The Lord your God is in the house....

Zepaniah 3:1  Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city!

Zep 3:2  It has listened to no voice; it has accepted no correction. It has not trusted in the LORD; it has not drawn near to its God.3  The officials within it are roaring lions; its judges are evening wolves that leave nothing until the morning. 4  Its prophets are reckless, faithless persons; its priests have profaned what is sacred, they have done violence to the law.

Zep 3:8  Therefore wait for me, says the LORD, for the day when I arise as a witness. .........

Zep 3:11  On that day you shall not be put to shame because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.12  For I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD--13  the remnant of Israel; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. Then they will pasture and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.

Zep 3:16  On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. 17  The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing 18  as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. 19  I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 20  At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.

Zephaniah, a descendant of King Hezekiah, lived in Jerusalem at the time of King Josiah. While Josiah is recorded as a God-fearing ruler, Amon his father, and grandfather Manasseh were amongst the worst kings in Judah’s history. This left Jerusalem a “soiled, defiled, oppressing city”,   with officials, judges and priests who have “done violence to the law”.  The prophet Zephaniah notes that the nation will be scattered, but the remnant left behind in Jerusalem will discover the blessing of God “and no one shall make them afraid”. He then concludes with the promise to “save the lame and gather the outcast, and ... change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth”.

We are confronted by this Godly passion for the poor, the outcast and the ‘left behind’. It is easy to ignore such people in favour of the powerful and the rich.  We have a choice: either to be with God, or to be with the “roaring lions” and the “evening wolves”.

Choose. 

He sent me to give the Good News to the poor,
Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more,
Tell blind people that they can see,
And set the downtrodden free
And go tell everyone the news that the Kingdom of God has come, 

Ordinary 30

52 True Humility

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 317.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

No Peace for the Wicked

 Isaiah 57:14  It shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way." 15  For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. 16  For I will not continually accuse, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirits would grow faint before me, even the souls that I have made. 17  Because of their wicked covetousness I was angry; I struck them, I hid and was angry; but they kept turning back to their own ways. 18  I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will lead them and repay them with comfort, creating for their mourners the fruit of the lips. 19  Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the LORD; and I will heal them. 20  But the wicked are like the tossing sea that cannot keep still; its waters toss up mire and mud. 21  There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.

The central thrust of this passage is that peace is to be found the closer we live to our Creator: “the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity... will heal them... will lead them... will repay them with comfort”.  This is not dependent on being spiritually pure, or religiously correct, or even being happy and well. This is the action of God in our lives and is called Grace.

God chooses to withdraw peace from the wicked and instead to bless the humble.  

For Thought

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest...

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, ’mid suffering’s sharpest throes?
The sympathy of Jesus breathes repose

Edward H. Bickersteth, 1875

Ordinary 30

52 True Humility

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 317.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

We do not proclaim ourselves...

2 Corinthians 4:1  Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2  We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. 3  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5  For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. 6  For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The call of Jesus can sometimes cause Christian leaders to disappoint people. This was what happened to St Paul: He had disappointed the Jesus-followers of Corinth because he altered his plans to visit them, and instead had written them a “severe” letter of reprimand.  Paul writes to them and urges them to turn the focus away from him towards Jesus: “we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus”.

The core of our Christian journey is remembering that our lives are owned by Jesus. We live for the approval of God.... even when it loses us the approval of other people.    

With God in your life you are going to rearrange
Many big things are going to change
Even though your friends and enemies might think that you are strange
It is for them that the Lamb was slain

Christafari

Ordinary 29

51 Servants of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 311.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

Boasting...

2Corinthians 11:12  And what I do I will also continue to do, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want an opportunity to be recognized as our equals in what they boast about. 13  For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14  And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15  So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds.

................

2Co 12:5  On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6  But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7  even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.8  Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9  but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10  Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul writes about “boasting”. He is annoyed that there are preachers who boast about equalling his status. He suggests that the only things that they can boast about are his experiences of “weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ” . Following Jesus is not the key to fame and fortune. Let those who want to follow Jesus remember that we are not rewarded with honour and wealth; instead we are invited by Jesus ‘to take up a cross’ and follow him.[1]

Talk about suffering here below
And talk about loving Jesus.
Talk about suffering here below
And let's keep a following Jesus.

 Lyrics : Greg Graffin

Ordinary 29

51 Servants of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 311.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

---

[1] Mark 8:34-35

Being the light

Matthew 10:24  "A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25  it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! 26  "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27  What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28  Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30  And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31  So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32  "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33  but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. 34  "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36  and one's foes will be members of one's own household. 37  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38  and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39  Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 40  "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41  Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42  and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple--truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

Christ-followers are asked to live transparently and without fear. As recorded by Matthew: "nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.   What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light”   This is the uncompromising truth that we live by. We refuse to accept bribes, or to offer service in exchange for special favours, or to use our position and status for personal benefit.

This is a personal commitment that must be sustained every day. This is also a commitment to being part of community movements such as Exposed, or Unashamedly Ethical.  Christ followers choose to live “in the light” - even if this costs us friendships and family relationships.  Our commitment is to being the light in a dark world.     

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Words: John H. Sam­mis, 1887.

Ordinary 29

51 Servants of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 311.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

  

Wise and serpents and innocent as doves...

Matthew 10:16  "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17  Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18  and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19  When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20  for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21  Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22  and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23  When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Followers of Jesus are to anticipate struggle, persecution, betrayal, hatred and even death. We are therefore invited to “endure to the end” - when we will be saved.  This is a far cry from some modern Christians who seem to think that following Jesus will bring blessings, appreciation, love... and financial reward.

The fact is – we all want wealth, health and happiness. And so we are tempted to sign up for a religion that promises to supply this in abundance. But this is not the way of Jesus. For this reason Jesus warns us to become “wise and serpents and innocent as doves”. This asks us to become tough, stubborn, and enduring in our capacity to follow Jesus - while at the same time uncompromising in our compassion to the weak and the forgotten people who have no way of rewarding us.

Ordinary 29A / Pentecost +19

51 Servants of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 311.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.

I have seen......

Exodus 3:7 The LORD said,"I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a land that is both good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the region of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 And now indeed the cry of the Israelites has come to me, and I have also seen how severely the Egyptians oppress them. 10 So now go, and I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt."…..

…..'16"Go and bring together the elders of Israel and tell them,'The LORD, the God of your fathers, appeared to me- the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob- saying,"I have attended carefully to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I have promised a that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey."

The essential nature of God is summed up in these words: "I have surely seen the affliction... I have heard their cry... I have come down to deliver them." The Divine Creator of 'all that is, seen and unseen' takes notice! This is not just seeing creation. No - this is seeing the marginalized and the outcast.

Those who are afflicted are seen/heard by God, and a Divine response can be anticipated. Nobody is too beaten down to escape the loving protection of God. All are God's creation - and the Lord God loves them all. 

 Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.

Cecil F. Alexander, pub.1848

Ordinary 28

50 

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), .

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.