ANDREW'S AFFIRMATION

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Judges 2:1-5,11-23 This passage teaches us about our failures and God’s amazing mercy. Israel’s poor spiritual condition, not their lack of worldly power and possessions, lay at the root of their failure as a people. The Israelites had begun worshipping Baal because he was thought to be the god over the weather and nature; the god of agricultural success. In an agricultural society people served Baal because they wanted good weather for abundant crops and flocks. What idols have we turned to in hopes of attaining success in this world? In what areas of our life have we experienced failure, and how might our unfaithfulness to God be the cause of such failure? The Israelites responded to failure by repenting of their sins. This was clearly expressed cthrough their weeping and sorrow. Have we repented? What concrete steps have we taken that show we have turned away from idols and turned towards God again? Romans 16:17-27 Believe it or not, there a...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Jeremiah 16:14-21 This passage declares God’s plan to restore Israel. We find hope in knowing that whatever the world has taken from us because of our faithfulness to God, we can be assured that God will restore it to us. Let there be no doubt, God does keep score. His eyes are the ways of the wicked; their evil plots are not hidden from God’s presence, nor is their iniquity concealed from God’s sight. God will doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted God’s church with their divisive schemes, and filled their egos with the suffering of God’s people. Let the righteous rejoice in knowing that God is their strength and my stronghold, a refuge in the day of trouble. Therefore, do not become frustrated when arrogant and selfish people attempt to make themselves into gods for God will overcome their efforts with His power and my might, and they shall know that there is only one true God. Mark 1:14-20 Jesus beckons us to c...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Zephaniah 3:14-20 It is such a sigh of relief the moment we realize we made it through a crisis or life storm. In fact, knowing that a calamity has passed can cause us to break forth in song and rejoice. This is how Israel felt when they realized that the Lord had taken away the judgments against them; he had turned away their enemies. No longer did they need to fear disaster overcoming them. Instead, God had granted them the victory, and he rejoiced over Israel with gladness. However, we must take note here that the reason Israel was delivered was not so they could become obsessed with attaining worldly power and possessions but rather they could surrender themselves as instruments of liberation for those who were still outcast and oppressed by evil structures. It should never be enough for us to experience victory just by ourselves; we must ensure that no one is left behind. Our goal in victory must be to transform the shame and suffering of ...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Joshua 9:3-21 This passage describes the Gibeonite deception. The inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai. Consequently, the Gibeonites tried to deceive Israel into making a peace treaty with them but God had warned Israel not to make peace with the Gibeonites. Sadly, the leaders foolishly trusted the Gibeonites and befriended them instead of asking direction from the Lord. Is it realistic to think that we should be at peace with everyone? Are there people or communities that are simply pure evil? Why did Joshua and the leadership of Israel feel the need to accept those who God found to be unacceptable? Who in our life is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”? How have we betrayed God by our human desire to be accepted and validated by those who are at enmity with God? Romans 15:1-13 We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Joshua 8:30-35 When we are desperate for help, we tend to be more open to listening to others. It’s when we believe we are in control that we are tempted to ignore the wisdom of those around us. In this passage Joshua builds an altar to God on Mount Ebal. This action is a fulfillment of Deuteronomy 27-28. The Lord God had told Israel that when they came to the Promised Land, they were to stand before Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, build an altar, sacrifice to the Lord, and read the enter law. Even though the people of Israel had reached the Promised Land, Joshua still felt it was important for them to remain faithful to God’s commandments. When we enter our own ‘Promised Land’ and believe we have things under control, do we still remain faithful to God’s ways? In what ways have we sinned by trying to do things our own way instead of God’s way? Romans 14:13-23 Some people live their whole life just to pass judgment on others. The Bible makes it v...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Joshua 8:1-22 As unfaithful as the Israelites may have been, God’s grace still invited them to return to faithfulness. God even promised to hand over the king of Ai with his people into the hands of the Israelites. Our problems usually appear bigger than they are in reality. The key is to persevere in the faith that God will grant us victory. We must remain alert and ready to battle the powers of the enemy at the appointed time. If we are faithful, then the power of God will ambush our enemy just as the Israelites ambushed the king of Ai and his people. The enemy may think they have won but in reality no weapon fashioned against God’s people will stand. In their greed, our enemies will go out against us, and in the process of doing so they will leave themselves vulnerable to the defeat and humiliation. Push forward then and stretch forth your hand to claim the promise of victory that God has prepared for you. Trust that God will go to battle fo...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Joshua 7:1-13 Have you ever stumbled in your faith? There have been times when I felt overwhelmed by the storms of life. There have also been times when I was greedy and chased after worldly glory instead of God's glory. I have learned the hard way that persevering in faith is not easy. In this passage, the Israelites broke faith and this angered the Lord. The Israelites tried to ambush the men of Ai but were instead chased and attacked by them. Whether the Israelites felt overwhelmed by the men of Ai or whether the Israelites were too prideful and arrogant and underestimated their opponent, the fact is that the Israelites were heartbroken and emotionally scarred because of the attack by the men of Ai. Joshua, the designated leader, cried out: "Ah, Lord God! Why have you brought this people across the Jordan at all, to hand us over to the Amorites so as to destroy us?” The Lord replied to Joshua, "Stand up! Why have you fallen upo...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Deuteronomy 3:18-28 Just as the Lord gave Israel the promised land, the Lord desires to give you his blessing. In what ways have you occupied the blessings God has prepared for you? How have you crossed over from a place of scarcity to a place of abundance? Moses informed the people of Israel that God would use Joshua to lead them in procuring God’s blessings but that they would have to overcome forces of opposition. Be mindful that the best things in life do not come easy. You must fight for these blessings. In doing so, you need not be afraid, for it is the Lord our God who fights for you. Take heart, God has only begun to do great things in your life. The fullness of God’s blessings may or may not be experienced in your lifetime but the steps you take today will impact generations to come. Therefore, take one more step towards that promised land today and increase the hope for those who come behind you tomorrow. Romans 9:19-33 Who are we to ...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Deuteronomy 1:1-18 This passage contains the words that Moses spoke to all Israel as they were camped on the great plains of Moab, able to see across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This was the land of Canaan that God promised them but which they had not occupied for 400 years. This passage reminds us to be faithful and exhorts us to be prepared even then life is frustrating and confusing. God has a plan and purpose for our life even if we do not understand God’s ways. This passage also reveals Moses’ leadership style to us. He was willing to distribute the responsibility of leadership to others but did so only with the support of the people. It was not a dictatorship; it was a democracy. Each tribe was given freedom to choose individuals who were wise, discerning, and reputable among them to be their leaders. In what ways have we entrusted the responsibility of leadership to others? How have we failed to identify small group leaders ...

  Happy Independence Day! For you were called to freedom; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. - Galatians 5:13 Song: God Bless America Collect (Prayer for our country, BCP p. 820) Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among t...