Day 302: A very strange verse

Today's Reading: Luke 17:11-18:14

"Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather."

So...

I'm reading along, reading along...

I'm saying to myself, "Yes, this passage is familiar; Yes, I've heard this before; Yes, I've heard sermons on this; Yes, I've studied this."

And then I hit a strange verse.

If this verse would have been pulled out of scripture and I had been asked from whence it came, I might have guessed Shakespeare or Tennyson, but never would have guessed its originator to be Jesus!

Yet another good reason to read the Bible multiple times. We miss things if we don't.

So why the talk of dead bodies and vultures in the middle of a discourse about the final days and the coming kingdom of God. Is this saying all the distruction will happen, there will be dead bodies all around and then the vultures will have a banquet? I don't think so.

The disciples are concerned about the Kingdom of God. Where is it? What is it? When will it come?

These are questions still asked by theologians, science fiction writers, politicians and everyday common folk.

Jesus replies by saying, "Sometimes you all are asking the wrong questions." For Jesus, "when" and "where" are not as important as "who." The questions Jesus wants us to ask are "Will we be a part of it?" and "Will we recognize it?"

Jesus' answer to these two questions is a statement. If the statement were broken down into two rhetorical questions, they might be these:

Do vultures eat dead meat?

Does anyone need to tell a vulture where carrion is?

As the Holy Spirit has its way with our lives, Jesus' death and resurrection for our sakes guarantees our part in the kingdom. And just as vultures instinctively come to dead flesh, we, who are created in God's image, will recognize the kingdom.

Day 301: Jesus wept

Today's Reading: John 11

Did Jesus weep
Because his friend
Had suffered and was dead?
Did he mourn deeply
As we do
With sorrow and with dread?

Did Jesus weep
For his best friends
Did not yet understand?
Did he feel lonely
For dearest ones were
Blinded to his plan?

Or did he weep
To know that for
His own great glory's sake
His most beloved,
Gentle one must twice
Death's evil face?

Perhaps he wept
With great relief--
As one who loves so dear--
To know the battle's
End was soon
And victory was near!

Day 300: So watch yourselves

Today's Reading: Luke 16-17:10

Jesus, like his Heavenly Father, hates sin. And he abhors those who lead others into sin. Jesus hates those who prey upon others, who dupe others, who tempt others.

So check out the sins railed against in the Ten Commandments and watch yourself.

1. No other gods before me. Am I fiercely loyal to YHWH or do I nod my assent to other gods? Do I encourage others to foster other allegiances?

2. No graven images. Do I buy trinkets, totems and idols as home decor? Do I worship things and encourage others to do the same?

3. No vain talk about God. Do I allow God's name to be taken lightly in my presence? Do I promise things of God to others and then not follow through?

4. Sabbath keeping. Do I cause others to work on Sabbath? Do I plan events which pull people away from their families and worship on their Sabbath day?

5. Honoring parents. Do I allow people to speak disrespectfully about their parents in my presence? Do I dishonor my parents verbally?

6. Don't murder. Do I speak out against killings? War? Abortion? Capital punishment? Euthanasia? Are all these things wrong or are there exceptions?

7. No adultery. Do I allow unmarried people to sleep together in my home? Do I flirt with those who are attached to another? Do I wear seductive clothing?

8. No stealing. Do I encourage dishonesty of any sort? Do I gossip and thus steal another's good name?

9. No false witness. Have I ever encouraged someone to fudge on anything? Do I lie about another to make myself look better?

10. No coveting. Do I take my children shopping, insisting they must have something which is not affordable? Do I encourage my family members or friends to want something belonging to others--fame, position, prestige?

What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.

I guess I better start watching myself.

Day 299: Hating Mom and Dad?

Today's Reading: Luke 14-15

Jesus says some pretty radical things.

Intentionally lower yourself.

Invite poor people to your house.

Leave ninety nine sheep behind and go look for one.

Hate your mom and dad.

This last one was always a hard one for me. I absolutely loved my Mother and my Daddy. After all, I was instructed by the Ten Commandments to honor them. They birthed, raised, cared for, provided for and loved me like none other. They prayed for me, taught me, sang to me, shared their faith and dreams with me. How could I not love them?

I didn't understand this passage until I received "the call" from God. My dad thought the call would ruin his plans for my life. My mother thought the call was extravagant and irresponsible. I knew the call was exactly what God created me to do.

For seven years, I honored my parents and followed their dreams for me.

Then, in my daily devotional, I fell upon this passage.

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.

I called my parents and with tears told them I could no longer fulfill their dream for me. I had to obey God's call.

Jesus' call upon our lives does not allow us to have any other loyalty above our allegiance to him. We are not to allow anything to stand in the way of what God's will is for our lives. All traditions, schedules, attachments must submit to our new life in Christ.

It's a tall order. Jesus speaks strong words.

That's so like him.

It can be very disturbing.

Or Christ's truth can set us free...

Day 298: Knowing what to fear

Today's Reading: Luke 12-13

Here is my confession of the day...well, maybe it's not a confession, more likely it is a frustrated observation.

I am getting really, really annoyed with people's prayer requests.

There, I said it.

Now, before you think me a total jerk, fully insensitive and lacking of all compassion, let me argue this point. I think this is a very Biblical annoyance.

For what do most people request prayer? Usually it is for someone who is ill. They ask you to pray for healing. Now, let me just say, this not only annoys me, it bores me, it frustrates me and it drives me batty.

Before you take me before the disciplinary committee to have me de-frocked, look at today's scripture.

Jesus says, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him."

During a time of sharing concerns, most people verbalize their fears about some disease or someone whose loved ones have died. Cancer. Accidents. Alzheimer's. Strokes. Blindness. Mental illness. Suicides.

Legitimate, right? We weep and cry over something that will befall us all at one time or another. This flesh is going to fail us. We are all going to die.

Just once, I would love to hear someone proclaim, "My friend is ill. Pray he will not be afraid of the illness. My friend is dying. Pray she will not be afraid of death. Please pray instead that he will truly comprehend who God is, will experience tremendous fear and awe, and long for a relationship with his heavenly Father and eternal life."

I wonder what would happen in the Body of Christ if we really started listening to Jesus instead of listening to our fleshly fears. How would it change our prayers? How would it change our testimony? How would it change our lives?

Are we wise enough to fear God?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

Didn't I read that "somewhere?"

Day 297: Fanny pack comfort

Today's Reading: Luke 10-11, John 10: 22-42

My daughter is embarrassed by me.

She is a designer purse type of gal. She would love to have matching shoes and purses for every outfit. She likes to have names of people I've never heard of on her handbags. She could tell you if something is in style or if it is passe.

I am clueless.

My daughter is embarrassed by me.

I like to wear a fanny pack.

I am a practical kind of gal. A leather fanny pack is sturdy and durable. It is always accessible. It leaves both of your hands free. It is attached to your body. You don't have to worry about keeping it on your shoulder or setting it aside when you sit down. It travels with you.

And best of all, it is almost un-snatchable. No one can grab it off your shoulder and run off with it. It is held close and snug.

Fanny packs might not be the most fashionable or flattering way to carry around the necessities of a woman's life, but it works just fine for me.

Consider it my faith statement.

I am like a fanny pack on Jesus' hip. I am so closely bound to him, he declares that no one can snatch me from him.

I find great comfort in that.

Day 296: What do you know?

Today's Reading: John 9:1-10:21

When I was in school and had to study for tests, I was always frustrated when the teacher asked questions for which I had no answer. I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be great if the teacher would give a test which simply stated, 'what do you know?'" Then I could demonstrate everything I had learned on a given subject.

Today's story reads like a comedy about a blind man. Everyone is blind to him until he is healed by Jesus. Then suddenly, the paparazzi pounce asking questions...questions the now seeing man cannot answer: Who did this? How did he do it? Is he a sinner?

The healed man answers the best he can. "I don't know a lot about the man. He spat on some mud, put it on my eyes, told me to wash and now I see." After awhile, he gets frustrated with all the wrong questions and says, "All I know is I once was blind but now I see."

I think it is the wrong questions from the world that silence most people of faith. "How do you explain creation, salvation, sanctification, redemption, atonement, suffering, sacrifice, the sacraments?" "Who is saved and who isn't?" "Just how does the trinity work?" "What happens when we die?" "What is heaven like?"

Even though theologians and scholars have been trying for centuries to explain the mysteries of God, there will always be more questions than we have answers, for God is beyond our understanding.

Perhaps the best question of faith is this: What do you know? What DO you know? What do YOU know?

The disciples wanted to know about who was sinning. Jesus wanted God's glory and God's work to be done. The crowd and the enemies of Jesus wanted to argue the law and discount Jesus. Jesus wanted to know whether the man believed.

Perhaps we don't need to study for other people's questions and faith tests. Perhaps the only test of faith we need to prepare for and have an answer to is this one: What do you know? Where has God's work and glory been demonstrated in your life? Do you believe in the Son of Man?

What do you know?