Week 30, Day 5
July 29, 2022 Scripture: Luke 23 “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” (Luke 23:33–34) “It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming.” S.M. Lockridge Sunday is coming in just a couple of days where we will gather to celebrate the risen Jesus. We do this each week, meeting on the first day to celebrate the new life we all share in through the power of Christ. Part of what we will celebrate is the kindness of God, displayed on the cross. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus speaks a blessing over us on the cross. As a dying patriarch would pass blessings along to his children (think Joseph), so Christ looks down from the cross and passes along blessings. In this case it is welcoming us all into his family, and offers us the blessing of forgiveness. This gift of life is why we gather each week, to look heavenward and say, “thank you Lord for forgiveness and new life in the kingdom of God.” Gather Sunday to celebrate the crucified and risen King Jesus.
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Week 30, Day 4
July 28, 2022 Scripture: Luke 22 “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:19–20) I try to highlight a part of our reading each day and draw out a thought for your encouragement. There’s no real rhyme or reason to it, I just read and pray and hope for the best. Narrowing down today’s selection is a bit difficult. How many volumes of books have been written on what transpires in Luke 22? Peter’s denial, Jesus’ arrest, what did Jesus have the disciples use the two swords for and so much more! There’s so much going on in this chapter! I won’t solve any theological debate in my devotions. That’s not the aim. It’s simply an encouragement. A nudge down the road in our faith. While there are countless topics to be explore and expounded on in today’s reading, I’ve settled on the Lord’s Supper. We are a part of a movement, a tradition that partakes in the Lord’s Supper every week. Many traditions do not partake in the Eucharist weekly, but rather quarterly or on special occasions. Some believe it is symbolic, and others believe that it is the actual blood of Jesus and body of Jesus itself. Whole teachings have been developed around the topic of the Lord’s Supper. It’s as divisive of topic as any. Which is terribly ironic given the intent of unity that drives the whole thing. I digress. I wrote my church history class a paper titled, “From Supper to Snack: Tracing the Lord’s Supper and its Practice throughout Church History.” The computer I wrote it on broke and I couldn’t save it in the cloud, so don’t ask for it. Sore topic there. Anyways, the gist of the paper is that the early church practiced the Lord’s Supper within the context of the Agape meal/feast. It was a large meal for the church family that came together and cared for one another and the poor. It was in the evenings when the church gathered. Over time several factors caused the Lord’s Supper to shift from the context of a meal to a snack-sized portion outside of a meal. One influence that caused the shift was persecution against the church. Persecution caused the church to have to meet in different times, particularly in the morning and in different places. Along with persecution, there was the cultural influence of eating only one meal a day, so when the church gathered in the morning, it became the snack we are accustomed to. It was typical that people in the ancient world only ate one meal a day, and it was in the evening. They weren’t going to cook a big meal for everyone in the morning when they gathered. Another impact was the discontinuation of the Agape meal in general. When the church changed its gathering time and place, it shifted away from the context of a meal. Without the meal, it was reduced to simply the small portion of bread and wine. Eventually, when God ordained it to be, Welch’s became the official drink of the church. Now with all of that going on, and centuries later, we have a completely different looking gathering. One could look over all of history and reflect on what Jesus was doing in the upper room and say that we are a far cry from what Christ intended when he instituted the meal. That’s true. “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:19–20) Yet this scripture still holds true, doesn’t it? For as often as we eat the bread and cup, we show the Lord’s death, right? While everything around the meal has changed, the substance of it remains. The substance of the supper is not in the size of portions we eat, the substance of this meal is in the person of Christ. We partake weekly because when we come together, we honor Christ and remember his life, death, resurrection and reign. We take the Supper because this is the central focus of our worship. I have yet to take the cup and bread and forget why I’m taking it. In the context of a meal or not, the practice of it always draws me to Jesus’ words, “Do this in remembrance of me.” I may not always be as reverent as I need to be. I often have distractions, and rushing thoughts of things to do. I have yet to find this practice something that I do too often at a weekly occasion. The problem is not the portion, nor is it the proportion of times I take it. So, I encourage you, to take the Lord’s Supper often. If you’re predisposed to say that I’m wrong on this, I haven’t done much to move the needle. But if you do already take it weekly, know that we take this meal in remembrance of Christ and this new Covenant. This is his body and blood, broken and shed for us, for forgiveness and new life. The substance of this meal is in the one who instituted it. Not in the portions of the meal, or the proportions and frequency of taking it, but in the person who has given it. Jesus is Lord and Life. Let’s remember him. The life of the church dramatically shifted under persecution. It adopted new ways of gathering for worship. Yet as it stood, the Eucharist was always a part of the gathering. The church came together to break bread and remember Christ. No matter how difficult, it remained important to the church to continue its practice of the Lord’s Supper. That should tell us something! It is why we do what we do. Portions are small. The frequency is often. The substance is Christ. The importance is essential. Remember Christ in the Lord’s Supper, his body broken, and his blood shed, for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of new life in the kingdom of God. Grace and Peace, Jordan Week 30, Day 3
July 27, 2022 Scripture: Luke 21 “Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”” (Luke 21:5–6) I believe Jesus is talking about a not too distant future event. In Luke 21, Jesus is speaking of the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70, “No stone will be left on another.” What was just celebrated before this, in contrast to the great adornments of the temple, is the widows offering. She gave out of her poverty, and her gift will be celebrated forever. The Jerusalem temple, after its destruction, will never return to form. Luke goes out of his way to address the rich and the poor. Our careful reading has revealed that the heart and intent of his gospel is to teach us where we put our trust. Here, the widow’s gift is celebrated. It’s contrasted with the glorious temple that will be destroyed. What will last is our generosity and kindness, our love for others and our love for God. Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, but treasures in heaven. Week 30, Day 2
July 26, 2022 Scripture: Luke 20 “But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”” (Luke 20:37–38) The Sadducees approach Jesus with a terrible scenario. A woman is married and remarried 7 times because her husbands who are all brothers, all die before she does. She is childless and husbandless in a society that this matters a great deal. One death is enough sorrow for a lifetime. Seven is unimaginable pain. This is a made-up scenario by the Sadducees at best, to seek understanding regarding the resurrection, at worst, to trap Jesus. Who will she be married to at the resurrection? Folks may not like Jesus’ answer here. I know my wife Wendy will be disappointed that she won’t have the good fortune of being married to me in the age to come. “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.” The new age is not concerned with marriage. There will apparently be no need for it. We will have life, to the fullest. Marriage, a means for creating life, will not be needed. Marriage, a covenant between a husband and wife, will not be needed as the new covenant, new age is here, and we are given fully to God. For Jesus, the Sadducees continue to be enamored with death. For Christ, he is all about life. Death is no more in this coming age. God is the God of the living. Our life is in him. Today, we seek to honor God with our lives and give ourselves to him. Week 30, Day 1
July 25, 2022 Scripture: Luke 19 Zacchaeus was a wii little man and a wii little man was he. Luke 19:3 JST (Jordan’s singing translation) Zacchaeus stands as a hero, championing for us what true repentance looks like. I was struck once again at his complete turn towards Christ and the new reality in which he lived. He abandoned his sinful and greedy ways and turned towards Christ. That turning towards Christ also meant that he righted the wrongs he committed. His repentance meant both turning towards God and helping those he hurt. I am convicted by this that we spend much of our time righting the wrong we’ve done towards God, but fail to consider how we may have hurt people in our life. Christianity is a love for God and a love for people. It is, as we often say a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with others. Have I truly repented (turned towards God) fully if I am ill-concerned with those around me? Zacchaeus shows us the way. He turns to Christ and he blesses those he cursed. He gives generously and becomes a disciple of Christ. Consider with me today, have I turned towards Christ? Have I cared for those I have harmed? Repentance is both a love for God and a love for people. Who do you need to love today? Week 29, Day 4 and 5
July 21-22, 20222 Scripture: Luke 17-18 “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”” (Luke 17:10) “People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”” (Luke 18:15–17) At Great Lakes Christian College, one alumnus is honored for their service in the kingdom at the final chapel of the school year. At one honors chapel, a missionary stood on the stage and received the prestigious Distinguished Servant award. The recipient quoted, “I am an unworthy servant, I have only done what was asked of me.” That chapel was 18 years ago. It made an important impression on me, and shaped my attitude on ministry and service. I’m grateful for his humble example of service in the kingdom. We tend to make much of ourselves. We live in a self-focused and self-promotion world. The way you get ahead is by using others as stepping-stones to where you are trying to get. Babies were being brought to Jesus. Disciples shooing them away. Jesus rebukes them, and says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” The world has changed quite a bit. Our world revolves around children. In the ancient world, children were stepping-stones, a means to an end. Jesus keeps teaching us lessons about life and what really matters in the kingdom of God. It’s not about acquisition of wealth, power or self-importance. Life is found in laying our lives down. It’s about humility. At the end of our lives, when we receive our reward, let us share together: “We are unworthy servants, we have only done what has been asked of us.” Week 29, Day 3
July 20, 2022 Scripture: Luke 16 “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:14–15) God knows your heart. I’ve shared before, but it’s important, “If you take care of your heart, the fruit will take care of itself.” Dallas Willard has taught me a lot about how to care for my heart. Passages like Luke 16 ask us to evaluate our lives. What is the condition of our hearts? What is it that we love? Do we love God or the material things of the world? Jesus knows our hearts. He knows what is within us. It is wise of us to consider what it is that we love. The Parable of the Rich man and Lazarus teaches us to consider where we have put our trust and what we love. The Rich man looks at his life and begs to tell his family to revaluate what really matters. There’s nothing he can do about it. He begs that his family would hear an alternative to life than what they’ve been living. It’s not about wealth and the pursuit of comfort. He knows this now, and begs to tell his family. It’s not possible. And besides the point, as Jesus tells the story, “They won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” That is the struggle. Will we listen now? Will we repent and turn to God, now? Listen, repent and follow Christ. Week 29, Day 2
July 19, 2022 Scripture: Luke 15 “So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20) It is God’s great pleasure to give us the kingdom. That’s what we learned in Luke’s Gospel yesterday. Today, we see just how loving our Father is to welcome his lost son back home. God is quite pleased with his children coming home. We all need the message of Luke 15. It speaks to both sinner and saint. It reminds us of just how important it is that we repent and turn back to God. It also stands as a warning to those who think they have it all together. The older brother didn’t go in to celebrate with the younger brother. It’s more than just a family squabble going on here. It’s a condition of the heart. “What is it that I deserve?” That seems to be the question there, in the heart of the elder brother. I deserve the best, and here you are giving it to the guy who deserves the least! He got the reward! What about me? The younger brother returns to his dad realizing he deserves nothing, but receives everything. It’s a great reminder of how we ought to approach God, with humility. God lifts the humble, and lowers the proud. We deserve nothing, and he gives us everything in Christ. Come home to the Father. Week 29, Day 1
July 18, 2022 Scripture: Luke 14 “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Luke 14:33) Last I checked, to own and operate a Chick-fil-a, one must sell everything, and invest completely in owning the franchise. No side gigs, side investments, one must be all-in with the franchise. This may seem like an extreme position to take, but it is what has built on the customer service success of every franchise. When you go, you can guarantee that you will be treated well, that the food will be excellent, and the customer service goes above and beyond other restaurants. When all the eggs are in one basket, you do all you can to protect the basket. As one must be all-in to own the Chick-fil-a franchise, it is comparable to what is happening when Jesus calls us to follow him. While it seems extreme for us to “hate” our family and sell everything, this is about the seeking first of the kingdom of God. Divided loyalties to king Jesus just won’t work. As I mentioned in yesterday’s sermon, there can be only one priority in our life. To have more than one priority undermines the meaning of the word. Above all else, Christ is first. That is what this is about. Jesus Christ is our priority. All our eggs are in the kingdom basket, so to speak. We are all in on the Jesus chicken. Sell it all. Love him above all else. All-in with Jesus, what might change? If all our eggs are in the kingdom basket, how might we care for church family? If our investment was the kingdom – only - what might change in our attitudes, behaviors and conduct? Something to think and pray about. Maybe grab a chicken sandwich today too. Week 28, day 5
July 15, 2022 Scripture: Luke 13 “Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”” (Luke 13:18–21) These parables serve an important reminder of the nature of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom starts small and works its way mysteriously and powerfully. Consider with me the start of the kingdom. It began with a ragtag group of disciples who were following Jesus of Nazareth. Many would-be messiahs have come and gone before and after Jesus. We know little to nothing about most of them. But this mysterious Jesus was crucified, and rose from the dead. The seemingly inconsequential man, died before his movement gained any real steam. Squelched out by the powerful king, right? The crucifixion killed the movement, right….? No! Jesus’ kingdom wasn’t stopped at the crucifixion. It was the catalyst of its launch. The Kingdom is working like yeast in a big batch of dough. The burial of Jesus into the ground was the yeast into the dough. It’s working it’s way throughout creation, through and through. It’s working its way through you. This is the resurrection life. As the dough rises, so does Christ and his kingdom. This incredible kingdom, that spans the globe, started with one man, on a hill far away. Today, the kingdom is right before you, working its way into our community, our hearts, our lives. It’s like that tree, in your front yard, with all the birds in it. It started small, and now many find their life, rest and food from it. Life is raised from Jesus death and resurrection. The Kingdom is here, repent and believe this good news! |
AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
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