Category: Daily Devotion

Today’s Word Is CHILD-LIKE

It’s Humor Day!
Fri-Jan-31-2020

The children’s Sunday School teacher was telling her youngsters about the Parable of the Prodigal Son. In particular she wanted to emphasize the difference in attitude of the older and younger brothers. As you know, the younger son had returned after squandering a lot of the family money on foolish living, and the father was delighted for him to humbly come home. He called for a robe to be put on his son, a ring on his finger; then we’ll kill the fatted calf and have a great feast! My son who was lost has been found!

The wide-eyed Sunday School children kept listening as the teacher explained how angry this made the older son, who felt unappreciated and cheated.

Then the teacher asked, “Now boys and girls, who do you think was unhappy about this big banquet getting ready to take place?”

Eight-year old Olivia raised her hand and said, “I know! The fatted calf!”

Good point, Olivia! Children have a unique and simple way of looking at things. Maybe that is why Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15)

There is of course a difference between child-like and child-ish. Jesus promoted child-like. Paul warned against child-ish by saying, “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. (1st Corinthians 13:11) This was stated after he had expounded on the nature of love in this, the Love Chapter of the Bible. A lifestyle of self-giving, unconditional love takes a very mature person, who must decide to be persistently sacrificial and forgiving.

Child-like … good … Child-ish … not so good.

The child-like attitude that Jesus was describing, when he said that we must receive the kingdom like a child, is that of trust. Small children are instilled with the idea that their parents can do anything. (That would assume those parents haven’t harmed the child and destroyed their trust.) A child cared for with love and compassion typically thinks mom can see anything, as if she had “eyes in the back of her head,” and that dad is strong enough to perform the greatest feat.

That is how we receive the kingdom, by believing that God is capable of all things, and by desiring and receiving his love and protection. Furthermore, a child-like attitude is what allows us to enjoy the blessings of the kingdom of God, to laugh, to play, to sing and dance, and to celebrate without restraint. It is this child-like approach that enables us to worship without being inhibited.

It is my prayer that you keep your child-like spirit, or if it has died away to any degree, that you claim it back. Find occasions to enjoy the moment like a child, laughing, playing, singing and dancing, and letting go of the unhealthy adult habits that keep you stifled and steal your joy!

Have a blessed weekend,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is UNSHAKEN

Thu-Jan-30-2020

I hate putting my time or money into something that ends up not being worth it. A couple of years ago my wife and I were doing some painting inside the house. We ordered this great sounding device that was supposed to make trimming a cinch. Well … upon arrival of the product, we discovered that the quality of the gadget was significantly lower than the quality of the idea. In short, it was not worth using.

Suffice it to say that whatever we invest our time and money in does not always turn out to be worth it. Teaching the lesson of unreasonable expectations to the children in the family takes patience. When my sweet mother-in-law was raising my wife and her two siblings and one of them made a request for something that was “not gonna happen” … she would chuckle and say to them, “Yea, and people in jail want out!”

There is no guarantee you will get what you want. There is always a risk that some things you purchase are a waste of money. And sometimes the places you want to go or the things you want to do are not going to work out.

There is, however, something of a spiritual nature that has a trustworthy guarantee.

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; … (Hebrews 12:28)

This “kingdom that cannot be shaken” is worth trading everything we are and all we have in order to live in it. In a world in which many people get upset at the things that don’t work like they’re supposed to, the only thing I know of that comes through 100% of the time is the grace of God poured out on us in this “kingdom that cannot be shaken.”

In all my years of adulthood, I can’t think of a single person who ever came back to me and said they were disappointed in the life of faith offered to them through Jesus Christ. This is based on those who were “all in” for the kingdom.

For those who were just trying to “fit God into their schedule,” it seemed to me that they didn’t want to be “in” this kingdom, but just visit occasionally. In that case, God is not really your king. Those folks were frequently disappointed.

I am thankful that there is a “kingdom that cannot be shaken” offered by grace to all of us, in which the warranty never runs out. I’m all in for that! And good news … living in this unshaken kingdom also means that when the events of this life try to rock my world I can remain personally unshaken because of the unshakable foundation of this kingdom in which I dwell.

If you or someone you know is holding out looking for a sure thing to commit to, hold back no longer. And when you take the leap, you will discover that this is not just an idea, it is a Person, the Creator himself, drawing you into a deep, loving relationship that far exceeds expectations … it will produce a sense of “reverence and awe” within you.

King David was all in, saying, “I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved …” (Psalm 121:1-3a)

This seems strange to say, but I have been shaken up a few times in my life, and yet remained unshaken, because God absorbed the shaking.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is … UNLIKELY

Wed-Jan-29-2020

There are times you are going to be called on to accomplish something that you don’t think you’re suited for. God doesn’t use our normal criteria to pick someone for a job. You or I would choose someone with talent in the desired area and available time to commit to the project. We might also go for someone with high self-esteem who is well respected, someone who would answer “yes” with great confidence.

Not God … He has a flair for performing the impossible with the unlikely! In the Book of Judges, the land of Israel is being harassed by the Midianites. The Israelites could be overrun and destroyed if something didn’t turn around and soon. I’ve been there a few times, things are falling apart, and I feel hopeless. How about you?

But God had a plan and sent an angel to tell Gideon he had been chosen to pull off the necessary turnaround. Of course, to Gideon this didn’t seem like divine orders, it seemed like nonsense. He thought this angel was a strange traveler who didn’t know what he was talking about. So, his response was two-fold … “I don’t know what makes you think God cares about us; he has abandoned us!” … and then … “Even if this could happen, you’ve got the wrong guy! I am not a leader or a warrior.” Judges 6:15… “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

So here is the take-away for today. God uses willing people, regardless of their strengths or weaknesses, their high or low station, or their level of confidence to accomplish the following purposes:

First, he comes to resolve a serious need and accomplish a kingdom purpose, especially if it seems impossible to us. He wants to achieve the victory, and to create joy, thanks, and celebration.

Second, he wants to do it in a way that creates faith in you and others. Sometimes that means using the seemingly least qualified candidate, otherwise we would all praise that person for the success. God wants us to know that we can’t do it without his divine help. That way the praise goes to God, not any of us.

Finally, God wants to demonstrate that he can use you to do amazing things with his help. This requires humility plus faith plus courage.

If God is tapping you on the shoulder about something that he wants to accomplish, listen up. It might be simple … help one person in your world (at home, at work, wherever) to experience a turnaround that they desperately need. Or perhaps he sets your sights on something much bigger and intimidating. If you list all the “worldly” reasons you’re the wrong person for the job, you could miss a chance to bless one person or many.

If you think you’re the least qualified, the least likely candidate … well, there you go … it wouldn’t be the first time God took that approach! You could draw out the argument for days and days, like Gideon did, or you could go for it!

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is SELF-CARE

Tue-Jan-28-2020

Don’t let your efforts to avoid self-centeredness lead you into thinking that it’s not OK to be nice to yourself.

Sometimes dangers are found by living at the extremes of issues that are meant to be balanced. For instance, the solution to avoiding self-centeredness is not to become self-loathing! The middle ground is called … “self-care.”

Self-care is a way of focusing on ourselves for the purpose of becoming what God created us to be. Ironically, as we engage in inward-focused self-care it causes us to become outward-focused and generous to others, to heal rather than hurt them, to bless rather than use them.

So, how well do you rate on “self-care”? One of its benefits is that it helps us in difficult times. Some people wait until there is a crisis and then depend on help from the outside … a grandmother, a best friend, a pastor, a TV show, a self-help book, etc. (most of which are good). This is the panic method of getting through the crisis. The rest of the time, if things are going fairly well, they engage in little or no healthy self-care.

This approach leaves us equally unprepared for the next crisis, dry spell, conflict, or disappointment. Our failure to grow and mature in the good times, when we should be doing spiritual “strengthening” exercises, means that when trouble comes, we are not equipped to handle it, so we go “outside” again, looking for quick help, and sadly for some, God is not on the list of outside help.

Seeking help from others is necessary and beneficial, but that’s only one aspect of the plan. We are crippled if the only help we have is from emergency outside sources. We also have an inside source. Jesus said that the Kingdom is within you. Paul talked about the Spirit in us, bringing life and peace. Jesus told a woman that she could have streams of living water coming from within her. All to say that your help comes both from within and from outside.

A great transition that must take place in our lives (if it hasn’t already), is first to take responsibility for our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being and make a “self-care” plan. Then we must learn how this inward health source works. In the Old Testament, David the shepherd boy and eventual King, faced lots of difficulties. And when things got really tough, he would “park” himself, suspend the journey, and “refresh himself” or “encourage himself” in the Lord.

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” (1st Samuel 30:6) (KJV)

“The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary at the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself”. (2nd Samuel 16:14)

At those times when you have needed encouragement, did it ever occur to you that with God’s help you could be your own encourager? Or if in need of refreshing, you could “refresh yourself”? And that it would work! And that it would be enough! That’s because the Holy Spirit is actually the source of it. He’s the one filling your cup.

Self-care involves following the Lord’s plan for a healthy you. And if that doesn’t include spiritual health then it is not a holistic plan. The health food store and the gymnasium are not the two main keys to healthy living! If you are physically fit, but emotionally toxic or spiritually dry, then you are not truly healthy. You and the Lord can figure out this self-care plan. It involves physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. And please don’t leave out the Body of Christ portion. We grow best in fellowship.

Whatever your plan, if your efforts to take care of yourself do not result in blessing others, then you are likely practicing self-centeredness not self-care.

Be well, be blessed, be a blessing!

Chaplain Mark

References:

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” – Jesus (Luke 17:21)

“But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.” – The Apostle Paul (Romans 8:9)

“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’” (John 4:13-14)

Today’s Word Is … BURDENS

Mon-Jan-27-2020

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Jesus (Matthew 11:28)

Another version says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened…”

The heaviest burden many people carry is the load of expectations placed on them by others. Trying to live up to an image of who others think we should be can become a weight too great to sustain.

One of the reasons people flocked to hear Jesus was because he talked more about a God who cared, than one whose heavy hand wanted to control them and punish them for not being good enough or for breaking too many rules. I wonder if a single rabbi (teacher) had ever in their lives invited them to come follow so they could rest!

But Jesus was doing just that, which essentially was an invitation to live a life of trust in the goodness of God. Those who felt hopeless, oppressed, and tired of trying and failing were intrigued by these words … “Come to me, and I will give you rest.”

Now, this was not an invitation to stop trying, nor to escape responsibility, but to receive an internal shift from dependence on the approval of others to dependence on the grace of God. Worldly living says, “I will love you if” … and then there comes the expectations.

Kingdom living (God’s Kingdom, that is), says that you are loved by your Creator and your Savior for who you are, not for what you accomplish. The first step of Kingdom living is to get rid of the baggage, the load of expectations, the fear that you might not prove to be worthy, … and in exchange receive the following reality … You are accepted because God made you and loved unconditionally because that’s who God is and what he does.

After that, there are lots of things we do to accomplish Kingdom purposes, but they are not done to prove we are acceptable, they are done out of thanks that we were “declared” to be acceptable as God’s primary gift. (We call this salvation or conversion.) We are no longer laboring and heavy laden under a load of disapproval, but rather there is rest from it.

Welcome to the Jesus life. Now, I need to complete the picture. In the beginning, I only gave you one of three verses to describe the Jesus invitation. Here’s the “rest of the story”:

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

You may notice that after Jesus offered rest, he told us to take his yoke upon us, which is the equipment placed on the shoulders of oxen and other work animals, for the purpose of carrying or pulling loads. How about that! … Invited to rest and put to work! But that’s it! Rest, work, rest, work. Not work, work, work, work.

In the Pharisees’ world, the “working” at proving ourselves to be religious and obedient was primary. In Jesus’ world, the “resting” is primary. The Sabbath is the holy day when God rested. For God, six days was “enough” to complete creation. Get it? This faith we practice has works of righteousness involved, but not to the extent that they become a burden we can’t carry. The most important day of the week is Sabbath, meaning the most important aspect of the Kingdom life is rest.

Is this making sense? Jesus invited us to turn around, to stop thinking of religious performance as the basis of life, but rather to let rest and assurance be the focus of life, with an attitude towards works of faith that sees it as necessary, but not a burden, and certainly not the way to prove anything to God.

The result is rest for our souls, because the yoke (workload) is easy, and it burdens us only lightly, because it was given to us by a Savior who is both gentle and humble.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

BY THE WAY … this has been my favorite passage of Scripture for 40+ years. When I was a young pastor, I had read this passage many times, but the first time I used it as a sermon text, I began preparing and spontaneously became overwhelmed with tears at Jesus’ invitation to come to him and get rid of my burdens in exchange for his rest and a yoke that was much easier than the burdens I had been carrying for such a long time. I say this because when we are first saved, we understand our salvation as we experienced it at that point. But later on, more revelations of the nature and glory of this new life in Christ will touch us in deeper and richer ways. This passage became my best symbolism for the illustration of salvation … to give him what I have, and in return get what he has. That’s the best bargain anyone in the world will ever get!

Today’s Word Is SMUGGLING

With Humor for the Week
Fri-Jan-24-2020

A fellow tries to cross the Mexican border on a bicycle with two big bags balanced on his shoulders. The guard asks, “What’s in the bags?” … The fellow says, “Sand!”

The guard wants to examine them. The fellow gets off the bike, places the bags on the ground, opens them up, and the guard inspects the contents … only to find sand. The fellow re-packs the sand, places the bags on his shoulders, and pedals the bike across the border.

A week later, the same situation is repeated… “What have you there?” … “Sand.” … “We want to examine it.” … Same results… nothing but sand, and the fellow is on his way again.

Every week this happens, nothing but sand in the bags. Eventually the border guard retires, and lo and behold, one day he sees this same fellow riding a bike down the street with the same two bags on his shoulders. So, he waves him down, and says, “Do you remember me? I’m the border guard at the crossing you always use. I finally reached retirement age.”

“Sure, I remember you.” … “So, let me confess that I always thought you were up to something, but I never could find anything in those bags except sand. What do you hide in there? You’ve been smuggling something all this time, haven’t you!? I can’t arrest you anymore, so tell me, what is it?” … “Bicycles, man, bicycles.”

That story made me think that we have an enemy that smuggles harmful things into our lives by methods that may seem innocent to us, or don’t make sense. We must be on the lookout that our character is not changing for the worse through television, the internet, advertising, depressing newscasts, public opinion polls, politics, and many other seemingly innocent carriers.

What can all this exposure do to us? It can cause our integrity to falter. We can become cynical and unforgiving toward others. It can also cheat us out of God’s surprises and gifts. I get my share of exposure, but I try to stay aware and stay away more. Better diets can be found in the Scriptures, quiet time with the Lord, listening to good teaching, enjoying fellowship with friends, and gathering at places of worship. I hope you partake.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

SCRIPTURES FOR THE DAY:

“ … so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” (2nd Corinthians 2:11)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Gracious God, Thank you for another day of blessing and adventure. Keep my eyes open and my mind on alert for any ways I may be allowing the enemy access into my life. Lead me to green pastures of Kingdom nourishment. May I use the wisdom I have gained to make a difference in someone’s life today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s Word Is APPEARANCES

Thu-Jan-23-2020

Have you ever been told, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts?” Well, from God’s perspective, that is true, as you will see in a moment. But people in our world don’t always operate that way.

There is a lot of judgment going on around us that is based on appearances. God looks at your heart, your motives, your faithfulness, and your obedience to his guidance in both small practices and large adventures.

God sent the prophet Samuel to the town of Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, to select the next king of Israel. There were seven sons in attendance at the screening session, but there was an eighth son, David, who was not invited by his father to be part of the ceremony. Apparently, the others seemed like more obvious choices for the job. The oldest son was presented first, as the customary and obvious candidate.

“When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1st Samuel 16:6-7)

One at a time. each son was examined by Samuel and rejected by the Lord. On Samuel’s insistence, the most unlikely candidate was fetched from his job of keeping the sheep. And God whispered to Samuel that this was the one, the next king.

Do you remember choosing up sides for an activity in school, be it sports on the playground or a project team in the classroom? The captain would often select based on popularity or friendships. Had the teacher been the captain of the team, the choices would likely have gone differently. The teacher would have used different criteria. Likewise, God does the same in the kingdom, and the condition of the heart is primary.

Did you ever wonder why David’s father, Jesse, didn’t send for him in the beginning? Either he did not recognize his son’s gifts, or maybe he thought he would look foolish to bypass all the older boys in David’s favor. The gossip would have been cruel … “Did you hear Mr. Jesse proposed that his puny little shepherd boy should be the new king?! How embarrassing for his older brothers! It makes you wonder if the old man has his head on straight!“

Or maybe, just maybe, God had hidden in David a kingly character too unlikely for anyone to detect. After all, this was going to be only the second king ever for Israel. The first king (Saul) was still in office and making a mess of it, although he was chosen by popular vote of the people, as by far the best candidate. God had tried to talk them out of the whole king idea in the first place, hoping they would let God be the king!

What does all this tell us? First, we need to let God take the lead in our decision-making. As we listen to his Spirit, he reveals factors we never thought of. And in the process, we gradually learn more about how God thinks.

Second, if we want to go on God adventures, we should remember that he is going to look at the inner character (the heart) of those he calls to kingdom assignments. That means guarding our hearts and constantly working on our own integrity and faithfulness.

Finally, just as God sent the prophet Samuel to find a king, so may we be honored when God uses us to call forth the gifts of someone, even though others may wonder what we see in that person. How exciting it would be to tell someone what God sees in them and that God may be calling them to serve in the kingdom. In so doing, we could become known as someone who brings out the best in those around us … and who does not judge them by the world’s biased standards.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is … TRANSMIT

Hurt or Healed?
Wed-Jan-22-2020

Besides physical sickness, there are many things in life that get transmitted, some very good things and some very harmful things. Love, hope, and joy are contagious, but so are anger, discontent, and bitterness.

There is a Bible passage that talks about the transmission of spiritual and emotional healing.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2nd Corinthians 1:3-4)

In other words, as God comforts us, we are inspired to comfort others. This word “comfort” has a deeper meaning than just getting a pat on the back or a hug to make you feel better. The “comfort” spoken of here is deep, more like a profound, life-changing healing.

Simply put, “Healed people heal people.” As we find and receive healing from God, we become agents of healing in the lives of others.

But there is a reverse principle implied in this verse that is also true. “Hurt people hurt people.” The past hurts that some people have endured get passed on or transmitted to others. The person who feels hurt, often reacts and compensates by hurting others.

Here are two ways to apply these principles.

First, get yourself healed up. Address your hurts and find peace. Dig deeper into the Word. And there are many churches, ministries, grace-filled Christians, and inspiring books to help you. God’s healing comfort is deep and effective. Most of the time, the “just forget about it” approach doesn’t work. In the medical world, wounds that are not painfully cleaned out and treated with inconvenient shots, stitches, and bandages, will not heal, they will get “infected.” Emotional wounds can also get “infected” if not painstakingly treated.

Second, understand and forgive others who display hurtful behavior toward you or others. It may be that they are not simply “mean” people, but far more likely that they have been hurt in the past in such a way that they don’t realize how they are hurting others or how to stop it. They need someone who has been healed (like you, for instance) to help them get healed.

Be well!

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is … WHEEEEEE

A story of a child’s spontaneous joy.
Tue-Jan-21-2020

My wife and I took one of our granddaughters on a train ride at Chattanooga’s Railroad Museum when she was about 3 or 4 years old. We had recently been discussing with her the concept that God is with us everywhere we go. So, we reminded her as we were on the train that God is with us, even on train rides.

Have you ever ridden this vintage train? It takes you from a station near Jersey Pike, eventually through a tunnel, and ends up in East Chattanooga. As we went through the tunnel, the light was dim but not totally dark. We were going a little downhill, and feeling the cool breeze from the open windows, we all held our hands up, and said, “Wheeeeeee!”

A little later, she must have begun to wonder … if God is with us on this train ride, what was he thinking about this “wheeeeee” experience? So, her curiosity led her to query us about it. “Does God say wheeeeee when he goes through the tunnel?” And I said, ”Yes!”

Believe it or not, this is biblical. First God is always with you. And then God delights in the fact that you are enjoying life and his creation, and even enjoys them with you!

“The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

So, I would say … yes! … God says, “Wheeeeee!” right along with us!

You should always be aware that God  loves you and is with you. But let me put a twist to it. God loves the fact that you belong to him, that you flourish under his watch care, and that you enjoy the life he gave you. Life with God is good. It can bring out the joy in you, and you need that.

I hope that sometimes, because of the experience of the moment and the reality of his presence, you just let loose and say, “Wheeeeee!”

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Another Scripture:

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Prayer for the Day:

Father God, I thank you for the blessing of your constant presence. I believe that there is nothing in this world that can separate me from your love, and that in your presence, surrounded by your love, I can be  spontaneously filled with your joy. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Today’s Word Is … EQUAL

Martin Luther King, Jr Day
Created Equal
Mon-Jan-20-2020

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the USA, declared so by President Reagan in 1983. King was born Jan. 15, 1929 and was shot and killed 52 years ago on April 4, 1968. Like many people, it is for me a day of reflecting about his legacy. Somehow there is something ominous and significant about MLK Day and today’s date … January 20, 2020.

I grew up in small towns in Tennessee and Virginia, and being the son of a pastor, somehow I escaped much exposure to various forms of prejudice. My father was as close to being purely unprejudiced as anyone I ever knew. He befriended everyone, and the churches he pastored often had people from other cultures than our own. This was probably unusual in the 1950’s and 60’s.

My first real encounter with the shunning of someone of a different skin color came in college. My black friend, and frequent meal-mate in the dining hall, described rejection he had experienced. It bothered me that skin color mattered in evaluating someone. After he told me this, I began to notice that when he and I shared a table for supper, a few people would watch us. Rarely did someone come and join us at our table for eight. It made me even more determined to retain and develop this friendship, and to expand my “other culture” circle of friends, Black, Hispanic, Asian, etc.

MLK had just the right combination of a passion for equality and an insistence on non-violence in pursuit of it, the reason being that both of those qualities were based on the Bible. I have visited the Historic Ebenezer Church in Atlanta, home church and burial site of MLK. One time I stood in the pulpit where he preached in the Dexter Avenue Church in Montgomery, AL, and raising my hands, I said, “I have a dream!” That’s all I could get out, as tears began to flow. More recently, I made friends with Dr. Albert Brinson, who as a young person was befriended and partially raised by the Rev. Martin King, Sr. family; and who eventually walked alongside Dr. King, Jr. in many freedom marches. His stories were always fascinating and sometimes tragic.

I had more than one person during my early pastorates who told me they couldn’t help being prejudiced, because they were “raised that way.” The only answer I could think of was … “in my Bible, prejudice is sin.”

I am thankful for all persons of every race and culture who have helped us to move closer to a day in which hatred and racial prejudice will have been put aside. Or as Dr. King put it …

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” – (from his “I Have a Dream” Speech on Aug 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial)

I pray that no one will be prejudiced against you for being who you are, and that you will join others in rising above prejudice. I also pray that you will forgive people who are prejudiced against you, because forgiveness is taught in the Bible, and unforgiveness is just as wrong as prejudice.

If you think about it, the parable of the Good Samaritan is not just about helping others, it is about racial/cultural prejudice. A priest and a Levite passed by a wounded man on the road, possibly because they did not know the person and feared robbers might overtake them if they stopped to help. But also, not knowing whether the man might actually be dead already, these official leaders knew that touching a dead body would make them “unclean.” The hero of the story was a “foreigner” from Samaria, not of pure Jewish blood, and thus hated by the Jews.

This story would have been “offensive” to the audience Jesus was addressing. But clearly, he was teaching them that prejudice is “offensive” to God! To rid ourselves of prejudice, it is good to make a conscious declaration to ourselves and to God that we will not harbor prejudice. But to take that a step further, why not make an action plan! Visit a church of a different culture. Befriend someone of a different color at work, school, or wherever. Perhaps invite them to dinner at your home or a restaurant. I’m sure you can think of something. And if you do so, would you report back to me how it went?

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Prayer for the Day:

Gracious God, I know that you are the creator of every man, woman, and child on this earth. We are a variety of colors and cultures. May I never think of my culture as being superior to any other, and may my words and deeds reflect your love for every person. Forgive my past thoughts and acts of prejudice. Show me someone today who is racially different from me and who might be surprised to hear my words of affirmation of their value. If there is anyone from whom I should ask for forgiveness, give me the courage to do just that. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.