Archives by: Gary Hoag

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

“Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter, but darker.”

C.S. Lewis and Walter Hooper. On Stories, and Other Essays on Literature (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982).

One of the most generous things we can do in hard times is tell stories of knights and courage. There is a seemingly never ending supply of such stories in the Scriptures.

Recently I was teaching and writing about succession planning and the transition between Moses and Joshua. In Numbers 27:15-23, Moses asks God to appoint a successor and God tells him that Joshua is the man! He must give him some of his authority and affirm and commission him before the people.

Moses did as the Lord commanded. What was the result? Texts like Joshua 1:16-17 tell us that the people followed his lead just as they followed Moses. The challenges that Joshua would faced would be great and would require deep faith and a whole lot of courage. He knew of God’s faithfulness from Moses, so he was ready.

When we tell such stories we remind those around us that we can navigate whatever challenges are in front of us because God is with us, just like He was with them.

And Lewis reminds us today that in dark times, such stories actually bring the light that the next generation needs. Tell such stories.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:3-5

“A sensible human once said, “If people knew how much ill-feeling Unselfishness occasions, it would not be so often recommended from the pulpit”; and again, “she’s the sort of woman who lives for others — you can always tell the others by their hunted expression”. All this can be begun even in the period of courtship. A little real selfishness on your patient’s part is often of less value in the long run, for securing his soul, than the first beginnings of that elaborate and self-consciousness unselfishness which may one day blossom into the sort of thing I have described. some degree of mutual falseness, some surprise that the girl does not always notice just how unselfish he is being, can be smuggled in already. Cherish these things, and, above all, don’t let the young fools notice them. If they notice them they will be on the road to discovering that love is not enough, that charity is needed and not yet achieved and that no external law can supply its place. I wish Slumtrimpet could do something about undermining that young woman’s sense of the ridiculous.”

Uncle Screwtape in Screwtape Letters: Letters from a Senior to a Junior Devil by C.S. Lewis (Samizdat University Press, 2016) 54-55.

I spoke with my dear brother, Anjji Gabriel in Manila, Philippines on Monday. Since he’s a “senior citizen” he’s been basically homebound during COVID. When I asked what he has done to pass the time, he said a few things, including reading C.S. Lewis books. For that reason, until I run out of titles, look for my upcoming Daily Meditations to come from C.S. Lewis books.

Today’s post comes from the pen of Uncle Screwtape. Two excerpts struck me: “she’s the sort of woman who lives for others — you can always tell the others by their hunted expression.” Do you live for others? Do you pursue people? I think I live in an unselfish manner and yet, I don’t think I pursue others or hunt them down. God, help us pursue those around us unselfishly.

The other statement that stood out to me was this one: “…they will be on the road to discovering that love is not enough, that charity is needed…” In our unselfishness, we must add charity or grace to love because of our many sins and imperfections. This will serve to help our relationships with others stay strong. God, help us add a generous dose of grace toward others.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4

“…a perfect house, whether you like food or sleep or story-telling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.’ Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear, and sadness.”

J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings, One Volume (New York: HarperCollins, 1994) 225.

I saw a sign at my daughter’s home with this quote. I loved it.

It got me thinking about how the home can be a place of generous hospitality, but only if we allow space for a mixture of activities. Such a place can be a cure for weariness, fear, and sadness.

Is your house such a place? What would it take to make it perfect?

Take time to consider what is missing in your home. Read through Tolkien’s list. Is there too much noise? Are you working all the time? Lately I’ve realized I am working too much.

You can’t remodel your home overnight but you can change the environment.

Make it a place of rest and fun, work and play, talking and listening, laughing and crying, and of course, loving and sharing. Resolve to move this direction and you too will have a perfect house.

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Revelation 4:5

“God communicates Himself to pure souls and blesses through them other souls who are in a state of receptivity. All these little rills, which water others, little compared with the fountain from which they flow, have no determinate choice of their own, but are governed by the will of their Lord and Master.

The nature of God is communicative. God would cease to be God if He should cease to communicate Himself, by love, to the pure soul. As the air rushes to a vacuum, so God fills the soul emptied of self.

The seven blessed spirits around the throne, are those angels who approach nearest to God, and to whom he communicates Himself the most abundantly. St. John, perhaps, was better prepared than any of the apostles to receive the Word, incarnate, dwelling in the soul.

On the bosom of Jesus—in close affinity with Him—John learned the heights and depths of divine love. It was on this account our Lord said to his mother, “seeing the disciple stand by whom he loved, Woman behold thy Son.” He knew the loving heart of John would give her a place in his own home.

God communicates Himself to us in proportion as we are prepared to receive Him. And in proportion as He diffuses Himself in us, we are transformed in Him, and bear His image. O, the astonishing depths of God’s love giving Himself to souls disappropriated of self, becoming their end, and their final principle, their fulness, and their all.”

Madam Guyon in The Letters of Madam Guyon: Selections of Her Religious Thoughts and Experiences, translated and re-arranged from her private correspondence by P.L. Upham (Boston: Henry Hoyt, 1858) Letter 5.

Madam Guyon shines light three ideas that relate to generosity. It starts with taking receptivity. He communicates or shares Himself with those “ who are in a state of receptivity.” Before we can do any giving, we must receive.

He does not overwhelm us, either. “God communicates Himself to us in proportion as we are prepared to receive Him.” This shouts of His love and His knowledge of each of us. He supplies what we need for ourselves and others.

And He does all this—“giving Himself to souls disappropriated of self, becoming their end, and their final principle, their fulness, and their all”—to the measure that we are empty and waiting for what is best, being filled with His fullness.

It may sound lofty, so let’s simplify all this. Let’s start the week by taking a receptive posture and emptying ourselves so that in proportion, God can fill us and transform us into conduits of material and spiritual blessings for God’s glory.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84:11

“God’s pity, and our necessity, God’s mildness, and our longings. These four cause virtue and excellence to grow.

Now understand: when the sun sends its rays and its light into a deep valley between two high mountains, and the sun then stands in the height of the firmament, so that it can illuminate the floor and the depths of the valleys, then three things take place. The valley is given more light, and light is reflected from the mountains, and there is more heat: and it becomes more fertile than flat and even land.

And in just the same way, when a good man reflects in the depths of his being upon his littleness, and acknowledges that he has nothing and is nothing and can do nothing of his own power, he cannot remain still, nor can he advance in virtues; and when he acknowledges also that he frequently lacks virtues and good works, in this he acknowledges his poverty and his need, and so he makes a valley of humility.

And because he is then humble and in need, and because he confesses his need, he thus shows and laments his need of the riches and pity of God. So he perceives how high God is, and how low he is; and so he is a deep valley.

And Christ is a Sun of righteousness, and also of mercy, standing in the height of the firmament, that is at the right hand of His Father, and He shines into the depths of the humble heart: for Christ is altogether moved by men’s need when they humbly call on Him and lament.

Then there grow in that place two mountains, which is a twofold desire: the desire to serve and praise God in worship, and the second desire, to win virtues in excellence. These two mountains are higher than heaven, for these desires touch God immediately and call on His generous pity. Because then God’s pity cannot restrain itself but must flow, for the soul then is able to have and to receive more gifts. This is the cause of the new coming of Christ, with new virtues for the soul.

Then this valley, the humble heart, experiences three things: it is more illumined and enlightened with graces, and more warmed in charity, and made more fruitful in perfect virtues and in good works. And thus you have the reason and the manner and the works of this coming.”

Jan Van Ruysbroek (1293-1381) in The Spiritual Espousals (London: Faber and Faber, 1952) 57-58.

Like the sun shining on a field and giving it life, God shines on us, and His pity and riches burst forth in humble hearts to produce generosity and good works.

It’s a vivid word picture of how the sun helps valley coming to life. Our longings and lament are met with his favor bestowing upon us that which we cannot muster.

To grow in generosity, let us humble ourselves so that His light shines upon us. Let us learn to receive all things in charity so that virtue and generosity abound.

Or in plain terms, just like a sunny day brings life, may the compassion and grace of our Lord, like the sun, bring you to life and cause you to bear fruit for your enjoyment and rich sharing.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

“If God’s kingdom is important to you, then you need not think you have to be anything important. Rather, you should place yourself at Jesus’ feet thinking, I am a weak human being but Jesus lives. Jesus is Victor. I will give myself to Him, and I will turn everything over to Him so that nothing can rule over me but He alone.”

Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt in Action in Waiting (Walden: Plough, 1998) 6.

Who feels weak today? I do. Saturday is my day to rest. I ask God to restore me. But who feels weak for the challenges you face in life? Again, I would say that I do. You might also agree. So what should we do?

Let us give ourselves to Jesus. That’s not the kind of giving most people think about, especially in our times of weakness. We reason, “What can I offer?” That’s just it. Jesus wants us to realize we have nothing to offer.

Jesus the Victor does His best work through weak, surrendered people who give themselves fully to Him. Such is the paradoxical nature of generosity. God does not want or need anything. He wants us. I give myself to you, Jesus.

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17

“As humans, we like parity in relationships with others. A tit for a tat. An eye for an eye. A kiss for a kiss. At its best, our desire for parity keeps relationships healthy. We enjoy flexibility in our roles. Both parties give and take love, time, gifts, and kindnesses. Like the ocean waves, the relationship ebbs and flows naturally. At its worst parity leads to keeping accounts.

We notice that at lunch, we asked all the questions while our colleague did all the talking. We take note of when gifts and cards are given and received. We pay attention to who does more of the calling, e-mailing, and inviting. We judge people we connect with—and our relationships—against these accounts. We wonder, “What have you done for me lately?” This isn’t new of course…

In a conversation on hospitality, Jesus encouraged His followers not to invite other people in hopes of being repaid. Jesus said, “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you” (Luke 14:13-14).

When the woman with the “alabaster jar of very costly ointment” anointed Jesus (Matthew 26:7), the disciples were outraged at the expense. “For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor” (Matthew 26:9). Jesus did not chastise the woman or her generous gift, instead He called it “good service” (literally a “beautiful deed”).

When Jesus spoke about retaliation (Matthew 5:38-42), He asked His followers to forget the rules that had punishment fit the crime (“an eye for an eye”). Instead, He advised a sort of reckless generosity: “Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42).”

Rochelle Melander in A Generous Presence: Spiritual Leadership and the Art of Coaching (Herndon: Alban Institute, 2006) 91-92.

The world sees it as reckless to give to those who cannot repay us. So, why would Jesus instruct us to do this? Might it be that we won’t figure it out until we bless those who cannot repay us that God will reward us? That He will replenish our supply?

 Too much of generosity is about giving to places that will generate a great return. Jesus is saying to give to things that can generate no return. This is what gracious and merciful generosity is all about.

This not about giving handouts that create dependencies on other humans. It’s about exhibiting generosity to build disciples who rely on God. We only figure it out when we practice reckless generosity.

All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. Proverbs 21:26

“We as individuals, as part of the body of Christ, must challenge ourselves to give in a way that ensures that a hurting world is blessed beyond measure. We use words like grace and mercy all too glibly; we talk about experiencing these realities, but when we ourselves are in despair, we become depressed, wondering why others are not meeting our needs. The Scripture calls us, in giving money, and in giving ourselves, to live lives of such overflowing generosity that we give not from our excess but from our want.”

Ted Rivera in Reforming Mercy Ministry: A Practical Guide to Loving Your Neighbor (Downers Grove: IVP, 2014) 169.

My comments may ruffle some feathers.

We have been blessed beyond measure in Christ. Why, in turn, are we so miserly about blessing others? Furthermore, the more resources people have, the stingier they become. And, in a pandemic, things only get worse. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

What should we do and how should this situation shape our generosity?

Because of God’s grace (undeserved blessings we have received in abundance) and mercy (not getting the judgment we deserve) we should give of ourselves and resources with overflowing generosity not from excess but from our want. Is this reckless, irrational, and inappropriate? On the contrary. It reflects God’s generosity toward us.

Those who choose the way of scarcity, will never be satisfied and always crave for more. But those who give without sparing, are righteous in God’s eyes. They trust Him to look after them. He sees and is pleased. What would it look like for you to give from a place of want?

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

“Doing justice is inseparably connected to preaching grace. This is true in two ways. One way is that the gospel produces a concern for the poor. The other is that deeds of justice gain credibility for the preaching of the gospel. In other words, justification by faith leads to doing justice, and doing justice can make many seek to be justified by faith.”

Tim Keller in Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just (New York: Penguin Random House, 2010) 140.

Does your doing match your preaching? Keller rightly notes that when we do justly it draws people to the gospel of grace and vice versa.

Pause and ask yourself this question. Does my concern for the poor and my kindness toward others point people to Jesus?

Too many times, my honest answer is that I lack kindness or justice for the poor, which in turn gives a poor reflection of Jesus and the gospel to a watching world.

God, help me remember that what you require of me is to live out my faith humbly with kindness and generosity to those in need.