Month: March 2020

What’s the Plan? …

It’s not a vacation, or even a staycation … It’s a “Coronacation”.  That’s a pretty awful word made just for this, well … challenging time. And challenging times raise questions. Questions like, What’s the Plan?

As the virus grows closer, everybody is making plans—globally, nationally, and locally. And then, of course, the plans change. Those changes, along with the curtailing of our freedoms and choices, frustrate and sadden us.

There’s so little we control here. But there are some things we influence. With credit to Brad and Jessi Borchardt who did this with their family, we Regiers met earlier in the week to talk about what we influence—and to make a plan for our Coronacation. Even if you’re alone or not with a family, you could join us in what we did.

We listed out THINGS NOT TO DO. Don’t snack between meals … don’t tease or annoy people … don’t be wasteful.

Then, we listed out THINGS TO DO. Meet each morning for prayer, emphasizing joy … focus on school … pray for people by name … finish making syrup … prune the apple trees … clean out the barn …

Finally, we listed out our DREAMS. We’re learning about dreams. They can disappoint us, but realistic dreams keep us grounded in reality. We’d like to: research goats (Jack) … add a pulley system to the tree house (Henry) … play Scrabble (Katja) … learn to make some “bakes” (pretzels, bagels, filled donuts, Scandinavian cookies) … build a Viking house (all the boys) … read some books out loud (Amanda) … grow a beard (Bryan).

There will be much teaching, caring, loving, and disciple-making in the days ahead. Lots to do! But we ALL need routine. We ALL need to keep some chores and dreams ahead of us.

SO, what’s your plan? Make your own lists, why don’t you? And then share them with somebody. Maybe even ask us how we’re doing with ours. But do let’s go forward with a plan …

Off to a good start. Jack and his Scandinavian cookies.

 

 

 

The Doing of It: Luke 22.39-46

Coronavirus … COVID 19 … That’s pretty much all we’re hearing right now. That and all the messaging (true, false, and changing) that we’re receiving.

In such times we need to know God’s will. And then we need strength for the doing of God’s will … strength for the Doing of It. 

In Luke 22.39-46, Jesus has just led His disciples out to the Mount of Olives where He is residing during Passover (:39). They’ve celebrated Passover. Even as He prepares to BE the Passover lamb of God, Jesus has fulfilled that observance and transformed the meal into the observance of His own death, now only hours away. Judas has failed the test of discipleship; he’s abandoned Jesus. What about the others? How will the other disciples find strength for the doing of God’s will?

Now, in the garden, Jesus instructs His followers to pray (:40). He’s told Peter (representing all the others too) that he’d be “sifted like wheat” (:32).  Pray that you may not enter into temptation, Jesus commands. Dependance on God will protect them in the test ahead.

Jesus prays and receives God’s strengthening (:41-44). With dramatic tension, Jesus withdraws “about a stone’s throw” from the disciples. He kneels in prayer. Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. Remember Luke 4? Satan didn’t want Jesus to go to the cross (and accomplish redemption). Jesus, in His full humanity) doesn’t want to go to the cross. Why the cross? Because only through the cross will redemption be accomplished. Only through the obedience of Jesus will the holiness of God be demonstrated. And only through the cross will the love of God in saving those dependent on Jesus be shown.

An angel appears to strengthen Jesus for the doing of God’s will. Note what Jesus does after the encounter. He returns to prayer. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Interesting to me is that the Father strengthened Jesus not just for the ordeal ahead but that Jesus might be strong to keep on depending on God in prayer.

Jesus warns His followers again to pray for strength (:45-46). Now Jesus returns from prayer and finds His disciples … sleeping. Their response is understandable, human. I’d probably do the same thing. But, they’ve not grasped the moment. They don’t understand what God is doing. They don’t understand the weakness of the flesh.

This is where we find an important lesson. We don’t fully grasp the spiritual tests we find ourselves in, do we? These tests of faith certainly involve whether or not we’ll follow or abandon Jesus in the moment. Many tests, however, involve our willingness to carry the burdens and look after the wellbeing of others. In Colossians 1.24, Paul says, Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. 

Jesus’ disciples are failing in that kind of test. In the days ahead, they’ll need His strength to lead and serve others. Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation, He tells them.

That last verse of the teaching unit includes an important spiritual lesson. Did you get it? God strengthens those who depend on Him for the doing of His will. That strength is available in Jesus, in prayer, right now! We don’t have to fall to temptation. We don’t have to be clueless about what God is doing. We really can follow Jesus in the midst of tests, trials and fearful times.

Depend on God in prayer for the strength to do His will. 

For Jesus, doing God’s will looked like going to the cross. For us, doing God’s will looks like faith in the One who went to the cross, expressed in all our different circumstances and in prayer …

So, as we prepare for what I’m calling our “Coronacation” this week, we might be …

  1. Tempted to despair because of opportunities lost (solo ensemble, forensics, boy’s basketball) … Talk to God. Tell Him honestly your disappointment, but ask Him to show you His will for the next couple of weeks.
  2. Tempted to fear the virus? … Find ways to pray with people, over the phone, online or in smaller groups.
  3. Tempted to fear the collateral damage from our planet-wide response … remember Jesus’ words from Luke 21.28: … Now when these things take place [pandemics, and such] straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

Depend on God in prayer for strength to do His will …!

 

Here’s some questions to keep us going:

  1. What else? What are your tests this week that would keep you from pursuing God’s will above all else? Can you list them? Are you willing to pray about them?
  2. Who else can you be praying with this week? What might it look like to meet with others for encouragement (Hebrews 10.24-25) and in the midst of a society shut down?
  3. Why do you think gathering with God’s people is just so terribly important in the next few weeks, even if we don’t get to meet in our normal, big group?
  4. What about Jesus are you thankful for?

Now, depend on God in prayer for strength to do His will this week! God bless you …!

Celebration of Life: Luke 12.1-23

In a fast-moving week just screaming toward Sunday, we’ll cut to the quick this week. Our passage is Luke 12.1-23. It’s Thursday of Passover for Jesus and His disciples. Death is everywhere as lambs are being slaughtered for the Passover celebration on that final Passover of Nissan 14. There’s betrayal in the mix too. Judas has offered to hand over Jesus. The Lord knows this. How will He handle Judas? How will Jesus respond to death and the faithless betrayal of Judas? 

Here’s some questions to talk through once you’ve read the passage:

  1. What do we gather about Judas’ motives? How do the religious leaders think their fears will be assuaged and their purposes accomplished?
  2. What do verses :7-13 show us about who is in charge of the situation? While Judas is plotting, and Jesus is preparing for death, who controls all these events?
  3. Jesus responds to death and betrayal by … serving His disciples … celebrating the Passover meal (for the last time) … and transforming this Passover meal into the observance that will become our Lord’s Table. What things does Jesus do that indicate this meal isn’t your typical Passover meal?
  4. How do we see Jesus bringing life from the death associated with the Passover meal (as well as the betrayal He’s experiencing)?
  5. What should WE do in response to this passage, especially the next time we go to the Lord’s Table?

We celebrate life in JESUS by remembering His sacrificial death and looking forward to His return. 

Now, have a great week in the Lord!