Morning: Psalm 62:1-12
1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-23
Acts 9:19b-31
Luke 23:44-56a
Evening: Psalm 73:1-28
As I read today's texts, my prayers go out to the persecuted church, where "the wicked have no pain" (Ps. 73), when in pride and arrogance, they inflict violence and oppression on those who hold steadfastly to Jesus as Lord. The church has always been fraught with oppression. We read today in Acts about Paul's narrow escapes at the hand of just a few and constant danger from the many powerful Jews and Greeks who opposed the gospel for disrupting the religious order and control.
Jesus is not spared death, as the remaining disciples' courage and power wane against the zealous crowds, and Jesus is laid to rest, dead and buried on the Jewish Sabbath.
And we watch and we wait and we pray from a safe distance, where it's easy to shake our heads and pray, or rant and rave in disgust, and it is quite another to take on the bullies ourselves. For that would cost us something, like fellowship with our neighbors who have joined the enemy, or reputation for being trouble-makers ourselves, or worse. How easy we are to be manipulated, when we too can turn on the weak with our apathy, so as to protect our fragile selves and own interests. Soon, like the crowds in the psalm, we can begin praising the oppressors, finding no fault in them, as long as they leave us alone. That's what bullies can do to good people.
It happens with our children who are too afraid to defend their little buddies on the playground. It happens when a whistle blower in the marketplace is threatened with losing their job. It happens when the media silences conservative Christians, portraying them as ignorant and judgmental. It's happening in the church to evangelicals and conservatives who proclaim Jesus as the only way to salvation in a pluralist world, who preach sexual purity, and uphold biblical standards for life and faith, who try to speak out only to be labeled rebellious schismatics. Sadly, many of them back down, or remain silent as they watch from the bleachers the few sisters and brothers battle falsehoods, over property rights and standing in their particular corner of the playground.
And then I read Luke's encouragement to the church in Acts, after Paul's harrowing oppression: 31Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
And for the disciples who in grief, had laid Jesus to rest, amidst their pain before the resurrection, received the gift of the Sabbath with God. Even as Jesus himself, commended his broken body and tormented spirit into the hands of the Father (Luke). And the psalmist's cry becomes ours when he says, Whom have I in heaven but You, God; nothing on earth I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is my heart and my portion forever. For me it is good to be near God - I have made the Lord my refuge." (Ps.73). For God alone my soul waits in silence. From him comes my salvation.(Ps 63).
May the comfort of the Holy Spirit be with you all this day.
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2 comments:
Amen, Lyn. Good words.
It isn't easy standing up to the Goliaths. Some Christians are timid by nature and some have been beaten up enough that they are gun shy. This is one big reason why Christians need to uphold one another, to be like minded, as well as tenderhearted toward those who are bullied in life. We each have strengths and weaknesses and need each other to walk through persecutions. And we need to pray for those who are being buffeted by spiritual forces that hate truth in whatever way and through whatever agents the battles are presented. Thank you for today’s insights.
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