A Life Worthy

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  (Matthew 7:9-11)

Do you believe that God wants you to have what is best for you?

Do you believe that God knows what’s best for you?

Really?

We parents can mess up from time to time.  We might be overprotective or underprotective or buy our kids the wrong clothes or pick the wrong school or choose the wrong place to live or feed them yams or let them play tennis barefoot or any one of a number of ill-advised oopses.

But

generally, our hearts are in the right place.  We, really, truly want the best for our children, even when we’re not sure what that looks like.

God knows exactly what best looks like.

and

God loves you even more than you love your kids.

Let that soak in for a minute.  That person whom you love beyond words, the one you would give anything, do anything, be anything for–God loves you more than that.

And, God knows what you need, 100% of the time.

So, Beloved of Christ, take a breath.

He’s got you, today and always.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.  If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces (Matthew 7:6).

Well, there go my plans for the weekend.

So, the basic interpretation of this metaphor is: Don’t give the Gospel to those who aren’t in a position to receive it.

Wowzers.  Jesus just got finished warning us about judging people, and yet this sounds pretty judgmental.  Are we really supposed to decide who deserves the Word and who doesn’t?

Perhaps it’s less a question of judgement and condemnation than of stewardship.  God has entrusted us with the priceless treasure of his truth, and while that truth may be unlimited, our time, our energy, our strength is not.  We can’t preach the Word every hour of every day. So, we need to perform a little spiritual triage. We must use the wisdom and discernment God has given us to determine who is in a place to receive the Gospel and who is not. If someone is being openly hostile and argumentative, it is probably not the best time to hit them with the Four Spiritual Laws.  Maybe you hit them with a chair first; then when they’re calm you hit them with the Gospel.

OK, I know Jesus never said to hit anyone with a chair; I’m just…expounding.

Spread the Word today, Beloved.  But spread it wisely.

Happy Tuesday

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you  (Matthew 7:1-2).

I don’t want to be judged.

Seriously, I really don’t want to be judged.

I actually can’t quantify for you just how very much I don’t want to be judged.

But it’s a lot.

So…mercy.

Look, I know that sometimes we are required to judge.  If someone is spreading a false gospel and leading folks away from Christ, it is our duty to speak out and defend the truth.

But

you and I both know that the vast majority of judgement has less to do with truth than it does with opinion

or preference

or comfort.

So whaddaya say we reserve our judgement for those who deserve it most?

You know who I mean–lousy drivers.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

But seek first his kingdom, and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well  (Matthew 6:33).

There’s just so much.

Everywhere I turn there’s…stuff I need to do.

Obligations

Responsibilities

Duties

It’s overwhelming.

At least, I know it is for me.

Look, Beloved, Jesus isn’t saying that you should ignore the rent, the car insurance, the homework, the family responsibilities.  He’s saying that you shouldn’t let them be first in your heart. It’s a forest and trees kinda thing. Don’t become so fixated on the details of life that you forget your reason for living.

Before you dive into the day, with all its attending stresses and fears and lists, take a moment

maybe this moment

to stop, and to pray, and to connect with the One who made you

the One who chose you

the One who loves you

and see if the rest doesn’t sort itself out.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin, yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was not dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you–you of little faith? (Matthew 6:28-30)

Last spring , my family went on a wildflower hike.  It was, in a word, wowifying. The sight of all those beautiful flowers–some of them no bigger than a dime–brought this verse to mind.

Wildflower time is short in SoCal. After a few weeks, the blooms are spent, the flowers dead, the hills returned to their normal shade of California Gold

which always reminds me of brown.

Still, God chose to make the flowers beautiful. He made them more beautiful and delicate and intricate and lovely and spectacular than I can describe with words like beautiful and delicate and intricate and lovely and spectacular.

God did not make flowers in his image.  He did not send his Son to redeem flowers.  Flowers are not the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Flowers are not his Beloved.

That would be you.

So, if God gave that much attention to glorified grass…

Yeah–I think he’s got you covered.

Happy Monday, Beloved.