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Praying with One Eye Open

11/16/2022

Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

Imagine praying aloud in church. (Does that scare you?) Then imagine hearing someone utter these words:

“God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful in marriage like other people. And I am really glad that I am not like [fill in your name] over there.  I fast twice a week, and I give you one tenth of all I earn.”

Jesus, during his ministry, taught many lessons on prayer. This time (read Luke 18:9-14), he was giving a Master Class, not so much on prayer, but on the motives people adopt as they approach God or interact with each other. Jesus was pointing out, among other things, how utterly irrelevant our prayers are when we do not adopt a spirit of humility.

Humility is a cornerstone of our walk with God. Recall how God promised a turnaround to his people if they humbled themselves:

”If my own people will humbly pray and turn back to me and stop sinning, then I will answer them from heaven. I will forgive them…” (2 Chronicles 7:14, CEV).

Further, God’s Word tells us “everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say,
‘God opposes proud people,
but he helps everyone
    who is humble.’”
                        (1 Peter 5:5, CEV)

Humility allows us to present ourselves before God as we truly are, not as we would like others to see us. When we puff up ourselves, instead of our eyes watching God, our eyes are watching others to see if they see our good works. It’s like praying with one eye open!

The Pharisee, the temple clergyman, in Jesus’ parable, (Luke 18:11, 12, CEV) was proud of the way he carried out the commandments. And, he made sure to list them so God could hear. For good measure, he compared himself to a tax collector, a blue collar worker, who was standing afar off, with his eyes lowered. He (the clergyman) thought that he was so much better than that man!

Was the eyes and heart of the clergyman truly focused on God? And, what was the point of his prayer? Did he come to repent and confess his sin? Or to bask in the sheer presence of an awesome, omnipotent, faithful, and majestic God?

To be sure, God already knew all the things the clergyman had done. All of them were admirable. But God was not impressed, because God was looking at the posture of this man’s heart. And what God saw was narcissism, pompousness, and a lack of humility.

Jesus points out that when our motives do not align with what God expects—a pure heart—our prayers go awry.

“When the two men went home, it was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God….” (v.14a)

Think about how we respond to blessings. Do we compare ourselves to others and always seem to come out on top based on our education, where we live, who we know, what we earn, how we serve in God’s house? Would such an attitude be pleasing to God?

Jesus Christ is our role model. The Scriptures tell us:
Christ was humble.
He obeyed God and even died
    on a cross.
Then God gave Christ
    the highest place
and honored his name
    above all others. (Philippians 2:8,9, CEV)

Jesus ends his lesson by saying:

“If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored” (Luke 18:14b, CEV).

It certainly is something to think about.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, teach us to humble ourselves so that you will draw near us. Remind us that you will not walk with the proud or scornful, but only with those whose spirits remain humble. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
                                                                         ©Medytations 2022

October 19, 2022
Wednesday’s Word
     Praying With One Eye Open

Imagine praying aloud in church. (Does that scare you?) Then imagine hearing someone utter these words:

“God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful in marriage like other people. And I am really glad that I am not like [fill in your name] over there.  I fast twice a week, and I give you one tenth of all I earn.”

Jesus, during his ministry, taught many lessons on prayer. This time (read Luke 18:9-14), he was giving a Master Class, not so much on prayer, but on the motives people adopt as they approach God or interact with each other. Jesus was pointing out, among other things, how utterly irrelevant our prayers are when we do not adopt a spirit of humility.

Humility is a cornerstone of our walk with God. Recall how God promised a turnaround to his people if they humbled themselves:

”If my own people will humbly pray and turn back to me and stop sinning, then I will answer them from heaven. I will forgive them…” (2 Chronicles 7:14, CEV).

Further, God’s Word tells us “everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say,
‘God opposes proud people,
but he helps everyone
    who is humble.’”
                        (1 Peter 5:5, CEV)

Humility allows us to present ourselves before God as we truly are, not as we would like others to see us. When we puff up ourselves, instead of our eyes watching God, our eyes are watching others to see if they see our good works. It’s like praying with one eye open!

The Pharisee, the temple clergyman, in Jesus’ parable, (Luke 18:11, 12, CEV) was proud of the way he carried out the commandments. And, he made sure to list them so God could hear. For good measure, he compared himself to a tax collector, a blue collar worker, who was standing afar off, with his eyes lowered. He (the clergyman) thought that he was so much better than that man!

Was the eyes and heart of the clergyman truly focused on God? And, what was the point of his prayer? Did he come to repent and confess his sin? Or to bask in the sheer presence of an awesome, omnipotent, faithful, and majestic God?

To be sure, God already knew all the things the clergyman had done. All of them were admirable. But God was not impressed, because God was looking at the posture of this man’s heart. And what God saw was narcissism, pompousness, and a lack of humility.

Jesus points out that when our motives do not align with what God expects—a pure heart—our prayers go awry.

“When the two men went home, it was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God….” (v.14a)

Think about how we respond to blessings. Do we compare ourselves to others and always seem to come out on top based on our education, where we live, who we know, what we earn, how we serve in God’s house? Would such an attitude be pleasing to God?

Jesus Christ is our role model. The Scriptures tell us:
Christ was humble.
He obeyed God and even died
    on a cross.
Then God gave Christ
    the highest place
and honored his name
    above all others. (Philippians 2:8,9, CEV)

Jesus ends his lesson by saying:

“If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored” (Luke 18:14b, CEV).

It certainly is something to think about.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, teach us to humble ourselves so that you will draw near us. Remind us that you will not walk with the proud or scornful, but only with those whose spirits remain humble. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
                                                                         ©Medytations 2022

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Knowing Jesus in the Storm

10/12/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
Knowing Jesus in the Storm

Quite often we think we know someone based on what we’ve seen on the surface or how others have defined them. Yet, there is often more to them than meets the eye.

Jesus had called his disciples to follow him in ministry. There was something about him that made them come. Each one had cast aside their daily activities to join him—eager to learn from him, to see, hear, and touch those things that were outside the realm of ordinary.

Jesus’ messages were radical, but yet compassionate and the people hung on to every word. Today, he had preached from a boat because the crowd was so large. It had been a long, tiring day, and at its close, Jesus instructed the disciples to “cross to the east side” (Mark 4:35-41, CEV).

Being tired, and knowing his disciples were adept at fishing and sailing, Jesus went to sleep in the back of the boat. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a fierce storm arose.

Isn’t that how it is with our own lives? We will be sailing along smoothly being a good Christian and then, without warning, we are buffeted by life and its inevitable storms. Yet, sometimes it is these very storms that make us recognize who Jesus really is and that he is always with us.

The wind and waves were crashing all around, collaborating to make the boat these men were guiding, a sailor’s coffin. The disciples were terrified. Soon that turbulent water was no longer outside, it found its way inside the boat, filling the empty spaces and threatening their very lives. What was even scarier was that the storm had also barged its way inside them, drowning their faith.

“Jesus!”

Would he hear them over the chaos? Yes, he would. You and I know that God hears us each and every time we call.

“Jesus!”

How could he sleep at a time like this? So they woke him.

“Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to drown?” (v.38). It was the almost-last-words of desperate fishermen who were about to die.

Sometimes in our own desperation we wonder if Jesus hears us, if he sees our storms. And will he put an end to them...quickly.

What were the disciples expecting? They had seen Jesus up close and personal. At those times, he was preaching and teaching crowds (sometimes giving these disciples private tutorials, as he explained the meanings of his parables). Jesus was also healing---miraculously healing people. But these disciples didn’t need a healing. They needed to be rescued. We do, too. We need to be rescued from the storms of life. Rescued from sin--from addictions, from mounting debt, from our own crippling self-righteousness.

Perhaps, in the moment, they did not really know what they expected of Jesus. After all, they had only witnessed Jesus helping other people by healing them physically. Could he rescue them from imminent danger? From natural disaster?

The psalmist David gives us the answer and reminds us of God’s power:
You were in serious trouble,
but you prayed to the Lord,
    and he rescued you.
He made the storm stop
    and the sea be quiet.
You were happy because of this,
and he brought you to the port
    where you wanted to go.
You should praise the Lord
    for his love
and for the wonderful things
    he does for all of us.
                       (Psalm 107:28-31, CEV).

Perhaps they had heard that psalm before, or perhaps not. Or perhaps they had recited Psalm 46 when they gathered for weekly temple meetings.

God is our mighty fortress,
always ready to help
    in times of trouble.
And so, we won't be afraid!
… Let the ocean roar and foam,
and its raging waves
    shake the mountains….
                          (Psalm 46:1-3, CEV)

“We won’t be afraid…Let the ocean roar” …. We say it, too. But do we really mean it or believe it? The ocean was certainly roaring now. But the disciples had thrown their faith overboard at its angry sound; they had forgotten that Jesus was in the boat with them. He was all they needed. And, for us, too, Jesus is all we will ever need.

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus awoke and “ordered the wind and waves to be quiet” (Mark 4:39, CEV) and immediately there was complete calm. Consider this: Jesus was in complete control. He’s our God who can fix chaos. He’s our God who has preeminence over creation because he made it, and it is subject to his commands.

The apostle John tells us, “Everything that was created received its life from him…” (John 1:4, CEV). We know this because:
He…is…God!

And while Jesus does not tell the men to be quiet, one can guess, that as he asked, “Why were you afraid? Don't you have any faith?” (v. 40) they fell silent. We are told that they were even more afraid at his questioning.
They began asking each other:
“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (v. 41).
Instinctively they knew who he was. It wasn’t so much a question. It was more a “Did we just see what we just saw?” moment. They now knew Jesus was more than a healer. He was the Messiah. The Son of God. The Savior and Redeemer. He was man, but very God. He was Creator. He was God.

PRAYER: Jesus, we cry out to you knowing you hear, and answer our petitions. We are not immune from the storms of life, but we know we can count on you to get us through them. Amen.

                                                                                       ©Medytations 2022

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Ordinary People, Ordinary Things

10/5/2022

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Wednesday's Word
by Dorette Saunders

God often uses ordinary people and ordinary things to teach us lessons about his extraordinary power. The account of Naaman, the Syrian commander’s healing of leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-15), is a case in point.

Namaan’s wife had a young Jewish girl working for her. This servant girl was not an immigrant who had crossed the border looking for work, or food. Rather, “one day while the Syrian troops were raiding Israel, they captured” her (v.2, CEV).

She had been forcibly taken away from her homeland, and all that she knew and loved. Despite this, she had not left her faith in God behind. And now, perhaps in the context of her enslavement, this young woman had grown close to her mistress. Knowing of the commander’s leprous condition, she said to his wife, “If your husband Naaman would go to the prophet in Samaria, he would be cured of his leprosy” (v.3).

Can you hear the devil buzzing around, sneering at her? Why would you want to help them? They dragged you from your country and made you a slave. What if it doesn’t work? Naaman would be embarrassed and the consequences to you would be harsh.

Notice the faith of this young woman. She was no healer, but she knew that God would work through his prophet. The healing would depend on Naaman’s obedience: if he would go…he would be cured.

Do we have such confidence in God’s ability to act in dire situations? Do we voice them? This was an ordinary servant girl telling the wife of a mighty military man what her God could do. We read in the Scriptures that God uses the weak things to astound the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27).

Perhaps this military leper had tried many cures that had failed. So entertaining a glimmer of hope, Naaman heeded the advice and went to Israel. As the narrative unfolds, he stops at the prophet Elisha’s dwelling in anticipation of the prophet performing a healing ritual on him. After all, he had taken along “30,000 pieces of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold, and 10 new outfits” (2 Kings 5:5, CEV) in gifts to broker this deal.

But Naaman quickly learned that healing is not for sale. And God is not a deal-maker. Nor does God deal in quid pro quo, nor should his prophets. In fact, Elisha does not come out to meet the commander nor does he accept any of the gifts. Instead, he sends someone to tell Naaman to dip in the River Jordan seven times to receive his healing!

Suddenly Naaman’s expectations crashed. The Jordan River? That ordinary river? Why, Syria had much cleaner waters, he could have saved himself the trip, and the fanfare, and washed himself back there. Enraged, Naaman was ready to go back home, but his servants, ordinary people, endowed with wisdom not normally attributed to people of their station in life, pleaded with him:

“Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. So why don't you do what he said? Go wash and be cured” (v. 13).

Aren’t we sometimes guilty of putting God in a box? Of expecting things to work the way that makes sense for us? Don’t we often sabotage the blessings and healings that are destined for our lives by our own stubbornness? By our own faulty expectations?

In contrast, do you see the confidence that these ordinary servants display? Go wash and be cured.

And yes, when Naaman cast away his pride, humbled himself and obeyed, his skin was cleansed like that of a young child.

God uses people we would least expect to intervene in our situations. To counsel us, to pray over us, to speak words of comfort or healing, to point us to God, with whom all things are possible.

It was a profound lesson for Naaman, and one for us as well. There is one God, the God of Israel, and besides him there is no other.

PRAYER: Lord God, humble me that I may see with fresh eyes that which you would have me see. Teach me, Lord, that you are not limited in power, but that your arm of mercy stretches far beyond what I can hope or imagine. Help me to know that you are God, and besides you, there is no other. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
©M©dytations 2021

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Breaking Bread Together

9/28/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

It’s not unusual that we find fellowship in sharing a meal. There is something about eating together that often allows us to drop our guard and enjoy unfettered companionship. The meal gives both host and guest reason to feel honored. One is honored that they were invited; the other is honored that the invitation was accepted.

In what is often considered “The Last Supper,” Jesus welcomes his 12 disciples to the table. In the midst of the meal, Jesus washes their feet (John 13:3-5). It was unheard of that the host would wash the feet of the guests—that was a task assigned to the servants. And yet, in an uncanny reversal of roles, Jesus, the host, throws the door wide open and invites each of them, including Judas, the betrayer, and Simon Peter, the denier, to experience how love serves.

Jesus’ actions show love holds no record of past, present or future wrongs, and that Jesus is the one who calls us to the feast regardless of what we think of ourselves, or how others view us.

Jesus—our Servant-Savior, Soul-Satisfier seeks our presence at the table. He calls us into unity—and community with himself and each other. Earlier, he had prayed to the Father in this way:

“I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us….” (John 17:20,21, CEV).

This oneness with Jesus the Bread of Life, humbles us. And so we approach the table as Jesus calls:

You with the checkered past and still uncertain future. Come! If you’ve been told before that you don’t quite belong. Come! You who question where God is when evil tramples justice. Come!

No one can turn up their noses here. Each of us has a blood-bought seat. Each has been redeemed---even if we have not yet acknowledged the Redeemer. There are no better seats available nor areas where Christ’s glory does not rest. The feast, it is for one—for all, made holy by the very presence of the Lord.

And when we have feasted, Jesus tells us that we should repeat the feast, often, as a way of remembering him. The bread, Christ’s body broken for us. The cup, Christ’s blood, poured out for the remission of our sins. Repeat it, for we become unfilled walking the rough, dusty roads of a world darkened by sin. Repeat it for nothing satisfies our soul’s deep hunger, or our thirst. Repeat it, for it is indeed good for us to break bread together.

PRAYER: Lord, we meet you at the table to be revived by your body and your blood. Refresh our spirits through the power of the Holy Spirit. Make us one, even as you and the Father are one. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
©M©dytations 2022

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"Trapped by Stuff"

9/28/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

Sometimes, without meaning to, we end up being trapped by stuff. More clothes than we can wear. More food than we can eat. More rooms than we can live in. Perhaps we don’t recognize how foolish this all is until we read, and laugh, about someone having a house with ten bedrooms and eight baths. “How ridiculous,” we scoff, but the truth is, in comparable ways, we are no better.

The Bible warns us about making stuff our god. About being so engrossed in amassing things that we forget to thank God who “blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life” (1 Timothy 6:17, CEV). And, in our distraction, we forget to share our blessings with those around us.

The apostle Paul, in his training of his protégé Timothy, teaches him that those who make riches their goal “fall into all sorts of temptations and traps. They are caught by foolish and harmful desires that drag them down and destroy them” (v.9).

Is having possessions wrong? Of course, not. But when those possessions “have” us and blind our eyes to the wonders of God, to the needs of others, and to neglecting that which is important to God, then those earthly riches become problematic.

In a world that is fueled by consumerism, it is little wonder that we become like frenzied hamsters on a wheel, trying to earn (or even swindle) more, and juggle tons of stuff to either keep up with the Joneses or to become the Joneses ourselves. The Bible warns that we need to be content with what we have since “we didn't bring anything into this world, and we won’t take anything with us when we leave” (v.7).

It’s a sobering thought. Take a moment to reflect on it.
Everything we have is God’s. We are merely stewards of our King. It is not our money, but his. How we use and manage it should reflect God’s will and be aligned with God’s Word. How different our lives would be if we would commit our financial plans to God. How different our churches would be if we harnessed our time, talent, and resources in ways that honor God!

The Bible is not lax in its counsel on how we can be corrupted by greed. “The love of money causes all kinds of trouble. Some people want money so much they have given up their faith and caused themselves a lot of pain” (v. 10).

Do you have a healthy relationship with money or does it control you? How about the stuff that you own? How attached are you to it? Are you always seeking more?

If you struggled with answering the questions, consider this. How should we respond in a world where we are groomed to claw our way to the top, or told that the “one with the most toys wins”?

The apostle Paul gave Timothy a clear directive.
“… you belong to God…. Try your best to please God and to be like him. Be faithful, loving, dependable, and gentle. Fight a good fight for the faith and claim eternal life” (vv. 11, 12).

Our response is to be content. To recognize God as our source. To choose to live out our faith so that our lives on this earth will be pleasing to God and a testimony to those around us.

PRAYER: God, stuff often gets in the way of us serving you wholeheartedly. Break our addiction to things and the temporary pleasure they bring us. Help us to fix our eyes and our hearts on lasting treasure, and our eternal home. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

©M©dytations 2022

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