"Jyn Erso: 'We have hope. Rebellions are built on hope!'”
Monday, 17 July 2017
Romans 5:1-4
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Ancient Greeks invented the literary form of the “tragedy,” a story that shows humans growing stronger and more noble through enduring terrible suffering. In Romans 5:1-3, the apostle Paul seemed to echo the idea that enduring suffering makes us stronger. But Pastor John Ortberg noted, “At the end he added as a climax what would never have occurred to a noble pagan: “and character produces hope.” *
• Pastor Ortberg went on to quote the more modern philosopher Friedrich Nietzche, who wrote, “In truth, [hope] is the most evil of evils because it prolongs man’s torment.” Do you naturally incline more to the view that hope is largely delusional, useless and damaging, or to Paul’s view that hope (founded in God’s saving action) is an essential outcome of strong character? What role, if any, has hope played in keeping you going at tough times?
• In Rogue One, many “realists” in the rebel group argued that the Death Star weapon’s power made it futile to continue resisting the evil Empire. In Paul’s day, “realists” said that the Christian message he preached had no chance of even altering the course of the all-powerful Roman Empire, much less outlasting it. We have the benefit of 2000 years of hindsight. Can you think of other instances (e.g. the American Revolution, the Civil Rights movement) in which hope triumphed over seemingly immovable powers?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, so often this world seems dark and dangerous, and I feel like giving up. Nurture the flame of your hope in my heart as a force that can carry me forward in your kingdom’s work every day. Amen.
* John Ortberg, Who Is This Man?: The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012, p. 195.
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Chris Abel
Chris Abel is the Young Adults Pastor at Resurrection, and he describes himself as a "Pastor/Creative-type/Adventurer." A former atheist turned passionate follower of Christ, he completed his seminary education in Washington, DC. Before coming to Resurrection, Chris was a campus pastor near St. Louis, MO.
“We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” [Romans 5:3-4
Pastors are notorious for being unhealthy, so in the last six months I’ve developed a regular routine. Every other day or so, I go to the gym, start with some cardio, and then move on to squats. Like a stereotypical guy, I have ignored my lower body for most of my life, so it's been humbling to focus on muscles that I’ve never invested in. And I do mean humbling! When I began, I squatted maybe 65 pounds. I’m a pretty big guy, so I felt pretty self conscious. (Luckily the average age at my gym is 65, so no ladies to impress…) Initially it felt awkward, but day after day, I’ve gotten the hang of it. I only go up 5 pounds each session so I don't hurt myself, but slowly I’m beginning to get closer to a respectable amount of weight. The awkward feeling is gone and I feel the muscle building in my body!
It’d be nice if I could stay healthy by sitting at a desk (or on my couch), but our bodies are built in such a way that if we don’t push ourselves, we will drift towards unhealth. To be healthy, you MUST push yourself. If you don’t use your muscle, it will fade away. Period. You have to exhaust it, tear it, strain it. Too much and you injure yourself. Too little and the muscle becomes weak, incapable of its intended use. There’s a sweet spot where endurance and strength emerge from the strain.
And life is the same.
Our scripture today talks about life obstacles, stating that “trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” And on first glance, it can seem like a ridiculous conclusion. “Yay! More trouble for my life!” said no one ever. None of us like the strain of life problems. But just like muscle, we grow when we face resistance.
Think of it this way. Have you ever met someone who has faced very few trials in life? They are disoriented by the slightest hiccup. These are the people who curse out Starbucks employees for getting the wrong drink—who are constantly stressed by simple things. If their spirit were a muscle, it would be straining under the slightest weight. In stark contrast to this, have you ever encountered someone who has faced adversity over a lifetime? The small problems don’t even faze them. They’ve had their spirit honed and tested. They’ve grown in endurance.
This morning I had coffee with a man who spent the last three years in prison. “It was the strangest thing, but I felt proud when I walked out of there. It was like I became stronger.” He went on to say how the little problems no longer feel like problems. He’s grown through an experience that would have been difficult for any of us. He became stronger through adversity. His life literally fell apart and yet he feels stronger.
God gives us a choice on how we face adversity. You can go through your day and through your life and see yourself as a victim of circumstances. You can make mountains out of anthills. You can count all the ways things are weighing you down. You can feel helpless against the tide of life problems.
Or you can begin to lift them, one day at a time—just like weights at the gym. You can build your muscle of endurance. You can hone your spirit and your character.
You can grow stronger because of it.
So grow.
*Note: Like lifting weights, sometimes we lift too much and permanent injuries can happen. So if life has given you too much weight, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t lift it alone. If this is you, consider reaching out to a pastor at care@cor.org.
Chris AbelChris Abel is the Young Adults Pastor at Resurrection, and he describes himself as a "Pastor/Creative-type/Adventurer." A former atheist turned passionate follower of Christ, he completed his seminary education in Washington, DC. Before coming to Resurrection, Chris was a campus pastor near St. Louis, MO.
“We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” [Romans 5:3-4
Pastors are notorious for being unhealthy, so in the last six months I’ve developed a regular routine. Every other day or so, I go to the gym, start with some cardio, and then move on to squats. Like a stereotypical guy, I have ignored my lower body for most of my life, so it's been humbling to focus on muscles that I’ve never invested in. And I do mean humbling! When I began, I squatted maybe 65 pounds. I’m a pretty big guy, so I felt pretty self conscious. (Luckily the average age at my gym is 65, so no ladies to impress…) Initially it felt awkward, but day after day, I’ve gotten the hang of it. I only go up 5 pounds each session so I don't hurt myself, but slowly I’m beginning to get closer to a respectable amount of weight. The awkward feeling is gone and I feel the muscle building in my body!
It’d be nice if I could stay healthy by sitting at a desk (or on my couch), but our bodies are built in such a way that if we don’t push ourselves, we will drift towards unhealth. To be healthy, you MUST push yourself. If you don’t use your muscle, it will fade away. Period. You have to exhaust it, tear it, strain it. Too much and you injure yourself. Too little and the muscle becomes weak, incapable of its intended use. There’s a sweet spot where endurance and strength emerge from the strain.
And life is the same.
Our scripture today talks about life obstacles, stating that “trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” And on first glance, it can seem like a ridiculous conclusion. “Yay! More trouble for my life!” said no one ever. None of us like the strain of life problems. But just like muscle, we grow when we face resistance.
Think of it this way. Have you ever met someone who has faced very few trials in life? They are disoriented by the slightest hiccup. These are the people who curse out Starbucks employees for getting the wrong drink—who are constantly stressed by simple things. If their spirit were a muscle, it would be straining under the slightest weight. In stark contrast to this, have you ever encountered someone who has faced adversity over a lifetime? The small problems don’t even faze them. They’ve had their spirit honed and tested. They’ve grown in endurance.
This morning I had coffee with a man who spent the last three years in prison. “It was the strangest thing, but I felt proud when I walked out of there. It was like I became stronger.” He went on to say how the little problems no longer feel like problems. He’s grown through an experience that would have been difficult for any of us. He became stronger through adversity. His life literally fell apart and yet he feels stronger.
God gives us a choice on how we face adversity. You can go through your day and through your life and see yourself as a victim of circumstances. You can make mountains out of anthills. You can count all the ways things are weighing you down. You can feel helpless against the tide of life problems.
Or you can begin to lift them, one day at a time—just like weights at the gym. You can build your muscle of endurance. You can hone your spirit and your character.
You can grow stronger because of it.
So grow.
*Note: Like lifting weights, sometimes we lift too much and permanent injuries can happen. So if life has given you too much weight, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t lift it alone. If this is you, consider reaching out to a pastor at care@cor.org.
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"Galen Erso: 'You're confusing peace with terror.'”
Tuesday, 18 July 2017
Ephesians 6:10-17
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To an Empire planner who embraced the “Dark Side” and said the Death Star would bring peace, Jyn’s father replied with today’s title quote. “Confusing peace with terror” was certainly true of the historic pax Romana—it meant “peace” for the Roman elite, and terror for everyone else. But Ephesians saw not just human powers at work, but cosmic spiritual forces—and promised that God’s spiritual armor could allow God’s people to defeat even “forces of cosmic darkness.”
• The city of Ephesus held temples of many pagan gods and cults. Paul’s list of the powers of darkness in verse 12 spoke, as scholar Clinton Arnold put it, to “believers [who] came to the Lord from a background in magic, astrology, witchcraft, goddess worship, and various mystery cults.” * What forces in today’s world make it hardest for you to hold to your commitment to God? Which parts of God’s armor have been most vital in pushing back the darkness in your own life, and in the lives of others?
• The “realists” in Rogue One argued that physical survival was the highest goal, that in the end it didn’t matter whether they stood for good against evil or not. We often think issues like money, work, school, houses, cars, even health and illness are “the real world.” But Ephesians said the spiritual world is the real “real world,” with eternal issues at stake. How can you connect more fully with God, raising your gaze beyond “this-worldly” worries to focus your central life energy in the “real reality” of God’s world? Prayer: Lord Jesus, this broken, violent world did the very worst it could do to you—yet you emerged alive and victorious. Help me to realize that my ultimate security lies with you and your eternal kingdom. Amen.
* Clinton E. Arnold, commentary on Ephesians 6:12 in Clinton E. Arnold, gen. ed. Romans to Philemon: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Volume 3. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002, p. 336.
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"Jyn Erso: 'I'm not used to people sticking around when things go bad.'”
Wednesday, 19 July 2017
Isaiah 43:1-3
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The rebels fighting the Empire in Rogue One faced dangerous, difficult tasks. As they stuck together in the face of reverses, Jyn realized that this was different from many of her earlier life experiences. Isaiah 43 reflected the truth that, sooner or later, difficult times come to all of us. The prophet wrote, “When [not ‘if’] you pass through the waters…. When [not ‘if’] you walk through the fire.” But the promise began with familiar words: “Do not fear.”
• A Hebrew tradition said evil King Manasseh killed Isaiah. We know Jesus was crucified, and the Romans beheaded Paul the apostle. Does that history mean Isaiah 43’s promises were false? Hebrews 2:15 said Jesus' resurrection can “set free [even] those who were held in slavery their entire lives by their fear of death.” How might fear of “death” (perhaps not just physical, but financial or social) limit your ability to live for God and others? To what extent has faith in Jesus freed you from even that fear?
• Isaiah 43 emphasized God’s personal bond with God’s people—“I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” It did not promise an easy, pain-free life, but pledged that whatever happened, God’s presence was dependable. Do you have a family, good workplace or other settings in which there are people you feel sure will stick around when things go bad? How can you take in and value the fact that, beyond human caring, God will always stick around when things go bad? Prayer: Lord God, you’re the maker and sustainer of all that is, and your word says, repeatedly, “Do not fear.” Increase my trust in your loving presence with me in both good times and bad. Amen.
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"Cassian Andor: “I couldn't face myself if I gave up now... None of us could.”
Thursday, 20 July 2017
Acts 5:17-33, 40-42
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In Rogue One, the rebels with Jyn took great and costly risks as they faced the Empire’s fury and power. When Jesus’ first followers faced a “furious” Sanhedrin, they said, ““We must obey God rather than humans! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead…We are witnesses of such things” (verses 30, 32). When the authorities beat them, we read that instead of complaining, they astoundingly “left the council rejoicing because they had been regarded as worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the name.”
• At the end of Luke’s gospel (of which Acts was “volume 2”), Jesus told his disciples: “A change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in [Christ’s] name to all nations….You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:47-48). When the council and the high priest ordered them NOT to preach, they were crystal clear about who they must obey. Have you ever had to decide whether to obey God or some human authority? If so, what did you decide to do?
• It’s worth reading again: The apostles “left the council rejoicing because they had been regarded as worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the name.” Before Jesus' death, the apostles had squabbled about which of them should be greatest. How had they come to see God’s priorities more clearly? How can you clarify God’s view of issues in your life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, empower me to live a life that, in easy decisions and hard ones, glorifies you through my loyalty and obedience. Help me to never give up on your calling to me. Amen.
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"Jyn Erso: 'They call it the Death Star. But they have no idea... there's a way to defeat it.'”
Friday, 21 July 2017
Matthew 21:33-45
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Jyn (and because of her, the rebels) knew something the arrogant Empire had overlooked. A small flaw in the Death Star made it vulnerable to defeat. (If you’ve seen the first Star Wars movie, you know how that worked out.) The arrogant religious leaders plotting to kill Jesus looked invincible, too. But Jesus' story said they, like the vicious tenants in the vineyard, had forgotten the vineyard’s owner (God). Killing the son didn’t make them owners—it only meant the true owner would hold them accountable for their violent actions.
• The answer to Jesus' question was too obvious to avoid (verses 40-41). His hearers pronounced sentence—on themselves. To what extent are you willing to submit your life to Jesus? What people and experiences have shaped your willingness to respond to Jesus, either positively or negatively? What steps can you take to ensure that you are not like the wicked tenants in the vineyard?
• Through history, arrogance has been ultimately disastrous for nations, churches and individuals. Read Psalm 2:1-5, originally written to honor an Israelite king’s enthronement, but whose meaning reached far beyond any earthly throne. How can you, in your personal life and in any organizations you help to shape, avoid choosing a course that defies God’s principles, whatever short-term “benefits” it might seem to offer?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep growing me into a faithful, responsive servant in your vineyard. Deliver me from the temptations of arrogance, that I may bear a rich harvest, not for my glory but for yours. Amen.
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"Blockade Runner Pilot: 'What is it that they've sent us?' Princess Leia: 'Hope.'”
Saturday, 22 July 2017
Hebrews 6:11-20
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In Rogue One, retrieving the Death Star plans, and transmitting them to rebel headquarters cost Jyn and Cassian their lives. It was a high price indeed, but it gave the rebels hope. Jesus' apparent defeat in fact defeated evil, and gave all of God’s people an eternal hope. The writer of Hebrews knew we don’t become deeply committed followers of God by chance. The letter called its readers (including us) to make sure we grasp that hope and weave it into our way of life. Eugene Peterson rendered v. 11 in The Message as “I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a fullbodied hope, and keep at it till the finish.”
• The Hebrews understood the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies) in their sanctuary, and then the Temple, as the place where God’s presence dwelt. A heavy, ornate curtain covered the entrance, and only the High Priest could enter there, once a year, on the Day of Atonement. The letter to the Hebrews said that Jesus had gone into God’s presence for us, that our hope is the true High Priest who is in God’s presence continually, not just once a year. That is the hope we must make sure until the end, the hope we must grasp and hold fast. What are the things you pursue most intensely right now? How can you translate, and even magnify, that intensity and focus into your spiritual life?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, forgive me for the times when I am apathetic to your presence in my life. Teach me to hear your voice more clearly, and to have a gritty, engaged will to grasp your gift of hope. Amen.
Family Activity: Gather your family into the darkest space of your home. (A closet or a dark bathroom would be good options.) Bring a Bible and a very small reading light with you. When you are all together, ask someone to read Luke 10:17-20. Describe how just as life can be dark at times, so are our hearts, lives and the world without the light of Jesus. In an age-appropriate way, discuss some of the evil in the world and how sad it makes us, and God. Then share how, as we follow Jesus, His light lives within us and gives us hope. He wants us to share it with the world! Open the door of the room, celebrate and be thankful for the light of Jesus together! Commit to sharing the light and hope of Jesus with all people.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Gail Boyce and family on the death of her husband Dale Boyce, 7/10 • George Melling and family on the death of his uncle Charles Melling, 7/10
• Jeanne Lillig-Patterson and family on the death of her husband Neal Patterson, 7/9
• Jim Mohr and Penny Hardesty Mohr on the death of their son Connor Mohr, 7/8
• Ellie Mohr on the death of her brother Connor Mohr, 7/8
• John Alholm and family on the death of his wife Janet Alholm, 7/7
• Gloria Carolus and family on the death of her husband Paul Carolus, 7/6
• John Jennings and family on the death of his brother Mark Jennings, 7/3
• Ria Howell and family on the death of her grandmother Louise Monaco, 6/24
• Tracy and Ria Howell and family on the death of their close family friend Maddie Moorman, 6/24
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When the world falls apart
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Or download this week's printable GPS.
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Like this post? Share it!
You might also like
When the world falls apart
A God who never ignores us
Focusing on unseen, but enduring, realities
Depression, sadness, suffering, panic—but “wait for the Lord”
Morning light even amid awful destruction
Or download this week's printable GPS.
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Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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