DAY 48 - Peeking into Heaven

From Revelation 4 (NIV) At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

From Revelation 5 (The Message) I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One Seated on the Throne. It was written on both sides, fastened with seven seals. There was no one—no one in Heaven, no one on earth, no one from the underworld—able to break open the scroll and read it. One of the Elders said, "Don't weep. Look—the Lion from Tribe Judah, the Root of David's Tree, has conquered. He can open the scroll, can rip through the seven seals." So I looked, and there, surrounded by Throne, Animals, and Elders, was a Lamb, slaughtered but standing tall. And they sang a new song: Worthy! Take the scroll, open its seals. Slain! Paying in blood, you bought men and women, Bought them back from all over the earth, Bought them back for God. The Elders fell to their knees and worshiped.

When we peek into heaven we see everything is centered around the throne of God. Meanwhile, back on earth, things are different as most of us live lives centered around self rather than God, frantic and panicky about what we must have to survive, to be happy. The self is not very reliable in the stress and strains of life. We are driven this way and then that, pushed and pulled and harried by the demands of life.

Peeking into heaven, over in the shadows we see the mighty Lion of Judah. But, no, it is a Lamb that has been slain and has the power to break the seals on the Scrolls. Worship is centered around the throne, and on the throne is the Lamb.

The Lamb that was slain has paid the price of forgiveness. The Lamb has paid the price of love. When someone wonders why God could not forgive us with the wave of his hand, we know we are talking to someone who has never really dealt with the issue of forgiving someone. Real forgiveness comes at the cost of pain. Real forgiveness causes anguish. Real forgiveness wrenches us in the gut, and crucifies that sense of getting justice for the offender. That is the nature of forgiveness.

The lamb is slain. The Lamb pays the price of pain for forgiveness. And the Lamb pays the price for love. As we worship and acknowledge the worth of the One who was slain, we are released from our self-centered life and move toward a life centered around God.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope April 26, 1998

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 47 - A Fanatical Faith

John 12:1-8 (NIV) Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ²Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." ⁶He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. ⁷"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

How passionate do we feel about the God we have found in Jesus Christ? Scripture is written of reckless love and devotion to God. This is Abraham leaving the security of his home in Haran to follow the call of God to God only knows where. This is Ruth sensing the call to follow her mother in law to the strange country of Israel instead of staying safe at home with her own people. This is David taking on Goliath. This is Francis of Assisi giving up the luxury of home and taking his place among the poor. This is Martin Luther standing before the might of the papacy and saying, “Here I stand. I can do no other.” And it is the disciples dropping everything to follow a poor carpenter from Nazareth.

Do we live our lives with a certain sense of abandonment into the hands of God? Do we take on impossible tasks, not with thoughts of success but with a burning desire to be faithful in what we do, to answer a sense of call that has come to our life?

Do we follow Jesus Christ in the spirit of abandonment like Mary did, or are we more from the mold of Judas, practical, cautious, careful, calculating, weary so as to not go overboard?

Do we have a certain reserved commitment to Christ? We trust him with part of our life, but not with our money, our family, our future. Here we still want to be in charge and in control. Reserved commitment to Christ leads to betrayal in the way that we live, embarrassed perhaps to be true to our faith, reluctant to be identified as a religious fanatic.

And the reserved commitment to Christ deprives us of knowing the abundance of life that Christ wills for us. Mary lavishes her love and commitment on Jesus because she is aware that Jesus has lavished his love upon her. Jesus has given her back the life of her brother Lazarus. Jesus’ death was an act of reckless love for you and me.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope March 29, 1998

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 46 - The Prodigal Son

From Luke 15 Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate. ‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” ’

The father gave generously to his son not because the son demanded his rights, but because it was of the nature of the father to give. He did not advise his son, did not intervene or interfere. It does not appear that he even communicated with his son. The father did nothing and simply let happen whatever was going to happen.

But then the Prodigal comes to himself. For whatever reason, love worked with the Prodigal Son.

Now, what about the Elder Brother? He had lost his sense of gratitude. And even though the father had given and given to him, the Elder Brother had begun to see life as what he had earned. So, how will the father treat the Elder Brother? In the same way he did the Prodigal. He gave. Son, all that is mine is yours. He gave.

We know that the father in the story is God, and this may be one of the most difficult truths of love for many of us to understand, to believe that God is a God of a love that does nothing - a love that gives, and then waits, and waits, and does absolutely nothing. He gives us the gifts of common grace, the gift of life, the gift of abilities, the gift of opportunities, and the gift of some very special people. And, He gives a visible demonstration of His love in the life of Jesus, loving those who rejected him, caring for the unconcerned, bleeding for the unbroken. God gives and then waits.

The way of love simply does not work for everyone. That is a hard truth. But the way of love is the only way that really works with anyone. And it is the way that God has chosen.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope March 22,1998

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 45 - Repent or Perish

Luke 13:4-9 (NIV) ⁴Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." ⁶Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. ⁷So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' ⁸" 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "

Jesus gives a wake up call to those of us who have some ingenious ways to keep the focus off ourselves and on some issue or question other than “how goes it with you?”

When we avoid seeing the state of our own soul we are already perishing. We are losing touch with the real God for the good of our own making. We are getting lost in the callousness of spirit. Repent, wake up. See what you are doing to yourselves. Quit wondering and worrying about others and see the truth about you.

And then Jesus told a parable about a person who had a fig tree that appeared dead. He knows it needs to be plucked out and destroyed, but the vinedresser intercedes and begs for more time.

We are not called to repentance by threats of God’s punishment but by the patience of God who chose not to destroy, but sends His Son to intercede by His life and by His death for you and me. Through the life and death of Jesus, God is working the hard ground of our soul with His compassion and care to give us back our life. Patiently God calls us to wake up to all that is self-destructive in our attitudes, our thoughts, our actions. With patience and loving care, God seeks to wake us up to the hidden truth about our faults and failures. Some, we may wonder if Gods patient loving care is enough to wake us up to all that is hurtful and harmful in our soul, or anyone else’s. Regardless of what we might wonder, Jesus says this is the truth, I’ll dig around it and fertilize it - with care and compassion.

And, if it bears no fruit cut it down. Sometimes calamity comes as a reminder of what God has a right to do with us. It opens our eyes to the callousness of our soul. It awakens us to the defensive blindness of our own life.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope March 15, 1998

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 44 - Cry Compassion

Luke 13:31-34 (RSV) ³¹At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." ³²And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, `Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. ³³Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' ³⁴O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

Jesus is determined. Jesus dismisses the opposition of Herod with a quiet confidence that God is working out a plan that will be fulfilled in Jerusalem. If that quiet confidence in God was all we saw in Jesus, it would certainly be a confidence that we would want for our life. But confidence is not His only reaction to opposition.

Jesus turns from the Pharisees, looks toward the city and cries, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…” Jerusalem is a city seething with malice, hostility, and self-pity. Jerusalem is not only heedless to God and hostile to the presence of God in Jesus, Jerusalem is determined to stay that way. And Jesus will die for a people who do not want to be saved from their folly? He will forgive those who see no need for their forgiveness? He will offer life to those who are content to suffer through life instead of accepting the gift He offers?

Is it easy to see the Jerusalem in our midst? We could cite the escalating statistics of destruction in our society: divorce rate, teen suicide, crime, violence, child abuse. It is easy to simply denounce the sickness of society, and to say our woes about it. But can we feel that agony of compassion that Jesus felt?

Compassion is the willingness to persist in the pain of love despite the way others may live or what they may do. What about the individuals in Jerusalem? Do we see them as hopeless? Do we assume, or feel like or talk like they are beyond the life changing compassion of God in Jesus Christ? Do we denounce the sins and sickness with a little “isn’t that terrible?” Do we give up on certain people as hopeless? Or do we recognize the call to the power of compassion? Compassion is the willingness to persist in the pain of love despite the way others may respond.

In the long run the power of Jesus proves stronger than the rejection He meets, more forceful than the apathy He encounters, more powerful than the folly of human blindness. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem. Jesus seeks to cry His compassion into our hearts and minds, and with His tears, to cry compassion into our hearts.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope  March 8, 1998

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 43 - Future Faith

I John 5:9-13 (NIV) ⁹If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. ¹⁰The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. ¹¹And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹²He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. ¹³These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

If you died tomorrow do you know you would go to Heaven? Most of us have heard that question. Some of us have been irritated by the question. That question may be irritating to some, but the question raised by John’s statement is downright unnerving. He says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Eternal life is a quality of life that begins now and lasts forever. So John’s statement raises the question “Do you know that the kind of life you have today will last forever?”

And this is the testimony … he who has the Son has life and he who has not the Son has not life. We have the objective proof of eternal life in the life of Jesus. We also have subjective proof of being kissed with that life in our own experience. I may be able to tell you that the word “kiss” means to touch lightly with the lips, but if I have never been kissed, I don’t know what I am talking about. This is the testimony, the testimony of our own experience.

In the life of Jesus, we see the testimony of God. We see the proof in the quality of His life, in the purpose of His death, and especially in the reality of His Resurrection. The Resurrection is a visible, living pledge that the chapter we are now living is not the end of the story.

In the religious world, testimony usually has something to do with someone telling about his or her faith. In the courtroom, testimony has to do with telling your side of the story. Neither of those uses of the word is what John is talking about. John is talking about proof. Testimony was the way you proved something in John’s day. Today, the testimony of Jesus’ life is being put to the test. Question it, doubt it, object to it, study it, but don’t ignore it. The testimony of Jesus can withstand the test.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope May 11, 1997

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 42 - We Shall Overcome ... by Faith

John 16:33 (NIV) "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

I John 5:1-4 (NASB) ¹Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. ²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. ³For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. ⁴For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.

John writes in a world grown weary. The glory of Greece is past. The Roman peace is degenerating into corruption, cruelty, and callousness. And the goddess Tyche, or Fortuna in Latin, is emerging as the most popular god of the people. The goddess of Fate. In this kind of world, John says to the early church and to us, “This is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.” It might make more sense to us to think of the world in terms of “the spirit of our world.”

The spirit of our world has a hold on us when we watch the evening news with its usual recital of cruelty, tragedy, and scandal, and God seems remote, powerless, and irrelevant. The effect of the spirit of this world is to be driven into a life of anxious striving and the self pre-occupation that goes with it. The spirit of the world causes us to develop schedules that are too busy for us and too full to be aware of God. When we close our eyes we hear only worries and concerns instead of the deep care and concern that God has for us. Do we sense our on-going battle with this world, or have we grown numb to it and succumbed to it?

The faith that John is talking about is a life of inward confidence in God that is expressed in love. Situations that might have seemed hopeless are seen as redeemable by the power of this love. People who were seen as irritating are seen as people with a need for love.

Do we know that faith that overcomes the world? The delight at being alive and belonging to God with a mind and heart clear and quiet? A sense of being guided by God, supported by God’s plan being worked out? Grateful and able to love and relate to diverse and sometimes difficult people? Belief in Jesus as the Son of God establishes this life of faith. Our faith is not rooted in wishful thinking. Our faith is rooted in fact. Belief is the certainty that in Jesus God entered uniquely into our world. In Jesus God showed that He cared enough to live among us. Jesus died in the belief that His death was God’s love for us, and in the hope that His death would touch our hearts. That is a fact on which we rest our confidence and risk our love.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope May 4, 1997

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles