Archives by: Gary Hoag

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

“The love of which Jesus speaks addresses the provision of positive goods, not jut alleviation of painful conditions. This and the difference it makes are often missed by those who like to compare the teachings of Jesus to those of other religions. Our aim here is not to prove that Jesus is superior to other spiritual masters and traditions. But He really is different, and we should acknowledge it. Commonly, “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you,” the Silver Rule, is equated with, “Do to others as you would have them do to you,” the Golden Rule, but they are vastly different applications.

The positive formulation is directed toward helping others by doing what is good for them. The negative formulation is directed toward avoiding harm. It might be that some, in practice, would do the same things under either formulation, but many would not. The Silver Rule is not directed toward the good of the other the way the Golden Rule is. The mind and heart are in a different place for those who would follow one or the other. The Golden Rule is devoted to the good of the lives of those around us, and this reaches far beyond the mere absence of harm. The “love” of Jesus not only reaches indiscriminately toward those with whom we are actually in contact, but it aspires toward a remarkable richness in their lives, not simply in the alleviation of their suffering.”

Dallas Willard in Knowing Christ Today: Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge (New York: Harper One, 2009) 88-89.

During COVID-19, many people have real needs. How we as followers of Christ meet those needs with the “Golden Rule” aim of “provision of positive goods” will set Christianity apart our faith from other religions.

While we can’t meet most of the needs around us, let’s each assess what we have, such as food, time, money, or other items. From there, let us ask God how we might show God’s love to others with what we have.

This is our golden moment to shine! And remember, our shining is only as reflectors. Our role is to reflect the matchless love and abundant grace we receive from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3

“Old age is the most precious time of life, the one nearest eternity. There are two ways of growing old. There are old people who are anxious and bitter, living in the past and illusion, who criticize everything that goes on around them. Young people are repulsed by them. They are shut away in their sadness and loneliness, shriveled up in themselves. But there are also old people with a child’s heart, who have used their freedom from function and responsibility to find a new youth. They have the wonder of a child but the wisdom of maturity as well. They have integrated their years of activity and so can live without being attached to power. Their freedom of heart and their acceptance of their limitations and weakness makes them people whose radiance illuminates the whole community. They are gentle and merciful, symbols of compassion and forgiveness. They become community’s hidden treasures, sources of unity and life. They are true contemplatives at the heart of community.”

Jean Vanier in Community and Growth, revised edition (London: Darton, Longman, and Todd, 1989) 140-141.

As we think about growing in compassionate generosity this year, I want you to envision a person of old age in your mind right now who is a radiant symbol of compassion. Take five minutes and send them them a note. In this season of social distance it will likely bless them deeply. Thank them for being “gentle and merciful” and living with “the wonder of a child” and “the wisdom of maturity” at the same time. Ask them for a tip to follow in their footsteps and consider doing it yourself.

Then [Jesus] said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

“As you say, the thing is to rely only on God. The time will come when you will regard all this misery a small price to pay for having been brought to that dependence. Meanwhile (don’t I know) the trouble is that relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had been done.”

C.S. Lewis in his “Letter to Mrs. Lockley of Magdalen College” dated 12 September 1949, in Letters of C.S. Lewis (Orlando: Harcourt, 1968) 395.

This week I faced a challenge related to my work. When I took the challenge to God in my despair, He reminded afresh to depend on Him. He could carry my burden yet again. The love and compassion (my word for the year) I experienced was from a caring God who reminded me that I could trust Him to help me sort it.

As our faith grows as followers of Christ, our challenges grow as well. It’s in those everyday faith-stretching moments we must “begin all over again.” We must rely on God daily to supply the grace we need in order to continue to live, give, serve, and love generously. We get to deny ourselves daily, take up our cross, and follow Jesus.

Father, thanks for your compassion. May your Holy Spirit help us to trust you with the needs and challenges we face. As daily they seem to be bigger than anything we have experienced, remind us that you are with us and empowering us carry our cross. In your mercy, hear our prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12

“Christ in a believer’s heart will act the same as He acted in Galilee and Judea. His disposition is the same now as then. He was holy, righteous, compassionate, meek, and humble then, and He has not changed. He is the same wherever He is found, whether it be at the right hand of God or in the nature of a true disciple. He was friendly, loving, prayerful, kindly, worshipful, self-sacrificing while walking among men; is it not reasonable to expect Him to be the same when walking in men?

Why then do true Christians sometimes act in an unChristlike manner? Some would assume that when a professed Christian fails to show forth the moral beauty of Christ in his [or her] life it is a proof that he [or she] has been deceived and is actually not a real Christian at all. But the explanation is not so simple as that.

The truth is that while Christ dwells in the believer’s new nature, He has strong competition from the believer’s old nature. The warfare between the old and the new goes on continually in most believers. This is accepted as inevitable, but the New Testament does not so teach. A prayerful study of Romans 6 to 8 points the way to victory. If Christ is allowed complete sway He will live in us as He lived in Galilee.”

A.W. Tozer in That Incredible Christian: How Heaven’s Children Live On Earth, compiled by Anita M. Bailey, 11.

Christ is risen and with the Father. As He walked the earth and touched the lives of many with compassion and generosity, so can we. As today’s Scripture notes, He Himself declared we would do not just the same things but greater things.

But we have strong competition. The flesh wages war within us. Our inner man or inner woman must give complete sway to the Spirit rather than succumb to the desires of the flesh. How are you tempted to live for yourself rather than for God?

Complete sway starts with commitment. It is lived out victoriously not so much in big areas, but in the small decisions of life. We realize over time, the small ones are really the big ones. What keeps you from a life of compassion and generosity? 

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5

“Learn in Christ how possible it is to be strong and mild, to blend in fullest harmony the perfection of all that is noble, lofty, generous in the soldier’s ardor of heroic devotion; and of all that is calm, still, compassionate, tender in the priest’s waiting before God and mediation among men.”

Alexander Maclaren in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 412. I snapped the header photo in my office. It’s where I have basically lived for the last month. You can see I love books to learn in Christ, and my chair and map (at right) is my place of prayer for the world.

In life after Easter, in light of the resurrection, I am returning to my word for the year, which is compassion. May Christ teach us how to be the mix of these amazing traits: strong and mild, lofty and calm, generous and compassionate, noble and tender. Clearly, it’s only possible by knowing and abiding in Him. Teach us, Christ Jesus.

Happy Easter!

He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Matthew 28:6

Though sin and death cover the earth, our Lord Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death, giving us cause to rejoice! Here is a special reading for today since we are on lockdown.

Enjoy parts of the Easter letter from Dietrich Bonhoeffer to Karl and Paula Bonhoeffer, his parents, dated Easter Sunday, 25 April 1943. He wrote these words from lockdown in prison.

“Today, ten days have finally passed, and I am allowed to write to you once again. I would really like to let you know that I am celebrating a happy Easter here. What is so liberating about Good Friday and Easter is the fact that our thoughts are pulled far beyond our personal circumstances to the ultimate meaning of all life, suffering, and indeed everything that happens, and this gives us great hope. Since yesterday it has become wonderfully quiet throughout the building. One could heart many people call out “Happy Easter” to each other, and, without envy, one wishes that everyone who carries out their difficult duty in here be granted the fulfillment of that wish. I now also hear your Easter greetings as you are gathered together today with my brothers and sisters and thinking of me…

I continue to be well, I am healthy, permitted to be outside for a half hour every day… I am treated well and read a lot, besides the newspaper and novels especially the Bible. I don’t have the concentration to work properly. However, during this Holy Week, I was finally able to intensively study a section of the Passion Narrative, Jesus’ high priestly prayer, in which I have had a long-standing strong interest as you know… Surprisingly, the days are passing by quickly in here. It seems incredible to me that I have already been here for three weeks… I look forward to my dreams. In the past I never knew what a delightful gift they are. I dream every night, and they are always pleasant. Until I fall asleep, I recite the verse I memorized during the day. Then at six in the morning, I enjoy reading psalms and hymns, thinking of you, and knowing that you are thinking of me too.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Works, Volume 8: Letters and Papers from Prison (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2010) 61-63.

Notice how Bonhoeffer maximized lockdown. He memorized a verse a day. He wrote loved ones when he was able. He even started the day with psalms and hymns, remembering those he loved but from whom he was separated.

He gave thanks for small blessings like dreams. He enjoyed only a brief moment of fresh air per day, and yet, he did not waste his experience. How can his example help you endure lockdown with our risen Lord?

I suggest the best way to conclude today’s post is to meditate on the text Bonhoeffer studied in Holy Week. It’s the prayer of Jesus for us: John 17. Sit quietly and imagine Jesus praying this over you, with you, for you. Be blessed!

After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When He ascended on high He made captivity itself a captive; He gave gifts to His people.” (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same One who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) The gifts He gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. Ephesians 4:7-13

“One may picture a military leader returning to Jerusalem at the head of His followers, after routing an enemy army and taking many prisoners. The victorious procession, with the captives in the train, makes its way up the temple mount, preceded by the sacred ark, which symbolizes the invisible presence of the God of Israel…Here Christ is the subject: it is He who ascended. The expression “He ascended” is seen to imply that He first “descended”… this phrase, “the lower part of the earth,” has traditionally been interpreted as the abode of the dead…the idea that between His death and resurrection Christ invaded the abode of the dead and released the men and women of God who, from Adam onward, had been held fast there, thus “leading captivity captive”…it is emphasized that the One who gave the gifts is the One who ascended: it is because He ascended that He has given them.”

F.F. Bruce in The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (NICNT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1984) 341-345.

Where is Jesus today on Holy Week Saturday? He’s working. He’s leading captivity captive! A beautiful picture of Him delivering the imprisoned spirits comes in 1 Peter 3:18-22.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him.

Why are those who had previously died called called spirits? Remember you and I are souls and we have a spirit and a body. When we die, our spirit now leaves the body and goes to be with the Lord. Prior to the first Easter, the weekend that changed all human history, the spirits of those who died before were held captive awaiting deliverance.

On Easter Saturday Jesus sets them free because He was victorious over death. As a result of this faithful work, He gets to bestow gifts to the Church: apostles and prophets, pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works for service. He worked and has gifted people to work and to build a community of faithful stewards.

So as you reflect on Holy Week Saturday, let us give thanks for the faithfulness of Jesus who did this work, and for the generosity of Jesus who has given gifts to the church to help everyone work together with Him. He wants us all to be part of the story, to equip everyone for works of service and show His love to the world.

And I have a free gift for you today. It’s a 30 day devotional called STEWARD. Visit the GTP website to download it. I wrote it with Aussie mate, Nathan Buttigieg from Christian Super. Explore your identity and responsibility as a steward in this little book, and yes, it has a Van Gogh on the cover: “Bulb Fields.” Enjoy!

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

“What a grandeur of spirit it is to struggle with all the powers of an unshaken mind against so many onsets of devastation and death! What sublimity to stand erect amid the desolation of the human race and not to lie prostrate with those who have no hope in God; but rather to rejoice and to embrace the benefit of the occasion that in thus bravely showing forth our faith, and by suffering endured going forward to Christ by the narrow way that Christ trod we may receive the reward of His life and faith according to His own judgment!

Assuredly he may fear to die who not being regenerated of water and the Spirit is delivered over to the fires of Gehenna. He may fear to die who is not enrolled in the cross and passion of Christ. He may fear to die who from this death shall pass over to a second death. He may fear to die whom on his departure from this world eternal flame shall torment with never ending punishments. He may fear to die who has this advantage in a lengthened delay that in the meanwhile his groanings and his anguish are being postponed.”

Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, writing during the plague in North Africa (c. 251) in Treatise VII, On the Mortality, 14, in Treatises in The Ante-Nicene Fathers: Translations of the Writings of the Fathers down to A.D. 325, Volume 5 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1899) 472.

How can we have “an unshaken mind” despite the “devastation and death” all around us? The answer is simple. We can endure the struggle and stand erect because of the victory of Christ over sin and death on the cross.

In my recent blog article entitled, “Counterintuitive Advice For Ministry Fundraisers During The COVID-19 Crisis” which I wrote for the Lausanne Ministry Fundraising Network and reposted on the GTP blog, I made three points. I’ll let you click to read the article to hear the first two points, but here is a summary of the third one.

My advice is to “celebrate and unite people” during this challenging season. Why celebrate? This is the counterintuitive part. Even though the plague is spreading widely, as in the days of Cyprian, we don’t have fear of death because our Savior Jesus died on the cross and rose again, victorious over sin and death.

This victory becomes a rally cry that unites us. So, in whatever area of God’s work we are serving, we can all stay the course, as the Apostle Paul, would exhort us. We can always, even in a plague time, give ourselves fully to the Lord’s work knowing that our labor is not in vain.

So, let us resolve, now more than ever, to live, give, serve, and love generously because of the victory of Christ on the cross.

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” John 13:8b

“Mary uses expensive oil (symbolic of death) to wash Jesus’ feet, but Jesus uses water (symbolic of life), the symbol of baptism, to cleanse the disciples in love and service. It is truly the bath that makes us dirty with all of our neighbor’s needs.

All of these images explode onto the act of footwashing on Maundy Thursday amidst the backdrop of confession and forgiveness, the Exodus story’s recounting of the Passover, Paul’s recollection of Jesus’ words at the Lord’s Supper, the prayers of intercession, the Eucharist, the stripping of the altar, and the chilling silence of Good Friday and “My God, my God…” Augustine said, “For when the body is bent at a brother’s feet, the feeling of such humility is either awakened in the heart itself, or is strengthened if already present.”

Martin Luther once said, “When you read in the gospel or hear it read that Jesus Christ comes here or goest there, that He heals the sick and raises the dead and forgives sins, you are to understand that He is coming here, that He is forgiving you, raising you from the dead, and healing you.”

This is what each Gospel book intends. In fact, this is what footwashing does. Christ, who ‘had all’ from the Father in His hands, became a servant, and invited all of us to have a share with Him (John 13:8). Jesus says He is “the Lord and Teacher” (John 13:14) and He washes the feet of the disciples, effectively becoming a slave on account of love.

He then says, “Servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them” (13:16). Jesus takes the form of a slave and washes the feet of others effectively making them His master, but Jesus asks them to do this to each other (Maundy = command in Latin) which effectively makes the disciples the slaves of all if the feast is kept. Christ’s first act of freedom is to make Him a slave to all. Consequently, Christ then asks His disciples to be slaves of all as well, today, to your neighbor, to the least of these.

Footwashing is primarily observed on Maundy Thursday. The image of footwashing is transformed by its use on this particular night in this particular context. Footwashing is different than other symbols in that the act of footwashing, or receiving footwashing, gives the actor direct access into one of the primary messages of the act, humility and service.”

Carmine Pernini in “Footwashing in the Old and New Testament, the Graeco Roman World, the Early Church, and the Liturgy” posted on 15 April 2014.

Whenever we follow the commands of Jesus we discover life and joy. The command in view — footwashing — is one that transforms us through the act of humility and service. But how doe it relate to the plague season in which we find ourselves?

Two dear friends recently shared with me the impact of washing the hands of the homeless during this COVID-19 crisis. It blessed the recipients with unexpected joy and touched the washers deeply. Think about it.

There are germs everywhere. Imagine how good it felt for the homeless person to see the layers of dirt wash away. What a picture of the cleansing the Jesus does to our lives!

People need help now in a variety of ways, especially the homeless. What might it look like to bless someone in way that exhibits humble service? Sit and ponder this with the Spirit, and then go do one act of humble service today with joy.

Remember, the path of obedience to Jesus results in life and joy! I pray your act of humble service, as Augustine so aptly put it, either “awakens” or “strengthens” you for a lifetime of generous living that looks like Jesus.

Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30

“Jesus must here be referring to the new family of the church as the replacement family members for those who join His movement…The synoptic authors’ presentation of Jesus celebrating the Passover meal with His disciples and not with His natural family points in the same direction…This shared meal is a kinship event. Thus the Passover meal of Jesus clearly reflects their perception of their community as a surrogate family…this is additional evidence for the redefinition of the family around Jesus.”

Timothy J. Murray in Restricted Generosity in the New Testament (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament – 2. Reihe; Zürich: Mohr Siebeck, 2019) 141.

Today is Passover.

It’s the meal that commemorates when God delivered the Jews from from slavery, oppression, and not one but ten plagues. Jenni and I determined yesterday that we don’t have the ingredients to observe the Passover this year, but my friend and Daily Meditations reader, Doug Christensen, shared Messiah in the Passover with me. Read through it and celebrate the meaning of the meal we know as the Last Supper during Holy Week.

And notice something in today’s Scripture.

The only thing not repeated in the two lists in the two verses is “father” because following Jesus welcomes each of us into a new family with a Heavenly Father and a hundred times more “homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields.” We experience the gift of kinship. Listen to a little story that echoes the point about a kinship event that Murray keenly makes that happened last night.

Jenni and I along with our neighbors miss human contact. This lockdown is tough. So with social distance had a “kinship event” with our neighbors, Ken and Carol Sharp. After a day filled with zooms, fruitful work, and more zooms (at least for me), we snuck just outside our home, set up a table, and remembered Jesus in lawn chairs spread back from the table and occasionally, a person would enjoy a slice of pizza rather than bread with wine.

When Jesus said to love our neighbors, we never dreamed they’d become family to us. What a gift!

So, while we endure this plague as a planet (like the Jews endured ten plagues), while we observe Passover with our neighbors (like Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with the disciples), and even if we suffer the loss of friends or family during these hard times (which is a sad reality), let us not forget the gift of kinship. We are a part of the most amazing family in the world, the family of God, thanks to the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb, Jesus.

Give thanks today for Jesus, and pray for the plague to come to an end.