Aaron Hufty – Page 47 – The Everyday Prayer

The King We Need

The First Day of Advent

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. . . For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace.”—Isaiah 9:2, 6-7. (NASV)

Where was Isaiah when this vision came to him? I wonder. Was he in prayer? In a meeting? For months, a growing despair had settled like a wet, cold fog on the people of Judah. Great challenges faced the nation. Real fears. Inadequate kings.

In an unforgettable moment, God found the young prophet and filled his heart and mind with a vision of a coming, capable King!

Now, words seemed inadequate. This coming Prince would be God! A man, but with all the attributes of God. Wisdom. Eternality. Might. God-sized results would come with Him. Peace. Increase without end. The prophet could hardly imagine, much less describe, what he was seeing.

In a moment, Isaiah understood. It is not freedom that men need. It is government. Only a strong, fair, just, wise King could lead the nation to safety. Self-rule is a deep and deepening darkness. Trusting people is always a disappointment.

We see in retrospect what Isaiah saw in prospect. When Jesus came the light shined. The King we need is finally here.

Don Guthrie

This week’s Re:Verse passage is Matthew 1:18 – 2:12

Agree to Disagree

Re:Verse reading–Romans 14:1-21 (day two) For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. vs. 15 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. vs 21

In this great body of believers it is not out of the realm of possibility to assume that not everyone will think or act like you. It is also fair to assume that some will think or act counter to what you think wise. Different people have different priorities, this is not a surprise. But if the Body of Christ is to move forward collectively how shall we contend with these differences; especially when they can be so divisive?

Scholar Melanie Ross offers a suggestion in the introduction to her book Evangelical Versus Liturgical? She suggests that we extend the hermeneutic of charity to all those who are ultimately striving for Kingdom work. There are things which we will disagree upon, and some of them may be profound. As we enter this holiday season where we will sit across the table from family and enter into the taboo topics of religion and politics, season your speech with the idea that if we are at the heart seeking to bring others to Christ and we can agree on who he is and what he came to do. This will go a long way towards peace. Happy Thanksgiving.

Beautiful Debt

Re:Verse reading–Romans 13 (day one) Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. vs 8

If you have ever take any kind of Christian financial planning course you have probably encountered this scripture. It is the most beautiful debt, the debt of love. Not a kind of love that is saccharine, but one that is altruistic. We care deeply for the well-being of our fellow man. Jesus, above all, loved us enough to die for us. If we accept this gift of love, then our duty becomes burden to love others. Are you serving? Can you identify the needs around you? Are you willing to meet them? This, is the fulfillment of our purpose. Owe nothing except that which Christ has given to you.

What if Worship…

Re: Verse reading — Romans 12 (day two)

“Present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice…be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”vs.1-2

Call to Worship, choir, orchestra, band, hymnody, scripture, and prayer these are the things we generally associate with the beginning of worship. These are good things, things which bring honor and glory to Jesus and are edifying to the body. What if worship, however, wasn’t dependent on those things. What if worship began in you and the those elements I listed earlier become an outpouring of what you were already experiencing.

Too often, I think, we rely on the “service” to begin our worship. It then becomes the responsibility of others, i.e. pastor, worship leaders, musicians to begin our worship. We expect them to get us fired up to worship, but perhaps we relegate too much responsibility to others in that case. It is not a secret that we come into the house of the Lord to give him the glory and praise he deserves. Why not let the first words out your mouth in the morning be a declaration of thanksgiving. Why not prepare your body and mind to worship. Think of what an awesome corporate experience that would be if we came expecting to meet Jesus and ready to worship him with every part of ourselves.

Associational Salvation

Re:Verse reading–Romans 9:1-8, Romans 10:1-21 (day two)

“That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” 9:8

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 10:11-13

Have you ever encountered someone who, when speaking of their faith, refer to what their grandmother believed? Some people speak with nostalgia about how often someone in their family went to church, and how fervently they believed. In some, that is the extent of their faith. They hope to somehow glom on to the righteousness by association.

Paul warns about this kind of thinking. Don’t assume that because you have been born into a righteous family that you will be saved. Salvation does not come by heritage, but by the confession of each and every one. This can be particularly sobering when we look at our families. Have that conversation. Ask those questions. Their souls are worth the investment.

P=J

Re:Verse reading–Romans 8:18-39 (day two)

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” vs. 18

I was a Cross Country runner in high school. I loved it, particularly in the Fall when the hills around my hometown were ablaze with color. When I ran I came up with a formula that kept me motivated. P=J (Pain=Jingle) I knew that if I pushed myself, if I trained well and listened to my coach’s instructions it was likely that I would medal in each race. That medal would be proudly displayed on my letter jacket and jingle among the other medals. Silly? Yes. Effective? Also, yes.

Even when I didn’t know what I needed to do to improve as a runner, I could trust my coach to challenge me in the areas that needed improvement. The Holy Spirit does the same thing. Consider verse 26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that our words cannot express.”

Whatever challenge or trial we are currently enduring, we can rest assured that the glory that is to come will be worth every sacrifice. His glory is bigger than any pain we might endure.

Bold I Approach

Re:Verse reading–Romans 8:1-17 (day two) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…vs. 1

When I was a high school choir director I taught hundreds of students. I was a teacher many of their lives that saw them every day from their first day on campus as a freshmen to their graduation. It was very rewarding. Watching these young people grow was often challenging and always awkward. Students would routinely come into my office with much fear and trembling. I would often make them leave and come back in with a renewed sense of purpose. If they were to talk to me, I expected eye contact, manners, and a sense of self-worth. That wasn’t always easy. We weren’t equals, but I also wanted them to understand how to appropriately communicate with an adult.

Our faith journey isn’t too dissimilar. When we come before the lord, we are no longer defeated, empty, and without hope. We are filled with the power of Jesus, and he has covered us with his blood. The fourth verse of the hymn And Can It Be expresses this hope beautifully.

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him is mine! Alive in Him, my living head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown, thro’ Christ my own. Amazing love! How can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Boldly approach, have no fear. The Lord has paid our ransom.

NOTHING!

Re: Verse reading–Romans 6 (day two)

What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? vs. 21

In the margin of my bible next to this underlined verse I have written one word…NOTHING!

That is the sum total of what I have gained from the things in my life that distract me from God’s grace. When I look back at those things which would continue to cloud my vision were it not for the Holy Spirit, I marvel at why or how I let it cloud my vision in the first place. Where do those things/choices lead. Paul answers that question in verse 23 pretty clearly…death. So why do we allow them to continue to wage a war against all that we know to be true. If they only promise death where is the value? Perhaps this is how we should treat any stray thought or temptation. Pray that God give you the wisdom to recognize those things for what they really are…NOTHING.

We’re Not Worthy

Re:Verse reading–Romans 5:1-11 (day two) …how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! vs. 10

We’re not worthy. Really bad movie quote from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, but the sentiment is accurate. This is especially true when you consider the first part of that verse. “For if, when we were God’s ENEMIES, we were reconciled to him through the death of his son,”.

It is sobering to think that we will not be worthy of our own power, but it is also freeing. There is no class system in this kind of government. This kind of justice levels the playing field for everyone. The “earning” of salvation has already been taken care of by Christ on the cross. Our call is to live under that authority. Everything that follows is an opportunity to show how God continues to work through our unworthiness.

Are you trying to prove how good you are? What if you’re not, but God is? What if, rather, you openly and continually gave thanks to God for loving you in spite of your brokenness. He loved you first, might as well meet him on his terms.

Stories and Promises

Re:Verse reading–Romans 4:1-25 (day two) ..yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. vs. 20-21

Stories and an unbelievable promise. These are the things that Abraham had available to him. Stories that he had heard of creation, the corruption of men and the flood. Nothing written, no law, no system of religion, and now came this far-fetched promise that God would bless the offspring of a centenarian! What did in Abraham’s world gave him the courage to follow this absurd promise?

Faith.

Something in those stories he had heard as a child resonated in him when he was issued this promise. Something in the presentation of the messengers gave him a taste of the authority of God, but it was his faith that was credited to him as righteousness. We have so much more of a broad picture than Abraham could have ever imagined, but all that is truly necessary is trusting in the Almighty to deliver on his promise. Can we throw away all that would hinder us from seeing with Abraham’s eyes. Trust and believe.