October 30, 2024

Viewing all things through the lens of the True and the beautiful!

The True

The Force of Will

Maybe you can relate to this, but my predisposition is to use the force of my will to make things happen. When I really want something to happen, or when I really want to change the course of something underway, I frequently resort to the blunt force of my will. I resolve to simply find or muster up enough will to either make it happen or prevent it from happening—depending on the circumstance. But in short, I’m drawn to the mindset that suggests, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”

How about you? Is that response attractive to you? Do you simply find another gear for the challenges of each day? Do you also draw on the force of your will to make things as you want them to be? If so, there is a certain value to that determination, but let’s consider together the way modeled for us by Jesus when the going got as tough as it could possibly get for Him.

In Luke 22, things are impossibly bad for Jesus. He has been betrayed by Judas, He’s dined His last with His disciples without being able to fully impart to them what is about to happen, and He is preparing for the arrest, torture, and crucifixion that is imminent. Jesus knows the “why” behind His Father’s instruction to yield to this path, and yet He is feeling the full weight of what is being asked of His now-human body. He is feeling it so heavily and so deeply that he retreats to pray and asks His Father to remove it from Him: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me” (Lk. 22:42a).

Remember, Jesus is fully God even as He has surrendered to being fully man. If ever there were a moment where the force of one’s will could alter what is to come, this is it. Jesus, as a full-fledged member of the Trinity, could have simply enforced His will. He could have demanded another way. Clearly Jesus wanted another way, as He asked His Father for one.

But far from forcing His will on the situation, Jesus quickly and clearly followed His request for another way with a full acquiescence to the will of His Father. In the very next breath, Jesus yields His will fully to the Father: “[Y]et not my will, but yours be done” (Lk. 22:42b).

Jesus had a will in the situation, and it was a strong one. He did not want to have to endure the torture that was to come. He asked for another way, but He made the request not only absent the force of his will, but in fact in a proactive choice to defer to the Father’s will. The Father’s response was unequivocal: There was no other way. Verses 43-44 describe an angel being sent to strengthen Jesus, but even with that support, Jesus is in anguish and sweating blood.

Even still, he did not force His will. He chose the path of the Father and He went to the cross.

You and I likely do not face the physical cross that confronted Jesus. But we do face the daily cross of following Jesus described in Matthew 16 and Luke 9. This daily cross contains an instruction to surrender our will to the Father.

You, like me, are probably often tempted to use the force of your will to change your circumstance. Instead, will you join me today in following the example of Jesus by willingly laying it down? Together, may our anthem be, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

U.S.

Election Week

It is election week in America. While Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024, nearly every state is currently in a period of early voting, so voters are heading to the polls across the country. While the presidential election is understandably attracting the most attention, voters will also be weighing in on down ballot races and issues.

As you would expect, there are a flurry of campaign activities as both candidates make their closing argument to voters:

- Former President Donald Trump held a rally at Madison Square Garden and appeared as a guest on Joe Rogan’s podcast, while Vice President Kamala Harris used a Houston rally to highlight high profile supporters, and former First Lady Michelle Obama rallied for Harris in Michigan.

- Both candidates highlighted their cross-over appeal by profiling notable support from outside their party. Vice President Harris has the support of former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney and is touting former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s criticism of Trump, while former President Trump has endorsements from former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (who also announced a party change) and Democrat-turned-Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Analysis and eternal perspective: As has been the case for numerous successive presidential elections, the polls suggest the race will come down to closely contested elections in a handful of swing states. It is entirely possible (perhaps even probable) the outcome will not be clear on election night, especially given that some states do not even begin counting votes until the polls close.

Perhaps the best time for all of us as Jesus followers to determine how we will respond to the results of the election is now—before we know what those results will be.

Some of us will be excited about the outcome. We will have a responsibility to use our voice to outreach to those who disagree and to understand that victory in an election does not validate every position we hold. Humility in victory will be essential to effective leading.

Others of us will be disappointed and perhaps even alarmed about the outcome. We will have a responsibility to respect the choice of our fellow citizens and to seek out ways—including through respectful dissent and disagreement—to avoid disengagement and to value self-governance over the comfort of an outcome we prefer.

Most important, Jesus followers should be prepared to lead through serving. This is our mandate from scripture no matter where in the world we live or what governing structure is over us. In fact, scripture reminds us repeatedly that following Jesus will most often cause us to be out of sync with the world around us (1 Pet. 2:9; Jn. 16:33). Therefore, an election that does not go our preferred way should leave us anything but shaken. Instead, it should reinvigorate our commitment to serving the way Jesus did, and to loving the way He does. Let’s collectively gird up now and equip ourselves for this work, and let’s do it before we know the outcome of a human election. Come what may, your God is on the throne.

World

Israel Responds

Israel has responded to Iran’s recent missile attacks by striking multiple military and nuclear facilities inside Iran. Both Israel and Iran indicated the strikes were limited and targeted at strategic locations, though officials from the two countries differ in their descriptions of the impact. Four Iranian soldiers are believed to have died in the strikes, and Iran claims one civilian has died, as well.

Analysis and eternal perspective: It was clear from the moment Iran directly attacked Israel there would be a response. The question had been whether the response would be targeted and proportional or more crippling. For now, the answer appears to be the former. However, as we have long seen, conflicts in the Middle East tend to escalate quickly. As Israel continues to face war with two of its neighbors (Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon), the regional threat from Iran has the potential to dramatically expand the scope of the conflict.

Jesus followers should pray for all the precious souls in the widening war zone. The various wars and conflicts have created a rising death toll, and we should pray that those in harm’s way would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. We should also continue to consider these wars through a biblical lens and should equip ourselves to speak eternal life into a void of so much death and destruction.

We as The Equipped should pursue peace (Ps. 34:14), and we will keep reminding ourselves to remain committed to that truth while also holding in tension God’s promise to avenge evil in due time (Rom. 12:19).

War is disorienting to all of us. But God’s ways are higher, and His steadfastness is everlasting. Take heart!

World

Russian Aggression and Allies

More than two-and-a-half years after invading Ukraine, Russia is showing no signs of stopping. To the contrary, several developments this week suggest the ongoing war is moving further away from a conclusion:

- The U.S. reports intelligence suggesting North Korea has sent 3,000 troops to join in Russia’s war with Ukraine.

- Russian President Vladimir Putin used his hosting of the annual BRICS Summit (a group led by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and which excludes western countries) to signal deepening ties with China and no plans to end the war with Ukraine.

- The U.S. announced the release of an additional $400 million in military support for Ukraine.

Analysis and eternal perspective: It is said a person (or in this case, a country) can be known by the company they (or it) keeps. There is certainly significance in Russia’s deepening relationships with both China and North Korea, as well as its deteriorating ties with the western world.

The announcement of the most recent tranche of military support from the U.S. generated spirited debate from both supporters and detractors. The assistance was approved by Congress, which also declined to grant a request from the Administration to slow the release of the assistance.

As Jesus followers, there should be multiple layers to our interaction with this story. Most important, we should intercede for the souls of those in harm’s way. We should also actively seek out ways to serve and assist those under oppression (Ps. 82:3). Finally, we should thoughtfully participate in the conversation about whether and how the rest of the world should respond to the continued Russian aggression. There are no easy answers, but we serve a God who grants wisdom when we ask Him for it (Jam. 1:5)!

The Beautiful

Bursting Forth

The pomegranate is featured prominently in scripture. It is one of the fruits the spies discovered and returned with from the Promised Land in Numbers 13 (a fact God reminds the Israelites of in Deut. 8:8). It is also used to decorate the priestly garments in Exodus 28:33-34, and by Solomon to describe the beauty of the bride in Song of Songs 6.

Perhaps the defining feature of a pomegranate are the seeds dripping in vibrant color that spill out when it is cut or broken open. The color is so penetrating it can be hard to remove from whatever it touches.

May your life be the same! May beauty burst forth from within you, and may it leave an indelible mark on those around you! May the seeds of God’s love grown in you produce beautiful fruit wherever they are planted!