Lent Devotional Series, Day 32

This post is part of a series of devotional videos put together by New Covenant Community Church. For more information, view my first post of the series here.

Here are my thoughts on Deuteronomy 8:1-16.

The Greatness and Goodness of God

When it comes to relating to God in the Old Testament, a prevalent theme is that of awe, mixed with a bit of fear. In Genesis 28, Jacob has a vivid dream of God. When he wakes, he is strongly aware of God's presence, and his reaction is awe and fear. Why?

The wonders and signs of God are sort of unimaginable. Through our 21st century lens, we view stories in the Bible—of a flood that covered the earth, or an army bringing down the walls of Jericho with a loud shout, or a man healing the blind, or raising another man from the dead—with skepticism. If these stories are true, then it changes our reality: what we thought was impossible is possible by the greatness of God. For the people who witnessed these events first hand, the same shift must surely have occurred, and they must have felt a sense of fear. We hear them ask questions like, "Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" (Exodus 15:11)

The same God, called mighty and awesome over and over in the Bible, is not only a great God, but also a good God. We see God working good in the life of Joseph for Jacob's family in the midst of some pretty dire circumstances (Genesis 37-50). Over and over again, God blesses, leads, sustains his people. Again, some of the stories—of God leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, or providing miraculous food for a woman and her son, or rescuing the disciples from a storm at sea—we view with skepticism. If God is this good, then it may challenge our reality: it's easy to see the darkness and pain around us and wonder at this great God. It might bring comfort to know that the people of the Bible often wondered the same thing. We read questions like, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?" (Psalm 22:1)

When we find ourselves asking these questions, we must always look at Jesus. He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). He encompasses the greatness of God, in the miracles he performed and his resurrection from the grave. He shows the goodness of God, in the compassion he shows the widow, the child in his presence, and the outcasts of society. In Jesus the Church—the people of the kingdom of God—grows and shares the good news with the nations. Followers of Jesus have throughout history shown God's greatness and goodness: through founding hospitals, establishing relief organizations, rescuing women from sex trade, serving soup to the homeless, crossing the street to a neighbor in need. These things, big and small, show forth God's goodness and greatness, and prove true the miracles we see in the Bible.

When we sing songs of God's goodness and greatness, as we have the past two weekends, may we remember. May we be in awe, may we let God shift our reality. And may we live through that lens, letting God guide us to a world that needs Jesus more than ever.

Lent Devotional Series, Day 26

This post is part of a series of devotional videos put together by New Covenant Community Church. For more information, view my first post of the series here.

Here are my thoughts on Hebrews 4:1-13.

Lent Devotional Series, Day 20

This post is part of a series of devotional videos put together by New Covenant Community Church. For more information, view my first post of the series here.

Here are my thoughts on Ephesians 1:3-6.

Have You Ever Seen the Wonder?

I’m grateful that I grew up in a strong family environment, with parents who found ways for my brother and I to experience the world at its fullest. We savored food grown in the garden, or game hunted afield. We went to concerts together, from choral Christmas music to Pink Floyd. We took road trip vacations more often than not, in a time without built-in DVD players; I remember watching the country go by and wondering at the places and people and stories we passed. We swam in boundary waters, laughed with family and friends, shared books with each other, sat around the wood stove, listened to coyotes at night. “Wow” was as common a word as “hello” or “goodbye.”

I think this foundation has led me to do the same with my family. Not only do I love making memories with them, I also love seeing my three kids wonder at new experiences. Many of them are old to me now, but through them I get to revisit the joy and awe of a clear, quiet night under the stars, or a twist ending of a good book, or a perfect chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven. I feel alive running around an amusement park with them, exploring a forest on foot trails, or seeing their laughter the first time they meet Chunk, Sloth, Mikey and the rest of the gang in The Goonies. 

To take a familiar but favorite experience, and to see someone else experience it for the first time is a gift.

And that’s what Jesus gives us. In Christ we have a chance to view the world with a new sense of wonder and awe. Creation is beautiful and full of life and color. Relationships long worn thin are given a second chance at substantive connection and love. The world is not a place full of danger; it’s a place full of opportunity. To share, to love, to heal, to restore: this is the invitation of the Gospel. We get to join in the work of re-creation that God is doing in us and around us. And then we get to invite others in, and experience the wonder of it all themselves.

What stands in the way of you seeing the wonder of Jesus today? “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39)

Nothing comes between us and God’s love. Jesus paid the price completely on the cross. 

Wonder at the deep and powerful love of God, shown in Christ Jesus. 

Wonder at the gift of each day, each minute, each breath.

Wonder, and walk in the light.

(Inspired by the song “Wonder,” from Hillsong United.)

Lent Devotional Series, Day 14

This post is part of a series of devotional videos put together by New Covenant Community Church. For more information, view my first post of the series here.

Here are my thoughts on Psalm 19.

Lent Devotional Series, Day 8

This post is part of a series of devotional videos put together by New Covenant Community Church. For more information, view my first post of the series here.

Here are my thoughts on Romans 3:21-31.