“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

I don’t know if I’ve seen any particular scripture reference used more poorly than the one above. In my own life, and in the lives of many others, people used this verse to suggest that God allowed, even caused, bad things to happen in order to accomplish something good.

When my father suddenly abandoned our family when I was 14, numerous people quoted this verse in a strange attempt to comfort me. They kept implying that, if I waited, I would see that God caused this situation so that something better would happen. I can assure you this created anything but comfort. All I could think as I pondered these comments was, “Really, the all-powerful God of the universe could only accomplish a good thing in my life by putting my family through pain?” It didn’t inspire much faith.

As a pastor, I’ve listened as people quoted this verse to others in the midst of grief and tragedy. I am sure it is meant well, but it hardly represents the compassionate God who stands with us in our pain, who is broken-hearted by our suffering, and who grieves the pain of sin and brokenness in the world. It is a cold word that comes all to easily from a “everything happens for a reason” theology. The truth is, sometimes the reason is that there is evil in the world.

At the same time, we cannot simply negate this verse. While we were never meant to use it to dismiss someone’s pain, there is a promise of hope that lies within these words. God does not need bad things to produce good. God is the source of all goodness. However, it is God’s power and goodness that works in the midst of evil, suffering, and pain to redeem every situation. In our times of struggle, God is with us, comforting us, and speaking life over us, even in the face of death.

I see this loving power of God in situations small and large. Sunday, I caught the flu, which is also why I missed Tuesday’s post. I hated being sick, and I was disappointed in the way it disrupted my plans. I missed out on things I truly value. At the same time, left with little I could do, I found time for some much needed rest, time to pray, listen to God, and saturate myself with Scripture. I did not need to be sick to accomplish these things, but the days of sickness were not lost or wasted because the presence of God redeemed them.

I’ve seen God do even bigger things, in more extreme circumstances. I’ve watched cancer survivors become support for others facing the disease. I’ve seen people who walked through the darkness of great grief become light to others traveling a similar path. I’ve watched those who go without provide care for those with less. The list of such occurrences is long, but in each case I know I am watching God work for good in every situation, as people comfort others with the same comfort they received from God. (2 Corinthians 1:4)

Not every circumstance is good, but God works for good in every situation, and it is for our good. This is why we can rejoice always, because God is always near and at work. We may not choose our circumstances, but we can choose faith, hope, and joy in the midst of them, because God is at work and that is always good.

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Yesterday was challenging. Mid-afternoon, we received a call from my wife’s new doctor informing us that that her recent tests showed that she was in serious condition and that we needed to go to the emergency room right away. It was a life-threatening situation. You can imagine the fear, and a host of other emotions, that flooded us in that moment. Things can turn upside-down in a moment.

Things can also turn in good ways just as fast. After some time at the hospital, and consultation with a previous physician, we discovered that there was a misunderstanding in the interpretation of the data. My wife was completely fine, and she was able to return home with me a few minutes later. It was a wild ride and, while we may not be happy about the process, we are elated at the end result.

As I processed my emotions last night, I took some time before we went to sleep to read some Scripture and to pray. I typically work my way through the Psalms before bed. I opened to where I left off, and began reading right at Psalm 91.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

It is funny how God provides just what we need to hear when we are attentive. As I read through the remainder of the Psalm, I found my peace increase, and I gave thanks for God’s presence in every circumstance.

As I approached the end of the chapter, I found the closing words especially helpful. I know these words were probably written for the king of Israel when they were composed, and I strongly advocate reading the Scripture in context. Still, last night, I felt these same words applied to our situation and so I claimed them for our lives as well. So, pardon me as I change the pronouns in the text, and I pray that you might find hope in them as well:

“Because she loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue her;

I will protect her, for she acknowledges my name.

She will call on me, and I will answer her;

I will be with her in trouble,

I will deliver her and honor her.

With long life I will satisfy her

and show her my salvation.”

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When we see God, the awe and wonder of the experience changes us, and we slowly become windows through which other people have their own God sightings.

Another year passed without seeing the Perseid meteor shower. Every year, I make an effort to see this cosmic display, and cloud cover obscures my view. It was over two decades ago that I saw them while working at a children’s ministry camp. The experience was breathtaking, and I keep waiting to see their beauty once again. I could just give up, but then I would settle for never seeing them again. Even though I cannot see them, I know they are there. So, I continue to look, trusting that one night, the skies will be clear and I can have another experience with them.

The Psalmist was captivated by the heavens as well. He wrote, “You have set your glory in the heavens,” and that revelation humbled him. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” he reflected, and then went on to declare the praises of God. His revelation continues to impact millions of people today.

God sightings are worth the effort and the time, because revelation makes a difference. It gives us fresh eyes to see ourselves and the world. Through the lens of God, we capture a better vision of God, understand ourselves better, and see others as God sees them. Sometimes, our vision is clouded, but that doesn’t mean that we stop looking. God loves revelation, and our persistence pays off in the end.

There are many things that can cloud our view of God, but one of the greatest culprits is us. We get in our own way through our choices and mindsets, and we obscure our own vision. It can be that we narrow our expectations of where such revelation will come, certain that we know how and where God will show up. It can be an untrue belief that God will not give us revelation. It can even come from the frenetic pace we choose to embrace, that keeps us from looking in the first place.

Recently, I took some vacation time with my wife. I was so excited to get away, and I couldn’t wait to reach our destination so that our vacation could begin. Of course, our vacation began as we pulled away from our home, but I was focused on our destination. I confess, I am too often, destination driven, and in my focus on my perception of the goal, I can miss what is right in front of me. When my GPS took me on an unexpected route, you can imagine my challenge as we passed through a long series of small towns, instead of being on the highway like I hoped. As the trip progressed, I wrestled with a lot of inner frustration, and kept looking for the fastest way to get where we were going.

My wife does not share my passion for destination. She is much better at living in the moment and appreciating where she is at the time. As I drove with purpose to shave a few more minutes off the trip, she was actively celebrating all of the new things she was able to see. I lamented the trip we were taking, while she kept pointing out beautiful homes, and the quaint communities passed through. When I mentioned the disparity between our thinking, she replied, “I am having such a great time! I am with you, and I am seeing all of these wonderful things I never saw before.” I was humbled to say the least, and I began to try to see our trip through her eyes.

Sometimes, we need a guide to help us see. Just as my wife helped to remove my own blindness to the blessings around me, the Psalmist, and others, show us the God sightings we are missing. God loves revelation because it gives us a better understanding of who God is, and deepens our relationship with him. As our eyes are opened, we see God more clearly, and the more we see, the more we train our spiritual eyes to see. One God sighting leads to another. Before long, we begin to see God everywhere.

So, today, lets agree together to let God guide us, through the Scripture, through others, or through whatever means God has for us, so that we can see the revelation of God that is right before us. If our vision is clouded, lets keep looking, for the revelation is there waiting to be discovered. If we keep looking, our persistence will be rewarded. We will see God and we will be changed. Then, like my wife did for me, we can help others see what they are missing. May today be filled with God sightings for us all!

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A solid faith is a thinking faith. God blessed us with the gift of reason, and it is a gift that must not remain unused. Reason helps us to apply what we learn, think deeply about our beliefs and experiences, and share the truth with others. As we wrestle through experiences, questions, and doubts, we strengthen our faith, and refine its impact upon our lives.

John Wesley believed that Scripture was sufficient unto itself, and the foundation of true religion. Yet, he understood the value of reason. He said, “Now, of what excellent use is reason, if we would either understand ourselves, or explain to others, those living oracles.” Rather than merely memorizing truths and doctrine, he encouraged people of faith to reflect deeply and grow in their understanding.

Over the course of my ministry, numerous people have inquired about the best way to get around doing the study and thinking for themselves. One person was even quite straightforward in their request, “I really don’t want to think about all this, ” they said, “Can’t you just tell me what to believe and do?” I don’t think they liked my answer, but loving leadership does not just tell people all the answers. We need to engage our faith in thoughtful ways in order to truly understand it, and live it.

Yesterday, I was blessed to have lunch with a friend and colleague. He and I hold many things in common, but we also see some things quite differently. During our conversation, we engaged some significant issues. Rather than argue our positions in an attempt to convince the other, we shared our thoughts and positions in order for both of us to grow in our understanding. I am still unpacking some of the powerful things he said, and will be for some time. His words drove me back to Scripture, Tradition, and my experience, causing me to reason through some things I strongly believe. I may discover that I need to adjust my position, or I may better understand, and express, what I already believe. Either way, reasoning together, and on my own, will be worth the effort.

This leads to an important point. Incorporating reason in our spiritual discernment involves more than just our own thoughts. We need to listen to, and engage, the reasoning of others. While our faith is deeply personal, it is never private. We are a community of faith, and each person has something of great value to bring to the discussion. We need to value others, even those who radically disagree with us, so that together, we can discern the will of God.

A final thought worth consideration is that our reasoning is not just about our human abilities. Christian reason is always assisted by the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (14:26) Truth faith is not of our own making, it is grounded in the revelation of God. To rightly reason regarding God’s involves a harmony of my thoughts, the thoughts of the community of faith, and the instruction of the Holy Spirit.

A Bonus Note

While the heart of the discernment process involves these four steps, Wesley did include a final step in his practice as a litmus test of our insight. Knowing that we can travel down wrong paths, even with the best of intentions, he encouraged taking our discoveries and testing their agreement with Scripture. Since the Bible is the foundation for true religion, any revelation we receive must remain consistent with the teaching of Scripture. Just as we must check our math after solving a problem, so we must check our theological discovery against the word before we accept it. We may find that we reasoned well, or we may need to revisit the process to discover where we went off track. Either way, we will continue to grow though our reflection, our conversations, and our listening to the Holy Spirit.

May your weekend be blessed, and your days ahead, as you grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.

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Within the Wesleyan tradition, we are blessed by a methodology handed down to us by John Wesley, but actually rooted in the entire course of Christian history and theology. While it is called the “Wesleyan Quadrilateral.” the steps are quite easy to grasp. They include Scripture, Tradition, Experience, and Reason. When faithfully applied, these steps build upon a strong foundation and yield something beautiful in the end. Like layers of a cake, each rests upon the strength of the former, producing a solid structure in all. The process begins with Scripture.

Our first question in the discernment process is, “What does the Bible say?” Unfortunately, many people wrongfully buy into the idea that we cannot know what Scripture says, or that what we find is relative, merely our own interpretation of what it means, therefore, it is impossible to discover God’s will in the pages of our holy book. Others argue the teachings found there are outdated; out of touch with our modern world. Beyond these concerns, some suggest that we simply pick and choose which scriptures we like, and twist them to suit our needs. Each of these, and other, concerns are rooted in observed misuses of Scripture, but because such abuses are engaged in by some, does not negate the value, nor the effectiveness, of the Bible to guide our lives. We need only abide by good practices as we engage the word of God to discover the heart of God, and the direction of God.

Healthy Practices for Biblical Discernment

Discover what the Bible actually says. It is easy to decide what we want the Scripture to say and then find verses to support our preconceived ideas. The real work of discernment, however, requires us to set those preconceptions aside and actually let the text speak for itself. Biblical discernment is not about forcing our ideas into the pages of the Bible, it is about allowing the biblical word to find its way into us. We are to come to the Scripture teachable; open to what the Holy Spirit will reveal to us  We must always be willing to admit we were wrong, or only partially correct, and let the Bible speak for itself.

Discover the full teaching of the Scripture. It is not enough to look at a verse here, or a verse there, nor can we separate the verses from their context. Simply looking up a word in the Bible may give us a good start, but that cannot be the end. There are other related words and themes to examine, and it is necessary to examine how the whole word speaks to the issue, specifically and generally.

A good example here is the recent emphasis on Jesus’ commands to love. Loving God, one another, and our neighbor are significant commands of our Savior and we must address them with the utmost sincerity. In many places, the modern Church fails to represent and extend the love of God. Embracing Jesus’ call to love in his name is of great importance, but what does loving like Jesus look like?

We might be tempted to believe that Jesus teaches us to love how we want to love, or how we want to be loved. We might interpret his words to look like a form of the sentimentality we see expressed in movies and represented in our culture, but to understand what love meant to Jesus, we must look at the whole of his life to see the way in which divine love is expressed through him. This will include the great sacrificial love expressed in his death and resurrection. It will also include his compassion for those who reached out to him, and his willingness to care for those often rejected by society. However, we will also need to include his willingness to turn over the tables of the money changers, his aggressive comments toward the Pharisees, and his call to a deeper life of holiness in the Sermon on the Mount. Defining love in Jesus’ terms involves examining the full teaching of his life and witness, and so it is with any aspect of our Christian journey.

Discover the difficult passages. It is easy to fixate on one part of Scripture, usually the part we like, and ignore challenging sections and passages. While the Bible is a collection of many writings, they are all equally important to our quest. We may be tempted to dismiss what we call the Old Testament because of its age, or because we believe it is no longer relevant in light of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ, yet this was the very Scripture Jesus used, quoted, and lived by. We may want to focus solely on the Gospels, but the other New Testament writings expand our understanding of Jesus’ teaching. We may even want to focus only on our favorite Gospel, but the four work to give us a more holistic view of Jesus, his ministry, and his teaching. We must not discount any portion of Scripture, but rather, let it all inform our understanding.

When we apply these principles, we will uncover a greater revelation of God’s direction, and we will lay a solid foundation for the rest of our discernment. Tomorrow, our attention will turn to the importance and power of Tradition to refine our biblical discoveries, and to give us clearer spiritual eyes to assess our experiences and discern God’s will. Until then, let the Word of God speak.

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The Apostle Paul, writing to his protegee Timothy, encouraged him to hold fast to the truth of faith, for his sake, and for the sake of those he cared for. He wrote, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5 NRSV)

It is so easy to fall victim to our itching ears, to surround ourselves with people who will always tell us we are right, leaving our thoughts and actions unchallenged. The comfort such a position brings is unmatched, but it also leaves us open to great deception. Navigating our path through life requires more than cheerleaders, it depends upon truth that allows us to see clearly.

A friend, who was a serious smoker, began to see the negative effects on her health. Her doctor began to point out the damage she was doing to her body, and continued to encourage her to take steps to break her harmful habit. Her response to the doctor’s concerns was a search for a new physician. After several attempts, she found one who was also a smoker and unwilling to confront the habit that continued to ravage her health.

That response is far from uncommon. It is all too easy to surround ourselves with people who think like we do, and distance ourselves from those who do not. Today, many join online groups, attend events, and surround themselves with voices that support their position, while unfriending and avoiding anyone who says what they do not want to hear. It seems that we would often rather think that we are right than to be right.

Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32 NRSV) Real freedom does not come from believing what we want to believe, but from aligning our lives with the truth. Unfortunately, real truth will challenge our beliefs and behaviors. It will make us uncomfortable and direct us to change. It will not be easy on us, and may likely cause us to address places in our lives that are much deeper, and more substantial, than a bad habit. The truth will hurt, but it will also set us free.

As I recently told my congregation, if you are reading the Scripture, listening to sermons, and reading inspirational material, and you are never offended or uncomfortable, you are doing it wrongly. God loves us enough to tell us the truth, even when it hurts; maybe especially when it hurts. God does not take pleasure in our pain, but loves us so much that he is willing to lead us through that pain to the liberty that awaits on the other side of it.

Our itching ears may long to hear what we want to hear, but the real cure is the truth, and that truth will do more than heal the itch, it will set us free from what actually restrains us from living fully.

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Going deeper with God naturally involves soaking in the Scripture. In these precious texts, we find the revelation of God’s heart and design for our lives, and the world. As we listen deeply to the word of God resonating within our spirit, we deepen our relationship with the Author and we receive greater revelation for our lives.

In Colossians 3:16 we read, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” It is the very design of God that we allow the word of God to dwell within us. More than that, we are meant to experience the richness of the presence of the word within us. As we allow the word to take root within us, we can strengthen ourselves, and our community, and we will find the song of the Lord rising up within us.

One of the passages I return to again and again is Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” By constantly pondering and meditating on the good things of God, we see more of God in our lives, and the light of Christ shines brighter on our path. Soaking in the Scripture is the primary way we “think on these things.”

Many of us were trained to read for distance, and we try to read as much as we can, as quickly as we can. There is value in reading this way because we expose ourselves to more information and can capture overarching themes that we might miss otherwise. There is, however, also a need to read for depth, working to mine all that we can from what we are reading. This is a slower process that allows us to savor the meaning of words, and the application of that meaning to our lives.

Consider the passage of Colossians above. Just the first phrase is full of meaning and insight. Her rare just a few thoughts:

• “Let” – We have an active part in seeing the word of Christ dwell richly in us. God is clearly the source of the word, and it is by the Spirit that we receive the word, but there is part for each of us in the process. We must allow the word to take root. This is much more than merely making time to read it, though that is necessary. We must actively participate in receiving the word. 
• “Word of Christ” – As part of the Trinity, Jesus Christ is the author of more than just the words in red. The words of Scripture are his words that speak life into us. 
• “Dwell” – The goal of engaging Scripture is much more than reading, it is inviting the very word of God to live in us. Through our meditation on the word, we make room for it to make a home within us, shaping our thoughts and flavoring our lives. 
• “Richly” – When God is involved, there is always an abundance. Scripture does more than guide us, or give us information. It overflows into our lives, creating life within us, and through us. 

In just a few words, we can see that there is much to savor. As we soak in the Scripture, we are infused with its truth and our lives begin to reflect its content in how we think and act. There are no shortcuts, and this may seem disappointing yet, like any relationship, the deep value is revealed in extended time together. Yes, there is an investment of time and attention, but the reward is a deep, rich, centered life in God, and the gift of divine revelation for our lives and the world. That is surely worth the time.

May your time soaking in the Scripture, yield deep and lasting fruit in your lives.

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One of keys to going deeper in our faith is a commitment to press into God. The concept of pressing in is often hard to fully understand and can sound like just another piece of Christian jargon. Once understood, however, it becomes a powerful tool in creating a robust Christian life.

So, what exactly does it mean to press into God? Is it reading more Scripture, extending our time in prayer, or being more active in church, or is it something different? While it may include some of these things, pressing in is not just about doing more, it is about persistently cultivating an awareness of God’s presence and savoring that relationship in every circumstance.

If you’ve ever made microwave popcorn, or watched someone else make it, you already know something of the nature of pressing in. The process is fairly simple. You place the bag in the microwave in the proper position, set the timer for the time listed in the instructions, and allow the popcorn to heat and to pop. It is that simple.

Now, imagine the instructions said to heat it in the microwave for 2 ½ minutes, but instead of setting the timer that way, you chose to set it for 15 seconds, then removed it, put it back in for 15 seconds, and repeated this action for a total of ten times. The total heating time would be the same, but the result would be far different. Instead of a bag of delicious popcorn, you would produce a bag of burnt kernels that never popped.

For many, the Christian experience is made up of occasional visits with God, rather than a continued life of staying in God’s presence. A devotional here, a church service there, mingled with an occasional prayer, will not produce the same results as soaking up God’s presence and saturating ourselves in the truth.

Jesus told his disciples, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He was clear that our identity, direction and life were to be found in relationship with him. He also said, “My word is truth.” Which is why we need to keep ourselves immersed in God’s word. When we regularly fill ourselves with the word of God, and live in a dynamic relationship with the Living Word, Jesus Christ, we are pressing into the presence of God. It is there that we are transformed.

Saturating ourselves with the truth may mean that we need to study more Scripture and pray more, but it may also mean that we need to meditate on Scripture, chewing it over and over to release its deeper meaning. We may need to memorize parts that strengthen our spirits. As the Psalmist wrote, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. We may need more personal worship, more stillness to listen, more time spent in the community of faith, and more awareness of God’s presence. There is no formula, rather it is an intentional decision to seek God in all things, at all times, and in all places. Pressing in means that we do not shrink back, or settle for what we already have in our relationship with God. Instead, we consistently continue to cultivate that relationship so that better fruit is produced and in greater abundance.

The Scripture clearly states that, “we reap what we sow.” The more of our resources and ourselves we sow into our relationship with God, the greater the harvest of faith we will see in our lives, and the deeper that faith will become. As we press into God, we are filled to all the fullness of Jesus Christ, and his presence overflows our lives into our circumstances, our families, and the world. Regular visits with God are good, living in God’s presence is great. Deep faith requires the deep roots that come from saturating ourselves with the presence of God.

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Whenever I think I have a sense of the vast, universal message of Christmas, I become aware of how much more there is to explore and understand. On the surface, it seems like such a straightforward story, and to some degree it is. Yet, the more we ponder God’s great act in Jesus Christ, and the longer we consider the all of the surrounding story of this holy birth, the more of God’s love we discover, and the greater revelation of God in Jesus we uncover.

Pondering is a good thing. In fact, one of my favorite quotes of the Christmas story comes in Luke’s narration of Jesus birth. After Mary receives a visit from an angel telling her she will give birth to the Messiah, after a dramatic confirmation by Elizabeth and another from Joseph, and after a long trek to Bethlehem which includes the testimony of some shepherds who declare angels have confirmed them message again, Luke says, “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) Mary knew there was much, much more to consider than she understood at first glance.

Throughout history, this single verse from Luke was a favorite for those within the monastic traditions. It remains a special reflection to this day, because it echoes the heartbeat of those who would think deeply, and pray into, the profound things of God. So much of what there is to learn along our spiritual journey cannot be captured quickly. We need time to savor the details and mine the hidden treasures that lie well beneath the surface.

I am not suggesting that the revelation from God is not clear, nor should we be looking for strange, mystical interpretations of God’s word, but we should not settle for a quick reading that only skims the surface, when the word itself is inviting us into a deeper conversation. When Jesus was about to leave his disciples, he told them that the Holy Spirit was coming and that he would remind them of all Jesus said to them and teach them everything. That message is equally for us today. When we ponder, we are making room in our thoughts for the Holy Spirit to reveal what God is teaching us in that moment.

Like Mary, being good stewards of the word of God, the revelation of God, and our experience, involves pondering. It is active reflecting, which is the very definition of Christian meditation. Unlike other forms of meditation that seek to empty the mind, Christian meditation seeks to fill and the mind and spirit with the mind of Christ and the Holy Spirit. It actively considers things seeking God’s perspective and insight, while trusting in the Spirit to reveal God’s word to us. Our insights should always be consistent with Scripture, but we should remember that, when we think we understand, we should understand there is more to be understood.

As we continue on our Christmas journey, instead of wishing the season was over, maybe we should be thankful for the time to reflect on the deeper things God would say to us this year as we, like Mary, treasure all these things and ponder them in our hearts.

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