CamDevo

““But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬

These verses are like the Golden Rule but more aggressive, more counter to human nature, more bizarro-world. The golden rule just says to treat everyone well (as well as I want to be treated.) These verses specifically pick out my enemies, people who hate me, people who curse me, and people who mistreat me. These are very strong words, especially hate and curse. Not only are they strong, they are active and purposeful words. They convey intent and derision aimed directly at me. My response to this level of loathing would probably be shock, fear, confusion, shame, maybe anger… depending on whether or not I felt I’d earned such contempt. I would do my best to avoid those people. In the end I’d probably hate them back. This is not how God wants the world to work. This is all upside-down to Him. And He wants His children to help turn things right-side-up. To do that I need to put aside my instinctual reactions and do the opposite. Jesus says my response to bitter animosity should be love! I should do good things for haters. I should bless the cursers. And I should make time to pray for the mistreaters. Notice how these words that describe my response are also very active, purposeful and intentional words. To counter active hate I must be active in how I love.

Dear God,

Teach me how to be more active in how I love the people who hate me. Show me for whom, specifically, in my life you want me to spend time doing good things. Point out who you want me to speak blessings over and pray for. Remind me of this verse the next time I am about to react to animosity with normal ‘human’ emotions, actions, and attitudes. Give me the strength to love instead. And I pray for your perfect kingdom to begin, where love reigns and all hatred is abolished for good.

“Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us —  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I can imagine some pretty wonderful things for God to do. And it’s actually kind of fun to try to think of the best, most outlandish, could-never-happen thing. World peace? Every molecule of pollution turns to clean breathable air or pure water? Every person on earth has a beautiful, safe, and comfortable place to call home? Well, according to today’s verse, God is more than able to make all of that happen. There is nothing I can think up that God can’t do. A purple octopus that recites limericks in Swahili. He could create that. A new parallel universe that is added to the multiverse every time I hiccup. God could do that. Who knows, maybe He has. It’s important to note though that there is a little part of this verse that makes it more personal for me. It says, “…according to the power that works in us.” All that power is available to me. In me! God may or may not want to create speaking purple octopi, but I know He does want me to participate in some very specific things here and now. He wants me to love Him and love His children. His infinite power is available to me to make that happen. Whatever I need to accomplish His will is mine. I can’t dream big enough to run out of God’s resources when it comes to loving people.

Dear God,

Thank you for your love and your power, and thank you for your challenge to your children to try to think of imaginative ways to use that power to love. Teach me to be bold with the resources you’ve given me when it comes to loving people. Forgive me when I think too small because of fear or selfishness. I trust you!

“But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭CSB‬‬

For some reason, this verse makes me think of the people I have seen taking photo after photo of themselves in public places. Often they spend several minutes trying out various angles and expressions until they find just the look they are going for. Sometimes the background includes some tourist attraction or a beautiful scene, but sometimes not. To a bystander, these poses look pretty silly but the people posing don’t seem to care. It is clearly important to get this selfie just right, presumably to post online for others to see. There’s nothing wrong with posting selfies, but I wonder if the people posting them actually enjoyed their time at the tourist attraction or spent time just enjoying the beautiful scenery around them. Do they even remember the experience or just the photo of it? I guess that’s why this verse reminds me of this phenomenon. James says someone who hears God’s word but doesn’t actually do it is like a person who looks in a mirror but forgets what they saw when they walk away. I think the hearer-not-doer is like a person traveling to Paris, dressing up, waiting for the right light, and getting 1000 selfies with the Eiffel Tower in the background, and then poring over the results to select the best one to post on their social. But they never actually go up the tower or walk around it or visit it’s museum. They get their selfie and fly home. What was the point? Getting other people to admire them? James warns that just hearing God’s word is not enough. In fact it’s a waste of time. It does me no good to go to church and listen to the sermon if I don’t contemplate it and pray about how I can learn from it and apply it to my life. Am I just going to church to put on a show?

Dear God,

Please forgive me for the (many) times I have read your word and then just gone on with my life forgetting about what I read. Please remind me to listen to you when I read your word, to ask you how I can apply your wisdom to my situation, here and now. And then help me to apply it. I want your word to sink deep into my heart so loving your children becomes my new way of life, not just something I know I should probably do because I heard it somewhere.

“For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I wonder if Paul knew what would become of his words, his letters to his friends in the churches he planted. I doubt that he expected them to become part of the very Scriptures he refers to in this verse. I doubt that even Moses understood how enduring his words would be when he wrote the Torah (the first five books of our Bible.) Paul said the endurance of the scriptures should give me hope. It does. Why? Because it is such a miracle! Here I am in the year 2023, in the United States, sitting on my couch reading Paul’s words on a tiny electronic screen, in English. The unlikely turn of events that brought Paul’s message, and the rest of the Bible, to me today tells me about the power God has to accomplish His will. (They are really His words after all.) And it also tells me about His love for me because His words have so much encouragement in them, and wisdom and power. It is so easy to see God, to see His character clearly, when reading and studying all the Scriptures. God’s message is timeless and miraculous and right here in my hands.

Dear God,

Thank you for the amazing miracles that brought your Word to me here and now. Thank you for revealing yourself to me through the words that some guy wrote thousands of years ago because he knew you and loved you and obeyed you. Remind me of the miracle I have available to me every day in this Bible so I never take it, or your love, for granted.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭CSB‬‬

This verse is part of a huge poem demonstrating the author’s, presumably David’s, love for God’s word. He compares God’s word to many lovable things like honey, health, gold, music, friendship… Today’s verse compares it to light, specifically light that allows me to see where I’m going. Without it, chances are pretty high that I will stumble or run into something and get hurt or lost or break something. All sorts of bad outcomes can be avoided by the application of just a little light at my feet. All sorts of bad outcomes can be avoided by the application of God’s word on my steps, my choices. This also implies that I should be taking steps. When my path is confusing or scary or unclear, God doesn’t want me to stop moving. The verse doesn’t say God’s word is the lamp over my armchair, or God’s word is my desk lamp. It says God’s word is a lamp for my feet on my path. It helps me to go, be active. It’s a flashlight. It’s useful for moving and doing. For my flashlight to work I have to keep the batteries fresh and turn it on. In the same way, I have to keep God’s word fresh in my mind so it’s easily accessed when I get out there and encounter rough and unknown paths in my life.

Dear God,

Thank you so much that I live in a place where it is so easy to access your word! I have dozens of translations available to me at the touch of a button. Inspire me each day to spend time reading it, contemplating its meaning, listening to your voice in it, and applying it to my situation. Bring it to mind when I need it, and teach me how to use its wisdom as I seek to do your work and obey your will today.

“See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

This verse is part of a short list of instructions from Paul to the believers in Thessalonica about how to get along as part of a group. As we all know it isn’t easy! Even among people who are trying hard to be like Jesus and to love each other, it is very hard to get along. For proof of that, just think about how many different churches their are. There can be dozens even in one small town. We really should only have one church where all followers of Jesus are members. But that’s very far from reality. My parents who spent their entire marriage in one church suddenly decided to leave that church and join a different one simply because of the church’s policy on wearing masks during a pandemic. As a flawed human, I find it really difficult to get along with other flawed humans. And that is exactly why Paul wrote today’s verse. His advice will go a long way toward easing tensions if I take it to heart. If someone is mean to me, human nature urges me to be mean back. Or at least to ignore them or avoid them. But Paul suggests trying a different approach. He tells me to ignore that urge and instead to “pursue what is good for each other and for all.” Pursue is a very active, aggressive word. I don’t just wish it; I actively work hard at making sure good things happen. For who? For the specific people who hurt me or who I disagree with, yes, but also for all the people in the group. My own needs, desires, and preferences belong at the bottom of the priority pile. If I am always thinking and praying about what is best for everyone else in the group and actively working toward making that happen while putting aside my own interests, I think our churches might be less fragmented and more effective at loving the world. Especially if all the members have this same attitude, like Paul is urging in today’s verse.

Dear God,

Thank you for your church. Thank you for Paul’s wise words to the churches of his time that struggled in similar ways to how churches still struggle today. Forgive me for my own pride and selfishness when it comes to group dynamics. Help me to put aside what I feel is right or fair for me in favor of what is good for others, while always being obedient to your word and will. Show me my attitudes that are selfish and wrong and guide me into ways of thinking and behaving that promote love and unity in my church instead.

“He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

The ideas of light and darkness are used a lot in the Bible. Light is used to symbolize God and love and life and good; whereas, darkness is used to symbolize evil, sin, and death. These associations aren’t only found in the Bible. They have made their way into our culture too. In Star Wars, virtuous Jedi are drawn to the Dark Side when they give in to selfish desires for power. Horror movies are almost always filmed at night, in the dark, while movies about heaven often depict bright white rooms or glowing clouds or even sunshine streaming through gardens. It’s natural for humans to associate light with good and darkness with bad. Most predators hunt at night after all. It’s instinctive. Today’s verse is one among many using this symbolism. But there’s a twist. Paul starts by saying God rescued us from the domain of darkness. So far, so good. He continues, “and transferred us into the kingdom of…” I was expecting “light.” But Paul doesn’t say light. He says, “the Son He loves.” Light isn’t just a symbol for Jesus. Jesus IS light. Jesus Himself said, “I AM the light of the world.” The only reason there is any light anywhere ever is because Jesus is there. There is no light, no good, no love, no joy, no truth… without Jesus. Unlike in Star Wars where the Jedi start out good but turn to the Dark Side, we were all born into the domain of darkness. Jesus gives us the opportunity to turn to the Light Side, to Him.

Dear Jesus,

I wholeheartedly accept your Light! Thank you for rescuing me from the domain of darkness. Fill my life and heart with your light and all that is good. Thank you for all the ways you do this for me everyday through birdsongs or flowers blooming or a joyful memory. Teach me how to reflect your light into the lives of those around me.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.”
‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭CSB‬‬

James is talking about intercessory prayer (praying for someone else), but it’s important not to gloss over the first part of this verse, as I did at first. Confession must come before prayer. Why is that important? Because it is the prayer of a righteous person that is very powerful. And there is no way for any human to be righteous without Jesus’s saving grace. And I can only have that if I confess, repent, and humbly accept forgiveness. Once that is squared away, my prayers go right to God’s listening ear. If I skip that step, my prayers end up on God’s mailroom floor. If I really want my prayers for someone else to be effective, I must first clean my own conscience. However, there is one more little detail in this verse about confession. James says it’s important to confess our sins to each other before praying for each other. Why would that be necessary? It’s God’s forgiveness that makes me righteous. Do I really need to humiliate myself by confessing to someone before praying for them? One of the problems with sin is its real life consequences which can be very complicated. They can affect my health and my relationships and my finances… every aspect of my life. Without confessing my sin, how can I really be healed? It would be like giving me an aspirin for the pain in my head while ignoring the giant nail sticking out of my skull. To pray for someone effectively, the sin must be removed first. But confession to people is hard! We are so judgmental. It gets easier if I’m not the only one confessing though. I think that’s why James teaches that we should confess to each other before praying for each other. Confessing develops an intimate safe space where the root of the problems can be exposed. Only then are my prayers “very powerful.”

Dear God,

Thank you for prayer. I’m so grateful that I am allowed to speak directly to you whenever I want to. Thank you for Jesus’s sacrifice which made that possible. Remind me not to take this for granted though. Remind me to confess, repent, and be thankful every time I seek to enter your holy presence. I want my prayers for the people you put in my life to be powerful!

“From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the Lord be praised.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭113‬:‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I struggle with praise. I find it hard to praise other people, and I also find it hard to praise God. I guess it’s just not something I have much experience with. On the other hand I find gratitude and saying thank you very easy. I thank people for big things and small quite often. And the first thing I do when I pray is thank God for His many blessings. But thankfulness and praise are not the same thing at all, although they are often mistakenly used interchangeably. After studying the Psalms, especially David’s writings, I have learned a lot about praise. The big difference between gratefulness and praise is that gratefulness is all about me while praise is all about God. When I thank God for a beautiful sunrise, I’m telling Him that I appreciate how His art has affected me. It made my morning more beautiful and joyful. When I praise God, I tell Him I appreciate His creativity in making such art and marvel at the fact that He makes this art whether anyone is there to notice it or not. I simple tell Him how beautiful His character is. When I was first studying praise, I wondered why God wants me to praise Him. Is He really that needy and insecure that He had to create people to tell Him how wonderful He is? Ha, no! After writing new praises every morning in a “praise journal”, I quickly learned the real reason God wants me to praise Him. It is really for me, not for Him. He doesn’t need anything from me. But it is incredibly helpful for me to spend time contemplating how big, powerful, holy, loving, beautiful, patient, creative, funny, forgiving (and so much more!) God is. It increases my faith, builds my trust of Him, and calms my fears. When I praise God, I am reminded of who He is and how silly of me it is to worry about anything.

Dear Beautiful Creator,

Thank you so much for being you! You are amazing. You created everything, you are everywhere, and you know everything. You fill the vast space between the stars as well as the areas between the molecules of my thumb with your holiness and love. You are more than I can imagine and yet you love it when I try. Praise to you, oh Lord!

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

These days saying the words “a chosen race” does not bring up positive feelings for most people. In fact, the idea that one race of people is any better than any other race has been the cause of countless acts of violence, riots, oppression, murder, not to mention all out war. But the truth of the Bible is that God did have a “chosen race” and that was Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites. God chose the Jews out of all the people that ever existed on the face of the earth to be His royal priesthood, His people called by His name. But God’s intention for this chosen race was not to rule the other nations. It was not about supremacy. It was not about power or superiority or being on the top of any list. Being God’s chosen race simply meant that He intended to reveal Himself in a special way to those people so that they in turn could bless the rest of us with what they learned about God. And from that race would come the salvation the entire world needs. Well, that Salvation did come from God’s chosen race. Jesus was born into the world as a Jew. And His sacrifice gave us all the chance to enter into God’s new chosen people. As a follower of Jesus, I am God’s child, a member of His royal priesthood. But again, this does not mean that I am somehow better than anyone else in any way! It means God has given me the opportunity serve Him: to spread the Good News about Him, to shine His light into the darkness around me, and to bless people who don’t yet know Him by doing good and representing Him to them with love.

Dear God,

Thank you for allowing me to enter into your “chosen race” through Jesus’s sacrifice. I know the fear, pride, and hatred that exist among your children make you very sad. Teach me what I can do today to shine your light into dark places, to speak the Good News about your love, and to humbly serve as one of your chosen people.