Healing Rays of Righteousness

Things were not going well for God’s people during prophet Isaiah’s lifetime, and many of his family and friends had become despondent and hopeless. This is why we hear Isaiah crying out to God for his help, to intervene, to come down and break into the sufferings and injustices they were experiencing and restore righteousness.

“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.”  (Isaiah 64:1-4).

Many of us feel that we are living in similar times of darkness and despair today and Isaiah’s crying out gives voice to our longings for God to show up in the world as he did in the past.

With heart and mind, we long for the transforming presence of God in our world, church, and families. We feel threatened by the evils of wars, violence, and injustices. We feel powerless against corrupted authorities and selfish leadership, politically touting their lies and conspiracies theories.

And many are weeping in anguish, thinking the Christian church is being swept away with disputes, divisions, and disregard for God and neighbors. With disappointments and fears, we cry out for God to come down to save and heal us as his “redeemed and empowered” church in the world.

The Christmas story is about God’s gift of a Savior, named Jesus, who brings the empowering gifts we need to save and heal us. The Christmas story tells us that from God’s eternal glorious heavens, he looked down upon us and heard our crying for help and hope. And because God so greatly loved us, God, in Jesus, left the glories of heaven and came down to earth and into our world to be with us. And by putting on human flesh and becoming fully one with us, God in Jesus, was born into our world to live and journey with us.

The eternal significance of this love-event was so amazing that God rolled back the heavens to make space for the angelic choir to burst forth in song announcing the birth of this Jesus, who wants to be our Savior, Messiah, Lord. And the grand good news is that the good gifts he brings to earth for all the peoples of the world are just what we need and desire, love, joy, peace, and hope.

Yes, God did come down in Jesus, and now lives and walks among us. What Isaiah and the other prophets could only hope for based on God’s prophetic word, we annually remember and joyously celebrate by retelling the story of his coming down to us and reopening his gifts of redeeming love. The world still trembles in awe and wonder at the miracle of that birth. God came down and through the infant Jesus said to the world and each one of us, “I dearly love you.”  

Yes, the world’s suffering and sobbing is loud and relentlessly fills our daily news. Even our personal world may be presently darkened with painful disappointments, griefs, and fears, making it difficult to join in singing “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” But we know and believe that Jesus has come and journeys with us to encourage our full healing of mind, body, spirit, and to restore his joy in us.

Yes, there are wars, rumors of wars, and all kinds of violence swirling around us, but Jesus has come and lovingly moves among us to heal our angry divides and establish peace. And there are tragic losses of personal property, income, physical health, and deaths of loved ones, but Jesus has come and embraces us with his amazing peace and reassurance that he will never leave nor forsake us!

Yes, there are horrors, devastations, and tragedies playing out all over the world, but Jesus has come to move among us powerfully and patiently, to comfort and restore hope. Even though there continues to be much painful struggle and despair, we know that Jesus has come and walks with us to strengthen and encourage our hope.

Listen again to the angel’s Christmas message, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11).

May God’s good gifts of love, joy, peace, and hope,

be forever enjoyed in your life and mine!

“MERRY CHRISTMAS”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 12/18/24

I remember as a young teen-ager walking home from the neighbor’s house after darkness had settled across the field, railroad tracks, small stream, and meadow that separated our two houses. I remember how much less fearful I was when I could see the porch light of our house, and how relieved I was to have the darkness of the night give way to the bright lights of home.

I think of this experience whenever I read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and ponder the many difficulties that Mary experienced in giving birth to Jesus. It was difficult for Mary to walk anywhere in her hometown without hearing derogatory whispers and remarks about her pregnancy. Her joy of carrying the promised Christ child was many times tainted with the hurt of cynical neighbors. The pregnancy was not pleasant.

The trip to Bethlehem was imposed on them by the government authorities. And the timing of the mandated trip could not have been worse. Mary is heavy with child, making walking difficult and riding atop a donkey uncomfortable. For many hours and miles, she alternates between walking and riding, feeling every bump in the road, every misstep of the donkey as it was pulled along by Joseph. The journey to Bethlehem was not pleasant.

Mary and Joseph’s bodies ache with soreness and exhaustion when they enter Bethlehem. They must find a guest room to rest. But the only room available was with the innkeeper’s smelly animals. At least they could rest on the straw, and there was a manger that could be used as a protected place for the baby if it should be born that night. The night’s lodging place was neither comfortable nor pleasant.

Some weeks later the government authorities again interfered, causing Mary and Joseph the need to flee to Egypt with their baby until the nation’s ruler died. When Mary and Joseph left home in Nazareth they never planned for this trip into Egypt. Everything seemed to be happening contrary to the way Mary dreamed it would be. This intrusion into their family plans was neither easy nor pleasant.

From the moment of the angel’s announcement to Mary of Jesus’ birth and until the moment of his death at Calvary, life for Mary and Joseph took many unplanned, difficult, and painful turns. Nevertheless, they remained faithful in believing God’s promise to them and submitted to his plan for their lives as honored recipients and parents of God’s gift to the world.

During this past year, life has not been easy for many of us. There were unexpected bumps in the journey that have shaken us with confusion. There were twists and turns we did not expect. There were major detours that caused us much uncertainty, fear, and grievous losses. With so much confusion, pain, and darkness, we may find it difficult to find a reason or desire to celebrate Christmas.

However, I encourage you to hear the invitation of the Christmas carol, “And you, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow: Look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing. O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing.” 

God enters our world and pierces the darkness of doubt and fear with the joy and peace of his light and presence. This is God’s Christmas gift to the world, to all of us.It is his answer to our brokenness. It confirms the prophetic voices that God wants to do something about our failures and fears, our pain and confusion; that he wants to forgive, heal, and restore us to wholeness.

Even as darkness and doubts may be clouding your thoughts and spirit this Christmas Day, hear the message of the heavenly angel, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Lk. 2:10-11). This is God’s gift to you and me. Let us receive, open, and gratefully treasure it now and throughout the coming new year.

Let us pray.     

“O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray, cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today! We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell. O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Immanuel.”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 12/4/24

How grateful are you for memories, both the joyous and the painful? What memories will fuel your expressions of gratitude on this “Thanks-giving” day? Why do you think God gifted us with memory? I suggest that God intends for memory to shape and deepen our relationship with himself, and to inspire in us a grateful response of praise and prayer.

From his memory and meditation, the psalmist, David, writes two songs of praise. In Psalm 103, he remembers God’s presence and provision of “forgiveness of sins” in human life. And in Psalm 104, he remembers God’s presence and provision of “order and harmony” in all creation.

For David, the gift of memory inspires his grateful praise to God. Even though David does not directly address God, he does pile up reasons that show God is most deserving of our praise and worship.

David begins his words of thanksgiving by addressing his “soul,” which is better understood as his “inmost being” – or the “all” of who a person is. It is the Hebrew way of addressing oneself. So, when we say, “Praise the Lord, my soul,” we are worshipping with our whole being, which means our physical actions and expressions are mirroring what is happening deep within us, revealing the depth and sincerity of our gratitude.

In these two psalms, David gratefully remembers and stacks up the many things God is doing and will continue doing for his soul. And so, David reminds us to praise God not only because of what God has done for us in the past but also because of how God will love us into the future. And as you read them, note that these memories are from both individual experiences and shared collective experiences.

Yes, the Bible frequently does call us to thank and praise God because of what he has done, continues to do, and will yet do for us. And often the word “remember” accompanies this counsel, suggesting that our worshipful praise will be minimal and lacking emotion, if we do not gratefully remember God’s many acts of goodness and mercy to us.

Such information leads me to believe that God gifted us with memory for the ultimate purpose of inspiring our praise to him and deepening our love relationship with himself.

It is easy to say, “Thank you, God” for the big things and significant events in our life, but do we also give God thanks for the little things in life. I suspect that many of us tend to take such for granted, expecting God to provide these daily necessities to us because he should do so as our Creator. We too easily forget that such an attitude and behavior will quickly hinder and diminish the fervor of our daily relationship with God, which he so greatly desires.

I agree with James Waltner who writes in his commentary on this psalm, “Forgetting and turning away from God begins when we no longer praise.”(Believer’s Church Bible Commentary). And, the apostle Paul encouraged the early Christian church, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

On the tombstone of her husband’s grave, a southern mountain woman had chiseled in rough and uneven letters this epitaph, “He always appreciated.” I hope that the same tribute can be said about me and you after our deaths.

On “Thanksgiving Day” let us join the Psalmist in remembering our blessings and expressing our thanks! “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits –

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – November 27, 2024

The same God who created time and worked in time, sending his Son in the fullness of time to rescue, redeem, and adopt us, as His children, will someday say with a trumpet shout, “There will be no more delay!” (Rev. 10:6), and earthly time is ended. But, more likely, before God’s final shout, ending time, he will whisper to you during one heartbeat moment, “Your time on earth is ended. Come home.”

That is why the apostle Paul writes, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2). And it is why Jesus said, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Mt. 24:42).  And so, the passing of time, which we call aging, is not just for the elderly, but is an urgent reality for all of us, whatever our calendar age.

God created time and gives it to us human beings as a gracious gift, heartbeat by heartbeat. I like to think of time as being an individually designed package of life, which is gift-wrapped by God and sent to us, heartbeat by heartbeat. And, most importantly, what we do with this precious gift very directly shapes our future eternal destination in a world of either life, light, and love in God’s Kingdom or the opposite realities in Satan’s Kingdom.

For that reason the apostle Paul admonished the Ephesian Christians, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Eph. 5:15-17).

But sadly, when confronted by God’s Spirit with this truth, many respond with, “Lord, I understand what you are saying to me and what I need to do. And sometime, Lord, I will accept your invitation and become a Christian. Sometime, I will turn my life over to you, be baptized, and commit myself to being a Jesus follower. Yes, Lord, sometime I will get around to accepting your invitation. But right now, I am too busy enjoying all that is available to me in this world.”

And sadly, many a marriage relationship has crashed, causing immense pain and suffering to family and children, because a spouse, or both, have said, “Sometime soon, Lord, I am going to take my marriage vows seriously and work at building a love relationship that endures. Sometime I am going to be the dad or mother my children need me to be. Yes, Lord, sometime I will do that, but right now I am just too busy enhancing my career, trying to get ahead in this world, preparing for my family’s future.”

From my earlier years, I remember the story of a very popular musician by the name of Jim Croce. He wrote a song entitled, “Time in a Bottle,” in which he said he was going to put “time” in a bottle. He was going to put a cork in the bottle and bottle up “some time.” Then when he needed “some time” for his family, or with his friends, he could uncork the bottle and take “some time” out to enjoy life with them.

However, it was less than twelve months from the day he recorded the song that he was killed in a plane crash, and his bottle of “sometime” was smashed to pieces. The truth is that bottled “sometime” is seldom, if ever, used as was planned. Today is the time that God has given us. “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2).

Today is the only time we hold in our hands, as Bill and Gloria Gaither sing so beautifully; “We have this moment to hold in our hands, and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand. Yesterday’s gone and tomorrow may never come, but we have this moment today.”

Now is the time to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords! Now is the time to prepare for our future life in the timeless world of eternal love in God’s Kingdom. Now is the time to do what I want to accomplish before my time in this world of time is ended? Now is the time to be the person I want people to fondly remember me being?

My friend, now is the time to “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.” (Song by Helen Lemmel).

And, yes, Thanksgiving Day is a time to gratefully thank God for his gift of time.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 11/20/2024

The image of the Christian life being a walk is firmly rooted in the New Testament teachings.  The apostle Paul admonishes us to, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph. 5:1-2).

I hear the apostle saying that God’s “way of love” should directly motivate and frame my relationship with you, and is not dependent on whether or not you agree with me?  No! My relationship with you and all others should be rooted in full acceptance and respect, even though we may disagree on particular issues.

The reason so many friendships, churches, communities, and nations are severely fractured and in destructive disarray today, is because we do not acknowledge the biblical difference between agreement and acceptance.  Nor do we give heed to the many behavioral studies which show that much of our human anxieties are caused by an egocentric, neurotic need to have others agree with us.

We also are prone to ignore the fact that the dynamics of every healthy people grouping, whether it be church, community, or nation, includes lively disagreement.  The “loyal opposition” is needed to keep us from getting too comfortable with our human tendency toward selfish, narrow, and off-times marred visions. 

Furthermore, I believe that for anyone of us to presume others need us to correct their thinking or behavior, but that we do not need them to correct our thinking or behavior, is to assign to ourselves an omniscience that belongs only to Almighty God. 

Regretfully, many Christians have been misled by the King James Version of Amos 3:3, which asks, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  They understand the prophet to be saying that any disagreement is detrimental to healthy relationship and community and thus, “no agreement, no relationship.”  But that is not the meaning behind the original Hebrew.

The New International Version better clarifies the original meaning as follows; “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?  This more correctly suggests an agreement with neighbor to meet for a walk together.  It is a commitment to a planned and scheduled activity together.  In other words, I agree to walk with you because I accept and respect you regardless of our disagreements.

With his knowledge of the Scriptures and historical experience, Dietrich Bonhoffer warned that “He who can no longer listen to his brother will soon no longer be listening to God, either.”

To the Christians in Rome, Paul says, “Love must be sincere.” (Rom. 12:1).  And included in his list of loving behaviors is this admonition in verse 18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”   He then concludes with this word, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (v.21).

These voices, and the whole of the New Testament clearly tell us that the followers of Jesus will live a lifestyle built around GOD who is LOVE. Sacrificial, accepting, forgiving love, as seen in Jesus’ crucifixion death is to be at the core of our relationships with fellow believers, and should also shape our attitude and behavior towards all people at all times. As true followers of Jesus, this is our calling and mission.

For that reason, I am deeply troubled by what appears to be a serious drift by many who call themselves Christian, away from the biblical principles of “community by acceptance” and toward a more totalitarian view of “community by agreement” and its very low tolerance for disagreement.  It is a kind of mentality that fixes its eyes on another with a cold look and says, “If you don’t agree with us, get out.  Go somewhere else.  You don’t belong here.” 

O beloved church, we call ourselves Christian, so let us walk our talk.  Let us love, accept, and walk together with all people, respectfully listening to the “loyal opposition” toward seeking common ground and guidance in making a better world for all of us.  AMEN!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 11/6/24

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