Monday, August 29

Proverbs 1:20-33

Wisdom cries out in the street;

    in the squares she raises her voice.

At the busiest corner she cries out;

    at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?

How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing

    and fools hate knowledge?

Give heed to my reproof;

I will pour out my thoughts to you;

    I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused,

    have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
 and because you have ignored all my counsel

    and would have none of my reproof,

 I also will laugh at your calamity;

    I will mock when panic strikes you,

when panic strikes you like a storm

    and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

    when distress and anguish come upon you.

 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;

    they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

 Because they hated knowledge

    and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

would have none of my counsel

    and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way

    and be sated with their own devices.

 For waywardness kills the simple,

    and the complacency of fools destroys them;

but those who listen to me will be secure

    and will live at ease without dread of disaster.”

This week we have the opportunity to read sections of the first part of the book of Proverbs. In this section we read about wisdom. And we come across this figure of Wisdom.

Wisdom—in Greek the word is Sophia—almost seems like a real person. Some people have seen Sophia as a god. This idea has been controversial, but it’s important to know.

Here we see Wisdom with the attributes of a person. Wisdom has a voice and is crying out to people. Wisdom has thoughts and shares them with people who will listen.

Often Wisdom is calling out to people to choose a path. It is the path of wisdom, of course. When this path is identified, we often find another path. It’s a contrary path. It’s a path of people who are scoffers, one where people hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, one where people choose their own way.

Wisdom communicates that this path will lead to disaster.

Each day each of us has a choice to choose one of these paths. The choice is not always easy.

What are some ways that you have found helpful to choose the path of wisdom? Please share.

Tuesday, August 30

Proverbs 3:1-12

My child, do not forget my teaching,

    but let your heart keep my commandments,

for length of days and years of life

    and abundant welfare they will give you.

 Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;

    bind them around your neck;

    write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will find favor and high regard

    in the sight of God and of people.

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and do not rely on your own insight.

 In all your ways acknowledge him,

    and he will make straight your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

    fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

It will be a healing for your flesh

    and a refreshment for your body.

 Honor the Lord with your substance

    and with the first fruits of all your produce;

then your barns will be filled with plenty,

    and your vats will be bursting with wine.

  My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline

    or be weary of his reproof,

 for the Lord reproves the one he loves,

    as a father the son in whom he delights.

Verses 5-6 are worth memorizing.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.”

We read often in the book of Proverbs that wisdom is a choice that begins with the fear or acknowledgment of God. The other path is one where people don’t turn to God. People rely on themselves.

This is the choice—start with God or start with ourselves.

Human insight and knowledge is important. We use them in making decisions and living our lives. But we turn to God first and then use our insight and knowledge. By turning to God first we are trusting in the Lord.

A simple prayer that can be helpful is this, “Help me choose you first today. Don’t let me be so self-centered that I fail to look for your guidance.”

Try this prayer and see what happens. Remind yourself to pray this prayer.

Memorizing Proverbs 3:5-6 and sharing this prayer will help ground us in wisdom.

Wednesday, August 31

Proverbs 3:19-20

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding he established the heavens;
by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
    and the clouds drop down the dew.
Once again we come across the idea that Wisdom founded the earth.

We can interpret these verses in two ways—and perhaps even more. One way is to see Wisdom as divine who was with God when the earth was created. Another way is to see wisdom as a concept that was put into the earth at creation.

Throughout history, people have given strong arguments for each way.

Quite a lot is at stake in which way we interpret these verses. The church has always seen God as a Trinity (which has never been easy for many people to understand). The Trinity believes that God is three in one—Father, Son and Holy Spirit or Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit. To think that wisdom is divine suggests that another part of the divine has not been mentioned.

In our day-to-day faith life, the way we interpret these verses might not seem significant. But for people who teach and preach a lot is riding on our interpretation.

What are your thoughts?

Thursday, September 1

Proverbs 8:1-21

Does not wisdom call

    and understanding raise her voice?

On the heights, beside the way,

    at the crossroads she takes her stand;

beside the gates in front of the town,

    at the entrance of the portals she cries out:

“To you, O people, I call,

    and my cry is to all who live.

O simple ones, learn prudence;

    acquire intelligence, you who lack it.

Hear, for I will speak noble things,

    and from my lips will come what is right,

for my mouth will utter truth;

    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
 All the words of my mouth are righteous;

    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

They are all straight to one who understands

    and right to those who find knowledge.
 Take my instruction instead of silver

    and knowledge rather than choice gold,

for wisdom is better than jewels,

    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

 I, wisdom, live with prudence,

    and I attain knowledge and discretion.

 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.

Pride and arrogance and the way of evil

    and perverted speech I hate.

I have good advice and sound wisdom;

    I have insight; I have strength.

By me kings reign,

    and rulers decree what is just;

 by me rulers rule,

    and nobles, all who govern rightly.

 I love those who love me,

    and those who seek me diligently find me.

Riches and honor are with me,

    enduring wealth and prosperity.

 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,

    and my yield than choice silver.

 I walk in the way of righteousness,

    along the paths of justice,

endowing with wealth those who love me

    and filling their treasuries.

The eighth chapter of Proverbs has been one of the more controversial chapters in the Scriptures. The controversy has to do with whether Wisdom is divine or something else.

However a person looks at this issue, we can see attributes of wisdom in this chapter.

The words of wisdom are righteous (verse 8)

The instruction of wisdom is better than money (verse 10)

Through wisdom a person lives with prudence, knowledge and discretion (verse 12)

The fear of the Lord is the path of wisdom (verse 13)

The fruit of wisdom is better than gold (verse 19)

The concepts of wisdom are righteousness and justice. (verse 20-21)

These ideas give us a general understanding of the path of wisdom. By choosing this path we live by these ideals.

What take-aways do you have from these words? Please share.

Friday, September 2

Proverbs 8:22-36

“The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,

    the first of his acts of long ago.

Ages ago I was set up,

    at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth,

    when there were no springs abounding with water.

Before the mountains had been shaped,

    before the hills, I was brought forth,

when he had not yet made earth and fields

    or the world’s first bits of soil.

When he established the heavens, I was there;

    when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

when he made firm the skies above,

    when he established the fountains of the deep,

when he assigned to the sea its limit,

    so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

 then I was beside him, like a master worker,

and I was daily his delight,

    playing before him always,

playing in his inhabited world

    and delighting in the human race.

“And now, my children, listen to me:

    happy are those who keep my ways.
 Hear instruction and be wise,

    and do not neglect it.

Happy is the one who listens to me,

    watching daily at my gates,

    waiting beside my doors.

For whoever finds me finds life

    and obtains favor from the Lord,

but those who miss me injure themselves;

    all who hate me love death.”

 When we read these verses we can see how someone would see Wisdom as divine.

Whether we look at Wisdom this way or not, the important idea is choosing the path of wisdom that is presented to us.

Praying for wisdom is significant. In a recent sermon Pastor Paul offered the following prayers that can help us live out wisdom.

“Lord, help me choose the path of wisdom in this situation that is causing my burden.”

“Lord, may this situation lead me to greater wisdom and understanding. Lord, may my suffering reveal to me the path of wisdom.”

Pray these prayers today!

Saturday, September 3

Proverbs 9:1-6

Wisdom has built her house;

    she has hewn her seven pillars.

 She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine;

    she has also set her table.

 She has sent out her female servants; she calls

    from the highest places in the town,

 “You who are simple, turn in here!”

    To those without sense she says,

 “Come, eat of my bread

    and drink of the wine I have mixed.

 Lay aside immaturity and live,

    and walk in the way of insight.”

Throughout history people have debated what are the seven pillars of wisdom that are mentioned here.

Some have seen them as the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Some have seen them as the seven churches in the book of Revelation.

Some have seen seven as a holy number.

Some have seen seven to be a description of many.

We can imagine our own home to be a house of wisdom. We could even imagine a church building to be a house of wisdom. It could be possible for a congregation to name itself, “House of Wisdom.”

Whatever the meaning, pray that your own foundation will be of wisdom.

Monday, August 22

Read Proverbs 2:1-15

My child, if you accept my words

    and treasure up my commandments within you,

making your ear attentive to wisdom

    and inclining your heart to understanding,

if you indeed cry out for insight

    and raise your voice for understanding,

if you seek it like silver

    and search for it as for hidden treasures—

then you will understand the fear of the Lord

    and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom;

    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

    he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly,

guarding the paths of justice

    and preserving the way of his faithful ones.

Then you will understand righteousness and justice

    and equity, every good path,

for wisdom will come into your heart,

    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

prudence will watch over you,

    and understanding will guard you.

It will save you from the way of evil,

    from those who speak perversely,

who forsake the paths of uprightness

    to walk in the ways of darkness,

who rejoice in doing evil

    and delight in the perverseness of evil,

 those whose paths are crooked

    and who are devious in their ways.

This chapter along with the next five in Proverbs start out with a child being addressed. In this passage a parent is trying to pass on wisdom to his or her child. If any of us have been parents, we can appreciate this. We probably have memories of times when we tried to pass on wisdom to our children.

These verses describe wisdom as something to be sought. It doesn’t come naturally to a person but must be something that a person seeks. Even though the Lord gives wisdom, a person still must search for it.

Pastor Paul chose the title “Choosing the Path of Wisdom” to describe this sermon series on wisdom. Experiencing wisdom involves a choice that a person makes. This choice leads a person onto a path. On the path a person will understand righteousness, justice and equity.

Whatever situation we find ourselves, we can choose to seek wisdom. Wisdom is not intelligence or knowledge—though it does involve intelligence and knowledge. Wisdom is an understanding of the path that God intends for us.

Have you had an experiencing of choosing the path of wisdom in a situation you found yourself? Please share

Tuesday, August 23

Read Proverbs 1:2-7

For learning about wisdom and instruction,

    for understanding words of insight,

for gaining instruction in wise dealing,

    righteousness, justice, and equity;

to teach shrewdness to the simple,

    knowledge and prudence to the young—

let the wise, too, hear and gain in learning

    and the discerning acquire skill,

to understand a proverb and a figure,

    the words of the wise and their riddles.

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

In verse seven we read that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge or wisdom.” Knowledge is not the accumulation of information. The knowledge identified here is not something that would help us get perfect grades in school. This knowledge is understanding and insight and instruction.

The phrase, “the fear of the Lord” does not mean we are afraid of God. Fear in this case has the sense of reverence or respect or awe. Think of seeing a meteor shower at night and knowing that those meteors are light years away.

The fear of the Lord helps us understand that each of us is not the center of the universe. So when we are seeking wisdom we don’t seek information that will inevitably help us. We are seeking understanding and insight in a situation.

Wisdom in Proverbs is situational. We have to seek wisdom in every situation that we find ourselves.

n this day pray often that you will find wisdom. In each situation you find yourself, ask for wisdom. And then share with others how your experience was.

Wednesday, August 24

Read Job 28:23-28

“God understands the way to it,

    and he knows its place.

 For he looks to the ends of the earth

    and sees everything under the heavens.

When he gave to the wind its weight

    and apportioned out the waters by measure,

when he made a decree for the rain,

    and a way for the thunderbolt,

 then he saw it and declared it;

    he established it and searched it out.

 And he said to humankind,

‘Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;

    and to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”

In this chapter Job had asked about the origination of wisdom. “Where does wisdom come from” he asked in different places. Where is this place of understanding?

Job answered his own question in these last six verses of the chapter. God understands the way to wisdom and knows the place of wisdom.

In verse 28 we see the two different paths. One is wisdom and the other is evil. Often these paths of wisdom and evil are set in contrast to each other in the Bible.

Job wrote in the last verse in this passage that the fear of the Lord is wisdom. Out of great respect and admiration and awe for God, we can find wisdom. By having this great sense of respect and admiration we can find the path of wisdom.

How are you doing at discovering this path of wisdom? Do you find the idea daunting or perhaps you find it exciting, even exhilarating. What are the emotions you experience as you search for wisdom?

Thursday, August 25

Read Psalm 1

Happy are those

    who do not follow the advice of the wicked

or take the path that sinners tread

    or sit in the seat of scoffers,

 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,

    and on his law they meditate day and night.
 They are like trees

    planted by streams of water,

which yield their fruit in its season,

    and their leaves do not wither.

In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so

    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment

    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous,
 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

    but the way of the wicked will perish.

This is an especially powerful wisdom Psalm that describes the different paths that a person can take. One is a path that sinners take and skeptics or scoffers find.

The other is the path of wisdom. On this path a person takes delight in the law of God. A person could exchange “law of God” for “wisdom of God.” When we are searching and seeking wisdom the path is delightful. Finding this wisdom might be an extensive search. We might be searching day and night for it.

But when we find wisdom in a situation we find great comfort. This path of wisdom gives us a rootedness in life.

A tree is a terrific metaphor to describe the rootedness and path of wisdom. It doesn’t always flourish, but in certain seasons the tree does flourish.

So often we think of success as money or happiness or relationships or achieving life goals. What if we thought of success as being on the path of wisdom? We see life as searching and discovering wisdom in every particular journey that we find ourselves. This search for wisdom can give us meaning.

Have you had an experience of discovering wisdom and experiencing happiness or a blessing? Please share.

Friday, August 26

Read Proverbs 3:13-26

Happy are those who find wisdom

    and those who get understanding,

 for her income is better than silver

    and her revenue better than gold.

She is more precious than jewels,

    and nothing you desire can compare with her.

 Long life is in her right hand;

    in her left hand are riches and honor.

 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

    and all her paths are peace.

 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;

    those who hold her fast are called happy.

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;

    by understanding he established the heavens;

 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,

    and the clouds drop down the dew.

My child, do not let these escape from your sight:

    keep sound wisdom and prudence,

 and they will be life for your soul

    and adornment for your neck.

 Then you will walk on your way securely,

    and your foot will not stumble.

 If you sit down, you will not be afraid;

    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

 Then you will not be afraid of sudden panic

    or of the storm that strikes the wicked,

 for the Lord will be your confidence

    and will keep your foot from being caught.

The images in this passage are similar to the images we read about in Psalm 1. We read that the path of wisdom is like a tree of life. A person finds happiness in finding wisdom.

Discovering wisdom brings life

Discovering wisdom also brings us security. When we have confidence that we can find wisdom we experience what the Apostle Paul described as the “peace that passes understanding.” We have a confidence that we can find wisdom in any situation that we find ourselves. This is faith. It’s more than belief in God—it’s also the belief that we can find and discover wisdom. The process starts with a deep reverence for God and lands on wisdom.

People pay thousands of dollars to find this sense of peace. Through faith and exploring our faith, all of us can find it for free.

What a delightful journey!

Saturday, August 27

Read Proverbs 8:32-35

 “And now, my children, listen to me:

    happy are those who keep my ways.

 Hear instruction and be wise,

    and do not neglect it.

 Happy is the one who listens to me,

    watching daily at my gates,

    waiting beside my doors.

 For whoever finds me finds life

    and obtains favor from the Lord.

 Once again we read that finding wisdom is similar to finding life. It’s the peace that was expressed in yesterday’s devotion.

If we aren’t searching for wisdom, we miss out on so much in life. It’s like we only enjoy half a loaf.

An important theme for this week has been keep searching for wisdom. You will discover it at some point. When you discover wisdom you will find life. The search is exhilarating.

Have you thought that the life of faith is like a search for wisdom and this is exhilarating? Please share some of your thoughts.

Monday, August 15 
 Luke 10:29-37    But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

The story of the Good Samaritan is easily one of the most important stories of the Bible. The story has so much depth that we could read it every day for thirty days and still see something new on our thirtieth day of reading.

The story is a response to the question, “Who is my neighbor?”

Neighbors might be many different people to us. They might be people who live in an adjacent house or apartment; they might be close friends who we would trust. Most likely our neighbor would not be someone who has a different world view than us.

But here Jesus is actually suggesting that our neighbor could be this type of person. Samaritans and Jews had vastly different world views. Both religions came from the same starting point, but they had gotten to a point where when Jesus lived, Samaritans and Jews were enemies. They had a different world view.

But in this story a Samaritan was helping a Jew.

The story concluded by the lawyer—the person who asked the first question—saying that a neighbor is a person who shows mercy.

From this story we learn that our calling from God is to share and show mercy to all people—especially people who have a different world view than ours.

How hard do you find it to share mercy with someone who has a different world view than you? Please share

Tuesday, August 16 
 Psalm 103:1-14  Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and do not forget all his benefits—
who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works vindication
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.

 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
    so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. 
For he knows how we were made;
    he remembers that we are dust.

 Verse eight in this Psalm is one to memorize.

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

This is the perspective that God has for us. As followers of God, we are called to have the same perspective towards our neighbors—especially people who have a different world view than us.

Oftentimes it’s anger that leads us to have problems with a person who has a different world view. We see the person as less than human; we are quick to criticize; we might try to convince the person to change his or her views and conform to the views that we have.

The best way to relate to a person with a different world view is to be like God—merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

We can take hope in that this perspective on others is possible to share—even if it seems extraordinarily difficult. God is willing to help us be merciful people. Sometimes God is waiting for our prayers.

Do you have a story of someone sharing mercy with another person? Others would love to hear more about your story.

 Wednesday, August 17
Matthew 9:10-13  And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

The Pharisees had a vastly different world view than tax collectors and sinners. Tax collectors were agents of the Roman government. They were often corrupt. A Pharisee often saw himself as righteous; they didn’t see themselves as sinners.

But here was Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus came to call sinners to his way.

Sometimes a way to relate to someone in a healthy world view is to invite them out for dinner. Have a meal with them. Only talk about your differences if it seems to be a healthy and safe space to do so.

Having dinner with someone who is different turns the person into a human for us. We can see the person’s strengths and weaknesses.

With whom can you have dinner in the next week?

Thursday, August 18
Ephesians 4:11-16   He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, 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. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming;  but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

Speaking the truth in love is a way we become mature followers of Jesus. As we read in this passage, when we speak the truth in love we grow up.

Truth and love need each other. Speaking the truth without love can be judgmental and even harmful to the other person. Sharing love without sharing the truth can lead us to enable actions by another person that are not healthy.

You might have a person who has a different world view with whom you would like to speak the truth in love. An important way to do this is to first establish the love you have for the person. Go out of your way to convince the person that you care for the person. Your caring is authentic and real. You want the person to know and trust this.

From this atmosphere of love you can speak the truth.

Do you have a story of speaking the truth in love with someone? Without sharing names would you consider sharing the story?

Friday, August 19
Romans 13:8-10   Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

To keep a person who has a different worldview as a friend, it’s essential to see the person as a neighbor. The person is not an enemy. Different views don’t have to make people oppose each other. As a neighbor you don’t have to change the other person’s mind or try to convince the person of the error (as you see it) in their ways.

Instead focus on love. And keep speaking the truth (see yesterday’s devotion.)

How hard is it to see people with different world views as your neighbors. This view of being a neighbor is not based on geography, of course. This view is based on the idea that everyone is our neighbor at some level.

Is this hard for you? On the scale of 1-10 with ten being the highest, what number would you give yourself? Please consider sharing your number.

Saturday, August 20
Psalm 75    We give thanks to you, O God;

    we give thanks; your name is near.

People tell of your wondrous deeds.

At the set time that I appoint,

    I will judge with equity.

When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants,

    it is I who keep its pillars steady. Selah

 I say to the boastful, “Do not boast,”

    and to the wicked, “Do not lift up your horn;

do not lift up your horn on high

    or speak with insolent neck.”

  For not from the east or from the west

    and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,

but it is God who executes judgment,

    putting down one and lifting up another.

For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup

    with foaming wine, well mixed;

he will pour a draught from it,

    and all the wicked of the earth

    shall drain it down to the dregs.

But I will rejoice forever;

    I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,

    but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

It’s easy to want to judge people with different world views than us. We might want to feel superior in our views; or we might want to look at the person as diminished because of their views.

This is not the way of faith.

Ultimately God is the one who judges. We are not called to judge others because God can do this.

Do you have a hard time resisting judgment or letting go of your judgment to God? If this is so, what is hard about resisting or letting go of judgment. Consider sharing your responses to these questions.

Monday, August 8

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” But the Lord said to me,

“Do not say, ‘I am only a boy,’

for you shall go to all to whom I send you,

and you shall speak whatever I command you.

Do not be afraid of them,

for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me,

“Now I have put my words in your mouth.

See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down,

to destroy and to overthrow,

to build and to plant.”

We’ve read this passage often when we look at God’s love for youth. This passage is so powerful because it shares the trust that God has for youth. God didn’t believe that being a young person disqualified a person for service. God issued a call to Jeremiah even though Jeremiah was a teenager.

If we think about this deeply, we’ll understand what a risk it was for God to call Jeremiah. God wanted Jeremiah to share God’s word with the country of Judah. Over time Jeremiah witnessed the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the terrible exile of the people of Israel.

Jeremiah tried to avoid God’s call by sharing that he was only a youth. Look at verse six, “Truly, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy or youth.” However, being a young person was not a reason not to receive a call from God. Look at how God responded in verse 7, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy or youth’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.”

As you pray today, pray that we at Chain of Lakes will value youth in the same way that God did in this passage. Also pray that the church worldwide will have the courage to issue a call to youth to serve.

Tuesday, August 9
 John 11:17-37  

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”  And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him.  Now Jesus had not yet come to the village but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there.  When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”  Jesus began to weep.  So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”  But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Often we think that involving youth is a complicated process.  We look for the right ministry, or person, or technique to keep youth involved in the church. Though having the right ministry, person, or technique is important, even more important is the level of care that congregations display for youth.   

In this story Jesus shared deep care for Lazarus. In verse 35 Jesus wept. His tears revealed his care.

Congregations are called to care for youth in the same way.  Youth ministry in a church starts with the personal care that adults have for youth.

Today as you pray, pray for a particular youth in our congregation. Think about this youth for a moment. What are the youth’s needs? With what is the youth struggling with?  Pray for that youth. If you don’t know the youth’s needs or the youth’s struggles, take some time over the next month to get to know the youth. 

Just taking time to show care is one of the most important things you can do for youth ministry at Chain of Lakes! Pray that our congregation will always share deep care for youth and children.

Wednesday, August 10

Psalm 1

Happy are those

    who do not follow the advice of the wicked

or take the path that sinners tread

    or sit in the seat of scoffers,

but their delight is in the law of the Lord,

    and on his law they meditate day and night.

They are like trees

    planted by streams of water,

which yield their fruit in its season,

    and their leaves do not wither.

In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so

    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous, for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

 In this passage the Psalmist shared a powerful metaphor of faith.  In verse three he wrote, “They are like trees, planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.  In all that they do, they prosper.” 

This metaphor of a strong tree is what we want for all people.  We pray that no matter what happens to a person, that person will stay planted in streams of water, yield their fruit in the right season, and their leaves will not wither.

Today as you pray, pray that every youth who attended Vacation Bible School this past week will grow to be this type of tree.

Pray for each one of the youth who attended Vacation Bible School:  Addie, Aiyanna, Annette, Audrey, Camden, Danny, Eastyn, Eli, Emily, Henry, Kendel, Landon, Lexi, River, Sinclair, Skylar and Trenton.

Thursday, August 11

1 Samuel 3:1-21

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room;  the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!”  and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”  Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.  The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy.  Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

  Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle.  On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.  For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.  Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.”

  Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.  But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.”  So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.”

 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.  And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

 Just like in the story of Jeremiah we read a story of a youth who was called by God. God called Samuel to be his follower.  In his life Samuel went on to help choose Saul and David to be kings—Samuel was one of the most important prophets in the Old Testament.

Not only was Samuel young, he was mentored by an adult.  Look at the start of this story. “Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli.”  (1 Samuel 3:1)  Samuel received a call from God, but needed Eli to help him know that it was God who was issuing the call. Samuel couldn’t have known that God was calling him if he hadn’t had Eli.

Do you know of a youth to whom you could be an Eli?  A youth who you could mentor, someone in whom you could take a special interest. That youth could be a part of Chain of Lakes, or the youth could be someone in your neighborhood. 

Think how powerful we at Chain of Lakes would be if every youth had an adult mentor in the church!!

Today as you pray, pray for mentors for youth.  Pray that many adults could be an Eli to young people.

Friday, August 12

Luke 18:15-17
People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them, and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”

In Jesus’ day children were viewed as property.  They had no legal rights and were not viewed as fully human. This is why Luke started out this story by using the word, “even,” “People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them.”  It was shocking to people that Jesus would touch infants.

We know that in Jesus’ eyes infants were very important. 

Today as you pray, pray that our world will respect and teach children in a similar way to Jesus. Pray for a world where children don’t suffer from poverty, physical and sexual abuse, that children receive a quality education. 

Children were especially important to Jesus; pray for a world that shares this value!

Saturday, August 13

John 21:1-17

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he showed himself in this way.  Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.”  He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.  That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea.  But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them, and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

 This was a story that was shared on the last day of Vacation Bible School this past week at Chain of Lakes.

We can imagine the frustration of the disciples as they tried to catch fish. They threw out their nets the entire time, but had caught nothing.

Jesus gave the disciples hope in their fishing. He encouraged them to throw the net to the other side of the boat. Suddenly the net was swamped with fish—153 of them. There were so many fish that for a while it seemed that the boat might be swamped under the water.

We can take many lessons from this story. One lesson is persistent. We can practically hear Jesus say, “try something new if your way is not working.”

We can take this lesson and apply it to youth ministry. Sometimes it takes a lot of patience to connect youth and even children to church. We throw our out net symbolically for a long time, but nothing comes into the net.

“Try something new,” we can practically hear Jesus telling us. “Who knows, you might catch 153 youth!”

Do you have a story of being in a church that tried something new with youth and was very successful? Please share.

Monday, August 1

Matthew 5:21-26   “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council, and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.  So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,  leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.  Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.  Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

 This is an important passage to understand.

At first glance it might appear that Jesus was condemning anger. Condemning anger would be outside of the way Jesus approached people. Jesus always accepted people (and accepts us) where we are. It’s impossible for humans not to experience anger. Jesus would never ask us to do something that is impossible.

Some people add the phrase without cause to verse 22. The verse would then read, “But I say to you that if you are angry [without cause] with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment.

Today’s reading comes from the antithesis section of the Sermon on the Mount. This section goes from Matthew 5:21-5:48. Consider reading the entire section. We’ll discover that in this section Jesus revealed his deep care for the friendships that humans have with each other. If something gets in the way of a friendship, Jesus would want us to recognize this and take appropriate action that would deepen our friendship.

We can imagine Jesus saying, “If your anger is getting in the way of a friendship, do everything you can to be reconciled with your friend. Your friendship is even more important than worship. So if you are worshiping and you are angry with someone, go and talk to that person immediately. Don’t let the sun set on your anger.”

Do you have stories of your own anger getting in the way of a friendship? Please share.

Tuesday, August 2 
Mark 3:1-6  Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They were watching him to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.  And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.”  Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Jesus was like you and me—he experienced anger.

In this story Jesus wanted to help the man who had a withered hand. It’s hard to imagine living with a hand that was so deformed. This deformity had to prevent the man from earning complete wages. It might have caused the family shame—others could have easily thought that God was punishing the man for something he had done.

Jesus wanted to heal the man. And even more significantly Jesus wanted the leaders of the synagogue to want the man to be healed. Unfortunately, the religious leaders were more interested in following the ancient Sabbath laws. It would have broken a law for Jesus to heal this man on the Sabbath. This grieved Jesus—it made him angry.

The anger of Jesus was justified, of course. This leads us to think of other situations where anger would be justified. What would these situations be? Have you ever found yourself feeling anger that you believed was justified? What led you to believe that your anger was justified? Please share.


Wednesday, August 3
Ephesians 4:25-5:2  So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.  Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

The writer of Ephesians made a powerful statement that can help us with anger in verse 26: “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,”

Being angry is not a sin or problematic. What we do with our anger is very significant. And letting go of our anger is very significant.

On Sunday Pastor Paul shared some strategies for letting go of anger. One of those strategies is recognition. Knowing that we are angry is important. Being able to say, “I am angry” can be a significant step for dealing with our anger and following the teaching of verse 26.

This is hard, for many people were not taught how to identify their emotions. And because anger has such a volatile history, people have not been encouraged to vocalize their own anger.

How hard is it for you to recognize your anger? What tools do you use to let go of your anger? Please share. Your sharing can help another person with their anger.

Thursday, August 4
Exodus 32:7-14  The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ ” The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are.  Now let me alone so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, and of you I will make a great nation.”

 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?  Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people.

 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ”  And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

God—the abba of Jesus and the first person of the Trinity—had moments of intense anger. This story is one of them.

God was extremely upset with the Israelites and was justified to have anger. The Israelites had made a golden calf and were worshiping the calf. God wanted to destroy the people because they were worshiping a calf.

The anger of God might be disconcerting to us. However, if we think about how God dealt with God’s anger, we can be encouraged. God didn’t follow-up on God’s plan of destruction.

Moses convinced God to let go of the divine anger.

God didn’t let anger consume God. God let it go. Even if we become angry, we can learn and teach ourselves to let it go. What are some strategies that you have used in the past that help you let go of anger. Please share!

Friday, August 5

Exodus 34:6  The Lord passed before him and proclaimed,
“The Lord, the Lord,
a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Just two chapters after the chapter we read yesterday, God revealed the divine character to Jesus. We can read the divine character in this verse. One part of the verse that stands out for us is God is slow to anger.

God does not say that God would never experience anger. But God was willing to be slow to anger. God was not going to act rashly when God had this experience.

This idea is important to us. What would it look like if others could describe us as slow to anger? Would we have to change significantly for us to be slow to anger?

One strategy that can help us is our own prayer life. If we are experiencing anger, give that anger to God in our prayers. A breath prayer like, “Lord help me release this anger” can help immensely. Breathing that prayer out and in for three minutes can help our own spiritual situation.

What are some other strategies that help you be slow to anger? Please share.

Saturday, August 6

Proverbs 15:18 & Matthew 18:15-20  Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife,
    but those who are slow to anger calm contention.

“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one.  But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector.  Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

The reading from Proverbs is a specific example of what we’ve been reading all week. We don’t want to be tripped up by our anger—we will stir up strife; instead we want to be slow to anger.

The story from Matthew 18 illustrates a way to let go of anger we might have towards a friend. First meet with that person and let the person know how you’ve been hurt. If the person listens to you, then your friendship will be restored. If necessary, bring another person or two to have this conversation. If nothing happens, tell a network of your friends what is happening.

If that does not work, then let go of the friendship.

The focus of the angry person is on him or herself. WE own our own anger. Even if another person causes us to be angry, that anger is ours. It’s up to each of us to deal with our anger.

How can this process help you with your anger? Please share.

Monday, July 25