September 25, 2024

Viewing all things through the lens of the True and the beautiful!

The True

One

There is only one.

It is a simple concept, but because of its importance, it is repeated time and time again in scripture:

“There is but one God…and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 8:6).

“One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:5-6).

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6).

There are plenty more examples, but you get the idea. There is only one God, and that one God wants you to know there is no other! He even tells us why He is so insistent that He stand alone in our hearts and in our lives—it is because He is a jealous God and does not want to share our worship (Ex. 34:14)!

You likely have no objection to this assertion. You likely agree on an intellectual level that God—and God alone—should be worshiped. But you and I live in a world where that Truth is constantly being challenged and tested in our everyday lives. There is an endless parade of competition for our attention.

Your calendar is double and triple booked.

Your finances are pulled in countless directions.

Your affiliations and allegiances demand your devotion.

Even your good works…they always need more from you.

How often have you come to the end of your day or your week or your year and wondered, “Where did the time go?”

For me, this reflection has often caused me to wonder how my “One” became diluted into so many. Why, when my course was set to serve only Him, did so many other things crowd Him out?

It happens one small decision at a time, but so often boils down to the question, “What is the object of my worship?”

That question hit me hard this week as I read some reporting about how candidates from both parties are increasing their contributions to their respective party apparatus. The story described the increased frequency with which campaign events end with a “political altar call.” The reporter was admittedly using a turn of phrase, but even so, the statement is piercing because of its truth.

What are the altars in our life, and to which of them do we eagerly answer the call?

There are so many choices. Business, wealth, relationships, politics, fame, power, achievement, even religion. They can all be altars, and they are constantly calling on us to respond to them. They are asking for our devotion—just one little moment at a time.

But even in the din of all these demands, there is still only One. And He is still jealous for you. He made you for Himself, and He longs to be the only One to Whom you will kneel at the altar. He yearns for your life to be spent for Him, and Him alone.

There are countless altars.

But there is only One to Whom you are called.

World

War on the Northern Front

Israel is now essentially engaged in two full-scale wars. The first is the ongoing war with Hamas centered in southwestern Israel around Gaza. The second is with Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization based in Lebanon and funded by Iran. Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah—including rocket fire in both directions—have been simmering and boiling over for quite some time, but this past week presented a number of significant escalations, including a coordinated attack on the pagers used by Hezbollah militants.

Analysis and eternal perspective: “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. ‘I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you’” (Gen. 12:1-3).

For nearly a year now, our community here at The Equipped has been considering the war in Israel through a set of biblical principles. The first of these principles is:

Even though antisemitic hostilities against the Jewish people date back to biblical times, it is staggering to consider the nation of Israel must once again fight off multiple forces seeking to eradicate the country—and, in fact, the Jewish people.

The realities of war should break our hearts and incline our compassion toward innocent people of all nationalities and backgrounds. We should continue to stand in prayer with and for those who are suffering and hurting. Every person is made in the image of God and, because of the gift of Jesus Christ, has been invited into covenant relationship with God. As we stand in the gap for all who are suffering, let us also be clear-eyed about the perpetual threat aimed at God’s original chosen people.

Finance

Rate Cut

For the first time since March 2020, the Federal Reserve lowered its target range for the federal funds rate. In simple terms, this is the rate at which commercial banks lend their federally held funds to each other. It also has an impact—to varying degrees—on the rates Americans pay for various forms of debt (i.e., credit cards and home mortgages). This week’s cut of 0.5% lowers the rate off what had been the highest rate since January 2001 (see a long term graph of the target range here).

Analysis and eternal perspective: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21).

Jesus talked about money—and how we should interact with it—with great frequency. It is so easy for the pursuit of wealth to displace Jesus as the highest object of our affection. We serve a good Father who wants to give us good gifts (Matt 7:11) and who owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50:10), but whose ultimate desire and purpose for creating you is to be worshiped by you (Is. 43:21). Money so often serves as a competitor for our attention and affection, and it is in that vein Jesus warns us to be on guard.

As for interest rates, while they may impact on your decision-making around purchases, they should not alter your steadfast belief that everything—including your money—belongs to God (1 Chron. 29:11-14, Ps. 24:1, Job 41:11, Heb. 2:10, Deut. 10:14).

What does your checkbook say about your priorities? (Side note: Does anyone else still use a paper checkbook ledger? I do!) Everything—including your very being—belongs to God. What a liberating and invigorating reality!

U.S.

Same Story All Over Again

Once again, Congress is set to approve a last minute “continuing resolution” (CR) to stave off the prospect of a government shutdown. The CR is scheduled for a Wednesday vote in the U.S. House, and the U.S. Senate is expected to follow suit before the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2024. The CR will extend government funding until December 20, at which time . . . you guessed it, Congress will need to pass yet another last-minute spending deal.

Analysis and eternal perspective: The federal budgeting and spending process is broken, and nearly all the machinations leading up to the announcement of a “deal” are simply theater. While Article I of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the “power of the purse” (the powers to both tax and spend the people’s money), federal spending has long been essentially on auto-pilot in a rapidly growing fashion. Congress, under the guidance of both parties, has repeatedly declined to retake control of the process, and the predictable result is chaos.

In the near term, you can set your calendar notifications for the second and third weeks of December, during which there is all but certain to be yet another “announcement” of a “deal” to prevent the government from shutting down—but failing to address any of the structural deficiencies.

In the longer term, American voters have the power to elect leaders who will once again take the power to tax and spend seriously. Luke 16:10 reminds us that those who “can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Jesus followers of every political stripe should lead the way in expecting a government that takes seriously the “power of the purse.”

The Beautiful

Crowned with Bounty

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly.

The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.

You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.

You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.

The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.

The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.

- Psalm 65:8-13