Find Stillness and Pray

"So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed."

-- Luke 5:16


Luke was reporting on yet another busy time for Jesus. He had just healed a man of leprosy. Jesus charged the man to tell no one, but to show himself to the priests and make an offering for his healing in their honor. But somehow the news spread throughout the area and the word grew and the people flocked to Him. Luke notes that "great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities". (Luke 5:14)

So Jesus once again found Himself surrounded by people, engulfed by the very ones He strove to teach. He knew He needed to talk with God, to seek counsel from His Father. Yet how could He do so when so many crowded around? How could He even hear Himself speak over the noise of the throngs around Him? He could find a quiet place in the wilderness, away from the mass and the sounds of humanity, in the stillness of being by Himself. And there He prayed. He lifted His voice to God, and quietly listened for His Father's reply.

It isn't that Jesus didn't love the people and want them around Him. Just the opposite is true, for He truly loved them, and still loves us today. And He needed them around to hear His word, to learn His way. But He needed the solitude He could find only when away from the crowd, He needed the stillness of being by Himself so He could hear His Father's reply.

When we pray, we need to find our own place of stillness. We must stop for a moment and listen for God's answer. We should strive for open communications with God, and that requires listening to Him as well as talking. So stop what you are doing, find some place of stillness and pray. God wants to answer.

Where Were You?

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding."

-- Job 38:4

Job lost everything, and could not understand why. He sought counsel from his friends and leaders of the temple. How could so many bad things befall a believer such as he. He even questioned God, that He could allow this to happen to him, of all people. Job knew he did not deserve such a fate. When seeking counsel of the wise religious men, in his arrogance he counted off all the good he had done. And he spoke as if astounded that the Almighty did not listen to his pleas for help, did not hear his cries, would not answer his prayers.

After many tried to chastise him for such questioning of God, it is recorded that "the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind" (Job 38:1). And the Lord held nothing back, pulled no punches, in quickly putting Job in his place. I can almost hear that thunderous voice now: "Who are you to question Me? Who are you to doubt My intentions, to second-guess my promises, to call Me to task for what you think I do or don't do? Who are you to think himself smarter or more capable than the Master of Creation?"

There are a few instances recorded in the Old Testament where we can see God angry at the behavior of His children. While anger is certainly a human emotion, we can surely understand how even He could suffer it, considering how frustrating it must be for the Almighty, the Omnipotent, the Ever Present to have to deal with we silly humans. This is surely one of those times when God was just downright mad. How dare Job think he knows better! And in His frustration he finally answers, saying "Where were you when I created everything you see? If you know so much, tell me: Where were you and what did you have to do with any of it?"

Sometimes I hear God asking me "Where were you?", usually when I start to question Him, wondering why so many good people seem to suffer so much. In my heart I can see Him shaking His head and saying "If you know so much, tell Me where you were when I created the world you live in. Don't question Me, child. Just do those things you know you are supposed to do and leave the world to Me." And of course, being the intelligent adult male that I am, I don't much appreciate being told what to do. But I eventually open my heart and listen and obey, realizing how little I truly understand about the known universe. There is so much I can see with my eyes that I cannot fully understand. How could I even hope to grasp all the marvels that my God has created?

But other times I hear God speak those words, "Where were you?", when I have forgotten to do just those things His Son instructed. When I miss the opportunity to speak up for Him, when I pass by someone I know desperately needs my help, when I can't take time to get involved and make a difference in this world, I hear those words. They start as a whisper, barely audible above the breeze. Then they grow, in strength and intensity, until they thunder throughout my very being, echoing in every corner of my soul. "Where were you?", He shouts, His frustration with me building. I know God loves me, and I also know He can be disappointed in me when I do not choose the right course. "Where were you?", He accuses! "Where were you!?!"

Sometimes it takes me a while, for I am human, but I finally do get it, I finally understand my own lack of understanding. And I put my trust in God. I am here, Lord. Right here. Use me as You will.

That We Might Have Hope

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."
-- Romans 15:4

So many of the passages in the Bible carry great meaning, including this one which, in essence, tells us why the Books themselves were written - so that we might have hope. And this one sentence conveys many impressions. Paul wrote these words within his ministry to the Gentiles, where he taught of the wonders of Christ, the basis of the church, and even the reason for the scriptures recorded through time. He taught as if his students knew little of the subject, and in that manner covered the material thoroughly. And we benefit from its reading.

Paul starts out by assuring us that everything was written for our learning. It is easy to consider that when he says "our learning", he is talking about us, you and I and all that try to follow the teachings of Jesus, that try to walk His path. But Paul was not speaking to Jews or converted Jews. He was writing to Gentiles and referring to himself and them as "our", to a group that could have included as its majority those who merely showed curiosity in this Jesus of Nazareth and wanted to learn more. So by this pronouncement, Paul lets us know right off that the Bible, the inspired word of God, was written for all mankind, not just some subset known as "believers" or another called "God's chosen people". No, it is provided for all of us mortal humans, so that we may read and learn.

Separating the second half of the sentence two pieces, Paul next uses a rather curious phrase: "through the patience and comfort of the scriptures". Patience is a trait normally attributed to a living being, usually a person. So is Paul saying we should be patient while reading the scriptures? Perhaps. But more likely, Paul is applying the word patience to the living word of God as recorded in the scriptures. As we learned earlier, the Word is God, so here we see yet another example of God's steadfast patience with us and love of us. His word offers us patience and comforts us even as we read it. As we read, we learn and are comforted by the word through God's own patience and love.

Finally, we come to the answer to the unspoken question: Why was all of this done? Why did so many people take the time, the trouble, even the risk, to record all the scriptures, to preserve the word of God? What other benefit comes from our learning? That we might have hope. We learn that God loves us, that He is ever patient with us, that He will comfort us when our hearts are heavy. We find hope in His words through the darkest night. He provides refuge from the storm. And He prepares a place for us at His table, so that if we only believe in Jesus the Christ as our Savior and Lord, we shall live forever in the glorious presence of God. What more could any of us hope for? What more could be given?

God gives us so much, while asking for so little of us in return. Yet even though He offers us Heaven, He knows how weak we truly are. And thus he provides us with one more wonder. He gives us His word, that we may learn the truth of life and understand the price He paid for our salvation. And that we might have hope; hope that will drive us onward when the path grows difficult, hope that will light our way when darkness falls, hope that can make us push one step further, hope that can sustain us when others turn against us, hope that we will see His face, His glorious face, and sit by His side forever.

That we might have hope, God give us His all.