August 2: Tuesday Refocus

“It seems to you that you have understood the divine Scriptures, or any part of them, in such a way that by this understanding you do not build up this twin love of God and neighbor, then you have not yet understood them.” - Augustine

When asked what was the greatest commandment in the whole law, Jesus said “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:37-40).”

As James reminds us, faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Understanding Scripture is not evidenced solely in our interpretation, but in being a hearer and doer of God’s Word (James 1:22).

Lord, may our lives be built up with the twin love of God and neighbor. In Christ’s name, amen.

Learning,

AB

July 26: Tuesday Refocus

“By my calm courage, people shall this day recognize that I’ve been with Jesus.” - E. Stanley Jones

Each of us is worried and troubled about many things (Luke 10:41). But each of us can choose the good portion, the one necessary thing - to be with Jesus (Luke 10:42).  It is in being with Jesus that the troubles of the world are choked by the presence and provision of God. It is in beholding His glory that we are transformed from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).

A transformed heart leads to a transformed life. A life continually resting in the presence of Christ, is a life of rest, peace, and blessing to others. May it be so for you today.

Lord, may we rest in who you are and what you have done. May our lives be transformed from the inside out, bringing rest, peace, and blessing to others. In Christ’s name, amen.

Resting,

AB

July 19: Tuesday Refocus

“The intellect makes the prayer, but the feeling makes the cry.” - Martin Luther

Without love, our words are a noisy gong or clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). We can possess prophetic powers, understanding of all mysteries and knowledge, have faith to remove mountains, we can give away our every possession, and deliver our bodies to be burned, and all of it is meaningless without love (1 Corinthians 13:2-3).

A prayer without heart is simply a monologue.

Lord may our lives be prayers be filled with truth and love. Attention and affection. Intellect and feeling. Amen and amen.

Amen,

AB 

July 12: Tuesday Refocus

“I pray for courage to mourn so that I may be strengthened.” - Madeleine L’Engle

Courage is required in mourning because we must first acknowledge that the world is not as it should be, that our lives are not as they should be. Honesty from our deepest depths is deeply vulnerable. It is honesty that says ‘My Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…’ (Matthew 26:39). 

Our hope in our mourning is that “…the Lord, who daily bears us up…” is also One who is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Psalm 68:19, Isaiah 53:3). The One declared ‘…nevertheless, not as I will but as You will (Matthew 26:39).’

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

Lord, bear us up, comfort and strengthen us, and give us courage. Amen.

Amen,

AB

July 5: Tuesday Refocus

“Listen in silence because if your heart is full of other things you cannot hear the voice of God.” - Mother Teresa

We want God to speak, but we do not listen. We want God to reveal Himself, but we never open our Bibles. We want God to show us the way to go, but we ignore His Spirit in the smallest promptings.

We are invited to pour out our hearts to God, but we are also invited to be still (Psalm 62:8, Psalm 46:10). Pour out the words, and trust the Spirit who intercedes when there are no words (Romans 8:26). And wait in silence for God alone (Psalm 62:1).  

Lord, let our words be few… Amen.

Listening,

AB

June 28: Tuesday Refocus

“The Church does not need brilliant personalities but faithful servants of Jesus.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

No crafting or filters. 

No lighting or cropping. 

No illusions or diversions.

No trickery, pretending, or hiding can fool the One who sees past outward appearances and to the heart of you and me (1 Sam 16:7).

Jesus tells his followers to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15)” How easy - especially in a social media age - to appear as something that we are not. But “…you will recognize them by their fruits… (Matthew 7:20)” because, “…a healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a diseased tree bear good fruit (Matthew 7:18).” Healthy fruit is not produced in its own strength but grows through abiding (John 15:5).

The faithful servant of Jesus bears fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8). It is the fruit of the Spirit that marks the faithful servant of Jesus - more than the brilliant personality (Galatians 5:22-23). But perhaps it is faithful servants of Jesus who possess the most brilliant (but less outward) personalities.

Lord, may our lives be found abiding in You. May we bear fruit in keeping with repentance. May we bear the fruit of the Spirit. Even if our lives do not burn bright from the perspective of social media, may they burn bright with faithfulness to You. In Your name, amen.

Amen,

AB

June 21: Tuesday Refocus

“A faith that has a cross at its center cannot be a faith that worships success.” - E. Stanley Jones

How would you define success? 

Climbing a corporate ladder? 

Being your own boss? 

Retiring early?

Whatever definition of success by the individual or the culture, it likely would not look like the way of the cross. 

This is the place where finding your life first looks like losing your life (Matthew 10:39). 

This is the way of service, rather than being served (Matthew 20:28).

This is the way of humility (Philippians 2:8).

It is identifying with the sufferings of Christ, so we can share in His glories (1 Peter 4:13).

It is walking with the One who was rejected by his own people and despised (John 1:11, Isaiah 53:3).

This is the narrow road (Matthew 7:13-14).

But this is also the place where the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places (Psalm 16:6).

Where we have life, and life abundantly (John 10:10).

Where we share in the inheritance of the Son (Romans 8:17).

Where we will not die but live, and recount the deeds of the Lord (Psalm 118:17).

What is success? For the follower of Christ? Success is indeed the cross.

Jesus, thank you for the cross. May our lives be marked by the cross more than earthly definitions of success. In Your name, and in Your way, amen.

Seeking,

AB

June 14: Tuesday Refocus

“Holiness is obedience turned inward. Mission is obedience turned outward.” - Brian Blount

Holy means “dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred.” In Revelation 4, we see the four living creatures day and night never stop saying “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! (v8)” In Isaiah 6, we see the seraphim calling to one another “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! (v3)” God is not once holy. Not even twice holy. But three times holy.

Holy, holy, holy.

This thrice holy God declares, “You shall be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16).”

To set apart our lives (holiness), as a spiritual act of worship (obedience) is the calling for the follower of Jesus (Romans 12:1). And when our lives are set apart as a spiritual act of worship, we become those who echo the prophet, “Here I am, send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)

God, make us holy as you are holy. For Your glory and our good, amen.

Let it be,

AB

June 7: Tuesday Refocus

“Nothing will divide the church so much as the love of power.” - Saint John Chrysostom

These words from the Archbishop of Constantinople were written in 400 AD. But they cut as deeply today as they did then, and in every century since. Because we are those who quarrel and fight because of warring passions (James 4:1), we desire and do not have, so we murder. We covet and cannot obtain so we fight and quarrel (James 4:2).

Why would we desire, or seek anything else, when we are those who have been lavished with the steadfast love of God (1 John 3:1)? Why would we attempt to establish our allegiance when we are citizens of a kingdom not of this world (John 18:36, Philippians 3:20). Why would we seek to be great, when it is better to be least in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19)? Why would we pursue a place of honor, when Christ invites the lowest to move higher (Luke 14:10)? Why would we dwell in the tents of the wicked, when it is better just to keep watch of the door to the house of God (Psalm 84:10)?

Lord, may you purify our desires, change our longings, and satisfy our hearts in humility. Everything that we could ever truly need is found in You. In Your name, amen.

Learning,

AB

May 31: Tuesday Refocus

“What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life.” - Henri Nouwen

We are in a hurry, but love is patient and kind.

We to possess and consume, but love does not envy or boast. 

We want authority and ownership, but love is not arrogant or rude.

We force our own agenda, but love does not insist on its own way.

We are upset when our needs go unmet, but love is not irritable or resentful.

We glory in the failure of others, but love does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, 

believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things.

Love never ends (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Power creates distance, but love moves near.

Power protects, but love invites vulnerability.

If the watching world is to know us by our love for one another, we must first know that we love because God has first loved us (John 13:35, 1 John 4:19).

God we thank You that You have first loved us. That Your love moved near us in and through the person and work of Jesus Christ. May we be known by our love as we love You and others. In Jesus name, amen.

For love,

AB

May 24: Tuesday Refocus

“We consider what we do in the way of Christian work as service, yet Jesus Christ calls service to be what we are to Him, not what we do for Him.” - Oswald Chambers

Doing for God will always be easier than being with God. That is because honoring God with our lips while having hearts that are far from Him is our default posture of heart (Matthew 15:8). The appearance of holiness is not as costly as giving ourselves to the slow, painful, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

But as followers of Jesus, we are called to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, a spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). As followers of Jesus, we are called to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37, Luke 10:27). Ours is a faith of internal, heart transformation that gives way to external change. Not moral behavior modification. It will always be easier to be a Pharisee than a disciple of the One who is gentle and lowly, the One who learned obedience, the One who came to serve rather than be served (Matthew 11:29, Hebrews 5:8, Matthew 20:28). 

Lord, may our service to you be surrender to the work of Your Spirit in us. Again and again. Amen.

Serving,

AB

May 17: Tuesday Refocus

“Faith is a refusal to panic.” - Martyn Lloyd-Jones

One of my favorite writers has spoken regularly in the last several years about the free-falling anxiety, and fear that we are all experiencing being human these days. And why shouldn’t we panic? We are more aware than ever - some of us for the first time - of our deep vulnerabilities. Our inability to control our lives.

Why should the life of a follower of Jesus look any different? Faith.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).” 

Faith is a gift, that is secure in the one who authors and completes our faith (Ephesians 2:8, Hebrews 12:1-3). It is faith that enables us in peace to lie down and sleep because it is the LORD that makes us dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8). It is faith in Christ that gives consolation to cheer the soul of the heart with many cares (Psalm 94:19). It is faith that we can believe God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do.

Lord, like your apostles, we ask that you increase our faith. And that the natural outworking of our faith is trust and peace as we rest in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Learning,

AB