Meditations

The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). Isaiah 7:14

“Let us contemplate with faith the mystery of the divine incarnation and in all simplicity let us simply praise Him who in His great generosity became man for us.”

Maximus the Confessor (580-662) Christian monk, theologian, and scholar, in “Various Texts on Theology, the Divine Economy, and Virtue and Vice” 13 in The Philokalia: The Complete Text, compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarius of Corinth, Volume 2 (London: Faber & Faber, 1981) 167.

The OT prophets did not announce that God would send help. They proclaimed that God would come to us! And, so that all would know how God would arrive, Isaiah prophesied that a miracle would happen: a virgin would have a baby boy! The divine incarnation is a mystery that would change the course of human history, and it must be accepted by faith.

Why recount it from the perspective of Maximus the Confessor as the season begins? Monks, who are known through church history for their daily routines and annual traditions, would anticipate the arrival of Jesus with activities on four Sundays before Christmas. This pattern took root in the church during the days of Maximus and is observed by many in the Christian church to this day as Advent.

How should we approach this season? Since “Advent” means “coming” in Latin, let’s prepare our hearts for the “coming” of our Savior with simplicity and faith. Practically speaking, consider fasting from some form of noise in your life (such as TV or technology) for a block of time today (that’s the simplicity part) and contemplate how the divine incarnation (which can only be fathomed by faith) reflects God’s great generosity.

“The Christian year begins with Advent…Advent highlights self-giving sacrifice as a great mark of Christian giving, through the lives of the prophets, John the Baptist, and Mary, as well as in the Advent themes of hope, peace, wisdom, and joy. Supremely this self-giving love is demonstrated in the coming of Christ.”

Robert Warren in Developing Healthy Churches: Returning to the Heart of Mission and Ministry (London: Church House Publishing, 2012) 96.

This year I plan to explore the theme of generosity through the season of Advent. Whether or not the meditations end up published in an Advent devotional, I pray they are a blessing to you and anyone with whom you share them.

Get ready! Advent starts tomorrow. May God’s love fill our hearts so that our living, giving, serving, and loving reflects self-giving sacrifice for His glory this season and throughout the year.

“A genuinely impossible ideal would be to do what so many, including Christians, in wealthy cultures do: practice piling up wealth and extravagant possession while at the same time claiming to give as generously to the needy as they “can”; and, for that matter, to live extravagantly while at the same time not being affected by such spending choices in their “hearts” [cf. Matthew 6:19-24]. Jesus’ teaching is far more realistic; invest your possessions generously in God’s reign of justice and mercy and you will find your heart invested there as well…

Disciples do not live simply and give generously in order to be counted worthy of being disciples. Instead, because they are disciples of Jesus and are invested in his eschatological project it naturally follows that they reorient their lives in every area, including economic life. This claim fits with the theme that kingdom ethics is grace-based, rooted in an invitation to participate in the inbreaking of God’s reign through Jesus Christ. Disciples are those who believe the story of Jesus the Messiah, enter it, and live accordingly.”

David P. Gushee in “The Economic Ethics of Jesus” in Faithful Economics: The Moral Worlds of a Neutral Science, ed. James W. Henderson and John Pisciotta (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2005) 122.

Don’t miss the heart of Gushee’s comment: piling up wealth and giving as you “can” is not an option for Jesus. It reflects an attempt to serve both God and mammon, and according to Jesus: it is not possible.

Obedience to Jesus with regard to the handling of money requires a reorientation of our economic lives. We no longer work to pile up treasures, buy extravagant possessions, and give as we “can” to the needy.

We live like we believe the gospel is true. As disciples of Jesus, who have received all we have because of God’s grace, we become conduits of material and spiritual blessing through living simply and giving generously.

Today, for us, it means we shop on Black Friday. We don’t do it, however, for the the intoxicating consumerism.

Jenni and Sophie, my wife and daughter, will get things we planned to purchase at some point for reduced prices (cf. Proverbs 31:10-31). This means that we will have more money for Giving Tuesday. Sammy will chill at home with Joy, our dog.

Meanwhile, Tom Assmus, my good friend and prayer partner, and I will get coffee and then visit Home Depot around 6am to buy poinsettias (at 99 cents each) to share with friends, widows, and neighbors to celebrate the Christmas season.

As we approach this time of year, if you have not already done so, reorient your economic life, as Gushee concludes: “Disciples are those who believe the story of Jesus the Messiah, enter it, and live accordingly.”

“One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15b

On Thanksgiving Day, we acknowledge God’s blessings and the bounty of our land. In a spirit of thanksgiving we approach our God for what we need.

For a deeper awareness of God’s goodness. (pause)
May we gladly acknowledge the goodness of our God and the many gifts we receive at God’s hands, recalling the kindness God has shown to our communities and to our nation. Lord hear us.

For an attitude of thanksgiving in our lives. (pause)
May we be people who give thanks for the favor of God and the fellowship of Christ. May our strength be in the gospel and our lives witnesses to its teachings. Lord hear us.

For a sense of what is important in life. (pause)
As a nation and as a community, may we know what is of ultimate value in life, not consumed by a desire for wealth but eager to live by the gospel through lives of moderation and gentleness. Lord hear us.

For a desire to be rich in God’s sight. (pause)
As God’s people in God’s world, may we learn from the example of Jesus, who lived not for Himself but for others; and may we so live by His teaching to be rich in the sight of God. Lord hear us.

God of the promises, you are generous in your gifts to us. Help us to be faithful disciples of Jesus in our nation and our communities. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hugh McGinlay in Prayers of the Faithful: For Sundays, Feasts, and Seasons (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 2006) 139.

The advertisers are bombarding us with “Happy Thanksgetting” messages! We must tune out their messages and tune in to the gospel. To live different from the world and consistent with the teachings of Jesus we need God’s help.

Father, hear our prayer and make it so by your Holy Spirit in each of our lives for your glory, we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Thanksgiving! And I hope you like the new banner image for my daily meditations. My wife took this picture yesterday on the way back from Kremmling, CO, where we cut down our Christmas tree.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is “good,” because it is good, if “bad” because it works in us patience, humility, and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.”

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in 10 August 1948 letter to Don Giovanni Calabria as recounted in The Quotable Lewis ed. Wayne Martindale and Jerry Root (Carol Stream: Tyndale, 1990) 579.

As we approach Thanksgiving, Lewis reminds us why Paul would exhort us to give thanks in all circumstances. Such a perspective transforms us and ensures that we live for and long for “our eternal country.”

Jenni and I give thanks that Sammy and Sophie will be home from college for Thanksgiving. They both loves C.S. Lewis so that’s why I explored the idea of “giving thanks” in his thinking. I am so glad I did!

As a family, we will discuss what is good as well as what is bad in our world together. We will give thanks for it all, knowing that in so doing, God will transform us, filling us with humility, hope, patience, and perspective.

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

“When you give in Jesus’ name you are giving to Jesus. The Lord is the righteous recipient of your good and generous gifts. Would your giving amount and motivation be any different if you gave to Jesus in person? Would your heart and posture bow in holy reverence and gratitude? Yes, giving is an act of worship to holy God—not because He needs anything—but because we need to recognize our need for Him and His reward.”

Boyd Bailey in Wisdom Hunters daily email “Out Give God” dated 23 November 2015.

Let’s do this. As we enter a season of giving, let’s envision every gift we give as if we are giving it to Jesus in person, and let’s share with at least one person how it shaped the amount of our giving and our motivation. Consider it exercise for our hearts. Giving is for our growth!

“Emphasizing generosity in disciplemaking involves four key parts: Teaching, Modeling, Inviting and Celebrating.

1. Teaching: Teaching generosity must come from the pulpit and can be worked into nearly any sermon subject. But, generosity teaching that stops here falls short of its potential…

2. Modeling: Effective discipleship requires leaders to model what they teach. Leaders must have a genuine commitment to biblical stewardship, model generosity, share the Word, pray for others to join, be the first to sign up for financial stewardship classes, teach a class, and even make it a subject of discussion in leadership circles.

3. Inviting: Everything can be done well in teaching and modeling, but that doesn’t assure people will respond. The invitation / challenge must be extended for people to give and be generous…

4. Celebrating: Celebration is an important part of nurturing the spirit of generosity…Sharing stories of changed lives is a great way to do this.

In all this, it must not be what we want from our people. It must be about what we really want for them…”

David Viland in “Unlocking Generosity in Your Church” blogpost of Christian Investors Financial.

David is a friend and trusted voice in encouraging Christian generosity. What are particularly liked about his list was that he connected unlocking generosity to disciplemaking with intentional activities for God’s servants. Spiritual growth, that is, what we want for those we serve, won’t just happen. God’s servants must show the way.

On a personal note, this is a a blast and cast (pheasant hunting and fly fishing) break for Sammy and me. God blessed us with six pheasant this weekend, and today we are tracking down Mountain Whitefish in the Crystal River near Carbondale, CO. As Sammy desires to be a voice for God in the world of fly fishing and environmental stewardship, our outings are intentional activities to build his knowledge, and they represent priceless time together.

“God’s providence and daily sustenance are worthy of endless thanksgiving. However, at Thanksgiving, we may be painfully aware that millions of people do not share the bounty of material wealth or social benefits that many in our congregations enjoy. People who live in poverty are children, struggling parents, young people unable to find work, veterans, the elderly, members of our own families and circles of friends…

Is it appropriate to give thanks for the abundance we enjoy when others lack the basic necessities of life? From this perspective, Thanksgiving could seem oddly self-centered, in effect we thank God that we have too much while others have not enough…From a theological perspective, Thanksgiving appropriately is not just thanking God for what we have, it is about God’s generous provision and sustenance for all…”

Paul Scott Wilson, ed. Abingdon Theological Companion to the Lectionary: Preaching Year A (Nashville: Abingdon, 2013) 311.

I am giving thanks this morning for a great day of pheasant hunting yesterday in KS. While I was fortunate to bag one bird, for only the second time ever, Sammy got the limit of four. Wilson would likely say, that’s great, but let’s look beyond such bounty to the bigger picture of “God’s generous provision and sustenance for all.”

This thanksgiving week let us consider what “we” are thankful for, but let’s not stop there. Let’s also think about thanksgiving theologically, that is is to say, let’s consider all God has done for everyone in Jesus, and all God does for everyone, everywhere, every single day. When we do, we too will begin to get a glimpse of “endless thanksgiving.”

“In 2 Corinthians 8-9 the Apostle [Paul] epitomizes the Christian doctrine of giving. It may thus be summarized: It is a “grace,” that is, a disposition created by the Spirit (8:7), in contrast with the law, which imposed giving as a divine requirement, Christian giving is voluntary, and a test of sincerity and love (8:8-12; 9:1-2, 5, 7). The privilege is universal, belonging, according to ability, to rich and poor (8:1-3, 12-15. Compare 1 Cor. 16:1-2). Giving is to be proportioned to income (8:12-14)…and the rewards of Christian giving are joy (8:2); increased ability to give in proportion to that which has already been given (9:7-11); increased thankfulness to God (9:12); and God and the gospel [are] glorified (9:13-14).”

Cyrus I. Scofield (1843-1921) in The Scofield Study Bible: ESV (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006) 1537.

What a joy that this “grace” created by the Spirit also represents a “privilege” that is “universal” from God. It is voluntary and simultaneously serves as a test of sincerity and love that comes with rewards. What a summary! If any aspect of this list strikes a chord with you, sit with it today. Take time to ponder what growth in that area might look like or how God’s Word may be instructing your heart.

Sammy and I (with about ten other men) are hunting pheasant in St. Francis, Kansas, with our dog, Joy St. Clare this weekend. It’s our annual hunting trip, and this year we will remember and celebrate “Captain Koeniger” who taught us to hunt! He passed away unexpectedly in August. Picture a lot of walking in cut corn fields and CRP about 20 yards apart with “margin” to think, so I plan to spend the day pondering a few of these phrases and hopefully shooting a few pheasant.

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

“Giving generously is a priority in my life. My mind quickly goes to money. However, Jesus reminds me that poverty exists in many forms, not just monetary. Those I meet in my daily encounters often are experiencing other kinds of poverty – the need for love, kindness, and patience…When we give, we gain. Miserliness leads to emptiness but generosity leads to fullness – a strange paradox. Join me this week in pursuing a lavish lifestyle of giving.”

Bob Snyder, MD, in “A Lavish Lifestyle” blog post dated 19 November 2015.

As we move into the holiday season, which can be hard for a lot of people for a host of reasons — broken relationships, lost loved ones, or other forms of pain and suffering — let’s follow the good doctor’s prescription to pursue a lavish lifestyle of giving!

Father in Heaven, give us eyes to see people in need of love, kindness, patience, and money. Do this today, this week, and this season. Move us to be generous by faith, all the while trusting you to refresh us. Make it so by your Holy Spirit I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.