Walking in the Truth

Today's reading: II John

I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth just as we have been commanded by the Father. II John 4 NRSV

I don't know how old the "elect lady's" children are at the time of this letter. But the writer of II John has obviously met her children. Some of these same children are following Jesus. The implied message is that not all of them are doing so. Perhaps also some of these same children are believers in Jesus but are following a different teacher who would be called a deceiver.

As a parent, I struggle with helping my own child follow Jesus. I do all I can as a pastor but sometimes I wonder how well I am doing as a parent. There have been some teachable moments but am I doing all I can to make sure my child is praying, reading scripture and learning more about the Christian life? Helping with a class of sixth graders has made me realize that our children know little about church, believing or the bible by this age. What can I do as a parent to change that?

What can you do to help children you know walk in the truth?

God, I don't have the answers. I need your help to guide the children I know and care about. May you provide the means and ways for me to teach them your truths. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

A Barren Christmas

Both of them were rigteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. Luke 1: 6-7 NRSV

There is such  an emphasis on children during this season - much of which actually has little to do with the baby in the manger.

Yet, the gospel of Luke begins with the story of a barren woman.

I know several women who are barren. I know of a few more who have suffered the loss of a baby just before or right after birth. I know that this time of year is difficult for them. There are a lot of what-ifs. And a lot of I wonder whys. They have a lot in common with Elizabeth and Zechariah.

In fact, if you have never had a time where you considered yourself barren, there is no way for you to really enter into what was going on in the minds of Zechariah or Elizabeth. They were holy people, righteous before the Lord. They had done all they were supposed to do, yet they had no children. In those days, the blame was usually placed on the mother - in fact the gospel says that Elizabeth herself was the barren one. But both suffered from some sort of public humiliation - there would always be someone out there who would think that they had sinned or fallen short in some way.

Were they still praying for children? Had they given up hope and accepted the life they had? Did they have dreams for their family that they had finally laid to rest?

God enters into their story. God enters into the story of all women who are barren. Maybe they are not to give birth to a child but God promises an everlasting hope and an eternal dream.

God, please be with those who face an empty cradle this Christmas. Fill them with your hope, comfort and courage. Help us to be supportive and sensitive to where they are without being judgmental. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Question of the day: Who do you know who needs hopeful encouragement today?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims

Set Apart

Then the woman came and told her husband, "A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like that of an angel of God, most awe-inspiring; I did not ask him where he came from and he did not tell me his name; but he said to me, 'You shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be a nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.' " Judges 13:6-7 NRSV

Manoah and his wife, from the tribe of Dan, have no children. An angel comes to the barren woman and announces she is going to have a baby boy but he is going to be especially consecrated to God, so she is to watch her diet as well as the boy's. And they should never cut his hair.

Obviously, angelic appearances and announcements to barren women are common throughout the bible. The birth of any child is a miracle, but the birth of a child to someone who was considered barren is an awesome miracle. If an angel comes to let you know you are going to have a baby, then it is quite apparent that God's hand is in the conception and life of the child.

This child is going to continue to be special because he will be a nazirite, set apart from others for God. His diet must be pure and he cannot consume alcohol. In fact he cannot eat anything from the grapevine (see Numbers 6 for more details about the nazirites)! In addition, a nazirite must never have their head shaved. The real significance about this nazirite is that, instead of choosing to live this life, God sets up this life for him.

Obviously, we are to pay attention to this child - he is going to be special!

God, thank you for the miracle of birth and for children everywhere! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Question of the day: What sets you apart as a child of God?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims

Memorable Details

After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons. He gave his thirty daughters in marriage outside his clan and brought in thirty young women from outside for his sons. He judged Israel seven years. Then Ibzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem. Judge 12: 8-10 NRSV

After Jephthah, there is a series of three different judges that we are only told a few details about.

The detail for Ibzan is on his children. At first, it sounded like he was marrying them to non-Israelites which could have been possible. But at the same time, if he even just married all his sons and daughters outside his clan, that raises several questions:

What happened to the inheritance if outside clans are brought in through marriage?

What was wrong with his own clan?

Why marry all of them outside his clan?

Why the detail about both his sons AND his daughters?

Is the fact that he was from Bethlehem (later the birth place of King David as well as Jesus) also significant?

And the most intriguing question: Why was the detail about his children and birthplace the most significant thing about Ibzan?

I think the answer to that question is that he really didn't do anything historically or spiritually significant during his time as a judge. This sounds like a funeral sermon in which the deceased really is not remembered for their Christian action or witness, so only a few details about their family life are lifted up. All I know is that I don't want to be one of those!

God, direct our steps so that what we do in your name is the most memorable detail about our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Question of the day: What will people remember about you?

Copyright Amelia G. Sims

Like Father, Like Daughter

She said to him, "My father, if you have opened your mouth to the Lord, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth; now that the Lord has given you vengeance against your enemies, the Ammonites." And she said to her father; "Let this thing be done for me: Grant me two months, so that I may go and wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity, my companions and I. " Judges 11: 36-37 NRSV

I am not sure who is the more foolish: father or daughter. Perhaps it is like father, like daughter.

Hello? Your dad is going to kill you and all you can think about is mourning your unmarried state? Run for the hills, yes, and keep going!!

Did she think her father would find a loophole in two months? Was she not upset that she was going to die? Was her virginity that much more important to her than her life?

Perhaps the overwhelming thought at that time was that if you don't have kids, you don't have immortality - maybe that was what she was really mourning.

She certainly didn't have a good parental role model - and neither did her father, it seems.

Thank God for all the good parental models we have in our lives - whether they are related by blood or not. Pray that we will all be good parental models to the children in our families and our churches. Amen.

Question of the day: What is one way you can show children in your family or church that God loves them?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims

Been There, Done That: Learn from My Mistakes

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" - this is the first commandment with a promise: "so that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth." And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4 NRSV

Paul is nothing if not fair. He doesn't lecture one group but gives advice to both sides: wives and husbands, children and fathers, slaves and masters. By the way, I don't believe Paul is encouraging slavery just as he isn't encouraging marriage. He is addressing the society around him.

I am beginning to wonder about Paul's own childhood - is he speaking from experience, realizing what he (or his family's household) should have done? Or is he addressing actual problems happening in a church?

Although this is the book of Ephesus, we really aren't sure if Paul was writing to that church. This may have been an open to letter to all churches, highlighting the issues Paul encountered at various stops in his ministry.

Either way, Paul speaks from experience.

What, if anything, have your learned from your life experience? What advice could you give a married couple? Teenagers? Recent retirees? How would your understanding of God, Christ, the Church and life in the Spirit help you in showing others appropriate behavior and commitment?

God, help us to see our lives, our actions, our thoughts in the light of Christ and his church. In his name, Amen.

Question of the day: What advice to you have the life experience to give?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims