On the Way to Wonder

Proverbs 1:1-7

The book of Proverbs has 31 chapters and so one spiritual discipline when you are not sure where to read in the Bible is to pick the chapter that corresponds to the day of the month.  Tomorrow is February 1 so we will do a chapter a day for a month and see where we end up.  Proverbs is famous for being wisdom literature and a collection of sayings, proverbs and words of advice from Solomon, whom many consider one of the world’s wisest men, to his son.  It starts with a prologue in chapter one so I looked up prologue on the Internet.

         https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-a-prologue#what-is-a-prologue credits Euripides, a famous Greek playwright with the start of prologues.  The author continues to say:

“A good prologue performs one of many functions in a story:

• Foreshadowing events to come
• Providing background information or backstory on the central conflict
• Establishing a point of view (either the main character’s, or that of another character who is privy to the tale)
• Setting the tone for the rest of the novel or play.”

         Solomon introduces himself as son of David, king of Israel.  He lived 990 BC to 931 BC but the sayings gathered and recorded come from older times.   He writes the proverbs for “gaining wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight and for receiving instruction in prudent behavior doing what is right and just and fair.”  It is possible to read and reread a chapter in Proverbs daily and have a different verse “jump out” and speak to a situation you are facing.  We all need wisdom and understanding.  The prologue closes with the foreshadowing that the wise will gain understanding in fearing the Lord while the simple, the gullible, those without moral direction and inclined to evil will reject the wisdom.  Ouch!  We will see that dichotomy grow and certainly deciding who are the good guys and who are the misinformed is a topic of discussion in our country today.

         My daughter in first grade in Kenya would entertain us as we drove with “Kitenda Wili” sayings, riddles, and proverbs.  For example she would ask what house has no windows and no doors.  The answer is an egg.  We learned many as a child also, what has ears but no legs?  Corn!

         Proverbs prologue offers sayings that will help us be wise, points out the difference between wise and foolish, is shared by King Solomon and does set a teaching tone.  What proverb has impacted your life and helped form you?  I can remember my mother saying, “A stitch in time saves nine!”  Deal with my problems and don’t procrastinate because the problem will only grow.  What proverb would you share with someone if you could?  Lord may our ears be attuned to hear proverbs in our culture that are forming us today.

1 Peter

We’ve come to the end of another week.  We have gone through 1 Peter.  The apostle Peter writes from prison to young Christians around the Roman Empire who are facing rough times, trials and persecutions.  We all have bad days, bad weeks and bad years.  Some days it feels like the world is against us and doubts that God is on our side plague us.  We know he could do a miracle but it does not come and we suspect the fault is our little faith or our big sins.  Peter reminds us that we are not only inheritors of an eternal inheritance that is being stored for us and does not depreciate with interest rates but we are also inheritors of living hope.  That’s not wishing hope but living hope based on the proof of the resurrection and the knowledge that God, the judge, is impartial.  He revenges and vindicates and we don’t need to.  We are free to live in “reverent fear” that is respect for God who has true power and not fear of punishment.  We do not need to conform to the rules of the game for this world – an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth – but we can return good for evil because we have been forgiven our sins and been recipients of blessings.  Returning good for evil is the only way to silence those who accuse.  And ultimately, if we are to suffer, then let us suffer for doing good.  Our model is Jesus Christ and the cross.  He rose from the dead.  God is able to bring about good that we cannot even anticipate.

         In third grade I had to turn in my little Bible memorization award badges and I received a little wooden plaque with 1 Peter 5:7 on it.  That plaque sat by my bed, went to college, went to Africa and now sits on my dresser – about 70 years of comfort! 

1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety of him because he cares for you.”

Enjoy this worship song based on this verse.  It has comforted me many times when I am down.  Blessings.

1 Peter 5

Peter concludes his letter by encouraging humility.  Elders should humbly care for those under them in true love and not looking for gain or power.   Be a good shepherd even as Jesus is known as the Good Shepherd. Youth are to be humble towards elders understanding the the weight of responsibility they carry.  Peter reasons, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. (v 5)” 

         So I reflected on what God does oppose even if we do not see his hand in the situation.

Proverbs 6:16-19

16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that hurry to run to evil,
¹⁹ a lying witness who testifies falsely,
    and one who sows discord in a family.

That has always seemed to me to be a list of attitudes that will lead me astray.  “Haughty eyes” are mentioned first.  Perhaps when we start evaluating ourselves better than others, we have started the process of dehumanizing them and devaluing them.  One of the challenges facing us today is how to incorporate the many fleeing dehumanizing lives to come to our borders in hope of finding a respectful life. 1 Peter’s challenge to us, even if we are not the person in trouble but the person able to help, is how we are keeping our focus on God and not on ourselves, trusting him as the impartial ultimate judge who sees our lives and cares.

         Perhaps our prayer today is “Lord, help me stay focused on you and help me keep my priorities pleasing to you!”  Blessings on your journey!

1 Peter 4

Peter in chapter 4 of 1 Peter brings in a new thought.  Often our actions are questioned. “Why did you do that?”  Verse 5 says, “But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”   Our lives are called to account in the court of public opinion but ultimately we will face our creator.  Peter reasons that a “guilty” in the kingdom of this world will be an honor in God’s court.  When we refuse to live by actions that please the crowd so that we can fit in and so that we can satisfy the emotions of the minute whether that be sexual, revenge, greed or covetousness, we are choosing approval by the world but missing the mark with God.  The harder path is to choose God’s standards that calls us to “our better selves.”  The world will find us guilty of being boring and weird but we will in reality be living by higher standards that please God.  We will be guilty as charged by human standards “but live according to God in regard to the spirit.”

         Verse 5 is Peter’s famous quote, “Love covers over a multitude of sins.”  We are charged to love, to offer hospitality, to speak, and to serve as unto God.  We are not to be surprised by these struggles but Peter encourages us that any struggles should come from doing good, not evil.

         So which of the areas Peter lists: love, hospitality, speech, or service challenges you today?  Perhaps set a simple goal of saying kind words to three people today – a friend, a spouse, a child, a neighbor.  Everyone loves to be complimented when it is genuine so think what you might be able to slip into a conversation.  Be genuine. If words fail you then give a smile or a hug.  Blessings as you bless others!    

1 Peter 3: 13-22

Peter advises his friends to do good in the face of evil.  “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? (v. 13)” Well, the definition of “doing good” is often open to debate.  “Nights at Rodanthe,” the movie based on the Nicolas Sparks novel of a doctor who goes to talk to the husband of a patient who died while he operated.  The doctor is convinced he did all that could have been done but the husband is furious about the death of his beloved wife.  Doing good, as we see it, is not always understood as good by the receiver who is looking at the situation from a different perspective.  Peter reasons though that we expect bad people to do bad and retaliate  but when a person returns good for evil, actions speak louder than words.  The doctor in the movie chooses to respond to the husband’s letter requesting a visit and learns through the drama that the husband does not want a visit to blame but to grieve through sharing just how special his wife was.  She was perfect in the husband’s eyes without the operation.

         When we follow Christ’s example and sometimes suffer unjustly as Jesus did, there can be unforeseen benefits that we cannot anticipate.  Christ’s death on the cross resulted in eternal life for all who believe.  Those years of struggle as a college student thinking I would become, well not so certain what I would become, resulted in teaching skills in Kenya that helped young women.  In college I could not foresee that future.  It does not remove the pain but comforts us that God sees a future we cannot.

         Peter draws a parallel with baptism.  We baptize believing and trusting that God claims myself or my child.  We have yet to receive the blessing of heaven but we believe our future holds blessings we do not know now.

         We do good because it calms anger, because it silences slander, because it follows Christ, and because it opens a future that is still unfolding.  Anger and hate poison our souls and our lives so today let us think of a good thing we could do for someone we find difficult to love. Try to be practical.  Perhaps it will be something inexpensive like giving a smile to someone you don’t know but it could be asking God to help you bless someone who has hurt you.  Doing good is not always easy but usually it is the right thing to do.  Blessings as you try!

1 Peter 3: 8-12

Peter continues his discussion of speaking truth to power.  “Finally…” he says, but actually it will take him two more chapters to wind up his advice to these young Christians spread around the Roman empire who are experiencing hard times.  We are listening in for many of us like those people long ago are grieving the impact of Covid, the pinch of inflation, and fear the clouds of war on the horizon.  We feel helpless as the world events seem unsolvable by our individual lives.  Evil is big and we are little.

            A Chinese proverb speaks beautifully to this dynamic:  “The flapping of the wings of a butterfly can be felt on the other side of the world.”  If I considered myself defeated because the task is too big, the proverb reminds me that I can impact the lives of those who touch me and so a ripple effect begins – around the world.  Peter says it this way,

         “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  On the contrary, repay evil with blessing because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (v. 8,9)”

As we do good to those who do not deserve it, like a pebble thrown in a lake, we do not know what the final ripple will impact.  Likewise, Peter reasons that because we have all fallen short of perfection and yet are loved by God, we too can pass on that blessing by loving those who are not perfect towards us.  This is not to condone abuse nor to encourage continuing in destructive situations to those touching our lives but as much as is possible we are encouraged to meet evil with good.  Peter says this is the only way to achieve real peace.  Escalating power to meet power, threats to meet threats, and revenge to pay back evil, we will probably achieve little eternal peace.

         I cannot control the world but I can try to discipline my own emotions and actions.  As we think about this today and realize our lives cannot change world dynamics, we must not forget we have a weapon. We can pray.  May I suggest we take time today to pray for those starving in Afghanistan and for the foreboding politics on the borders or Ukraine?  God is listening to you!

1 Peter 3: 1-7

When we went to Kenya, the question, “How many children do you have?” is one of those complicated cross-cultural situations that we learned to avoid.  One answer was 27 as they had 3 wives and all had the same father.  Another answer involved questioning how many children survived which can be a painful conversation.  A third response was that they had as many children as the stars in the sky because to give a specific answer might doubt God’s ability to provide more children and amount to a curse.  It was quickly explained that the question about children was paramount to asking an American how much money they have in the bank.  We don’t do it.  It was also true that all the children of the people in my age set were also my children so “individual” ownership of children was not understandable.  But the most common answer was a number where the speaker numbered his wife as one of his children because he was responsible for her, like a child.  I gained a new insight into passages like the first part of chapter 3 of 1 Peter.

         Peter is addressing a culture where women are counted a bit higher than a slave but certainly not with all the social power and respect as we have in the Western world today.  It is grating on our ears and hard to hear past our cultural lenses to understand the message.  The big picture Peter is talking about deals with the evils and injustices that plague our lives and how we are to look to Jesus as a model.  The word he uses is “submit.”  That is a different word than “agree” nor does it imply “correct.”  We are looking with a microscope at that tension we talked about between injustice and faith.  Another way to say it today is to ask what is the best way to speak truth to power?    Wives are advised to submit, not agree, not endorse or approve.  The reality is they were not in a position of power.  We use idioms like “a tablespoon of sugar makes the medicine go down,” “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” or “a soft answer turns away wrath.”  Jesus is the model.  He did not approve of the cross or slavery but violence spins out more violence and love is the best approach.  I think the clincher is the final sentence, ”If you do what is right and do not give way to fear.”  Fear is the enemy. Evil is the enemy, not the other person.  I do not like to have to submit naturally but I know all of us doing what WE want leads to anarchy.  Keeping my heart focused on a greater picture of a God who is just, impartial and values me, helps me when I have to swallow my pride and work with the system.  “A quiet, gentle spirit” that genuinely loves and cares in a friend is a wonderful gift.

         Ponder how you might show more love and respect to just one person you care about this week. “Pay love forward” in faith that God can multiply your investment.  Blessings.

by Darrell Evans

This week we looked at chapters 1 and 2 of 1 Peter.  Peter, known also as “the big fisherman” was one of the three that often were at Jesus’ side.  It is thought he died in the 60s, possibly under Nero.  He wrote this letter to young Christians spread across five Roman provinces when Christianity was just becoming.  No scriptures had been gathered together yet and Peter is writing to encourage people who are facing hard times.  Maybe it was not Covid or possible war but choosing to follow Jesus meant persecution and struggles.  Peter honestly faces the tension between our dark days and trying to live a faith modeled on the life of Christ.  Christ did not lead rallies, confront the government, or rant and rave.  He lived a life of principles and love, healing, preaching, and making life easier for the masses.  How does one find inner strength to follow him?

         In 2 Corinthians 4:8,9 Paul says, “I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed.”  Darrell Evans in 1997, while playing background music for people kneeling at the altar, started pondering what he would do with his past, what he wanted to lay down and get rid of.  Interestingly he chose the word “trade.”  He did not deny his mistakes.  He did not cover up his mistakes.  He did not blame others for his mistakes.  He realized that he could help heal those memories of failure and problems by focusing on Christ and turning them over to a just judge.  This song that came out of a spontaneous moment of worship is a popular worship chorus sung in churches now.  Amazingly it upbeat tune lifts the heart after a bad day, bad week, bad year.  I pray you enjoy it.

1 Peter 2:23-25

We finish chapter 2 of 1 Peter today and I feel a tension.  Two truths are presented.  Our lives will experience injustice and wrongs.  Sin is sin and people get hurt.  We cannot deny that.  On the other hand Peter presents Jesus as our model to follow. 

         “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate, when        he suffered, he made no threats, instead, he entrusted himself to him   who judges justly. (v. 23)”

How is Peter understanding the cross and responses by Jesus to trials?  These words encourage us to look inside ourselves and look at the words we use to describe the cross experience.  Was Jesus just passively allowing evil to beat him up to pay the penalty for our sin?  Did God just absorb evil to eliminate it so we can go to heaven?  Should an abused wife continue to submit to beatings of an alcoholic husband because Jesus submitted to the cross?  Often the abuser will use that reasoning to justify abuse but I do not think that is what Peter is saying.  Turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, and giving away our coat are words of advice we receive.  I believe there are deeper questions to be pondered.  If what I am doing is pointless, then submission is passive resignation to a situation I am trapped in. Then my suffering serves no purpose.  We call it martyring, deceiving ourselves that we are acting like Jesus.

         Jesus’ suffering was neither passive nor purposeless.  He walked through horrible suffering in his identification with humanity, true man.  In the process he confronted all participants involved with truth – “I am the way, the truth and the life” – even to Pilot.  He offered eternal life to the thief who turned to him on the cross – “today you will be with me in Paradise”.  He restored the ear to the man in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He told Peter that Peter would betray but Jesus would pray for him. Jesus proved that he is stronger than the worse evil that we can experience and rose three days later proving life in God cannot be destroyed – for you and me.  Suffering confronts us with the tension to martyr for our own glory or suffering to benefit others.  It is never easy to see the way forward in these situations and so the help, insight and wisdom of others is often needed.

         As we watch the news and ponder how we will respond to the ethical dilemmas facing our culture today we need God’s wisdom.  Let us pray for judges, lawyers, and law officials who deal with crime and law daily.  Lord have mercy!”T