September 6: Tuesday Refocus

“Love, proceeding from faith, gradually changes the soul, into the likeness of God; and the more it is in exercise the more is that change effected.” - John Owen

Those who know how deeply, how completely, how honestly they have been loved, love in response.

“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven - for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:47-50

Lord, may we be aware of Your great love for us in the deepest places of our souls. May it change us over and over into the likeness of Yourself. Amen.

Loved,

AB

August 16: Tuesday Refocus

“The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it.” - Henri Nouwen

God made everything and called it good (Genesis 1:31). Sin broke, warped, and distorted everything and everyone. This is true for even the people of God - but as the people of God we are also carriers of God’s presence into a sin-sick world (1 Corinthians 6:19). Followers of Jesus are those who are not of this world, but are called to be a city on a hill, salt and light, and to make disciples of the whole world (John 17:16, Matthew 5:13-14, Matthew 28:19-20).

As carriers of the presence of God, there is no sacred and secular dividing line. All of life is spiritual and all of life is lived before the face of God. For the follower of Jesus, a life that is lived to the glory of God will always be a life lived for the good of others. Because abiding in the life of Christ becomes a lifeline to a broken world.

Lord, may You not remove us from the world, but enable us to abide deeply in You, amen.

Coram Deo,

AB

August 9: Tuesday Refocus

“Solitude well practiced will break the power of busyness, haste, isolation, and loneliness.” - Dallas Willard

The more we fill our lives, the emptier they become.

The more we empty our lives, the richer they become.

Solitude may seem the opposite of what we want, but it makes space for that which we truly need. But this is life in the upside-down kingdom of God. It is a Kingdom where Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 that…

The poor in spirit receive the kingdom of heaven (v3).

Those that mourn will be comforted (v4).

The meek will inherit the earth (v5).

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied (v6).

The merciful will receive mercy (v7).

The pure in heart will see God (v8).

The peacemakers will be called sons of God (v9).

Blessing, rejoicing, and gladness accompany the heavenly reward and kingdom of heaven for those who are persecuted and maligned for the sake of Christ (v10-12).

These are the principles of an upside-down kingdom. A kingdom where the last will be first, the first will be last (Matthew 20:16). A kingdom where to lose your life is to find your life (Matthew 16:25). A kingdom where the proud will be humbled, and the humble will be exalted (Matthew 23:12).

Lord, may what is true of your kingdom be true of our lives. For Your glory, amen.

Amen,

AB

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