Mission Faithwalk

                 I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels . (Isaiah 61:10) Yesterday, I learned from John Ortberg that the Greek word for righteousness is also translated as “justice.” One can’t be just unless one is righteous, or righteous unless one is just. I will suggest that this means that both righteousness and justice are personal things – not societal. A society can only be as righteous or just as its least righteous or just person. Now, that’s a scary thought but it leads to the vital key that you and I need to be more righteous and just. The problem is that we can’t be just or righteous enough. We’re going to fail at some point. That’s why the Father sent the Son, to give us His righteousness and ju...

                 Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. (P roverbs12:16)             If you have never offended anyone, raise your hand. If you have never been offended, raise your hand. Hm-mm. It looks like I’m writing to the right crowd. As with any group of people, some offenses have been committed in my park. In some cases, I think the offense was not so much committed as presumed. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that someone’s feelings were hurt. And yes, the person who did the hurting was probably wrong (or misunderstood.) But today’s post has to do with the person who was offended.           So, another show of hands, please. If you have ever expressed your annoyance with someone who has offended you, raise your hand. Yep, the right crowd again. But this is the crux of the matter....

                      Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we                        want to see a sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.    The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. (Matthew 12:38-41)   One of the things agnostics and atheists often demand is some physical evidence that God exists. Usually, they want some highly dramatic bit of silliness, like a giant Char...

                           In that day you will say: “I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:1-2)   This is one of those passages that doesn’t make sense until it does. People often think of God as some version of the Hulk. Don’t make Him angry.  You wouldn’t like Him when He’s angry. Tick Him off, and His response is, “God smash.” Think of the world in the days of Noah, Sodom, and Gomorrah and the prophecies about the end times. If those aren’t “God smash,” what are they? Break His law and expect a lightning bolt. This is what we’re told and what we might believe, even if we don’t want to admit it to ourselves. B...

                      And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,                   who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)   However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— (I Corinthians 2:9)   For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (I Corinthians 13:12)   In the passage from Romans, which is often quoted as a means to dismiss someone else’s struggles, we’re only told that God works things together for good. One is tempted to say, “That’s nice.” But when we get to I Corinthians, it’s as though Paul was sitting across the poker table from himself ...

                                  for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.   “I’m feeling a little insecure this morning.” “Oh, you shouldn’t feel that way!” “You’re right, but, you see, I’m not in control.” “Oh, you need to stop trying to be in control.” “You’re right, but that requires self-control.” “You need to let go and let God.” “You’re right, but that requires some measure of self-control.” “What’s wrong with you?” Sigh. Sadly, some people (including me) tend to get overwhelmed easily. And some people tend to respond them with comments like the ones in red above. They mean well, but it’s not helpful. But this isn’t a rant about those nasty, cruel, terrible, uncompassionate people that we tend to love to hate. Today’s verse suggests what one of God’s responses to our crises is. He understands. He knows what we’re made of. He knows wh...

                     He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:5)   But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives   as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. (II Peter 3:10-13)   I used to watch home renovation and redecorating shows, and one of the...