The Flu Shot

 Write From My Heart / October 19, 2020 / The Flu Shot

Romans 12:11 (KJV)  Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 

Romans 12:11 (NIV)  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Romans 12:11 (NLT)  Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.  

Romans 12:11 (ESV)  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Romans 12:11 (NASB)  not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Romans 12:11 (CEV)  Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord.

            There are times when I like to take a particular verse and look at several translations of the same verse—as I have done today. The comparison of wording often brings new insightful meaning. The verse I am studying today can be found in the middle of a very familiar passage to most Christians; however, the emphasis for the entire passage is almost always on the theme of love, joy, or hope. This little verse tucked in the midst of the others is often (in my humble opinion) overlooked or skimmed over. Yet this little verse is exactly what I am needing, and perhaps it is what you are needing it, too.

            Most states in our nation are beginning to return to some sense of normal activity or perhaps we call it the “new normal.” But there are those states such as mine that are still under state mandates and governmental restrictions with the additional governor’s threat of even stronger restrictions to be put in place in the coming days. People living in these areas are becoming disheartened in many ways and some have trouble seeing “the light at the end of the tunnel” as it were. As I thought about this, another thought entered my mind.

Just a few days ago, I got my annual flu shot. The medical reasoning behind getting an annual flu shot is that a flu vaccine is made to protect against the three or four most likely or most common flu viruses present in that year. Somehow in my crazy chaotic mind, it all began to make perfect sense (at least to me). What I needed for this “down” feeling was a spiritual “flu shot”—something to protect my heart against the most likely sources of discouragement. What I needed was a verse that reminds me it is the Lord I am serving. My passion, willingness, devotion, and enthusiasm for serving the Lord is not determined by my physical surroundings, nor is it determined by state or local mandates and restrictions. My passion for serving the Lord comes from my heart. Rather than allowing current circumstances to dampen my enthusiasm for serving the Lord through writing or other means, I can move forward boldly because it is the LORD I am serving. Dear friends, I hope this brings you encouragement today to move boldly forward no matter what circumstances would dampen your resolve. Take heart, serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Always Pray and Never Give Up

 Write From My Heart / October 5, 2020 / Always Pray and Never Give Up

            Of the four gospels, I enjoy reading Luke perhaps more in some ways. I know that historically speaking Luke was not a Jew but he was a Gentile. This is often reflected in his writings. For example, while Matthew uses the Jewish term Rabbi when describing Jesus, Luke chooses to use Master which is a term the Gentiles would be most likely to use. He also used many other Greek words instead of their Hebrew equivalents and I think this was to make sure his writings could be easily understood by the Gentiles.

Luke was known as a physician, and his writings often include details revealing the side of human physicality, nature, and emotion. His passion for the care of others is reflected in Luke’s writings in other ways. According to history, a Jewish man would begin his day with prayer including thanksgiving to God that he was not born as a gentile, nor as a slave, nor as a woman. Now I am not sure if that tradition holds true today, but I do believe it might be one of the factors influencing Luke’s writings because much of his writings reflect the needs of the poor, downtrodden, and women. In the Jewish/Palestinian world, women were held in low esteem. By contrast, Luke tells the account of Christ’s birth from Mary’s perspective. He gives great detail about interactions with women including Mary and Martha. And in today’s passage, although many might dispute my opinion, I see the judge as the antagonist while the protagonist is a poor, destitute widow.

Luke 18:1-8 (NIV)  Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’

            And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

            The first concern I would like to address is that Luke is not comparing God to the unjust judge; rather, he is contrasting God from that type of person. God does not have to be worn down by our prayers until he finally gives in. We don’t even know what will happen in our lives a few hours from now, let alone a few days, weeks, months, or years. But God understands all things and only he can determine what is best. A parent may have to repeatedly deny a child’s persistent request because they know it is not in the best long-term interest of the child. That’s pretty tough for children to understand. Sometimes what we are asking for isn’t what we would actually want if we knew the future. God knows and he understands our concerns.

With regard to this parable, Luke is trying to emphasize what he also wrote in a previous parable—the parable of the friend at midnight (Luke 11:5-13). Luke’s point is this: if an unjust judge can eventually do what is in the best interest of a poor, defenseless widow, how much more will God care for his own?

For this reason, we are never to become discouraged in our prayers. We are to remain faithful in our prayers even when—especially when—we wonder whether God is listening. I assure you, God always listens to our prayers, but he alone knows what is best for our lives. Perhaps this is why Jesus concludes the parable with the question, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” The question for us becomes will he find you and I quitting and giving up because we mistakenly think our prayers go unanswered, or will he find us faithful in prayer until the day of his return? Perhaps the most important part of every prayer we offer should be to follow the example of Christ in his prayer to his Father: “yet not my will, but yours be done,” (Luke 22:42).  

Always pray and never give up!

Your Heaven Father is only ever a prayer away.

Prophets and Priests and People--Oh My!

 

Write From My Heart / October 1, 2020 / Prophets and Priests and People—Oh My!

Jeremiah 6:13-15 (NIV)  “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,” says the LORD.

            For background, let us keep in mind that the prophet Jeremiah wrote words of both prophecy and judgement regarding the unfaithfulness of Israel. Jeremiah carried strong warnings to Judah about their destruction. He sought to remind them of their sin and convince them to repent. The verses in today’s passage come as Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonians. So greedy for power and gain were the rogue prophets and priests of that time, that they made light of the dire situation. And this, my friends, is what caught my attention.

            You see, it is not so very different from our day in time. There is real violence occurring in our nation—it is not imaginary nor simply perceived. It is real. Select political leaders in certain cities and states of our nation are so greedy for power and gain, that they make light of the dire situation (sound familiar?). They would have us believe that the danger is “mostly peaceful” when it is enough to cause millions of dollars of damage, not to mention the destruction of peoples’ livelihood and means of support for their families. Not only this, but as in Jeremiah’s day, these political leaders have no shame for their misconduct, nor do they follow the rules they themselves impose upon others. So what is the answer? What is the solution?

            First of all, the LORD is a just God—he will not tolerate wrong-doing and in the end, final destruction is the fate of the wicked. But for his faithful people, there is mercy.

Jeremiah 7:23 (NIV)  “Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.” 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD.

            Dear friends, our Heavenly Father is only a prayer away!