The Lord Will Provide - A Place and a Promise

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DAILY READING:

Genesis 22:1-18

REFLECTION

The Lord Will Provide - A Place and a Promise

by Dan Kidd

Knowing what we know about God, this is an odd and uncomfortable story. We know that ours is not a God who demands sacrifice for his pleasure—especially not human sacrifice. He is the God of life, love, and provision. But this this is an important early chapter, as Abraham (and with him, all of humanity) is learning about who Yahweh is relative to the gods and religions around them. Yahweh had, to this point, been ambivalent about how much he could trust Yahweh. He’d followed God out of his homeland and been promised the blessing of a nation more numerous than the stars—blessed that through him, the world would be blessed. But Abraham had often acted in his own self-preservation, looking not for Yahweh’s provision; twice he’d lied about his relationship with Sarah (fearing the for his safety, he’d claimed she was not his wife, but his sister, and then handing her over to be the bride of Pharaoh and the Abimelech). Abraham had also come to doubt God’s promise about his bearing a son, and so he married Hagar despite Yahweh’s plan that Sarah would birth Isaac.

Despite his failures, Yahweh had been faithful to care for Abraham. In today’s passage, we see evidence that Abraham may have learned his lesson. God calls Abraham to sacrifice Isaac—his “only son”—in Moriah. But when Isaac becomes curious that the sacrificial lamb is conspicuously missing, Abraham responds, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Perhaps Abraham now understands the Lord’s character enough to trust that despite appearances, Yahweh will come through once again. His faith is confirmed.

Abraham named that mount in Moriah his learned confession, “The Lord will Provide.” There would now be a place on the map, a mountain standing tall and true, that proclaims the character and care of our God.

This is the truth about God: He will provide. We can trust that God is for us—that what he says will be will be. Certainly, there have been times, and there are times to come, when all does not seem right or well to us—times where we’ve convinced ourselves that our fate rests on our grit and cunning. But Abraham learned otherwise. Let us have faith that God is generous and capable, and let us put our full trust in his will and way.

PRAYER PRACTICE

Cup Prayer: This prayer will help you pour your heart out to God (Ps. 62:8). Begin with your hands folded together like an upside-down cup. Pour out before God all your fears, anxieties, guilt, sin and shame. Tell Him what troubles you. Take time to be specific. When you feel like you’ve poured out your heart, flip your hands over, folding them like an open cup, ready to receive from God. Sit in silence, asking God simply to fill you with His Spirit. If your mind runs back to sin, shame, anxiety or concerns of the day, flip your hands back over and pour it out to the Lord. When you are finished praying, read today’s Scripture and listen as God shares His heart back with you.

Joseph's Dream

DAILY READING

Genesis 37:1-11

REFLECTION

Sweet Dreams Are Made of These, Who Am I to Disagree?

by Dan Kidd

As I’ve been reflecting on this passage, it occurs to me that there are a lot of ways this passage might speak to us and several things it might say. For instance, the persecuted Christian may resonate with Joseph as he suffers the ire of his brothers. We might reflect on how God uses providence to give Joseph a prophetic omen that sets into motion the very events that will lead to that prophesy coming true. We might even ponder the wisdom of Joseph sharing with his brothers a dream wherein they would be bowing down to him. But, what most struck me this time ‘round was how tragically typical is Joseph’s family’s response to his blessedness. 

Joseph dreams that his brothers’ crops would bow down to his own, and then that the sun, moon, and stars would bow before him too. This is not well received. And of course it’s not. Who among us is likely to receive with poise and grace the declaration from our younger sibling or our own child that we will someday bow before them? I have a younger brother and a son, and in honesty, if either of them were to share this proclamation over me, it’s not likely I’d respond with a “praise be to God.” 

But, as it turns out, Joseph was right, and God would make it so, that his brothers and his dad would one day kneel before him as he stood esteemed beside Pharaoh. Joseph’s family rejected this whole proposition because they could not see nor accept the future and blessing the Lord had for Joseph. Not that Jacob did him any favors; Jacob knew firsthand how destructive playing favorites with sons could be, but he couldn’t help himself from treating Joseph above the others. Even still, none of us are particularly bent towards celebrating God’s blessings for others when we seem to be left out of the equation. 

Might we have a reason to expect better? For those of us saved and being transformed by the Spirit so that we might love one another, perhaps we really don’t have to live with the envy of those we love. Maybe God has more for us than to pout over the blessings of others—even if their blessing doesn’t seem to directly benefit us. I wonder if there may be room for us to celebrate the work and will of God in the lives of others simply because we want what God wants. That’s all a lot easier said than done. In fact, were we to try to muster up that kind of grace, humility, and charity we’d simply fail—every time. It is only because of the grace of God, the transformation of the Spirit, and the sure truth that our God is good and faithful that we could begin to shed our spotlight envy—our notions of the glory we deserve—and instead, we can celebrate the Lord’s work in, through, and for our sisters and brothers. 

PRAYER PRACTICE 

Cup Prayer – This prayer will help you pour your heart out to God (Ps. 62:8). Begin with your hands folded together like an upside-down cup. Pour out before God all your fears, anxieties, guilt, sin, and shame. Tell Him what troubles you. Take time to be specific. When you feel like you’ve poured out your heart, flip your hands over, folding them like an open cup, ready to receive from God. Sit in silence, asking God simply to fill you with His Spirit. If your mind runs back to sin, shame, anxiety, or concerns of the day, flip your hands back over and pour it out to the Lord. When you are finished praying, read today’s Scripture and listen as God shares His heart back with you.

The Earth is Flooded

DAILY READING

Genesis 7:11-24

REFLECTION

The Flood and God’s Grieved Heart

by Dan Kidd

Since our son was born, nearly two years ago, my wife and I have mused how interesting it is that the story of Noah and his ark shows up so frequently for kids; from a plush toy ark with noise-making animals, to a short, illustrated book written in poem, to a Noah-themed baby shower. It might be that the story of Noah and his ark is the most familiar story in the Bible to young children. 

The reasons are plain enough. There’s tons of animals, a big boat, and a rainbow; and behind it all a story about God’s sovereign and miraculous salvation of a family who was faithful to him. But what’s missing from our son’s illustrated, poetic storybook version is the emphasis placed on the circumstances leading to the flood. Granted, these are not matters anyone would particularly enjoy discussing with children, but if we hastily read over them, we risk missing an essential witness about God and God’s relationship to humanity and creation.

In these first chapters (6-7) we find humanity had so dramatically turned from God’s intentions for them that the Lord regretted (elsewhere translated “repented of”) ever creating them. Their wickedness, their corruption, and their violence tortured God’s heart. God was grieved. Humanity was so hopelessly lost to their sinfulness that swift and absolute destruction was the only plausible solution. Note too the gravity of humanity’s sinfulness: not only did God see fit to end the human project, but our corruption had spoiled every creature on the earth along with us. Every bit of creation he had called good was turned to kindling.

Fortunately, the Lord found one family in whom he would put all hope of restoration. Noah and his family were faithful amid a world otherwise entirely ruined. So, God directed Noah to build an ark and to take with them exactly enough of every creature on the planet to continue their existence. Then the floods came and “everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died.  Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out.”

There is a lot to reflect on here: the devastating consequences of our rebellion; the reality that our sinfulness grieves God’s heart; and the unearned commitment God has made to sustaining and saving us despite ourselves. Were it not for God’s invitation to Noah, the world was doomed. In the same way, were it not for God’s profound love for us, he would not have become human, suffered himself the violence that grieved him, and defeated sin and death on our behalf, and sent the Holy Spirit to regenerate us, and we would be just as hopeless. It is a testament to God’s love that he is willing to act on our behalf when we could not and would not save ourselves. 

PRAYER PRACTICE 

Because of Jesus, we can pray this: Father, thank you for loving us enough to save us even when we were your enemies. Holy Spirit, continue to put to death the people we would be without you and draw us nearer to you and who you’ve always intended us to be. 

The Great Multitude in White Robes

DAILY READING

Revelation 7:9-17

REFLECTION

The Testimony of the Communion of Saints

by Dan Kidd

I find myself wondering how and why John could be so scant on details. John witnessed with his eyes the blessed priesthood of believers, finally and forever unified as they’d always been intended—and, also, magnificently distinct in who they were uniquely made to be—sewn together like a vibrant, living, breathing, swaying, and singing quilt. Joined alongside them were “all the angels.” After seeing all this, John gives us only what seems to be the fewest details allowable. John, this is the glory of glory—the united chorus upon the resolution of all the divisions between ourselves and God and one another—and you’re sticking to “just the facts, ma’am?”

On the other hand, how could John, or anyone, sufficiently illustrate a moment like that? Truth be told, there are some events so profound, so complex, overwhelming, head-spinning, or electrifying that words—even the most splendid, prosaic, illustrative words—fail to adequately convey the experience. I could describe to you some of the emotions I felt, thoughts I had, and sights I saw on occasions like my wedding day, my son’s birth, our baptisms, or even at my grandparents’ funerals. Even the bulkiest vernaculars and most agile phrase turners shore short on events like these. So, perhaps John is wise to keep his words brief, in hopes that our imaginations will do the rest. 

But even if we struggle to see this scene in our mind’s eye, let us hear, as clearly as we can, the witness about this crowd,

“they are before the throne of God

    and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne

    will shelter them with his presence.

‘Never again will they hunger;

    never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat down on them,’

    nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne

    will be their shepherd;

‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’

    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'^”

This is the testimony about those who came out of the great tribulation. And what have they to say? 

“Salvation belongs to our God,

who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb.”

Let us hear, with ears to hear, this testimony today!

As hard as it might be to imagine this, I think it would do our souls good to try. And for those of you who, like me, might have some trouble imagining what this scene may have been like, I invite you to spend about 9 minutes witnessing and hearing a chorus of praise from around the world; a taste of what the Kingdom will someday be in full.

PRAYER 

Christ Jesus, I confess with full communion of saints, "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Holy Spirit, lead me to repeat this in my heart throughout the day.

Believe and Receive

 DAILY READING

Matthew 21:18-21

REFLECTION

The Cursing of the Fig

by Dan Kidd

It was morning in Jerusalem, and Jesus was ready for breakfast. Walking towards the city, Jesus spotted a fig tree, and his mouth watered. As fruit goes, a fig is a hearty choice—honey sweet with a subtle tartness; juicy and syrupy. Exactly the kind of textures one looks for in a breakfast. And the fiber in figs is good for the gut. If any one item is perfectly suited for a first meal, the fig is a top contender. 

I can sympathize with Jesus’ bitter mood when he found the tree barren. Though, admittedly, it wouldn’t occur to me to curse the tree to death; at least not with the expectation that it would actually die because of my cursing it. Me of little faith. 

It’s a peculiar scene. So much so that despite having seen Jesus walk on water, the disciples found it curious enough to ask him about it. Perhaps because they continued to marvel at his miraculous abilities. But also, maybe, because they didn’t understand the purpose of the cursing. After all, cursing a fig tree to death simply for being barren one morning may register as an overreaction. Jesus’ response, that all it takes is faith to curse fig trees or cast mountains into seas answers the “how?” but not the “why?” 

Matthew, being the clever evangelist that he is, clues us in. In the passage directly before this one, we read of Jesus repossessing the temple courts from the money changers and dove merchants, upending their tables and driving them out. Once these robbers were ejected, he invited the blind and lame to be restored back into full health; their eyes and limbs regenerated to work as they were first created. 

Might the cursing of the fig tree have something to do with the repossession of the temple courts? It’s odd that, in discipling his followers about the power of faith, Jesus would tell them they could cast a mountain into a sea. As a lover of mountains, it’s hard for me to reckon why anyone would want to drown one. 

Did Jesus have a specific mountain in mind? Maybe a mountain with a city built on top of it that was meant to serve as a beacon of God’s light to the world? And what if that city failed to be that beacon it was created to be? Could he be talking about Jerusalem? Might it be that when Jesus encountered a fig tree, barren of the lush fruit it was created to bear, he was reminded of Jerusalem’s failure to be God’s beacon? If such a mountain utterly failed its purpose it might ought to be thrown overboard. 

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” If you believe that the Messiah can put an end to barren fig trees, lightless mountains, spoiled vineyards, and sick bodies—and replace them with objects of light and life—then, says Jesus, pray and you will receive.

 

PRAYER PRACTICE 

Jesus, thank you for not letting the corrupted things of this world remain lightless and lifeless. Thank you for showing us that you make darkness into light and dead things into living things. Increase our faith, that we would pray for, hope for, and trust in your saving, resurrecting power.

Jesus Overcomes Lawlessness

DAILY READING

1 John 3:4-6

REFLECTION

Christians Don’t Sin?

by Dan Kidd

On occasion, when reading our Bibles, we encounter passages that stand out for their audacity. This is one such passage, “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” In this case, there’s an audacity to state something that seems so contrary to evidence. Read as it’s stated, are we meant to believe that sinfulness ceases for the Christian once they begin living in Christ? Does that confession match our lived experience? Do the Christians around you live with perfect sinlessness? And when we sin, should this verse call into question whether we live in Christ? 

Additionally, if those abiding in Christ are distinct from those who sin, does that mean my righteousness causes my abiding in Christ, and my sinfulness a departure from the Way?

This verse has been interpreted into English a number of ways—the NASB translates, “No one who remains in Him sins continually…” the Message, “No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin.” While I think there is likely some merit to this idea, I wonder if these qualifiers actually resolve these problems? Is it true that after some period of time walking in step with Jesus on his Way will mark the end of the patterns of sins we cycled in our lives prior to our discipleship? All of them? And perfectly?

And what of those of us who have been raised as lifelong disciples of Jesus but who have found ourselves trapped in cycles of sinfulness that shame us, draw us to the feet of the cross in confession, and then we find ourselves revisited by these sins? Or, put another way, in our devotion to God, we agree to the aim for the mark he created for us, but try as we may, and even with his abundant, patient, good, and gentle help, we still miss that mark—in some seasons missing the mark on more occasion than we hit it.

Do these phenomena mean we are not abiding in Christ? 

Perhaps this verse isn’t trying to say that? Maybe something like it—a shade of that—but not that exactly. 

Might it be that John is reinforcing an important reality about what Jesus does in the lives of those who abide in him (and in whom he abides); that he transforms and liberates sinners out of their old, put-to-death-selves into his saints? Of course, this is not permission to continue to choose to participate in our sinfulness. This verse should not say less than: “when you find yourself with the conscious choice between obedience and lawlessness, choose to be obedient.” Because that is the Way of those who abide in Christ. But this verse, rather than being only a directive to be followed, is also an invitation to notice and celebrate the transformation being done in us—were it not for the gift of Jesus’ path, we would be destined to a life where the shackles of sin would bind us forever. Instead, we can confess our gratitude to Jesus who has brought us to new, abundant, and transforming life.

PRAYER PRACTICE 

Because of Christ, we can pray this: Thank you, Jesus, that you have defeated sin and death! Thank you that you liberate us from captivity and set us to right again. And continue to show us how you are leading us, growing us, and re-creating us. 

All Things Through Christ

 DAILY READING

1 Corinthians 8: 4-6

REFLECTION

A Prayer About Creation and Restoration

by Dan Kidd

I have a friend who has a genuine phobia of stickers. Stickers adhere to almost everything; which means that almost everything can adhere to a sticker. When my friend sees a sticker anywhere but on the sheet it is packaged in, she sees contamination of all sorts. Whatever germs and grime these stickers have touched can now be transmitted to anyone the sticker touches. Stickers and sterility are mortal enemies. 

Yes, this is an extreme and disruptive position. But, in fairness, exposure to germs and bacteria can harm and kill us. Ask any surgeon or immunocompromised person about the importance of rigorous sanitation and the consequences otherwise.

It’s clear to us that the Israelites recognized the importance of purity and the corruption of contamination—in both the physical and spiritual sense (though I suspect they would counsel us that those aren’t meaningful distinctions). The Torah is replete with instructions for avoiding, identifying, and responding to contamination. They knew well that God created a good world full of wonderful, healthy things, but that these things can spoil, sour, and metastasize. This is the context into which Paul is writing to the Corinthian church. This new Christian church, as they looked to the wisdom of the Old Testament, saw how profoundly God’s people had guarded themselves against corruption. As loyal disciples, they wanted to protect themselves from being corrupted by refusing to eat meat that had been sacrificed to the gods around them (which was essentially every last bit of meat they would find in the market). This is not unreasonable.

But Paul has more great news to share with them about the power of Jesus. Christ has the ability to take old, spoiled, corrupted, and even dead things and make them new, vital, good, and alive again. Christ’s power to transform makes a profound difference in the way we engage with the world around us. The power of Christ offers a new, profound liberty. The guardedness against corruption that had once pervaded the Israelites’ sensibilities was no longer as necessary. This new power provides disciples with the opportunity to live, not out of fear, but out of confidence and trust in Christ. Not only was Jesus there at the creation of all things, he was and is recreating and restoring all things back to right. In essence, the enemy’s poison has been thwarted by Jesus, the antidote.

There is, confesses Paul, only one God and only one Lord, and he is the originator of all things. This word offers us liberation from a fearful, defensive posture towards the power of the enemy. Does this mean we are reckless or flippant about being led astray or poisoned by the enemy? No. But Jesus offers to free us from debilitating anxieties over what can corrupt us and empowers us to seek and embrace what is good, restored, and redeemed. 

PRAYER PRACTICE 

Because of Christ, we can pray this: Father God, thank you for creating all things! Jesus, thank you for re-creating all things! Grant me the trust and confidence to embrace your power and work and to marvel at your creation and restoration.

Saved in Order to Do Good

DAILY READING

Titus 3

REFLECTION

Christian Cretans

 by Dan Kidd

The letter from Paul to Titus, is a true gift to the Church. To begin with, it is remarkable to see that even in a place like Crete, the gospel—through the power of the Holy Spirit—can take root. On the first page of his letter, Paul quotes the Cretan poet Epimenides, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” So infamous was their dishonesty that the Greek world called a liar a kretismos (one who behaves like a Cretan). But Paul knew full well and firsthand how profoundly the Lord can transform his people. 

Nevertheless, at the time Paul penned this letter, the Cretan church was not doing so well. In true Cretan fashion, “rebellious people” were making fallacious, dishonest demands of the community regarding rule-following and circumcision. Many in the community—impure and corrupted—were living lives that looked nothing like Christ and a lot like the worst parts of the world around them. 

What guidance does this prolific pastor and church planter offer? Titus was to instruct the church to follow in step with the Spirit by living Christlike, redeemed lives as they lived alongside everyone else. They were not to cloister away in holy huddles, nor participate in the worst parts of the culture around them. Instead, they were to embrace what Christ had saved them into: honesty, wisdom, obedience, sobriety and liberation, contentment and thanksgiving, receiving and distributing love. They were to do this among one another and practice this in the public square. 

And take notice of Paul’s particular warning about divisive, argumentative, persnickety people. Those who are persistently so are wayward and full of sin—they are poison in the well. 

 

As we listen in to Paul’s instructions for Titus, I imagine we might find a number of ways we could apply his wisdom to our current contexts. Certainly, living lives that embrace what we have been saved into—the character being grown in us by God’s Spirit—would be something the watching world would notice. I suspect it’s also worth noticing that these Christians were Cretans by heritage. They were inside of, born of, and surrounded by a culture that wore sinfulness comfortably. Even still, this community’s first allegiance was meant to be to the Kingdom of Heaven, they were something like resident aliens and expats returned home all at once. They were liberated and healed from the sins they inherited. It was time for them to live like it.

Perhaps there are ways we can continue, or begin now, to live as resident aliens—peaceful, trustworthy, wise, obedient, and loving—such that God is noticed and honored by everyone around us? Reveal those ways to us, Lord, and continue the good work you have begun in us. 

  

Prayer Practice

Prayer Journal – Grab a pen and paper and write out a prayer to God. Consider using the ACTS to frame your prayer. Begin with adoration for who God is. Then move on to confession – being real about where you have fallen short in the last day or two. Give thanks to God for all that He gives (including forgiveness for the sin you just confessed!). And then finish with supplication – with your prayer requests to God. Writing this in a place where you can return to it will allow you to track and remember how you have come to God and how God has met you.