Postcards from the Edge

⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Whenever I’m with my parents, I love to talk and listen to their stories of our lives as we grew up as a family and about their own families and childhood. We end up laughing and showing more teeth than you’d ever see at a horse show. Even the really hard stuff doesn’t diminish the lighthearted joy we experience. Remembering an earlier time is the beginning of the process Jesus wants the church at Ephesus to do in order to return to their earlier love.

In Acts, we read about the church in this city, and how they shined the Light on the wayward ways of the populace, stirring up riots over their beliefs against idolatry. They were still pursuing them when this letter was penned, and Jesus called them good. However, Jesus told them that these pursuits had led them away from the love they had at the beginning. They had fallen away, or left behind, their first love.

This idea of still doing good things, but leaving behind the love we first enjoyed in our relationship with the Lord still happens today. If we’re truly honest with ourselves, most likely we’ve done the same thing. This isn’t purposeful. In the relationships we have, either with our spouses, our deep friends, or the Lord, the feelings we had at the beginning slip into some sort of ‘normalcy,’ without trying. But, thankfully, there’s a way back! We’ve already spoken about the first step, and that’s to remember.

The next step that Jesus tells the Ephesian Church to do is repent. While this word carries centuries of dogmatic stigma, it’s really a very simple thing. The Webster dictionary defines it as turning from sin and (re)dedicating oneself to the amendment of one’s life (emphasis mine). Simply put, it’s turning from the wrong direction and (re)turning to the right direction (emphasis mine).

The final step is a ‘do-over.’ Go back to where we once were, when things were in the proper alignment, and do those things once again.

If you find yourself like the church of Ephesus, where you’ve wandered afield from your first love, perhaps now would be a really good time to do the Jesus-defined process. Remember the time when your first love was first, jotting down some of what you did. Then, however it is that you prepare for soul-filling conversation with Jesus, get there and sincerely repent of your wandering, keeping in mind that repenting involves turning away. Then, renew and invigorate your love as you had it at first! Be a newlywed in your relationship with Jesus such that all will know! 

By Rich Obrecht  

28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Growing up as an athlete, I was always focused on performance. My mood and feeling of self-worth was based on whether I could “perform” or “achieve” a certain level of outward success. I struggled with this mentality even into college. Even on days when I felt like a performed well, I felt a bit empty inside. At times, this carried over into my relationship with God. I became focused on “doing the right things,” yet my heart was often not in it. I could go through the motions, yet was missing whole-hearted devotion.

If we aren’t careful, we can become preoccupied with outward actions alone. As a result, our hearts grow cold. As Ryan said Sunday, we may dress the part, but miss the heart. We miss out on a life-giving, thriving relationship with Jesus. Instead, we focus on seeking praise instead of being known. We use performance to protect ourselves from pain or failure. We assume our self-worth is based on our ability to perform and produce. We may “do the right things” as we conform to a process, rather than embrace a relationship with a person.

Today, if you resonate with any of these feelings, as I do, be encouraged by Jesus’ words. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” While religion says perform and produce, Jesus says rest and abide. In Christ, we find true acceptance. We are truly known and fully loved. We can live from approval, rather than constantly seeking to live for approval. Our outward actions now overflow from our hearts. We are living in freedom, not to “appear righteous to others,” or to “win God’s affection,” but rather from a secure place of love. We are no longer duty-driven robots, but passionately loving people who know we are loved.

Over the past few years, God has really been working on my heart in this regard. I can still remember the first time I walked into South Fellowship, in August of 2015. At the end of the message, Pastor Ryan said these words, “God pursues relentlessly, loves always, and refuses to give up on you.” They have stuck with me ever since. Today, no matter where you find yourself, take some time to reflect on these words. God pursues you because you are worth pursuing. Ask God to forgive you of any sins which come to mind, to help you understand your security in Him rather than needing to constantly “perform,” and to rekindle your spiritual fire. 

By Billy Berglund

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. John 5:39-40

There are times in life when it’s necessary to make a critical decision for the health of our physical body. For a time, we didn’t give much thought to our physical health routine because everything was running smoothly. But then, something gives way, something cracks, something stops working, or something screams out for attention. It’s then, and sometimes only then, when we finally attempt to figure out the source of the problem and make the necessary decision to get our physical health back on track.

But, what happens when that necessary decision involves a spiritual reality? What happens when you hit a wave and your religious boat isn’t strong enough to hold you any more? What happens when wake up to realize you’ve been strengthening your spiritual arm muscles without giving any attention to your spiritual core?

This is precisely what’s happening in Revelation 2. Jesus uses John to send a warning letter to the church in Ephesus, because he wants to wake his children up to a spiritual reality that desperately needs to be diagnosed. Their boatloads of practices can’t hold them much longer. Their strong convictions are giving strength to the wrong muscles. Instead of producing life, their religion is draining their spiritual health.

Today, use this paraphrased version of Revelation 2 to help you identify the root of the problem.

 I see what you’ve done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can’t stomach evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. I know your persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out. But you walked away from your first love—why? What’s going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you’ve fallen? A Lucifer fall! Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I’m well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle. – Revelation 2:2-5 Message

1. How would you diagnose the problem?
2. Why do you think this diagnosis is serious?
3. What necessary decision would help keep them spiritual healthy?

By Yvonne Biel  

About the Prayer of Examen

The Prayer of Examen is a daily spiritual exercise typically credited to St. Ignatius of Loyola , who encouraged fellow followers to engage in the practice for developing a deeper level of spiritual sensitivity and for recognizing and receiving the assistance of the Holy Spirit. At the heart of the practice is increasingly becoming aware of God’s presence and the Holy Spirit’s movement throughout your day.

Practicing the Prayer of Examen

This Prayer of Examen is primarily an exercise in remembering. One is invited, through four portions , to concentrate on experiences and encounters from the past 24 hours. The beauty of the practice is its simplicity; it is more a guide than a prescription. If some portion feels especially important on a given day, feel the freedom to spend all or most of your time in that portion. The purpose is to increase awareness and sensitivity, not to finish or accomplish a task.

Presence

Begin this practice by recognizing the presence of God. Remind yourself of God’s presence with you and His desire to be with you. Consider praying for the Holy Spirit to help you be attentive to God’s presence. To become more focused, it might be helpful to repeat a simple phrase during this time, like “Be still and know that I am God” .

It’s important to begin this practice in a calm and centered state. There may be days when you’ll need the entire time to remember and focus on the nearness of God. Don’t rush past this portion. Take the necessary time to wait and find comfort in God’s presence.

“Gracious God, in these moments please remind me of your presence and generosity, and give me the wisdom and courage to live gracefully with myself, others, and the world you have wonderfully made. For the sake of Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Amen.”

Take some time and focus on the nearness of God. Open yourself to His presence.

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Gratitude

“If the only prayer you say in your entire life is ‘Thank You,’” wrote Meister Eckhart, “that would suffice.” As you think about the past 24 hours, what causes you to be thankful? Look back over the past day, the big and small aspects of life, and recognize what reasons you have to be grateful. Focus on these experiences and encounters, helping your mind and spirit center on the goodness and generosity of God.

If you’re using a journal, consider capturing your thanks in writing, expressing words of gratitude and giving testimony to God’s generosity and faithfulness.

Find encouragement and reminders of God’s goodness, and be thankful.

Looking back over the past 24 hours, for what are you most grateful?

Using simple words, express your gratitude to God.

“Praise be to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.”

Review

Over-packed lives can rob us of the opportunity to learn from the past, to see how yesterday might inform today. “Where did the time go?!” we ask ourselves, often struggling to remember what we did just a week ago. Here we can benefit again from taking time to look back over the past 24 hours. By intentionally reviewing our interactions, responses, feelings and intentions, we can avoid letting days speed by. We can pause to learn more about ourselves and about God’s activity in our lives.

Try to look back objectively as you review. Rather than interpreting, justifying, or rationalizing, the intent is to observe and remember. Allow your mind to wander the situations you’ve been in and to notice details. The questions in this exercise should help you bring specific experiences to mind.

When or where in the past 24 hours were you cooperating most fully with God’s action in your life? When were you resisting?

What habits and life patterns do you notice from the past day?

“Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul…Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

Response

Having spent time remembering, it seems natural to want to respond in some way. Take time to journal or pray, expressing your thoughts on the actions, attitudes, feelings, and interactions you’ve remembered as a part of this exercise. You might need to seek forgiveness, ask for direction, share a concern, express gratitude, or resolve to make changes and move forward. Allow your observations to guide your responses.

Beginning today, how do you want to live your life differently? What patterns do you want to keep living tomorrow?

“Ever-present Father, help me to meet you in the Scriptures I read and the prayers I say; in the bread I break and the meals I share; in my investments at work and my enjoyments at play; and in the neighbors and family I welcome, love, and serve, for your sake and that your love and peace may reign now and forever. Amen.”

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

God’s peace be yours

 Thanks for joining us as we continue our STUDY of Revelation 1 this week.

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.- Revelation 1:12–16

I was listening to sports-talk radio on my drive home the other day. They were replaying a press-conference that took place earlier in the day with Joe Ellis – the president of the Denver Broncos. He described walking around the parking lot and talking with tailgaters before the Broncos played the Jets a few weeks back. He mentioned that was not something he does on a regular basis, but he wanted to connect with the fans after the dismal year the Broncos had. He wanted to hear the lament that’s rising from the fan base. He also made a point of saying that he brought security with him because he didn’t know how he was going to be received.

When you’re famous, it’s hard to go out in public. That’s why athletes and actresses and celebrities often stay to themselves. In receiving what we now know as the letter of Revelation, the Apostle John made a remarkable observation. He saw Jesus in all of his glory, walking amongst the churches! He’s royalty, he’s reigning, but he’s present with his people as they gather and join their lives together. Jesus doesn’t simply camp out in heaven, he comes and dwells with his people.

This is a remarkable observation for two reasons. First, we see Jesus’ love and affirmation of his church. He’s not only residing in individuals, but he’s making his home in a unique and special way in communities of people who have committed to walking together. If we don’t choose to be a part of the church, we miss out on experiencing a unique expression of the presence of God. Secondly, we see that Jesus is among the church in glory. He is their priest and stands at their defense, he sees into the soul with care, his voice is heard in the church and carries with it the authority of a rushing waterfall, and he holds the cosmos in the palm of his hand. Jesus is not simply present, he’s present and powerful – and his presence and power are experienced in the church.

As this new year begins, I want to encourage you make a new level of commitment to your local church. That might mean serving in a new way, it might be joining a life group and journeying with others, it might mean praying for your church’s leadership. Revelation 1:12-16 reminds us that we experience Jesus’ presence and power through the church – it’s worth your investment!

If you missed the weekend message, I’d encourage you to watch it online before continuing the Revelation study with us. 

By Ryan Paulson  

Thanks for joining us as we continue our STUDY of Revelation 1 this week. Today, we’ll be exploring another simple but helpful tool you can use when you read any book of the Bible, but especially Revelation.

I don’t know about you, but there are times in my life when I’ll notice myself randomly singing. Sometimes it’s just because a recent song got stuck in my brainwaves, but other times it’s because something has struck a chord in my heart and singing simply helps me express it. Have you ever noticed how this happens in God’s word too? There are moments when suddenly, out of the blue, the author bursts into poetic meter. When an informative teaching breaks its form and moves into expressive language. This shift in genre is important to pay attention to when studying God’s word.

Immediately following a jam-packed statement passionately calling the recipients of these letters to recognize Jesus ruling on his throne, notice how John turns his gaze upward.

“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:4-6

This brings us to TOOL #2 GENRE. Why do you think John bursts into praise? In your own words, explain why John believes Jesus is worthy of this outburst of praise. Feel free to voice it aloud, jot it down on paper, or text it into the notes app on your phone.

When John looks at who Jesus is, he sings about what Jesus has done. At the beginning of Revelation, John overflows with praise for how Jesus advocates for him – in love, in freedom, and in creativity. As Pastor Ryan put it on Sunday, “There is no greater gift you can give yourself than to move into the reality that you are loved by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the one who stands and rules and reigns above it all.” Today, we can praise Jesus for advocating for us too. Take some time to express praise for what Jesus has done for you.

If you missed the weekend message, I’d encourage you to watch it online before continuing the Revelation study with us.

Thanks for joining us as we begin the STUDY part of our week. Today, we’ll be exploring one simple but powerful tool you can use when you read any book of the Bible, but especially when you open Revelation.

Have you ever put your foot in your mouth? I don’t mean literally. I mean, have you ever said something out of an assumption rather than based on the reality of a situation? Some of us have got ourselves in trouble by suggesting someone was pregnant, by inferring false intentions when failing to text back, or spreading rumors we thought were true. I’m sure you and I both could share some ridiculous stories resulting from moments like these. This just goes to show that context is everything. Context helps us locate truth.

Thankfully, before John ever gets into the nitty gritty of his apocalyptic visions in Revelation, he begins his letter by giving us the context of his writing. These first verses are key to getting the right context before jumping to any conclusions throughout the entire book.

“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.” Revelation 1:1-5a

Before you go any further, take a moment to use TOOL #1 CONTEXT. What does John want you, the reader, to know about the context in which he’s writing? In your own words describe the context for the book of Revelation. Feel free to voice it aloud, jot it down on paper, or text it into the notes app on your phone.

Pastor Ryan gave some more detail about the context of this book in his message on Sunday. The Apostle John is on an island, far away from his church family, and far away from the empires that are making life difficult for Jesus-followers. Because of John’s intentional context, Ryan concludes, “This letter, before it’s about any events that are going to happen in the future, it’s about the person who stands above the future.”

So, what does the context of this book mean for us today? The context is Jesus is on his throne, and this is our context too. No matter what circumstances we face. Today, we can praise Jesus for being: “the one who is and who was and who is to come”, the one who sits on “his throne”, the “faithful witness”, the “firstborn of the dead”, and the “ruler of kings on earth”. Amen.

If you missed the weekend message, I’d encourage you to watch it online before continuing the Revelation study with us.

***New format for the Daily Devotion!

Yesterday, we started a new series called “Postcards from the Edge” – a journey through the seven letters in Revelation. Since it’s a new year and a new series, we thought we’d try something new with the Daily as well. Our prayer is that this new weekly rhythm will help you with learn where to START when picking up the book of Revelation, how to STUDY using various methods of Bible Study, and how you can SOAK in the text to experience Jesus through interactive exercises.

Mondays will feature a short video teaching on where to START when reading the passage.

Mid-week will lead you through various helpful methods to STUDY this part of the Bible as well as give you simple suggestions for how to apply the text.

Fridays will offer an interactive exercise to grow your relationship with Jesus through reflection, contemplative practices, or imaginative exercises.

Throughout this experiment, we’d love your feedback. Feel free to comment on what was helpful and what was not! We invite you into the conversation. Now, onto today’s video teaching.Watch Ryan’s observations from Revelation 1 and where you can START when you open up the book yourself.

***Note: Just this weeks daily is distributed church wide. If you’d like to continue to receiving the Daily, please subscribe below. Warning, unsubscribing will take you off the church wide list.

By Ryan Paulson