The Alternative to "Just Not Worrying"

Devotional on Matthew 6:25-34

As we have already seen, Jesus gives some strange commands in the Sermon on the Mount. Turn the other cheek. Go the extra mile. Give in secret.

And now we come to one that is difficult to even wrap our minds around...

Do not worry!

"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" (v. 25-27)

Come on, Jesus! How is this even possible?!

Worry is so embedded into the fabric of everyday life.

And I don't know about you, but when I tell someone my problems, I get a little annoyed if they respond with, "Don't worry about it. It will all work out. Just trust God."

"That's easy for you to say," I think. "And I DO trust God... But it's still hard to not worry."

That's the thing about worries. We all have them. And it's easy to tell others not to worry because their worries are not ours. But when it comes to our worries, we're not so confident.

So I promise I won't tell you to just "not worry." Because I don't know what you're dealing with today. You may have very good things to worry about. I know I do.

Besides, it's hard to NOT do something. When someone quits drinking, they can't sit around all day focusing on not consuming alcohol. That would drive them nuts. Instead, they have to fill that void with something else.

As I read this passage yesterday in preparation, I had my own list of worries burdening me. And even though I've read this passage hundreds of times, I asked a question I've never asked before: What does Jesus tell us to do instead of worry?

I see two alternatives to worry that Jesus gives us.

First, he tells us to look and remember how God provides for his creation. Look at the birds of the air and how God feeds them. Look at the flowers of the field and how God clothes them. "And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?" (v. 30)

The problem with "just not worrying" is that we think the alternative is to sit around and pretend everything is okay. But Jesus knows there are things in this world to worry about. He even says, "Today's trouble is enough for today" (v. 34).

Jesus isn't glibly telling us that our worries don't matter. Instead, in a world full of worries, he's inviting us to focus our attention on the tenderness of God. Look at how he cares for birds and flowers. Let it be a reminder that God is good. He loves you.

We can also reflect on our lives to remember how God got us through hard times. When we feel stressed or worried, looking back on our own story can be helpful. God was there for me then, and even though it may be hard to see, I know he's there for me now.

The second way to fight against worry is to take an active role in God's kingdom:

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (v. 33)

Remember—the Sermon on the Mount is about God's kingdom breaking into this world. And as Jesus followers, we are called to show the world what this kingdom looks like.

When it comes to dealing with enemies, that means meeting violence with non-violence in imaginative ways.

When it comes to worrying, we also need to live differently. As Jesus says, "These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs" (v. 33).

Worry is a natural part of this world, just like revenge is. So, how do we flip the script? Not by passively "not worrying" but by actively playing a role in God's kingdom.

I will still wake up with a list of worries. But I focus on being the best father/husband/friend/stranger on the street I can be.

The more I focus on loving others as Jesus did, the less control worries have over me.

As we begin our day, here are some questions to ponder:

What worries are you waking up with today?

How does remembering God's care for creation remind you of his love for you?

Instead of trying to "not worry," what is one small thing you can do for others today to shift your focus?

If you have time, look up the song "You're Love is Strong" by Jon Foreman. Use that song to start off the day focused on God.

—
If you enjoyed this devotional, please take a moment to check out my Nobody Left Out series of devotionals. They were written to help ordinary people (like me!) grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Another way to show your support is by making a donation through Ko-Fi. Even a small donation goes a long way in keeping me writing! :)

Jesus' Guide to Prayer

Devotional on Matthew 6:7-15

Confession: I am not "great" at prayer. I use "great" in quotes because the whole point of prayer is to focus on God's greatness, not our own! But what I mean is we all have different ways of connecting with God.

I love studying the Bible (I think because God wired me to connect with stories). I also love talking about God with others. I feel a closeness to him then. But I've always struggled a bit with prayer. My mind starts to wander and fixate on my worries, to-do list, etc. It can be discouraging.

But that's why I love the Lord's Prayer so much.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us how to pray. He probably knew how much we struggle with it. He also knew how much humans love to complicate things! So, he begins by telling us not to babble on in prayer. We don't need a lot of words to connect with God.

Then, he shows us how to pray by praying. And I have always loved this prayer.

Let's take a brief look at it:

"'Our Father in heaven," (v. 9)

God is so different than other ancient deities. He doesn't dominate over humans. He's not easily angered. He's a good Father who wants his children to approach him.

One day, a bunch of kids ran over to Jesus, much to the disciples' dismay. They tried to shoo them away. But Jesus welcomed them.

God does the same for us.

"hallowed be your name," (v. 9)

"Hallowed" means to make holy. We want God's name to be honored, and we do that by how we live our lives.

"your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven." (v. 10)

Man, understanding this verse better has shifted my whole paradigm over the past few years. As Christians, our ultimate hope isn't to fly away to heaven one day. It's that heaven—God's kingdom—is coming down to earth! It's the place where God's will is done. It's the place where everything in the Sermon on the Mount gets lived out! And Jesus wants us to pray that we will begin that process now.

"Give us today our daily bread." (v. 11)

I've been reflecting on this one a lot this week. We ask God to meet our basic needs. And it's something we do daily. We rely on God one day at a time. That's so hard to do in our fast-paced culture.

"And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors." (v. 12)

We ask for forgiveness, but we also ask for help forgiving others. It's interesting that Jesus knew we struggle with that. At the end of the prayer, Jesus explains that this is a big deal. He says, "But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

This doesn't mean we earn our forgiveness by forgiving others. It means that in God's kingdom, forgiveness is vital. It's how it operates. So, if we refuse to participate, we are closing ourselves off from forgiveness.

"And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one." (v. 13)

Jesus knows we will be tempted to stray like lost sheep. When we are, we pray for a way out of it. We pray to not believe the lies of Satan, who is the one who accuses us.

I am so grateful Jesus gave us this prayer.

But the question seems to be: Is this prayer simply a model, or is it meant to be prayed word for word?

As John Stott has said, we can use the prayer in both ways.

As a model, we can use it to get a closer look at the heart of God. We see what's important to him and his kingdom. And we can put the prayer in our own words to draw closer to him.

But when we don't have the words to say, we can also pray it as written. Reciting a prayer doesn't mean we are "babbling on" or being insincere. As long as we reflect on the words and understand their meaning, it can help us. I've found that praying it helps me focus more on God, and when I start to wander, it brings me back. Sometimes, I'll start by reciting it, then move on to saying the prayer in my own words.

God is a good Father who knows we pray imperfect prayers yet still welcomes us.

As we begin our day, here are some questions to ponder:

What struggles do you have with prayer?

As you read the Lord's Prayer, what do you learn about the heart of God and what's important to him?

Today, take some time to pray through this prayer. Use it as a model for your own words, or pray it as is, reflecting on their meaning.

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Thank you so much for another week of daily devos! If you'd like to support me as I continue this endeavor, a donation through Ko-Fi would go a long way.

Shining Our Light in Secret

Devotional on Matthew 6:1-6

Has someone ever done a good deed for you in private?

Years ago, I was eating alone at a restaurant and saw a father sitting with his young son at a nearby table. They were whispering to each other and smiling. Then they paid their bill and left.

Shortly after they left, the waiter approached me and said my bill had been paid for. When I asked who paid it, he wouldn't tell me. But I had a sneaking suspicion about who it was.

In Matthew 6, Jesus continues his Sermon on The Mount with more upside-down ways of living:

"Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you." (v. 1-6)

Wait... When we do good deeds, we shouldn't toot our own horn and make a big deal about it? But what's the fun in that?!

As I've thought about this verse, I became genuinely curious about two things: Why does Jesus care that we do good deeds in private? And why is it so hard for us to do?

I think we need to answer the second question to get a clearer answer for the first.

We live in an anxiety-ridden world where we are constantly under the microscope. The latest self-help books may say, "You are enough," but I don't think the world really believes that message. We are judged by what we do, what we achieve, and how much we get done.

I think we are constantly seeking validation from others because we want to know we matter. We want to know that we have what it takes to survive in this world.

For me, my entire mood can shift if I read a review of my books. A positive review can put me on cloud 9. A negative review can send me into a tail-spin of self-doubt.

Living for the praise of others is exhausting. Jesus knows that. And I think that is part of the "why."

What if we saw Jesus' words as an invitation to inner peace?

Jesus knows that, as humans, we get so caught up in proving our worth to other humans. But our ultimate value comes from God. When we give in secret, we are reminded of that.

When we give in secret, our heavenly Father notices. We don't need affirmation or accolades from others. Each time we do a good deed in secret, we get the chance to rest in his love. We are not trying to earn his love or approval because we already have it. Our good deeds are simply an outpouring of his love for us.

Now, this doesn't mean we have to don a mask and cape and sneak around like the Hamburgler when we do good deeds! Earlier in the sermon, Jesus says, "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:16).

These seem like conflicting ideas, but they are connected.

As we go out in the world and do good, we don't have to draw attention to ourselves. But people will naturally notice our light shining. They will get a glimpse of God's kingdom.

When that father and son paid for my lunch, they didn't make a big deal about it. But I took notice.

They were shining their light in secret.

And when people do take notice, we can humbly point them to God.

And we can rest in his love. Because while we may never be "enough," he is.

As we begin our day, here are some questions to ponder:

When was the last time someone did a good deed for you? How did it make you feel?

When are you most tempted to impress others with your achievements? In those moments, how can you rest in God's love instead?

How can you be on the lookout to let your light shine in secret today?

—
If you enjoyed this devotional, please take a moment to check out my Nobody Left Out series of devotionals. They were written to help ordinary people (like me!) grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Another way to show your support is by making a donation through Ko-Fi. Even a small donation goes a long way in keeping me writing! :)

Fight, Flight, or The Kingdom Way

Devotional on Matthew 5:38-48

As I write these devotionals, I've used the two-year Daily Lectionary from the Book of Common Worship to help me choose the scriptures. Every day, there's a reading from both the Old and New Testament, and I pick the one I most want to write about.

Today's New Testament reading happens to be the exact scripture we discussed in church this past Sunday. It's something I've been pondering all week... And fair warning: It's still something I have a lot of questions about... And that's okay!

In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges his followers to not repay evil for evil. The pastor said that we sometimes look at these words and think, "Well, Jesus had some nice ideas, but they just don't work in the 'real world.'"

But he went on to explain that Jesus lived in a culture filled with violence. He wasn't naive to the real world. And he wasn't saying these things from an ivory tower, far removed from everyday life. He was in the mess with us. And he wanted us to live in a different way.

It's also easy to think Jesus was telling us to just be a punching bag. Let people slap you around and steal from you. But that isn't the case either.

Jesus was advocating for something so different that it's hard for us to even imagine it. And he gives specific examples related to his culture and time. Examples like:

"You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also." (v. 38-39)

In that culture, honor and shame were a big deal. If someone slapped you on the right cheek, it means they backhanded you. A huge display of disrespect! It was a sign that you were inferior to them. But if you turned the other cheek, it meant that the other person had to either:

1. backhand you with their left hand, which would bring shame on them because that hand was only used for, um... we'll say hygienic purposes... :) Or,

2. slap you with an open palm, which makes you their equal.

Another example:

If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. (v. 41)

A Roman soldier could force you to carry their gear for a mile. As you can imagine, most people did this begrudgingly. It was humiliating, physically taxing, and inconvenient. But by going an extra mile, you are choosing to show love rather than being forced. You are taking power away from your oppressor.

In both cases, you are showing your enemy that you have dignity. Far from being a pacifist, you are very active in your response. It's just that you are choosing a non-violent way. A different way. A more imaginative way.

And within the larger context of the Sermon on the Mount, this makes sense. That sermon is about showing us what life in his kingdom looks like. It's an invitation to build his kingdom in this world using his upside-down methods. And when we do, we see that his kingdom is the true "real world."

When we get into a conflict, we're so used to the "Fight or Flight" options.

FIGHT: We match violence for violence, insult for insult. As my grandma taught her kids, "You don't start fights. But if someone hits you, you hit back!" It makes a certain kind of sense in this world.

FLIGHT: We avoid conflict or allow people to walk all over us. Maybe we even act passive-aggressively as a way to secretly win. Again, it's so easy to choose this path.

But what if there was a third option? The kingdom option.

In this option, we find creative ways to seek peace amid violence. It's an active kind of peace that brings dignity to all, including ourselves.

This kingdom option takes imagination. But I think that's what Jesus was doing in the Sermon on the Mount—giving us a spiritual imagination.

I'm still grappling with what that means.

Let's grapple together!

As we begin our day, here are some questions to ponder:

Take some time to read Matthew 5:38-48. What challenges you about it? What inspires you about it?

How is life in God's kingdom different from what the world expects?

If you get into a conflict today, how can you choose the "third option"—the kingdom way?

—
If you enjoyed this devotional, please take a moment to check out my Nobody Left Out series of devotionals. They were written to help ordinary people (like me!) grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Another way to show your support is by making a donation through Ko-Fi. Even a small donation goes a long way in keeping me writing! :)

But I Deserve This!

Devotional on 2 Kings 5:19-27

A few months after we were married, Diana and I had to buy a new car. So we went to a car dealership, and it was an experience we never forgot!

After roaming the lot for a while, we found a car we thought was a good fit for us and our budget. So we went inside with the salesman and did some paperwork. Then the manager said he would bring the car up for us to test drive.

When the car pulled up to us, something was strange. It wasn't the car we wanted to look at. It was a newer car. A nicer car. A more expensive car.

When we questioned the salesman about this, he tried to get us to test drive it.

"You deserve this car!" he said enthusiastically.

Deserve it?

I don't know about you, but anytime I've thought I "deserved" something, I've gotten into trouble!

Yesterday, we looked at the story of when the prophet Elisha healed a big-shot army commander named Naaman. Today, we are continuing the story.

After Naaman is healed of leprosy, he is overcome with gratitude. To show his appreciation, he wants to give gifts to Elisha. But Elisha refuses.

I think Elisha refuses because he wants to show Naaman that gifts from God can't be bought. Naaman was used to buying his way to the front of the line. But that's not how things work in God's kingdom. So Elisha sends Naaman home in peace.

And that's when things get interesting. Because Elisha has a servant named Gehazi. And Gehazi thinks Elisha is being a bit of a pushover. He should have taken Naaman's gifts!

Here's what happens:

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, "My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him." So Gehazi set off after Naaman. When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he climbed down from his chariot and went to meet him. "Is everything all right?" Naaman asked. "Yes," Gehazi said, "but my master has sent me to tell you that two young prophets from the hill country of Ephraim have just arrived. He would like 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing to give to them.” (v. 20-22)

"We deserve this!" thought Gehazi. "And if Elisha is too naive to see that, then I'm going to do something about it!"

So Gehazi chases Naaman down and lies to him. It turns out, Gehazi says, that Elisha does want some money after all. Naaman is all too happy to oblige and gives Gehazi double what he asks for.

Then Gehazi goes home and hides the gifts in his house. He knows Elisha wouldn't be too happy about this...

I think we all have a little Gehazi in us, whispering that we deserve something. We've worked hard. We've paid our dues in life. Don't we deserve "this" (whatever "this" is?).

Maybe we do deserve it, at least by the world's standards. But the problem comes when we try to take what we deserve. It's easy to grow bitter and envious when we think we deserve something.

I know I've been there. It's so easy to think, "Hey, I've worked way harder than that guy! Why does he seem more happier/wealthier/successful than me?"

But the comparison trap is a dangerous game no one wins.

The story of Gehazi doesn't end too happily. Elisha knows what went down. He says these chilling words to Gehazi:

”Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman's leprosy forever." When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow. (v. 27)

Indeed, it would be easy to say that in the end, Gehazi DID get what he deserved. But I can't judge Gehazi for his sin. I have been in Gehazi's shoes many times.

Gehazi's punishment seems harsh, and it can make us uncomfortable. Whenever I run up against a Bible story like this, I try to lean into the tension and not resolve it too quickly. I sit in it for a moment and remember that I am no better than any of the characters in it. I need to remember Gehazi's story whenever I feel resentful or entitled. I need God's grace so much.

One thing I do know is that Gehazi's story wasn't over. We see him again in 2 Kings 8, telling the king of Israel about the great things Elisha has done. Some commentators point out that perhaps Gehazi was healed of his leprosy at this point. We can only speculate.

If he was healed, he probably knew he didn't deserve it.

And maybe that's when the whole thing finally clicked!

As we begin our day, here are some questions to ponder:

Why do you think Gehazi was upset that Elisha refused Naaman's gifts?

Have you ever thought you "deserved" something? How did it make you feel and act?

How can you let go of the things you "deserve" and trust God to provide for you today?

—
If you enjoyed this devotional, please take a moment to check out my Nobody Left Out series of devotionals. They were written to help ordinary people (like me!) grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Another way to show your support is to make a donation through Ko-Fi. Even a small donation goes a long way in keeping me writing! :)

All The Small Things

Devotional on 2 Kings 5:1-19

The prophets Elijah and Elisha are two of my favorite characters in the Old Testament. Elijah does some amazing things for God, all while battling depression and self-doubt. And Elisha... well... he's just a bit eccentric!

In 2 Kings 5, Naaman, a commander of the Aram army, comes down with a bad case of leprosy. Naaman's wife happens to own an Israelite girl who was taken captive during a raid. Instead of relishing in Naaman's misfortune—which would have been easy to do given her situation—she comes up with an idea. She says, "I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy" (v. 3).

Naaman tells his king about this, and the king thinks it is worth a shot. So he sends Naaman down to Israel. When Naaman arrives, he goes to the king of Israel and gives him lavish gifts of gold, silver, and clothing. Basically, he was trying to grease the wheels. Naaman was a big shot and used to getting whatever he wanted. He also gives the king of Israel a letter from his own king that says, "With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy" (v. 6).

When the king of Israel reads this, he freaks out a bit. He thinks the king of Aram is playing games with him, trying to pick a fight. How is he supposed to heal this guy of leprosy?

But then Elisha gets word of all this and tells the king to calm down. Take a few deep breaths. Everything will be okay. He tells the king to send Naaman to him.

So Naaman goes to Elisha's house with his whole entourage of horses and chariots. He expects Elisha to roll out the red carpet for him and make a huge deal. But Elisha doesn't even greet him at the door!

But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.” ( v. 10)

What's up with this?! Doesn't Elisha know who this guy is?!

Naaman can't believe the disrespect Elisha has shown him. He expected Elisha to meet him at the door and wave a hand over him to heal him of the leprosy. Wouldn't that make more sense?

Besides, he says, the Jordan River is kinda gross. Why wouldn't Naaman tell him to wash in a better river?

Naaman was about to go home and forget the whole thing. But then, for the second time in this story, Naaman was saved by one of his servants.

But his officers tried to reason with him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!'" So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed! (v. 13-14)

Naaman almost let his pride get in the way of allowing himself to be healed. He thought what Elisha asked him to do was "beneath him."

I wonder how often we miss out on what God is doing because it doesn't seem "exciting enough."

I'm eager to obey God in doing the "big things" but not the "small things."

I'm willing to lay down my life for my wife and son. Most husbands and fathers would, no questions asked. But are we willing to lay down our lives in a thousand small ways each day?

Am I willing to help clean the house and spend time playing with my son in ordinary, mundane ways?

It's so easy to fall into the mindset of wanting to serve God in "big ways." That's not a bad desire to have. But like Naaman, our expectation of what that looks like may differ from God's. Naaman thought there were some things that were beneath him. Do we think that sometimes? I know I do!

We may have a desire to go off and change the world. And God may want us to start by greeting people at the door of church on Sunday.

I can promise you one thing: Doing the "small thing" will always make us better prepared if and when God calls us to something that, in our eyes, looks bigger.

As we begin our day, here are some questions to ponder:

Why do you think Naaman was so offended by Elisha's instructions to him?

When was a time you said yes to God even though it seemed like a small thing? How did it change you?

How can you be on the lookout for "all the small things" today?

And yes, for those who know, it's totally a Blink-182 reference.

—
If you enjoyed this devotional, please take a moment to check out my Nobody Left Out series of devotionals. They were written to help ordinary people (like me!) grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Another way to show your support is to make a donation through Ko-Fi. Even a small donation goes a long way in keeping me writing! :)