There is a story told about a little boy named Johnny who wanted a little brother. This 5 year old went to his father and said he would do anything for a baby brother. Dad said. “ I’ll tell you what, Johnny, if you pray every day for two months for a baby brother, I guarantee that God will give you one!” I am sure this dangerous words for anyone, but all the same. Johnny responded eagerly to his dad’s challenge and went to his bedroom early that night to start praying for a baby brother.
Johnny prayed every night for a whole month, but after that time, he began to get skeptical. He checked around the neighborhood and found out that what he thought was going to happen, had never occurred in the history of the neighborhood. You just don’t pray for two months and then, whammo- a new baby brother. So, Johnny quit praying. After another month, Johnny’s mother went to the hospital. When she came back home, Johnny’s parents called him into the bedroom. He cautiously walked into the room, not expecting to find anything, and there was a little bundle lying right next to his mother. His dad pulled back the blanket and there was — not one baby brother, but two!! His mother had twins!
Johnny’s dad looked down at him and said, “Now aren’t you glad you prayed?”
Johnny hesitated a little and then looked up at his dad and said, “Yes, but aren’t you glad I quit when I did?”
Clearly, Dad and Johnny are trying to work out exactly what does prayer do and perhaps what it does not do. We continue this week in our series of one word prayers. We began this Lenten series with prayers of Oops and Help! I invited us this Lent into an intentional time of prayer. Last week, I invited us to be more aware and intentional about asking God for HELP in prayer. Let me check in –did you have intentional prayers of HELP! This week?
This week, we are continuing to ask the questions about prayer. Why? Why pray at all? This questions was part of the driving force for why I felt so compelled to share this series. I have often heard smart and intelligent folks wonder about this whole prayer thing. Some discarding as positive self-talk, others privileging the sovereignty of God over the wants of humanity. Still others turned off by the way in which some prayers turn God into a dispensing machine. Others are discourages by the ay some Christians have described God as a fairy godmother or a genie granting wishes.
Prayer is where God works with humanity to bring about divine purposes for communal well-being. Prayer attunes us to God and to the ways in which God is working through us. Prayer makes a difference to us and to God. Prayer is where we meet God. Prayer is where Abram met God.
Our Old Testament lesson captures Abram right before he becomes a great man of faith who has followed God’s voice across miles and known God in mystical experiences. Here Abram is trying to make sense of God’s promises. Abram hears the word of God and has lots of questions. Primarily, how is this going to come together? With no children, how will I become a father, of a great nation of elsewise? Right now, the only person who stands to inherit his wealth –is one of his servants, Eliezer. How can this be?
Every once in a while, not often, God speaks directly, as in audibly, with someone in the Bible. Abraham heard directly from God, and this is one of those conversations when he has the nerve to talk back to God, to challenge God on just how realistic God is being in describing Abraham’s prospects in such glowing terms. No matter how many times God makes this promise, Abraham just doesn’t see how all this is going to work. This is certainly a why prayer? Mixed in with How? And Huh?
Abram brings all of this to God. God does not rebuke him or smite him. God knows that trust is hard for people. God knows that God’s ways are not always obvious to humanity. God has compassion on Abram and shows him a bit more light from the plan. God makes a covenant with Abram and keeps God’s promises. The covenant says, “Don’t be afraid, trust me, I’m here, and I’m in charge of the future.” The covenant says, “Don’t just talk the talk and keep things up here in your head; give me your heart and walk with me. Look up at the stars, and look at your life, with different eyes. See the miracles that surround you each day – these are gifts from me. When you recognize the gifts as good, you can trust the giver of those good gifts.”
This is the echo of what Paul writes to the church at Philippi. I know it seems like you should give up and give in. But following God, waiting on God’s answers, letting it play out is worth it. Stand firm and steady. God is faithful. God’s response to our questions.
Are we not like Abram saying, God, I have no idea how this is going to come together? Is this not where we often find ourselves with more questions of why and how than blind acceptance? I can imagine that most of us have plenty of why questions. Many of us have a growing list of parts of life that do not make sense, seem overwhelming or we want to change. God invites us into relationship to bring these things to God, to offer up our needs and ourselves for God’s purposes. We bring with us all of our questions – our whys and our hows to God. We walk with God in working out our faith, fear, and hope. And then we pass it onto others.
This morning, we look around and notice there are lots of those to whom we are passing on our faith – questions, ponderings, curiosities, and uncertainties. We celebrate the scouts who have gathered this morning, scouts who at their very chore and law seek God and God’s ways. Scouts who we committed as a congregation to care about their faith journeys and guide them along the way. For many of them we made promises at baptism that we would be examples and guides. Just like this morning, we tell the baptismal story with Jack. Telling him that God loves him and created him and we will walk with him in the ways that lead to faith.
I hope you noticed our prayer tree as you walked into the lobby this morning. It began growing last week with some of our prayers of help. I and other prayed with you from the one words (or phrases) of help that were offered. This morning, I am going to invite you to offer prayers of why? In your bulletin, look for the sticky note and find a pen, pencil, crayon. Take a moment to write a word or phrase of your prayer this morning asking why. No names necessary – just a word or a phrase of prayer.
After worship, I invite you to put you your prayer on our growing prayer tree. And throughout the week, I invite you to pray when all seems lost, questions overwhelm and faith does not seem as easy as having a fairy godmother. I invite you to walk with God in the midst of real life. There are no wrong questions. God, who loves you and made you, who calls you special, wants to walk with you even in valleys of the shadows.
This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God Amen.
New Testament Lesson: Philippians 3:17-4:1
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me,
and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision,
“Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the Lord came to him,
“This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said,
“Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Then he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.”
But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. That day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.”
Meditations For Your Week
Sunday, February 21 ~ Saturday, February 27
Sunday: “God brought Abraham outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then God said to Abraham, “So shall your descendants be.” Genesis 15:5. God’s promises are always continuing God’s way through God’s people. Where do you see God’s covenant continuing?
Monday: “And Abraham believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.” Genesis15:6. God’s promises and covenants are big, almost unbelievable. Where is God calling to you to believe where you have not seen, have faith?
Tuesday: “But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” Genesis 15:8. Abraham needed more proof, more information from God’s big promises. We can always take our wonderings and questions to God.
Wednesday: “On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates….” Genesis 15:18. Spend time with God listening to how God will work through you.
Thursday: “Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.” Philippians 3:17. Look around you for the examples of faith that inspire you to live a life of faith.
Friday: “Christ will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.” Philippians 3:21. Have you considered what challenges, trials, and humiliation you can offer to Christ?
Saturday: “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.” Philippians 4:1. Pray for God to help you stand firm in your faith.