Gentle Answers
1 Peter 3:13-17
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Reflection
How attractive do Christians make Christianity? Gentle, respectful answers accounting for the hope that is in us are made authentic when matched by the nonverbal messages of our attitudes and behaviour.
Think of three people with whom you have regular contact. Ask Jesus to help you as you formulate what you would say to each one if he or she asked about your faith in Jesus Christ. Now reflect on what each person sees and experiences in interaction with you in everyday life.
Should I Love Deeply?
1 Peter 3:8-12
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
Reflection
HENRI NOUWEN wrote: “Do not hesitate to love and to love deeply. You might be afraid of the pain that deep love can cause. When those you love deeply reject you, leave you, or die, your heart will be broken. But that should not hold you back from loving deeply. The pain that comes from deep love makes your love even more fruitful. It is like a plow that breaks the ground to allow the seed to take root and grow into a strong plant.” from The Inner Voice of Love
I Belong To God
1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Reflection
How confident are you that you are personally chosen by God and that you really ‘belong’? The need for a strong sense of belonging touches deep and vulnerable place in the spirit.
Envision God coming toward you right now. What emotions rise within you? Is there anything God wants to say to you? Describe the experience you envision by writing down what happens.
Fathers Day – Legacy – Pastor David Payne
The Campus
Pastor David Payne Shares a message for Fathers – and all parents – about what type of legacy your a leaving with your children.
Tax Free Inheritance
1 Peter 1:3-12
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Reflection
What if you found out today that you had inherited a million dollars from a rich relative, would it make a difference in the way you live your life? Now come back to reality! You actually do have an inheritance – and it is worth infinitely more than a million dollars.
Read this entire passage again and note every word or phrase that speaks of the riches you have in Jesus Christ. Then repeat several times before the Lord: “This is my inheritance. It can never perish, spoil or fade.”
The Power of ‘Yet’
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
Reflection
The conclusion of Habakkuk is a litany of all that the prophet and his people have lost or fear to lose. But we notice how Habakkuk’s list of catastrophes is turned on its head with just one word: yet. That one word becomes a turning point and Habakkuk’s inner turmoil becomes triumph.
Mentally construct your own litany of things which you’ve lost or things you fear you might lose. Now add that ‘faith’ word – ”yet” and borrow language from Habakkuk to express your assurance of God’s provision in all circumstances.
Biblical Waiting
Habakkuk 2:1-3
I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end
and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
Reflection
Waiting in the biblical tradition is not passive or forgetful, but an active and eager yearning for God. Habakkuk determines to wait on God for resolution of his crisis and God reassures him with this word: “Though it linger, wait for it…”
What are you waiting for most fervently for yourself? Name these things before God in prayer. Wait for their fulfillment with the same attentiveness as Habakkuk.
The Grand Refrain
Psalm 148:1-12 (New International Version)
Psalm 148
1 Praise the LORD. [a]
Praise the LORD from the heavens,
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created.
6 He set them in place for ever and ever;
he gave a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and maidens,
old men and children.
Reflection
‘Praise’ is a refrain in the Psalms from beginning to end. Here, the psalmist calls all creation to join a universal chorus of thanksgiving. The Psalms reveal that praise is a natural response to God’s work and word.
Think of concrete ways by which you might praise God. Could you set aside a small table in a quiet room in your house where you place memory aids of God’s presence? Could you plant a garden as an act of worship? What creative offering of praise can you make?
Confronting God
Habakkuk 1:1-4
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received.
How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
Reflection
We do not usually think that questioning God is a faithful expression of prayer, but the Bible contains many instances in which prayer became an avenue for confronting or questioning God.
Think of a time when you, like Habakkuk, have wanted to confront God with an experience of unfairness, frustration, injustice, or intense suffering. Have you felt that it was acceptable to express those emotions in prayer?
Habakkuk’s prayer begins, “How long, O Lord…?” Based on your circumstances, or your observations of the needs around you, how would you conclude this question with your own words?