My thoughts (Deb Doty):

This passage is near and dear to the hearts of many gay folks — it’s the David and Jonathan “love at first sight” story. But what we read here is just Jonathan’s reaction to what he has seen David do.

What has Jonathan just seen that has affected him so much? He has seen a young man kill a giant with a slingshot and a stone, while all the mighty warriors were trembling in their armor. King Saul couldn’t do it, Prince Jonathan didn’t do it, the army wouldn’t do it. No. Instead, a young shepherd boy visiting his soldier brothers saw a need, believed God would help him meet that need, and he mustered the abilities God had given him and used them to defeat a towering enemy. And Jonathan fell in love with David — the shepherd with a heart for God. So begins one of the most celebrated love stories in the Bible.

I know a little about love at first sight. The first time I saw my spouse, Jenni, she was singing a song she had written. She sang about seeing Jesus in people we meet and serving Jesus by serving them. Her lyrics moved me, and as I got that glimpse into her heart, I was a goner. (OK, so it didn’t hurt that I liked what I saw, too! I’m sure David didn’t hurt Jonathan’s eyes, either!)

Unlike Jonathan, I didn’t react immediately. (I most certainly did not strip and give her my clothes the first time we spoke!) But from the first time I laid eyes on her, I knew she was special, and I wanted to spend time with her.

Like David, Jenni loves God passionately. And because of this love, she — like David — uses the abilities God has given her to do what she can as opportunities arise.

When I first saw Jenni, she wasn’t out to impress me with her singin’ and guitar pickin’. She was serving God. And the last thing on my mind was finding the woman I would spend my life with. I was simply blessed by God to get a glimpse into her heart.

When Jonathan saw David, David wasn’t looking for love — he was serving God. And I don’t think Jonathan went to the battlefield to find love. He was simply blessed to witness the actions of a heart on fire for God.

For so long when I was single, I thought that I had to be constantly searching for Ms. Right. It wasn’t until I gave up that obsessive search and just started following God where God led that I found a woman who was just doing what God set before her to do. Our paths crossed when we least expected it, while we were focused on doing what God had for us to do. In fact, Jenni’s passion for God was what made me fall in love with her.

I think David’s passion for God was what won Jonathan’s heart, too.

Thought for the day: Focus on doing what God puts before you to do. You never know who may witness your passion for God.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

Today’s scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.

My thoughts (Deb Doty):

One wintry evening, Ben was sitting in front of his fireplace, silently bemoaning the fact that he was feeling abandoned and alone. His mind meandered back to a time in his life when he had felt involved and wanted. Life had been good. But then he lost his job.

His friends were very supportive, but he was so angry about losing his job, he kept pushing them away. He was intent on making his old boss pay, and he was sure his friends would only try to talk him out of his plans for revenge. In fact, one day, when his best friend visited him, he had erupted with anger, “Get out of my life! I don’t need you!”

A log popped loudly, bringing Ben back to the present. He watched as an expelled ember glowed on the hearth, orange-red heat undulating, then fading, fading, fading…. Ben coaxed the ember back into the flames, where it sputtered then reignited.

Suddenly, he knew what he had to do. He picked up the phone and called his friend; they made arrangements to meet. By the time Ben hung up, he could feel the warmth returning to his soul.

I think of this story whenever I read Hebrews 10:23-25.

I also think of our Oasis groups when I read this passage from Hebrews. Oasis groups are the places where we cooling embers can be reignited by the warmth of people who know us and care about us.

The truth is this: the world can be a cold place, and when we remove ourselves from those people who provide warmth and encouragement, the hope, the love, the good all begin to flicker and die. And world gets that much colder.

Global warming gets all the press these days, but it’s global cooling that kills your soul.

Thought for the day: Are you feeling cold? An Oasis (or a like-minded group, if you’re not local to Jesus MCC) may be just what you need to get warm.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.

My thoughts (Deb Doty):

It’s a very familiar story. Jesus visits the two sisters, and while Martha is running around like a crazy woman on fire, Mary follows Jesus around like a puppy who only has eyes for its master.

I’d imagine that Martha had given Mary the death glare several times, but Mary wasn’t picking up on it. So, Martha probably tried a few industrial strength sighs — at first for Mary’s benefit but then for Jesus’ as well. But nobody was getting the hint, so Martha said what was on her mind, “Jesus, will you tell this lazy thing to come help me? Don’t you care that I’m about to wear myself to a frazzle?”

But Jesus shook his head and said, “Martha, Martha,” (he probably had to say her name twice just to get her to calm down enough to hear him!) “There’s only one thing you really need. Don’t you see? Mary does.”

This story has caused a lot of guilt among the Marthas of the world. And a few alleged Marys may have grown a trifle smug. But this story isn’t a slam against serving. And it isn’t an excuse not to do housework (I wish!). It centers on “one thing.” Martha was consumed with many things; Mary chose one thing. This passage centers on the one thing that can’t be taken away from her or from anyone who chooses that one thing.

The late Rich Mullins, one of my very favorite Christian composers, wrote a song called My One Thing. I love this up-tempo song so much that I will put it on repeat and crank it up until the windows wiggle and the cat runs and hides under the kitchen table with her front paws stuffed in her ears. (OK, that may be slight hyperbole. But I could swear the cat rolls her eyes.) Anyway, it’s not just the catchy tune and rock rhythm I love—the lyrics are great, too.

“Everybody I know says they need just the one thing,
But what they really mean is they need just one thing more.
And everybody seems to think they got it coming.
Well, I know that I don’t deserve it; still I want to love and serve you more and more.
You’re my one thing.

“Save me from those things that might distract me—
Please take ‘em away and purify my heart.
I don’t want to lose the eternal for the things that are passing
‘Cause what would I have when the world is gone if it isn’t for the love that goes on and on
With my one thing.
You’re my one thing.

“Whom have I in heaven but you, Jesus?
And what better could I hope to find down here on earth?
Oh, I could cross the most distant reaches of this world,
But I’d just be wastin’ my time ‘cause I’m certain already, I’m sure I’d find you’re my one thing.
You’re my one thing.”

[Rich Mullins, 1989, BMG Songs, Inc.]

For Rich, Jesus was his “one thing” — just as Jesus was the “one thing” Mary chose while Martha was distracted. It wasn’t that Martha didn’t care about Jesus. On the contrary! But Jesus isn’t just the first of many things; he is the one thing. When Jesus comes to call, drop the dishcloth. The dishes will wait. Don’t miss the opportunity to be with Jesus.

To me, that’s what an intentional quiet time is all about. It’s about welcoming Jesus into your home and then actually taking time to be with him, coming to know and love him — and then to serve him — more and more.

Thought for the day: What’s my “one thing”? What do I want my “one thing” to be?

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me in this passage? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.

My thoughts (Deb Doty):

Jael did what with a tent peg? Eeeeuuuuuuuw! How gross!

Maybe one of the reasons why this passage can offend our modern (and postmodern) sensibilities is that it’s a woman who performs the act of extreme violence, skewering a sleeping human being — a human being she has lured into a sense of safety and trust. It’s shocking because it’s so unexpected. She isn’t a warrior. She’s a housewife. Besides, she’s not even an Israelite. She’s a Kenite — this ain’t her fight! So, how in the world did she end up turning a macho (but exhausted) general into a shish kabob?

[Now, here’s where we pause to take a brief look at the back story—otherwise known as the context. Kenites were the nomadic descendents of Moses’ wife’s father. They had entered the Promised Land (Canaan) with the Israelites, so their history had intertwined with Israel’s history. But our passage tells us that Jael’s husband had set off on his own, and his clan was at peace with King Jabin, General Sisera’s boss. So, it appears that Jael’s clan was a neutral party to the war that was taking place between Israel and Canaan.]

So, picture it….

Sisera, exhausted after running from a lost battle, staggers to a tent, seeking haven among a friendly group of people. Jael welcomes him, comforts him, and feeds him — just as you’d expect a Middle Eastern nomadic woman of her time would do. And just as could be expected from a Middle Eastern macho general of his time, he feels safe. He is alone with a mere woman (no threat there!) — and this woman will, of course, follow his orders and protect him. He has nothing to fear, so he falls sound asleep.

The Bible doesn’t tell us why Jael decides to do what she does. But for some reason, Jael decides not to be neutral. Maybe something about Israel’s God resonates within her heart and she just has to side with that God. Or maybe she’s figured out that if Sisera is running like a frightened hare, it’s wisest to side with the obvious winners. But whatever her reason, she chooses to side with Israel.

With that decision made, she makes an even more startling decision. She — a lone woman — will kill the mighty General Sisera. And so she picks up a tent peg and a hammer and tiptoes up to the snoring soldier and… BAM! She pins him like an insect in a Boy Scout’s bug collection. And from that moment on, the tide turns, Israel subdues King Jabin of Canaan, and Israel lives in peace for 40 years.

Oh, by the way, did I mention that part of a nomadic housewife’s duties included setting up the tent? Yup, tent pitching was woman’s work. So, when Jael decided to kill Sisera, she picked up two familiar household items — items she used with regularity — a tent peg and her hammer. Using what she just happened to have at hand, what just happened to be a woman’s tools, she turned the tide for Israel.

Are you in the middle of a battle in your life? Do you cry out to God, “But I can’t make a difference! I can’t possibly overcome this terrible situation! I’ve tried and tried, but I still can’t seem to defeat this one thing. God, why don’t you send someone bigger and stronger than me to set everything right?”

Look around you. What’s that in your hand? Only a hammer, or a tent peg? Think again.

Thought for the day: Look around with fresh eyes. The very thing you need may be right there in your hand.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me in this passage? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.

My thoughts (Deb Doty):

Know how to make a VIP angry? Treat him like he’s not a VIP — don’t bow to his perceived power. Tell her to do something beneath her status — something embarrassing — something that doesn’t make sense.

That’s what happened to Naaman, the mighty commander of the army of the king of Aram. He showed up at the prophet Elisha’s door with a letter from his king and mind-boggling riches. He was there to be healed. And he expected to be healed like a powerful, rich man should be healed — immediately, personally, and with dignity. And if there was a nice ritual, so much the better. But he got none of that.

Elisha didn’t even come out to see him — and he didn’t let him inside his house. Instead, he sent a messenger out to tell Naaman to go wash himself in the Jordan River seven times in order to be healed. No wonder Naaman left in a snit.

“Doesn’t he realize who I am? He didn’t even come out to acknowledge my presence! For as much as I’m willing to pay him, you’d think he’d at least come out to pray over me! But no! He sends a servant to tell me to go bathe in his pathetic river! I could’ve stayed home and bathed in a better river if I thought it’d help! Does he think I’m stupid? The nerve of that guy! I’m heading home, but I’ll be back — with Aram’s mighty army! And then we’ll see who ends up in the Jordan — as fish food!”

In the midst of his angry sputtering, a couple of very brave servants bowed low and said, “Oh, dear, wonderful person that you are! What would it hurt to just try what the man said? It’s on our way, so why not? You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

And so Naaman ended up washing himself in the Jordan River seven times. And he was healed of his leprosy.

What’s your “leprosy?” Has a “prophet” given you a solution, but it just seemed too stupid for words? Does the path to your healing involve swallowing your pride and taking a step of faith? Sometimes it’s in the unexpected — and maybe even the unorthodox — that we discover our breakthrough. But we have to be willing to put aside our prestige and plunge into the Jordan — sometimes more than once. What are you willing to give for your healing? Are you willing to go skinny-dipping in the Jordan?

Thought for the day: God, help me be willing to take the plunge of faith — even if I think I’ll look silly.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me in this passage? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.

My thoughts (Deb Doty):

Tucked away at the end of an action-packed chapter is this jewel of a story about Tabitha (or her less melodious Greek name, Dorcas).

Tabitha was a much-loved widow in the church at Joppa who spent her days doing good things like making clothes for the poor. When she died, the Joppa church sent for Peter who was visiting a nearby city. Yes, her church sisters and brothers sent for Peter with the obvious expectation that God would use him as the means to bring their beloved Tabitha back to them. God honored this, and Tabitha was brought back to life. End of story.

It’s so easy to go breezing through a short story like this without recognizing the great depth it contains. So, let me repeat a key point: Tabitha’s church sisters and brothers actually sent for the great Apostle Peter so God could use him to bring a dressmaker back from the dead.

Usually, we focus on Peter — the great apostle with the gifts of healing and miracles and faith, etc., etc.. He was a greatly gifted man, so he was called to perform this fantastic miracle — wasn’t that the point of the story? I’m not so sure.

Many people in the Bible go unnamed — particularly women. But not Dorcas — we get both her Aramaic and Greek names! And hers is a unique situation. It’s the only story I can think of out of all the resurrection stories in the Bible where someone was called from another city specifically to raise a person who was already dead. (Nope, Lazarus doesn’t count — the call went out to Jesus before Lazarus died!) And the Holy Spirit moved the author of Acts to write the dressmaker’s story down.

It’s easy to see why we tend to focus on Peter. He was a well-known person with the big, impressive title of “Apostle.” He was a gifted evangelist, teacher, and preacher. He could heal people and even raise them from the dead! Everybody knows who Peter is. And maybe we focus on Peter because we want to be like him — wouldn’t it be pretty doggone wonderful to have the gift of raising the dead? Or wouldn’t it be neat to have the gift of preaching or teaching? Think of the prestige!

Sadly, we don’t focus on Tabitha, although it’s pretty clear she was a remarkable woman who was loved dearly by everyone who knew her. You know, I have never known a person who prayed for the gift of sewing — and yet that appears to have been one of her main gifts.

Why do we have such a desire for the “flashy” gifts? That’s easy — we’d feel important. Why don’t we desire the less “flashy” gifts? Well, they don’t pack out stadiums for Jesus. And they don’t get you a nifty title like “Apostle.”

I’m not saying it’s bad to raise the dead. Hey, if that’s your gift, use it! If you have the gift of evangelism, use it! But if your gift is sewing, then use it! Don’t think, “I’m a nobody — I just make clothes.” Let’s not envy others because of the gifts God has given them, and let’s not be unappreciative of the gifts God has given us. Let’s be who God has gifted us to be.

And read verse 36 closely in the New Revised Standard Version. Dorcas had a title: disciple. Really, isn’t that enough for any of us?

Thought for the day: Lord, I want to be your disciple — nothing more, nothing less.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. Use the item above as a starting point, or consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.