CamDevo

“What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

There’s plenty of conflicting advice in our culture. Like, “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” versus the promise of “no man left behind”. And “a penny saved is a penny earned” versus the warning not to be “penny wise but pound foolish.”

In today’s verse, Jesus tells us where God’s heart is. God loves everyone. Every single person. There is no one He doesn’t care about. No one is expendable. There are no “redshirt” characters in the Bible. Not to God. He longs for every last person to come to Him and enjoy His love and have eternal life.

But He also gave every one of us the power to choose. I can choose to turn away from Him and go my own way. I can go down any path without Him. Will He abandon me then?

Amazingly, He does not. He pursues me. He asks me again, “Are you sure?” He reminds me, “I’m still here and I still love you.”

Those who don’t wander off may feel slighted because God isn’t pursuing them. Like the brother of the Prodigal Son. “What about me?” (Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭25‬-‭32‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Well, the amazing thing about God is that He has enough love, enough attention, enough power, enough room in His house, His heart, and His arms for everyone. He doesn’t have to choose between the needs of the many and the needs of the few. He can meet all the needs of all who want His love. God leaves no one behind but is also with those charging forward in His service.

I don’t have the ability, like God, to take care of everyone I encounter in my life all the time. But I can strive to be like God by being impartial in the care I do offer. Every person is valuable. Every single person is worth saving. If I listen to God, He will show me who He’s pursuing. And He would love to have me participate.

Dear God,

Thank you for your all-encompassing love. I’m so grateful that you pursued me and that you will never let me get lost. Open my eyes and heart to value people the way you do, to see their needs and follow you in meeting them. Forgive me for giving up on some people, for discounting them as hopelessly lost. I know you can do anything, including changing the hardest heart and finding each lost sheep. Show me the people in my life you want me to pursue with you.

“If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭3‬:‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬

For whatever reason, today’s verse makes me think of the United States government. Maybe because of the word “house”, as in House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives is large. There are 435 voting members. That’s a lot of people all trying to be heard, trying to make their mark, and hopefully seeking to represent the people in their districts. And the people in those districts are also diverse with vastly different ideas and opinions and values.

Our government doesn’t work when these elected leaders can’t agree. Without genuine compromise and open-minded cooperation, no laws will be passed, no policies will be updated, nothing will be funded, investigated, or decided. The divided House will fail at its job. Sadly, this seems to be happening in real time.

This verse also makes me think of the Christian Church. I used a capital letter to indicate that I’m referring to the Church as a whole, meaning the entirety of Jesus’s followers. The Church is divided in many ways. In fact, it’s even more divided than the government. There is still just one House of Representatives while there are hundreds of Christian denominations and divisions within those denominations and even divisions within those divisions!

When I was growing up in a small town church, there was a disagreement about something I didn’t understand. (Or maybe I did understand it, but it seemed so petty I thought I must not understand.) Some people left the church to go to a different one because of that disagreement. I remember being very confused because we’d just had a sermon about unity and how people will “know we are Christians by our love.”

Later, my aunt, who was also my Sunday School teacher at the time, did a wonderful thing. She took us on a series of field trips. Every Sunday we attended a different Christian church in the region together. (There were many!) This felt so foreign and strange at first, but her point was that there is only one Jesus whom we all worship. The styles and routines may vary, but Jesus doesn’t. That was a marvelous lesson to learn that I remember to this day.

I think it breaks God’s heart that there isn’t one Church. He must be so frustrated that His children can’t get along well enough to love and worship Him together. Even worse, there have been many violent wars between Christians. Each church claiming they are the “one, true church.”

When followers of Jesus, who should have so much in common, are so divided, there is not much hope of unity in the rest of society.

So what can I do? Pray and do everything in my power to seek unity with other Christians I encounter. Only with humble obedience and God’s power and grace is this possible.

Dear God,

Thank you for your consistency and ever-presence. You made it clear that love is your priority, and it is the only thing that ultimately matters. Forgive my hard-hearted stubbornness when I hear other Christians say things I disagree with that have nothing to do with your central priority. Teach me humility, and also give me the strength to fight for love, the only thing capable of unifying your children, and the only thing worthy of taking a divisive stand.

He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

We just bought a new house. There are so many expenses associated with buying a house and moving into it, on top of the actual purchase price. Every day I feel like a river of money is flowing out our door. And we definitely do not have an endless supply!

Tax time is also approaching so I’ve been gathering all the necessary information about the previous year’s expenses and income. One piece of that is the log of our charitable donations.

One interesting detail stood out as I looked at the spreadsheet today. Since our move to the new house, we haven’t made any donations. We were generous in the months prior to the move, but after that, nothing. Bupkis. Crickets.

Being able to buy a new house is a wonderful blessing. We are so fortunate that we could afford it. So shouldn’t my blessing inspire me to be generous in response? But I wasn’t. Why?

Greed has to be the answer.

We had the money to continue tithing, but I chose to purchase shades for our windows instead. My priority to pay the moving company superseded our giving for another month. And another.

With all the money flowing out, I couldn’t bear to send more.

Time was also a factor. I was just too busy to make charitable donations. Right? It’s all a matter of priorities.

In today’s verse, Jesus warns against greed and prioritizing the things of this world over the things that God values.

I need a priority adjustment.

Dear God,

Thank you for blessing us with this wonderful new house to live in. Please forgive me for using it as an excuse to stop being generous enough to share your blessing with others. Please help me to trust you with my finances and my time management. I know you love me and love it when I am generous.

“Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭33‬ ‭CSB‬‬

God created me. He created me in such a way that I need sleep. And rest. And vacation. And down time. In fact, He made a whole day of rest for His people, the Sabbath. And even God Himself took time to relax and enjoy His creation. The seventh day. (Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

So when Jesus warned His followers to “Watch!” And “Be alert!” He didn’t intend for me to try to keep constant vigil or to be on guard every moment of every day, in case this is the moment He returns. For one thing, He knows I would fail. He created me after all.

So what does Jesus mean? What does being alert entail?

The surrounding verses use the metaphor of a servant watching for the boss to return. A good servant will make sure to stay on top of her duties in her boss’s absence. A good servant assumes her boss may return at any moment and will want fresh linens and a full fridge. A bad servant will let things slide. A bad servant assumes the boss won’t return for a while so she can just let the grass grow long and the mail go unanswered while she plops on the couch to watch TV.

Am I a good servant or a bad servant? Am I staying on top of the duties Jesus gave me, or am I letting them slide, day after day, saying, “Maybe I’ll get to it tomorrow…”

Dear God,

Thank you for giving me a purpose in this life, to love you and to love others. Thank you also for the commission you gave your followers to tell other people about you and your love. Please give me the strength and sense of urgency needed to stay on top of these duties. Remind me each day to seek your face, listen for my assignments, and prioritize your goals. Forgive me for the times when I prioritize my leisure, comfort, and entertainment instead. Teach me to be alert and watchful for your return each day.

“Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

It’s so easy to walk around judging other people. In some ways, we were created to judge. We were given instincts to instantly determine whether someone was a threat or not with just a glance or a sound. And with those same instincts I judge whether I should flee or stay and fight. Am I faster or stronger than my attacker?

Without this ability to judge, I would be very vulnerable in this fallen, treacherous world.

But then I take my ability to judge farther, well beyond its intended purpose. Even after I’ve assessed the threat level, I keep judging, certainly getting less and less accurate as I go. Based on that same glance, I decide I am better looking or wealthier or more honest or smarter or just a better person.

And once I’ve made those snap judgments, they are hard to change. The person I’ve judged is now guilty until proven innocent. If I’ve decided that someone I meet at a party is conceited and greedy based on their clothes or the way they stand, they will have to do something self-deprecating and generous to change my mind.

Is this how I want people to treat me? Absolutely not!

In today’s verse, Jesus warns me that is exactly what will happen. If I make snap judgments about people, I will be judged with equal nonchalance:

God says, “You cannot come to my party because you are ungrateful.”

I say, “What?! No! I’m very grateful. Please let me come in.”

God: “You don’t look grateful.”

Me: “What do you mean?”

God: “I don’t know. You just look entitled, like you think you deserve the beautiful things I made.”

Me: “When did I look like that?! I am very thankful. Thank you! I love this world you made for me!”

God: “Hm. We’ll see. You’ll have to prove you are grateful. Because you still don’t look very grateful.”

Dear God,

Please forgive me for judging people without knowing them. Please don’t judge me that way. Please give me the benefit of the doubt and teach me to extend that to others. Please give me a second (and third and fourth… and 967th) chance and teach me how to forgive others as well. Please judge me fairly. Actually, don’t judge me fairly because I deserve punishment. Instead, please judge me in a way that always ends with me being found innocent! And give me the wisdom and grace to judge others that way as well.

“Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I have given up on a certain prayer. I used to read this verse and think, “I should keep praying for this and one day it will be answered.” But after years of no movement in that area, eventually I gave up on the prayer thinking God must roll His eyes whenever I bring it up again. I don’t know.

The parable today’s verse is referring to is about a woman who was persistent in complaining to a corrupt judge. He kept denying her request because he didn’t care about justice or the law, but she kept refiling her complaint. Time and again he dismissed her case until one day he’d had enough. He granted her request just so he didn’t have to see her anymore.

Jesus compares this situation to prayer but says there is one huge difference. God is not a corrupt judge. He does care about justice and the law. And He loves His people. He is happy to hear my stories. He is eager to heal me, right the wrongs in my life, and protect me from evil when I come to Him.

So why hasn’t He granted my request for this one prayer? And does He really want me to keep asking?

It occurs to me that maybe He did answer my prayer. Maybe the answer was “no” or “not yet” or “not the way you are asking”.

If I approach God knowing He loves me and cares deeply, but is wise beyond my ability to understand, I can pray my prayer in a different way. Instead of asking Him to change someone else, I can ask Him to change me. Instead of asking Him to remove someone else’s problematic behavior, I can ask Him to understand, forgive, and love them where they are.

Instead of whining that God doesn’t answer my prayer, maybe I should spend some time listening to His actual answer. The one He gave me instead of the one I’m expecting.

Dear God,

Thank you for your love, your wisdom, and your promise to hear and answer my prayers. Teach me to trust you in this. Open my eyes and ears to see and hear how you answer my prayers. I’m sorry for stubbornly refusing to look past the answer I want to see and understand the answer you gave.

The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I’ve always wondered how to recognize God’s voice. I have many thoughts pop into my head. Are any of them a message from God?

I love the story of Samuel’s first encounter with God, of which today’s verse is a part. However, I’ve always been envious of the way Samuel heard God’s voice. Apparently young Samuel heard God’s voice so clearly, he thought it was his teacher, Eli, calling him. Three times he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. What do you want?” (I’m paraphrasing.)

Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice either. It was actually Eli who eventually realized it was God Samuel had been hearing. And Eli told Samuel to reply the way he did in today’s verse. Just listen.

Why didn’t Samuel know God’s voice? And why did Eli?

Eli was a priest. He had spent his life in service to God. He’d read the scriptures, studied the law, and knew God. Samuel was young and just getting started as Eli’s helper.

If I want to be able to recognize God’s voice, I need to spend time learning about His character, reading His word, and praying to Him. God won’t say anything out of character. The God of love won’t tell me to hate anyone for example.

But it would also be helpful to have someone else who knows God verify it for me the way Eli verified it for Samuel. “Hey, that sounds like God!”

So what do I do when I think God may be trying to tell me something? To start, I can take Eli’s advice and listen prayerfully. Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.

Dear God,

Thank you for speaking to me at various times in my life. Even when you use your still, small voice instead of your out-loud, obvious voice, help me always to recognize it as your voice. Forgive me for the times when I haven’t heard you, haven’t listened, or haven’t obeyed. Keep my ears open for you at all times.

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Does God really want me to pray about everything?

Yes. According to today’s verses, He does.

Does He want to hear about my annoying hangnail? Apparently.

Does He want me to talk to Him about the difficult email I just got? Yes. Preferably before I reply.

Does He want to listen to me describe a new diagnosis I received? He’s all ears.

Does He really want me to whine to Him about how awful it smelled when a bird pooped on my head, and I couldn’t get home to wash it right away, and I was supposed go to a meeting? Surprisingly yes.

Anything and everything are the words used here.

Anything that I’m tempted to worry about, He wants me to bring to Him instead.

With gratitude.

Wait. What? I’m supposed to thank God for the things I’m worried about? No, not exactly. My gratitude is for who He is, for His willingness to listen to my problems, big and small, and for the peace He promises to provide when I trust Him. And I guess, if those problems bring me closer to God and increase my faith in Him, I could also be thankful for the problems themselves. A little.

Dear God,

I am so fortunate to know the God who wants to hear about all my problems so He can dispatch my worries and replace them with peace. Remind me to turn to you instead when I’m tempted to fret. Thank you for being available anytime, even in the middle of the night when the problems loom largest. Thank you for your inexplicable gift of peace.

“This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I used to feel like the qualification used in this verse was kind of a cop out. If I ask God anything “according to His will” He will hear me. It’s like saying if I ask Betty for something she already wants, she’ll give it to me. Well, duh.

If someone asks me to give them something I was about to throw in the trash, I will happily give it to them instead. Or if I’m tired and want to go to bed, and someone asks me to go to bed, again I will happily oblige.

But that’s not exactly what this verse means. God’s will is so much broader. God’s will is that we love Him with everything we’ve got and also love other people as ourselves. Jesus said these were God’s top priorities and that all the Law is encompassed by these two ideas.

So, as long as what I ask God is in keeping with love, He’s all ears. He wants to answer my pleas. He is ready to hear my prayers. He’s ready to bless.

But when He hears me asking for hateful or selfish things, He turns away disappointed. I’m not loving my neighbor. When I ask for what I think is right, regardless of what God’s wisdom might be, He sighs and turns away. I’m not loving Him.

Jesus modeled this in the Garden before His crucifixion. He prayed for God to take away the coming pain and to please change plans. Of course He did! But crucially, He finished His prayer by saying, and meaning, “Not my will but thine be done.”

Dear God,

Thank you for the example of Jesus’s prayers at such a difficult time in His life. In my prayers, teach me how to pray with love for you and for others. Remind me that your will and wisdom are perfect. And my ideas are sketchy, at best. I trust you to hear my prayers, but do the best thing anyway.

“Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I grew up in a church where people prayed a lot. Every time any group of us got together, praying was involved. I learned to pray at a young age. Even so, it always seemed a little mystifying. Would God really hear me and care about the random things I would talk about? The Bible says yes.

My husband grew up in a church where praying didn’t happen all the time — at least not by the “regular” people. The priest did all the praying and even he had to use special words in Latin to make it count.

In today’s verses, Jesus stresses that prayer isn’t complicated. It’s simple with simple words. It’s a conversation between God and me. I can use the same words I would use when talking with anyone. All that matters is THAT I pray, and that when I pray, I honor God first and be honest about the rest.

When my husband and I first started dating, I asked him to pray with me, but he was at a loss. So I did the praying. I made my prayers simple and short when I prayed with him. I thanked God for who He was then talked briefly about some nitty-gritty issues in our lives. The end. Amen.

I think prayer gets a bad rap. We really over-complicate it ensuring that it doesn’t happen at all. Jesus tries to change all that. He tells His disciples that prayer doesn’t have to be long or fancy or done only while kneeling with your eyes closed and your head bowed. There are no magic words to make God tune in. He’s always listening because He is always here, and, most importantly, He always loves me.

Dear God,

Thank you for prayer. Thank you for listening to me no matter how eloquent or clumsy my words. I’m so grateful for the beautiful gift of your listening ear. Remind me to take advantage of it during every spare moment whether it is peaceful or hectic, whether I am happy or stressed out or angry or sad or ashamed or proud. I believe you care.