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A student survey conducted at one of our local schools determined that young people see the church as being full of old people and pews. And they think that the pews have to go. There’s some good news in that survey, they didn’t say the old people should go, only the pews.
Think for a moment: How does their perception match reality?
We might immediately begin to defend the pews. They've been good enough for generations. They keep us awake. They haven’t killed anyone.
Or we might be offended that they’ve labelled us as old. We might argue that we’re not nearly as old as our grandparents were at the same age.
We might want to join James and John to ask Jesus whether we should call down fire from heaven and destroy them.
But before we get too defensive, these young people are crying out for the church to recognise and value them. They don’t think the church cares about them, they don’t think we care. They think the church is only interested in the people who’re already involved, which to them means old people.
I wonder whether they’re any different to those of any age who aren’t connected to our churches. Would the whole ‘unchurched’ and 'previously-churched’ community agree that we don’t care. Would they contend that we’re only interested in ourselves.
If we’re so busy polishing and defending our pews then they have to go. If there’s anything in our church that uses up our time at the expense of living our lives for Jesus then it has to go.
Even more urgently we have to go. Not leave the church, the community of God’s people, but go with the good news that because God loves and cares for every single person in this world so do we.
“As you go”, Jesus says, “make disciples of all nations.” Jesus cares about this because he has ‘skin-in-the-game’. He died for each and every one we encounter as we go about our lives.
How do we, as individuals and a church, need to change so that no one in our community will feel that we don’t care about them?
Discouragement or praise hymns?
by Peter Bean
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:15b).
Read 1 Samuel 1:1–20
It’s not popular to talk about our woes or to suggest we are discouraged or down in the dumps. Enter that into a conversation, and it is likely people will turn away. How sad!
When you read (and work with) the psalms, as I have been doing for more than three years, you learn that people were willing to take their gripes to their God. As American theologian Walter Brueggemann said, ‘Old Testament praise is not a practice of “praise hymns” that cover over the reality of life. Rather, there is a habit of truth-telling, to wonder where the loving mercy of God is.’ Again and again, the people ask, ‘Where are you, God?’
In these verses today, I can imagine Hannah speaking some truth-telling to the Lord. ‘Why have you not given me children? Where is your mercy, Lord? Have you forgotten me?’ She was so distressed that Eli, the priest, thought she had been drinking (verses 13 and 14).
But Hannah quickly made it clear that was not the case. Instead, she was pouring out her heart to the Lord. After their conversation, Eli wished her peace and that her request would be granted. She went away no longer sad (verse 18).
If you are discouraged, I want to encourage you to be brave. Take your concerns to the Lord. Take part in some truth-telling. God is big enough to take it. Pour out your heart; wait on the Lord. If you don’t know what to say, let your sighs be your prayer. Take comfort that the Spirit takes them to God (Romans 8:26–28). Or you might want to use a psalm; try Psalm 88, Psalm 86 or another one that works for you.
Let your thoughts or words of discouragement become praise hymns to the Lord.
Lord, when I am discouraged, help me come to you with words, thoughts and sighs. Let your Spirit plead for me. And then grant me peace as I wait for your mercy. Amen.
by Peter Bean
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong (Romans 16:19b).
Read Romans 16:17–27
Ah, wisdom! The most wonderful of gifts (see 1 Kings 3:10ff), yet so elusive.
Having greeted the various people involved in the church (see yesterday’s devotion), Paul gives final greetings and asks them to be wise. Is he expecting too much? Who among us would claim to be wise? As we age, we hopefully gain more wisdom, but would any of us actually claim to be wise?
I wonder if these readers thought similarly. Okay, Paul, we appreciate your prayers and greetings. Now, just let us get on with the job. Why add this burden of having to be wise?!
Except, it is not a burden. Read the phrases from Romans surrounding this request:
- ‘… obedient in the Lord’ (verse 19a)
- ‘The God of peace …’ (verse 20)
- ‘The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you’ (verse 20)
- ‘… all glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ …’ (verse 27).
Perhaps wisdom is simply accepting Christ’s love for us: living in his grace and forgiveness and allowing his peace to permeate our lives. When we are surrounded by love, grace, forgiveness and peace, perhaps wisdom just flows. Not always, of course. We are human. But when it doesn’t, we are restored to a wise place. Living in God’s grace.
And so, a positive circle develops: grace, forgiveness, wisdom; grace, forgiveness, wisdom. Then, we are enabled to do the right things to stay innocent. And when we fail, we are restored to a place of righteousness, to a place of innocence.
Grace, forgiveness, wisdom. A good place to live.
God of wisdom, allow us to live in your grace and forgiveness, so we may be wise in all we do and say. Amen.
Spring has sprung. Flowers are displaying their colours; fruit is forming on the trees. There is new growth everywhere. Peter prays that as you observe this wonderful new life, may you revel in the new beginnings God offers you each day. As Peter continues to meander his way through the psalms, he invites you to read them anew, applying them to your lives. If you would like his paraphrase of any psalm (from 1 to 91), send your request to pbean087@gmail.com
Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my coworkers in the ministry of Christ Jesus (Romans 16:3).
Read Romans 16:1–16
What a powerful chapter Romans 16 is. What, at first, might seem like a boring list of names actually details the workings of the early church across the Roman Empire. (Many of the towns referenced throughout the New Testament epistles can still be found on a map today, especially in what is now modern-day Türkiye.)
Some of these people had been expelled from Rome; others travelled to and from the area. All were involved in the early Christian community in one way or another. When you read the descriptions, you will read about deacons, coworkers, believers and the Lord’s people. You will notice women and men, married couples and single people. You will hear Greek names, Roman names, Jewish names and Gentile names. All working together in the ministry of Jesus Christ! Thank you, Lord.
Here is a challenge: How about you write your version of Romans 16? Give thanks for all those you know are involved, working together in the ministry of Jesus Christ. This might be people from your congregation. It may include people from the wider community who serve in various ways, even from other churches or service groups.
Make a list! But don’t just make a list. Describe what they do that nourishes, encourages, allows the organisation to operate, challenges others or shares the good news in so many ways. And then, share it with them (like Paul did). Or perhaps read it out during the announcements at church! And pray for each of these people, giving thanks, today or daily, until you have mentioned them all (or perhaps you could include it as part of the prayer time at church one Sunday).
What a powerful document that would be; what a powerful action for you to take. Giving thanks for all those involved in ministry together.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for my (our) coworkers in ministry, whatever form that takes. May they know they are appreciated. Bless their actions, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Spring has sprung. Flowers are displaying their colours; fruit is forming on the trees. There is new growth everywhere. Peter prays that as you observe this wonderful new life, may you revel in the new beginnings God offers you each day. As Peter continues to meander his way through the psalms, he invites you to read them anew, applying them to your lives. If you would like his paraphrase of any psalm (from 1 to 91), send your request to pbean087@gmail.com