Intentional Faith

Today’s Prayer

O Lord let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to You O Lord! Let whatever we do in word or deed, we will do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. In Your precious name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Thoughts on Today’s Text

Philippians calls the still fairly young community of Christians in Philippi into perseverance in the way of Jesus in the face of real opposition. All these words — enemies, citizenship, Savior, making all things subject, standing firm — were highly loaded political terms.

In the context of Philippi, a Roman colony with a high population of retired military veterans, “enemies” meant “foreigners on the borderlands of the empire who are to be stood against (“standing firm”) to prevent or stop invasions.” Citizenship related to Roman citizenship (with all the rights and access that gave). Savior was a term primarily denoting Caesar or secondarily a military protector. “Making all things subject” was what a good Savior/Lord did once conquest was complete. Paul could very well have been accused of attempted subversion of the Empire as he reframed all of these commonly accepted Roman and military images into descriptors not of the Roman Empire, but of Jesus and the kingdom of God. This was bold and risky rhetoric for him to use and for the church at Philippi to be found in possession of, and could easily have been read by persons outside the Christian congregation(s) there as treasonous enough to warrant a call for the deaths of the letter’s possessors and believers.

Today’s Scripture

Philippians 3:17-4:1

3:17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.

3:18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.

3:19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.

3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

3:21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Devotion for the Day

Psalm 105:42-43

“For God remembered [God’s] holy promise, and Abraham, [God’s] servant. So [God] brought [God’s] people out with joy, [God’s] chosen ones with singing.”

Kenneth L. Samuel

There are not many things in this life that can match the power of a promise. “I’ll try,” or “I might,” or “Maybe I will” are the sources of endless hesitation and doubt. But when someone says “I promise,” there usually follows an expectation that will not be easily swayed. People who fail to keep promises are not easily forgotten or forgiven.

We all know that promises are only as good as the persons who make them, but there is another side to promise-keeping. Those to whom promises are made must keep faith in the promise as well.

Psalm 105 is a dramatic recitation of Israel’s history. A history that spanned the generations from Jacob to Joshua. A history that tells of how God brought the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage through the desert sands of Sinai and delivered them into Canaan land. A history that bespoke God’s provision in the midst of scarcity, God’s direction in the midst of uncertainty and God’s presence in the midst of giants.

Then, at the end, the Psalmist declares that the entire epochal history of Israel emanated from a promise that God made to Abraham. To be sure, it was a promise that God took responsibility for keeping, but it was also a promise that the Israelites had the responsibility of not forgetting. The history of Israel is not just about the promise God made. The history of Israel is just as much about the promise that Israel never abandoned; the promise that guided them when they could not see; the promise that comforted them when were weak; the promise that gave them the light of hope in the valleys of their deep despair.

The power of a promise is not only in the person who makes it. The power of a promise is also in the person(s) who believe it and who remain committed to it despite the obstacles to its fulfillment.

America’s promise is as strong as those of us who still hold it as a sacred trust. A nuptial promise is as strong as the spouse who will not let any problem overtake it. A parent’s promise is as strong as the expectations of a child who will not let the parent forget. And the promises of God are as strong as our determination to hold on to them, come what may from day to day.

Prayer

Dear God, give us strength today to keep faith in every promise that you have given us. We promise to never forsake your promises. Amen.

For the Children

Show children some jigsaw puzzles pieces from a box with the picture of the puzzle on it. Ask them if they ever did a puzzle without a picture to go by. That would be hard!. Talk about Paul’s words in today’s scripture. “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,” Paul wants us to imitate Christ and we have a picture to go by. We have the Bible, role models, and most importantly we have all the pieces we need right within ourselves!

Thought on Today’s Text

Psalm 27 promises a sense of security and well-being despite conflict and threat. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Fear is epidemic in our time and some of it is justified, but being controlled by fear won’t get us to the next step. Congregations are fearful of the future as they look at the changing face of North America, the growing pluralism and the post-Christian ethos, along with shrinking memberships, budget deficits, and aging demographics. The old ways are in transition and no one has more than a clue to the pathway toward the future.

Today’s Scriptural Reading

Psalm 27
27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

27:2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh– my adversaries and foes– they shall stumble and fall.

27:3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.

27:4 One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

27:5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.

27:6 Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

27:7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!

27:8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, LORD, do I seek.

27:9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!

27:10 If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.

27:11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

27:12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.

27:13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

A New Testament Look at Our Old Testament Text

The crucifixion of Jesus is interpreted in a variety of ways in the New Testament and in Christian theology. One way of interpreting it is to say that God took upon himself the curse that was meant for us: Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. When God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, is this not good news that empowers our trust? And is not the God of the Old Testament much like the God of the New Testament in putting himself on the line?

Genesis 15 recognizes that it is sometimes hard to believe when we are in bad situations. But God addresses our bad situations with promises that ring true to our needs, just as God doubled down on the promises to Abraham and Sarah. God lives up to his relationship with us by demonstrating that his news for us is indeed good, that he is willing to risk his very self so that we might believe.

Today’s Text for Children

This is a complicated passage for children, but a part of the familiar story of God’s promises to Abram. Recalling some of the rest of this story (Abram’s moves and Isaac’s birth) will help children understand the promises God made in this chapter.

To help children follow God’s conversation with Abram, read from the Good News Bible and take time to explain Abram’s concern about not having a son.

If children hear nothing else in this reading, most of them will tune in to the details of the gory covenant-making ritual. The idea that God passed between the split animals in the form of a flaming pot and torch—which, in effect, said to Abram, “May I be split open and left to die if I do not keep the promises I have made to you today”—has great appeal to children. (Remember, this is the age of “blood-brother” rituals and tree-house rites.) The message to children is that God is serious about this and other promises. God’s promises can be trusted.

Devotion for the Day

Psalm 105:42-43

“For God remembered [God’s] holy promise, and Abraham, [God’s] servant. So [God] brought [God’s] people out with joy, [God’s] chosen ones with singing.”

Kenneth L. Samuel

There are not many things in this life that can match the power of a promise. “I’ll try,” or “I might,” or “Maybe I will” are the sources of endless hesitation and doubt. But when someone says “I promise,” there usually follows an expectation that will not be easily swayed. People who fail to keep promises are not easily forgotten or forgiven.

We all know that promises are only as good as the persons who make them, but there is another side to promise-keeping. Those to whom promises are made must keep faith in the promise as well.

Psalm 105 is a dramatic recitation of Israel’s history. A history that spanned the generations from Jacob to Joshua. A history that tells of how God brought the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage through the desert sands of Sinai and delivered them into Canaan land. A history that bespoke God’s provision in the midst of scarcity, God’s direction in the midst of uncertainty and God’s presence in the midst of giants.

Then, at the end, the Psalmist declares that the entire epochal history of Israel emanated from a promise that God made to Abraham. To be sure, it was a promise that God took responsibility for keeping, but it was also a promise that the Israelites had the responsibility of not forgetting. The history of Israel is not just about the promise God made. The history of Israel is just as much about the promise that Israel never abandoned; the promise that guided them when they could not see; the promise that comforted them when were weak; the promise that gave them the light of hope in the valleys of their deep despair.

The power of a promise is not only in the person who makes it. The power of a promise is also in the person(s) who believe it and who remain committed to it despite the obstacles to its fulfillment.

America’s promise is as strong as those of us who still hold it as a sacred trust. A nuptial promise is as strong as the spouse who will not let any problem overtake it. A parent’s promise is as strong as the expectations of a child who will not let the parent forget. And the promises of God are as strong as our determination to hold on to them, come what may from day to day.

Prayer

Dear God, give us strength today to keep faith in every promise that you have given us. We promise to never forsake your promises. Amen.