PENTECOST • 46

What is the “right” way of the Lord? What is the “right” way that God should move?

This week’s readings challenge what we think is the “right way of God."

TO ACCOMPANY YOUR LECTIONARY READINGS, LISTEN TO THIS SONGS WHILE YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

reading for: 22 Sept

Mark 9:38-50

Who is “Right” Before the Lord?

  • READ

This week’s account begins with John raising up a complaint (like many Singaporeans) to Jesus (the governmental figure). After failing terribly in stopping someone use Jesus’ name in vain, John finally brought his complaint up. What was happening? Despite doing the “right” thing by casting out demons, this person was not follow the “right” group (v. 38)! And how can this outsider be casting demons?

But Jesus reply stuns not only John but us. He says that someone who does a miracle in His name in one moment cannot suddenly turn around and speak evil of him (v. 39). So if he isn’t against them, then he’s for them (v. 40). He then adds that even someone who gives them water to drink because they belong to Jesus is considered to be in the “right” group (v. 41).

Then Jesus shifts the topic to a famous passage that we usually take on its own - the intensity to which we should fight sin (v. 42-50). Basically that its better for someone drown themselves rather than cause a child to sin (v. 42). Better to enter eternity with one hand, one foot, one eye than to have both hands, both feet and both eyes in hell. (v. 43-47).

This shift is important because Jesus wants to re-shift the focus of John and the disciples. They were focused on others outside of the “right group” and their wrong. When John and the disciples should instead be attentive to their own hearts and attitudes. As people doing the ministry of Jesus, were they of the “right” heart and attitude? In their excitement and eagerness, were they causing little ones to sin?

For in the end, everyone will be tested by God’s refining fire (v. 49). And if the people who are called to be salty and season the lives of others aren’t, then what kind of ministry and miracle would they be performing? (v. 50)

  • REFLECT

All of us are God’s servants, people called to serve others (v. 35). Serving others isn’t just a pastors, leaders calling, its the calling of all Christians, every son and daughter of God.

But in our serving of God, we come alongside others who have a different method and perspective. And our usual response is, is this person in the “right group”? Is he/she with me or against me? Or more often, “This person is against me!”

Jesus’ exhortation to John and us is simply that it isn’t our business. Everyone will be tested by God’s fire in the end. Instead, we need to look at ourselves and consider if we are aligned to God. Are our hearts aligned to His ways and His heart for His people? And are we in our serving casting others to sin instead? We need to wage a fierce war to deal with things that cause us to sin. This is what it means to be “right” before the Lord.

Pray the Psalm this week along with the Psalmist:

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?

Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins!

Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:12-14

reading for: 23 Sept

Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29

Who is “Right” for God’s Use?

  • READ

    Israel is in crisis. Just a few verses earlier, they had complained and the LORD sent a fire and burned some of them. And when they cried out for help, the Lord relented (v. 1-3).

    Now the foreigners (rabble) among them begun to crave the food in Egypt and influenced the Israelites in the same way. And before long, they started to complain even about the manna they were given (v. 4-6). It wasn’t long before their complaints reached the ears of Moses (v. 10).

    Filled with frustration, Moses began to complain himself to the LORD. In fact, his response, can easily be interpreted today as someone deep in depression - “Just go ahead and kill me, do me this favour and spare me from this misery!” (v. 15)

    “Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why then tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby?” (v. 12)

    God’s response and solution to Moses is odd too, find 70 elders of Israel and bring them to stand with you (v. 16). And I will take some of the Spirit on you and put it on them. In this way, they will bear the burden with you (v. 17).

    Weren’t these elders part of the Israelites who were complaining? Weren’t they also acting like babies, complaining and whining like the rest? Why would God choose 70 babies amongst 600,000 to grow up and take up this burden with Moses?

    Then another odd and random moment happens, two elders who weren’t at the tabernacle with Moses began to prophesy. Eldad and Medad two elders who were listed to go, but didn’t. And guess what? They started to prophesy in camp (v. 27)

     

    This caused another uproar within the camp. Even Joshua, Moses’ assistant since young, told Moses to stop this crazy thing that was happening. Yet Moses, said, “if only all of the Lord’s people would prophesy and have God’s Spirit. If only (v. 29).  

  • REFLECT

    Were the 70 elders of Israel “right” for God’s use? And its clear that Eldad and Medad were supposed to have went together with the 70 elders. Why then did God still put His spirit on them despite their disobedience? On so many accounts, neither the 70 elders nor Eldad and Medad deserved to be chosen by God to share the burden of Moses. Yet they were.

    And it makes us wonder, does God choose the “right” person for the job or does he choose the person for the job to make him/her “right”?

    Are we hesitating to step into a door/opportunity that the Lord has provided because we feel unworthy?

    Or do we view someone God has chosen as not being the “right” fit for the job?

    In God’s eyes and economy, God chooses what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God (1 Cor 1:28-19).

reading for: 24 Sept

James 5:13-20

What is the “Right” Response to Life?

  • READ

    What would you tell someone who is suffering?

    What would you tell someone who is happy and delighted?

    Or what would you say to someone who is sick and whose body is failing?

    James practical answer to these practical life issues is to pray. Pray if you find yourself in suffering. Ask your elders to pray for you if you are sick and pray even if you find yourself delivered and happy.

    The "right" response to our challenges and joys in life, is to pray.

    Pray? Shouldn't we see a doctor if we're sick?

    Shouldn't we find a way out if we're suffering?

    Shouldn't we go out and tell the world if we're overflowing with delight from our healing?

    Nope. The first thing James tells us to do is pray.

    Pray?! Why is prayer so important? Why is our first response to pray?

    Prayer is ultimately acknowledging and recognising God in our life. Recognising that He is the Creator of our bodies, our Father who knows our needs, our Saviour in times of need and our Delight in times of joy. By praying we learn to abide in God, we learn to come to the Giver of Life and recognise that He alone has the answers and is the Answer.

    And that's important because our tendency (sin) is to run away from God and find answers on our own. Our tendency is to take things in our own hands. So praying turns us away from ourselves and to the Lord.

  • REFLECT

    Have you been praying? Have you been recognising and turning to the Lord? It’s time to pray. For prayer is the only "right" response to life.

reading for: 25 Sept

Psalm 19:7-14

What is truly “Right” and Worth our Meditations?

  • READ

    In a world flooded with information constantly eyeing for our attentions, what can we say is truly “right” and worth our meditations? Insta-stories? News feeds from Facebook or Straits Times? Or Tiktok videos?

    If we are seeking life and yearning for our souls to find its delight, there is only one true and “right” source that the Psalmist has discovered.

     

    The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together.

    The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.

    The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy.

    The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes.

    God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee.

    The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.

     

    God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds.

    You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.

     

    There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure.

    Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool?

    Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!

    Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work;

    Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.

    These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray.

    Accept them when I place them on the morning altar,

    O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

    Psalm 19:7-14 (The Message)

  • REFLECT

    Read the Psalm at least 3 times, slowly. If possible, read it aloud to yourself. After each reading, pause, close your eyes and allow God’s Word to sink into your heart. After a few minutes, read again, pause again. If there is a prayer that arises from within, allow that to arise to the Lord and bring it to Him.

Season of PentecostCNL