Problems - Or Challenges And Opportunities For Faith?

"Today's Devotion" For August 26, 2005

Read: Philippians 4:3-9; Psalm 147

PROBLEMS - OR CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAITH?

"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." (Proverbs 12:25)

When I picked up this morning's newspaper I was once again faced with the reality of life in the world and in the United States. It seems as if no one is ever happy. Everyone seems to have a complaint, a grudge, an argument, or a frustration that is being exacerbated by the President, County Executives, special interest groups, gays and lesbians, stay-at-home moms, judges, prosecutors, attorneys, schools, school districts, teachers, preachers, religious leaders, and on...and on...and on...Whewwwww!!! I don't know about you, but everywhere I look, whether it's about the War on Terrorism, academic achievement and school performance, racial, sexual, or other prejudices, taxes and services provided by government - whether health care for the poor or frozen tax levies, appointments to the supreme court, political and diplomatic issues of all kinds - foreign and domestic, or whatever is the cause 'du jour' of the day, week, month, year, or decade, all I seem to hear is what's wrong, how bad things are, and how many problems we face.

Now, certainly, none of us should be surprised with such an outlook on life. No doubt, as I have often argued myself, there are good reasons for being concerned with the myriad issues previously noted. Certainly they are issues of concern and how they're resolved will impact an enormous amount of people, both in the immediate future and in the long term. Yet, our tendency as human beings is to see every issue as a problem and to castigate whomever is being held responsible for the problem today. Tomorrow the object of scorn and disdain might be someone else, often depending on who has the floor - "liberals," “moderates” or "conservatives." It seems that whenever someone disagrees or stands at the opposite end of an issue or situation there's a problem. When someone's at the other end of the issue or situation there's no problem, only opportunities and challenges. In the end, rather than a healthy, honest debate on the pros and cons of each circumstance, issue, or situation, it's all too common for accusations and innuendo, aimed at hurting or castigating those with whom we disagree, to be the order of the day.

St. Paul understood all too well the challenges of living as the redeemed children of God in Jesus Christ in the face of such accusations. Christians were being accused of all kinds of sedition and anti-Roman behavior. Under such circumstances, it would be extremely difficult for anyone, of any time and place, to be optimistic. As Paul's words of encouragement imply, there's no doubt the Philippian church, along with its counterparts around the Roman world, had to deal with anxiety, frustration, and fear in the face of the disdain and hatred they often experienced from the societies in which they lived. For them, as for us, it was just too easy to "go negative" and see persecution, disdain, and hatred as challenges to test their faith rather than as challenges and opportunities to show others the grace, mercy, and love of God in Jesus Christ.

We are called by the grace, mercy, and love of God in Jesus Christ to be "the salt of the earth," "a city set on a hill," and "lights to the world" (Mt. 5:13-16). By the power of the Word and Spirit, we daily are reminded that we belong to Him and that in Baptism He has put His mark upon us and made us His very own, beloved children. We live in the positive power of the forgiveness of sins because Jesus gave His life on the Cross to redeem us from them and remove their stain from us. As we face the world and all the "issues" of the day, we are empowered to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving" (Phil. 4:6) to offer our requests to God. God's promise is to hear us and answer us according to what's in our best interests. More than that, He promises His peace, so that we might be anxious for nothing but be able to face everything circumstance with hope and courage.

Here's a final question: How powerful would our witness to the world be if we, the beloved and redeemed children of God in Jesus Christ, spoke and lived in such a way that we would see every "problem" - personal, political, economic, educational, global, etc. - as challenges and opportunities, rather than problems? In Christ we have the ability offer positive solutions, not criticism, and hope in the face of despair. As we live, so goes our witness. Be at peace and "Do not be anxious about anything..." because God only gives us challenges and opportunities to strengthen our faith and trust in Him and to serve our neighbors by loving them as He has loved us.

Prayer: Father, I can relate to the believers in Philippi. I, too, am often overwhelmed by the "problems" I see and hear in the news of day. It seems as if there's no end to the influence of Sin in the world and the devastation it brings to relationships at all levels, personal, professional, political, and global. In the face of the "problems" that Sin brings into the world, there is a constant "gnashing of teeth" and finger-pointing that leads people and nations to blame one another rather than seeking solutions. Help me to see every "problem" as a challenge that I can meet by faith in Jesus and an opportunity to share Your love, grace, and mercy with others, so they can see Your hand at work and come to know Your love in Christ, just as I have. Father, hear my prayer for the sake of Christ, my Savior and Lord, in Whose most holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.