Send Forth...

“Part your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke. Send forth lightning and scatter [the enemies]; shoot your arrows and rout them.” (Psalm 144:5-7)

“You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.” (Psalm 43:2-4)

“Later the Lord chose seventy-two other followers and sent them out two by two to every town and village where he was about to go.” (Luke 10:1)

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)

In the Scriptures, we find the concept of “sending forth” in several different contexts. For example, Psalm 144 calls for God to “send forth” His power to vindicate and protect from enemies. In Psalm 43, David cries from his heart for God to “send forth” His light and truth to guide. Luke 10:1 and Matthew 10:16 remind us that God “sends forth” His very life in and through us—deploying His followers with a message of salvation and hope for our neighbors and for the nations. No matter who you are—a business leader, a pastor, a stay-home mom, a student, a grandpa, or any point in between—the Lord is faithful to “send forth” in all of these ways, in His perfect timing. If ever we are prone to doubt our place in the world or in His plans, let’s remember that we have been “sent forth” with a unique, specific purpose in the bigger picture of advancing the kingdom of God.

“David applies to God as his never-failing hope. Let us pray earnestly, that the Lord would send forth the truth of his word, and the light of his Spirit, to guide us into the way of holiness, peace, and salvation. The desire of the Christian, like that of the prophet in distress, is to be saved from sin as well as sorrow; to be taught in the way of righteousness by the light of heavenly wisdom, shining in Jesus Christ, and to be led by this light and truth to the New Jerusalem.” (Matthew Henry, commenting on Psalm 43)

O God, thank you that when we cry out to you, whether in distress like David was, or simply in need of wisdom and guidance, that you are faithful to “send forth” all that we need. We accept your call and commission, O Lord, to be “sent forth” carrying your life to the lost and hurting in our community this week. Amen.

Our Response To 'Pain and Distress'

Called to pray for and comfort the afflicted

“I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.” (Psalm 69:29)

“Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives.” (2 Corinthians 1: 3-5)

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair…" (2 Corinthians 4: 6-8)

It seems as if more friends, co-workers and family members than usual have been ill, hurt or otherwise “in pain and distress” lately. From diseases to car accidents to flu bugs, the maladies we face remind us just how fragile our bodies are, and just how precious each moment of life is. They also stir us to rally around those who are suffering, covering them with prayer and comfort and support. I am thankful for friends like Larry Yarborough, our YMCA chaplain, who embodies Christ’s compassion toward all, but especially toward the sick and suffering. His example of faithful, tireless service to the hurting inspires and challenges me to extend God’s comfort to others. After all, how often has the Lord used others to comfort me in times of pain and distress?

O Lord, God of comfort and compassion, Father of hope and healing, we thank you that when we are in pain and distress, you are faithful to protect us with your salvation. Open our eyes afresh, we pray, to see the suffering of others, and to lavish them with love and mercy as you have lavished it upon us. Amen.

No Coasting In the Spiritual Life

We are called to a present-tense relationship with God

The Holy Scriptures put it this way:

“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.”
(Paul, in Philippians 3:12-16, The Message)

This message came to me in a dream last night as a wake-up call, first for me, then for others to whom it might apply. The message was simple: No more spiritual coasting. When it comes to seeking after God, shifting into neutral is essentially the same as slamming on the brakes and losing all momentum. Worse still, “letting things slide” in our walk with the Lord results in just that: We not only stop moving forward, but we start sliding backward. If someone asks us, “What is God doing in your life?” and the best we can reply is, “Well, there was that great mission trip I went on…in 1995. But there was that friend I led to Christ…back in high school,” then something is wrong. Sure, it can strengthen and encourage us at times to reflect on God’s past faithfulness, but we are called to live out a present-tense relationship. The Lord wants to accomplish great feats in and through our lives NOW. So to whatever degree we have been “coasting,” neglecting the disciplines of prayer, praise, time in the Word, rich fellowship, and other habits that nourish our souls and stir us to faith-filled action, let’s start fresh and shift into gear again. No more coasting.

Thank you for the reminder, Lord Jesus, that “spiritual coasting” doesn’t cut it. Thanks for awakening me to the importance of pressing into You again, listening closely, and waiting expectantly for how You would move in and through my life today. Amen.

Best of the Web Today

One of my favorite afternoon-break activities is perusing the Wall Street Journal's "Best of the Web Today" column, which is written by James Taranto. The commentary is incisive, thoughtful and often hilarious. I occasionally contribute ideas, quips and headlines to the column (like many other faithful readers). Here's an example. You might consider checking it out sometime.

How, Then, Do We Speak the Truth?

“But speaking the truth in love, [we] may grow up into Him in all things.” (Ephesians 4:15, KJV)

“Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick.” (1 Peter 3:15, The Message)

“Poor communication, or the complete lack of it, is undoubtedly the cause of most misunderstandings and unhappiness. Speaking the truth can be difficult. Expressing ourselves honestly and openly is a huge challenge that we all must work at throughout our lives. Seasoned with love, however, honest communication can liberate, heal, and nurture our relationships. The Bible has a lot to say about communication. Speak the truth in love—be ready always to give an answer for the hope that is in you. A kind word, a gentle tongue, and a disciplined mouth are incredible forces for good. James tells us: ‘We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check’ (James 3:2, NIV). Let the love of God not only constrain your words, but also compel you to speak the truth in every situation.”

O Lord my God, help me speak the truth in love, when—
…reasoning with my spouse.
…confronting a co-worker.
…disciplining my children.
…speaking up in a church group.
…standing for what is right in my community.
…I am tempted to deceive myself about something. Amen.

Adapted, thanks to Liz Connally, from Breath Prayers: Simple Whispers to Keep You in God’s Presence (Honor Books).

Does "Truth" Exist, And Can It Really Set Us Free?

“ ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ ” (John 8:58)

“And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” (Jesus, recorded in John 8:32)

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…” (Paul, recorded in Ephesians 6:14a)

In 21st-century culture, the concept of “truth” has fallen out of favor, ripped asunder by relativism. There is no truth; create your own reality; hey, whatever works for you; and so on. This isn’t new, of course. Two millennia ago, Pilate, most likely with dismissive contempt in his voice, asked a radical rabbi on trial for his life, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). For starters, my concordance defines it as “that which is reliable, trustworthy, and consistent with the character and revelation of God.”* The word “truth” appears 228 times in the Bible. Passage after passage exhorts us to believe the truth, speak the truth, walk in truth, worship in truth, come to the truth, handle truth accurately, obey truth, be established in truth, and know the truth.** As recorded in the New Testament, that same radical rabbi even took the blasphemous step of proclaiming, “I am the truth” (John 14:6). Does truth exist? Can it really set us free? For all who have surrendered their lives to the wild and holy God of the Scriptures, for all who have discovered meaning and purpose, hope and healing, by getting to know Him, the answer is a resounding “YES!”

Thank you, O God, that truth exists, and that it is You, and that following after You results in a freedom and peace that the world simply cannot provide. Amen.

*Nelson’s Three-In-One Bible Reference Companion, an excellent study tool.

*To embark on a full word study, I recommend visiting http://www.biblegateway.com/ and typing the word “truth” into the search window.