Incredible Wednesday

On Wednesday mornings you can find me in a unique learning laboratory. I gather with an energetic mob of preschoolers for chapel. It’s an exciting time for me. Every chapel begins with a simple question. The question has the same effect as lighter fluid on a potential fire. I ask them to tell me what they have been learning. Because we have been doing this for a while, they know to share their “letters” and “words”. I am continually amazed at their capacity to learn and remember.

Some time ago, I decided to spice it up a little bit by giving myself a challenge. Whenever they share a word, I have to make it with Play-Doh.  This week, the letter of the week was “P”, so I quickly shaped some Popcorn. At that point I proceeded to ask them what kind of movies they liked to watch when they eat popcorn. I was met with a barrage of “super heroes”. One child raised his hand and told me he wanted me to make Superman, Hulk and “For”. By the way, this exercise requires creativity, imagination and discernment. For example, a rookie might have thought “For” referred to the “Fantastic Four” rather than “Thor”.  Anyway, I narrowed the field and chose to make the Incredible Hulk.

Why do heroes capture the imagination of a child (and adults)? The recent success of super hero blockbuster movies is not surprising. It’s n

ot just the jaw-dropping special effects or the quality of the actors. It is a message that resonates within us. Children love to see someone fighting for “good”. Children love to see heroes emerge victorious over evil. Children love to connect with a redemptive mission executed through someone who mixes “ordinary” and “extraordinary” and dream about making a difference in the world.  For the past few weeks in chapel, I have shared some examples from the Bible of God’s helpers. I am motivated by a belief that each child can become a hero for God. Fortunately, they may never turn green when they are angry like Hulk, but with God’s help they can make significant contributions to His Kingdom.

This week, I told them a Bible story about a man that went out to plant seeds. The seeds had the potential to grow up and become strong plants and produce good fruit. The story applies to the children in two ways. These “heroes-in-the-making” are both sowers and growers. As they share their childlike faith with those around them they are sowing God’s love in others and at the same time they are growing in His grace. Oh how I love Wednesdays!

What kind of King rides a donkey?

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation,

Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9

When God spoke to the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the days of the prophet Zechariah, He told them, “Return to Me and I will return to You”. I doubt they could have imagined the details of the literal fulfillment. Not only did God return to Jerusalem, in person, He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey in the midst of celebratory shouts from a frenzied crowd. Jesus rode into Jerusalem in order to deliver salvation and reframe justice for eternity. The King came to us. But, the King came to Jerusalem to die.

Zechariah is a unique canvas. Several visions paint a portrait of a Deliverer and He is a Deliverer like no other. How often is a King described as “lowly”? Like the stroke of a master artist, Zechariah reveals the stark reality of Salvation. It is astonishing that this King will bring grace and supplication to His people. It is even more remarkable that He will endure shame and suffering as He does.  Zechariah delivers picture with a somber tone, ”then they will look on Me whom they pierced.” (Zechariah 12:10).

Why is Zechariah important for us? Why should we gaze at this prophetic portrait of our Savior? Because, in the words of Brennan Manning, “to be a Christian is to be like Christ. Somehow we must lose our life in order to find it. Christianity preaches not only a crucified God, but also crucified men and women. There is no discipleship without the Cross.” We will always want choose to ride in a limo rather than the humility associated with the foal of a donkey. We will always find it easier to boast in ourselves rather than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14). We prefer to turn our heads and close our eyes rather than see Him receive the shame we deserve. But, we can choose to read the prophet, marvel at the testimony of His great love in advance of His coming and renew our commitment to follow the King.

Turning toward God

“Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you”

Zechariah 1:3

This message is described as the “word of the Lord” that came to Zechariah. It was directed to a group of people in an effort to prevent them from making the same mistakes as their fathers. After all, Zechariah 1:2 states “the Lord has been very angry with your fathers”. Why was the Lord angry? They refused to listen to the warnings of the prophets and turn from their evil ways. So God speaks directly to their offspring.

With apologies to many teachers and professors through the years – I must confess that grammar has never been a real strength for me. However, I do understand what “imperative” means. It was imperative for God’s people to return to Him. Although the context changed in the next five hundred plus years, the imperative did not change. The words of James command the same. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). We live in a time when the word “command” is unpopular. The idea that the “word of the Lord” is imperative causes some to recoil.  Oh how we love to question and negotiate. It’s easy to hesitate. Tragically, when we hesitate in our quandary over obedience and disobedience, we miss the second half of these great verses. Almighty God promises to draw near to us. The God of the universe loves us enough to turn toward us. In a grand understatement, I would say that God took a big first step toward us in Christ. But, beyond God’s provision of salvation, God has demonstrated His desire to be with us and affect every part of our lives. God knows that the best move every day is for us to turn to Him. Especially this is true when we have become entangled in desires that take us away from God’s plan and purpose for our lives. Draw near to God this week and express your gratitude directly to Him for His presence in your life.

Be Strong

Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Haggai 2:4

“Be strong”. That was the word of the Lord. The word was directed toward two leaders and all the people of the land engaged in the work of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. If the task required only physical labor, the word would not have been necessary. God was speaking to a deeper need for fortitude and determination. God deemed it imperative to command them to summon inner strength in the face of criticism, distraction and discouragement.

Rebuilding the temple was a vital part the mission of God in Jerusalem twenty-six centuries ago. How does this message translate today? Before I am ready to hear God say, “Be strong” I have to put the words in proper context.  First, I will begin with a message found in Haggai 1:5 (“Consider your ways!”). I will pray that God will “interrupt” the normal ebb and flow of life and cause me to consider the trajectory of my life.  Have I chosen to follow my desires or have I determined to follow God? Then, I will reaffirm the priority of the mission of God. Today, it’s not about rebuilding the temple. It is about making sure that I am able to offer myself completely to Him. Then, my daily “work” can be transformed as a service to and for God. I will invite the Spirit of God to direct my steps and empower me to become no less than a witness of the true identity of My Savior. No doubt, such an invitation will lead to criticism and challenge. Now, I am ready to hear God say, “Don’t quit. Don’t give in to fear. Be strong. I am with you.”

Blueprint for Life

“You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts.

Haggai 1:9

The Bible is filled with interesting expressions. After spending several months studying the “minor” prophets in the Old Testament, I have renewed my appreciation for the rich language of Scripture. In this particular verse, it is the language of God as presented by the prophet Haggai. Remember that during Haggai’s day, God is displeased that the work of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem is stalled. Instead of finishing the “Lord’s house”, the people have given their attention to their own houses. That leads to God’s expression, “when you brought it home, I blew it away”. It’s an expression that reminds those dwelling in Jerusalem of God’s power to expose the fleeting nature of material possessions.  Earlier in the first chapter of Haggai, God described the situation this way:

 “He who earns wages earns wages to put into a bag with holes”.

Haggai’s message is a timeless reminder to consider our ways in light God’s purpose and plans. What remains in life when the “winds” of God blow? Haggai foreshadows the teachings of Jesus. Matthew marks the conclusion of one of the greatest collections of Jesus’ teachings by comparing a wise builder to a foolish builder (Matthew 7:24-27). Like Haggai, Jesus describes a “building project” and a “powerful wind”. In Matthew, the wind is directed toward two houses. One house is built upon the teachings of Jesus and the second house lacks the proper foundation. It’s a comparison of a wise and foolish approach to life. When the wind blew, the house built upon the “rock” stood and the other house fell. In life, there is no suitable substitute for a proper foundation of faithfulness to God. All other approaches result in faulty construction.