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Presence Weekly 3/18/2024

Faithful Presence

• 10 min read

The DEVO - The Mission of Whole-life Discipleship

The Greatest Commandment

6 "Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. 
4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 
"And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. 
"You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers by thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has promised. Deuteronomy 6:1-17

As we continue to discuss the unfolding and various aspects of the Christian mission in the world, it's important to remember all that our calling includes. All too often, followers of Christ are so caught up in the "world-changing" outworkings of public Christianity that they lose sight of the most essential aspect of following Jesus: whole-life discipleship. As indicated by some of the On The Page articles below, this has an expected and harmful impact on the external results of actions that proclaim the good news (i.e., are evangelical). 

The book of Deuteronomy consists of five addresses by Moses to the people he has led out of Egypt, to Mount Sinai (where they received the Law), and now to the edge of the Promised Land. The trip has taken forty years longer than expected, largely due to everyone's continued failure to properly trust in the LORD - the God of steadfast love and faithfulness. Throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, we have read of how these formerly brutalized, exploited, and impoverished slaves have responded to their miraculous rescue, gracious enrichment, and covenantal adoption with complaining, idol-worshiping, and distrust. Even their leaders, Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, have proven to be deeply flawed leaders. As a result, Moses has been barred from entering the land he was charged with bringing the people to. 

In this address, Moses seeks to make clear the mission-critical role of whole-life discipleship. 

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

The full weight of the truth of God's Law rests on two pronouns in this passage: they/them. These pronouns refer not to some nebulous, self-determined, or culturally-shifting object but to the Law of God, given by the LORD (the God of steadfast love and faithfulness who rescued his people out of the land of Egypt) to Moses, for the instruction of his people. The Law Moses received was not just the Ten Commandments, but the years of instruction contained in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, now rearticulated in this series of sermons that might well be thought of in terms of pre-game pep talks. 

The people-differentiating Law they received during their journey from slavery to the Promised Land included instruction on spiritual, emotional, relational, vocational, ideological, and cultural formation. Everything from economic policy, worship, sexuality, agricultural stewardship, fair trade, health and disease, family relations and responsibility, private property, community responsibility, relational restoration, treatment of the disabled and immigrants, and even warfare has received attention. Those serving and leading in the public square might even notice that these areas have an almost Cabinet-level importance on a nation's ability "to be fruitful and multiply."

But what Moses is focusing on here is discipleship - namely, whole-life discipleship. He is explicitly calling those about to enter the Promised Land to do the necessary and hard work of not just doing all that the LORD has commanded but teaching and training their children and community to do the same. This goes way beyond the Bible memorization many of us did in children's church and youth group! What Moses is emphasizing is the imperative nature of dedication to and leadership in discipleship. As they live out their lives in the land they are about to enter, their success is directly tied to their own discipleship and ability to pass it down to future generations. 

For as there have been people of God, there have been people of God surrounded by people who do not follow him. We are, in fact, the people instructed to live an alternative lifestyle in contrast to those around us. It is this alternative lifestyle that is at the heart of our mission. 

The words of Moses are essentially reapplied by Peter to the elect-exiles of the New Testament, now scattered across Asia Minor,

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:9–12

This now applies to us as 21st-century Christians who serve and lead in the public square (and every other aspect of life). When Peter says that we are to "proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light," he is saying that we must marry spiritual, emotional, relational, vocational, ideological, and cultural formation to our evangelical calling. 

That is, in other words, the call to embrace whole-life discipleship as central to public witness and faithful presence.

Weekly Office

  • Monday: Morning: Numbers 6, John 10:22-42, Psalm 90, 91, 92 // Evening: Numbers 9:15-23, 10:29-36, Titus 1:1-2:8, Psalm 90, 91, 92
  • Tuesday: Morning: Numbers 11:10-33, John 11:1-44, Psalm 95, 96, 97// Evening: Numbers 12, Titus 2:9-3:15, Psalm 95, 96, 97
  • Wednesday: Morning: Numbers 13:1-3,17-33, John 11:45-57, Psalm 102, 103 // Evening: Number 14:1-25, 2 Timothy 1, Psalm 102, 103
  • Thursday: Morning: Numbers 16:1-35, John 12:1-19, Psalm 105// Evening: Numbers 16:36-17:13, 2 Timothy 2, Psalm 105
  • Friday: Morning: Numbers 20, John 12:20-50, Psalm 107// Evening: Numbers 22:1-35, 2 Timothy 3, Psalm 107
  • Saturday: Morning: Numbers 22:36-23:26, John 13, Psalm 110, 111, 112, 113 // Evening: Numbers 23:27-24:25, 2 Timothy 4, Psalm 110, 111, 112, 113
  • Sunday: Morning: Exodus 11, Matthew 26, Psalm 116, 117, 118 // Evening: Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Luke 19:29-48, Psalm 116, 117, 118

Faithful Prayer - Talking to Our Father

  • Cabinet Agency: The Small Business Administration as they process loan applications for federal disaster assistance in California, Texas, Illinois and other states impacted by recent natural disasters. 
  • Think Tank, Lobbying group, NGO: The Staff at Haiti Policy House in their efforts to assist U.S. leaders in development and implementation of policies intended to prompmote the flourishing of Haiti. An update on the horrific situation is here.
    • A word about ideologies. The selection of these organizations is not based on mutual affinity but on the belief that prayer is the most we can ever do to participate in Christ’s mission of making all things new. 
  • Weekly Delegation: The Congressional delegation of California as they work to direct federal resources to districts hit by heavy rains, flooding and mudslides that led to a Presidential disaster declaration.
  • News Events: The State Department’s continued efforts to extricate Americans from Haiti in the face of widespread gang-rule of the nation. Individuals at the Department of the Interior as they work with Native American nations to access $55 million dollars in recently allocated funds for cleaning up abandoned oil wells on their lands. Those working at the Department of Health and Human Services developing a policy response on IVF treatments.
  • Personal Requests: For a married couple currently doing a lot of separate traveling. For someone facing a major vocational decision. For someone leading a policy roundtable later this week. For someone working in a seriously understaffed office. For a potential ministry opportunity for Faithful Presence that would substantially expand our capacity. 
    • A word about anonymity: Washington is a small town. In order to protect each individuals' identities, yet facilitate prayer, details are intentionally vague. However, each represents specific people we are currently engaged with. 

On the Page - Articles We Enjoyed

What's Happening - In Politics & Culture

Two Thumbs Up - Music, Movies, Books, and Dining

Timgad Cafe, Ronald Reagan International Business Center

This past weekend, during a trip into Washington with family visiting for spring break, we stumbled upon a gem of a dining establishment. Located in the heart of the Federal Triangle district, on the lower level of the Reagan Building, rests a small but efficient lunch spot with great coffee and an excellent assortment of freshly prepared baguette sandwiches. The toasted brie & turkey is spectacular! There is also a changing selection of soups-of-the-day to go with your sandwich choice. When it comes to hand-crafted coffee, the folks at Timgad Cafe have you covered. The “dirty-chai latte” and the “Americano with mocha” are Faithful Presence staff favorites. 

While there is adequate inside seating, and seasonal outside seating as well, the staff also provide a number of grab-and-go options for busy staff looking to walk and talk during lunch.

Diners at Timgad Cafe, Washington D.C.

Last Things...

May the LORD bless you and keep you and make his face shine upon you and give you peace!

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