Category: First Steps

While driving my car the other day, I did something that I seldom ever do. I nearly ran out of gas. Normally, I’m the type of person who fills the tank when it reaches a certain level, where there are about 40 miles left before empty. I have a friend that doesn’t even think about filling the tank until it is less than 5 miles remaining. Frankly, that would drive me crazy.

However, while filling my tank, I wondered if people do the same with their faith. Do we wait until there is nothing left before we seek to fill it up again? Followers of Christ live with a “receiving and giving,” “inflow and outflow” type of rhythm. This means that there will be times where we give – which can empty the tank, but we are to fill it again with the sabbath, prayer, and personal study. When we don’t fill the tank up again, we are more prone to moral mistakes and faulty judgments.

In Mark 6, Jesus sent out the 12 Apostles (verses 7-12). They returned and reported to Jesus, and he immediately led them to a place of solitude (verses 30-31). How interesting that after giving themselves in ministry, Jesus wanted them to retreat to be restored.

So, as for our “gas tanks,” we don’t have to wait until we are bone dry to be filled.

Give me 5 minutes.  I think it will be worth it.

I know that so many are facing struggles, losses, oppositions, fear, anger, grief and so much more.  Often, we don’t know what to pray or what to do, and our cry is “please just show me the way because I’m hurting.”  We cry out, “What do I do, where do I go, how can I envision anything” …and our hope is just a glimpse, a fraction of where to go and what to do?  

The burden of life can be so daunting for any single person, how much more when we watch people hurt and suffer? How helpless do we feel when we love someone and watch them struggle to find their way?  How many times have you longed for firm footing for those you love, only to watch them fall again?

If I’m describing you, I want to offer you a first step.  It is a song.  St. Augustine said that when we sing, we pray twice.  If that is the case, then let this be your prayer.  I have sung—prayed—this about a hundred times over this past week.  It has been my prayer, my desire.  I hope it will be yours.

A few days ago, I was at a lunch with some friends and there was an isolated discussion between two of the individuals.  Though it never reached a level of concern, the discussion was a little “hotter” than a typical normal lunch conversation.  Strange as it may be, the parties were not too far from being in agreement; however, the struggle was that they were operating with different perceptions about one another.   This experience got me thinking about perceptions. 

Perceptions lead to assumptions and assumptions to actions.  In a high trust relationship, the underlying perception is one of value, appreciation, and belief in each other; therefore, it doesn’t require a great deal of conversation.  However, when a relationship is not characterized as high trust, conversations become the lifeblood of the relationship.  To some degree, one has to over-communicate to make sure all parties have the right perceptions and assumptions.  With low trust, the temptation is to not communicate enough to make sure all parties understand each other.

I wonder how often we miss this when we study the scriptures.  In both the Old and New Testament, God over-communicates His love and desire for people.  Certain scriptures like John 3:16 and Romans 8 are perfect examples.  The writers over-communicate so that we readers know beyond doubt what God thinks of us.

What perceptions do you bring to the scriptures?  Can you see God going to great lengths to say to you, “You are my beloved”?  I hope you can.  As you begin this week, open your heart to God’s Spirit and allow God to convey His heart to you.

• Monday -Acts 17 | Acts 18
• Tuesday -Acts 19 | Acts 20
• Wednesday- Acts 21 | Acts 22 | Acts 23
• Thursday – Acts 24 | Acts 25 | Acts 26
• Friday- Acts 27 | Acts 28

• An end to the Covid Crisis.
• Parents, teachers, and students in the local area and abroad.
• All upcoming ministry events inside and outside the walls of St. Paul.
• Families in crisis.
• Loved ones battling illness.
• Those seeking to find their way.
• The St. Paul Church family. 
• The United Methodist Church family.
• Our leaders, our country, and our world. 

Luke 7:1-10

After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. 3When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, ‘He is worthy of having you do this for him, 5for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.’ 6And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 8For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ 9When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.’ 10When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

This passage has always intrigued me because Luke chose the Greek word thaumazo which is translated “marveled” or “amazed,” to describe Jesus’ response to the centurion’s faith. The only other time this word is used to describe Jesus’ response to someone else’s faith is in Mark 6 when he marvels at the lack of faith in the people of Nazareth, those who knew him best.

The fact that one would act without hesitation or justification in relation to Jesus is noteworthy. How often do we rationalize or look for ways to not act? There are so many imperatives-commands in the New Testament that we consider to be optional. Forgiveness, Love, Kindness, Patience are just a few that we are commanded to do because we are a follower of Christ. No justification, no rationalization…just obedience. We are to just do it.

What would your week be like if you woke up this morning and prayed, “Lord, I know you have commanded me to love (you could substitute to forgive, to be kind, to be patient, or any of the other imperatives in the New Testament) so I’m going to do it.” Sure, there might be the occasion where we fall short, but I would imagine that if we started where the centurion started we would be quick to seek forgiveness as soon as we were convicted.

I long to be like the centurion. How about you?

• An end to the Covid Crisis.
• Parents, teachers, and students in the local area and abroad.
• All upcoming ministry events inside and outside the walls of St. Paul.
• Families in crisis.
• Loved ones battling illness.
• Those seeking to find their way.
• The St. Paul Church family.
• The United Methodist Church family.
• Our leaders, our country, and our world.

• Our world as we are still dealing with the Covid Crisis.
• Parents, teachers, and students as the 2021-2022 school term gets underway.
• All upcoming ministry events inside and outside the walls of St. Paul.
• Families in crisis.
• Loved ones battling illness.
• Those seeking to find their way.
• The St. Paul Church family.
• The United Methodist Church family.
• Our leaders, our country, and our world.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6 

• Our world as we are still dealing with the Covid Crisis.
• Parents, teachers, and students as the 2021-2022 school term gets underway.
• All upcoming ministry events inside and outside the walls of St. Paul.
• Families in crisis.
• Loved ones battling illness.
• Those seeking to find their way.
• The St. Paul Church family.
• The United Methodist Church family.
• Our leaders, our country, and our world.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6