No Rest for the Wicked

Posted on July 14, 2012 by richrockwood

If one regularly watches the news and reads newspapers he or she can begin to think evil is too entrenched for good ever to be victorious.   Will the War in Afghanistan ever end?  Will terrorists ever lay down their weapons and get a regular job?  Do elections really matter any more?  Will the underprivileged get a decent break someday?

I read a verse from Psalm 125 that spoke to my concerns in a small yet firm voice:

For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
          on the land allotted to the righteous,
     so that the righteous might not stretch out
          their hands to do wrong. (Psalm 125:3 NRSV)

It sure sounded like a promise to me.

Years ago, my father promised me a three speed black Schwinn bike.  He never delivered it.  I have forgiven him for that because I know he was under a lot of stress at the time and he just didn’t have the means (or the money) to keep the promise.

God, however, has no stress, thinks clearly and has the means to deliver on any promise He makes.   He promises the ׁשבט shêbeṭ a stick (for punishing, fighting or ruling) of רׁשע resha‛ a wrong, iniquity, wickedness shall never נוח nûach rest, that is, settle down.  I know I can rely on this promise because I know Him.  He cannot break His word.

Isn’t that a comfort to know that while evil may prevail it will never find rest.  Those who trust the Promise Keeper on the other hand are guaranteed rest.

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The Courts of the Lord

Posted on July 13, 2012 by richrockwood

In one of my readings for today, I came across these verses:

1   How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
2   My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.  (Psalm 84: 1-2 NRSV)

In my life, I have been in a lot of church sanctuaries.  Some have taken my breath away while others are stark because the people are its decoration.  Since I am a retired minister I have spent a lot of time in those sanctuaries observing everything that caught my eye.  I love the quiet beauty and dignity each one presented me.

Even when I’m away from home on a Sunday, I find I need to be in a sanctuary somewhere.  There’s just something about a place which radiates waves of acceptance and provides guidance for my life.

Do you have memories of churches that stick out in your mind?  Did you go to church as a little child?  Do you still go?

In just a few more days it will be Sunday – The Lord’s Day.  I would like to take this opportunity to personally invite you into the Courts of the Lord on that day.  If it’s been awhile, soak in the peace and beauty of your own house of worship.  If you are a regular church goer, then try to see your place of worship with new eyes.  Look it over as though it is your first time.

May everyone who reads this, find their way into their own Court of the Lord very soon.

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Get Going

Posted on July 11, 2012 by richrockwood

Last night at a meeting for writers, we were all encouraged to let our passion for writing move us forward.  That’s an easy thing to agree to do while “up” there with all the other writers.  Today I have to get going again.  Vacation is over.

I picked up the same message this morning in my Bible reading:

6The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 7Resume your journey, and go into the hill country of the Amorites as well as into the neighboring regions – the Arabah, the hill country, the Shephelah, the Negeb, and the seacoast — the land of the Canaanites and the Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. 8See, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land that I swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their descendants after them.” (Deuteronomy 1:6-8 NRSV)

While their battle for possession of the Promised Land would be more physical, the battle to get going on a passion-driven avocation or occupation can be daunting as well.  The enemy can look like us and can seem so powerful.  Looking in the mirror may make us feel inadequate to the task.  Fear-filled scenarios can take over our imagination.  The scope of the work seems endless.

I noticed that the Lord assured them the land was already theirs.  He said “…go in and take possession of the land that I swore to your ancestors…”

For anyone who has sensed a call to a certain objective and now finds himself or herself stuck, there is a message here.   Today is the day to come down from the mountain and resume the journey to that promised place.

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Reflecting on This Union

Posted on July 4, 2012 by richrockwood

About 200 yards away just across a busy traffic artery there stands a flag pole with a giant American flag raised to the top.   The morning blue sky perfectly mats the red, white and blue.  Cars scoot easily by at this time of day thanks to the freedom of movement we enjoy in this country.

The flag’s upper left corner holds a white star for each state of our union against a navy blue background.  Six white stripes horizontally placed evenly between seven red ones fill the rest of it.  The thirteen stripes correspond to the 13 original colonies that began our nation.  As I try to remember their meaning, the red recalls the blood of protectors shed to preserve our freedom;  the white purity.  May our motives always be pure as a nation!

The wind flows strongly past the flag making it wave ever so proudly.  It’s a grand old flag.

If I travel to another land, this flag welcomes me home.

The flag is only material sewed into a pattern.  The sacrifices and founding principles of our country give it meaning.  May our actions as a nation always be guided by liberty and justice for all.

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Doing the Will of The Parent

Posted on July 3, 2012 by richrockwood

When I was a teenager I had difficulty following my mother’s instructions.  I thought her ways old-fashioned and I knew better, cooler ways of doing things.  There was a stubborn streak in me then and the bad news is it’s still there today.  Can anyone else relate?

I noticed a number of years ago  I looked upon a task based on who asked me to do it.  If the idea came from me, then it was alright.  If someone else told or asked me, it was not.  I wondered how could this be if it is the same task (eg cleaning the floor).  I decided the problem was in my will.

In these days of political correctness we are supposed to just make suggestions.  We aren’t to tell other people what they should do.  This, it seems, can be carried to extremes.  If someone is heading off a bridge, it would not make sense to say “I suggest you change directions.”  We’d better be telling them “you’re heading for disaster.  Turn around.”  Again the problem is not in what is being asked, the problem is in the will.

In the Gospel lesson I read for today, there is this interesting question posed by Our Lord.

“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” (Matthew 21:28-31 NRSV)

Now when the Eternal Father (or Parent) tells us to do something, the same unwillingness can boil over inside because it isn’t our idea.   Yet, this same Father (Parent) sits in eternity, has all wisdom, is merciful and gracious, and knows what is best for each of us individually.  Why would anyone resist His call?

I wonder how many people will say “no” to the Father’s call for service today?  I wonder how many will say “yes” and then move into action?  Will I be in the latter or the former group?

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When I Am Afraid I Will Trust in You

Posted on June 30, 2012 by richrockwood

“O Most High, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”(Psalm 56:3 NRSV)

My experience with the elevator on Wednesday showed me my faith is shaky.  When I stepped in the first elevator, the button I pushed did not light up, so I stepped out. This one’s not working.  I’m not getting on this one.

So I walked around for awhile and then got on the other one.  The doors closed.  Nothing happened for a long, long second.  I panicked.  Then it started to lift.  I prayed “Thhhhhyyy will, nnnnnot mmmmmine bbbbbe ddddone.”  A short time later I heard a dinging sound. It’s not my floor.  I’ll have to wait for someone to get on and then I’ll have to wait to go up one more floor!

I was wrong.  It was my floor.  I exhaled and quickly walked out.

I confessed to a staff person that I was claustrophobic and would prefer taking the stairs down to the first floor.  She gave me the code.  I used it.

To be honest, what the psalmist so easily declared is an area where I still need help.  Humility along with truth is good for the soul.

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Prayer: It’s Just Telling Him What’s Going On

Posted on June 29, 2012 by richrockwood

The two men were desperate.  They couldn’t see, but they could hear.  A multitude was passing by.  Who are they?  What’s going on? Jesus is passing by.  Jesus of Nazareth…the healer.   They started screaming “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

More sounds….commotion…people telling them to be quiet.

Suddenly, nothing…

“Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:32 NRSV)

It’s him.  It’s really him. 

They quickly told him:  “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”

He did it.

I wonder if we would have spoken up or gone quiet.

Jesus stands still and asks us:  “what do you want me to do for you?”

Our answer is our prayer.

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Do I Really Understand These Cliches I Use

Posted on June 28, 2012 by richrockwood

I once heard someone say “If you can’t explain your salvation, there’s a good chance you don’t really understand it.  One of my pet peeves about Christians is our use of cliches.  So one of my missions in writing is to explain my faith to others.  If I am successful, then at least I understand it and some others do as well.

I came across this sentence today in my devotional and it seemed to contain the essence of salvation and sanctification (two familiar terms to Christians but perhaps not to others) but  was loaded with cliches, so I thought I would try and explain it.

1Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. (Romans 5:1 NRSV)

I’ll start with the word “peace.”  I know we all need at least a little bit of stress to deal with but I think we all are ultimately looking for peace.  Paul declares that “we” have peace with God.  “We” are persons who have been justified (able to stand with dignity and without shame) by means of faith (belief in and reliance on) Jesus Christ (that his death covers the little and especially the big offenses).  There’s a sadness over past offenses that naturally comes with this.  This is grace (a huge break which we don’t really deserve).  So not having the wreckage of our past to weigh us down, we experience a sense of peace about life and relating to God.  We feel like the barrier between God and ourself has been vaporized.

Because of this act of simple trust, we can move beyond just feeling good about ourselves, we can actually work on our relationship with God which opens up possibilities for more grace.  And this grace gives us the extra boost and balance we need to go through life with more peace than we ever thought possible.

So remorse at mistakes plus the reliance on the undeserved covering of sin and feeling peace is salvation.  The ongoing personal development from God resulting in more blessing is sanctification.

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Getting Stronger in My Faith

Posted on June 27, 2012 by richrockwood

Today I have another faith challenge.  I have to visit a building and go to the third floor.  To get there I have to take an elevator.

Yes, I am claustrophobic and so taking this elevator becomes a matter of concern for me.  Will I search for stairs so I can avoid it?  Will I just grit my teeth and take it?

I don’t want to live my life in fear.  I would love to dispose of this fear once and for all.

I remember a few months ago when I was called to jury duty.  All week long, I had to release the outcome of the next day to God trusting that I would be alright.  Fears popped up:  they have elevators in court buildings too!  What if I am sequestered for a murder trial? Early on in that “trial” I was given the realization that releasing my worry was freeing.  Each afternoon I went through a period of exercising my faith that felt good.  I just let the next day go into God’s hands.  I actually began thanking God for this opportunity to use and stretch my faith.

A number of years ago I had to take an elevator each week to visit a man in a nursing home.  How I did it was I kept praying this prayer “Thy will, not mine be done.”  And it helped.  It freed me to focus on my purpose for being there.

Today’s purpose is to speak to seniors about the reality of scams and how to avoid them.  This is an important matter.

In my devotions this morning, I came across this line:  he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God (Romans 4:20b NRSV) It’s a reference to Abraham’s ability to wait a long time to see God’s promise of a son come true for him and his wife.   His secret was he kept giving glory to God.

I have seen the exact same thing in my life.  Today as I enter the elevator I will give glory to God who has given me an important message to share with people who may have been or may become victims of scam.

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What Do Faith and Works Have in Common?

Posted on June 26, 2012 by richrockwood

“He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.” (Romans 4:11 NRSV)

In this section of the Bible, there is a lot of heavy language concerning a person’s right standing with God (righteousness).  Up to that time, people who followed the Ten Commandments thought their standing was based on their actions.  If they kept the commandments, they received God’s love and blessings.  If they ignored the commands, they would not.  Now Paul, an expert in those commandments,  realized in a flash he had gotten it wrong.

The new sect, called Christians, claimed grace for all who believed the death of Jesus was a covering over for their sins.   Paul hunted and jailed them until he saw the light (Jesus) on the Damascus Road.  He spent time studying scripture and saw grace way back in the life of Abraham, the founder of that religion.  In the giving of circumcision Paul noticed that Abraham gained right standing (righteousness) with God  before he did anything to deserve it.   It was a heady thought.

Later, in his letter, the Apostle James added:  “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” (James 2:17 NRSV).  Abraham, after gaining right standing by his faith also was circumcised.  He enlivened his faith through his actions.

In the same way, I have to do more than just believe God is good and that Jesus is my Savior.  I have to act on it, but that’s not easy.  For me to tell others about my Christian faith requires a step of faith.  To keep trusting God when I just heard bad news requires faith too.   Truth-telling is a stretch especially when everyone else is lying. Making an extra large donation to a worthwhile need in the community may mean not knowing if the finances will be alright.

I have seen interesting and unexpected things happen when I step out in faith.  It seems that the grace  which comes through faith also surrounds the obedient action.  God also gives me grace to do what He asks.  So grace is found in faith and in works.

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