemption.  And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.  Thank You Lord, for meeting us at the place of mercy –  person of Jesus, in His name, amen. (Ps 130:3-4,7-8).

From mercy,

AB

October 15: Tuesday Refocus

‘O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds You performed in their days, in the days of old: You with Your own hand drove out the nations… for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but Your right hand and Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You delighted in them.’ – Psalm 44:1-3

The nations rage, our flesh is at war within us, we wrestle against rulers, authorities and cosmic powers – but we turn away, harden our hearts and have seared our conscious (Ps 2:1, Rom 7:23, Eph 6:12, Heb 3:15).

Turning away from this present darkness is not resignation, rather, an attempt to fight a battle in your own strength.  This battle requires the same arm that drives out enemies, to uphold and save heirs.  You do not have to run, hide, or fight – you have only to be still (Ex 14:14).

‘But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.  For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing…’ 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

This is a battle already won.

Jesus, You have been victorious over Satan, sin and death at the cross.  You lead us in triumphal procession over our enemies, and into the very presence of the Father.  Forgive us for turning away from the wars of the world, spiritual realm, and our own hearts.  Your blood has spoken for all of these things – help us to be an aroma and fragrance of Your completed work as this battle wages on.  In Your name, amen.

Standing,

AB

October 8: Tuesday Refocus

‘I have trusted Thee and Thou hast not betrayed my trust; waited for Thee, and not waited in vain.’ – The Valley of Vision

I have trusted myself and been disappointed.

I have trusted others and been crushed.

I have trusted the Lord and never been forsaken.

‘And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.’  Ps 9:10

I have waited for perfect timing and been inactive.

I have waited for everything to fall in place and been passed by.

I have waited on the Lord and grown strong and courageous.

‘Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!’ Ps 27:14

Lord, we trust and wait.  Not passive, not flippant, intentionally we pursue You as the One who has proven Himself trustworthy.  The One who is with us in our waiting.  We await eagerly for You, Your name and Your renown are the desires of our heart.  In Christ’s name, amen.

Trusting + waiting,

AB

October 1: Tuesday Refocus

‘The Church is not meant to call men and women out of the world into a safe religious enclave but to call them out in order to send them back as agents of God’s kingship.’ – Lesslie Newbigin

I can stun myself with the familiarity with which I attend to this vapor of a life (Jam 4:14).  How quickly I allow my priorities, rhythms, and intentions to be shaped and formed thoughtlessly.

I can live as one unaware of their calling and mission.

‘Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth…’ Isaiah 40:28

Every Christ follower has been called out of darkness, into His wonderful light, and sent back out into darkness to be salt and light (1 Pet 2:9, Matt 5:13-16). 

We move through school, work, church, our communities and relationships, and our tasks and responsibilities with only a faint sense that we have in fact been called and sent.  As citizens of heaven we live in this world, but we are not of this world (Phil 3:20, Jn 17:16).  We are sent as messengers of the King – who Himself was sent into this world (Matt 28:19, Jn 3:17).

Lord, You have called us to Yourself, and sent us back out.  Help us live intentionally as we walk this life.  Give us eyes to see You, hearts that respond, hands that move, feet that go, and lives that are steadfast in obedience.  For Your kingdom, in Your power, to Your glory, and the good of the whole world.  Amen.

Called and sent,

AB