Hearing the Music

Folly in the Heart Needs Grace

 This past Wednesday in our staff meeting Michael lead us in a reflection on the Proverb of the day, (i.e. Proverbs 9 for August 9), which like much of Proverbs contrasts the way of wisdom with the way of folly. Throughout Proverbs, wisdom is held out as the ideal, the way to life, while folly is to be avoided as the way to death. One of the truths observant in Proverbs 9 is that the way of wisdom and and the way of folly often do not appear to us as diametrically opposed as we might hope.  Sometimes it is only a short step from wisdom to folly.

Such is the case in 1 Samuel 25, where we will pick up David in the third of our studies centering on his wilderness days. While chapters 24 and 26  show David at his best, chapter 25 shows David struggling, about to head down the path of folly. It is ironic because it is the fool, Nabal (1 Sam 25:25), who incites David. But again, Proverbs 9 reminds us of the difference between those who scoff and those who are wise:

⁷ Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.  ...
⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. 

Unfortunately the world is full of Nabals. We encounter fools at work, in our families, our neighborhoods, among political leaders, etc... It takes wisdom to know how to handle a fool.  Sometimes we "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes."  Other times we, "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself." (cf. Prov. 26:4,5). These two proverbs, coming back to back as they do, illustrate the necessity for wisdom in dealing with a fool, after all we all have folly bound up in our own hearts (cf. Prov. 22:15).

Enter Abigail. This beautiful woman of 1 Sam 25 (v. 3) personifies wisdom and grace in a moment that is fraught with peril for David. She navigates both her husband Nabal and David to bring about peace that preserves a kingdom. As we will see on Sunday, Abigail is a powerful picture of the ministry of Christ that brings about peace in a world full of fools. It really is good news. I can't wait to dig into it together on Sunday!

Photo by 愚木混株 cdd20 on Unsplash

The Best is Yet to Come. ---, ? or !

If I were to tell you that the best of your life was yet to come would you respond with denial (no way the best is behind me), doubt (do you think so? maybe? I don’t know ...) or declaration (You know it! I can’t wait!). If we were to talk punctuationish type terms would you be a strikethrough, a question mark, or an exclamation point?

Recently Scotty Smith caught my attention with his daily prayer, “We pray for ourselves, Father. Why do we assume our best years are behind us? Why have we let our regrets, failures, fear, unbelief, and shame shape our hearts more than your grace, love, and faithfulness? Renew, refresh, restore us to first love for Jesus, fresh love for you, Abba, and fresh surrender to the Spirit.”

Last Sunday we talked about how the wilderness comes even to God’s anointed: David, Jesus, you and me. Often when the wilderness comes - be it the wilderness of physical pain, relational wounding, depression, old age, loneliness, etc... -- we can see no way out. But as we observed, God drives us into the wilderness to draw us closer to his heart. While we may find deprivation on a physical or relational level, springs of living water are to be found if we will only look, only wait. And if God’s desire is to give us his heart, then it must follow that the best is yet to come. Personally, I know that I have only sampled the goodness of God. I long for more of his grace, love, and faithfulness. The best IS yet to come.

This week we will pick up with David as he learns the lessons of the wilderness. In particular, we catch David in one of his best moments, trusting in the all sufficiency of his God though circumstances would dictate otherwise. We will be focusing on 1 Sam 24 and also referring to chapter 26 for those of you who like to read ahead.

Have a great weekend. I look forward to seeing you Sunday. And by the way, I am going with the exclamation point -- The best is yet to come!

Photo by Hadija on Unsplash

Go, Going, Gone!

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Growing up in the South (Nashville, TN to be exact) was not easy. Mostly, all the country music really wears on you. On the other hand, the weather is always sunny, so that helps balance things out. Okay, okay, forgive me for being sarcastic. But why would Laura and I leave such a beautiful home state with the familiarity of family and friends? In short, because of a sense of calling in line with Christ’s command to “Go…. make disciples.” No matter if you go across the street to reach a neighbor, across the globe to reach the unreached, or simply move from the comforts of your hometown to a new state, God is eager to use your life to impact others. Laura and I have seen this to be true in the 18 years of shared experience, ministry, and marriage. And that is why we have chosen to go. 

Going disrupts but going reconstructs. Going unhinges our norms but brings new norms. Going humbles but brings humility. Going weakens but going can then strengthen. In addition to God’s command to go at the end of the book of Matthew, He matches this commission with a promise to be with us. Where is your faith needing this reminder of God’s presence? Do you, like the Hayes family, remember a time where you felt lost but God’s simple nearness was your anchor? As much as we want to throw off the confusion, the isolation, the fears, etc, it is in those challenges we can find our great strength by taking hold of the Father’s promise. 

For me, listening to Michael’s sermon on covenant friendship last week only helped highlight the many ways Laura, the kids, and I have been welcomed by the congregation. Invitations, meals, gift cards, move-in helpers, etc. We cannot express enough gratitude for God wrapping his arms around us through His people, the church. And we have been reminded of the great importance of being a committed, active member of the church. Laura and I often ask ourselves, “How do people make it apart from Christ?” Christ’s grace alone gives us all that we need and He has used many of you to pour out that strength. So, again, thank you. 

We also eagerly await the coming years of service here at Christ Church. Please join with us in beckoning our God to pour out his Spirit and grace into the lives of many young people as we seek to leave a dent in Grand Rapids for His glory. May God raise up many new disciples and disciplemakers who will carry the gospel-baton onto the next generation. Psalm 71:18 compels me towards this end, “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”

Photo by Charlota Blunarova on Unsplash