Does God ever close His ears? Does He ever turn us off or tune us out? Does God ever refuse to answer His phone? Does He just let it go to voice mail? Apparently the answer is "yes." In these passages God simply shuts off the inquirers. He's not listening and He's not answering. He maintains radio silence.
If God already knows our thoughts before we ever say them, is it even possible for God not to hear our cries or prayers or questions? It's not that he can't hear them or doesn't know what we're thinking or asking. He simply refuses to engage us. The question is "why?" Why would God refuse not to engage or interact with us?
In the case of Herod in Luke 23, Jesus ignores all Herod's questions because of his motives. Herod really isn't interested in knowing God on a personal level. He's interested in debating, matching wits, coercing Jesus into performing a miracle or giving him a show of His power. Jesus simply ignored Herod's insulate attitude and behavior.
In the Ezekiel passage, God turns His back and refuses to converse with the Jewish leaders because of their rejection of Him in the past. Since they broke their promise to God, God simply said, "You don't want me to be your God, then fine, you're on your own." Since they refused to listen and obey when God revealed Himself in the past, He wasn't going to humor them or play games with them. Ezekiel went on to lay it out for them.
It's interesting to me how many people come looking for God only when they are in the deepest of trouble or they are hoping to muse their curiosity. They choose to live however they want, ignore God, His truths and then want Him to get them out of a jam. They want Him to remove the consequences of their own actions. They virtually ignore Him (even though they might go to church regularly) by their actions and behavior and then wonder why God won't act, why He remains silent. Is it really that hard to figure out?
God, my heart aches when I see the broken lives of these who have ignored you and your word. I know you love them. I know your heart aches as well. Lord, help me to proclaim your word and truths in such a way that men and women can grasp it, be drawn to it, and apply it obediently in their lives. Help me be faithful in all aspects of my life to you through your spirit.
Showing posts with label prayers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayers. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
Daily Reflections on Lk. 11:2-4 (Meaningless Prayers)
A friend of mine and I were musing one day about the ritual of praying before we ate. He jokingly utted the prayer, "Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub." I crossed myself and we dug in. Another friend joined us and upon hearing our conversation looked heavenward and simply said, "You know I'm thankful." Don't think we were being disrespectful or sac religious. We had gathered at breakfast to spend an hour in prayer, seeking God's will together.
Ironically, however, that is about how many look at prayer. For some, if you swallow one bite of food without praying for your meal, you've ruined it and you'll probably have indigestion for the rest of the day or maybe the week. For some, the words they utter before they devour are as meaningless as my friend's facetious prayer. For some, "The Blessing" magically transforms this ordinary food into holy food which directly goes to the healthful "nourishment to our bodies" even if it's sugar-filled, greasy or high in saturated fat. For some there's barely an acknowledgment of God's involvement in our lives.
The habit of praying before you eat is not to be about dogmatism, ritual or token acknowledgment of God's presence. It's to be a sincere appreciation of God's involvement, concern, provision and protection. Unfortunately for many, the few words spoken aloud or breathed in silence at a meal may be the only time they even stop to recognize God during the day. And because of the harriedness of the day, even that sometimes slides by unattended.
The point of prayer in the first place is to invite God into your life. When teaching His followers to pray, Jesus instructed them to begin by focusing on our relationship with God, asking Him to exercise His will in our life. We share our need with a heart of submission and authenticity, recognizing our dependence and desire for God's involvement. We ask for God's Spirit to continue to transform us into the image of His son. We ask for the ability to offer grace, mercy and forgiveness.
That kind of prayer doesn't happen in 10-15 seconds before we dine on our delectables. That kind of prayer stems from a deep desire to know and pursue God in every element of our life.
God, forgive me when I insult you with my brash or insolent attitude. You're more than a passing thought or personal ritual to bring good luck to my life. God, your the center of my life. I need and want you involved in my daily activities. I thirst and hunger for you.
Ironically, however, that is about how many look at prayer. For some, if you swallow one bite of food without praying for your meal, you've ruined it and you'll probably have indigestion for the rest of the day or maybe the week. For some, the words they utter before they devour are as meaningless as my friend's facetious prayer. For some, "The Blessing" magically transforms this ordinary food into holy food which directly goes to the healthful "nourishment to our bodies" even if it's sugar-filled, greasy or high in saturated fat. For some there's barely an acknowledgment of God's involvement in our lives.
The habit of praying before you eat is not to be about dogmatism, ritual or token acknowledgment of God's presence. It's to be a sincere appreciation of God's involvement, concern, provision and protection. Unfortunately for many, the few words spoken aloud or breathed in silence at a meal may be the only time they even stop to recognize God during the day. And because of the harriedness of the day, even that sometimes slides by unattended.
The point of prayer in the first place is to invite God into your life. When teaching His followers to pray, Jesus instructed them to begin by focusing on our relationship with God, asking Him to exercise His will in our life. We share our need with a heart of submission and authenticity, recognizing our dependence and desire for God's involvement. We ask for God's Spirit to continue to transform us into the image of His son. We ask for the ability to offer grace, mercy and forgiveness.
That kind of prayer doesn't happen in 10-15 seconds before we dine on our delectables. That kind of prayer stems from a deep desire to know and pursue God in every element of our life.
God, forgive me when I insult you with my brash or insolent attitude. You're more than a passing thought or personal ritual to bring good luck to my life. God, your the center of my life. I need and want you involved in my daily activities. I thirst and hunger for you.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Daily Reflections on Jn. 14:13-14; 15:7-8 (Is God a Genie?)
Is God a genie? We keep Him bottled up until we want something. Then we uncork the bottle, let God out and ask (or demand) God to grant our wish and we wait for Him to work His magic. When we're done with Him, we put Him back in His bottle until the next time we need or want something.
Many people treat God this way. They read a passage like this and think God will give them anything they ask. In fact there are a slew of religious teachers and showmen that proclaim the reason you're poor is that you haven't "named it and claimed it" in Jesus' name. Some expound you'd never have to be sick; proclaiming if you'd have enough faith God would give you instant healing.
As the owner of the cattle on a thousand hills, God certainly can take care of your financial needs. There's no question that God can and does miraculous healing. And Jesus did say ask Him anything in His name and He would give it to you. However, the genie approach to prayer is not what Jesus had in mind when He said those words.
If you read closely the context of these passages, you'll discover that Jesus is talking about passing on the mantle of fulfilling God's mission and purpose. He's going back to The Father. He's expecting the disciples to pick up the cause and pursue it with all their being, heart, soul, mind and strength. If their passion and purpose is to fulfill God's will and they are relying on God's power to fulfill it, God says ask away. If their desire is to accomplish God's task, with God's power, to God's glory, then go for it.
God, I don't want to treat you like a genie. You don't exist for me. I exist for you. I want to be Your servant. I want to be Your messenger and to accomplish Your purpose for me. I want people to see You, come to know You, experience Your grace and Your victory, to revel in Your glory and majesty, to bask in the light of Your presence, to love You.
Many people treat God this way. They read a passage like this and think God will give them anything they ask. In fact there are a slew of religious teachers and showmen that proclaim the reason you're poor is that you haven't "named it and claimed it" in Jesus' name. Some expound you'd never have to be sick; proclaiming if you'd have enough faith God would give you instant healing.
As the owner of the cattle on a thousand hills, God certainly can take care of your financial needs. There's no question that God can and does miraculous healing. And Jesus did say ask Him anything in His name and He would give it to you. However, the genie approach to prayer is not what Jesus had in mind when He said those words.
If you read closely the context of these passages, you'll discover that Jesus is talking about passing on the mantle of fulfilling God's mission and purpose. He's going back to The Father. He's expecting the disciples to pick up the cause and pursue it with all their being, heart, soul, mind and strength. If their passion and purpose is to fulfill God's will and they are relying on God's power to fulfill it, God says ask away. If their desire is to accomplish God's task, with God's power, to God's glory, then go for it.
God, I don't want to treat you like a genie. You don't exist for me. I exist for you. I want to be Your servant. I want to be Your messenger and to accomplish Your purpose for me. I want people to see You, come to know You, experience Your grace and Your victory, to revel in Your glory and majesty, to bask in the light of Your presence, to love You.
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