Healing Rays of Righteousness

The multiple difficult experiences of the past several weeks have me leaning heavy into Psalm 23, King David’s song of confidence in God, for the comfort and encouragement I greatly need in the present circumstances.

Over the years I have frequently turned to Psalm 23 for the reassurance and strength I needed to live through the difficult and painful experiences of life. And as a pastor and chaplain I have shared this psalm with many others in their times of suffering because I believe this psalm declares an excellent summary of the Christian perspective for all of life, including suffering.

Psalm 23 is one the best-known and most quoted passages from the Bible. Even those who seldom read the Bible can quote at least a line or two from it, because they have heard it so often spoken at funerals. But if you think of Psalm 23 as only being an appropriate funeral text, you will miss the fact that this Psalm is mostly about living, not dying. In fact, only one verse references death, while the other five verses speak about good, abundant living.

Although many of us are used to hearing the King James version of verse four as “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death …,” the underlying Hebrew words can also mean simply “place of deep darkness.”  And so, the New International version, which I prefer, reads “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, (of hurt, pain, suffering and loss) I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me.”

Psalm 23:4 candidly faces the inevitable experiences of suffering and fear. It does not say “If I walk” but says “Even though I walk through the darkest valley ….”  The comforting power of Psalm 23 comes from its use of these two key words: “though” and “through” – the same word except for the single letter “r.”  That one little letter makes all the difference in the world. It is the letter that turns your “though” into a “through.” Dark valleys are not resting places, but passageways.

 “Though” none of us journey through life without walking into a valley of darkness and doubt, the psalmist assures us that God does not intend for us to stay there. The valley is something one goes “through.”  Yes, we can walk through our problems. We can walk through our sorrows. We can walk through our pain. We can walk through our screw-ups and life-threatening situation without fear of evil because the Lord, our Shepherd, journeys through with us; leading the way with his rod and staff at the ready to protect and rescue us, if and when needed.

Psalm 23:4 is a statement of confidence in God’s shepherding us during the difficult and troubling stretches of life. The reason we are not overwhelmed by fear is because God the Shepherd is with us and his rod and staff are at the ready to protect and guide us. And his powerful, caring presence comforts and reassures us in the midst of the threatening darkness.

Furthermore, Psalm 139 can be read as evidence that God has journeyed through the dark valley ahead of us, making a way through. “Where can I go from your spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make by bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”  (Psalm 139:7-12).

King David concludes is song of confidence saying, “Surely your goodness and love shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

This is why I choose to lean into King David’s song of confidence in God’s presence and power for the comfort and encouragement I need during the difficult and painful experiences of life. And I encourage you to do the same.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.worpress.com – 10/16/24

Life’s Storms – We experience them as sudden and unexpected events in our life, whether they be storms of nature, economic downturn, health crisis, or death of a loved one.  Storms are often very scary with their deepening darkness and increasing turbulence, causing us to feel helpless, hopeless, and terrified.  These raging, out-of-control storms loudly threaten our emotional and spiritual stability as well as our physical life. 

I believe the story in Mark 6:45-52 truly illustrates what Jesus did, does, and always will do for his followers when they are afflicted and threatened by stormy events in their life. 

It was in the early morning hours, during the fourth watch of the night, between three and six o’clock, when suddenly the disciples are caught in the middle of the lake by a strong storm of wild winds and high waves over which they had no control. As the storm’s intensity grew, so did their anxiety and fear.

Remember, it was after Jesus’ miracle of feeding a large crowd of people with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, that “Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him” to the other side of the sea. Then after dismissing the crowd, Jesus “went up on a mountainside to pray.”

While the text doesn’t say this, I’m inclined to think that at least some, if not all, of Jesus’ praying was for the disciples that he had earlier sent to journey across deep waters at night.  I believe Jesus kept his eye on the storm developing over the lake and the increasing difficulty his disciples were having in keeping their boat afloat, for the text does say that Jesus saw them “straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.”

 It was then that Jesus “went out to them, walking on the lake.”  Caught in a fierce storm while in the middle of a large sea during the night was frightening and exhausting hard work to stay afloat.  And then to see a ghost walking across the stormy waves toward them was terrifying, possibly signaling their certain death by drowning.

However, it was in that moment of awful terror and hopelessness, that Jesus identifies himself saying, “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  He then climbs into the boat with them, and the storm ceases, making the deep waters calm again.  Stunned with amazement, the disciples were speechless, having just experienced a truth about Jesus that we all need to learn and remember during ugly storms in our own life.

The truth is that in all times of difficult and stormy life events, we do not struggle alone, for Jesus is watching and praying for us.   And when the storm becomes severe and terrifying, Jesus comes, walking across and on top of the raging storm in our life, and with his calm and strong voice bids us to “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”

I believe this about Jesus because I have experienced it to be true.  He always comes to us in the midst of the terrifying storm.  He doesn’t begin by overruling the forces of nature or of evil that threaten us, but instead he comes, first calling us to look up, to see the reality of His presence and not be afraid.  Then he climbs into the situation with us and calms the raging sea of turmoil around us. 

When it is the darkest, he comes.  When we are the weariest, he comes.  When the sea is so wide and our boat is so small and the storms of life are raging, he comes.  When we are up a creek with no paddle, and even if we had a paddle, our arms are too tired to hold it, he comes.  When it is too dark to see, or worst yet, too dark to hope, Jesus comes. He comes, and his presence quiets our fears and doubts.

Some of the most assuring words we can hear in the midst of any frightening, exhausting experience are the words of Jesus, “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  He comes to calm our greatest fears with a pledge of his unshakable, ever-loving, almighty presence, as recorded in Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 

Yes, his presence reassures us. The psalmist testifies, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4).

O Lord Jesus, please come by here?  We need you now.  Some are weary from struggling, some are fearful, some have given up hope, many are crying.  “O Lord, come by here!”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com– 10/09/24

It has been forty days since Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  And during these forty days, Jesus has been with his disciples, teaching them, feeding them, and spending time with them.

Jesus has completed the work given him by God.  Now it is time for him to physically exit this world and go back to the Father. This is necessary so that the Holy Spirit can come and always be God’s presence and power with his people everywhere.

And so Jesus leads his disciples out to the Mount of Olives near Bethany.  He blesses them and commissions them to be his witnesses, and then he was “taken up” and “a cloud hid him from their sight” as he ascended to heaven.              

“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them” and asked, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?  This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  (Acts 1:10-11).

Let me leap forward to our world and our current environment.  With the angels’ words still ringing in our ears, let me rewrite the story to include the questions that may be swirling within you and me as we stand looking into the sky, wondering and reflecting on the angels’ message.

 Okay, our teacher/leader has left us, now what are we to do? Jesus said, “Wait in Jerusalem.”  Wait for what?  Jesus said, “Wait for the gift.”  What gift?  Jesus said, “Wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.”  How long must we wait?  Jesus said, “That’s not important for you to know.  Just trust God’s timing.  Waiting is key to your receiving the gift.”

But, why must we wait and why is this gift so important for us?  Jesus said, “You need the Holy Spirit to empower and enable you to have the strength to partner with me in doing my mission of accomplishing the Father’s Kingdom work on earth as it is in heaven.  Waiting is preparation time for receiving the tools needed for building a new creation with its new order of priorities and hopes.”  (End of story rewrite).

Wow!  A partnering mission of accomplishing God’s Kingdom work on earth as it is in heaven, with its new priorities and hopes. That is an awesome reality that seems almost impossible and certainly needs further exploring with transformed vision and investment.

However, the sad reality is that such wild thinking and life commitment is thought to be too counter-cultural and too counter-religious to be taken seriously in our day. Many church-going Christians have concluded that this earth is doomed and so “waiting” is all about praying and hanging on until we can be rescued from this ugly world of sin and darkness and taken into a “new creation” called heaven, where there is no darkness of sin and evil. 

I disagree with this religious conclusion, which is based on a distorted and bias view of Biblical scriptures.   I stand with N. T. Wright’s counter response to this way of thinking, “Never at any point do the gospels or Paul say that Jesus has been raised, therefore we are all going to heaven.  They all say, Jesus is raised, therefore the “new creation” has begun, and we have a job to do.”

Is not this the angels’ message in their question, “Why do you stand here gazing into heaven?”

By physically leaving this earth, Jesus underscores his teaching that his disciples purpose in this world is to be his ambassadors, giving witness to his aliveness in the world.  The Jesus who is no longer physically present for the world to see, becomes visible in us, his disciples, when we live and speak of God’s glory, love, and amazing grace.  Jesus Christ is alive in the world when we make the compassion and mercy of God real by how we relate to and care for one another on this earth, and all of his glorious creation.

The angels affirmed Jesus’ ascension back to the Father, and they testified that someday Jesus will return.  In the meantime, we are to get on with the work of building and enlarging God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  This means being busy making disciples in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching one another what it means to belong to this wonderful Lord who is even now King over all of creation. Amen, may it be so!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” –www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 9/25/24

There have been times in my life when I became breathless with wonder and awe. I remember the day when I walked, with eager anticipation, from the parking lot to the edge of the Grand Canyon. It was when I looked down into that expansive space that I became awestruck and speechless by the awesome breath-taking view. I was not expecting nor prepared for the overwhelming emotions of amazement and wonder that filled and silenced me.

There are also times in my spiritual journey that I experience similar emotions of amazement and wonder, such as reading John’s opening introduction of Jesus in his Gospel account. I invite you to sit, look, and listen with me. Look and see the awesome grandeur and beauty of this biblical grand canyon.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made.”  … “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  (Jn. 1:1-3, 8).

Let us now sit and listen to verse sixteen and see the awesome view of our relationship with this Jesus. “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.”  Or, as the New Living Translation says it, “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.”   Wow! What breath-taking, soul-stirring beauty of God’s love for us. It is utterly amazing grace!

Such experiences convince me that the most crucial first step in becoming a disciple of Jesus is learning how to “sit” at Jesus’ feet, “look” into his eyes, and “listen” to his teachings. Every would-be disciple of Jesus must take time to gain a better understanding of God and strengthening a relationship with Jesus.

Furthermore, I believe that learning to “do” ministry and becoming a fruitful disciple of Jesus begins with sitting, looking, and listening to what God has “done” for us in Jesus. The teachings of Jesus and the apostles agree that this is essential before we can be adequately equipped and empowered in “doing” God’s Kingdom work.

The Quaker fellowships that I have occasionally attended, always reminded me of this important need for silence, meditation, and worship; of being in God’s presence, of being taught by his Spirit, prior to doing God’s work of being his agent of change in our world.

Webster’s dictionary gives two definitions of “sit” that are applicable to our relationship with Jesus.

   1. “To occupy a place as a member of an official body.”  Indeed, we “sit” at Jesus’ feet as a   member of God’s family, for he chose us in Jesus (Eph. 1:4). In love he predestined us to be adopted as his children through Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:5). In Jesus, we have redemption, forgiveness of sins, with all wisdom and understanding lavished on us (Eph. 1:7-8). And we are named “fellow-citizens” with God’s people and members of God’s household (Eph. 2:12-13, 19).

   2. “To be in session for official business.”  Yes, indeed, we “sit” at Jesus’ feet as management    associates, princes of the King’s court, because he chose us (Eph. 1:4). We know the King’s blueprint, and his secret plan (Eph. 1:9; 1 Cor. 2:7,16). And we are marked with the seal of Holy Spirit, identifying our belonging to the King’s court (Eph. 1:13), doing the King’s business as guaranteed inheritors of his eternal Kingdom. (Eph. 1:14).

God, in Jesus, gives to us, his disciples, both position and privilege, by inviting us to sit at his feet, to look into his face, to listen to his heart and mind, to consider and receive his wisdom, direction, and power. Only then will we be enabled and empowered to do Kingdom work in our communities, nation, and world.

Our praying “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” will be answered only to the measure that we first give attention to “sitting, looking, listening” to Jesus’ teachings. And the following hymn, written by an unknown author, reminds us to do so daily.

Sitting at the Feet of Jesus

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,  Wondrous words I hear Him say!

Happy place! So near, so precious!  May it find me there each day.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,  I reflect upon the past;

For His love so gracious,  It has won my heart at last.

Bless me, O my Father, bless me,  All my inner life renew;

Now look down in love upon me,  Let me catch a glimpse of You.

Give me, Lord, the mind of Jesus,  Make me holy through His Word.

May I prove I’ve been with Jesus,  Been with Him, my risen Lord.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 9/18/24

From my childhood years, I remember this motto, beautifully painted, hanging on the wall in our house. And during the many years since then, I have learned just how true, important, and marvelous this gift has been and is in my life.

Yes, I said “gift.” I have learned that prayer is one of God’s majestic gifts to us humans, a gift of gracious privilege, and a gift of tremendous value in daily enabling us through life’s uncertain and often difficult journey.

To be privileged to come into the presence of God Almighty and to speak with Him about whatever is on our hearts and minds is a gift of grace. To be privileged to come into the presence of Almighty God as his children, and to speak with him as “Our Father” is a privilege of unimaginable worth.

And yet, we tend to frequently take “prayer” for granted and fail to appreciate its value to us. We glibly “say a prayer” at mealtimes and begin meetings or special events with a prayer; most often being more motivated by tradition than by a sincere, genuine desire for God’s presence and power in our midst.

The value of prayer was really magnified to me one night while serving as Hospice chaplain at Paoli Memorial Hospital. A woman’s husband was in the final hours of dying, and both had previously requested that I not pray in their presence because they were agnostic with no church affiliation. And yet, on this night, she requested the nurse to phone me at 3:00 in the early morning, asking that I come to the hospital to be with her. Why?

I never felt so helpless and useless. I knew that audible prayer was not valued by her and thus not appropriate. They had no children and very few friends. I remember agonizing, how sad, how lonely it must feel to not value prayer in such times of loss. I wanted to assure her that God was present and loving her. I wanted to audibly pray with and for her, but I was not permitted to do so. All I could offer her was my human presence. And with little conversation I waited with her until her husband died several hours later, for which she thanked me.

In Mark 9:14-29, we read that it was late morning when Jesus, with his three disciples, came down from the high mountain where the three disciples had witnessed Jesus being gloriously transfigured. But now, at the foot of the mountain, there was a crowd of excited people, and amid the crowd stood the other disciples, humiliated by their failure to cast out the evil spirit that possessed an epileptic child.

After Jesus had healed the boy and the crowd left, his disciples asked him, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”  In Jesus’ reply we hear one of the deepest mysteries of the Christian life. “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:28-29). Thus, Jesus proclaimed that prayer is a force in the universe, a super-natural force, that God’s people are privileged to tap into.

We tend to forget that our God is “all-knowing” and knows the opportunities and hazards of the future like the back of his hand. He is also “all-powerful” and able to steer and energize us with his spirit through the shadowy and uncertain events of life.

Yes, in praying, we bring God into our life and work, making us more conscious of his presence. And that awareness fills us with God’s enabling power in decision-making, conversation, and doing. Praying connects us to the wisdom, power, and energy of God.

Yes, it is the privilege of every child of God to ask for and receive the super-natural power and energy of God in their life and work. I am convinced of this truth because I have often witnessed and experienced its enabling power and healing balm in so many different circumstances.

Yes, Prayer Changes Things and Me. Prayer has been and is the strength undergirding my ministry as a pastor and chaplain. Prayer has been and is my one and only remedy for the healing of a person’s body, mind, and spirit. Without the gift of prayer, I would have nothing to offer those in distress – the sick and dying person, the bereaved family, and their friends, the fearful, the troubled in spirit, and others. For that reason, I daily thank the Lord, for his gracious gift of prayer.

William Temple is quoted as saying, “When I pray coincidences happen, and when I do not pray, they don’t.”  Mother Teresa said, “Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of Himself.”  And Leonard Ravenhill wrote, “The self-sufficient do not pray, the self-satisfied will not pray, and the self-righteous cannot pray.”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 9/11/24

Anne Frank was a young, Jewish girl living in Amsterdam when the Nazis came to power. She was no longer able to play along the beautiful canal outside her home. She had to go into hiding, never leaving her neighbor’s apartment. Many of her friends were rounded up and sent to death camps. Anne lived under constant threat of being discovered. One day she wrote in her diary, “I just heard the church bells ring. I believe they are saying, ‘there are better days ahead!’”

This is the message the apostle Peter wrote to his persecuted and suffering fellow-believers in his day. “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and new earth, the home of righteousness.” (2 Pet. 3:13). “There are better days ahead.”

And, it is the message of apostle John, banished on the isle of Patmos, and writing to the persecuted, suffering Christian churches of his day. “There are better days ahead.” 

The book of Revelation records the heavenly visions God gave to John as encouragement for the Christians of Asia Minor who were suffering much pain and persecution. In chapters 21 & 22, John looks beyond the agony of human history, as seen in chapter 20, and receives a vision of a new reality. He sees “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.” 

The amazing affirmation of Revelation 21 & 22 is that God, having created a new heaven and a new earth, will return in majestic victory over all evil, pain, and suffering, to intimately dwell with all humankind eternally.

Do you remember what Jesus told his disciples after announcing that he was leaving them and that they could not follow him? “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (Jn. 14:1-3). “There are better days ahead.”

And do you remember the angel’s message to them in? “Men of Galilee, …why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11).

John describes the holy city descending like a bride, beautifully adorned for her husband. The “new Jerusalem” is seen not as a place, but rather as a metaphor for God’s people, in whose midst God dwells, even as the old Jerusalem metaphorically stood for the whole people of Israel, and the temple represented and made real God’s presence in their midst.

The central and most fundamental language of this new reality is “relationship” language. God comes down to have an intimate relationship with us, like he did in the Garden of Eden. Such a relationship with us has always been his desire and creative purpose. And nothing is more intimate than wiping tears from the face of someone who is in deep pain. Imagine the glorious, almighty, holy God now living among us and wiping the tears from our eyes.

In his vision, John sees heaven as a glorious place and describes it with vivid images. Paul says heaven will be better than our wildest imaginings and quotes an unknown writing: … “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived – the things God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9).

In her book, Joy in Our Weakness, Marva J. Dawn, writes, “Whatever description we might offer of what it means to be in the presence of GOD after our death will be grossly inadequate. It is not the place we are interested in, after all, nor some sort of spectacular final event. It is our encounter with the Person, the Lord of lords and King of kings. (p.201).

Imagine being greeted by Jesus and hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. …Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”  (Mt. 25:21, 34). Yes indeed, “there are better days ahead!”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 9/04/24

The prophet Jeremiah lived during a time of great national tumult and transition. The nation of Judah was experiencing a period of political and social decline much like today. And much like today, both political and religious leaders were hypocritical and deceitful. It seemed no one was concerned about their not living up to their covenant with Yahweh, nor the consequences.

God called Jeremiah to preach to these religious, but sinful people, calling them to repent and return to worshipping and obeying God. At great personal cost to himself, Jeremiah remains faithful to God in telling his own people that they have sinned in their selfishness, greed, and ignoring God’s call to justice and concern for all people.

However, they resisted his preaching and would not listen. Time after time, they ignored him, laughed at him, and refused to change their ways. And the biblical record reveals that their stubborn resistance led toward their eventual destruction as a nation.

In Jeremiah 8, we hear Jeremiah weeping for the brokenness of his people that piled up as the consequence of their sinning. He knows that the judgment of God is now unavoidable and that the time for amending their ways is past. This causes Jeremiah to feel a deep sadness and pain in the pit of his stomach.

And yet, like God, Jeremiah continues to have compassion for his people. “My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken. …I hurt with the hurt of my people. I mourn and am overcome with grief. (vv.18 & 21, NLT). …Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people.” (9:1)    

Jeremiah is a man in deep pain and asks, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” (8:22).And his painful weeping reveals that it is too late, “The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.” (8:20).

In verses 10 – 12, he summarizes their grievous sinfulness. “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No. they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.”

“Do not even know how to blush.”  That is an accurate and appropriate description for many of our contemporary church and national leaders. Like the people of Israel, we have no shame in naming ourselves Christian even as we give ourselves to esteeming and bowing to the idols of power, money, sex, personal success, and material possessions. Nor do they blush in choosing to believe lies and conspiracy theories rather than obvious facts and truths.

With all the social and political issues that currently divide us, it is fair to say that we are a church and a nation at war with each other, rather than standing together in Christian love and compassion for all, and daily acting out the good news of Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile, our prisons are filled to over-capacity, children go to bed hungry in most every city and town of our nation, and many die because they do not have the money to pay for health care. And yet, we arrogantly claim to be a Christian nation. God weeps over us, my friend. Sadly, it can be truthfully said, “They do not even know how to blush.”   

What makes me and you blush? What breaks our hearts? Is it because we care about the victims of our society, such as the homeless, the hungry, the sick, the handicapped, the unemployed? What about the societal sins that multiply victims, such as pride, greed, prejudice, lust, malice, injustices, and oppression of all kinds? Do they also make us weep?

Jeremiah’s heart was broken because of the sins of his people. But he always understood that God’s love is a healing balm, bringing forth newness of life where there was the stink of death, resurrecting hope where there was despair, and rebuilding that which has been torn down.

May we, like Jeremiah, have our hearts broken by what breaks the heart of God. For then we can truthfully and compassionately sing with our voices and our lives, “There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.”  Amen!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 8/21/24

Through the prophet Hosea, we are given a sweeping review of the earlier history of God’s people. Hosea sees and understands the past, present, and future of Israel as God’s child from the perspective of God being the divine parent who remembers with joy, anguishes with grief, suffers with loneliness, and looks forward with hope.

To read these verses slowly and reflectively is to feel the deep pain of God’s lonely, heartbroken love for his people. Yes, grievously heartbroken, because his people had foolishly rejected and ignored his freely offered invite into a relationship of love. Yes, painful loneliness, because his people chose instead to follow the false gods of selfish consumerism, fearful racism, and divisive politics.

Unfortunately, current attitudes and behaviors in our nation and churches today, by many people who call themselves Christian, have caused me to remember this earlier story, and believe it to be currently as true as it was then.

Chapter 11 opens with God, the parent, saying that, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”  You then immediately feel the pain of a rejected love that this all-knowing parent has for his child, “But the more they were called, the more they went away from me.”  And yet, He lavishly poured out His grace and love upon them.

God graciously loved his people and helped them get out of Egypt. But Israel soon chose to worship new gods and broke the basic rule of the covenant, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3). Did they do this deliberately and intentionally? Probably not. More likely it was the result of the people becoming careless in nurturing their faith and thus their relationship with God became non-existent.

The Assyrians soon disrupted Israel’s peace and prosperity. Hosea saw and understood this event to be God’s judgment upon the faithlessness and immorality of the people.

But throughout this time of defeat and despair, Hosea’s prophetic ministry continued to affirm the (“hesed”) steadfast love of God. “Hesed” is a passionate, emotional, persistent, and loyal love, a love that will not ever quit loving. Although the lover clearly sees the beloved’s unfaithfulness, “hesed” relentlessly works for the restoration of the relationship.

And, according to Hosea, that is the kind of love God has for his people. God chose these people, claimed them as children, made a covenant to faithfully love them, when he brought them out of bondage in Egypt. But they prostituted themselves by turning to other gods.

And this heartbroken, lonely God asks, “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim?” (11:8). God had destroyed these two cities along with Sodom & Gomorrah.

For us today, the “good news” is that the God whose heart is revealed in Hosea 11 is the same God of whom John would describe in his first letter, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (3:1). “This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” (3:16). “This is how God showed his love among us:  He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” (4:9).

It may be agonizing to contemplate the thought that the Almighty God is heartbroken, lonely, and longing to reconcile our relationship with himself, to enjoy the intimacy for which we were created. But it is equally awesome to imagine an empty place in God’s heart which only you and I can fill with our voices of grateful praise.

My friend, the God who would not abandon the people of Israel has not given up on us. When we act as if He does not exist, when we sell ourselves to other lovers, when we prostitute ourselves for the sake of the pleasures of the world around us, His steadfast love follows us.

When we suffer the consequences of our own foolish choices, when we experience the results of our own sinful behavior, His steadfast love follows and overshadow us, waiting in grieving loneliness for our return to a restored relationship of total love and trust.

Let us give attention to Hosea’s appeal and respond with repentant hearts; “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us; he has injured us, but he will bind up our wounds. … Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” (6:1-3).

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 8/7/24

God’s people have returned from Babylonian captivity to again live in their homeland and to rebuild Jerusalem. There is great joy in experiencing liberation from captivity and the freedom to return to their homeland. But their homecoming is not pretty and peaceful. There is much disappointment and difficulty. A large part of Jerusalem has been destroyed. Foreign people claim the grazing land, and only a small remnant of the twelve tribes of Israel have returned with them.

In the midst of their situation and prayer of lament, Isaiah issues a call to his people to remember God and what he has done for them in the past and urges them to also remember and rejoice in what God has promised to do for them in the future.

To “remember” is an important word of encouragement in the Bible. To “remember” is both looking back as well as looking forward. Throughout the history of God’s people, the prophets and the psalm writers urged the people to “remember” God’s actions and benefits in their behalf, as well as his promises for their future. To “remember” is a blessed gift and resource that undergirds and keeps alive our present and future hopes.

In reading Isaiah 63:7-9, we discover that in spite of their difficult circumstances, Isaiah is thankful for the goodness of God in verse 7, the grace of God in verse 8, and the presence of God in verse 9.

Regarding the goodness of God, Isaiah says, “I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us – yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.”

Regarding the grace of God, Isaiah says, “He said, ‘Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me’; so he became their Savior.”

Isaiah wants Israel to remember that God had adopted them as his very own people and became their Savior. He did not do this because the Hebrews were the biggest and the best, but only because of his grace and love.

How long has it been since you thanked God for being your Savior? We do not deserve salvation; we received it only because of God’s grace. Think of where you would be, and what you would be, without God, and then thank him for the eternal difference he has made in your life and future.

Regarding the presence of God, Isaiah says, “In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”  

Isaiah wants Israel to remember that in all of their sufferings and distress, God did more than just send angels. God himself came to them to be present and participate in their sufferings. Isaiah reminds his people that it was this presence of God that saved them, or made them well, complete, and whole, which are the most inclusive meanings of salvation.

In this verse, Isaiah paints a beautiful word portrait of the empathetic love of God. He wants us to visualize ourselves as crying children being picked up (redeemed) from unpleasant, painful, and hopeless circumstances and (carried) with strong arms that enfold us with comforting protection and provision.

According to the psalmist, this is God being “our refuge and strength, an ever- present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1). He hurts when we hurt – he helps, protects, and provides for us – and he even picks us up and carries us. We are alive today because of God’s goodness, grace, and presence in our lives in our yesterdays.

So let us awaken each morning “remembering” to give God thankful praise for his sustaining grace in our yesterdays and petition him for enabling grace for our today. Let us joyfully sing Fanny Crosby’s hymn, “God of Our Strength” as our daily prayerful anthem.

              1. God of our strength, enthroned above, the source of life, the fount of love,

O let devotion’s sacred flame, our souls awake to praise thy name.

              (Chorus) God of our strength, we wait on thee, our sure defense forever be.

2. God of our strength, from day to day, direct our thoughts and guide our way.

Oh, may our hearts united be, in sweet communion, Lord, with thee.

3. God of our strength, on thee we call. God of our hope, our light, our all,

Thy name we praise, they love adore, our rock, our shield, forevermore.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com

There are times when we may feel our lives are being driven by the winds of fate or controlled by evil people or forces. Yes, we may sing joyfully about an omnipotent God in Sunday morning worship, but the difficult daily events of Monday through Saturday too frequently challenge our singing.

Difficulties, both routine and unexpected, challenge our faith and perspective of God’s ability to carry us through the week. It is our human nature to easily forget that our God is still the same almighty, sovereign Lord today as he was yesterday and will be tomorrow.

The prophet, Isaiah, was writing to his people, the Israelites, after they had experienced years of judgment and exile from their homeland. They were so beaten down by life’s many trials and great adversity that they began to question whether God was with them or cared about their difficulties.

Isaiah knew both their situation and their hearts, and writes to them asking a crucial question in chapter 40, verse 27; “Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’?”  By asking this probing question, Isaiah hopes to revive and encourage their faith in God’s everlasting love and care as He had promised them.

To confirm and strengthen the truth regarding God’s love and concern, Isaiah tells the Israelites to look up at the stars. “Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:  Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (40:26).

Isaiah believed that his people could regain their perspective on life if they lifted their eyes to the heavens. He reminds them that God formed the heavens, “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.” (v.22).

And furthermore, “He … brings out the starry host one by one and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (26).

In verse twenty-five, the voice of the Lord is heard asking, “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?”  Isaiah joins the conversation to argue that when you observe creation, you see the power, strength, and loving care of God. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, and Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (vv.28-29).

What a wonderful message to a people who were discouraged, beaten down, and worn out with life.  

Yet, even today, I know from experience that my pondering of this wondrous truth always revives my awareness of this great big God and His awesome power and love for me. This always proves to be a sure defense and remedy for all my doubts and discouragements. And so, I pastorally recommend a daily “looking up to the heavens” for your spiritual health and vitality.

Our God is strong and mighty, all-powerful, and full of amazing love. God has not forgotten any one of us and never will. Jesus told his disciples in a time of great anxiety “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  (Matthew 10:29-31).

Look at the world around, above, and beneath you, and be encouraged by remembering that the Creator of the universe knows your name and your situation. God understands your fears, your hopes, your dreams, and your pains. God’s wisdom is unsearchable, God’s power is unmatched, and God’s love is overwhelming and limitless.

Remember whose you are, and rest in God’s holy presence. Look up at the stars and receive the gift of a grand perspective. God is so big, and we are so small, yet God is holding you and me in the palm of his hand, protecting, planning, and providing for us. THANKS BE TO GOD!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 7/24/24