Month: January 2020

This past Saturday I was flying back to Newark, through Boston.  The previous two days being a presenter, devotion leader and exhibitor at the annual Lutheran Church Charities conference in Chicago.  Landing in Boston was scenic, coming in over the bay and landing within view of the ocean on a sunny day was refreshing.  Walking through the airport to my next gate, I spotted a Wahlburger and had to try one of their burgers.  By the time I got off the train from the Newark airport to my house it would be late at night, so that was enough justification for me.

Little did I know how late I would be getting home.  As I made my way to my gate, I got a notification on my phone that my flight was delayed.  So, I went down to my gate to see if there was any more information.

When I got to my gate, every seat was taken except one.  There was an empty seat next to a Muslim woman.  This lady had on her head covering, it was modest and matched her clothes which were Western in style.  I approached her and asked if the seat next to her was taken, she said it was not so I asked if it would be ok with her if I sat there, she said yes and I sat down.

I got out my lap top and started to plug in my charger.  “Sarah” (not her real name) told me, “It doesn’t work.  None of the outlets do.”  I thanked her for letting me know and we started a conversation about the delayed flight.  Sarah shared with me that she was nervous about flying because of the rattling that happens when a plane turns or goes through turbulence.  I asked her if the landings made her nervous also, Sarah said no, it was just the actual flight.  So, I shared with Sarah that many commercial flights are actually done on autopilot and that I had heard it is possible for planes to even land on autopilot (this depends on the rules of the country you are flying in).  I shared that in my opinion you don’t hear much about the autopilot feature because people may ask if pilots are needed.  Sarah and I laughed at the idea of wondering if there was a pilot in the cockpit.  Then Sarah said, “I don’t think it would be good for me to go up to the cockpit and check”  We both laughed at her self deprecating humor.

Sarah then shared that it is hard to fly for her because when she gets nervous during flights, she gets doubly nervous because she doesn’t want to alarm her fellow fliers by acting unusual.  Sarah said, “I get it.  I’m nervous about those people also.”

Sarah used her smart phone to check the weather (the reason for our delay), talk with her husband and stay on top of her business responsibilities.  As I looked around the airport, I saw some young American girls dressed with a lot less clothes than Sarah and I thought about modesty and faith.

Sarah shared about her family and I did also.  We had a great conversation and then it was time to go.  All along I had been praying and asking God how to be a good witness to Sarah.  We knew my section would be called first, so I said to Sarah, “I am going to get on the plane here pretty soon.  I am going to pray for you and your flight.”  Sarah thanked me and said, “It was a real pleasure getting to know you.”  I thanked Sarah and went to my gate.

Sitting in my seat on the plane I saw Sarah up at the front and I prayed for her.  I simply prayed that God would grant her peace of mind on this trip and that the Christians in her everyday life would be a witness to her.  Our flight from Boston to Newark went quickly.  When we landed I saw Sarah get up and walk out, so I said another prayer for her.  I did not see Sarah again.

I have asked myself if I was a good witness to Sarah.  To be honest, I was so struck at the time by having a great conversation with a Muslim lady in a public place.  Sarah knew I was a Christian, but I did not explicitly invite her to know Jesus as her Savior also.  I wish I had more time with Sarah, I wish I knew her husband and their two year old son.

Some sow and some reap.

Amen?

^“And Jesus asked them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves  for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him?’”  (Luke 11:5-6)

Any self-respecting person listening to Jesus would have answered Him, “Well, I would!!”  In Jesus example, a couple of important things are happening: a friend has come, at midnight, after a long journey.  Understand the cultural context- even today in the Middle East a visitor is the responsibility of the host; every aspect to include their safety.  The challenge in Jesus story is that the visitor has come at midnight, there are no stores open to sell fresh-baked flatbread and hummus.  And this visitor is not a stranger; it is your friend so you will be urgent, even to the point of imposing yourself on your neighbor.  But you choose wisely, you go to a neighbor who you think will most likely answer and help.

Prayer demands care.

In the previous verses, at the beginning of the eleventh chapter of Luke; Jesus teaches His disciples what we call, “The Lord’s Prayer”.   This three verse prayer is in response to His disciples’ request, “… teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1)  Jesus fulfills their request and teaches them how to pray.

How to pray includes using the correct words, in the correct way and for the correct purposes; all the time acknowledging that we in fact don’t know how to pray with complete perfection, but thank God, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

Prayer demands care.

No self-respecting person would have listened to Jesus question and answered, “Well, I would say the prayer you just told me and then I would tell them to go to bed, the sun is coming up early.”  No.  No one would have answered in that way and Jesus’ point still stands- prayer demands care.  We live in a skeptical culture.  We live in a world hostile to the Gospel.  People are watching- does your prayer for others actually come with effort on your part?

The man in Jesus story with the midnight request is Jesus Himself.  Jesus is our shore and refuge from the storm; He is a safe house in the middle of the night.  The bread in the story is also Jesus.  When we eat the bread, we partake of Jesus Himself, we are nourished and strengthened after the weakness from our journey.  Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, this means He occupies the place of power in Heaven; Jesus prays for you daily, but not only does He pray, He also cares for you.  Jesus knows your need before you even give it voice or concern.

Jesus had plenty of “Midnight Prayers” in His earthly ministry.  In Luke 6 we read that Jesus literally spent the whole night in prayer and then the next day He called the disciples and from them, He chose who would be His apostles.  Jesus intentionally multiplied Himself through others less capable than Himself.  Jesus turned prayer into care.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, we read, “He withdrew about a stone’s throw, knelt down and prayed.”  Jesus made space for prayer but left no space between Himself and the cross.  Jesus turned prayer into care.

When Jesus hung on the cross, He said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”Why did Jesus say this?  Because under Jewish law if a man unintentionally killed another man- for example, if a man was chopping wood and the ax head flew off and killed his neighbor; then the man chopping wood would not be charged.  When you speak to God, that is called, “prayer”.  Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him when He said to His Father, “… they know not what they do…”  God who knows all things, chooses to remember your sins no more.  Jesus turned prayer into care.

The care which God provides to us in communion and baptism; in His word and through the Comforter is so much greater than any care that we can provide for others.  Yet, we are holy vessels, set aside for His holy purposes.  In fact, He has created truly good works in advance for us to do.  Prayer demands care.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let us not love only in word; but also in our deeds.  May God richly bless the prayer ministry of your church as He leads you to turn prayer into care.  Because when this happens, the world will experience the love of God in a personal way.  It is through His means that Spiritual children are born; the issue is not a demographic problem but a denial of our role in His Great Commission.  Prayer demands care.

Amen?