What would you say are the top 10 things people pray about?  Would you list any of these: health, money, relationships, jobs, children, unsaved family or friends?  What else would you include?  People generally resort to prayer in times of need, because they have a sense that it works, or that it is important. Others may relegate it to a ritual which is included in some sort of religious ceremony and therefore disregard it altogether.  I think most people recognize prayer can be a significant way to deal with stress or struggles they might be facing but this understanding, in the Bible’s way of seeing prayer, is a very lopsided view of an important part of our faithwalk. The disciples recognized that prayer was important because they saw Jesus praying frequently.  While Jesus prayed, something in Jesus' prayers caught their attention.  They knew they wanted to pray like Jesus, so in Luke 11:1, they asked Jesus to "teach them how to pray".  His response is what we have come to call the Lord's Prayer (Lk. 11:1-4).

            However, the title is a misnomer.  It was not really a literal prayer that Jesus said rather, it was a teaching tool He passed on to His disciples when they inquired about the supplications a believer should bring before God the Father.  Many recite this prayer on a daily basis; others once a week.  Its recitation is a treasured Christian tradition.  But when we say it, do we really listen to the words and mean what we say?  And what was Jesus teaching us about prayer when He used this prayer as a model for His disciples?

            So, if I could be so bold as to rename it, The Disciple's Prayer can be divided into 2 sections.  The first contains 2 declarations about God and His glory.  The second contains 4 requests that have to do with our daily necessities.   In other words, God is first given His supreme place in our lives, and then we turn our attention to our needs and desires.  Sadly, we often approach God with a list of things we'd like Him to attend to without first acknowledging Him above all else.  Our prayers are a shopping list of things we want God to stock in the pantry we call “my life”.  But, according to Jesus’ model, is not what prayer should be like.  William Barclay wrote, "Prayer must never be an attempt to bend the will of God to our desires; instead prayer ought to always to be an attempt to submit our wills to the will of God."

            A quick walk through this prayer reveals first that it is a corporate prayer.  That is, when Jesus says, "When you pray," He uses the plural form of you, meaning the community of believers (first the disciples, and now us).  This is underscored by the first two words recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, “OUR Father” (Mt. 6:9 and implied in Lk. 11:2).  Secondly as a community and as individuals, we are to declare several great truths about God.  He is our Father (11:2).  His Name is holy (11:2).  And we desire to see the fulfillment of His kingdom (11:2).  In other words, we have a relationship with Him (Father) although He is “different” in character than ourselves (holy) and He is not only our Authority, He is sovereign over heaven and earth (the extent of His kingdom).  Thirdly, in asking for our daily bread, we recognize that God is the Provider of it, not ourselves (11:3).  Fourth, forgiveness has two sides; a side that gives and a side that receives.  The Disciple's Prayer includes both a request for forgiveness and a call for forgiveness (11:4).  And lastly, God is recognized as our Protector in that only He can keep us from succumbing to temptation.  The prayer emphasizes the desire to follow God and not to be overwhelmed or destroyed by sin (11:4).

            Another commentator wrote, "It was the regular custom for a Rabbi to teach his disciples a simple prayer which they might habitually use.  John (the Baptist) had done that for his disciples, and now Jesus' disciples came asking Him to do the same for them.  Luke's version is shorter than Matthew's, but it will teach us all we need to know about how to pray and what to pray for."  The "Disciple's Prayer" is one of the most thorough passages in all of Scripture dealing with the great subject of prayer and yet it is surprisingly short reminding us that prayer does not have to be lofty and verbose to be effective (Js. 5:16) but rather heartfelt and focused on the things that are most important in life.  It is a passage that should be studied and remembered time and again.   Whenever it is spoken we should keep in mind that Jesus Himself gave us these words to pray signifying these are the things He felt would be most significant for us to bring to the Lord in prayer.  Although many centuries have come since the initial 12 disciples asked Him to teach "us" to pray, the lesson He gave to them is also meant for us today.  Let's not say them lightly.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            If you grew up in the era of what is now called “Classic Television” or in the days of radio drama you may recall a popular program that featured the adventures of a man who lived on the range in the days of the Wild West.  He was a loner with one exception, his faithful side-kick, Tonto, and his brilliant white stead “Silver”.  Oftentimes this hero, by now you know it was the Lone Ranger, was usually called upon to rescue some hapless or endangered person who’d gotten themselves into trouble but that person never knew the identity of their savior.  Once rescued and as the hero rode off into the sunset, the inevitable question was always asked, “Who was that masked man?”

            In a somewhat different context it has been said that there are two things which are inevitable in life: death and taxes.  Although the inevitability of these two aspects of life may be true, I believe the number count is off by one.  The third thing every person must come to grips is another question much like the one posed at the end of every Lone Ranger episode.  It is the question, "Who is Jesus?"  But unlike the Lone Ranger whose identity remained unknown, Jesus wants us to know the answer to this question.  In Luke 9, people from a wide cross-section of society both ask and must answer this question and then decide how they will respond to the answer.  Here is a partial outline of the chapter:

            Luke 9:1-9.  The Commissioning of the 12:  While the disciples are deployed to proclaim the Good News, Herod the Tetrarch wants to know who Jesus is.  His findings indicate the people are equating Jesus with prophets like Elijah and John the Baptist.  This causes him great anxiety.

            Luke 9:10-17.   The Feeding of the 5,000:  Many people are now following Jesus.  Jesus continues to teach about the kingdom of God and people are healed.  After a day of teaching outside of Bethsaida, Jesus exhorts the disciples to feed the crowd and miraculously extends the supply of food in order for them to do so.

            Luke 9:18-27.  Peter's Confession and Jesus' Teachings on the Cost of Discipleship:  Jesus and the disciples have retreated to a quiet place to pray.  Jesus asks the disciples about the crowd's opinion of Him.  They say the people perceive Him to be a prophet like Elijah or John the Baptist.  Jesus then asks the disciples, "Who do you say that I am?"  Peter speaks for the 12 and states they believe Jesus is the "Anointed of God" (Messiah).  Jesus then speaks about His suffering and death for the first time in Luke's Gospel and explains to the disciples that the cost of discipleship is high, but the gain of discipleship far outweighs the loss.

            Luke 9:28-36.  The Transfiguration:  Eight days later, Jesus takes Peter, John and James to a quiet mountain to pray.  During this time these disciples catch a glimpse of Jesus in His glorious state.  God the Father affirms Peter's confession by instructing the disciples to listen to "My Beloved Son" in a scene reminiscent of Jesus' baptism.  The Transfiguration occurs after Peter's confession and the teaching on discipleship, implying two things:  Jesus is God and His glory far surpasses any earthly suffering.  This amazing event is the answer to the initial question of Herod- Who is Jesus?

            The question of Jesus' identity is central to the Gospel of Luke and for those who want to be His disciples so it is imperative that the answer to “Who is Jesus?” must be an answer based on truth that can be validated.  You would certainly not want to believe and follow someone who was delusional or an all-out liar.  If you are to respond to that question in faith, Jesus must be someone who is completely trust-worthy.  Luke states at the beginning of his Gospel that he has compiled his account so that the reader (first Theophilus and now us) will know the “exact truth” about what has been taught concerning Jesus.  The events recorded in chapter 9 are there to prove that believing Jesus is in fact the Son of God is trustworthy.  They authenticate Jesus' claims and prove them to be true.

            Discipleship, however, is more than a mental assent that Jesus is Who He claims to be.   Discipleship is a total lifestyle change and commitment because we believe what Jesus says is true and it applies to how we live.  It is reshaping the way we look at the world and interact with it.  It reorients our priorities, thoughts and actions.   And so, just as Jesus questioned the 12, He asks us today as well, "Who do you say that I am?"  How we live as His disciples answers that question every day.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            The villages which dotted the hillsides surrounding the Sea of Galilee were buzzing with excitement.  As cottage industries produced their millstones, olive oil, fishing products and pottery, shop owners, farmers and villagers alike discussed the fiery new preacher who had come up from the Judean wilderness and was baptizing the repentant at the mouth of the Jordan River.  The Roman soldiers kept a watchful eye on the itinerant preacher, a man with strange clothing and even stranger eating habits.  He seemed more critical of the religious leaders of the Jews than the emperor, so they deemed him harmless and reported their findings about his antics and popularity to Herod rather than troubling the waters of Rome. 

            John the Baptist bursts into the world of the New Testament with all the passion and fire of a thunder and lightning storm.  Yet his connection to the Old Testament was not missed by the Gospel writers, or those who waited expectantly for the appearance of the Messiah.  The church leaders who organized the canon also saw this connection.  The Old Testament finishes with the eloquent words of Malachi and the promise of the return of Elijah the prophet before the arrival of the Messiah (Mal. 4:5-6).  Interestingly, all four Gospels link the beginning of Jesus' ministry to the preaching and ministry of John the Baptist.  The importance of this is explained in Mal. 3:1 which states a messenger would appear to prepare the way for the Lord.  Luke, Mark and Matthew also draw a connection to Isaiah's prophecy concerning a messenger too (Is.40:3; Mk. 1:3; Mt. 3:3; Lk. 3:4).

            Luke makes note of one critical and distinct link between John the Baptist and Elijah.  He sees that like Elijah, John received his message from God (Lk. 3:2) and, using similar wording to the Old Testament, relates the call of John to that of the prophets (Is. 1:1-2; Jer. 1:1-2; 1 Ki. 17:13).  Luke acknowledges that John is a spokesman for God as were his prophetic predecessors.  John also had several characteristics that the people immediately recognized as being like Elijah.  First, John came from the wilderness in Judea to the Sea of Galilee to preach and baptize (Lk. 3:3).  Elijah ministered in this region as well.  The Judean wilderness stretched from the lower tip of the Sea of Galilee where it met the Jordan River, down through the Jordan Valley to Jericho and Jerusalem.  John's attire was a carbon copy of his illustrious predecessor.  Elijah was noted as a "hairy man with leather girded around his loins" (2 Ki. 1:8) as was John (Mt. 3:4).

            Elijah met the apostasy and unbelief of Israel head on (1 Ki. 18:21).  His outspoken condemnation of the duplicitous religious activity of both the common folk and royalty, earned him a spot on Queen Jezebel's hit list.  John was also outspoken on matters of religious purity.  He challenged the crowds who were coming to be baptized by making them analyze why they were seeking him out.  Did they come for a show?  Or did they truly understand that repentance translated into a permanent change of behavior which resulted in actions that were in line with God's commands in Torah (Lk. 3: 8, 10-14)?  Ultimately John’s “calling out” of Herod the Tetrarch’s illegitimate marriage to his brother Philip’s wife cost John his life (Mt. 14:1-12).  But he had already accomplished the mission given to him by God (Jn. 1:23-34).

            Both Elijah and John evoked a response from the people.  When the people saw the failure of Baal's prophets, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord, He is God!" (1 Ki. 18:38).  The multitudes being convicted by his fiery preaching asked John for instruction, "Then what shall we do?" (Lk. 3:10).  Once again, Luke’s Gospel grounds the reason for this result firmly in the words of the prophets (Lk. 1:16-17; Mal. 4:6) when the angel announces to Zacharias God's plans for his son.

            The people gathered on the banks of the Jordan River and waited to hear the prophet speak.  They were anticipating a passionate message blasting the oppressive rule of Rome or the adulterous lifestyle of Herod.  Instead his words cut open their hearts and made them recognize their need to turn from their own sinful ways back to God's ways.  One by one, they stepped into the Jordan to rededicate their lives by repenting; first walking into the Jordan one way, and then climbing out another- a visible sign of turning away from sin and toward God.  Put yourself on the shoreline.  Listen to the words of the prophet.  How will you answer his message?  Will you see your own need?  Will you respond as they did and ask, "Then, what shall I do?"

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            In the year 2010, publisher Nan A. Talese and author James Frey, came under scrutiny when it was discovered that Frey's autobiography was not entirely truthful and contained descriptions of his life that did not actually happen.  In an article which called the publisher's integrity into question, Talese was quoted as saying in her defense of promoting a book with so many inconsistencies and out-right lies, "When someone starts out and says, 'I have lied, I have cheated...', you do not think this is going to be the New Testament."  They were interesting words when considering they came from someone who did not actually believe the New Testament was trustworthy and accurate.  In my own experience I find that most people like what the Bible has to say but give it no more importance than their favorite self-help book, a myth or other religious writings like the Koran.  In our day and age of wanting every detail to be proven beyond a doubt the Bible has been relegated to “just another book” worthy of collecting dust on the bookshelf.  Sadly we do not take the time to recognize that the Bible can and does really stand up to scrutiny if we take the time to honestly examine how it was compiled and how it has endured over the course of time.  Throughout Scripture we are reminded how trustworthy God's Word really is.  It is called the "Word of Truth" in 2 Tim. 2:15, living and active in Heb. 4:12, and the prophet Isaiah proclaimed that the Word of the Lord would endure forever (Is. 40:8), while John wrote in Revelation that God's Word was faithful and true (Rev. 21:5; 22:6).

            Our Bible is unique among other literary works, spiritual and secular.  Although it's subject matter spans thousands of years and was written by at least 40 different authors, it is more accurate than other ancient writings whose oldest manuscripts still exist.  For example the scribes who copied the Old Testament followed a strict set of criteria.  If at any point the smallest stroke of the smallest letter was copied incorrectly, the entire scroll was destroyed.  This is why Jesus could claim with confidence that, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will not pass away" (Mk. 13:31).  He also noted that, “Not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Mt. 5:18).  Jesus is referring to the Hebrew letter yod which resembles our comma and the tiny upper portion of that letter.  Simply stated even the tiniest portion of the Law is so significant it will be fulfilled.

            But accuracy and truth are not limited to the Old Testament writings.  The transmission of the New Testament followed the same scrutiny in that many of the early believers were still alive while it was being written and any untruth or inaccurate accounts of the life, death and resurrection of the Lord were branded as heresy and kept out of what came to be known as the New Testament. While writings such as The Gospel of Thomas tickle the fancies of Hollywood and sensationalistic authors, there are blatant inaccuracies in their historic facts and their treatment of Jesus is more like that of a fairy tale character.  Not only did the early believers refute writings which were inaccurate (and ultimately kept them out of the final collection of Scripture), many died for the Divine Author who oversaw the composition of the book we call the Bible today (2 Tim. 3:16).  I know some people will die for a cause, but not too many people will die for something they know is factually wrong and historically inaccurate.

            Many think the Bible has been disproved through scientific discoveries, but these discoveries have done just the opposite.  For example, it was long believed that King David was a figment of the Bible's imagination.  Archaeologists had not found any evidence which proved otherwise, until an excavation in northern Israel unearthed a stone tablet which included the phrase "the house of David" confirming not only David's existence, but his kingship as well.  Other areas of science continue to confirm Biblical thought and understanding not only of nature but the human mind and life in general.  Most of these discoveries are kept hidden by our major news sources.  Why?  It goes against the grain of what they want to believe!  But for those who do read its words and have faith in what the Bible teaches, a great reward awaits (Rom. 10:11; 15:4).  Nan Talese attempted to minimize the extent of her accountability over the lies in Frey's book by claiming it was not Sacred Scripture.  Scripture, however, scrutinizes a person’s integrity with the precision of a surgeon (Heb. 4:12).  No one will ever be quoting Nan Talese or David Frey when speaking of truth nor will they be testing what they’ve published to see if it “holds up in court” the way the Bible has been scrutinized or tested through the years.  But the Bible withstands any argument humankind can throw at it.  Therefore we can be confident in what is recorded there and live by what it teaches us with assurance (Ps. 18:30; 119:105, 111).

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Imagine that you are walking along a sidewalk and you notice a piece of paper on the ground.  You are a curious person, so you pick it up to see what it says.  You see a partial date on one of the corners, but since it is only a piece of paper, you don't know how large it originally was or where it came from.  Written in bold letters across the top portion of the paper you read,  “'S BACK!”  Sometimes reading the Bible can be like this, especially in a book like Leviticus.  As you read the rules and regulations they seem distant and unrelated to your life.  Reading them is like the partial headline of your mysterious piece of paper.  Did it say, "He's Back"?  If so, who was he?  A politician or sports figure?  If it said "It's Back!", what would that mean?  Since it only has a partial date you wonder when it was originally printed.  How did it end up on your street?  The more you think about it, the more questions come to mind.  What if you looked around and realized that this was the only piece of paper of its kind.  A whole new set of questions would arise and you might even come to the conclusion that this paper was not relevant to you.

            In the case of the Old Testament, and Leviticus in particular, many Christians tend to think that it does not apply to them.  These books are like that partial piece of paper.  They don't make sense and they don't seem to match with the way we live life today.  But a careful reading of the New Testament shows that those authors quoted the Old Testament quite often. Both Jesus and Paul were convinced that the basic principles of behavior in the Old Testament agreed with the teachings of Christ in the New Testament.  For example, in Mark 12:30-31, Jesus quotes both Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 when He describes the way we should love God.  Gordon Wenham said it this way, "With this double quotation from Deuteronomy and Leviticus, Jesus drew out the quintessence of Old Testament Law and gave it His own seal of approval."

            So, to understand what Leviticus means to us today, we must first understand where it fits into Scripture as a whole.  Leviticus, the third book in the Pentateuch (a fancy way to say the five books of Moses), is part of the Mosaic Covenant.  The Mosaic Covenant was the binding agreement between Israel and the LORD (Yahweh in the Hebrew).  The crux of this covenant was that Israel must be holy because the LORD was holy (Lev. 19:2).  Did this command disappear in the New Testament?  No.  Peter draws his instructions in 1 Peter 1:13-16 directly from the book of Leviticus.
            Likewise, the overall aspects of the Mosaic Covenant are reflected in the New Testament teaching on Law and grace.  Consider these three points: 1) The OT Covenant was arranged by divine grace. For example, God called Abraham, rescued Israel from Egypt and chose David to be king.  In each case the action was initiated by God.  In the NT, it is the Lord who comes to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10) and calls sinners to repentance (Rom. 5:8); 2) The OT Covenant involved a command (Lev. 19:2) and created a means for fellowship between God and man (Ex. 29:10-13).  The NT view of the Law is that it explains how man is to imitate God.  The Law was not a means to salvation, but a response to salvation.  The disciple is not merely to observe the letter of the commandments.  Instead his/her righteousness is to exceed that of the experts of the law (Mt. 5:17-48); and 3) The OT Covenant involved blessing and curses (Dt. 27:1-30:20).  This theme continued in the NT with commands to seek God’s kingdom (Mt. 6:33) and blessings for obedience (Mt. 5:1-12).

            If we wish to walk in our Lord's steps and think His thoughts after Him, we must attempt to understand the sacrificial system of Leviticus.  By discovering the underlying principles of the Law, which were established by the same God who sent His Son to die for us, we will learn something of the way we should approach a holy God and how He desires us to live and interact with the world we live in.  The Law is now influenced by grace, but it has not lost its position as a teacher and we would do well to study and learn from it (Gal. 3:24).

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Have you ever looked at a tapestry and marveled at how many different threads intertwine to compose the picture that you see before you?  If you turned the tapestry over and looked at the back, you may have been fascinated by the amount of threads needed to make the picture clear and precise.  But if you only focused on one particular thread in that weaving, you might never see the big picture.  The great covenants of the Bible have something in common with those threads.  If we only focus on one, we miss the beauty of the Big Picture and the blessings that all mankind receive from these covenants.

            The covenant blessings actually begin in Gen. 3:15, when God promises that a "seed" will come from Eve and that the seed will cause a fatal wound to the seed of the serpent.  Two important aspects should be noted concerning what we call the "Adamic Covenant" (a fancy way of saying the Covenant God made with Adam through Eve).  First, it is unconditional, that is only God Himself is required to make sure it is fulfilled.  And secondly, it is made with mankind in particular, in that Adam and Eve were the first of all humanity, not a particular nation or ethnicity.

            Gen. 12:1-3 (the Abrahamic Covenant) another great covenant is woven into the tapestry.  In this promise we learn that Abraham is not the seed, but through his seed, that is his descendants which are represented by seed, all people will be blessed.  This is a key point, because it is the foundation of all the promises we inherit when we, as Gentiles, profess faith in The Seed (who we later learn is the Messiah, Jesus Christ).  Although Abraham is childless when he receives this promise from God, we can follow the fulfillment of this promise and its continued fulfillment through the story of Isaac (Gen. 15:1-6; Gen. 21; Gen. 26:1-5; Gen. 26:24) and Jacob (Gen. 28:12-16).  This promise is repeated several times throughout the final chapters of Genesis, the most notable is Gen. 35:9-13 where Jacob's name is changed to Israel and the promise moves from a person to a nation.  The covenant remains "unconditional" in that God will be the one to bring it to pass.  A nation is a large entity to pull one promise out of, especially when that nation is formed by not 1, but 12 sons!  So the conduit of the promised Seed moves to a particular tribe, Judah (Gen. 49:8-12).

            The thread of this promise will not emerge again until 2 Sam. 7:8-16 (the Davidic Covenant), when a descendant of Judah, takes the throne.  Here God makes an astounding promise to David, Judah's descendant, that unlike other earthly kings, David's descendant will sit on the throne forever.  Humanly speaking this is impossible.  And just to confirm that the fulfillment of this promise is not dependent on human initiative both David, and his heir apparent Solomon, die as do all the generations after them.  So within the eras of Israel's history the promise of The Seed submerges once again and it does not resurface until many generations later.

            Now we'll take a great leap forward and land in Luke 3:23-38 which concerns the genealogy of Jesus Christ.  Luke's record is very careful to include not only David's lineage, but it continues to go all the way back to Abraham AND Adam.  Luke wants you to understand that God has always intended the promise of Gen. 3:15 to be a promise made for everyone.  It was a promise that was made when Israel as a nation was only a glimmer in God's eye, so the promise is not particular to one people group, but all inclusive.  Luke not only makes this one of the themes of his Gospel, it is also the main theme of the Book of Acts which was also written by him.  Later on, when Paul writes to the Romans (a group of believers composed mainly of Gentiles) he goes to great lengths to call attention to the all-inclusiveness of the Gospel and its blessings to all who believe it.  Romans chapter 4 is a monumental tribute to Abraham's descendants, not only the ones in his "fleshly" family tree (his physical descendants) but those in his "spiritual" family tree; those of us who exhibit his spiritual attributes of faith.  It is a fitting conclusion to the thread of the Promised Seed and the Big Picture of salvation which is woven in the Covenant tapestry of Scripture.  There is The Promised Seed (Jesus), but also a harvest of seed who believe, and that's you and me!
 
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            I have a picture which always brings a comment from those who see it.  It shows a young couple in a sporty convertible stopped at a T-shaped intersection.  A map is spread out before them as they stare ahead at a massive wall of street signs pointing in all directions and making absolutely no sense.  The picture states, “Life just isn’t that simple anymore”.  The photo brings a smile because people commonly believe it’s true.  As our culture moves further and further away from established guidelines life really does appear to be complicated and difficult to navigate.  Life isn't simple anymore.  It appears that there is no sense of right and wrong.  Values and ethics have been blurred and judging a person's character is out of style, therefore anyone can be a “role model” or the reason for destructive behavior.

            Why do people shy away from making character judgments?  In many cases it is because no one wants to be considered judgmental or biased.  But this is not so in the Bible.  The Wisdom literature of the Old Testament has a clearly defined description of a godly man (or woman) and has no problem distinguishing between the godly and ungodly by those terms and labeling them accordingly.  Psalm 1 describes a godly person as one who “meditates” (literally chews and digests) on the Word of God, that is, the Law.  As the godly man becomes intimately attuned to God’s teachings, his life is blessed.  He is fruitful and secure.  For example, the word “streams” (vs. 3) in Hebrew means canals or channels of water, depicting a garden which is cultivated, not left to the whims of nature. The godly man is secure because his life is cultivated by God’s Word. The godly man knows God and God knows him because his thoughts and actions are tended by God.  And this is true for the godly woman as well.

            It doesn’t take any stretch of the imagination to see that Jesus was the ideal of the righteous man described in Psalm 1.  He was so in tune with the Law, He fulfilled every aspect of it (Mt. 5:17-18).  Jesus made it clear that He has come to do the will of the Father (Jn. 6:38-39; Mt. 26:39).  He not only did this out of love and obedience to His Heavenly Father, but also to demonstrate to us the life God demands of His children.  Jesus did not change the intent of God’s Law.  He demonstrated what the Law looked like when it was lived to its fullest.  In fact, the Apostle John states in 1 John 2:3-6, if we truly love and know Him, we will follow God’s commands just as Jesus did.

            The extent to which we live by and follow God’s commands, demonstrates our understanding of the way of the righteous.  But we do not need to find ourselves at the mercy of a wall of confusing road signs like the forlorn couple in my old photograph.  We have God’s instructions right at our fingertips through His Word.  And we can see how obedience to the Word will look by following Jesus.  If you read through Psalm 1 carefully you will notice a progression in the words walking, standing, and sitting as well as counsel, seat and way.  These words show us a growing level of intimacy and the exchange of thoughts and ideas.  The godly man directs these towards God; the ungodly towards those who mock Him.  The emphasis in the godly life is on the Law; not just knowing it, but doing it because we love God.  Jesus understood this and was obedient to His Father’s will, even to the point of death (Phil. 2:8).

            I have taken many trips to unknown places as a "Soccer Mom".  Setting out for tournaments and matches was always an adventure in the days before GPS and cell phones.  But I always had printed directions and a map.  Without them my chances of finding our destination and arriving on time would have been questionable.  I always read the directions and studied the map first.  Sometimes I’d read them more than once and although GPS has made finding your destination much easier, I still prefer looking at a map!  The point is always to familiarize myself with the directions so that I won’t have to worry about them while I am driving. 

            God’s directions are always clear and direct unlike that massive wall of highway signs encountered by that hapless couple.  If you are truly meditating on them as the words of Psalm 1 indicate and moving along the path described by its actions (walking, standing, sitting) there will be no question on the route your life should take.  This is the result of the meditations of the godly man/woman.  Christ is the fullest expression of its practice.  First John 2:3-6 then becomes our life’s ultimate mile marker.  As we meditate on and follow God’s Word we will be able to recognize when we are traveling along the Right Way or veering off track.

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre                                        

            Have you ever looked at a picture and although you knew it was impossible, you had to believe it was true because your eyes were seeing it?  I have a picture which I took of a clear glass ball sitting on my wooden floor.  I know the ball is sitting directly on the floor because I placed it there.  But if you were to look at the picture, you’d be convinced it’s floating just above the surface.  I am not sure of the science behind why the ball appears to be floating, and I know it isn’t because I personally placed that ball on my floor, but that’s what it appears to be doing.  It’s an optical illusion.  Optical illusions can be achieved in a number of ways but they all have one thing in common.  Optical illusions are visual brain teasers.  Some are geometric; others are illustrations which have hidden objects, or subjects that change appearance depending on which side of the brain is active when you view the picture.  Whatever shape or form they take, optical illusions are just that- illusions.  They are not what they appear to be.

            The Bible tells us there is a grand and dangerous optical illusion which we encounter in life and we run into it on a daily basis.  It is the temptation of sin.  Proverbs is so mindful of this illusion it repeats the warning two separate times (Prov. 14:12; 16:25).  Sin looks harmless at first glance, even good at times, but in the end, its reality is death.  And like optical illusions which dazzle our eyes and override the brain's rational process, our eyes are the instruments which introduce both godly and sinful thoughts into our lives.  Jesus illustrated it in this way, "The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore, the light that is in you is darkness, how great the darkness!"  (Matt. 6:22-23).  Simply put what goes into your being through your eyes has a direct effect on both your heart and mind.  So, as the children's song goes, "Be careful little eyes what you see".

            One time, when my sister and I were in high school and our parents were out for the evening, we stayed up late to watch a Rod Serling’s Night Gallery.  The show was a compilation of stories that had a dark edge to them.  I've never really liked watching scary things, but my sister had talked me into it.  In spite of the fact I didn’t really want to watch it, I found myself unable to turn away as the story progressed.  It just so happened to be a dark and stormy night, so the stage was set for our nerves to be on edge as well, yet we kept watching.  As the climax approached and the fright factor increased we were both mesmerized and at the same time trying to will ourselves to turn off the TV.  At the exact moment our fears reached peak level a bolt of lightning and a clap of thunder pealed across the heavens and sent us into each other's arms followed by a frantic dash to the TV's OFF button!  We never watched another episode.   What had appeared to be fun, turned out to be anything but fun.  It was an optical illusion.

            I am no longer tempted to watch scary movies.  I’ve learned they give me nightmares or cause a tremendous amount of anxiety.  But it doesn’t mean I’m not prone to believing an optical illusion or two when it comes to sin.  The apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers that everyone is prone to the temptation of sin (1 Cor. 10:13) but it is not a hopeless situation.  He also reminded them that the Lord will always provide a way to escape that temptation.  For some it is an accountability partner, for others it is prayer, and for others it is literally removing themselves from the situation which produced the temptation in the first place.  Whatever it takes is whatever you must do and the Lord has given you the ability to do it.  While support from others, physical action and prayer are powerful tools in battling temptation, there is still one tool that is even stronger.

            The greatest scene of temptation in the New Testament is the encounter between Satan and Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11; Mk. 1:12-13; Lk. 4:1-13).  No matter what Satan enticed Jesus with, fame, power or pleasure, Jesus steadfastly refuted those temptations with God's Word.  It is the most powerful lens by which to view the optical illusion of sin.  Jesus knew that Satan's promises were optical illusions and what was true for any aspect of life could only be found in God's Word.  Like a lamp turned on in a dark room, God's Word dispenses light which shows everything for what it truly is.  If you are being fooled by the optical illusion of sin, immerse yourself in God's Word and surround yourself with His people (Ecc. 4:9-12).  This is the way a disciple keeps his/her eyes healthy.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

          There is a decorative term in painting and flooring called "distressing".  This process involves deliberately removing paint from the furniture in small sections or putting dings and dents in the floor on purpose to give it a well-worn, rustic look. “Stressing out” something works in decorating, but no one really wants to deliberately introduce stress into their lives.  Yet, time and time again, we often put ourselves in that position by taking on too many activities and responsibilities.  Sometimes stress comes into our lives not by our own doing rather the current events and circumstances we find ourselves in introduces unexpected stress we’re not prepared to handle.  We find ourselves struggling to deal with what life has tossed our way.  Life makes us feel as if we are caught in a hurricane and we can’t wait for the storm to be over. 

            If there ever was a man who understood pressure and stress, it was King Hezekiah.  Hezekiah became king of Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel, in 715 B. C.  His first act as king was to remove the many high places built to worship idols and destroy pagan worship artifacts.  Because of his devotion to Yahweh, the Lord blessed him with military victories against the Philistines.  Shortly before Hezekiah became king, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians.  They were brutal warriors and ruthless conquerors that carried the people of the Northern Kingdom into exile and slaughtered the ruling class.  After the fall of the Northern Kingdom, the Southern Kingdom carried on but their security was always tenuous.

            Fourteen years into Hezekiah's reign, Assyria turned its attention toward Judah and according to 2 Kings 18:13, Sennacherib, King of Assyria, seized all of the fortified cities with the intent of also taking Jerusalem.  Sieges involved forcing all the inhabitants of a city to remain behind the protection of the city wall.  Sieges could last for years, sometimes even a decade.  Eventually though, either the city wall was breached, or the inhabitants starved to death from lack of food and water.  To surrender was to accept a gruesome death or a demoralizing form of slavery.   In the year 701 B. C., Sennacherib attacked the city of Lachish and destroyed it.  With the threat of attack on Jerusalem mounting, Hezekiah sought help from Egypt, but any assistance from the Egyptians died when Hezekiah’s envoy was attacked and massacred at Elteqeh.

            The trouble with stress is that it often sends us seeking solutions in the wrong direction.  And for Hezekiah, seeking assistance from Egypt was asking for failure.  In the long run this solution only added stress to the situation, rather than removing it.  When we encounter stress in our own lives how often do we seek solutions that don't resolve the problem?  We look for solace in entertainment, exercise, possessions and/or food.  We think if we relax with a good book, enjoy a bowl of ice cream or join a gym our stress level will decrease.  The trouble with these remedies is that although they may be helpful at first, in the long run none of them will relieve the effects of stress in our soul.  We are in the same way as Hezekiah turning to worldly solutions for a spiritual problem and like Hezekiah we won't find the answer in those earthly things.

            The devastating and brutal destruction of Lachish can still be seen in its ruins today in a layer of soil so thickly soaked with blood it remains red in color.  As word reaches Hezekiah of the loss of this massive but key city, an emissary of Sennacherib also arrives to taunt and ridicule the king for seeking help from Egypt.  The appearance of these messengers could have added more stress upon the beleaguered king. But this time, Hezekiah turns to the right Source for stress relief- the Lord Himself.  In a humble prayer, Hezekiah seeks help from the Lord and his prayer is answered (read 2 Kings 18:13- 19:37; Is. 36 & 37 for the whole story) in a miraculous way (Is. 37:36-38).

            Where will you seek relief from stress when you feel it threatening to disrupt your life?   Truth be told, stress will always be a factor we will deal with.  It can come from any number of sources: family, jobs, unstable times, neighbors, children, and so on.  How will you respond to the pressure?  Will you seek outside help or will you turn to The Helper?  If we learn anything from the life of Hezekiah, it’s that seeking help from the Lord can result in experiencing the unexpected ways He will help to relieve our stress.  So where will you turn the next time you encounter stress (Ps. 9:10; 54:4; 56:8-11; 105:1-4; 121:1-8; Is. 55:6; Jn. 14:16-18; Heb. 13:5-6)?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Even in ruins Ephesus is an impressive site.  Ergin, our tour guide, described Ephesus as a metropolis, calling it the “Big Apple of Asia Minor”.  It certainly had similar features to many big cities, busy streets, theaters, a public library, places of worship, two thriving markets and even a brothel that advertised its location with a carving (that included directions!) in the street.

            Life here was probably quite pleasant as long as there were no uprisings to disturb the peace of Rome.  What strikes me most as I take pictures of the ruins is the sophisticated culture the early church was up against.  The people that lived in this city had a public sewage system, paved streets, stunning architecture and heated their homes.  They had jobs and families too.  But their culture was also steeped in pagan worship practices, amoral indulgences and greed.  Knowing this makes me realize the fortitude the Ephesian believers needed to turn away from this lifestyle even more impressive.  It is not hard to see then how the word “ekklesia” (eck-clay-see-uh) became associated with the church.  The Christian lifestyle involved a drastic change from the usual course of life.  Christians saw themselves as “called out” (the literal meaning of the word) from their former life (just like Israel had been called out of slavery in Egypt) to a new life in Christ.

            Luke notes in Acts 19:25-27 the impact the Gospel had in Ephesus.  He records the words of Demetrius, a silversmith whose business and livelihood were affected by the conversions.  “Men, you know that our prosperity depends on this craft, and you see and hear how not only in Ephesus but throughout nearly the whole of Asia this fellow Paul has won over and led away a great number of people telling them that gods made with hands are not gods at all.  There is risk for us that not only our business may come into disrepute but also that the shrine of the great goddess Artemis may come to be held of no importance.”  Demetrius’ compelling speech seems altruistic at first glance, but careful scrutiny of its content reveals his true motivation; he was losing money!  So his passion concerning his culture and tradition is suspect.

            Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths gathered to save their incomes, however, the Christians gathered to find strength in their fellowship.  Their actions were similar to philosophy students of the day who were commonly seen in the market places, gathering around a particular philosopher in a communal lifestyle to study and learn.  But the difference between a philosophical convert and a convert to Jesus is a supernatural one which Paul addresses in many of his letters.  To the Ephesians he wrote:  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not that of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, that no one should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:8-10).  Paul recognized the churches he planted, like the one in Ephesus, were not of his doing, but God’s.  He wanted the believers to recognize this truth as they came together in fellowship.

            The believers of Ephesus, the "called out ones", stood before the culture of their day like David before Goliath.  They appeared small and ineffective before a gigantic foe.  But those individual believers were not alone- they had each other.  It became imperative to Paul that the church remain unified.  If they succumbed to division, they would become ineffective.  Paul knew with God’s help the believers in Ephesus would succeed.  “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:1-3)  We too are challenged to remain true to Paul’s teaching here in our church; to strive for unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Our concerns for each other should not be driven by the media or current events, but rather our attention and desire should be focused on fulfilling those good works were created to do.  If being Christ-like is our goal and we remain unified in that goal as the early church did, we will have just as great an impact on our culture as they did upon theirs.

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre