December 2011

“Whoever does good is from God.” (3 John 11)

Friday, December 30, 2011
Holy God, it is interesting that your apostle John did not say whoever does well is from God. That would mean that you are behind all of our drives to succeed and do well with the agendas of life. Clearly this is not your point since Jesus consistently challenged the most successful people he met. So without even a salute to our grammar, you insist on claiming that those who do good are working on your behalf. …

“…everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)

Saturday, December 24, 2011
O God of the silent, holy night, it is fitting that on Christmas we are reminded by this text of the extraordinary gift of your Son who was born as our Savior. You loved us so much that you could not leave us alone in the darkness of our own making. So you came to be with us, as one of us. …

“…he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Monday, December 19, 2011
Our God, to the best of my knowledge this is the only passage of the Bible that refers to you singing, or even exulting. To exult is to do more than simply be happy. It depicts a joy that erupts from a deep place, and so those who have this joy must burst into song. …

“O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.” (Psalm 38:9)

Sunday, December 11, 2011
Every day when I read the newspaper, I am overwhelmed by the depth of human pathos in the world. I can no longer put the paper down without offering a silent prayer to you. Usually, it is just, “Lord, have mercy.” But you have called me to spend my life with people whose pathos is more subtle. …

“You have abandoned the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2:4)

Wednesday, December 7, 2011
My Savior, did you and I actually ever fall in love? Or did I just grow up knowing about your love as clearly as I did my parents’ love? (Maybe more clearly.) I have no memories of a time when I didn’t believe in you, or when you were not core to my identity. So what does it mean for me to have abandoned my first love for you? …

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