Hope Alliance Bethlehem

In our tiredness, pursuing a relationship with God can feel overwhelming.  For some, the experience of pursuing God is tiring.  Our posture toward God is the key to unlocking a life-giving, dynamic relationship.  Rather than being another thing to do, our connection to God becomes the means by which we gain true identity and rest for our souls.

Our world is obsessed with performance.  And when we buy into the lie that our value comes from our performance it leads to exhaustion.  The gospel tells us that God loves us even though we have nothing good to offer.  We we believe this truth we find true life and rest for our weary souls.

As the story of Jonah comes to a close, we find a disgruntled, self-righteous prophet throwing a tantrum.  His anger has overcome him and his entitlement complex has paralyzed him.  And remarkably, we still find God relentlessly pursuing him.  Will God's compassion lead Jonah to return to God?

God loves the world and is patiently pursuing its rescue and restoration.  Humanity's only response to this is what the Bible calls repentance - a turning away from our rebellion and toward God.  In Nineveh, we see that this is possible even in the most unlikely places. 

Sometimes our present circumstances aren't always the easiest.  How can we be grateful people, even in the belly of a fish?  We have to believe that our past circumstances were as dire as they truly were and that our future victory is as certain as it truly is.  And as we come to grips with God's gracious rescue, our love for him only deepens.

How does a prophet run from the God he serves?  When his heart is just as hard as those God has called him to.  As the book of Jonah opens, we see that it is less about a prophet sent to a foreign people and more about a God who pursues all of humanity (even rebellious prophets) and lovingly seeks their restoration.

Jesus outrageous command to love our enemies is not simply a moralistic call to a different way of living.  It is a gospel-centered call to a different way of viewing humanity.  Those who have been shown mercy are called to show mercy to others.  And our identity as children of God make this possible.

Because of the grace and mercy God has given us, we love our neighbors by being people of justice.  That means we have compassion for and take action on behalf of our weak, less fortunate, and oppressed neighbors.

For many if not most Christians, sharing our faith is a scary reality.  But the apostle Paul tells us we don't have to be afraid or ashamed to do it.  He reminds us that the gospel is powerfully good news for everyone.  

Peter urges his readers to offer hospitality without grumbling.  What he means is that radical hospitality is not just and open house, but open hands and an open heart.  This kind of love for our neighbor is only possible when we realize that we too are strangers who have been welcomed in by God.

In many ways, genuinely listening to someone is a great demonstration of love for them.  If that's true, then why do we often struggle to do it well?  The Bible shows us that we are prone towards pride.  And our transformation toward humility is only possible through Jesus sacrificial love for us.

As part of God's family, we have a unique identity and mission - to love God and others.  And we have been providentially placed where we are as scattered people to live into this reality.  So, we should love our neighbors with intentionality.

One of the biggest barriers to loving our neighbors is time.  We live busy lives and the thought of adding more to it can be overwhelming.  The Bible gives us a paradigm for how to order our lives.  If we are proactive in using it, we can find freedom to do the things that we were created to do.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a constant reminder that neighboring is not something you do, but a neighbor is someone you are.  And our only hope for being a good neighbor is to have truly experienced and embraced the ultimate neighbor - Jesus.  His love transforms us to love others.

The book of 2 Samuel is constantly pointing us to a greater king to come - Jesus.  He is the one who ultimately fulfills all of God's promises and brings the blessings of God's kingdom.  For those who have believed that Jesus is the rightful king, we see a model of how to live in the lives of the "mighty men" of David - to pursue his kingdom and not our own. 

David's psalm of praise to God reflects on his personal care and constant faithfulness.  What a glorious reality to know God not only as the God of the Exodus, but as "my" God of deliverance.  Through Jesus, we have realized this is an even more powerful way.  God is truly our Rock.

With the end of David's reign in sight, we see that God himself is the one showing mercy, championing the covenant and defeating the enemies - all things the king should be doing.     And we are again faced with the continual theme of the book that God is Israel's true king and only hope for its future.  In Jesus, we see God's faithfulness in mercy, covenant keeping and defeating ou...

Even upon David's triumphant return, we see a kingdom in shambles and the repeating storyline of rebellion.  What kind of king will it take to once again gather the people as one and lead with righteousness and justice?  Our eyes look beyond David to the son of David.  In Jesus, we have a king who is regathering a people and deserves our obedience.

When the battle between David and Absalom's armies finally occurs, it is a resounding victory for David's men.  Absalom's pride and David's loyal friends in Jerusalem had set the stage for this great victory which mirrors both Jesus' victory on the cross and his ultimate victorious return.  As we wait, we are reminded of our call to be his ambassadors, even in a corrupt an...

Jesus first words to his disciples after his resurrection are "Peace be with you."  Much more than an ordinary greeting, Jesus is speaking about the new reality of things.  His resurrection (in a garden!) has instituted a new creation and a return to shalom.  Because of Jesus, we can find peace with God, ourselves and each other.

As David leaves Jerusalem into temporary exile, he encounters manipulation, accusation, beating and betrayal.  And yet he places his hope in a God who might look upon his misery (iniquity) and restore blessing to him.  We are reminded of Jesus' journey from the Last Supper to the cross and his willingness to place his hope in God's ultimate plan.

When Absalom's scheming toward the throne gains momentum, David finds himself on the run and toward exile.  And in the midst of the consequence of his sin, we see a renewed David trusting God's goodness, serving those around him and in so doing, compelling even outsiders to follow him.

The story of Amnon's rape of Tamar is chilling.  And yet, not overly surprising in light of his father David's story in the preceding chapter.  The Bible tells us through assertion and story that there is a generational component to sin whose only answer is to enter and embrace the new family of God made possible through Jesus.

How does God respond to David's shocking fall?  With truth and grace.  He speaks the truth about what David has done and its consequences.  And this rebuke is a gracious act that enables David a path to repentance and restoration.

In shocking fashion, King David, who had been known by covenant faithfulness to God and led Israel to considerable victories, lost a very different kind of battle.  His lust for power led to complete moral failure.  And we are reminded as humanity that our hearts are desperately broken and in need of God's restoration.