September 14, 2011

9-14-11 Wednesday, 5:31 am Sedalia 60 degrees, with 50% chance of thundershowers.

On this day 23 years ago my beloved wife gave birth to a precious daughter who we named Bethany. Today she is a college graduate, living in the Los Angeles area, a follower of Christ who is serving Him with all her life, using the beautiful voice that God has given her to be a blessing to many. Yesterday as I was running 7 on the Katy trail a couple with bicycles laden with gear approached. I asked them where they were headed, and when they replied “California” I shouted back down the trail “I have a daughter in L.A.!” I feel the distance from here to there, and I have a great peace that Bethany is in the center of God’s will for her life.

Galatians 1 (One Year Bible reading plan for today)

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” (Verses 3-4) In this one sentence is enough spiritual meat to chew on all day! God’s grace – what a gift. His unmerited favor, not earned nor deserved. Religious people under the old covenant, church people under the new covenant are so easily deluded into thinking that we deserve God’s favor because _______ (fill in the blank). Israel was chosen by God’s grace, and the church is purchased by Christ who gave himself for our sins. Our lives of faith must always be lived in the light of His grace.

Peace – shalom – God’s gift. As we are being rescued “from the present evil age” living in the middle of God’s peace is a promise and a blessing. I have begun to read Erik Larson’s In the Garden of Beasts, an historical account of William E. Dodd and his family upon his appointment in 1933 as U.S. Ambassador to Germany. The “evil” of that age was not yet fully comprehended by the history professor from the University of Chicago, but would unfold during coming months. We would like to think that in 2011 in America we do not live in “the present evil age” from which we need rescuing, but that fact is that until Christ comes again, the Evil One has great power on earth.

On Friday morning I will officiate at a funeral of a young father whose family are members at Wesley. It will be a difficult time for this family which has endured much. Grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” will be the basis, as it is for every funeral.

Psalm 58

“Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity? No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth.” This was graphically true of the Nazi rulers in the 1930’s, and in various ways is lived out all through time. As the Psalmist counts on God to avenge the wicked he concludes in verse 11 “Then the people will say, ‘surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.’”

Guide my steps today, O You who judges the earth. May I fully live in your grace and peace, under the shadow of your wings. Your righteousness is like majestic mountains – lead me in your righteousness most Holy Lord as I wake up in Sedalia, learn from Ben Witherington, travel to Springfield and share your grace and peace with families in turmoil.