April 21: Tuesday Refocus

‘The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;

They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;

But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,

And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.’ - Edward Shillito

Each of us bears wounds internally and externally.  Wounds which take the shape of our own sin, and others which resemble the sin committed against us.  Some wounds are in the shape of the refining, sanctifying, love and discipline of God (Heb 12:6).  And still, other wounds are ‘…carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested… (2 Col 4:20).’

Your wounds may not cause delight, but they can cause wonder and worship.  Because our Savior bears eternal scars.  

He is the Suffering Servant (Is 53),

the High Priest able to empathize (Heb 4:15),

the One acquainted with all our ways and acquainted with grief (Ps 139:3, Is 53:3).

the first fruit of those who have fallen asleep, bearing the marks of His death and resurrection for all eternity (1 Cor 15:20, Jn 20:27)

‘Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure we will also reign with Him.  If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.’  2 Timothy 2:11-13

In light of the eternal weight of glory, our wounds will seem light and momentary (2 Cor 4:17).  Because out of the perfection of beauty, God shines forth - bearing eternal scars (Ps 50:2).

Thank you, Jesus, that our suffering is never in vain, never for naught, and accomplishing our maturity.  Thank you that we never suffer alone, we can place our wounds in the hands that have been wounded for us.  We love you and are grateful, in Your name, amen.

Sharing,

AB

April 14: Tuesday Refocus

'Consider how many are my foes,

and with what violent hatred they hate me.

Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!

Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You.

May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

for I wait for You.

Redeem Israel, O God,

out of all his troubles.’

Psalm 25:19-22

Let there be no doubt we have an enemy, a schemer, a soul-accuser, who - as the hymn reminds us - takes pleasure in our harm (Eph 6:11, Rev 12:10). But for the follower of Christ, we ‘…do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul (Matt 10:28).’ For we have already died ‘…with Christ, and we know that we will also live with Him (Rom 6:8).’

Two days ago we celebrated in the midst of confusion and chaos that ‘the last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Cor 15:26).’ We mocked our accuser, and his schemes by declaring that Christ is alive forevermore, and He holds the keys of Death and Hades (Rev 1:18).

Yes, even in the midst of sorrow, suffering, isolation, and death itself, we can find life. At the end of a cul-de-sac on Easter Sunday, I saw neighbors dressed for worship, standing at the edge of driveways singing together. At the edge of driveways and a global pandemic Christ is still building His Church - and the gates of hell shall not prevail (Matt 16:18). He has and will redeem us out of all our troubles.

Take heart,

AB

March 31: Tuesday Refocus

Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore He instructs the sinners in the way.

He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble His way.

All the paths of the LORD are steadfast

love and faithfulness,

for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

Psalm 25:8-10

I can search out my own way and find it only leads to death (Prov 14:12). Or I can follow His narrow road and run in the way of steadfast love and mercy. On this narrow road, He leads, and He teaches, He goes before, He comes behind, and He walks beside.

For Your name’s sake, O LORD,

pardon my guilt, for it is great.

Who is the man who fears the LORD?

Him will He instruct in the way that He should choose.

His soul shall abide in well-being,

and His offspring shall inherit the land.

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear Him,

and He makes known to them His covenant.

My eyes are ever toward the LORD

for He will pluck my feet out of the net.

Psalm 25:11-18

My guilt is great but it holds no hope against the steadfast love and mercy of God (Lam 3:22). I know the way of the Lord always leads to the kind of life I truly seek. A life where I abide in well-being, enjoy His friendship, know His ways, and look toward Him - my Rescuer.

God, thank You that Your Word is true. Teach us Your ways that we may walk in Your truth, help us know Your friendship, Your mercy, and Your kindness. In Christ’s name, amen.

Walking,

AB

March 24: Tuesday Refocus

‘To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

O my God, in You I trust;

let me not be put to shame;

let not my enemies exult over me.

indeed, none who wait for You shall be put to shame;

they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.'

In my waiting, I still behold the beauty and radiance of God. All those who look to Him are radiant (Ps 34:5)

'Make me to know Your ways, O LORD;

teach me Your paths.

Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

for You are the God of my salvation;

for You I wait all the day long.'

When my face is set upon Him, I walk in His ways, follow His leading, and wait on Him.

'Remember Your mercy, O LORD, and Your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to Your steadfast love remember me,

for the sake of Your goodness, O LORD!'

PSALM 25:1-7

For His namesake, the same One who numbers my hairs and catches my tears chooses to remember not my sin.

Thank You, Father, that You are sovereign and You are good. Help us lift our eyes to You, set our trust in Your character and follow Your paths by the power of the Spirit, in Christ’s name, amen.

Looking to Him,

AB

March 10: Tuesday Refocus

‘Give us courage and largeness of heart that we may follow unafraid.’ – E. Stanley Jones

When I am afraid, it is often because I forget that I am following a Good Shepherd.  He leads me, He is with me, and His goodness and mercy follow me (Ps 23:2,4,6).  I do not have to clear my own path He leads me by the hand (Ps 139:10). 

I can follow His lead to the ends of the earth for He is with me to the end of the age (Matt 28:19-20).

Lord, will You overwhelm our hearts with the reality of Your kind shepherding.  Remind our hearts that You are near.  In Your name, amen.   

To remember,

AB

March 3: Tuesday Refocus

‘Only when we feast on the Father’s love do we stop living like beggars.  And here’s the thing, we cannot be bread given for the life of the world if we live like beggars chasing after that which does not satisfy.’ - Glenn Packiam

We have all sought rivers of life from broken cisterns. We are all prodigal children squandering our inheritance. We were all strangers, hard-hearted, stiff-necked, enemies of God…

‘But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.’ - Ephesians 2:4-7

Now as those who have been made alive, we feast on the abundance of His house, and He gives drink from the river of His delights (Ps 36:8). We have been satisfied with good so that we are renewed (Ps 103:5).

Because our seeking is satisfied in Him, our hearts, hands, and lives can be open to give rather than consume.

’See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are…’ (1 Jn 3:1) Yes, Lord. We are children, not beggars. Let us live in that reality, let us serve from that posture - Your love given to us in and through Christ, amen.

From love,

AB

February 18: Tuesday Refocus

‘Many Christians forget that they are bearing a testimony, they do not think that anybody notices them …but they do.’ - Charles Spurgeon

Every life bears witness to that which we worship. ‘Keep your heart with all vigilance,’ the writer of the Proverb tells us, ‘for from it flow the springs of life (Pr 4:23).’ What sits at the center will flow outward in thought, word, and deed. (Matt 12:35, Col 3:17).

Your life has never been hidden from the view of God. Your frame was not hidden from Him when you were being made in secret, His eyes saw your unformed substance, in His book, was written the days formed for you when there was not a single one (Ps 139:14-16). You cannot escape the gaze of the gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, God (Ex 34:6).

Now as a city set on a hill, your life is the light of the world (Matt 5:14). But the Christ-follower is called not only to personal faith but called to be a people (1 Pet 2:9-10). Jesus said, ’By this, all people will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another (Jn 13:35).’

All people will know requires individual sanctification lived as a people who love, forgive, and are at peace with one another (Jn 13:35, Eph 4:32, Rom 12:18). This is the ‘…aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life…’ (2 Col 2:15-16).

Lord, we confess that people know Christ-followers for many things, but ‘loving one another,’ is probably not at the top of the list. Help us walk with You, with one another as salt and light, the fragrance of life, a city on a hill. In Your name, amen.

Aware,

AB

January 21: Tuesday Refocus

‘Lord, whether prosperity smile or adversity frown, let Your praise be ever in my mouth.’ – Augustine

My heart is too easily entangled and untethered, tossed about by wind and waves.  Blown here and there by every wind of teaching, cunning, craftiness, and deceitful scheming (Eph 4:14).

My heart grows faint from adversity and prosperity - but ‘from the ends of the earth I call to You… lead me to the Rock that is higher than I (Ps 61:2).  Like Spurgeon, I can learn to, ‘kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages.’

Ultimately, for the Christ-follower prosperity and adversity are of little consequence for we live eternally secure in the delight of God (Zeph 3:17).  ‘The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ (Ps 118:6)

In every season we can echo the prayer of David: ‘Teach me Your ways, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.’ (Ps 86:11)

Lord, let worship be the response our lives secure in You, even if tossed about by the world.  You are with us, You are for us, we will not fear, in Christ’s name, amen.

Unite my heart,

AB

January 14: Tuesday Refocus

‘…these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.  For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.’ - 1 Corinthians 2:10

Eternity was etched into our hearts.  Yet our first parents birthed us into a world they marred with sin, struggle, and death.  It was not supposed to be this way.  Creation itself groans, bound in decay awaiting the revealing of the children of God.  And the children of God groan awaiting ‘adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.’ (Ecc 3:11, Gen 3, Rom 8:19-23)

Eternity echoes in every human heart.  We long for the day He will return to make all things new. Because we have been on an eternal quest to return to what was lost in the garden, we have sought the wisdom and rulers of this age - only to realize they are all doomed to pass away.  But the same Spirit who searches, tries and knows our eternity-etched hearts (Rev 21:5, 2 Cor 2:6, Ps 139:23), searches the depths of God and has revealed: 

No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.’ - 2 Corinthians 2:9

For eternity, we shall know fully, even as we have been fully known (1 Cor 13:12).

Spirit search my heart, try me and know my thoughts, see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  Give me an eternal perspective as I await the return of my Savior.  In Christ’s name, amen.

Waiting,

AB

January 7: Tuesday Refocus

Circle me Lord, keep protection near and danger afar.

Circle me Lord, keep light near and darkness afar.

Circle me Lord, keep peace within, keep evil out.

In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen. - Celtic Prayer

Whatever is left behind in 2019, whatever awaits in 2020, we can be assured in all things: ’The LORD is your keeper, the LORD is your shade on your right hand.’ Ps 121:5

The One who has defeated Satan, sin and death will ‘keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.’ This does not mean we will never experience sorrow or suffering. Jesus said, ‘In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.’ And when we are led through the valley of the shadow of death, we are strengthened, helped, upheld with the righteous right hand of our God (Ps 121:7, Jn 16:33, Ps 23:4, Is 41:10).

Our days, years and lives rest firmly in the reality: ‘The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.’ Ps 121:8

Let it be so, Lord, amen.

Resting,

AB

December 31: Tuesday Refocus

Father, let me dedicate all this year to You

In whate’er my earthly state, in whate’er I do

Not from sorrow, pain, or care, freedom dare I claim

This alone shall be my prayer: glorify Your name.

Whether anticipation or indifference, we have all looked to a new year and planned our way. But the God who stands outside of time and space holds the vapor of our life in His hand and is establishing our steps. (Pr 16:9, Jm 4:14, Acts 17:25)

Can a child presume to choose where or how to live?

Can a father’s love refuse all the best to give?

More You give me ev’ry day, than the best can claim

Help me trust You that I may, glorify Your name

We have a Father who delights to give good gifts to His children. A Father who knows our need before we ask Him. A Father who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing, chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, predestined us in love for adoption, to the praise of His glorious grace. (Matt 7:11, Matt 6:8, Eph 1:3-6)

If in mercy You prolong joys that now are mine

If on life serene and fear brighter rays may shine,

Let my glad heart, while it sings, You in all proclaim

And, whate’er the future brings, glorify Your name

Whether cast down, in turmoil, rejected or mourning, I will go to God - to God my exceeding joy. I will Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God. (Ps 43:5,2,4)

If You have for me a cross and its shadow come

Turning all my gain to loss, shrouding heart and home

Let me think how Your dear Son, to His glory came

And in deepest woe pray on: glorify Your name

Shall we accept only good from God? The One who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? The shadow of the cross compares nothing to the eternal weight of glory - future joy. All things may be counted as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. (Job 2:10, Rom 8:32, 2 For 4:17, Heb 12:2, Phil 3:8)

‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Rom 8:35,37-39

In this year, as in the last, and all the ages to come, Lord, glorify Your name. In the name of Christ, amen.

For His glory,

AB

‘Father, Here We Dedicate’ Laurence Tuttiett, 1864

December 24: Tuesday Refocus

‘Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.’ Hebrews 1:1-2

He is the God who speaks, who has always been speaking.  With His Word He spoke the world into being, and by its power the universe is upheld (Gen 1:3, Heb 1:3).  Jesus is the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14).

He tore the veil of time.  

He tore the temple veil.

He does not dwell behind temple veils, 

or in houses made by human hands, 

because His dwelling place is with man.  

He is Emmanuel, God with us.

(Matt 27:51, Acts 17:24-25, Rev 21:3, Is 7:14)

God with us is the Word who took on flesh and blood, and His blood speaks a better word (Heb 12:24).  This Word is good news to the poor, binding to the brokenhearted, and liberty to the captives (Is 61:1).

Lord, You are the Word made flesh, given to us in love, absolutely true. You have come, You are coming again, and we wait for You. In Jesus name, amen.

 Merry Christmas, 

AB