Scott Lane – Page 10 – The Everyday Prayer

Family of God

Re:Verse passage – John 19:17-27 (day five)

“When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.”

Even as Jesus is being executed, He is teaching about relationships in the Body of Christ that is being formed. Here, He goes against the customary pattern for His earthly family to take care of their (His) mother. Instead, Jesus is initiating the loving and caring relationships we are to have within the Body of Christ for one another. We are the Family of God. Remember His words (Mark 10) after the encounter with the rich young ruler? “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”
How we love and care for others in the Family of God matters!!

Dangerously Close

Re:Verse passage – John 19:5-16 (day five)

“Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.”

Pilate is an interesting case study. When the Jewish leaders change their argument from political to theological, he becomes (more) afraid. It appears in some sense, the Pilate may actually believe them. That there was a deity to Jesus. What the crowd claimed to be certainly untrue (Jesus was the Son of God), Pilate may have actually found to be true. Because he immediately goes back to Jesus and asks Him where He is from. It is entirely possible that Pilate “believed” that Jesus was the Son of God. But that is where Pilate’s faith journey ended. Dangerously close to conversion. Belief (required) on its own, is not enough. There must also be confession, repentance, surrender, and obedience. A lesson for us all. Has there been real conversion in our hearts and lives? Belief on its own is dangerously close to conversion.

“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬

Caught

PRe:Verse passage – John 19:1-5 (day five) What do you notice about Pilate in this narrative? There is unrest in his actions. There is a frantic undertone to his words. There is tension and angst in his decision making. He is caught in the shallow and unstable influence of the world- his position, his power, and his own wisdom and authority. A visible case-study for seeking the pleasures and treasures of this world.

“The spiritual man (Jesus) is the free man, and the man who is committed to the things of this world (Pilate) is the man who is (caught) in bondage”.- R Kent Hughes

Want peace and courage in the middle of tension and crisis? Want strength and assurance in the middle of hardship? Look to the Lord! Seek His perspective and presence! He promises to help us and walk with us through struggles, pain, and suffering!!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭8‬

His Care

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 5:7-14 (day five)

“casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

What’s the most comforting thing you’ve thought about God recently? His Love? His Grace? His Strength? For me, this week, it was this phrase in verse 7, His Care- “He cares for you”.

Often times suffering and hardship makes us feel alone and isolated. Not just with friends, family, and other believers, but with the Lord too. The thought of the Lord’s care challenges me to think and feel differently. I could go on and on about the Lord’s care- what it looks like, what it means. Perhaps a good study and meditation for us all this Thanksgiving week.
My heart was encouraged by this simple thought: the Lord cares for me (even in the midst of suffering or hardship)- caused me to consider and cherish His attention, His affection, and His action.

Thank You, Lord, for you care!!

Humility

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 5:1-6 (day five) “For God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Humility is not a topic that is often talked about in the media and in public forums. In this day of self discovery and self promotion, humility runs directly opposed (as does God) to these concepts. I think Peter helps define humility for us in this one verse. He does it by a negative definition- being proud, and a positive definition – the humble receiving grace.
As presented in this verse, pride is the opposite of humility (God opposes pride- the proud). I remember hearing a little saying that helped define pride- “the center of pride is I ”. Pride becomes all about me- my gifts, my abilities, my talents, etc.
Humility is exactly the opposite. Pride come full of my actions, attitudes, and accomplishments. Humility come with none of that. Humility comes with a confession of emptiness and dependency- the Lord’s strength, His help, His presence. We don’t earn grace because of who we are or what we’ve done (pride). We receive (are in need- humble) God’s grace because He is a generous creator, sustainer, and redeemer!!

Love Looks Like…

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 4:1-11 (day five)“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another”

What does love look like? Let me ask a more specific question…. What does Christian love look like? Pastor Peter gives us a few snapshots in our Re:verse passage. First, Christian love shapes how we think and act towards others- looking for the best in others and standing ready to forgive others. This doesn’t mean we ignore sin or that we don’t take it seriously. It means we always seek to find grace as we interact with each other.

Second, Christian love prompts us to welcome others- into our hearts and even our homes.

One last picture from Peter- Christian love serves others as the voice and hands of the Lord. Words are extremely important in God’s economy. Oh, that we might use them as He intends. In addition, God’s strength and attention are on display as we serve others.

The call to love others is an opportunity to resemble Christ most and best.

Answered Question

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:18-22 (day five) One of the concerns of studying the scriptures passage by passage is to study them separately from previous passages. We tend to lose context as well as the writer’s train of thought. The first word in our text this week helps us to think and look back at Peter’s previous point and theme for his letter to the believers in Asia Minor- suffering and persecution. In particular this text is connected (the word “for” indicates a reason or grounds for what will follow) to Peter’s thoughts on righteous suffering. Our text is seemingly an answer to a previous statement that produced an implied question, “Why is it better to suffer for doing good, than for doing evil?”
The summarized answer from this week’s text- Because Jesus has previously walked the path of righteous suffering which was God’s path and plan for His vindication and glory. Peter points to Jesus’ example to give believers great hope (in the midst of suffering) for our rescue and resurrection- pictured in baptism.

Exchange or Replace

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:8-17 (day five) “And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled.” Fear was something with which Peter was very familiar. In the courtyard, out of fear, he denied knowing Jesus to a servant girl.(Luke 22:57).
But Peter found the solution to his fear and he wants these fearful believers in Asia Minor to know it. It’s found in Isaiah 8. He paraphrases part of the passage in our Re:Verse text (see beginning of this blog). Some scholars believe this passage could be interpreted “do not be afraid with fear of them.” Isaiah continues, “It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread.”
If the fear of man is to be overcome, then it must be replaced or exchanged with the fear of God- devoted attention and adoration to His glory and and grace.
“A praising heart is immune to the fear of other people. Fear of another sort takes possession of our hearts and minds: a fear that does not flee in terror, but draws near in awe and worship.” – Edmond Clowney

When the fear of man is exchanged or replaced with the fear of God, what follows is a life filled with courage and conviction.

In the Same Way

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:1-7 (day five) “In the same way…” What do we believe about God? No really, what do we believe about God? What about God’s sovereignty? What about God’s wisdom? What about God’s graciousness? What about God’s holiness? What we believe and understand about God can be life changing and life giving. It affects how we view creation. And as created beings, it affects how we view every part of our lives, even our relationships. Does God’s wisdom and sovereignty inform and influence our relationships?
Peter says, yes- political, social, martial (in the same way). What we believe about God will and should shape the way we act live in all our relationships- In the same way! God knows what He is doing.

Shepherd

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 2:18-25 (day five) “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” Of all the words Jesus spoke to Peter, none had the impact as the those by the campfire after the resurrection. “Feed my sheep.” It was certainly a moment of conviction. It was also a moment of commission- a clear task and responsibility. I love the personal and possessive facet Jesus wants Peter to understand- “MY sheep”. Peter uses those same words and pictures in this verse. We are sheep. Jesus is shepherd. Peter never forgot. He never grew past that simple truth. In fact, the more life changed and became more complex and difficult, Peter held that truth even closer.
When our lives get hectic, when circumstances (or even our own sin) would seem to have us distracted, scattered, and uncertain in our minds and hearts, we can hold to that same comforting and foundational truth- as believers Jesus is our shepherd.
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”