Top 40 Reflections Weeks 21 - 30

Top 40 - Reflections on the texts

• Weeks 1-10, Creation to Crossing the Red Sea
• Weeks 11-20, Living in the Wilderness to the Prophets
• Weeks 21-30, The Prophets to the Raising of Lazarus
• Weeks 31-40, Jesus heals in Mark's Gospel to the book of Revelation

Week 21 - God's Justice Read Amos 5: 1-15 Reflection by Ben Orton

In this passage, the profit Amos foretells of God’s impending judgment on Israel for their rebellion against Him in the form of idolatry and social injustice. He beseeches them to turn back to God in repentance saying “Seek the Lord and live”. The call to repentance is seen throughout the Bible and remains as relevant to us today as it did then.

We’ve all heard the adage, “Love the sinner but hate the sin”. While we rightly spend a lot of time rejoicing in God’s grace we should make no mistake about God’s position on sin. God hates sin and what it does to His people. He is uncompromising in regards to it. We see the repercussions throughout the bible. Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden, the earth was flooded, Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed, the first born of Egypt killed, Israel conquered and exiled, and we see the ugly toll sin takes in our world still today.

Fortunately for us, God’s justice does not stand in opposition to grace. They are consistent and come together in the person of Jesus Christ who while we were yet sinners, had to die as atonement for sin out of Love so that our relationship with God would be restored. He desires life not death for us. What we can’t forget is why He did it. He saved us to set us aside as His holy people. It’s the beginning, not the end, of a continual process where perfection is the goal. On this journey we are either moving towards Him or away from Him. There can be no straddling. Certainly we will make mistakes and we should have confidence in grace but we must never be comfortable and compromising with sin.

That’s where repentance comes in continually. As an example of how this passage calls me to repentance, just yesterday I heard that a leader in our business wasn’t present at an annual meeting and my first reaction was to secretly hope he wasn’t there because he was going to be replaced for poor performance. That’s a troubling secret in my heart that I can’t hide from God. That comes from a dangerous combination of pride and insecurity which stand directly in opposition to God’s holiness. I must repent of this and seek the security and humility that comes from absolute surrender to Christ’s Grace as the source of all security and justification. I should do this not in order to be saved, but because I am saved. This is just one example of how the call to repentance directly applies to each of us every day. God has a miraculous plan to free us from sin, to bring us into close relationship with him, and to change us into holy beings like himself if we will allow him to. I urge us all to search our hearts for the things that are hindering us and turn back to God.

Week 22 - Nothing is impossible with God! Read Luke 1:26-38 Reflection by Cari Larsen

Mary was perplexed. She pondered Gabriel’s words. She was afraid. She had a question. This story of the angel Gabriel coming to Mary to tell her that she had found favor with God, that she was going to have a son and that her son would be Jesus, the Son of the Most High is such an incredible story. It makes my jaw drop to think about what this must have been like for Mary. Mary wasn’t famous or an important leader and she had never been a mother before. She was a young woman from the town of Nazareth, engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. She was a woman chosen by God. Mary had a very human reaction to seeing an angel: she was confused. Then when Gabriel got beyond his greeting to share with her the news of her pregnancy and the importance of her son, Jesus, she had another very human reaction – a question. Honestly, I am a bit surprised that she only had one question. If I try to imagine myself in Mary’s shoes, I think that I would have had many more. Maybe only one question she asked was recorded in this story or maybe she was so stunned by this encounter with Gabriel that she couldn’t articulate the other questions that came to her mind.

God’s messenger Gabriel is prepared for Mary’s human reactions. He reassures her not to be afraid after he greets her. Then he answers her question. Then he goes beyond just answering her question – maybe addressing the other questions he knows are in her mind – and he tells her that her relative Elizabeth is also expecting a baby. As Elizabeth’s relative, Mary must have been surprised at this news as well given Elizabeth’s age. And then Gabriel says, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Mary’s next reaction is what inspires me most: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Despite her confusion, fear and questions, she accepts what God – through Gabriel – is telling her. So – what is this story telling me today? From this story I see that God can work through anyone God chooses. I see that God understands our human thoughts, emotions and reactions. I see that God uses the lives of those around us to serve as examples to us. I think God’s challenges to us today through this story are to embrace the opportunities we are given to serve God in spite of our apprehension or questions, to seek out those around us who serve God and follow their example, and to remember that nothing is impossible with God.

Week 23 - Jesus lives in our mess Read Luke 2:1-20 Reflection by Tony Szczepaniak

What is the context? Mary and Joseph had been ordered to Bethlehem to be counted in the King ordered census. They travelled about 65 miles while Mary was very pregnant with Jesus. This would not have been in the air-conditioned car or even in a car with no air-conditioning. Rather, it was by mule in all the elements and took several days, not the hour it might take for us today! When they arrive, they are met with the now infamous message – no room at the inn! Joseph and Mary need to improvise so they sleep in a barn, with all the animals and place Jesus in a manger, which is a nice word for animal feeding trough. Imagine just being in a barn, much less sleeping on the floor of one or in an animal feeding trough!

How this speaks to me? There are two interesting perspectives in Luke’s reading that offer a contrasting but hopeful message for followers of Christ. First, the pictures of Jesus that are typically seen around Christmas are of a baby wrapped in beautiful white clothing with a back drop of a soft, golden light. And why not? This is a King after all, so shouldn’t he be presented in the most beautiful way possible? This was far from how it really was, but it is in this very contrast that God’s love and hope is abundant. Jesus is found in the messes where things are far from perfect – like my own life! My life is not a mess for sure as I am blessed beyond what I deserve. However, I sometimes create them because don’t always say and do the right things. I covet things that I should not and fall prey to putting “stuff” before my personal relationship with God. But there is the hope. God loves me so much, that he is willing to put his own son in the mess to demonstrate that that is exactly where he will be for me, pulling for me, praying with me.

Second, the text does not provide us with a sense of whether Joseph and Mary complained. I wonder if they became frustrated and lost sight of God’s plan and his will. I wonder if they forgot how much God loved them. I wonder if they ever talked about quitting and returning home. I wonder if they wanted something more when they slept with the animals and put their newborn baby in the trough. They were given what they needed. They carried a special blessing with them. They were wonderfully designed by God to carry out a very special purpose. They had God on their side and knew about his plan. Why should they complain? Hmmmm….why should we? God provides us with contrasts of Jesus’s birth while giving us the hope of His love and the promise of eternal life with Him. As we struggle with our own messes, let’s not forget about all of the blessings he provides. Today, let’s share that hope by acknowledging our own messes while helping others with theirs. Peace today!

Week 24 - The Word Becomes Flesh Read John 1:1-18 Reflection by Donna Kniffen

Just two short months ago, we were in the midst of Christmas celebrations. We read in the gospel of Luke how Mary and Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem where baby Jesus was born—in a barn surrounded with lowly animals. The shepherds saw the star and heard the angels proclaiming the Good News of this Savior infant and went to see him. The wise men came bringing magnificent gifts to this newborn. There are so many characters in this old story—so much happening. If we are a parent, this story might bring our mind to the birth of our own child. One moment we are without a child—and then suddenly—we are blessed with this infant—all happening in a finite moment in time. But when we recall the birth of Jesus, we know that is not the case with His birth. Even though Jesus was born of Mary here on earth, he was and always will be God.

So…these verses in John that we read are really the story of the Nativity—a sort of condensed version. Verse 1 reads “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” While this might sound like talking in circles, John is really showing God in action. It might be easier to understand if we insert “Christ” for “Word.” “In the beginning was Christ and Christ was with God, and Christ was (and is) God. Jesus, the Word, stepped out of heaven and was 100% God. He took on the flesh of humankind and lived in our world. He didn’t just drop in as an adult--he entered this world as a newborn—as do we. He likely went to school, had friends, had childhood issues—but unlike us, He continued to walk in tandem with God, not venturing into sin the way we do. He came to show us the way to salvation—how to live in God, with God and for God. We are sinners, and sin must die—therefore He came to balance the equation for us, dying for our sins so that the door to heaven may be open to us. In order to do that for us, He willingly set aside His Divine rights when he became flesh. And he wasn’t just sort of human and sort of God--he was 100% God, stepping out of heaven, taking on the flesh of humankind to live in this world. He was also fully human, and he took on all the essential properties of human nature, while still retaining His divine attributes; and those attributes of being all knowing, all powerful and always present were never undermined by his humanity. When we celebrate Christmas with the nativity story, it is not really the BIRTH of Jesus that is the big news, but rather the incarnation of the Son of God in the flesh. It is the day that the Creator came to live in His Creation. It is the day the uncontained God became contained in a human body.

So what does this mean for us? This baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and all around people were called to worship him—the angels proclaimed His presence with a star, shepherds left their flocks to find him, the wise men journeyed far to bring him gifts—all were called to witness this great event and behold His glory. And this calling is for everyone—for you and for me and all the peoples of the world—all are welcomed. The heavens declared His glory, and the angels sang His praises and now invite us to do the same. Whatever our stage of life, whatever our status in society, whatever our nationality or our current circumstances—none of that matters because we are all called to the manger. This is the message of the Nativity and should be our goal in this human life. As John writes, “For the Word has become flesh. Let us behold His glory.”

Week 25 - Let God Fill Your Nets Read Luke 5:1-11 Reflection by Randy Moroney

The story in Luke 5 of Simon putting out his fishing nets one more time has many good lessons. Recall, Simon had fished all day with no success. Jesus asks Simon to try again which resulted in his nets overflowing with fish to the point of breaking and his boat nearly sinking. First, we need to go about our lives looking to be surprised by God by recognizing when he fills our nets. It not about what we see, it’s about how we see it. For example, my wife and I try hard to raise our two boys with faith-filled values. When our efforts seem to be in vain, our patience is gone, and it all seems for naught, I get surprised with nets overflowing when one of the boys:

• Offers up a compliment toward their brother and helps build their self esteem
• Recognizes their selfishness or mean behavior and apologizes to the other brother
• Shows compassion and forgiveness toward someone that has been mean toward them
• Insists on saying bedtime prayers, even when its late and way past bedtime

Witnessing these behaviors provide experiences of my nets overflowing.

Second, this story reminds me of one of Pastor Paul’s sermons years ago when he said “let go and let God”. For as much as I try to be in control and steer my own destiny, I continue to find that God is in control. No matter how hard I try to fill my nets, they get filled through God’s blessings rather than my efforts. Third, Jesus is looking for regular, sinful people to be his followers and disciples. Simon, a fisherman and acknowledged sinner, is the person Jesus asks to redirect his efforts from catching fish to catching people. Jesus is asking us to catch people as well. How do we do this? We can catch people through our actions such as showing compassion toward those we don’t care for, being humble and acknowledging God for our gifts and talents, forgiving others for their sins toward us, asking forgiveness for our sins against others, befriending the lonely, including the outcasts, sharing our talents with others, and being charitable to those in need. So “let go and let God”, watch for ways God surprises you by filling your nets, and go and catch people by living your life being Jesus-like.

Week 26 - Blessed and Challenged! Read Matthew 5:1-12 Reflection by Becky Carlson

The Beatitudes, part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, was very familiar to me as I read and prepared for this week's reflection. Perhaps it felt familiar to you as you read through it. Though I couldn't have recited it word for word (still can't), the cadence and flow is something I remember hearing since childhood. As I thought more about these familiar words, I realized that they tend to be offered in times of personal hardship. I've heard this passage read at funerals - blessed are those who mourn. They were words of encouragement provided to me during a period of unemployment - blessed are the poor in spirit. And perhaps words you yourself have offered to a friend or family member during a personal crisis that left them feeling weak and small - blessed are the meek.

These familiar words from Jesus certainly can - and have helped give reassurance and comfort in our darkest days. But for whatever reason, when I read through the scripture this time around, I wasn't thinking of it as words of comfort...not for me at least. Thankfully, I'm in a place right now where reassurance and comfort is not something I'm in dire need of. I'm blessed with a loving family. I'm healthy and able bodied. I have a stable job that I enjoy. A home to keep me warm and protected. Food in the fridge and money in the bank account. I feel protected, blessed, and loved by God. I suppose because I was feeling particularly blessed, I found that instead of reading the scripture as words of comfort this time, I read The Beatitudes as more of a call to action. It seemed as though Jesus was providing a gentle reminder of how he views blessedness - and how we should too! Allow me to elaborate... Beatitude means "supreme blessedness." Blessedness is defined as "the state of being blessed with divine favor" and blessed in this context means "endowed with divine favor and protection." When I had initially thought about blessedness, I found myself feeling pretty lucky. As I mentioned before, I feel blessed with what I have and where I am in life right now. Aside from a few bumps along the road of life, there aren't a whole lot of days that go by that leave me feeling as though I'm not blessed with divine favor and protection. I don't doubt that I am in good favor with the Lord, and - going even further - I don't doubt that others view me through a similar lens. But then I starting thinking again about the words in Matthew...Jesus didn't say, "blessed are those with a fancy car," "blessed are those with a giant bank account," "blessed are those with perfect bodies," or "blessed are those who have their life in order." And although these are some of the things that we often point to define our blessedness, through the Beatitudes Jesus is calling us to do better. As I read and re-read the words, something started to click for me. Those things I mentioned previously? They don't define blessedness. Our blessedness as humankind is universal because we are God's.

Whether we are feeling meek or feeling strong. Whether we have a lot of money or are living paycheck to paycheck. When we are joyful and when we mourn. As we work to create peace and when we are persecuted. When we are at our lowest and in our darkest days. We, collectively, as children of God are blessed. What started as simple words of comfort became a larger call to action for me. As I reflected on The Beatitudes I started viewing blessedness as Jesus does. We are blessed not because of the things we have - or don't have - but because we are God's. So when you are considering your own situation remember you are blessed. Worthy of favor and protection. And when you interact with those around you - friends, family, and strangers alike - they are worthy of it too. I challenge you to think about how this definition of blessedness changes the way you view your current situation, and how it may change the way you view and interact with those around you. Remember, we are all worthy of favor, protection, and love because we are God's.

Week 27 - The Good Samaritan: See, care and act! Read Luke 10:25-37 Reflection by Steve Germundson

The Good Samaritan story – familiar, easy to understand, a happy ending – we know it so well. Yet I happened to struggle with the dialogue leading in to the Good Samaritan story. A lawyer asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” I asked this question myself many times when I was young. My motivation was fear driven. As for the lawyer, we don’t know if he asked out of sincerity or if he was trying to set up Jesus for a fall or to impress with his considerable knowledge. It seems as though Jesus saw a less than forthright motive and chose to turn it back to the lawyer by asking him what the law said. The lawyer gave the correct answer: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said he was correct. At this point I could return to my youthful fear because the truth is that I do not love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind, and I certainly do not love my neighbor as myself. Thus I would not inherit eternal life according to the truth found in the law.

It took me quite some time and consultation with others to notice the problem here, which is not the answer to the question but the premise of the question. The lawyer assumes that there is something we can do to inherit eternal life, which we can’t. The ultimate truth is that we have already inherited eternal life through God’s grace and love, not through our actions and abilities. There is another perspective to consider here that I remember from a college religion professor who offered that perhaps we do indeed love our neighbors as ourselves in that we do not really love ourselves and therefore we cannot really love our neighbors. His point was not about loving ourselves in a self-centered way but rather in God-centered terms. If we first love ourselves as children of God, accept that God lives in us and through us, and embrace the part of our nature that is divine, only then with God’s help can we truly love our neighbor as ourselves and love the Lord with all of our heart, strength, soul and mind.

With these thoughts in mind comes the Good Samaritan. He provides yet another Biblical example of the three steps we are called to take in our daily lives: to see, to care, and to act. There is no explanation of who the victim is; Jesus was intentionally vague here. Jesus asks us to see the victims of our world, care for their condition, and act on their behalf; to love them, even those we despise or can’t physically reach or for whom we don’t have the time. He invites us to do these things for all . . . everybody, everywhere, every time. We may actually be able to do this if we first love ourselves because of God’s very real presence in our lives.

Week 28 - Lost and Found! Read Luke 15:11-32 Reflection by Clare Kooiman

This reading, Luke 15: 11 - 32, is another of the many parables found in Luke. What a rich treasure of life lessons is provided here for our thought and consideration! Each one of the parables has a clear point to it, and we are so blessed to have them written here -- to read and hear and think about over and over. The parable of the prodigal son in chapter 15 is the third parable that Jesus tells regarding something that is found after having been lost. The first one is about a lost sheep, which the shepherd seeks and finds and joyfully recovers. The second one is about the lost coin which the woman looks for in every nook and cranny of her house until she finds it, then calls all her neighbors to share her joy at discovering it.

Jesus is telling these parables to a crowd that has gathered to hear him. In the crowd are tax collectors and sinners - those people who were looked down upon by society. Others there are the scribes and Pharisees - holy men of the church. These "righteous men" were grumbling about how Jesus was associating with those tax collectors and sinners. So the third parable adds another piece to the lost and found stories: not only does Jesus tell of the father's joyful finding of the son which was lost, he tells about the brother who was so self-righteous that he wouldn’t share the father 's joy and happiness at his brother's return. So the father must remind his son to get his priorities in order. There is love enough for everyone in his household, and all are precious and welcomed!

Is there a lesson here for me? After all, I am loyal, live responsibly, go to church, come to a complete stop at the stop sign, don't swear, and don't cheat on my income tax. I believe this part of the parable is a cautionary reminder for me. So this is my prayer: God, forbid that I ever, in any way, disdain or look down upon those who are found and loved by you. Amen.

Week 29 - Trusting in God's Providing Read Mark 6:30-44 Reflection by Scott Sabin

We all know how good it feels when we accomplish a tough task. Something we thought might even be impossible before we got to work at it. We want want to share our success with family and friends, enjoy the flow of complements or wonder at what we have done. Afterwards, take a load off, enjoy a cool beverage and savor our well-deserved repose. As a parent of three children I have spent innumerable hours in “Watch me Daddy!” activities with my kids. Marveling at their mastery of monkey bars, bicycles without training wheels, underwater distance swimming, over the shoulder football catches and ever faster laps around the ice rink. I would celebrate each incremental success with them, usually ending with “You want to try again, only longer or faster this time?” As long as the promise of a stop at DQ or another favorite treat was involved the answer was usually “Yes!”

This is how the Disciples must have felt at the beginning of this passage. Jesus had sent them out, two by two with nothing…no purse, no food, no change of clothes or sandals. They had taken up this task and succeeded. Healing the sick, casting out demons and sharing God’s word with those that would listen and take them in along the way. Jesus’ pride in their accomplishments was apparent upon their return. He wanted to take them away to a quiet place, let them relax, eat and renew themselves with Him. What better reward for a job well done! Imagine their confusion, disappointment or down right annoyance as they realized their private picnic was going to be interrupted by a crowd of 5,000 people. Jesus changed His plans, His PROMISE to the Disciples so He could teach the crowd. And then He asks the Disciples to help feed the 5,000. How is this possible? They had little money and no town and few just homes around. All they had was five loaves of bread and two fish.

Like each of us has done many times, Jesus and His Disciples got to work. While Jesus prepared the meal with a blessing to heaven the Disciples organized the throng into groups and helped share the meal. Everyone ate their fill and an abundance was collected as leftovers. Jesus showed once again when we trust in God and go about His work with a joyous heart, God will provide. Now go and do likewise.

Week 30 - A Message of Hope Read John 11:1-44 Reflection by Joy Klemp

Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived in Bethany and were close friends with Jesus. In this story, Lazarus was ill…so the sisters sent a message to their dear friend, Jesus. When Jesus heard the message he said in verse 4 of John 11-“The illness does not lead to death, rather it is for God’s glory that the Son of Man may be glorified through it.” Jesus wanted to show God’s glory in this situation. Practically for us, when faced with a challenge in life, do we look at what purpose God has for us in that challenge? Every situation God puts in our life has a purpose- His Glory, His Love and His Goodness- if we allow it.

Next in our story, Jesus waited two days before He went to Bethany. Jesus was direct with His disciples. He said, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake, I am glad that I was not there so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” John 11:14. Jesus is the Lord- the giver of life. He came to earth to live, preach, teach, and die for our sins so that we might believe and trust in Him. I wondered as I thought about this part of the story- what is the greatest obstacle for me to believe and trust in Jesus completely? What might your greatest obstacle be for complete belief in Jesus? Then when Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Martha ran and met Jesus. Martha believed and trusted Jesus. She said to him in verse 21,”Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.’ Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the Life. Those who believe in me, even though they die will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:26. Jesus wants all to believe in Him. Finally, the miracle happens, Jesus raises Lazarus to life. This shows that nothing is impossible with God. The raising of Lazarus also anticipates the good news of the Easter Story. Jesus was raised from the dead and gives us hope that all who believe in Him will rise again on the last day and live eternally with God. What good news! What hope we have in Christ, our Savior and Lord!

Top 40 - Reflections on the texts

• Weeks 1-10, Creation to Crossing the Red Sea
• Weeks 11-20, Living in the Wilderness to the Prophets
• Weeks 21-30, The Prophets to the Raising of Lazarus
• Weeks 31-40, Jesus heals in Mark's Gospel to the book of Revelation