January 14, Monday

The AMI QT blogs for January (weekdays), provided by Pastor Ryun Chang, are extended to cover important sociopolitical matters that have serious ramifications for the Christian faith. Pastor Ryun (PhD), who serves as the Teaching Pastor of AMI, is the author of Manual de Misionología, Theologizing in the Racial Middle, and a contributor to The Reshaping of Mission in Latin America.

Disclaimer: AMI, as a consortium of several churches, allows the expression of multiple standpoints on non-essential biblical matters. My views expressed here do not necessarily represent the respective views of AMI pastors. I am also mindful that not every reader will agree with my stances on sensitive and contentious issues addressed in this month’s blogs. Where that may be the case, I invite you to utilize the comment section below, so that we may have an open dialogue; I highly encourage all readers to share their thoughts and experiences. Thank you.

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (2):

“If You Are Ever Accused, Would You Demand Corroboration?

Deuteronomy 19:15 (ESV)

“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”

During my recent trip to California, I saw an elderly pastor whom I first met in 1982. At that time, he came to direct the Bible institute of the church where I was serving as a youth pastor.

One day, this pastor handed me an official check for $200, which was found in church’s mailbox, seeing that the name on the check was similar to mine. But, since I didn’t recognize the issuer I declined; nevertheless, because he kept insisting, I relented and took the check; and my bank later cleared it. I thought it was an unexpected blessing from God; boy, was I wrong!

Not long afterwards, a parent in my youth group accused me of being a thief; evidently, the check belonged to her acquaintance (a former associate pastor of my church) who told her to keep it for herself. While profusely apologizing and promising to return the money (which I promptly did), I explained the mitigating circumstance that led to my blunder. But, when I appealed to the pastor who gave me the check in front of my accuser, he flat out denied his role, saying that it never happened; apparently, he didn’t want to look bad. Either way I erred, but his denial angered me since, to this woman, I was a thief and now a liar as well.

My problem was having no corroboration for my version of the story—the true account of what really happened. So that gave me a window into how Blasie Ford might have felt when no one at the infamous house party, including her friend, where Kavanaugh allegedly attempted to sexually assault Ford, could corroborate her account. I know many of us really wanted to believe Ford’s entire story—perhaps long lapse of time (35 years ago) is why the friend wrote to the judiciary committee that she “has no recollection of ever being at a party or gathering where [Kavanagh] was present.” After all, one reason behind the statute of limitations is the fact that the recollections of pertinent witnesses will be less accurate over time.

So, regardless of how we feel, some level or type of corroboration is absolutely needed to prove a charge. Scripture certainly avows for it. Deuteronomy 19:15 declares, “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.” First Timothy 5:19 states, “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.” Why? Because, “acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord detests them both” (Prov. 17:15). So, to prevent these unjust outcomes from occurring, the requirement for corroboration was and has been established in theocracy, ecclesiocracy, and democracy.

Does that mean that the guilty are always found guilty and the innocent always innocent? Sadly, no—in fact, we see this happening on the day Jesus was tried: While Barabbas, the confirmed murderer (Mk. 15:7), was released, Jesus, sinless and innocent, was executed for the guilty. That wasn’t the first time that happened and certainly not the last. However, it is true that our justice system, which requires substantive corroboration, has put away the guilty while exonerating the wrongly accused with a greater accuracy than almost all systems in the world.

What about when the system fails however infrequently? Ultimately, we rest assured in God’s eventual justice, that “there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known” (Matt. 10:26). And if such disclosure doesn’t materialize this side of heaven, then, it certainly will at the judgment seat of Christ before which “we must all appear . . . so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:10). Meanwhile, we “ke[ep] coming to [God] with the plea, ‘Grant [us] justice . . .’” (Lk. 18:3a NIV).

By the way, don’t accept checks that don’t belong to you (trust me on this) and avoid places and situations where a large quantity of alcohol is consumed (you will thank me later).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I recognize today that Your concern for us is more than how to get to heaven. You also want us to live in a just and fair society. Therefore, remind me and help me to be just and fair to those around me, beginning with my own family members. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 16

Tomorrow’s Blog: Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (3): “Why Senator Hirono Wasn’t Entirely Incorrect”

Lunch Break Study

Read Matt. 26:59-67 (ESV):

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

John 10:17-18:

“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Questions to Consider

What is wrong with this legal proceeding?
Is what the two witnesses said about Jesus (“. . . rebuild it in three days”) worthy of a death penalty? What does Jesus, in fact, do at this point to help the cause of His accusers?
Why does Jesus give the Jewish leaders the information that will lead to His death? What does this say about our Lord?

Notes

The judges (the members of Sanhedrin—the ruling body), long before hearing from anyone who could corroborate allegations against Jesus, already decided on the verdict (“so that they could put him to death”), and then looked for witnesses who will back them up. That is a rigged trial. Going back to the Kavanaugh trial, once the accusation by Ford became public, it is a fact that several unsubstantiated or fabricated charges were made (e.g., Judy Munro-Leighton), which, then were quickly believed by certain judiciary committee members who never wanted Kavanaugh in the first place. We probably have all done something similar on a lesser scale in our private lives, but it (i.e., making up our minds before hearing from corroborating witnesses) would be very unkind and indecent thing to do to another human being.
The charge the Jewish leaders are looking for is that Jesus calls “God his own Father, making himself equal with God” (Jn. 5:18). The accusation that Jesus said He could rebuild the temple in three days is not quite enough to make the case of blasphemy against Jesus. So then, what does Jesus do? He voluntarily gives them the information that will make their case stick: “Yes, I am the Messiah, the Son of God.”
No one, whether the devil or Sanhedrin, can take life from Jesus unless the Lord allows it. By giving the Jewish leaders the information that justifies their charge that will lead to His death on the cross, Jesus is allowing them to take His life so that “we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24b). This is all the more reason Jesus Christ is worthy of our praise.

Evening Reflection

What were your thoughts while following the Kavanaugh hearing that produced several unforgettable moments, including Senator Graham’s indignant outburst, Senator Booker’s Spartacus moment, Ford’s cogent accusation and Kavanaugh’s fierce defense of himself? Truth be told, none of what I have been saying and will say in the next few blogs is something the secular media, whether CNN or Fox, will ever say. Why? Today’s media establishment is neither into objective reporting nor cognizant of the biblical metanarrative. On the contrary, my attempt is to construe all that went on during this divisive hearing from the standpoint of God’s Word, which would ensure objectivity in my reporting.

Now let me ask you as a fellow believer: Are your values and beliefs shaped more by the secular media and academia than Scripture? That’s a fair and important question. How well do you comprehend God’s Word (with all of its intricacies and nuances)? Pray about raising the ante and really study God’s Word and acquire a biblical worldview. It’s about time Christians stop gullibly believing everything the media and academia purport. Pray about changing your study habit; pray about reading books that can help you with this (e.g., Total Truth by Nancy ~~Pelosi~~ Pearcey).

January 13, Sunday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Who’s in Your Calendar?”

Luke 5:19

“Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.”

Luke 11:37

“As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.”

Note: The topic of this devotional is inspired by the passage “The Brotherliness of Jesus” in The Character of Jesus by Charles Edward Jefferson.

I have an aunt who we consider incredibly sociable; my relatives jokingly relay stories about how “nosy” (in my mind, ‘curious and bold’) she was as a child, how she would go to the local barbershop to shampoo other people’s hair or follow friends’ families to the market and watch over others’ vegetable stands. Once, when we passed by a swanky new high-rise, she remarked that she considered buying a unit but didn’t after chatting with a tile-layer who confirmed a rumor about poor installations. She is as comfortable with a storeowner of luxury goods as she is with the store’s security guards. She is not Christian, but despite that, when I spend time with her, I am left with a deep appreciation for the humility with which she approaches others. Her lifestyle indicates a belief that each person is incredibly valuable and important, so she is both comfortable and interested in getting to know people of all backgrounds.

When we read about how Jesus spent His time, we see that He spent it in the presence of both religious leaders as well as people of poor reputation. One does not get the impression that Jesus did so out of dutiful politeness or showed up purposely just to expose hypocrites and correct them (one might be surprised, after reading Luke 11, that He still receives invitations to dine in Luke 14). We see that He was accessible and made Himself accessible to people of all classes and reputation, and that they desired His company as well. Though we know with our minds that God loves the entire world, we rarely appreciate how marvelous this versatility was. He made time for people who were rich and poor, religious and non-religious. He was able to make good conversation with them and enjoyed them as well.

How many of us purposely plan our schedules or are truly interested in spending time with people different than us? I will confess that I usually do not, nor do I make myself available to receive invitations, and I rarely give up that prized pocket of dinnertime. In contemplating the life of Christ, we should be challenged to recognize that God’s heart is for people of all types and characteristics. My encouragement for myself and for you is to spend time assessing how our time is spent. Do we make room to fellowship with and enjoy people from all walks of life, including those who share differing or opposing views? Could we take steps towards cultivating a heart of love that looks more like God’s, roomy and spacious for many others? Perhaps we can start at church today by saying hello to and taking steps towards building friendship with people we do not ordinarily fellowship with.

Our hindrances may be fear of awkwardness or rejection, or of an attitude that it is impossible for us to learn how to love those different than ourselves. Let’s confess these to God and ask Him to replace our fear and our resistance with His heart. From there, He will reveal and grant us a heart that is genuinely interested in understanding and embracing the wide spectrum of the people He created and cherishes. Let’s be people who eagerly desire to see beyond our familiar worlds into all the others that God also loves.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You love me so deeply. Teach me what it is that You love about others, and give me a heart to know and love them as well. Help me also to better appreciate Your love as I begin to learn how it is so varied and thorough for each person that I encounter. Would You show me how You love people that I do not naturally gravitate to and give me a fuller heart of love that resembles Yours? Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 15

January 12, Saturday

The AMI Spiritual Food for Thought for the weekend of January 12-13 is provided by Christine Li. Christine graduated from University of Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in New York City. She attends and serves at Remnant Church in Manhattan.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“What Are You Wearing Today?”

Colossians 3:12

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Winter in New York City is quite cold, and to my parents who live in Georgia, the thought of it is unbearable. Occasionally, they’ll worry: “Are you wearing a scarf? Do you have gloves? How many hats do you own again?” Although by this point, I feel fairly confident in my own ability to dress myself, their reminders are warranted. It’s important for me to check the weather each day and run through my schedule to determine what to wear. Other considerations come to mind: Am I seeing friends? Am I going to be doing a lot of walking? I need to be sure to have an outfit conducive to these plans. I’m sure this is common for each person. Whether you care much or little about your actual appearance, there’s sure to be some passing thought on the function of your clothing when you get dressed for the day.

In speaking about who we are as new creations in Christ, Paul likens character traits to clothing. He suggests that these, in the Spirit, can be easily put on: we are to be people who visibly display virtues of God. If we take this analogy a little further, we can be reminded that—similar to how we shop for and keep clothes—these qualities also take proper care to maintain, and we need to spend time identifying and acquiring them.

And we choose what to wear not solely based on how it makes us look but also for functionality. Just as outer garments and footwear shield us, their spiritual equivalents that shield us spiritually are meant to be appropriately applied to all situations and circumstances in our lives. As Christians, we know that this world is not only full of spiritual battles but opportunities for our old, sinful selves to rear their ugly heads. Therefore, we need the Spirit to keep us from indulging in the temptations to be selfish, greedy, and unloving.

Because putting on virtues sounds nice as a general practice, my encouragement for you today (and the next several days) is to specifically anticipate how to clothe yourself before you leave your home. If you’ve planned a tough conversation with a difficult coworker, can you remind yourself to layer on an extra measure of compassion? If you anticipate heavy traffic when you drive, you might want to bring along some extra patience, just in case. Let’s ask God to help us prepare for the day ahead… and also to not forget what we have resolved to carry!

Prayer: Father, I confess that I often am more concerned with what I look like on the outside than what I look like on the inside. Please fix my sight and attention on the treasure of inward character; remind me and help me intentionally clothe myself with spiritual fruits above all. Make me someone who carries the aroma of Christ wherever I go and to radiates Your presence and character.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 13-14

January 11, Friday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (1):

“If You Are Ever Accused, Would You Want Due Process?”

Psalm 9:7-8 (ESV)

“But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.”

The whole country was riveted while watching the confirmation hearing for then the Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, when Blasie Ford accused him of attempted rape some 35 years back. Kavanaugh denied it while acknowledging that “she may have been sexually assaulted” by someone else. In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer insisted that “the sexual misconduct allegations are reason enough for him to withdraw,” adding, “there is no presumption of innocence or guilt when you have a nominee before you.”

Upon hearing what Schumer said, I couldn’t help but to think of the Inquisition. Many bring it up in public discussion to silence the Christian faith itself, including former President Obama, but I’m not too sure whether they know what it was really about. The 44th POTUS, trying to put into perspective the violent Muslims of Islamic State, said, “During . . . the Inquisition, people committed terrible death in the name of Christ.” Well, that’s not completely true. The Inquisition carried out during the Middle Ages was a potent tool that the Roman Catholic Church employed to root out beliefs that the Catholic Church deemed heretical to remain in power, and the principal victims were the Protestants (i.e., our spiritual ancestors). That is why “in time the phrase Inquisition became a byword, particularly in Protestant areas, for cruelty . . .” (Encarta 1994). All this to say: The Inquisition had little to do with Christ.

Now, consider how the Inquisition was typically conducted. The accused Protestants who did not recant their alleged heresies were tried under the following condition: “The names of witnesses [for the Inquisitor] were . . . difficult to discover. The suspect was not allowed a defense lawyer . . . [and] did not know the names of his accusers . . . Torture was a most effective means to secure repentance” (Finucane 1977:321). So, under the office of Inquisition, being accused, in effect, meant the one accused was already found guilty. The approach preferred by Schumer and the Inquisition is called undue process.

Now, consider Paul and Joseph. If you are ever accused of the charges that were levelled against them, what process would you prefer: due or undue process?

The commander of the Roman troops in Jerusalem, to appease the angry mob who wanted to kill Paul for his alleged blasphemy, commanded that he be flogged. But that order was rescinded right after Paul told the commander that he is “a Roman citizen” (Act 22:25). Still under accusation, Paul wasn’t released that day; he did, however, exercise the rights of Roman citizens to appeal his case to the Emperor (25:21). Festus the Roman governor, having no choice but to accommodate Paul, put him in a ship sailing toward Rome. That’s due process.

Potiphar’s wife seemed believable when she insisted that Joseph, whom her husband put in charge of the house, “came in here to sleep with [her]” (Gn. 39:14). After all, everyone recognized the cloak she held belonged to Joseph. So, when Potiphar “heard the story his wife told him,” he immediately “put him in prison” (39:19-20). No grand jury, no trial—this is undue process.

So, what process would you prefer if you are the accused?

We live in America—not Europe in the Middle Ages—where the presumption of innocence is a basic ethos of our criminal justice system. Thus, the Miranda rights are read to any criminal suspect; the grand jury weighs the probable cause to determine whether the accused should be prosecuted; and a public defender is assigned to any accused who wants one. This is called due process, and it originates from God Himself, because “God is a righteous judge” (Ps. 7:11) who “judges the peoples with uprightness” (9:8b). Thus, the LORD says to the accused, “Present your case . . . Set forth your arguments” (Is. 41:21 NIV).

So then, be fair when you are making accusations; don’t rush to judgment. Jesus says, “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment” (Jn. 7:24 NIV), because that’s you would want if you are the accused.

Prayer: Father, we praise You for being a fair Judge who judges us not only in accordance to Your righteous standard but with grace and mercy. We are especially grateful that You do “not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Ps. 103:10). Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 12

Monday’s Blog: Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (2): “If You Are Ever Accused, Would You Demand Corroboration?” (The weekend blogs will be provided by Christine Li.)

Lunch Break Study

Read John 19:6-12 (ESV):

As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” 7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” 13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. 15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. 16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

Questions to Consider

What law is Pilate following? What is his verdict based on that?
Under what law were the Jewish leaders attempting to accuse Jesus? Why? Did the Jewish leaders alter their original charge against Jesus (under the Jewish law) once they realized that Pilate was going release Him?
In view of your findings, would you consider this a fair trial?
At the personal level, do you argue with your friend/spouse/child/co-worker at all cost just to win, i.e., get what you want?

Notes

The Roman governor Pilate was obviously following the Roman law that has no stipulation against any Jewish person claiming to be the Son of God. Such an individual will surely be deemed as crazy but certainly not deserving of death. Besides, Pilate “knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus to him” (Matt. 27:18).
The Jewish leaders initially found Jesus guilty of blasphemy based on their law, but once they saw that Pilate wasn’t biting, they switched over to the Roman law and presented Jesus, not as the Son of God, but a king who opposes Caesar. The charge was no longer blasphemy but sedition.
Of course, it wasn’t a fair trial. Furthermore, what the Jewish leaders said earlier to Pilate wasn’t exactly true either: “But we have no right to execute anyone” (Jn. 18:31). Legally, that was true but that didn’t keep them from executing those whom they deemed as blasphemous like Stephen (Acts 7:59-60). They didn’t try to execute Jesus because “they were afraid of the crowd” (Matt. 21:46).
At the personal level, let’s allow the facts and truths to prevail, not our desire to win at all cost that always distorts how we see the reality that surrounds us.

Evening Reflection

Rarely do we go through an entire day without contending for or arguing in favor of something, whether it be in our workplaces, homes, classrooms and conversations over politics, sports, etc. Now, Jesus says, “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly” (Jn. 7:24). Based on how you presented your thought/opinion/conviction to others, would you say you were being fair? If not, what does that say about yourself? How do you need to change so that your speech and conduct reflect our God who is a fair and righteous Judge?

January 10, Thursday

Read this version.

January 10, Thursday

Extended Devotional Thought for Today

“What Conscientious Men Should Do When Men Act Badly Toward Women?”

Exodus 2:16-17 (ESV)

“Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock.”

In an earlier blog, I mentioned that while on any given day, a female soldier can outperform a male soldier, on the average, male soldiers outdo female soldiers with respect to tasks requiring strength and durability (but not intelligence), since most men are bigger and stronger than women. And because of this differential, too many men have leveraged their physical advantage to harass and bully women, sexual or otherwise.

Scripture certainly is not reticent when it comes to exposing how badly men have behaved toward women from antiquity, just because they—being physically stronger than most women—could overpower them. Consider what happened in Midian (in northwestern Arabian Peninsula) about 3,500 years ago. One day, seven sisters whose job was to take care of their father’s flocks came to a well to draw water for their animals. Shortly thereafter, several shepherds (all men), upon coming to the same well, drove the women away so that their animals could drink. This has two ramifications: men physically harassing women; men economically exploiting women.

Then there is the case of Amnon, a son of King David, who lured his stepsister Tamar to his house to make him some food on pretense that he was sick. When unsuspecting Tamar came into his room with food, Scripture says that Amnon “grabbed her . . . and since he was stronger than she, he raped her. Then Amnon . . . said to her, ‘Get up and get out!’” (2 Sam. 13:15). In both incidences, men could do what they did to their female victims simply because they were bigger and stronger. If anything, the #MeToo movement has shown that this predatorial behavior has not been expunged even among those men in the media and Hollywood, who, despite talking a great deal about women’s rights in public, have no regard for them in private.

So then, what should conscientious men do when women are treated this way? I would advise that we do what Moses did, but not imitate what David failed to do. As for Moses, upon seeing women being harassed, he “got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock” (NIV). Not only did Moses protect the harassed women from chauvinistic men, he likely helped the women water their animals. Therefore, in some sense, what Moses did was equivalent to ensuring that women get equal opportunities at work.

On the contrary, “when King David heard all [that Amnon did], he was furious” (2 Sam. 13:21) but he did absolutely nothing about it thereafter. David was known for being “a man after [God’s] own heart, who will do all [His] will” (Acts 13:22), but not on this occasion, because he failed to “open [his] mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Prov. 31:8).

Tragically, this lack of intervention prompted another violence: Absalom, the indignant brother of Tamar who probably was miffed at David’s non-action, later kills Amnon as an act of revenge (1 Sam. 13:32).

So, let’s not be like these shepherds and Amnon who push their weight around physically weaker women to get what they want—that’s call exploitation and God will exact justice against those who do that (Prov. 22:22-23 NIV). Neither should we be like David who, in effect, acted as if he didn’t care that a woman (his own daughter no less) was raped. Rather, let’s remember to protect the weak and do our part to ensure that they are not victimized. The apostle Paul reminds us: “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves” (Rom. 15:1). So, when you see or hear something that denigrates women, say something—firmly. And then, let’s make sure we don’t do the same thing to women when no one is looking.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank You for protecting us and shielding us from those who seek to harm us. Help us not to forget, therefore, that we ought to do the same for those who are weaker than us, physical or otherwise. Help us not be exploiters of the weak but rather their protector. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 11

Tomorrow’s Blog: Some Thoughts from the Kavanaugh Hearing (1): “If You Are Ever Accused, Would You Want Due Process?”

Lunch Break Study

Read Matt. 20:25-28:

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Peter 3:7:

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Act 20:35:

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Questions to Consider

What is the typical way in which the pecking order is established in the world? How are the people at the bottom often treated?
How should the followers of Christ conduct themselves differently amid the pecking order of the world?
What is one reason that ought to motivate us to work hard? Has that been the case for you?

Note

The pecking order is established based on power and authority: those who have accumulated more money, attained higher education, and have better connections lord over those who don’t. The worth of those who occupy the bottom are often appraised based on their ability to make the rich richer and the powerful more powerful.
The followers of Christ, including the bosses, ought to have a servant mentality. And in homes, although much has changed with respect to gender roles, husband ought to remember that the Lord expects them to honor and take care of their wives (Eph. 5:28).
One reason we ought to work hard is to be able to help the weak (Eph. 4:28).

Evening Reflection

Did you meet some new people today? What is the first thing you do internally? Is it sizing up how you fare in light of how others appear to you? Most of us do that. Okay, you sized them up and you came on top—now what? The next time when that happens, why not leverage your strength to make the other person feel accepted and respected. But, if you use your strength to make others feel “small” and out of place, what does that say about you? Really insecure, perhaps? Take a moment to see what’s really in your heart. Repent if needed.

January 9, Wednesday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Beware of the Two Maxims of Modern Feminism”

1 Timothy 6:7-9

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

Many years ago, once the seniors at Wellesley College (a women’s college) learned that Barbara Bush, then the FLOTUS, was asked to speak at their commencement ceremony, 150 of them vehemently protested. They said: “To honor Barbara Bush as a commencement speaker is to honor a woman who has gained recognition through the achievements of her husband, which contradicts what we have been taught over the past four years”—that “we will be rewarded on the basis of our own merit, not on that of a spouse.” They added, “She does not represent the type of career woman the college seeks to educate.”

So then, what type of women does Mrs. Bush—a mother of 6 children who dropped out of Smith College to marry the future 41st POTUS—represent in these students’ minds? A type who chooses to be a supportive wife and stay-at-home mother; a type who opts out of having her own career for her husband-sake; a type who has no real achievement of her own. Subsequently, these reasons prompted the feminists at Wellesley to shame Mr. Bush and every woman in America like her.

According to modern feminism, for a woman to be deemed successful, first, she must be dependent only on herself—that is, credit to her success is attributed to no one except to the woman herself; second, she must have a career of her own in order to stake a claim to a life of significance. The truth of the matter is that most women who read this blog are prime candidates to experience great tension over these matters. Why? First, they received or are receiving a privileged education that very much fuels their career aspirations. Second, they either are recently married or desire to marry and have kids, eventually. Third, they are caught between the Bible and the ideals of feminism and aren’t entirely sure which way to lean.

Here is a biblical response to the first dictum of modern feminism: self-reliance. Whether it’s a woman or man who depends only on oneself to succeed, such self-reliance is a rebellious disposition of the autonomous self against God. The Scripture tells us to “lean not on your own understanding” and “not be wise in your own eyes” (Prov. 3:5, 7). We “rely not on ourselves but on God . . . On him we have set our hope” (2 Cor. 1:9-10).

As for the second dictum, there’s nothing wrong with women having their own careers. The Bible presents several working women: Priscilla was a skilled tentmaker (Acts 18:1-3), and Lydia was “a dealer in purple cloth” that attracted high-end clients (16:3-5). But there’s plenty wrong when our career is all about us. Instead, the core reason for pursuing a career should be to glorify God and to serve His agendas, and not to satisfy excessive ambition, which always results in discontentment, much like “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare.” That the career of Priscilla and Lydia was to serve God’s agendas is demonstrated by this: Priscilla, along with her husband Aquila, founded several churches (Rom. 16:3-5; 1 Cor. 16:19) while working in different cities. Once, this couple let the apostle Paul to “stay and work” with them in Corinth for 18 months when Paul desperately needed some respite from his arduous missionary journey (Acts 18:1-3). Later, Paul, while recounting those days, said, “They risked their lives for me” (Rom. 16:4). As for Lydia, this businesswoman was the first founding member of the Ephesian church known for its generosity (Phil. 4:15-16). And to have a career that is serviceable to God’s kingdom work, a modest lifestyle is both necessary and commanded by God (“If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content”), so that we can readily move when God tells us to “Go” (Matt. 28:19).

Barbara Bush, who passed away last year, was invited to Wellesley College anyway, and she told the future Sheryl Sandbergs and Michelle Obamas this: “At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal . . . You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend or a parent.” Let me add: “You’ll regret not having served the Lord fully when you had your health, wealth and opportunity and done your best to “bring up children” in the Lord (1 Tim. 5:10).

Prayer: Lord, we lift Your name on high. We ought to be so grateful that we live in a country where we have the freedom and resources to pursue our dreams. But remind us constantly that our dream must come from You and that we are part of building Your kingdom, not ours. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 10

Tomorrow’s Blog: “What Conscientious Men Should Do When Men Act Badly toward Women”

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 12:11-21:

“‘And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.’ Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ 14 But he said to him, ‘Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?’ 15 And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ 16 And he told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” 18 And he said, “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’” 20 But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

This parable works well with the complaints of modern feminism. Replace “someone” with a woman and “my brother” with men. #MeToo movement has shown that women continue to be exploited by men. Economic parity with men isn’t a full reality yet, even though things have gotten so much better for women. So, here, a woman in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell men to divide the economic goods with me.”

Questions to Consider

I think it is important to note what theme Jesus was addressing when someone in His audience abruptly asked Him to settle a family matter that has to do with money. Was this person paying attention to what Jesus was teaching? What does that indicate about his spiritual condition?
In light of how you answered the first question, what would Jesus say to a woman who would ask Him to tell the men to give her fair share? Focus on the parable.
None of this is to suggest that changes are not necessary—of course, much changes are needed. The key issue is at what cost are we going to focus on addressing social justice issues? What is too high a price to pay?

Note

Jesus was talking about a serious matter: paying a high cost (i.e., being persecuted) for following God. And it’s at this point this man brought in a very personal matter for Jesus to adjudicate. No, this man had no interest in spiritual matters; his mind was on earthly things.
Even as the concerns of women are legitimate, God wants us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Col. 3:2). Social justice is part of “things above” but when we get higher position and salary as a result of having addressed social justice matters, the material benefits that come with it can become part of “earthly things.”
Too high a price to pay for addressing social justice matters is entirely dismissing and making light of the matter of justice of God. What is justice of God? It’s the gospel that tells both women and men that “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

Evening Reflection

I was saddened to see the passing of Barbara Bush’s husband President George Bush (41). During the week of mourning, I saw a video clip in which Mr. Bush lamented that he didn’t talk about God at all while he was in the office. He said no one can do the job of the president without being on his knees. Mr. Bush said he prayed often on his knees but never talked about it in public. “I was too much of an Episcopalian,” he said.

Why don’t you try it before you go to bed tonight? The truth of the matter is you cannot raise your kids without being on your knees. You can’t do life without being on your knees. Let’s pray on our knees right now.

January 8, Tuesday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

“‘Marriage Still Ain’t Equal’ but for a Different Reason Than Mrs. Obama’s”

2 Timothy 1:5

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

As alluded yesterday, Michelle Obama is convinced that “women can’t experience equality in both their professional and personal lives ‘at the same time.’” Calling the idea a ‘lie,’ she quipped, “Marriage still ain’t equal.” She is right, of course, since women still juggle work and family way more than men. The mothers are the ones taking the maternity leave—not the fathers. And no matter how good the maternal package is, not working for months is opportunities lost or delayed for acquiring skills, experiences and networking conducive for upward mobility in the workplace. Nevertheless, I disagree with Mrs. Obama’s belief that marriage isn’t equal because it is skewed toward women. How? Inasmuch as her concerns are legitimate, they are still delimited to “this world . . . [that] is passing away” (1 Cor. 7:31a); to be precise, her viewpoint is secular in nature. But when marriage is viewed through the lens of “the age to come, eternal life” (Lk. 18:30b NIV), we see that marriage isn’t equal because it is actually skewed toward men.

How so? The Bible teaches that while salvation is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9), rewards in heaven are based on good deeds performed on earth (Matt. 10:40-42). And one good deed the Scripture specifically mentions for women is “bringing up children” (1 Tim. 5:10). That, of course, doesn’t preclude the parental role of fathers (more as a disciplinarian—Heb. 12:7); but having said that, I want to underscore a very important role in a child’s life that more mothers play than fathers.

Let me explain this by way of introducing a dear relative of mine who, in the eyes of Korean mothers, was a stunning success. Besides becoming very wealthy through working hard almost every day in business, one of her sons is a doctor and the other a lawyer. But once her faith in Christ became real in her middle age, she recognized the spiritual poverty of her sons who didn’t walk with the Lord and greatly regretted how God wasn’t part of their upbringing because, frankly, she neglected to include Him. As my dear relative was dying of cancer 11 years ago (still in her prime), she was in great agony because she was uncertain of her sons’ eternal destiny.

My point is this: Most children first hear about God from their believing mothers; in fact, their first exposure to discipleship is with their mothers as well. A rabbi, in speaking about his mother, says: “A traditional woman, she saw it as her responsibility that her . . . sons regularly attend Sabbath and holiday worship services, and observe . . . common Jewish rituals, etc.. . . While there were many important Jewish influences in my life, there is no doubt my mother was the primary one.” Thus, a Yiddish Proverb says, “God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers.” One of them was Eunice, the mother of Pastor Timothy, who, by the way, couldn’t have been highly regarded among the Jews in her days, for she married a gentile and failed to circumcise Timothy (Acts 16:1-3)—both a taboo in the Jewish world.

Nevertheless, my late-relative, with all of her success, might have gladly traded places with Eunice. Why? Because Eunice did something my relative wished she could have: helping her son to have a sincere faith in God. Listen to what the apostle Paul says to Timothy about the influence his mother had on him: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in . . . your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2 Tim. 1:5). If you are a parent, then you already know that our children are not easily impressed with the faith of their parents (because they see too much at home); but not Timothy—he imitated his mother’s faith.

This, of course, means nothing to the people of the world, but it should mean everything to the believing mothers. Yes, “marriage still ain’t equal,” since the mothers are privileged to have the first crack at shaping the eternal destiny of our children. And they will be rewarded for a job well done. This is indeed a high calling of God for our mothers.

You will never hear that from the trifecta of our leading institutions—the academia, media and Hollywood—because they are profoundly secular in orientation; for them, this material world is all there is; there is nothing else. Well, they are all wrong—it’s fake news. There will come a day when “the world and its desires [will] pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 Jn. 2:17). Let’s not forget that!

Prayer: Dear Lord, we men are so insensitive to the many challenges facing modern women. We make promises to our wives that we will help out with housework, but we end up doing something else, like playing video game! We repent. Help us, God, to be real men! Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 9

Tomorrow’s Blog: “Beware of the Two Maxims of Modern Feminism”

Lunch Break Study

Gloria Steinem, once the most glamorous face of modern feminism, said, “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.” After making that statement, Steinem began a relationship with a billionaire that lasted for 4 years; when that relationship ended, she married someone else.

Read 1 Corinthians 7:29, 32:

“This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none . . . I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man [woman] is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.”

Luke 2:36-38:

“And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Matt. 23:3:

“So do and observe whatever they [the Pharisees] tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.”

Questions to Consider

While I am not quite sure what Steinem really meant in her quote (any man or just chauvinistic man or predators like Weinstein or Lauer?), but in what sense can a man be a distraction to a believing woman?
Imagine that Steinem and Anna got into a conversation. What would Anna say to Steinem?
Ultimately, what error did Steinem make, an error that all teachers have made?

Note

A man or a woman can easily be a distraction to one’s undivided devotion to the Lord, if we allow our devotion and desire for a person to overshadow our time spent with and service unto and thinking about the Lord.
“Gloria, you are right, a woman doesn’t need a man for the things only God can give: unconditional and permanent love and acceptance. That’s what He promised in Christ. Upon seeing the baby Jesus at the temple, I thanked God for the consummation of that promise.”
I am happy that she found the love of her life and married him. But I hope no impressionable young women took her statement and made it her motto. Steinem’s mistake is the same as that of the Pharisees: “For they preach, but do not practice.” I am guilty of that as well.

Evening Reflection

Did you have another long and hard day at the office and/or home? Are you tired? Exhausted? Here is a comforting passage for the weary:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Play a quite praise music in the background. Keep still and rest in the Lord. He is good. He can be trusted. He loves you.

January 7, Monday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Eavesdropping on Conversations Between Sheryl Sandberg and Michelle Obama”

James 4:14

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

In the former First Lady Michelle Obama’s record-breaking memoir, Becoming, she recalls her pre-White House days like this: “As a full-time working mom with a spouse who was often away from home, I became well acquainted with the juggle many women know—trying to balance the needs of my family with the demands of my job.” Indeed, this pressing issue facing many women today has been addressed in several books, but the one that stands out is Lean In (2013)—because the author is Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. A well-received work, one reviewer commented, “I don’t think you should sell yourself short way before it’s time [to have kids] . . . Sheryl calls this leaning in, instead of leaning back. Your tendency might be to cut back and, for example, not take a promotion, because ‘you’ll have kids soon anyway,’ but that’s exactly wrong, because it will lead you to make career decisions that are guaranteed to make you miserable by the time you actually have kids.”

Apparently, Mrs. Obama doesn’t agree with Sandberg, for during her recent book tour, she said, “It’s not always enough to lean in, because that ‘s***’ doesn’t work all the time.” Feeling frustrated, she added that “women can’t experience equality in both their professional and personal lives ‘at the same time,’ calling the idea a ‘lie’ and arguing that ‘marriage still ain’t equal, y’all.’” And coming from her, that’s saying something; after all, who would question Mrs. Obama’s qualification to carve out her own political career if she had chosen that path. But this Harvard trained lawyer became, in effect, a stay-at-home mother of two daughters after her husband became the POTUS. Clearly, the motherhood elicits in Mrs. Obama immense pride, for it is said that she identifies herself first as Malia and Sasha’s mom.

So, if you are a woman caught in this dilemma, whose idea do you lean on? Now meet my two middle-aged cousins who are married with children. Both are highly educated, having attended arguably the top women’s college in the U.S. and earned professional degrees from Ivy League schools. My lawyer cousin, who is politically left-leaning and no fan of Donald Trump, has been a stay-home-mom to three children (her husband’s profession makes this possible); while the other cousin, a mom to two small children who once served as a staff at a conservative church, is presently the sole breadwinner. But ideologically, this is ironic, since my left-leaning cousin should have a career outside the home, while my cousin who leans to the right should be a stay-home mom.

But in real life, “[we] do not know what tomorrow will bring”—meaning, unpredictable and unplanned things happen, and when they do, people don’t always make decisions based on their political ideology (“What would a feminist do in this situation?”), but just respond. I’ve seen this happen to people close to me one too many times: both of my siblings lost their spouses when their children were very young. (Sandberg herself knows this all too well.) What life goals they had—perhaps based on their political ideals—were shelved in lieu of responding to their new day-to-day reality: “Lord, give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11) or sanity. I think my working cousin—who loves kids—would rather stay home, but that option was taken off the table once her husband began facing health problems. And if my lawyer cousin was hoping to rush back to her career, she and her husband certainly did an odd thing by adopting a baby from overseas. So, what’s on their mind? The few times I spoke to them in the past, I heard neither frustration nor elation relating to their career (or absence of it); rather, they were concerned with raising their children to be conscientious and generous human beings who take their faith seriously.

The way women (i.e., families) deal with the tension between work and home won’t always look the same—on occasion it’s the man who becomes a stay-at-home dad—because of variables not under their control, extenuating circumstances, or even lifestyle choices that are reasonable. What’s important amid this tension is that “on [God] we . . . set our hope that He will continue to deliver us” (2 Cor. 1:9b) from life’s many challenges, including, “train[ing] up a child in the way he should go; [so] even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). Ultimately, whether to get married or to have kids is a personal decision to be made amid much prayer. But once we have children, the responsibility of raising them falls on those who decided to have them. And the goal of Christian parenting isn’t to raise our children to be the next Bill Gates or Sheryl Sandbergs, but individuals who love God and fear Him. There is no work more valued, vital and difficult than that; and without being on our knees, it’s not possible.

Prayer: Lord, as a man, forgive me for not appreciating all the heavy lifting our women do in order to keep everyone in the family alive! We pray for the women in our lives, that they would stop every now and then to be able to hear Your approval of them in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 8

Tomorrow’s Blog: “‘The Marriage Still Ain’t Equal’ but for a Different Reason Than Mrs. Obama’s”

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 18:1-3:

After this Pau left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.

Acts 16:12-15:

And from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

Ruth 2:7:

“She [Ruth] said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”

Questions to Consider

Note that what’s addressed in the morning devotion is a class-bound discussion—meaning, it is an issue encountered mostly by women with means and options, and not necessarily those who have no choice but to work to put food on the table. Wendy Kaminer, a former board member of ACLU, once put it this way: “Why do some young women on Ivy League campuses, among the most privileged people on the globe, feel oppressed? Why does more middle-and upper-class whites feel oppressed than among lower-income women and girls, of color?”

Three women are seen in the three passages we read above. What do they have in common? What are they all doing?
Some teach that mothers with kids should stay home to raise them. Yes, that is ideal and part of the biblical picture, but what about those mothers who really don’t have that choice? Are the two Acts passages clear about the sociofamilial status of Priscilla and Lydia? What if they were married or single-parents with kids? Do you think women like Ruth, who lived in an ancient agrarian society, never joined others in sowing and harvesting after she became a mother? What do you think? If she did work, then, what would that mean?
You are a professional man or woman with kids at home. You have a big house, nice cars and plenty of money in the bank. One income is not going to wipe you out, especially if you lower your living standard. Now God’s Word says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tim. 6:6-8). It further says that one of the good deeds we can do is “bringing up children.” We are not necessarily talking about breaking God’s principle here (i.e., sins leading to both short- and long-term consequences) but not heeding God’s precepts (i.e., unwise choices leading to long-term repercussions). Your move.

Note

They all worked to make a living: Ruth was a day-laborer, Priscilla was a skilled worker, and Lydia was a business owner catering to high-end clientele (indicated by selling purple goods).
My point is that not every father or mother can afford to stay home to take care of the children, because they just don’t have the financial means to do it. I, as a pastor, need to teach God’s principles and precepts (see question 3) on this matter and let the parents prayerfully and honestly make their decisions, but with God’s kingdom and children’s best interest in mind. The final decision may look different from family to family.
Really personal response.

Evening Reflection

Are you married with kids? The best you can do for them is to pray consistently for them. If that has not been your practice, do it right now and then do it every day from here and out. Are you aspiring to be the next Sheryl Sandberg? While I don’t know much about her, one thing I do know is that she abruptly lost her husband over a freak accident—another reminder of how brittle and fleeting life can be. Yes, do all that you can to prepare for a robust career, but remember to heed what King Solomon, who had it all to his great disappointment, declared at the end: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth . . . The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccles. 12:1, 13).

January 6, Sunday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Mother’s Costly Obedience”

Luke 2:19

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Due to medical issues, six years went by before we had our first child; we named him Nathaniel, meaning a gift of God. I consider motherhood one of life’s greatest privileges and blessings because it is through motherhood God taught and matured me about His unconditional and sacrificial love to a whole new level. As I age, my appreciation for maternal love has deepened exponentially with each passing year. I wonder then what it was like for Mary to raise her son Jesus.

Mary knew, from the time she supernaturally conceived Jesus, that her firstborn was no ordinary child since there were several unusual encounters surrounding her son’s birth: the angel Gabriel’s announcement of her divine conception; the celebration by her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John; special visits from the wise men who came to worship the baby Jesus and the shepherds, to rejoice over him; and the confirmation of Christ’s Messiahship by Simeon and Anna. Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart throughout her son’s life.

She knew her son was special, and God was going to use him greatly to bring about the redemption of the world. But it was beyond her understanding what it would ultimately cost her son to become the savior of the world: opposition, hatred, loneliness, rejection, betrayal, imprisonment, and finally, execution.

As her son’s journey to fulfill his life mission increasingly took unexpected turns and became a mother’s worst nightmare, I wonder whether Mary’s mother’s heart and protective instinct tempted her to stop Jesus from going to the cross. If she did, the Bible doesn’t say; instead, she supported him and stood by his side until the very end. She followed him to Calvary and watched him take his last breath underneath the cross. As a mom, I simply cannot imagine how Mary’s heart must have suffered and shattered for her son.

Yet, I can trace her inner strength back to the young Mary who thirty years before made a wholehearted commitment to be God’s servant without any hesitation, reservation, or condition. The intuitive, perceptive Mary understood that she was not alone in enduring her son’s death; her heavenly Father’s heart wept and broke with hers, because the only way to redeemed the world was through the sacrificial death of the Son of God. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

God’s ultimate plan of salvation was fulfilled through a mother with a childlike faith and a costly obedience. As we begin 2019, may we boldly ask God to develop in us a strong faith that keeps on saying yes to Jesus with all that we have even when things become difficult or costly to follow.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank You for the blessing of my children. Help me to always remember that they are Yours first and foremost. Help me to be a godly mother like Mary who loves You and follows You wholeheartedly. We recognize that motherhood is a stewardship entrusted by You. Empower me by your Spirit, to be faithful to bring them up to know you, love You, follow You. Loosen my grip on their lives to follow you wholeheartedly without hesitation, reservation and condition. By Your grace alone, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 7

Tomorrow’s Blog by Pastor Ryun: “Eavesdropping on Conversation between Sheryl Sandberg and Michelle Obama.”